Monthly Archives: September 2010

Inflammation and Diabetes – a Fishy Tale

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Kathryn Vaughan

Researchers investigating the function of a particular G-protein coupled receptor, GPR120, have found potent anti-inflammatory effects to be mediated when stimulated with ingredients of fish oil.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. These fatty acids have already been shown to have health benefits, e.g. DHA reduces blood triglycerides to decrease the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.

Chronic inflammation, mediated by macrophages (white blood cells that enter diseased tissues and mediate an inflammatory response), is linked to decreased sensitivity to insulin in obesity, thus the anti-inflammatory effects mediated upon GPR120 activation may promote insulin sensitisation.

Adipose (fat) tissue and pro-inflammatory tissue macrophages were found to express GPR120, and, in particular, the receptor was highly induced in the obese murine model. Further investigation by the research team found that DHA activation of GPR120 increased the translocation of GLUT4 (Glucose Transporter 4) to the cellular surface and hence transportation of glucose into the cells.

Monocytic cell lines and murine primary intraperitoneal macrophages both containing and lacking the GPR120 receptor were also used in the research. A high-fat diet with or without omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was fed to the mice, and in ordinary mice DHA and EPA mediated anti-inflammatory effects by inhibition of both the TLR (Toll-like Receptor) and TNF (Tumour Necrosis Factor) inflammatory pathways. In the GPR120 knockout mice DHA and EPA had no effect.

The research was led by Jerrold Olefsky, Associate Dean for Scientific Affairs and Professor of Medicine at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Speaking in video clips posted on the University of California’s website Prof. Olefsky said that potentially the effects seen in mice may be mediated in humans to treat insulin resistance. However, in experiments they had to give the mice relatively high doses of fatty acids, which would be non-beneficial to humans. Therefore it may be more reasonable to target GPR120 for therapeutic treatment. If they could find a small molecule that mimics the effects of the fatty acids then a reasonable dose may be consumed to mediate anti-inflammatory and anti-insulin resistance effects.

The researchers conclude that GPR120 may be an important signalling molecule in anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitising responses thus may provide a new approach for the treatment of insulin resistant diseases.

 

Oh et al (2010) GPR120 is an omega-3 fatty acid receptor mediating potent anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects. Cell, 142, 687-698.

The paper can be found at:

http://www.cell.com/fulltext/S0092-8674%2810%2900888-3

A little common sense could go a long way for a journalist

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Recently circulated newspaper claims that the common Bed Bug may be able to cure AIDs are false and plainly ridiculous.

In a stunning and systemic display of poor science reporting, on September 2nd The Independent ran a brief article making these spurious claims. Within just hours, other newspapers around the world were running the same flawed story.

Over the last three weeks there has been a storm of news reporting on the international resurgence of the once-common human bed bug. That this should be considered news is baffling in itself, since pest controllers and entomologists have noted this insectan insurrection for a decade. The general circulation of inaccuracy and misinformation on bed bugs is impressive (see entomologist Richard Naylor’s excellent blog for more details), but the recent AIDs ‘story’ surely tops the lot.

The paper trail leading to this story is convoluted enough that it would be difficult for it to have not missed the mark so very widely, providing what ought to be a textbook example to would-be science reporters in how to not research a story.

The Independent’s article was based on a blog,  which despite it’s title was largely concerned with the problem of bed bug pesticide resistance. The HIV story therein was in turn based upon a recent New York Times article, which referred to a study carried out in 1986. A twenty-four year old study is hardly news.

Even ignoring that the route to the story is worryingly convoluted, it is concerning that such a story can be published when ten seconds’ thought demolishes the scientific basis of the article. AIDs is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and cannot survive long outside of a human host. It is therefore intuitively obvious that it should not survive inside an insect such as the Bed Bug, just as it cannot survive in biros, lampshades or clothes hangers. It was because of this that the 1986 study found that they do not transmit HIV, however this doesn’t mean that Bed Bugs have found a successful way of combating the disease. HIV is as relevant to Bed Bugs as are bath towels to the orbit of Jupiter.

By the same logic employed by The Independent’s article, one could claim that tea cups, lampshades and the Turin Shroud are potential cures for AIDs. Obviously, they are not.

The fact that a respectable newspaper, reputed to pride itself on it’s accuracy, has published a sensationalist article with a clear lack of any recourse to research literature is in itself a worrying indictment of scientific journalism. That it has done so in such patently daft fashion is both hilarious and dangerous for public faith in and understanding of science.

 

This is a guest blog written by Adam Dobson, a Ph.D. student at the University of Sheffield researching the evolutionary basis of pathogen resistance in insects.

Sheffield University opens new solar energy research center

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Ben Robinson

 

A new solar technology research ‘farm’ at the University of Sheffield saw it’s official opening last week by the deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. The ‘Solar Farm’ as it is coined makes up one part of a larger initiative within the University called ‘Project Sunshine’, which through inter-disciplinary research aims to tackle the future energy and food needs of the world. Sheffield Solar farm looks at different solar panel technologies that are available and in development at the present moment. Another area of Project Sunshine research is into food production and methods for increasing crop yields by looking at new cropping methods that use sunlight water and fertiliser more efficiently than at present. Project sunshine also looks into the area of environmental change through satellite observation and what implications this has on a global scale to energy and food needs. This area of research also tackles social issues and the outcomes of changed views on energy use.

 

The solar farm consists of a 70^2 m array of silicon photovoltaic panels and includes a test bed for future technologies relating to photovoltaic panels. The primary silicon photovoltaic array is designed to feed back electricity into the University’s electrical system, providing around 1% of the annual power consumption of the Hicks Building (8000 kW hr per annum). On top of providing power to the University the silicon array will be a useful research tool for researchers, policy makers and the public allowing real time data to be acquired in an operational environment. Power generation data that will be obtained from the array will also be compared to the sun’s irradiance and how diffuse the light is. This data can be used to see what affect cloud cover and other weather conditions have on solar panel output, combating one of the major questions raised when solar power is discussed as a new generation of energy production. The data can be viewed through the Solar Farm’s own website providing daily irradiance and photovoltaic data output, as well as up to the minute solar and electrical power readings.

 

On top of the large silicon array other technologies are to be tested at the solar farm to promote transfer of knowledge and new links between industry and academia. This will be achieved through the secondary test bed that has been installed. Different silicon panels from different manufacturers will be tested here. The operational data achieved from the latest products will allow for these technologies to be adapted to cope with the variations in light levels due to atmospherical effects. The test bed can also house new flexible thin film photovoltaic cells with the intention of their future integration into buildings which would result in a substantial increase in the total area of photovoltaic cells in operation in the UK. Another technology for the test bed is that of polymer photovoltaics, an area closely tied in with research being conducted within the university. This will allow photovoltaics that have been created by groups in the university to get data on how they perform in an operational environment, for the first time.   

 

It will be interesting to see how the research develops at the solar farm and how this will aid development of future solar technologies with higher efficiencies and better implementation into the real world. The UK has a sufficient area for solar panels that would provide a significant proportion of the energy needed, on the roofs of most buildings or in gardens. If these new technologies can be developed and integrated into these areas then aims to cut carbon emissions can be achieved and the way we produced energy revolutionised.

 

Links to the Initiatives websites:

Project sunshine : http://shine.sheffield.ac.uk/

Solar Farm (where real time data can be viewed) : http://www.sheffieldsolarfarm.group.shef.ac.uk/