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To elucidate the relationship between obesity, awakening time, and anesthesia in dogs, we conducted a comparative analysis of the awakening time following isoflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia in both standard-weight and obese groups. Six female beagle dogs within the standard weight range underwent 1-hour inhalation anesthesia with either isoflurane or sevoflurane. We recorded the time of extubation, head lift, and standing. Additionally, a parallel experiment was conducted on the same test animals after inducing obesity through nutritional management, with criteria for obesity defined as a body conditioning score of 4 or higher and a body fat percentage of 30% or higher. Under isoflurane anesthesia, we observed a tendency for a longer awakening time in the obese group compared to the standard weight group. However, this trend was not evident with sevoflurane anesthesia. Furthermore, when comparing awakening time with both anesthetics, no significant difference was found between the standard weight groups. In contrast, within the obese group, awakening time was significantly prolonged with isoflurane anesthesia compared to sevoflurane anesthesia. These results confirm that obesity contributes to delay awakening in dogs. Additionally, in the anesthesia management of obese dogs, the use of sevoflurane is anticipated to reduce awakening time compared to isoflurane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overweight was identified and monitorized in a group of 23 cats that were included in a weight management programme at a veterinary clinic. The risk factors studied in the population of cats in relation with the body score (between 5.5-9 according to the body score scale provided by the WSAVA) were endogenous like breed, age, sex and neuter status of the cats. It was elaborated a specific questionnaire before the enrolment of cats in the weight management programme, asking the owners to complete about their cats' eating behaviour, the type of used feed and the amount of food intake, to establish the caloric intake that contributes to their body weight. The analysis of risk factors for feline obesity revealed exogenous causes that produce or enhance weight gain in cats, namely lack of room or limited space in which cats are kept, sedentary lifestyle and/or ad-libitum feeding offered by cat owners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study was to assess how obesity impacts the occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy in healthy cats. The researchers evaluated the body condition score of all participating cats before conducting the study. Additionally, they performed various echocardiographic examinations, including transthoracic 2D, M-mode, and Doppler, as well as measuring systolic blood pressure. The results indicated a notable distinction in body condition scores between the non-obese and obese groups (P < .001). Moreover, significant differences were observed in terms of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate between the 2 groups (P < .001, P = .002). Echocardiographic measurements revealed statistically significant variations in left atrium and left ventricular free wall thickness between non-obese and obese cats (P < .001 and P = .003). To address obesity, the obese group underwent a lowcalorie diet, leading to improvements in echocardiographic parameters and SBP. However, these improvements did not achieve statistical significance. The study findings indicate that obesity can lead to substantial myocardial changes, resulting in left ventricular hypertrophy in cats, which has been previously reported in humans and dogs. Additionally, the study suggests that a diet intervention for obese cats might help prevent diseases like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research / Revue Canadienne de Recherche Vétérinaire is the property of Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: overweight and obesity are currently considered the most common nutritional pathology in companion animals, studies have shown that blood metabolite levels as triglycerides, total cholesterol and glucose are so high in dogs and cats that programs are recommended to help lose weight, it is here botanical products such as cinnamon are important. Objective: of this review will be to show the benefits of the use of cinnamon in animal obesity. Materials and methods: an electronic search was carried out in different databases and 11 articles were chosen which spoke about the benefits of cinnamon in the management of obesity. Results: the cinnamon is a spice rich in substances such as polyphenols, tannins, coumarin, cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors ligands (PPAR), procianidins type A and type B, has a similar effect to insulin and in turn increases some glucose transporters, such as GLUT4, thus decreasing blood glucose levels, It was found that cinnamon has hypolipidemic effects, antiinflammatory and even antiangiogenesis effects. Conclusion: Cinnamomun has benefical effects on glucose and lipid metabolism in animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a major problem in horses, unfortunately many times underrated by owners. Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is one of the obesity complications that can cause laminitis, hypertension, subfertility, and so on. Insulin dysregulation (ID) is the main feature of EMS that results from insulin resistance. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of feeding management in obesity and EMS occurrence. METHODS: Five hundred seventy horses were evaluated in this study. They were divided into the groups based on age, gender, breed, exercise activity, and feeding type. Glucose and insulin were measured using an AutoAnalyzer device and ELISA kit, respectively. RESULTS: Out of 570 horses, 2% had EMS while 14% were fat but obesity occurrence was higher in horses grazed in pasture (25%) compared to the horses that had not access to pasture (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that prevalence of EMS under different feeding strategies is significantly different. For the prevention of this important welfare issue, feeding management and routine exercise are the best ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity and its co-morbidity are the most challenging tasks for the current health care system. It is a multifactorial disorder either due to genetic predisposition, high calorie-dense diet, circadian disruption, etc. Circadian disruption is due to people's altered lifestyle choices have resulted in increased obesity that can be measured in terms of lipid profiles, overweight, and endogenous antioxidant level. As consequence of this increased diabetes and cardiovascular problems among the current generation. The present study is an attempt to understand the importance of disciplined lifestyle and eating at the right time. Many studies in this regard have revealed time-restriction feeding and its benefits. The current study aims to investigate the adverse effects of a high-fat diet on odd-time eating and high-fat diet with that of time-restriction feeding (TRF). To address this problem, we choose Drosophila melanogaster flies that were fed with different food regime as high-fat diet (HFD), a normal diet (ND) as a control, HFD+TRF and ND+TRF. The biochemical assays were used to detect obesity, the stress and TRF normalizes the triglyceride level to reduce endogenous antioxidants in the HFD group was observed and TRF has an effective response to obesity by reducing body adiposity caused by a high-fat diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine if there are anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects of sweet basil, an herb, in mice. Sweet basil was administered as a powder to male C57BL/6JJcl mice, which were divided into three groups: the (control [C], high-fat and high-sucrose diet [H], and high-fat and high-sucrose diet plus sweet basil powder [HB]) groups. The mice were fed for 12 weeks and the dry sweet basil powder comprised 1% per kg of the diet. From experiment third week, the average body weight was significantly higher in the H group than in the C group. The average body weight was significantly lower in the HB group than in the H group, but food intake did not significantly differ between the H and HB groups. Liver weight was drastically lower in the HB group than in the H group. Perirenal fat weight and epididymal fat weight were not significantly different between the H and HB groups. Therefore, we assumed that bodyweight reduction caused by sweet basil powder intake depended on inhibition of liver enlargement. We then examined lipid metabolism-related gene expression in the mice livers. Expression of the sterol response element binding protein 1-c gene tended to be lower in the HB group than in the H group (p=0.056). We speculated that sweet basil inhibited liver enlargement by suppressing fatty acid synthesis. Moreover, expression of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 gene in epididymal fat was significantly lower in the HB group than in the H group. Sweet basil powder appears to have a potent anti-inflammatory effect in the adipose tissue of mice fed a high-fat and high-sucrose diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucin-degrading bacterium that has shown the potential to provide anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects in mouse and man. We here focus on companion animals, specifically cats and dogs, and evaluate the microbial degradation of mucus and its health impact in the context of the worldwide epidemic of pet obesity. A literature survey revealed that the two presently known Akkermansia spp., A. muciniphila and A. glycaniphila, as well as other members of the phylum of Verrucomicrobia seem to be neither very prevalent nor abundant in the digestive tract of cats and dog. While this may be due to methodological aspects, it suggests that bacteria related to Akkermansia are not the major mucus degraders in these pets and hence other mucus-utilizing taxa may deserve attention. Hence, we will discuss the potential of these endogenous mucus utilizers and dietary interventions to boost these as well as the use of Akkermansia spp. related bacteria or their components as strategies to target feline and canine obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to estimate the energy requirements of performance horses in active, variable training in the field. Sixty horses in England and Switzerland were measured over 2-wk periods and, for 15 of these, the measurement period was extended, ranging from 21 to 42 wk. Energy intake was estimated by measuring daily feed consumption. Energy output was measured using heart rate (HR) monitors during 608 training sessions, relating HR to volume of oxygen (VO₂) and converting VO₂ to energy. Field maintenance requirements were calculated by deducting the marginal energy cost of training from energy input. The mean field maintenance expenditure for performance horses with a normal temperament was found to be 0.118 MJ of metabolizable energy (ME) per kilogram of body weight (BW) per day (SD = 0.008, CI = 0.005, n = 60 horses). This result is between 1.9% (P = 0.086) and 20.9% (P < 0.001) greater than the official guidance found in the United States, France, Germany, and Holland. Heart rate monitoring of training revealed a mean energy expenditure (EE) per ridden session of 0.023 MJ ME (SD = 0.001, CI = 0.001, n = 175 training sessions). The mean daily EE for exercise based on a full week's training was 0.018 MJ ME/kg BW/d (SD = 0.005, CI = 0.001, n = 60 horses), representing a multiple of maintenance of 15.3%. This implies that the official guidance in the United States and France may overstate expenditure for exercise by 111% and 15%, respectively (P < 0.01). Daily EE between countries and within disciplines was consistent, allowing for the creation of user-friendly tables that can be used in budgeting the energy component of diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective · To explore the effects of low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) on body weight and glycolipid metabolism in obese rats and normal weight rats. Methods · Eighty male normal weight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into three groups, i.e., normal control diet group (CD group, n10), LCD group (n10) and traditional high-fat diet group (HFD group, n60). After eight weeks, 30 obese rats were selected HFD group. Then the obese rats were divided randomly into three groups. The feed of two groups was changed HFD to LCD (HFD-LCD group) or CD (HFD-CD group), and the rest group was fed with HFD continuously. The experiment lasted for another eight weeks. The feed of CD group and LCD group remained unchanged. The measurement indicators included body weight, feed intake, visceral fat, and blood biochemical indexes (fasting blood glucose, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and serum ß-hydroxybutyrate concentration). Results · In normal rats, the 6th week, the body weight of LCD group was significantly lower than that of HFD group (PP>0.05). But at the end of the 16th week, total cholesterol of LCD group was significantly higher than that of CD group (P0.001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower (P0.021). In the obese rats, at the end of the 16th week, the body weight of HFD-LCD group was significantly lower than that of HFD group and HFD-CD group (PPP>0.05). In the obese rats, compared with HFD group, the intervention of HFD-LCD (ß-88.56, P0.000) and HFD-CD (ß-39.08, P0.007) resulted in the decrease of body weight. ß-hydroxybutyrate level was helpful to weight loss in the range of 1-2 times of HFD-CD group (ß-34.92, P0.006). Conclusion · LCD may have different effects on body weight and lipid metabolism between normal weight rats and obese rats, LCD has no weight loss effect on the normal weight rats, but can increase total cholesterol; however, in obese rats LCD can reduce weight and improve the metabolism of glycolipid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the contribution of microbiota to obesity-related increases in the pulmonary response to ozone. Topics include, approval of studies by theHarvard Medical Area Standing Committee on Animals; examine the impact of antibiotics on pulmonary responses; and obesity-related increases in asthma prevalence are greater in women than men.

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a widely recognized collection of risk factors for endocrinopathic laminitis. The most important of these risk factors is insulin dysregulation (ID). Clinicians and horse owners must recognize the presence of these risk factors so that they can be targeted and controlled to reduce the risk of laminitis attacks. Diagnosis of EMS is based partly on the horse's history and clinical examination findings, and partly on laboratory testing. Several choices of test exist which examine different facets of ID and other related metabolic disturbances. EMS is controlled mainly by dietary strategies and exercise programs that aim to improve insulin regulation and decrease obesity where present. In some cases, pharmacologic aids might be useful. Management of an EMS case is a long‐term strategy requiring diligence and discipline by the horse's carer and support and guidance from their veterinarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Understanding the mechanisms of adipogenic differentiation may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for obesity. The natural plant polyphenol compound curcumin can improve obesity-associated inflammation and diabetes in obese mice. The role of curcumin in adipogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) is still unclear. We used hMSCs to investigate the details of the mechanism underlying the adipogenic effects of curcumin. At different time points (i.e., 5 days and 10 days) of hMSC adipocyte differentiation, an accumulation of large lipid droplets was analyzed in Oil Red O-stained cultured cells in two curcumin (5 μM and 10 μM) groups and the control group. The cells were also harvested for the detection of mRNA and protein expressions by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. The results showed that curcumin can suppresses adipocyte differentiation in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FABP4. Importantly, curcumin can also suppress the expression of Kruppel-like factor 15, which may bind to the PPARγ promoter, resulting in downregulation of PPARγ expression to inhibit the adipogenic differentiation of hMSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a captive 13-year-old castrated male African lion (Panthera leo) housed at a large cat sanctuary for the previous five years which was found dead within its enclosure and the carcass was submitted to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center for autopsy. It states that the lion was obese with abundant subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue.

Background: Epidemiological studies have identified strong relationships between maternal obesity and offspring respiratory dysfunction; however, the causal direction is not known. We tested whether maternal obesity alters respiratory function of offspring in early life.Methods: Female C57Bl/6 J mice were fed a high or low fat diet prior to and during two rounds of mating and resulting pregnancies with offspring lung function assessed at 2 weeks of age. The lung function of dams was measured at 33 weeks of age.Results: A high fat diet caused significant weight gain prior to conception with dams exhibiting elevated fasting glucose, and glucose intolerance. The number of surviving litters was significantly less for dams fed a high fat diet, and surviving offspring weighed more, were longer and had larger lung volumes than those born to dams fed a low fat diet. The larger lung volumes significantly correlated in a linear fashion with body length. Pups born from the second pregnancy had reduced tissue elastance compared to pups born from the first pregnancy, regardless of the dam's diet. As there was reduced offspring survival born to dams fed a high fat diet, the statistical power of lung function measures of offspring was limited. There were signs of increased inflammation in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of dams (but not offspring) fed a high fat diet, with more tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin(IL)-5, IL-33 and leptin detected. Dams that were fed a high fat diet and became pregnant twice had reduced fasting glucose immediately prior to the second mating, and lower levels of IL-33 and leptin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.Conclusions: While maternal high fat diet compromised litter survival, it also promoted somatic and lung growth (increased lung volume) in the offspring. Further studies are required to examine downstream effects of this enhanced lung volume on respiratory function in disease settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemostatic alterations have already been well characterized in humans with body fat excess, being included in the list of obesity related comorbidities. Overweight and obesity are common in dogs; however, there is little information about the blood coagulation parameters in dogs with these conditions. The aim of this study was to compare hematological and coagulation parameters between lean dogs and overweight or obese dogs, including platelets count; prothrombin time (PT); activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), coagulation time (CT) and plasma fibrinogen concentration. Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 22 dogs (aged 1 to 10 years, neutered) were evaluated, 10 of them presented ideal body condition score (BCS 4-5) and formed the group 1 (control) and 12 were overweight or obese (BCS 7-9) and formed the group 2. The dogs were submitted to clinical evaluation and then to blood collection for the following laboratory tests: blood count (performed on automatic analyzer), quantification of plasma proteins by refractometry, determination PT, aPTT and plasma fibrinogen concentration using specific commercial kits, and CT by Lee-White method. Compared to group 1, group 2 presented a lower leukocytes and lymphocytes counts (P < 0.05) and a higher concentration of plasma fibrinogen (P = 0,026), but compatible with reference values. No difference was observed in the erythrogram, platelets count, total plasma protein concentration, PT, aPTT and CT between the groups. BCS was negatively correlated with leukocytes (r = -0.45) and lymphocytes (r = -0.60) counts and positively with plasma fibrinogen concentration (r = +0.56). Discussion: The reduction in lymphocytes led to a lower leukocytes count in the dogs of group 2. The migration of peripheral blood lymphocytes to adipose tissue has been reported in the early phase of the inflammatory process induced by obesity and could justify the reduction of circulating lymphocytes in overweight or obese dogs evaluated in this study; however, cytopathological assessment of adipose tissue was not performed. Fibrinogen has to be converted to fibrin for clot formation, so the concentration of this plasma protein is an important parameter for the evaluation of hemostasis. However, there are reports of increase in plasma fibrinogen as a result of inflammatory processes. In group 2, formed by dogs with overweight or obese, the higher value of plasm fibrinogen concentration, associated with lower lymphocyte count, may suggest an early-stage inflammatory process. Similar results were described in obese humans, but also evidenced in obese dogs. Supporting this suggestion, the correlation analysis indicates that the higher the body fat excess (estimated by the BCS), the higher the fibrinogen concentration and the lower the lymphocyte count in evaluated dogs. Despite the higher concentration of plasma fibrinogen in group 2, no change was observed in the hemostasis of overweight or obese dogs, due to the normal values for platelets count, PT, aPTT and CT, excluding a hypercoagulability condition as already hypothesized by other authors for dogs and obese humans. The difference between our findings and the literature may be in the time of evolution of the disease, since we evaluated younger dogs. In conclusion, the body fat excess did not alter the erythrogram and the activity of the clotting factors, estimated by PT, aPTT and CT, but it interfered in the leukogram and increased the plasma concentration of fibrinogen in the evaluated dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • First randomised trial comparing efficacy of caloric restriction and increasing physical activity for weight management in dogs. • Dietary caloric restriction was more effective than physical activity for controlled weight loss in overweight pet dogs. • Triaxial accelerometery documented deliberate increases in a dog's daily exercise routine. Abstract Canine obesity is usually managed with a combination of dietary caloric restriction and increasing physical activity, but no previous study has compared both of these strategies in a prospective randomised controlled trial. Thirteen overweight dogs (body condition score 6–9/9) were randomised to one of two interventions: dietary caloric restriction or physical activity. The dietary caloric restriction intervention comprised feeding a therapeutic weight loss diet, while the physical activity intervention comprised increasing the dog's current physical activity pattern by at least a third. The primary outcome measure was change in body weight, while secondary outcome measures included change in neck, thorax and abdominal circumference and change in physical activity measured by triaxial accelerometer. Bodyweight decreased significantly with the dietary caloric restriction (median −10% of starting body weight [SBW], 5 to −12%; P = 0.028) but not with the physical activity intervention (−2% SBW, +3% to −6%; P = 0.107). Abdominal circumference (dietary caloric restriction: median −12.0%; physical activity: median −7.8%, P = 0.016) and thoracic circumference (dietary caloric restriction: median −7.5%, P = 0.031; physical activity: median −3.6%, P = 0.031) changed significantly in both groups. There was no change in activity levels within the dietary caloric restriction group, but vigorous activity increased significantly in the physical activity group (P = 0.016). Dietary caloric restriction was more effective than physical activity for controlled weight loss in overweight pet dogs. Although advising owners to increase their dog's activity by a third led to a modest increase in measured vigorous physical activity, this was insufficient to promote weight loss on its own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are transcription factors in the basic helix-loop-helix PER-ARNT-SIM (bHLH-PAS) protein family that contain internal hydrophobic cavities within their PAS-A and PAS-B domains. Among HIFs, the HIF-2α PAS-B domain contains a relatively large cavity exploited for the development of specific artificial ligands such as PT2399. Administration of PT2399 could suppress HIF-2α target gene expression without affecting HIF-1 activity in mice under hypoxia conditions. A single mutation (S305M) within the HIF-2α PAS-B domain suppressed HIF-2α activity while conferring resistance to PT2399 in vivo, indicating the vital role of PAS-B domain in HIF-2α hypoxia response. In contrast, the mutant mice did not phenocopy PT2399 intervention in wildtype mice under metabolic stress. Under a high-fat diet (HFD), the mutant mice exert enhanced adipogenesis and obtain larger adipose mass and body weight gain compared to wild type. However, administration of PT2399 along with HFD feeding sufficiently suppressed HFD-induced body weight and adipose mass increase through suppression of adipogenesis and lipogenesis. The accompanying decreased lipid accumulation in the liver and improved glucose tolerance in wild-type mice were not observed in the mutant mice indicating negative regulation of HIF-2α on obesity and a complex role for the PAS-B domain in metabolic regulation. Notably, short-term administration of PT2399 to obese mice decreased adipose mass and improved metabolic condition. These results indicate a regulatory role for HIF-2α in obesity progression and suggest a therapeutic opportunity for PT2399 in obesity and associated metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gut microbial communities are critical players in the pathogenesis of obesity. Pregnancy is associated with increased bacterial load and changes in gut bacterial diversity. Sparse data exist regarding composition of gut microbial communities in obesity combined with pregnancy. Material and methods: Banked tissues were collected under sterile conditions during necropsy, from three non‐obese (nOb) and four obese (Ob) near‐term pregnant baboons. Sequences were assigned taxonomy using the Ribosomal Database Project classifier. Microbiome abundance and its difference between distinct groups were assessed by a nonparametric test. Results: Three families predominated in both the nOb and Ob colonic microbiome: Prevotellaceae (25.98% and 32.71% respectively), Ruminococcaceae (12.96% and 7.48%), and Lachnospiraceae (8.78% and 11.74%). Seven families of the colon microbiome displayed differences between Ob and nOb groups. Conclusion: Changes in gut microbiome in pregnant obese animals open the venue for dietary manipulation in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine obesity is a common medical disorder and a known risk factor for associated diseases; it can seriously influence various physiological functions, thereby limiting the longevity of the animal. In this study, we evaluated potential respiratory alterations in obese dogs before and after being subjected to caloric restriction to decrease their body weight by 20%, and compared those dogs with control dogs with ideal body condition score. The animals were divided into three experimental groups: GI (obese dogs; n = 11); GII (obese dogs after weight loss, same animals as in GI); GIII (control dogs; n = 11). We evaluated lung function by spirometry and arterial blood gases. Statistical analysis included paired or non‐paired Student's t test. Compared with dogs within an ideal body condition score (GIII), obese dogs (GI) had a low arterial partial pressure of oxygen (p < 0.05); decreased tidal volume (p < 0.005), inspiratory time and expiratory time (p < 0.05); and an increased respiratory rate (p < 0.005). After losing weight (GII), no differences with control dogs (GIII) were verified. The results suggested that obese dogs have an improvement in respiratory function with weight loss, but further investigations in a larger group of dogs are advised to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weight reduction through caloric restriction (CR) or exercise can have opposite effects on bone. This study investigated the effects of comparable weight reduction through CR and/or exercise on body composition and bone structure in an obese rat model. Male 6‐week‐old rats were fed either a normal‐fat diet for 6 months or a high‐fat (HF) diet for 3 months and then started on different CR or exercise regimens for an additional 3 months. Compared to HF conditions, rats given HF diet plus CR at 8% (HF+8CR), HF diet plus CR at 16% (HF+16CR), or HF+8CR plus exercise (HF+Ex+8CR) had lower fat mass. In addition, HF+8CR rats had lower serum tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase and bone volume/total volume at distal femur (P < 0.05), and HF+16CR rats had lower serum insulin growth factor 1, osteocalcin, tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase, and bone volume/total volume at distal femur and 2nd lumbar vertebrae, compared to regimens that included exercise. These data indicate that while CR (e.g., HF+8CR) was detrimental to bone structure, combined with exercise CR (e.g., HF+Ex+8CR) was effective in decreasing adiposity and mitigating bone structural deterioration associated with weight reduction in obese rats. This study investigated the effects of comparable weight reduction achieved through caloric restriction and/or exercise on adiposity, bone structure, and related bone biomarkers. The working hypothesis was that caloric restriction combined with exercise is more effective that caloric restriction alone in reducing adiposity and mitigating bone structural deterioration in weight reduction in high‐fat diet‐induced obesity in rodents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Veterinary Journal / Revue Vétérinaire Canadienne is the property of Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a major regulator of cell growth and proliferation through fuel sensing. Systemic inhibition of mTOR as well as manipulation of its downstream products prevent diet-induced obesity. The purpose of this study was to determine the consequences of intestine-targeted mTORC1 inhibition. To attenuate intestinal mTORC1 activity, Villin-Cre ER mice were crossed with Raptor flox/flox mice, creating an intestinal-specific Raptor null line (i-Raptor −/−). Mice were fed a high fat diet (HFD) and compositional changes as well as food intake levels were assessed. Over a five-week time course, i-Raptor −/− mice consistently gained less body weight on a HFD compared to wildtype (WT) mice secondary to significantly reduced food intake. Importantly, the i-Raptor −/− mice did not appear to be malnourished, demonstrated by their preservation of lean body mass. i-Raptor −/− mice also maintained a normal metabolic profile without significant changes in triglyceride or fasting glucose levels. Further investigation revealed that GDF-15 mRNA expression was significantly enhanced in i-Raptor −/− enterocytes when refed with HFD after overnight starvation. In summary, our study establishes that loss of intestinal specific-mTORC1 is protective of the development of diet-induced obesity by reducing food intake without altering the metabolic profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Obesity is associated with the changes in gut microbiota. The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of sweet orange essential oil (SOEO) microcapsules on body weight and gut microbiota in obese rats induced by high-fat diet. By analyzing the body weight, fat rate and the sequence of cloned microbial small-subunit ribosomal RNA genes (16S rDNA) in rats fecal samples, we found that SOEO microcapsules decreased the body weight and increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium (genus-level) in gut microbiota. The analysis of endotoxin content proved that SOEO microcapsules protected gut barrier and decreased gut endotoxin levels by increasing the content of Bifidobacterium , then ameliorated low-grade inflammation, achieving the goal of losing weight. This might be the mechanism of SOEO microcapsules to lose body weight and provided a novel anti-obesity dietary supplement. Graphical abstract In this study, we investigated the effects of sweet orange essential oil (SOEO) microcapsules on body weight and gut microbiota in obese rats induced by high-fat diet. We found that SOEO microcapsules reduced the body weight and increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium (genus-level) in gut microbiota. The analysis of endotoxin content proved that SOEO microcapsules protected gut barrier and decreased gut endotoxin levels by increasing the content of Bifidobacteria , then ameliorated low-grade inflammation, achieving the goal of losing weight. This indicates that changing gut microbiota provides a novel way to lose weight. Image 1 Highlights • Sweet orange essential oil (SOEO) microcapsules had weight loss effect on obese SD rats induced by high-fat diet. • SOEO microcapsules increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium (genus-level) in gut microbiota. • SOEO microcapsules protected gut barrier and decreased gut endotoxin levels by increasing the content of Bifidobacterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating is a basic motivated behavior that provides fuel for the body and supports brain function. To ensure survival, the brain's feeding circuits are tuned to monitor peripheral energy balance and promote food‐seeking behavior when energy stores are low. The brain's bias toward a positive energy state, which is necessary to ensure adequate nutrition during times of food scarcity, is evolutionarily conserved across mammalian species and is likely to drive overeating in the presence of a palatable, energy‐dense diet. Animal models of diet‐induced overeating have played a vital role in investigating how the drive to consume palatable food may override the homeostatic processes that serve to maintain energy balance. These animal models have provided valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying homeostatic and non‐homeostatic eating, motivation and food reward, and the development of obesity and related comorbidities. Here, we provide a brief review of this literature and discuss how diet‐induced inflammation in the central nervous system impacts the neural control of food intake and regulation of body weight. The connection between diet and the immune system provides an exciting new direction for the study of ingestive behavior and the pathophysiology of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The present research sought to (i) understand the challenges that dog owners encounter in helping their pet lose weight, and (ii) develop and test an intervention designed to help dog owners to deal with these challenges. A series of focus groups (N = 79 dog owners, veterinarians, and industry experts) informed the content of an intervention designed to prompt owners to form if-then plans (or "implementation intentions") identifying challenges (e.g., inclement weather) and specifying how to respond (e.g., play with the dog indoors). This intervention was evaluated in a single-blind, randomized controlled trial (N = 106 owners of overweight dogs) against a control condition who were simply asked to set relevant goals. Changes in the owners' beliefs, behaviour, and the dog's weight and body condition were measured around 2 months later. The primary finding was that dogs in the intervention condition lost the same percentage of their body weight on average each week (M = -0.065, SD = 0.65) as dogs in the control condition (M = −0.24, SD = 0.55), F (1, 36) = 0.70, p =.41, eta2 =.019, although it should be noted that follow-up data was only available for around half of the sample. Analysis of the factors that were associated with changes in weight among the dogs in the trial suggested that owners' lack of knowledge about appropriate feeding and exercise was associated with poorer outcomes, suggesting that future interventions may need to provide information and help owners to set appropriate goals before encouraging them to make if-then plans to support the implementation of those goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective The present review sought to evaluate whether – and to what extent – targeting owners' behaviour is an effective way to reduce the problem of overweight and obesity among companion dogs. Methods A systematic search of electronic databases identified 14 studies that evaluated the effect of an intervention targeting owners' behaviour on (i) the owner's behaviour or (ii) the weight, (iii) body fat, or (iv) body condition of the dog. We coded aspects of the study design (e.g., the outcome variable), intervention (e.g., use of theory, specific behaviour change techniques or BCTs, inclusion of nutritional intervention alongside the behavioural intervention), and sample (e.g., age, gender, and weight of the dogs at baseline) that could influence the effect sizes. Results The interventions had, on average, a medium sized effect on outcomes (d + = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.96, k = 14, N = 384). The effect sizes from the primary studies were relatively homogenous, Q (13) = 12.10, p =.52 and the nature of the intervention, methodological and sample characteristics did not moderate the effect sizes. Conclusions and clinical relevance The findings of the review suggest that targeting owners' behaviour can be an effective way to reduce overweight and obesity among companion dogs. However, this conclusion is based on a limited number of studies and so we hope that the present findings serve as the impetus for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seminal discovery of browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) holds great promise for the treatment of obesity and metabolic syndrome. DJ-1 is evolutionarily conserved across species, and mutations in DJ-1 have been identified in Parkinson's disease. Higher levels of DJ-1 are associated with obesity, but the underlying mechanism is less understood. Here, we report the previously unappreciated role of DJ-1 in white adipocyte biology in mature models of obesity. We used DJ-1 knockout (KO) mouse models and wild-type littermates maintained on a normal diet or high-fat diet as well as in vitro cell models to show the direct effects of DJ-1 depletion on adipocyte phenotype, thermogenic capacity, fat metabolism, and microenvironment profile. Global DJ-1 KO mice show increased sympathetic input to WAT and β3-adrenergic receptor intracellular signaling, leading to a previously unrecognized compensatory mechanism through browning of WAT with associated characteristics, including high mitochondrial contents, reduced lipid accumulation, adequate vascularization and attenuated autophagy. DJ-1 KO mice had normal body weight, energy balance, and adiposity, which were associated with protective effects on healthy WAT expansion by hyperplasia. Our findings revealed that browning of inguinal WAT occurred in DJ-1 KO mice that do not show increased predisposition to obesity and suggest that such potential mechanism may overcome the adverse metabolic consequences of obesity independent of an effect on body weight. Here, we provide the first direct evidence that targeting DJ-1 in adipocyte metabolic health may offer a unique therapeutic strategy for the treatment of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: L-carnitine (LC) has been shown to protect cardiac metabolism in diabetes patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Apelin, a newly discovered adipocytokines, is an important regulator of cardiac muscle function; however, the role of the level of expression of Apelin axis in improvement of cardiac function by LC in diabetic patients, is not clear. In the present study, obese insulin-resistant rats were used to determine the effect of LC, when given orally with a high-calorie diet, on Apelin and Apelin receptor (Apj) expression in cardiac muscle. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, rats were fed with high-fat/high-carbohydrate diet for five weeks and subsequently were injected with streptozotocin 30 mg/kg for induction of obesity and insulin resistance. After confirming the induction of diabetes (serum glucose above 7.5 mmol/L), the animals received LC 300 mg/kg in drinking water for 28 days. On days 0, 14 and 28 after treatment, cardiac Apelin and Apj gene expression was evaluated by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Serum levels of insulin, Apelin, glucose, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also measured using commercial kits. Results: Cardiac Apelin and Apj expression and serum Apelin were increased in obese rats, while LC supplementation decreased the serum levels of Apelin and down-regulated Apelin and Apj expression in cardiac muscle. These changes were associated with reduced insulin resistance markers and serum inflammatory factors and improved lipid profile. Conclusion: We concluded that LC supplementation could attenuate the over-expression of Apelin axis in heart of diabetic rats, a novel mechanism by which LC improves cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pearl millet silage ammoniated with urea on lamb carcass characteristics and meat quality. Thirty‐two noncastrated crossbred lambs at 4–5 months of age, with an average initial body weight of 17.39 ± 2.16 kg, were distributed into four treatments in a randomized block experimental design with eight animals per treatment. Experimental diets were composed of pearl millet silage ammoniated with four levels of urea (0%, 2%, 4% and 6%, on dry matter basis (DM). Carcass conformation and fatness decreased linearly (p < 0.05). Except for the fat content, the proximate composition was not influenced (p < 0.05) by the diets. Meat lightness and yellowness increased linearly (p < 0.05). There was no effect of diets (p > 0.05) on cooking losses or shear force. The levels of oleic and erucic fatty acid levels in the meat decreased linearly (p < 0.05), whereas linoleic and eicosadienoic acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA:SFA ratio and ω6 contents increased (p < 0.05). Pearl millet silage ammoniated with urea allows for the production of good‐quality lamb meat, with greater concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, lambs fed diets with pearl millet ammoniated with up to 6% lead to a reduction of carcass characteristics without significantly affecting loin‐eye area possibly associated with low palatability of the additive used. The lower acceptance of the silages with higher levels of urea is due to the ammonia retention in the material is attributed to the ammonization process. Thus, in spite of the benefits on lamb meat quality, it is suggested that the use of this additive in the ammonization of tropical forages be carried out with care, in limits of up to 6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Obesity is highly prevalent in pet cats (Felis silvestris catus) and is associated with several comorbidities, yet very little is understood about the early life risk factors. The aim of this study was to develop a mathematical model that describes growth in cats, to determine which early life variables were associated with being overweight in adulthood and to identify when during life the overweight phenotype developed in a colony of cats. We used pedigree, birth and growth data of 212 colony cats that were fed ad libitum from weaning. A nonlinear mixed‐effects model was fitted to the body weight data to describe growth curves. A subset of 146 cats that had reached 9 years of age was used to evaluate the body weight curves to 9 years, and candidate early life predictors of peak weight were evaluated using logistic regression. In contrast with other species, candidates such as maternal factors, birth weight and litter size were not significant risk factors for adult obesity. Male sex, body weight around 15 weeks of age and being born during the increasing photoperiod were significantly associated with being overweight at 9 years. The growth equation created can be used to predict peak body weight, when sex and season of birth are included. Thus, the trajectory to obesity is determined early in life in cats, and early intervention appears essential to prevent obesity in pet cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Overweight and obesity are multifactorial diseases caused by an imbalance in energy metabolism. An underlying genetic predisposition is often a factor in these conditions. In the cat breeding family of the Institute of Animal Nutrition at the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, a segregating overweight phenotype with a genetic contribution was observed. From this breeding family, 26 kittens were followed from birth up to 8 months of age. During this time, food intake was measured using an automatic feeding station, and energy expenditure was investigated using indirect calorimetry at the ages of 4 and 6 months. Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed and blood glucose, leptin and insulin were measured at the ages of 4, 6 and 8 months. The kittens were also weighed daily for the first 2 weeks of life, every second day until weaning and once per week until 8 months of age. The body condition score (BCS) was evaluated monthly between 2 and 8 months of age. The main finding of this study is that a predisposition to overweight is connected to a higher food intake early in life, with no significant alterations in energy expenditure. The leptin blood levels were related to body fat percentage, and insulin sensitivity did not seem to be affected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) Convention 2018 held on July 16 in Denver, Colorado. Topic of the conference was obesity in horses cats, and dogs. The symposium featured attendees including veterinary nutritionist Dr. (doctor) Julie Churchill, founder Dr. Ernie Ward of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention and pediatrician Matthew Haemer.