Day 2 :
Keynote Forum
Pierluigi Pompei
Associate Professor
Keynote: Insulin-resistance and the alcat food intolerance test: Evidence of a new approach
Time : 09:30Am
Biography:
Pierluigi Pompei is working as an Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Pharmacotherapy and Sport Nutrition, Dept. of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino. He is author of over 50 international publications on peer-reviewed journals, several chapters of scientific books, has 1 international patent, and attended hundreds of conferences and meetings.
Abstract:
Insulin-resistance (IR) is defined as the inability of a known quantity of exogenous or endogenous insulin to increase glucose uptake and utilization. Several mechanisms have been proposed as possible causes underlying the development of IR and the insulin resistance syndrome. Ir occurs as part of a cluster of cardiovascular-metabolic abnormalities commonly referred to as “the metabolic syndrome”. This may lead to the development of type 2 diabetes, accelerated atherosclerosis, hypertension, dysmenorrheal, hirsutism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome depending on the genetic background of the individual developing the insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to assess, in 123 female and 35 male (mean age 42±10.3, range 19-75) volunteers, whether IR could be partly related to a dietary sugar intolerance and whether there could be a correlation between the alcat intolerance test and a mutation of the tcftl2 gene (it promotes the trascription of the pro-glucagone and plays a key role in the development of the langherans islands). Results evidenced that subjects with an intolerance to sugar, have also shown a statistically significant complete or incomplete alteration of the tcftl2 genetic test. Based upon these findings, our study demonstrated that there is a clinical correlation between the alcat food intolerance test and the IR. The positivity to the alcat test of one of the sugars tested (fructose, sugar cane and sugar beet) indicates, in the majority of the subjects, the presence of a mutation of the gene tcf7l2 and could contribute to the prevention and treatment of the IR.
Keynote Forum
Grace Y Sun
Professor
Keynote: Phytochemicals modulating oxidative/inflammatory responses in microglial cells
Biography:
Grace Y Sun emeritus obtained BS in Chemistry from Seattle Pacific University and PhD in Biochemistry from Oregon State University. After holding a Research Scientist position in Cleveland for 7 years, she was recruited to the Biochemistry Department in University of Missouri. As an internationally renowned neuroscientist, she is recognized for her research on brain lipids and signaling pathways in relation to neurodegenerative diseases and aging. Her research experience included serving as Director of the MU Alzheimer’s disease research program and project leader in the MU Center for Phytonutrient and Phytochemistry. She is a founding member and Scientific Director for the newly established Center for Translational Neurosciences (CTN) in the MU School of Medicine. Besides training a large number of graduate students and Post-docs, she also is experienced in organizing national and international symposia and meetings. She has published over 300 articles in highly regarded journals. Among the many awards, she received University of Missouri System President’s Award for Sustained Excellence in 2012, which was the highest award recognizing faculty achievement at the University.
Abstract:
Microglial cells are the major immune active cells in the brain playing multiple functional roles for maintaining brain health. Besides scavenging cellular debris, these cells become activated in response to injury and release pro-inflammatory and other factors that affect neighboring cells. Activation of microglia has been implicated in a number of neurological diseases. Therefore, it is immensely important to keep microglia healthy in both young and old brain. Our recent studies are focused on the signaling pathways that up and down regulate oxidative/inflammatory response in microglial cells. Our goals also include searching for effective phytochemicals/herbs that can provide therapeutic potentials to mitigate neurodegenerative diseases and aging. Microglial cells respond vividly to bacteria endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) which activate the Toll-like receptors leading to induction of the NF-kB transcriptional pathway and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide. Our studies show that some botanical polyphenols not only are capable of inhibiting LPS-induced NF-kB pathway but also effective in stimulating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway leading to transcription activation of the Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) and synthesis of antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1. We believe that our goals to identify novel phytochemicals targeting these pathways are important for maintaining healthy microglia to fight against neurological diseases and aging.