Background: Obesity is associated with an overexpansion of adipose tissue, along with increases in blood pressure, glycemia, inflammation, and thrombo

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex, poorly understood, and underdiagnosed endocrine disorder in women. Understanding PCOS prevalence and information sources allows for resource development for those with PCOS and their loved ones. The purpose of this study was to identify PCOS prevalence, knowledge, and information sources in a young multiethnic cohort in Texas. Methods: An online survey polled students, faculty, and staff at Texas Woman’s University campuses in Denton, Dallas, and Houston. Seven hundred sixty-nine respondents including 722 females and 47 males completed the survey. Results: Approximately, 28.5% of female respondents indicated a formal diagnosis of PCOS, and 40.5% of those without a formal diagnosis had 2 or more symptoms that align with PCOS. A majority of participants ranked their PCOS knowledge as “Know some” or less (66.3% women and 83% of men). Healthcare professionals were the most common information source in women with a PCOS diagnosis (83.7%). Hispanics were least likely to use healthcare resources (36%) and to seek information from family and friends (17.6%). Differences were also observed by education level. Conclusions: Although women in this study recorded a PCOS prevalence above the national average (6%–12%) and were more likely to seek information from healthcare professionals, these numbers may have been skewed attributable to an increased likelihood of polycystic women to respond to the questionnaire. Ethnicity and education need to be accounted for in designing informative material for polycystic women and their family and friends.

Obesity is an increasingly costly and widespread epidemic, effecting 1 in 10 adults worldwide. It has been causally linked with both the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, both of which are associated with increased chronic inflammation. The exact mechanisms through which inflammation may contribute to both MetS and IR are numerous and their details are still largely unknown. Recently, micro-RNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential interventional targets due to their potential preventive roles in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including MetS and obesity. The purpose of this review paper is to discuss some of the known roles of miRNAs as mediators of inflammation-associated obesity and IR and how omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may be used as a nutritional intervention for these disorders.

Objective: The adipose renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) has been linked to obesity‐induced inflammation, though mechanisms are not completely understood. In this study, adipose‐specific angiotensinogen knockout mice (Agt‐KO) were generated to determine whether Agt inactivation reduces inflammation and alters the metabolic profile of the Agt‐KO mice compared to wild‐type (WT) littermates.Methods: Adipose tissue‐specific Agt‐KO mice were created using the Cre‐LoxP system with both Agt‐KO and WT littermates fed either a low‐fat or high‐fat diet to assess metabolic changes. White adipose tissue was used for gene/protein expression analyses and WAT stromal vascular cells for metabolic extracellular flux assays.Results: No significant differences were observed in body weight or fat mass between both genotypes on either diet. However, improved glucose clearance was observed in Agt‐KO compared to WT littermates, consistent with higher expression of genes involved in insulin signaling, glucose transport, and fatty acid metabolism. Furthermore, Agt inactivation reduced total macrophage infiltration in Agt‐KO mice fed both diets. Lastly, stroma vascular cells from Agt‐KO mice revealed higher metabolic activity compared to WT mice.Conclusions: These findings indicate that adipose‐specific Agt inactivation leads to reduced adipose inflammation and increased glucose tolerance mediated in part via increased metabolic activity of adipose cells.