A team of researchers, including an Indian-origin scientist, has identified key inflammatory mechanisms underlying Type 1 diabetes and obesity-related kidney dysfunction.

Diabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The findings showed that an increase in amounts of Sphingomyelin -- a type of fatty acid commonly found in cell membranes and nervous tissue -- has the potential to trigger the inflammatory mechanisms that can damage functioning of kidneys.

Sphingomyelin has been known to drive an increase in the ratio of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) -- molecules involved in intracellular energy transfer in kidneys -- in glomerular cells of the kidney in mice with diabetes, obesity or both.

Diabetes and obesity leads to an increase in the ATP levels and decreases the AMP levels, disrupting the balance leading to the dysfunctioning of the kidneys.

"We believe that sphingomyelin fuels increases in ATP and decreases in AMP that result in inflammation which leads to cell dysfunction, fibrosis and endothelial damage underlying diabetic kidney disease," said Sharma, professor at the University of California San Diego in the US.

The team analysed the kidneys of experimental mice with Type 1 diabetes and mice fed on a high-fat diet.

The results also showed that deficiency in the production of insulin in the body or the resistance to externally induced insulin leads to an increase in amounts of sphingomyelin.

"We found that insulin deficiency and insulin resistance, two hallmarks of diabetes, seem to be associated with increased sphingomyelin in the kidney, which trigger damaging inflammatory mechanisms," Sharma noted in the paper published online in the journal EbioMedicine.

The insights could have major impact on developing new biomarkers and novel therapeutics for diabetic and obesity-related kidney diseases.

"It may be possible to create new treatments by blocking ATP and the inflammatory pathways consequent to that or by developing ways to reduce the amount or activity of sphingomyelin in the kidney," Sharma concluded.

According to a new study, eating of oily fish like salmon during pregnancy may reduces the risk of developing respiratory diseases like asthma in babies.

At six months of age, there is no difference in allergy rate between the children whose mothers ate oil fish and those who did not during pregnancy, as shown in the early result of the study

The early results of the study showed that at six months of age there was no difference in allergy rate between the children whose mothers ate salmon and those who did not.

However, at age of two and half years, children whose mothers ate oily fish during pregnancy are less likely to have asthma.

"Our findings indicate that early nutrition interventions, even during pregnancy, can have long lasting effects on health," said Philip Calder, professor at University of Southampton in Britain.

The study proved that fatty acids -- or a lack of them -- are involved in a broad spectrum of common diseases ranging from diverse allergies through to atherosclerosis and inflammatory conditions such as Crohn's disease.

The research was a randomised controlled trial in which a group of women ate salmon twice a week from week 19 of pregnancy.

Allergy tests were then performed on the children at six months and then at two to three years of age.

Results were compared to a control group whose mothers did not eat salmon during pregnancy.

The findings were presented at the recent Experimental Biology Congress in San Diego, US.

Obesity not only increases the risk of heart failure, but increased belly fat, combined with an ageing population, can also lead to a significant increase in the risk of heart failure, a study says.

The study showed a clear correlation between higher Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference and the risk of heart failure.

The researchers saw that with every 10 cm increase in waist circumference was linked to a 29 percent higher risk of heart failure from the analyses of 360,000 participants.

"Overweight individuals had a 35 percent increased risk of heart failure as compared with normal weight individuals and our findings indicate that overweight should be considered a clear risk factor for heart failure," said first author Dagfinn Aune from Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway.

Research showed that a BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m2, which is considered overweight, is also associated with increased risk.

A higher waist-to-hip ratio was also correlated with a progressively greater risk of developing heart failure.

The studies looked at the link between body mass index and the risk of death from heart failure and suggested a 26 percent higher risk for an increase of five BMI units.

"Overweight and obesity increase the risk for heart muscle disease, which is an established risk factor for heart failure," said Aune.

The findings hold great significance for clinical guidelines on preventing heart failure and they are also important from a public health perspective.

"Physical activity and a more plant-based diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains are important to prevent overweight and obesity," Aune said.