PONTIFICAL AND ROYAL

UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS

THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
3RD Term, AY 2017-2018

GROUP HOMEWORK

GROUP # 5
CALINGASAN, Venice Guillen V.
CAPELLAN, Ella Marie E.
CAPUNO, Bernard Marco F.
CARLOS, Ma. Catherine D.
CARRASCO, Queency A.
DANAO, Tedrein Eiveth F.
DELGADO, Kiara Venice M.

SECTION: 11-HA8

SUBMITTED ON: 24 January 2018

 PONTIFICAL AND ROYAL
UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
3RD Term, AY 2017-2018

STUDY #1: Intermittent fasting promotes adipose thermogenesis and metabolic homeostasis via VEGF-
mediated alternative activation of macrophage
Kyoung-Han Kim, Yun Hye Kim, Joe Eun Son, Jin Gyoon Park, Chi-chung Hui, Hoon-Ki Sung et.al
Researched by: Venice CALINGASAN, Bernard CAPUNO, Kiara DELGADO
Summary: Intermittent fasting has been shown to provide health benefits equivalent to prolonged fasting
or caloric restriction. However, society’s understanding of the underlying mechanisms of IF-mediated
metabolic benefits is limited. A research team, led by Hoon-Ki Sung, showed that iso-caloric IF improves
metabolic homeostasis against diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction primarily through adipose
thermogenesis in mice. IF-induced metabolic benefits require fasting-mediated increases of vascular
endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in white adipose tissue (WAT). In their study, human adipose
gene analysis further revealed a positive correlation of adipose VEGF-M2 macrophage-WAT browning
axis. The study uncovered the molecular mechanism of IF-mediated metabolic benefit and suggests that
iso-caloric IF can be a preventive therapeutic approach against obesity and metabolic disorders.
a.) Purpose
The proponents of the study established a new intermittent fasting regimen to investigate the impact of
intermittent under iso-caloric conditions and demonstrate that intermittent fasting improves glucose
homeostasis and prevents diet-induced metabolic dysfunction without caloric intake reduction.
b.) Process
The study is based on recent studies that have shown, under certain circumstances, white fat can be
converted into brown fat. This process — referred to as browning — is coming under close examination as
a potential avenue to reduce obesity. The team put mice into two groups: an intermittent fasting group and
a control group. The former group was given no food for 1 day and was then fed for the next 2 days.
The latter group was fed daily. The study continued for 16 weeks. Across the 4-month period, both groups
of mice consumed the same number of calories; those in the intermittent fasting group were able to catch
up during their 2 days of eating. By the end of the study, the mice in the intermittent fasting group weighed
significantly less than the control mice.
c.) Findings
The study showed that both IF and CR had impact on nearly all metabolic organs/tissues including
hypothalamus, liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissues13, 14. However, the key organ/tissue driving the
IF-induced metabolic benefits was not clearly defined. Findings, such as how fasting-induced adipose-
VEGF played a key role in WAT browning through M2 macrophage activation, when put together
illustrated the role of IF-induced adipose-VEGF in remodeling the immuno-metabolic property of
adipose tissue, thus highlighting the importance of eating pattern and physiological fasting duration to
sustain metabolic homeostasis. In summary, the data demonstrated that metabolic benefits of IF were
largely mediated by adipose thermogenesis without overall caloric reduction.
d.) Contributions
The study’s contribution include how intermittent fasting can make people lose weight. According to a
2014 review of the scientific literature, intermittent fasting can cause weight loss of 3-8% over 3-24 weeks.
The people also lost 4-7% of their waist circumference, which indicated that they burned lots of belly fat,
the dangerous fat in the abdominal cavity that causes diseases. The proponents had said that IF (without the
reduction in calorie intake) can be a preventative and therapeutic approach against obesity and metabolic
disorders. Lastly, the research into the mechanisms at work underneath intermittent fasting could help to
tailor programs to treat obesity and metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes.
REFERENCE: https://www.nature.com/articles/cr2017126#introduction
 PONTIFICAL AND ROYAL
UNIVERSITY OF STO. TOMAS
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
3RD Term, AY 2017-2018

STUDY #2: Seeing Everyone Else's Highlight Reels: How Facebook Usage is Linked to Depressive
Symptoms
Mai-Ly N. Steers1, Robert E. Wickham2, Linda K. Acitelli1
Researched by: Catherine CARLOS and Queency CARRASCO
Summary: The study investigated how viewing Facebook relates to social comparison that produces
depressive symptoms. A 14 – day diary design was implemented on 154 participants to determine the
relationship of the amount of time spent on Facebook and the manifested depressive symptoms. Findings
showed different social comparisons and no significant differences in terms of gender. It showed that people
can be depressive if they allot a great amount of time on browsing Facebook due to negative social
comparisons with their peers.
a.) Purpose
The study’s purpose is to know how social comparison to peers through computer mediated interactions
on Facebook possibly impact the users’ psychological health, mainly depression.
b.) Process
The study conducted a 14-day interval contingent diary that focuses solely on 154 Facebook users (95
Female & 59 Male) within 18 to 42 years old from a large south-western university. The participants
completed a demographic questionnaire and was required to attend an orientation to help them be
familiarized with the diary procedure. Prior to 14 days after the orientation, the participants completed a
diary online before going to bed, or through hard copy forms if the participant doesn’t have internet access.
It was advised to consider only the time they were actively viewing Facebook. The participants responded
to the following items of their diary entries: Facebook Time/ Logins, how many times did you check your
Facebook account during the day? Facebook Social Comparisons to measure nondirectional, downward,
and upward social comparisons on Facebook. Depressive Symptomology.
c.) Findings
Findings supported their hypotheses except that, there was no significant differences on any of the diary
measures in terms of gender. It showed that browsing Facebook frequently leads users to creating
comparisons of themselves with others and develops into manifested depressive symptoms. Participants
who viewed Facebook more often had a significant upward movement or experienced feeling of inferiority
from their peers. While, lesser time allotted for viewing Facebook showed a downward movement or they
didn’t compared themselves with their peers but rather boost their own self - esteems. This, however may
indicate defense mechanism to improve their self – worth. In addition to this, non – directional movement
still showed depressive symptoms.
d.) Contribution
The present research can determine factors such as social media that contribute to mental issues such
as depression, and consequently, yield solutions for this particular matter. Having knowledge on the relation
of frequent Facebook viewing on depressive symptoms of individuals can lead to the idea of limiting its
use and keeping a mentally sound society. Furthermore, it can also imply solving the internal conflicts of
students, families, and others rather than fixing it through keeping a good impression of their identities on
social media just to fill in their satisfactory needs which were affected by their personal struggles.

REFERENCE: https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/abs/10.1521/jscp.2014.33.8.701