Fasting Research Articles

Nutritional Factors Associated with Late-Onset Sepsis in Very Low Birth Weight Newborns.

Background: Delayed onset of minimal enteral nutrition compromises the immune response of preterm infants, increasing the risk of colonization and clinical complications (e.g., late-onset sepsis). This study aimed to analyze associations between late-onset sepsis in very low birth weight infants (<1500 g) and days of parenteral nutrition, days to reach full enteral nutrition, and maternal and nutritional factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with very low birth weight infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a reference maternity hospital of high-risk deliveries. Data regarding days of parenteral nutrition, days to reach full enteral nutrition, fasting days, extrauterine growth restriction, and NICU length of stay were extracted from online medical records. Late-onset sepsis was diagnosed (clinical or laboratory) after 48 h of life. Chi-squared, Mann–Whitney tests, and binary logistic regression were applied. Results: A total of 97 preterm infants were included. Of those, 75 presented late-onset sepsis with clinical (n = 40) or laboratory (n = 35) diagnosis. Maternal urinary tract infection, prolonged parenteral nutrition (>14 days), and extrauterine growth restriction presented 4.24-fold, 4.86-fold, and 4.90-fold higher chance of late-onset sepsis, respectively. Conclusion: Very low birth weight infants with late-onset sepsis had prolonged parenteral nutrition and took longer to reach full enteral nutrition. They also presented a higher prevalence of extrauterine growth restriction than infants without late-onset sepsis.

Effects of Ramadan fasting on some biochemical parameters

Introduction: Holy month Ramadan lasts for about 29-30 days. It is mandatory for all adult individuals of the Islamic faith to fast during the holy month of Ramadan. During this period, healthy Muslims do not eat or drink (i.e., total abstinence from food and fluids) and refrain from tobacco, daily from pre‑dawn until dusk. Materials and Methods: The present study included healthy adult male and female Muslim volunteers from different towns in the Republic of North Macedonia. The number of subjects in the study was 195. Blood samples from all subjects were collected twice during the study - once 2-3 days prior to the beginning of Ramadan and then again, the last day of Ramadan fasting. The following biochemical parameters were taken into consideration: total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, glucose, insulin, total proteins, albumin, total and direct bilirubin, urea, creatinine and uric acid. Results: It was observed that compared to pre‑fasting levels, total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were significantly decreased (P=0.000) and high‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‑C) level had significantly increased (P=0.000); total proteins were significantly increased (P=0.000); albumins were significantly increased (P=0.004); urea was significantly increased (P=0.004); total and direct bilirubin were significantly increased (P=0.000), glucose was significantly increased (P=0.000); there was no change in insulin levels (P&lt;0.1) Conclusion: This study showed that Ramadan fasting has an effect on biochemical parameters. We can conclude that reduction in total cholesterol and triglycerides along with a rise in levels of HDL‑C have beneficial effects on lipid profile post-Ramadan fasting period.

Effects of the Essential Oils of Sweet Orange, Lavender and Amyris on EEG Activity

Purpose: This study evaluated the effects of the mixed essential oils containing sweet orange, lavender, and amyris (MEO) on human electroencephalogram (EEG) activity.Methods: EEG activity was recorded by examining the sequence of brain waves of 20 adults, aged from 20 to 30, before and during inhaling the mixed essential oils.Results: MEO showed activity centered on the frontal lobe, which is responsible for higher-order functions against external stimuli, and this result indicated that the oils acted as an intellectual effect. Additional experiments showed that the brain was relaxed and stabilized through a decrease in the absolute slow alpha (ASA) and the relative slow alpha (RSA), a decrease in the absolute beta (AB) and the absolute high beta (AHB), and an increase in the spectral edge frequency 50% of alpha (ASEF), respectively. Also, the oils induced the awakening states of the brain with a decrease in the absolute alpha (AA) and the absolute theta (AT), and increase of the spectral edge frequency 50% (SEF50). Furthermore, it was possible to confirm the state of brain immersion through the increase in the absolute fast alpha (AFA), relative fast alpha (RFA), relative mid beta (RMB), ratio of mid beta to theta (RMT), ratio of SMR to theta (RSMT), relative gamma (RG) and the spectral edge frequency 90% (SEF90).Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that the inhaling of MEO affect the brain to be a good condition and improves its concentration ability.

Salivary and Intestinal Transcriptomes Reveal Differential Gene Expression in Starving, Fed and Trypanosoma cruzi-Infected Rhodnius neglectus.

Rhodnius neglectus is a potential vector of Trypanosoma cruzi (Tc), the causative agent of Chagas disease. The salivary glands (SGs) and intestine (INT) are actively required during blood feeding. The saliva from SGs is injected into the vertebrate host, modulating immune responses and favoring feeding for INT digestion. Tc infection significantly alters the physiology of these tissues; however, studies that assess this are still scarce. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of the global transcriptional expression of genes in SGs and INT during fasting (FA), fed (FE), and fed in the presence of Tc (FE + Tc) conditions. In FA, the expression of transcripts related to homeostasis maintenance proteins during periods of stress was predominant. Therefore, the transcript levels of Tret1-like and Hsp70Ba proteins were increased. Blood appeared to be responsible for alterations found in the FE group, as most of the expressed transcripts, such as proteases and cathepsin D, were related to digestion. In FE + Tc group, there was a decreased expression of blood processing genes for insect metabolism (e.g., Antigen-5 precursor, Pr13a, and Obp), detoxification (Sult1) in INT and acid phosphatases in SG. We also found decreased transcriptional expression of lipocalins and nitrophorins in SG and two new proteins, pacifastin and diptericin, in INT. Several transcripts of unknown proteins with investigative potential were found in both tissues. Our results also show that the presence of Tc can change the expression in both tissues for a long or short period of time. While SG homeostasis seems to be re-established on day 9, changes in INT are still evident. The findings of this study may be used for future research on parasite-vector interactions and contribute to the understanding of food physiology and post-meal/infection in triatomines.

Use of automated insulin delivery systems in people with type 1 diabetes fasting during Ramadan: An observational study.

Fasting among people with type 1 diabetes imposes the risk of metabolic decompensation. Automated insulin dosing systems can allow better glycemic control without safety concerns. The utility in prolonged and repetitive fasting has not been studied. In this observational study, validated glycemic data were reviewed and analyzed from people with type 1 diabetes who observed fasting during Ramadan in 2019 and 2020 using automated insulin dosing systems. Six profiles met the inclusion criteria. The average age was 33.7 ± 4.8 years, diabetes duration was 23.5 ± 7.9 years, body mass index 23.6 ± 1.9 kg/m2 and glycated hemoglobin was 6.3 ± 0.2% (45 ± 5 mmol/mol). The average glucose during Ramadan was 7.0 ± 0.5 mmol/L (126 ± 9 mg/dL), coefficient of variation 28.5%, percentage of time in range 3.9–10 mmol/L (70–180 mg/dL) 88.8 ± 7.3% and percentage time <3.9 mmol/L (<70.0 mg/dL) 2.5 ± 1.3%. The number of fasting days was 27.3 ± 3.3, and the number of days where fasting was broken due diabetes was 1 ± 1.5/participant. No significant differences in glycemic outcomes were noted between Ramadan and non‐Ramadan periods. In this first clinically validated study, automated insulin dosing systems showed a safe and effective management strategy to support prolonged and consecutive fasting in people with type 1 diabetes.

Fasting, food and farming: Value chains and food taboos in Ethiopia.

The impact of food taboos-often because of religion-is understudied. In Ethiopia, religious fasting by Orthodox Christians is assumed to be an important impediment for the sustainable development of a competitive dairy sector and desired higher milk consumption, especially by children. However, evidence is limited. Relying on unique data, we shed light on three major issues. First, we observe that the average annual number of fasting days that Orthodox adults are effectively adhering to is 140, less than commonly cited averages. Using this as an estimate for extrapolation, fasting is estimated to reduce annual dairy consumption by approximately 12 percent nationally. Second, farms adapt to declining milk demand during fasting by increased processing of milk into storable products-fasting contributes to larger price swings for these products. We further note continued sales of milk by non-remote farmers and reduced production-by adjusting lactation times for dairy animals-for remote farmers. Third, fasting is mostly associated with increased milk consumption by the children of dairy farmers, seemingly because of excess milk availability during fasting periods. Our results suggest that fasting habits are not a major explanation for the observed poor performance of Ethiopia's dairy sector nor low milk consumption by children. To reduce the impact of fasting on the dairy sector in Ethiopia further, investment is called for in improved milk processing, storage, and infrastructure facilities.

Management application of feeding with different fasting methods in milkfish seeding (Chanos chanos)

Milkfish has a high market demand, the existence of consumption milkfish is influenced by the success of the nursery. This study aims to determine the effect of feeding different feeding methods on milkfish to milkfish. The research was carried out from September to October 2020 at the Hatchery and Aquaculture Technology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Malikussaleh University. The experimental research method used a non-factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of 4 treatments and 3 replications, namely A: Control (given daily feed), B: 1 day of fasting, 3 days of feeding, C: 2 days of fasting, 2 days of feeding feed, D: 3 days of fasting, 1 day of feed. The results showed that the feeding method of fasting was different with the best treatment found in treatment B, namely 1 day fasting, 3 days of feeding. Behavior, increased appetite, normal movement and normal metabolism, daily feed consumption of 1.23 grams, total feed consumption of 39.26 grams, length growth of 2.03 cm, weight growth of 3.06 grams, feed efficiency of 73.96%, Feed conversion was 1.35 and had a significant effect on survival, with treatment A having the highest survival, namely 87%.Keywords: Efficiency, Fasting, Feed, Growth, Milkfish

Outcomes of a Medically Supervised Fasting Module on Healthy Females in a Controlled Residential Environment: A Brief Report.

Background:Fasting is being used as a therapeutic and cultural practice for millennia. There are numerous reports available on beneficial effects of fasting on various disease conditions. Despite the mounting evidence on fasting, little is known on its physiological effects in humans as most of the studies on physiological effects are done in animals.Methods:Twenty healthy female volunteers (mean age ± SD, 21.95 ± 2.52 years) participated in a 10-day fasting program, which has 1 preparatory day and 1 refeeding day (1,000 kcal) and 8 fasting days (500 kcal). All the participants consented to participate in the study. Blood parameters like complete blood count, renal function test, total iron binding capacity, lipid profile, liver profile, vitamins D and B12, thyroid function tests, glycated hemoglobin, and air blood gas test along with anthropometric measurements were taken on the first and last day.Results:All the parameters under the study have shown statistically significant changes (p < 0.05) except hemoglobin (p = 0.7) and non-high density lipoprotein (p = 0.32). Notable changes were the significant increase in vitamins D and B12 levels that signifies the homoeostatic potential of a fasting regimen.Conclusion:The result depicts the positive impact of fasting on various physiological parameters that warrants further studies on the safety of fasting in diverse diseases, especially the ones that have metabolic disarray as the root cause. Despite the limitation of the smaller sample size and lack of a control group, the results are encouraging to devise disease-specific fasting programs.

Immune and hormonal modulation in the postprandial period of bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus).

Mammals show immune up-regulation and increased plasma and local (gastrointestinal tract) concentrations of some immunoregulatory hormones, such as corticosterone and melatonin, after feeding. However, little is known about the endocrine and immune modulation in the postprandial period of ectothermic animals. This study investigated the effects of feeding on endocrine and immune responses in the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus). Frogs were fasted for 10 days and divided into two groups: fasted and fed with fish feed (5% of body mass). Blood and gastrointestinal tract tissues (stomach and intestine) were collected at 6, 24, 48, 96 and 168 h to measure neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, plasma bacterial killing ability, phagocytosis of blood leukocytes, plasma corticosterone and melatonin, and stomach and intestine melatonin. Feeding increased plasma corticosterone at 24 h and decreased it at 168 h, and increased neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio at 6, 24 and 96 h. We also observed decreased bacterial killing ability 48 h after feeding. Stomach melatonin increased after 17days of fasting. We show that feeding activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis and promotes transient immunosuppression, without stimulating an inflammatory response. Increased corticosterone may mobilize energy to support digestive processes and melatonin may protect the stomach during fasting. We conclude that feeding modulates secretion of immunoregulatory hormones, initially increasing plasma corticosterone levels, followed by a decrease at the end of meal digestion, and causes systemic immune cell redistribution, increasing neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio for almost the entire period of meal digestion in bullfrogs. Also, fasting modulates secretion of melatonin in the stomach.

Intermittent Fasting Decreases Oxidative Stress Parameters and Increases Total Antioxidant Capacity

Modern lifestyle with an unhealthy routine, including consumption of excessive food and less physical activity, is full of many complications like chronic and degenerative diseases. For driving a healthy life, following a prophylactic style is necessary. The simplest and available way is intermittent fasting (IF). IF can help weight management. IF may lower oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can be determined from the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and tri acyl glycerol (TAG) in the blood. Also, it increases Total antioxidant capacity (TAC). This study aimed to determine the effect of both protocols, Alternate day fasting (ADF) and time-restricted feeding (TRF), on plasma MDA level, TAG concentration, and TAC level of Sprague Dawley rats. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups, i.e., control group (C), fasting group (ADF), fasting group (TRF). Fasting given in this research was ADF, comprising one day of fasting for 24 hours, alternating with one day of normal feed ad libitum in the span of 12 weeks, including fasting 12 hours for two days a week plus three days in the middle of the month. After 3-months, blood was taken for examination of MDA levels, TAG, and TAC levels. A significant difference among the three groups in MDA levels, TAG and TAC. (p&lt;0.05 for all parameters). Groups conducted on intermittent fasting had lower levels of MDA, TAG concentration, and a high level of TAC. ADF was lower in MDA level and TAG concentration than TRF. ADF was higher in TAC level than TRF. Intermittent fasting (ADF and TRF) decreases the oxidative stress parameters and increases Total antioxidant capacity in Sprague Dawley rats. ADF is more effective than TRF.

Changes in migraine characteristics over 30days of Ramadan fasting: A prospective study.

To study Ramadan's effect on migraine from the start to the end of the month and the tolerability of patients with migraine to fasting. Fasting is a well-known trigger for migraine. Whether this effect on migraine is the same throughout the whole month, or whether it varies from the first to the last days of the month, has not been studied yet. A prospective cohort observational study was carried out on persons with migraine who fasted from 24 April to 23May during Ramadan 2020. Each patient was asked to fill out their headache diary starting from Shaaban (the month before Ramadan) to the end of Ramadan. The Ramadan diary was divided by 10days each, by which the patient was asked to accurately describe their migraine attacks in terms of frequency, duration, and intensity by using the Visual Analog Scale. Migraine attacks during the first day of fasting were assessed separately. A total of 292known persons with migraine from Egypt completed the study. Their median age was 33years; 72/292 (24.7%) were male, and 220/292 (75.3%) were female. About 126/236 (53.4%) of the patients had migraine attacks on Ramadan's first day, most of them during fasting. The frequency of migraine attacks was significantly increased in Ramadan (median 4, interquartile range [IQR] 2-7) compared with Shaaban (median 3, IQR 1-6), p=0.009. The number of attacks was significantly reduced in both the second (median 1, IQR 0-2.25) and the third 10days of Ramadan (median 1, IQR 1-3) compared with the first 10days (median 3, IQR 1-5) (p<0.001 for each). Ramadan's potential exacerbating effect on the frequency of migraine attacks should be discussed with patients with migraine. This effect appears to be limited to the first 10days of Ramadan and then subsides with successive days of fasting.

Influence of short-term fasting on oxidative stress, antioxidant-related signaling molecules and autophagy in the intestine of adult Siniperca chuatsi

Starvation is a challenging issue in fish growth. In this study, we assessed the effect of short-term fasting on reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, antioxidant activity, the mRNA level of antioxidant and autophagy-related signaling genes and autophagosome formation in the adult Siniperca chuatsi intestine. The results revealed that the ROS and MDA content increased during short-term starvation. Furthermore, GSH content and the activity of SOD, CAT, GST, and GPX increased significantly after a three-day fast, whereas glutathione reductase (GR) activity did not change. Meanwhile, the expression of antioxidant-related signaling genes such as NRF2 was upregulated. As for autophagy-related genes, the expression of Atg4b, BECLIN1 and LC3b did not change after three days of fasting, but significantly upregulated after seven days of fasting, while S6K1 exhibited a decreasing trend. The expression of mTOR decreased significantly after seven days of fasting. Both the mRNA and protein levels of LC3b increased significantly. The results of transmission electron microscopy indicated that the autophagosomes did not changed significantly in the three-day fasting group, but after seven days of starvation and resumed feeding for three days, autophagosomes in the intestine increased significantly. The results indicate that short-term fasting causes a range of physiological and molecular responses in the adult S. chuatsi intestine, which includes alterations in antioxidant signaling genes, antioxidant capacity and subsequently autophagy. Our findings provide a potential insight in the molecular regulatory mechanism of short-term fasting in the intestine of adult S. chuatsi.

Bone marrow adipose tissue composition following high-caloric feeding and fasting.

Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) plays a role in systemic energy metabolism and responds to nutritional changes. Chronic starvation as well as visceral adiposity are associated with BMAT accumulation. Two types of BMAT have been described which differ in anatomic location (proximal-regulated-rBMAT vs distal-constitutive-cBMAT) and composition (higher unsaturated lipids of cBMAT compared to rBMAT). To determine the response of BMAT composition to short-term high-caloric feeding and fasting. We hypothesized that high-feeding and caloric restriction would be associated with differences in BMAT composition according to the skeletal site. We examined 23 healthy subjects (13m, 10 f, mean age 33±7years, BMI 26±1.5kg/m2) who were admitted for a 10-day high-caloric stay (caloric intake with goal to achieve 7% weight gain) followed by discharge home for 13-18days to resume normal diet (stabilization period), followed by a 10-day fasting stay (no caloric intake). Subjects underwent single voxel proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) at 3T of the lumbar spine (L4) (rBMAT), the femoral diaphysis and distal tibial metaphysis (cBMAT) to determine BMAT composition (unsaturation index, UI and saturation index, SI). Within group comparisons were performed by the Wilcoxon signed rank test. After the high-calorie visit, SI of L4 increased compared to baseline (0.62±0.27 to 0.70±0.28, p=0.02), and there was a trend of an increase in femoral SI and UI (p≥0.07), while there was no significant change in tibial BMAT (p≥0.13). During the stabilization period, SI of L4 decreased (0.70±0.28 to 0.57±0.21, p<0.0001) and SI of the femoral diaphysis decreased (5.37±2.27 to 5.09±2.43, p=0.03), while there was no significant change in UI or tibial BMAT (p≥0.14). During the fasting period, SI of L4 increased (0.57±0.21 to 0.63±0.30, p=0.03), while there was no change in UI (p=0.7). SI and UI of femoral diaphysis decreased (5.09±2.43 to 4.68±2.15, p=0.03, and 0.62±0.42 to 0.47±0.37, p=0.02, respectively) and UI of the tibial metaphysis decreased (1.48±0.49 to 1.24±0.57, p=0.04). 1H-MRS is able to quantify BMAT composition during short-term nutritional challenges, showing a significant increase in SI of rBMAT during high caloric feeding and a differential response to fasting with an increase in SI of rBMAT and a decrease in SI and UI of femoral cBMAT and decrease in UI of tibial cBMAT.

Pengaruh Efisiensi Pakan dan Waktu Pemuasaan Yang Berbeda Terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Kelangsungan Hidup Ikan Nila (Oreochromis niloticus)

Fasting is one strategy to overcome the problem by giving the minimum possible amount of feed but the growth of the fish is not hampered. Fasting also means feed with a predetermined time interval in the hope that the fish can experience an increase in appetite after the fish are fasted. This study aims to determine the fisting effect of tilapia and feed efficiency et growth which fasting is the best to do. The research method used a simple completely randomized design with four treatments and two repetitions each, namely feed without fasting (treatment A), one day of fasting one day of feed (treatment B), one day fasting two days of feed (treatment C) and one day of fasting and three days of feed (treatment D). Fish were to eating three times a day at 08.00, 12.00, 17.00 at satiation. Fish seeds were given pellet feed as much as 3% of body weight. The results of analysis of variance test showed that fish feeding had no significant effect (P&lt;0.05) at growth in weight and length and feed efficiency but significantly (P&gt;0.05) at survival rate. The results showed that the best weight and length growth values in tilapia were found in treatment D with an average weight growth value of 12.20±0.22 gram, length 2.41±0.24 cm. The best feed efficiency was found in treatment B, which was 60.83±6.60% and the best survival was found in treatment A a with an average value of 86.67±0,00%.

The “Levine effect” and the father of modern diabetes research

The “Levine effect” and the father of modern diabetes research

Влияние голодания на мобилизацию жирных кислот из курдючного жира у баранчиков

In ruminants, adipose tissue performs 3 functions: synthesis of fatty acids, accumulation in the form of a reserve, and mobilization. After the esterification of fatty acids with the collected energy in adipocytes, triacyl-glycerols are born, and the esterification of fatty acids occurs by the α-glycerol-phosphate pathway. The volume of adipose tissue is determined not by the number of adiposites, but by their size. The metabolic activity of adiposites does not depend on the volume of fat collected in it or the volume of cytoplasm. This process in animals is regulated by energy balance. The purpose of the work was to study lipid metabolism and mobilization of fatty acids from tail fat during starvation in rams of the Karadolak and Bozag breeds. Materials and methods. A complex surgical operation was carried out according to the method of A. Aliyev on 9 heads of male rams of the Karabakh breed, the Karadolak line, the average live weight of which was 45.0±1.70 kg. Catheters were implanted in each ram in the carotid artery, in the portal vein of the liver, in the mesenteric vein and in the posterior vena cava (pointing towards the tail). Thus, from the difference in the concentration of metabolites in the arterial blood and in the blood of the portal vein, we obtained the data on the net absorption of metabolites from the gastrointestinal tract into the blood. And from the difference in lipid metabolites in arterial blood and in the blood of the posterior vena cava, we obtained data on their mobilization from tail fat. Results and discussion. The studies carried out have studied the effect of a fasting diet on the mobilization of fatty acids from tail fat. It became known that in rams of the Bozag and Karadolak breeds, during starvation, in order to meet the energy requirements of the body, there is a strong mobilization of total lipids and long-chain fatty acids. This process is most intensive in sheep of the Karadolak line, the Karabakh breed. In both breeds of sheep, during starvation, the amount of oleic acid in the lipids of the blood plasma taken from the posterior vena cava increased, and on the 5th day it reached its peak. This is due to the fact that the amount of oleic acid in the tail fat is higher compared to other fats. Therefore, after feeding, in both breeds of sheep, the amount of this acid decreased in plasma lipids, both arterial and venous (posterior vena cava) blood. After feeding A-B difference was positive. The percentage of linolenic and linoleic acids did not change during starvation in both breeds of sheep. Of the acids with carbon atom 20, dynamic changes have occurred in arachidonic acid. Since arachidonic acid is synthesized from linoleic acid, a close relationship of these acids in the blood is observed. During fasting, when linoleic acid is not supplied with food, the amount of arachidic acid in lipids decreased in blood plasma taken from the posterior vena cava. So, in sheep of the Karadolak breed, the amount of this acid decreased from 3.75 to 2.60, and in the Bozag breed from 5.24 to 2.33. Conclusion. In both breeds of sheep, in order to satisfy the body's need for energy, in connection with a starvation diet, there is a strong mobilization of total lipids and long-chain fatty acids from internal fat and tail fat. It should be noted that this process is clearly expressed in rams of the Karabakh breed of the Karadolak line

Brain Distribution of 10 cart Transcripts and Their Response to 4 Days of Fasting in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) has been known to be involved in feeding and energy balance in mammals, acting as an anorexigenic neuropeptide in hypothalamus. In Atlantic salmon, little is known about Cart brain localization and its function. In this study, in silico analysis revealed the existence of 10 cart paralogs, here named cart1a, 1b1, 1b2, 2a, 2b1, 2b2, 3a1, 3a2, 3b, and 4. The Atlantic salmon Cart sequences shared from 19 to 50% of identity with the human homolog and between 25 and 90% of sequence identity among paralogs, except for Cart4 which only shared 18–23% of identity. We further explored cart mRNA expressions in 8 brain regions (Olfactory Bulb-OB, Telencephalon-TEL, Midbrain-MB, Cerebellum-CE, Hypothalamus-HYP, Saccus vasculosus-SV, Pituitary-PT, and Brain Stem-BS) of Atlantic salmon smolt under 4 days of fasting and continuous fed conditions. The cart paralogs analyzed were widely distributed among the brain regions and OB, TEL, HYP, MB, and BS seemed to be the major sites of expression. The expression of cart1a and 1b showed quite similar pattern in MB, HYP, and BS. The expression of cart2a had the highest in MB followed by HYP and TEL. The cart3a transcript was widely distributed in rostrocaudal regions of brain except in OB and SV whereas cart3b was predominantly expressed in BS followed by MB. Expression of cart4 was high in HYP followed by TEL. With regards to effect of feeding status the Atlantic salmon cart2b, which is the most abundant among the paralogs, was upregulated after 4 days of fasting in OB, MB, and HYP compared to fed group. This may suggest an unexpected, but possible orexigenic role of cart2b in Atlantic salmon or a fasting induced stress effect. No other significant effect was observed. Collectively, the differential expressions of the cart paralogs in different brain regions suggest that they may have roles in regional integration of appetite signals and are possibly involved in regulating other brain functions in Atlantic salmon. The fact that salmon has 10 cart paralogs, while mammalians only one, opens interesting perspectives for comparative research on evolutionary adaptations of gene function in the control of appetite and energy homeostasis.

Gastroschisis: A Successful, Prospectively Evaluated Treatment Model in a Middle-Income Country.

This research adopted a care protocol from high-income countries in a level II/III hospital in a middle-income country to decrease morbidity and mortality associated with gastroschisis. We established a multidisciplinary protocol to treat patients with gastroschisis prospectively from November 2012 to November 2018. This included prenatal diagnosis, presence of a neonatologist and pediatric surgeon at birth, and either performing primary closure on the patients with an Apgar score of 8/9, mild serositis, and no breathing difficulty or placing a preformed silo, when unable to fulfill these criteria, under sedation and analgesia (no intubation) in the operating room or at the patients' bedside. The subsequent management took place in the neonatal intensive care unit. The data were analyzed through the Mann-Whitney and Student's t-distribution for the two independent samples; the categorical variables were analyzed through a chi-square distribution or Fisher's exact test. In total, 55 patients were included in the study: 33 patients (60%) were managed with a preformed silo, whereas 22 patients (40%) underwent primary closure. Prenatal diagnosis (P = 0.02), birth at the main hospital (P = 0.02), and the presence of a pediatric surgeon at birth (P = 0.04) were associated with successful primary closure. The primary closure group had fewer fasting days (P < 0.001) and a shorter neonatal intensive care unit length of stay (P = 0.025). The survival rate was 92.7% (51 patients). The treatment model modified to fit the means of our hospital proved successful.

Role of fasting duration and weekday in incretin and glucose regulation

Fasting duration has been associated with lower fasting blood glucose levels, but higher 2-h post-load levels, and research has indicated an adverse effect of 'weekend behavior' on human metabolism. We investigated associations of fasting duration and weekday of examination with glucose, insulin, glucagon and incretin responses to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This cross-sectional study is based on data from the ADDITION-PRO study, where 2082 individuals attended a health examination including an OGTT. Linear regression analysis was applied to study the associations of overnight fasting duration and day of the week with glucose, insulin, glucagon, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) responses to an OGTT. We found that a 1 h longer fasting duration was associated with 1.7% (95% CI: 0.8,2.5) higher 2-h glucose levels, as well as a 3.0% (95% CI: 1.3,4.7) higher GIP and 2.3% (95% CI: 0.3,4.4) higher GLP-1 response. Fasting insulin levels were 20.6% (95% CI: 11.2,30.7) higher on Mondays compared to the other weekdays, with similar fasting glucose levels (1.7%, 95% CI: 0.0,3.4). In this study, longer overnight fasting duration was associated with a worsening of glucose tolerance and increased incretin response to oral glucose. We found higher fasting insulin levels on Mondays compared to the other days of the week, potentially indicating a worsened glucose regulation after the weekend.

Jewish Cultural Traditions within a Modernising Early Soviet Framework: Y. Goldberg's 1935 Yiddish Othello

ABSTRACT This article explores the Yiddish Othello translation produced under Soviet state auspices by the Russian Jewish folklorist Y. Goldberg and published in 1935 by the State Press of Belorussia. It is the first study devoted to Goldberg's Yiddish Shakespeare translations. The article will consider the ways in which Goldberg's translation reflects a tension between a modernising Soviet ideology on the one hand, and traditional Eastern European Jewish culture on the other. The former is manifested in the translation through its use of an accessible Soviet Yiddish style; through Goldberg's avoidance of citations from classical Jewish sources; and through his characterisation of Desdemona as an admirably modern and progressive woman. The latter is manifested through domesticating elements, specifically allusions to Jewish traditions such as oylemhaze ‘the Present World’, taneysim ‘fast days’, and yichus (Jewish ancestral pedigree); and references to Eastern European Jewish realia (e.g. herring and turnips). Examination of Goldberg's work provides a fascinating perspective on an understudied aspect of the Jewish relationship with Shakespeare. The article fits into the wider context of Jewish language, literature, and culture in the early Soviet period, and of multicultural and minority-language Shakespeare more broadly.