Fasting Feeding Research Articles

Comparative analysis of the plasma metabolome of migrating passerines: novel insights into stopover metabolism

During long‐distance migration, many birds experience periods of either prolonged fasting (during endurance flights) or extensive feeding (during stopovers). Despite decades of research on avian metabolism during migration, many questions have remained unanswered, as such research mainly focused on targeted metabolites and fat metabolism. Here, we examined the plasma‐metabolome of two migrating passerine species before they crossed the Sahara Desert. Birds were sampled at two sites populated by Pistacia trees bearing fat‐rich fruits and at an additional site dominated by blooming Eucalyptus trees. The blood samples were analyzed using both GC‐MS and LC‐MS, using an untargeted approach. Examination of metabolic pathways activated during stopovers indicated a crucial role for cycling glucose through the Cori and Cahill cycles in resting and recovery processes. This novel perspective, conducted on free‐ranging birds, suggests the evolution of avian insulin resistance due to factors such as endurance exercise, fasting, and a preference for fatty acid oxidation during migration, akin to cell trauma recovery. We detected significant inter‐site variations in birds' polar and lipophilic metabolic profiles. We interpret the differences in the polar metabolites to be associated with the physiological state of the birds, with birds that are considered to have landed during the night prior to capture showing different metabolic profiles compared to birds that have spent more time at the stopover site. In contrast, distinctions in the lipophilic profiles of birds were associated with variations in the primary food source that was available to them in the different sites. This study underscores the challenge of interpreting commonly used indicators for assessing migrating birds' physiological state, which was predominantly derived from lipid metabolism in complex ecological systems.

Effects of short-time fasting and feeding frequencies within 24 hours on histology, cholecystokinin and trypsin enzyme activities of digestive organs in black bream, Megalobrama pellegrini (Tchang, 1930), juvenile

To study the regulation and feedback mechanism of cholecystokinin and trypsin in Black bream, Megalobrama pellegrini (Tchang, 1930) 60 days after hatching under 15 days short-term fasting and different feeding frequencies within 24 hours during the same period, Black bream (wet weight 183.75 ± 61.16 mg, total length 20.74 ± 4.08 mm) developed in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) were selected. In the short-term fasting trial, body weight, trypsin, and cholecystokinin (CCK) of the feeding control group (FCG) were higher than those of the fasting trial group (FTG). Trypsin and CCK in FTG reached the lowest value on day 9, and CCK content reached the highest value on day 11. In the 24-hour daily rhythm experiment, juvenile fish were randomly assigned to (A) once feeding, (B) twice feeding, (C) three times feeding, and (D) fasting. CCK showed a minimum at 1:00+ in group A, a peak at night in group B, and a maximum in group C, and a single satiety stimulus can lead to increased hunger. The four treatment groups had an apparent closed-loop regulation, while the control point of the fasting group (D) shifted forward to the next day. In this study, we found only negative feedback regulation of CCK and trypsin at the end of fasting, considering whether the secretory site or anti-inflammatory response caused the increase of CCK. The damage of epithelial cells in the villi of the foregut was greater than that in the hindgut and hepatopancreas, and the detachment of epithelial cells and the striatal margin was the main damage. Different feeding frequencies in a single day did not directly affect the long-term fluctuation of CCK and trypsin diurnal rhythm. Three meals per day may be more conducive to the long-term growth of juvenile Black bream. This study aimed to provide a reference for the feeding strategy of juvenile Black bream in the RAS.

Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Immune Parameters and Intestinal Inflammation.

Intermittent fasting (IF), including alternate day fasting (ADF) and time-restricted feeding (TRF) or, in humans, time-restricted eating (TRE), has been associated with the prevention and improvement of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This review summarizes 20 animal and human studies on the influence of IF on intestinal inflammation. In the animal studies, TRF and ADF improved histological scores, inflammatory markers, markers of oxidative stress, and microbiota composition. Apart from the studies on Ramadan fasting, there are no studies on IF in IBD patients, so human studies on IF in healthy people were included. The studies on Ramadan fasting showed almost no effects, but this particular type of fasting is not directly comparable to TRE or ADF. However, TRE and ADF appear to have anti-inflammatory effects in healthy individuals, as they significantly reduce CRP levels and inflammatory markers. TRE also improved the composition of microbiota and the circadian oscillation of clock genes. The beneficial effects of TRE and ADF in healthy people appear to depend on the number of uninterrupted days of fasting, while in animal studies improvements in colitis have been observed regardless of the duration of fasting.

Chemogenetic activation of hepatic G12 signaling ameliorates hepatic steatosis and obesity

ObjectiveHepatic steatosis, the early stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), currently lacks targeted pharmacological treatments. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in hepatocytes differentially regulate lipid metabolism depending on their coupling profile of G protein subtypes. Unlike Gs, Gi, and Gq signaling, the role of G12 signaling in hepatic steatosis remains elusive. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of G12 signaling on hepatic steatosis and obesity and its mechanisms. MethodsWe generated mice expressing a G12-coupled designer GPCR in a liver-specific manner. We performed phenotypic analysis in the mice under the condition of fasting (acute hepatic steatosis model) or high-fat diet feeding (chronic hepatic steatosis model). ResultsIn acute and chronic hepatic steatosis models, chemogenetic activation of hepatic G12 signaling suppressed the progression of hepatic steatosis. The treatment led to an increased triglyceride secretion with little effect on mitochondrial respiratory activity, fatty acid oxidation, de novo lipogenesis, and fatty acid uptake. Furthermore, in a high-fat-diet-induced obesity model, activation of the G12-coupled designer GPCR exerted anti-obesity effects with increased whole-body energy expenditure and fat oxidation. Anti-FGF21 antibody treatment showed that the anti-obesity effects of the hepatic G12D activation relied in part on the hepatokine FGF21. ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the activation of G12 signaling in the liver has the potential to prevent hepatic steatosis and obesity. This discovery provides a strong rationale for the development of drugs targeting G12-coupled GPCRs expressed in the liver.

Behavioral changes of transgenic mice carrying Adrb1-A187V mutation with short sleep duration under different dietary conditions

To observe the effects of restricted and high-fat diets on behavioral changes of wild-type (Adrb1+/+) and transgenic mice carrying Adrb1-A187V mutation (Adrb1+/m) with short sleep durations. Adrb1+/+ and Adrb1+/m C57BL/6 mice were randomized into normal chow group (25 Adrb1+/+ and 26 Adrb1+/m mice for behavioral monitoring), odor retention fasting group (17 Adrb1+/+ and 19 Adrb1+/m mice for behavioral monitoring; 6 Adrb1+/+ mice and 6 Adrb1+/m mice for EEG/EMG monitoring), absolute fasting group (6 Adrb1+/+ and 4-5 Adrb1+/m mice for behavioral monitoring; 6 Adrb1+/+ and 6 Adrb1+/m mice for EEG/EMG monitoring), and high-fat diet group (6 Adrb1+/+ and 7 Adrb1+/m mice for behavioral monitoring; 6 Adrb1+/+ and 6 Adrb1+/m mice for EEG/EMG monitoring). Electrodes for EEG and muscle activity monitoring were implanted on the skulls of the mice. After 24 h of odor retention fasting, absolute fasting, or high-fat feeding, the mice were observed for behavioral changes adapted to diet changes. In odor retention fasting experiment, Adrb1+/m mice exhibited more stable fluctuations of activities with mildly reduced movement and prolonged sleep duration, indicating enhanced starvation resistance. In absolute fasting experiment, Adrb1+/m mice showed significantly increased nighttime water intake, improved rhythmicity in water intake (frequent intakes in small amounts), and increased duration of non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM). In the high-fat diet experiment, Adrb1+/m mice showed higher levels of activity with increased instances of nighttime rearing, longer movement distances, and increased rapid eye movement sleep during daytime. Adrb1+/m mice can quickly respond to environmental changes and under restricted dietary conditions, they can conserve energy by increasing sleep to maintain energy homeostasis but show higher levels of activity under high-fat dietary conditions.

Providing very low-birth-weight infants with fast enteral feeding reduced how long they needed a central venous catheter.

To determine the impact of the protocol change from slow to fast enteral feeding progression on duration of central venous catheter placement, and the rates of late-onset sepsis and necrotising enterocolitis. We compared the evolution of all very low-birth-weight infants admitted on their first postnatal day in neonatal intensive care unit during a 12-month period, before (2021 Cohort) and after (2022 Cohort) implementation of a new feeding protocol. Linear regression model was used to adjust for confounding factors. A total of 343 VLBW infants were included (median gestational age ± SD 28.3 ± 1.7 weeks; median birth weight ± SD 980 ± 300 g). Median initial duration of central venous catheter was 5 days in 2022 cohort compared with 9 days in 2021 cohort (unadjusted p = 0.006, adjusted p = 0.001). Median time to achieve full enteral feeding was 8 days versus 12 days, p < 0.001, with no significant difference in late-onset sepsis or necrotising enterocolitis rates. The change from slow to fast enteral feeding progression for very low-birth-weight infants significantly decreased the central venous catheter duration with no adverse outcomes. This is consistent with recent randomised study results and supports the safe implementation in neonatal intensive care units.

Cloning and expression profiling of voltage-gated sodium channel gene (VGSC) from Spodoptera frugiperda

Spodoptera frugiperda is a long-distance migratory pest with strong dispersal ability, fast reproduction speed and destructive feeding, so it is difficult to prevent and control. Pyrethroid insecticides are commonly used in pest insects control, And since the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) serves as a major target of pyrethroids, it is important to study this gene for pest control. VGSC is an integral transmembrane protein consisting of approximately 2,000 amino acid residues found in neurons, myocytes, endocrine cells, and ovarian cells and involved in the initiation and propagation of excitable cellular action potentials. In this study, the cDNA sequence of the VGSC was identified from S. frugiperda by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) which contained an open reading frame of 6,261 bp encoding a protein of 2,086 amino acids. The molecular weight of this protein was predicted to be 236 kDa, and the theoretical isoelectric point was 5.21. A phylogenetic tree constructed based on lepidopteran insects showed that the VGSC of S. frugiperda was most closely relative to that of Spodoptera litura. VGSC is a highly conserved protein with Ion channel conserved structural domains of transmembrane proteins. qPCR showed that the VGSC gene was highly expressed in the epidermis of 2nd instar larvae, and its expression level was low in other tissues, such as the foregut and Malpighian tubules. In addition, VGSC was also detected in the prepupal stage, then gradually increased in abundance after entering the adult stage, peaked at the adult males on the 4th day of pupal stage, and decreased afterwards. The recombinant plasmid of pSumo-mut-VGSC was constructed and induced to express a His tag fused VGSC protein. Polyclonal antibodies were prepared from purified recombinant VGSC protein. The antibody was ELISA-titered, and the western blotting results showed that it specifically recognized VGSC, whether it was recombinant or endogenous protein. These results have laid the foundation for future studies on the physiological function of this gene in the growth and development of S. frugiperda.

Initiation of adaptive feeding within 24 h after burn injury improves nutritional therapy for severely burned patients.

Nutritional therapy is a crucial component of treatment for severely burned patients. Although overly aggressive enteral nutrition immediately after burn injury has potential risks, nutritional disruption after a severe burn can also increase infection risk and delay wound healing. For approximately six decades, the Ruijin Hospital Burn Center has used two distinct approaches for patients during the early period after burn injury: complete fasting or adaptive feeding. Notably, adaptive feeding more closely resembles enteral nutrition. In this retrospective study, we analyzed factors influencing the selection of either modality, as well as the benefits of adaptive feeding. We sought to promote adaptive feeding as a precursor to initiating enteral nutrition. This retrospective study analyzed medical data from adult patients with extensive burns between January 2009 and December 2020. All patients had been admitted to the burn department within 24 h after injury and had a burned area comprising >30% of total body surface area. Patients were divided into two groups: adaptive feeding and fasting. We examined the total burned area, full-thickness burned area, burn type, inhalation injury, start time of adaptive feeding, and start time of enteral nutrition. Outcome measures were 28-day mortality and hospital mortality. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in burn type, percent of total body surface area (TBSA), full-thickness burned area, and inhalation injury between the adaptive feeding and fasting groups (all p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis showed that full-thickness burned area and inhalation injury were the main factors influencing the start time of adaptive feeding in patients with severe burns (p < 0.05). After propensity score matching analysis, the results showed that the start time of enteral nutrition was significantly earlier in the adaptive feeding group (p < 0.01). However, overall mortality, 28-day mortality, and length of hospital stay did not significantly improve in the adaptive feeding group. The incidence of intolerance after enteral nutrition therapy did not significantly differ between groups. The results of the study showed that larger full-thickness burned areas and concomitant inhalation injury were the primary factors considered by physicians when selecting complete fasting for severely burned patients. Moreover, the results indicate that adaptive feeding improves nutritional therapy for severely burned patients by shortening the time between injury and initiation of enteral nutrition. Complete fasting due to concerns about extensive burned area and inhalation injuries does not reduce the incidence of enteral nutrition intolerance; instead, it delays the initiation of enteral nutrition.

Intermittent Fasting: Myths, Fakes and Truth on This Dietary Regimen Approach.

Intermittent fasting (IF) has been indicated as a valuable alternative to the classical caloric restriction dietary regimen for lowering body weight and preventing obesity-related complications, such as metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. However, is it effective? In this review article, we analyzed over 50 clinical studies in which IF, conducted by alternate day fasting (ADF) or time-restricted feeding (TRF), was compared with the caloric restriction approach. We evaluated the different roles of IF in treating and preventing human disorders such as metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, and some types of cancer, as well as the usefulness of IF in reducing body weight and cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension. Furthermore, we explored the cellular pathways targeted by IF to exert their beneficial effects by activating effector proteins that modulate cell functions and resistance to oxidative stress. In contrast, we investigated concerns regarding human health related to the adoption of IF dietary regimens, highlighting the profound debate surrounding weight loss regimens. We examined and compared several clinical trials to formulate an updated concept regarding IF and its therapeutic potential.

Improvement of starvation resistance via periodic fasting is genetically variable in Drosophila melanogaster.

Organisms subjected to periodic nutrient limitation early in life exhibit improvements in aspects of survival, including resistance to some environmental stressors. Recent findings indicate that forms of periodic fasting such as intermittent fasting and time restricted feeding can improve starvation resistance. However, it remains unclear to what extent this survival improvement persists across different genetic backgrounds. In this study, we examine fasting-induced starvation resistance across a broad survey of wild-derived lineages and document genetic variation within this trait. We adopt a standard dietary intervention and show improvement to starvation resistance within a common laboratory lineage, replicating previous results. Next, we examine fasting-induced starvation resistance across isofemale lines collected across latitudes and in different seasons, and among inbred lines derived from flies collected on different continents. We discover genetic variation of fasting-induced starvation resistance, and show that fasting improved starvation resistance as often as it worsened starvation resistance. Fasted flies generally showed reduced fat concentration, and their starvation survival varied with sex, season of collection, and geographic origin. While specific lineages common to the laboratory can show a specific fasting-induced phenotype, we show that this result is not consistent across genetic backgrounds, reinforcing the idea that phenotypes observed in historic laboratory strains may not be conserved across a species.

Southern Ocean humpback whale trophic ecology. II. Influence of fasting and opportunistic feeding on skin stable isotope values of migrating whales

Many baleen whale species migrate between low-latitude breeding grounds and high-latitude feeding grounds, with increasing evidence that humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae utilise supplemental feeding sites in temperate regions while migrating. The diet of whales while migrating is often unknown, and the impact that temperate feeding and/or fasting has on biochemical tracers used to investigate diet remains unclear. The aims of this study were to (1) determine whether prey consumption at supplemental feeding sites could be detected by carbon (13C) and nitrogen (15C) stable isotope analysis of skin; (2) obtain information on diet during migration; and (3) ascertain the impact of potential fasting on stable isotope values of baleen whales. Skin samples were taken from the eastern Australian humpback whale population on Antarctic feeding grounds and 2 sites on the southward migration route (a sub-tropical site and a temperate site) across 2 yr. At the sub-tropical site, 13C and δ15N were consistent with the last place of foraging 5 mo earlier. One exception was the higher (0.5 ‰) δ15N value in 2011, suggesting that in some years, potentially when blubber reserves are insufficient, δ15N may be influenced by fasting. In both years, skin 13C and δ15N values at the temperate site were higher than those from the Antarctic and sub-tropical sites, indicating that a feeding signal from temperate zones had likely been incorporated, with whales feeding on fish and krill. Importantly, supplemental feeding while migrating could affect the interpretation of whale diet on feeding grounds if sampled early in the season.

Bioequivalence Study of Tebipenem Pivoxil in Healthy Chinese Adults.

Tebipenem pivoxil (TP) is a carbapenem and is applied against pneumonia, otitis media, and sinusitis. This study compared the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of a test (T) preparation and reference (R) preparation of TP in healthy Chinese adults. This study was a single-center, randomized, open, single-dose (fasting/postprandial) oral administration, two-agent, two-sequence, two-cycle, crossover bioequivalence trial. A total of 60 participants were enrolled (24 fasting and 36 postprandial). All participants were randomly assigned to the TR sequence and RT sequence. Subsequently, they switched T sequences or R sequences 7 days later. PK blood samples were collected according to the protocol, plasma TP concentration was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, main PK parameters were calculated based on a non-compartment model, and adverse events were recorded during the test. In the feeding arm, the geometric mean ratio of maximum concentration (Cmax) was 89.84% (90% confidence interval 84.33-95.70), the geometric mean ratio of area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to last time of quantifiable concentration (AUC0-t) was 86.80% (83.62-90.10), and the geometric mean ratio of area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity time of quantifiable concentration (AUC0-∞) was 86.90% (83.73-90.20), which were within the acceptable range of bioequivalence (80-125%). In the fasting arm, the geometric mean ratio of Cmax was 96.07% (89.62-102.99), the geometric mean ratio of AUC0-t was 93.09% (90.47-95.78), and the geometric mean ratio of AUC0-∞ was 93.09% (90.48-95.77), which was within the acceptable range of bioequivalence (80-125%). Hence, the T preparation and R preparation of TP had bioequivalence in the fasting arm and feeding arm of the clinical trial. In addition, all adverse events were mild, and no severe adverse events were noted. Preparations T and R of TP were bioequivalent in the fasting and postprandial groups in clinical trials, and TP was safe.

Exploration of laser-induced drop transfer modes from wire for AM

Laser-induced ablation of drops from a metal wire enables the sequential deposition of voxels, for additive manufacturing. Striving for the goal of controlled, reproducible drop transfer, for this new technique, further trends and phenomena have been studied. Different modes of drop growth along with necking have been observed. Rather reproducible was a growing pending drop underneath the wire tip until separation for a certain size. In contrast, initial transients from the laser-induced recoil pressure can lead to a quick separation of a smaller drop. Initiation of a swinging cycle can also cause drop ablation after one cycle. For too fast wire feeding, the wire underpins the melt for a while in a spoon-like manner. Apart from the drop size, the different modes affect the scatter of the flight trajectory and landing position, as important optimization criteria, for controlled 3D-printing.

Effect of different feeding strategies on performance of aerobic granular sludge: From perspective of extracellular polymeric substances and microorganisms

Long-term structural stability of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is a major challenge in AGS biotechnology. This work investigated variations in the sludge performance, structural stability, and intrinsic mechanisms of AGS under three feeding strategies (R1 direct aeration after fast feeding, R2 anaerobic stirring after fast feeding and R3 anaerobic plug-flow slow feeding). The AGS sequencing batch reactor used in this study was in stable operation with biomass of 6–10 gMLSS/L and a hydraulic retention time of 4 h. The results showed that the best sludge performance was demonstrated in R3, followed by R2 and R1. These differences were caused by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and microbial communities. The excellent sludge performance in R3 was attributed to the high hydrophobicity in the EPS as well as the gel properties due to the high hydrogen bonding content in the exopolysaccharide (PS). Similarly, the gel properties formed by the high hydrogen bonding content maintain the sludge stability in R1. Slow-growing dominant bacteria were enriched in the AGS of R2 and R3 with alternating anaerobic/aerobic operation modes, resulting in outstanding sludge performance. In contrast, high abundance of the filamentous bacteria Neomegalonema was enriched in the AGS of R1 without an anaerobic phase, resulting in relatively poor sludge stability. Variations in EPS characteristics and microbial community under the different feeding strategies were the main mechanisms responsible for the long-term operation of AGS. This study could provide a theoretical foundation and technical assistance for the sustainable operation of AGS reactors.

Effect of oral function and postoperative eating patterns on salivary bacterial counts in gastrointestinal tract surgery patients: A preliminary study

Background/purposePerioperative oral care is widely provided to prevent postoperative pneumonia and surgical site infections in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding the kind of oral care that should be provided for different patients. The purpose of this study was to clarify the factors that influence the increase in salivary bacterial counts before and after gastrointestinal surgery to identify patients with a particular need for oral care. Materials and methodsTwenty patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery were examined before surgery for denture use, number of remaining teeth, regular dental care, Oral Hygiene Index-Simplfied tongue coating, tongue pressure, bite pressure, masticatory efficiency, and dry mouth. Saliva samples were collected before surgery, in the fasting period after surgery, and in the oral feeding period. Total bacterial counts were determined by real-time PCR, and factors associated with bacterial counts were investigated. ResultsPatients with decreased oral functions, such as tongue pressure, bite pressure, and masticatory efficiency, tended to have higher salivary bacterial counts in the preoperative, fasting, and oral feeding periods. Regarding the pre- and postoperative changes, salivary bacterial counts increased in the fasting period compared to the pre-operative period and returned to preoperative values in the oral feeding period. ConclusionPerioperative oral care is important for patients with reduced oral function because the number of bacteria in saliva tends to be higher in such patients. As the number of bacteria in saliva increases during the fasting period, oral care is important, and oral feeding should be restarted as soon as possible.

Neutral Hydrogen Content of Dwarf Galaxies in Different Environments

Environments play an important role in galaxy formation and evolution, particularly in regulating the content of neutral gas. However, current H i surveys have limitations in their depth, which prevents them from adequately studying low H i content galaxies in high-density regions. In this study, we address this issue by employing the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope with extensive integration times to complement the relatively shallow Arecibo Legacy Fast Arecibo L-band Feed Array H i survey. This approach allows us to explore the gas content of dwarf galaxies across various environments. We observe a positive relationship between H i mass and stellar mass in dwarf galaxies, with a well-defined upper boundary for H i mass that holds true in both observations and simulations. Furthermore, we find a decrease in the H i-to-stellar mass ratio (M H I/M *) as the density of the environment increases, irrespective of whether it is determined by the proximity to the nearest group or the projected number density. Comparing our observations to simulations, we note a steeper slope in the relationship, indicating a gradual gas-stripping process in the observational data. Additionally, we find that the scaling relation between the M H I/M * and optical properties can be improved by incorporating galaxy environments.

High-throughput DNA metabarcoding for determining the gut microbiome of captive critically endangered Malayan tiger (Pantheratigrisjacksoni) during fasting.

The Malayan tiger (Pantheratigrisjacksoni) is a critically endangered species native to the Malaysian Peninsula. To imitate wild conditions where tigers do not hunt every day, numerous wildlife sanctuaries do not feed their tigers daily. However, the effects of fasting on the gut microbiota of captive Malayan tigers remains unknown. This study aimed to characterise the gut microbiota of captive Malayan tigers by comparing their microbial communities during fasting versus normal feeding conditions. This study was conducted at the Melaka Zoo, Malaysian Peninsula and involved Malayan tigers fasted every Monday. In total, ten faecal samples of Malayan tiger, two of Bengal tiger (outgroup) and four of lion (outgroup) were collected and analysed for metabarcoding targeting the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region. In total, we determined 14 phyla, 87 families, 167 genera and 53 species of gut microbiome across Malayan tiger samples. The potentially harmful bacterial genera found in this study included Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Solobacterium, Echerichiashigella, Ignatzschineria and Negativibacillus. The microbiome in the fasting phase had a higher composition and was more diverse than in the feeding phase. The present findings indicate a balanced ratio in the dominant phyla, reflecting a resetting of the imbalanced gut microbiota due to fasting. These findings can help authorities in how to best maintain and improve the husbandry and health of Malayan tigers in captivity and be used for monitoring in ex-situ veterinary care unit.

Development of swing arc narrow gap GMAW process assisted by swaying wire

In order to further raise narrow gap welding efficiency while improving weld formation, a swing arc narrow gap GMAW process assisted by swaying wire is developed. This process swings the arc to increase groove sidewall penetration, and simultaneously adds a swaying wire to raise the welding deposition rate as well as modify the weld shape. The present work realizes a digital synchronous swaying control between the swing arc and the additional wire on the basis of kinematic modeling, and analyzes the characteristics of arc linear energy distribution in the groove. Arc behaviors, weld formation, and additional wire melting rate are then investigated for the cold wire assisted process. The reduction rates of weld layer number and welding time are also particularly proposed to evaluate the welding efficiency. Experimental results show that the developed process stabilizes the swing arc by attracting the arc to heat the additional wire in synchronous swaying, and yields good welds of sufficient penetrations and indistinctively-changed thickness even at fast feeding rates of the cold wire. Furthermore, the weld layer number and the welding time decrease respectively by ∼26% and ∼54% at most due to a 120% increase in the deposition rate, achieving a high-efficiency and high-quality narrow gap arc welding.

Effects of alternate-day fasting and time-restricted feeding in obese middle-aged female rats

ObjectivesObesity is a multifactorial condition associated with metabolic alterations that can be aggravated during female aging. Calorie restriction via intermittent fasting (IF) diets may reduce body weight and therefore have the potential to decrease obesity and associated comorbidities, such as insulin resistance. This study investigated the effects of two IF protocols, alternate-day fasting (ADF) and time-restricted feeding (TRF) in middle-aged obese female rats. MethodsWistar rats (age 15 mo) were fed with standard chow or high-fat diet for 8 wk and then separated into the following groups (n = 5–8 each) for another 8 wk: control (received standard chow), obese (received high-fat diet), obese + ADF (24-h fasting protocol), and obese + TRF (14 h daily). ResultsAt the end of the study, both IF protocols were able to reduce body weight and body mass index compared with the obese group. However, no changes were observed in adiposity and glucose homeostasis. We also found an increase in total leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes in the TRF group and a higher number of platelets in the ADF group. Blood lipid profiles, including triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein, as well as liver stress responses, such as heat shock protein 70 and malondialdehyde, were not changed by IF. ConclusionsAlthough ADF and TRF protocols resulted in a reduction of body weight and body mass index, these dietary interventions did not promote health benefits, such as reducing blood lipid profile, adiposity, and insulin resistance. In addition, ADF and TRF increased inflammatory biomarkers, which may increase the risk of obesity-associated comorbidities.

Intermittent feeding with an overnight fast versus 24-h feeding in critically ill neonates, infants, and children: An open-label, single-centre, randomised controlled trial

Critically ill children are fed day and night, assuming this improves enteral tolerance and the probability of achieving nutritional goals. It was previously shown that a fasting response, reflected by increased ketosis, at least partly explained the beneficial outcome of delayed initiation of supplemental parenteral nutrition. This study aims to investigate whether an overnight fast increases ketosis and is feasible and safe in critically ill children. The Continuousversus Intermittent Nutrition in Paediatric Intensive Care (ContInNuPIC) study is a randomised controlled trial in a tertiary referral Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in the Netherlands. Critically ill children (term newborn-18 years) with an expected PICU stay ≥48h, dependent on artificial nutrition, were eligible. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1, stratified for age group) to intermittent feeding, with interruption of feedings during an age-dependent overnight period of eight to 12h, or to continuous feeding, with the administration of feedings day and night. In both groups, similar daily caloric targets were pursued. For children younger than one year, mandatory minor glucose infusions were provided during fasting. The primary outcome was the feasibility, defined as two conditions (1): a significant difference in the patients' highest daily ketone (3-β-hydroxybutyrate, BHB) levels during each overnight period, and (2): non-inferiority regarding daily caloric intake, examined using a two-part mixed-effects model with a predefined non-inferiority margin of 33%, in an intention-to-treat analysis. The study is registered in the Netherlands Trial Register (NL7877). Between May 19, 2020, and July 13, 2022, 140 critically ill children, median (first quartile; third quartile) age 0.3 (0.1; 2.7) years, were randomised to intermittent (n=67) or continuous feeding (n=73). In the intermittent feeding group, BHB levels were significantly higher (median 0.4 (0.2; 1.0) vs. 0.3 (0.1; 0.7) mmol/L, p<0.001). The ratio of total caloric intake in the intermittent feeding group to the intake in the continuous feeding group was not consistently significantly more than 0.67, thus not proving non-inferiority. No severe, resistant hypoglycaemic events, nor severe gastrointestinal complications related to the intervention occurred, and feeding intolerance did not occur more often in the intermittent than in the continuous feeding group. Compared with day and night feeding, intermittent feeding with an overnight fast and mandatory glucose infusion for children younger than one year marginally increased ketosis and did not lead to more hypoglycaemic incidents in critically ill children. Because non-inferiority regarding daily caloric intake was not proven, the feasibility of an overnight fast could not be shown in the current study. However, as feeding intolerance did not increase during the condensed feeding periods, the nutritional intake was probably limited by the prescription of nutrition and interruptions. More research is needed to determine the optimal level and duration of clinically relevant ketosis and the best method to achieve this.