Fasting Ones Research Articles

Immune and hormonal regulation of the Boa constrictor (Serpentes; Boidae) in response to feeding

Feeding upregulates immune function and the systemic and local (gastrointestinal tract) concentrations of some immunoregulatory hormones, as corticosterone (CORT) and melatonin (MEL), in mammals and anurans. However, little is known about the immune and hormonal regulation in response to feeding in other ectothermic vertebrates, especially snakes, in which the postprandial metabolic changes are pronounced. Here, we investigated the effects feeding have on hormonal and innate immune responses in the snake, Boa constrictor. We divided juvenile males into two groups: fasting and fed with mice (30% of body mass). We measured the rates of oxygen consumption, plasma CORT levels, heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (HL ratio), plasma bacterial killing ability (BKA), and stomach and intestine MEL in fasting snakes and 48 h after meal intake. We observed increased rates of oxygen consumption, plasma CORT levels, and HL ratio, along with a tendency of decreased stomach and intestine MEL in fed snakes compared to fasting ones. BKA was not affected by feeding. Overall, we found that feeding modulates metabolic rates, CORT levels, and immune cell distribution in boas. Increased baseline CORT may be important to mobilize energy to support the metabolic increment during the postprandial period. Increased HL ratio might be an immunoregulatory effect of increased CORT, which has been shown in different physiological situations such as in response to immune challenge. Our results suggest that feeding activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and modulates immune cell redistribution, possibly contributing to fighting potential injuries and infections derived from predation and from pathogens present in ingested food.

Effect of Ramadan fasting on disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis presenting in tertiary care hospital.

Background and objective:Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory disorder affected by various factors, including fasting. The objective of the study was to establish the effect of Ramadan fasting on DAS 28 in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients.Methods:In this observational cohort study done in department of rheumatology, Mayo hospital, Lahore, between May 2019 to July 2019, 240 patients were divided in fasting (n=120) and non-fasting cohort (n=120) based on their own choice. Mean DAS-28 scores before and after Ramadan was compared in both cohorts with appropriate statistical analyses.Results:Two hundred forty participants, (74 males, 166 females), were recruited. Baseline DAS of fasting group was significantly low (4.35±0.9) as compared to non-fasting group (5.07±0.91). Paired t-test showed statistically significant improvement in fasting and non-fasting groups in total and in both genders (p=0.000). Mean improvement in DAS was numerically greater and statistically significant (p=0.000) in non-fasting group (1.08±0.62) as compared to fasting ones (0.86±0.61). Post-Ramadan DAS was, however, significantly low in fasting group (3.49±0.9) versus non-fasting group (3.98±1.0) (p=0.000).CONCLUSION:DAS 28 score decreased in both non-fasting as well as fasting patients of RA during the month of Ramadan. RA patients with moderate disease activity, who want to keep fast, can be allowed to do so without any fear of disease worsening.

Assessment of reproducibility and biological variability of fasting and postprandial plasma metabolite concentrations using 1H NMR spectroscopy.

IntroductionIt is crucial to understand the factors that introduce variability before applying metabolomics to clinical and biomarker research.ObjectivesWe quantified technical and biological variability of both fasting and postprandial metabolite concentrations measured using 1H NMR spectroscopy in plasma samples.MethodsIn the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity study (n = 6,671), 148 metabolite concentrations (101 metabolites belonging to lipoprotein subclasses) were measured under fasting and postprandial states (150 minutes after a mixed liquid meal). Technical variability was evaluated among 265 fasting and 851 postprandial samples, with the identical blood plasma sample being measured twice by the same laboratory protocol. Biological reproducibility was assessed by measuring 165 individuals twice across time for evaluation of short- (<6 months) and long-term (>3 years) biological variability. Intra-class coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess variability. The ICCs of the fasting metabolites were compared with the postprandial metabolites using two-sided paired Wilcoxon test separately for short- and long-term measurements.ResultsBoth fasting and postprandial metabolite concentrations showed high technical reproducibility using 1H NMR spectroscopy (median ICC = 0.99). Postprandial metabolite concentrations revealed slightly higher ICC scores than fasting ones in short-term repeat measures (median ICC in postprandial and fasting metabolite concentrations 0.72 versus 0.67, Wilcoxon p-value = 8.0×10−14). Variability did not increase further in a long-term repeat measure, with median ICC in postprandial of 0.64 and in fasting metabolite concentrations 0.66.ConclusionTechnical reproducibility is excellent. Biological reproducibility of postprandial metabolite concentrations showed a less or equal variability than fasting metabolite concentrations over time.

Hollow optical-fiber based infrared spectroscopy for measurement of blood glucose level by using multi-reflection prism.

A mid-infrared attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy system employing hollow optical fibers and a trapezoidal multi-reflection ATR prism has been developed to measure blood glucose levels. Using a multi-reflection prism brought about higher sensitivity, and the flat and wide contact surface of the prism resulted in higher measurement reproducibility. An analysis of in vivo measurements of human inner lip mucosa revealed clear signatures of glucose in the difference spectra between ones taken during the fasting state and ones taken after ingestion of glucose solutions. A calibration plot based on the absorption peak at 1155 cm(-1) that originates from the pyranose ring structure of glucose gave measurement errors less than 20%.

The behavior of Turkish cancer patients in fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is one of the major obligations for all adult Muslims. We performed a survey of Turkish Muslim cancer patients to examine the extent of their fasting status and to compare various clinical characteristics of fasting and non-fasting cancer patients during the month of Ramadan. This study was conducted on 701 adult cancer patients who attended ambulatory patient care units answered the questionnaires. The population comprised 445 women (63.5%), and the median age was 54 years. Before diagnosis of cancer, 93.1% of the patients used fast consists of completely (78.3%) and partial (14.8%). However, 15% of cases were fasting on the day of interview, either partially (7.4%) or completely (7.6%) with equal distributions. Patients who were females, those with good performance status, those without any comorbid disease, who had non-metastatic disease, those with history of surgery, those treated with radiotherapy and those being treated with oral chemotherapeutic agents were more likely to be fasting than others. The fasting ones had more prevalent among patients with lymphoma, urogenital cancer and breast cancer; conversely, the rate of fasting status among patients with lung and gastrointestinal cancer was quite low. Only 20.8% of all patients asked their physician whether it was alright for them to fast and physicians generally had a negative attitude towards fasting (83.2%). Majority of cancer patients are not fasting during the month of Ramadan, and a small part of patients consult this situation to their physician.

Gestational diabetes: current aspects on pathogenesis and treatment.

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a carbohydrate intolerance resulting in hyperglycaemia of variable severity with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. The incidence of GDM is between 0.15-15%, which corresponds to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and IGT in a given country.--The predominant pathogenic factor in GDM could be the inadequate insulin secretion. If GDM is not properly treated the risk of adverse maternal (preeclampsia) and fetal (large-for-gestational-age infant, macrosomia, birth trauma, cesarean section, still-birth) outcome increases. Hypertension is more prevalent in GDM, and GDM is diagnosed more frequently in women with chronic hypertension.--In order to screen for disturbances of carbohydrate metabolism during pregnancy a simple method suitable for all pregnant women would be desirable, however no such method is available at present. According to the latest WHO recommendation the screening for GDM should be performed universally with the standard 75 g oGTT evaluating only the 2-hour blood glucose values or together with the fasting ones. The latter could provide even an exact diagnosis of the carbohydrate metabolic state.--To manage GDM the first step prompt after diagnosis is to educate adequate dietary needs. If the blood sugar values in spite of an adequate diet exceed the desirable target values, insulin treatment has to be initiated.--GDM is a predictor of diabetes (mainly type 2) later in life. The cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes is about 50% at 5 years. This review of the current literature including our own experience strongly supposes that prior GDM is also a predictor or even an early manifestation of the metabolic (insulin resistance) syndrome. By all means GDM is a cardiovascular risk factor that could be screened to prevent late complications. The previously presented evidence also strongly suggests that yearly check-ups for women with previous GDM are inevitably important.

Increased oxidized form of human serum albumin in patients with diabetes mellitus

High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis of human serum albumin (HSA) on Asahipak GS-520H columns at neutral pH (6.87) showed a clear resolution of human mercaptalbumin (HMA) and nonmercaptalbumin (HNA), which are reduced and oxidized forms of HSA, respectively. We studied the conversion of HMA to HNA (mercapt-nonmercapt conversion) as an index of oxidative change of the tissues and organs in 28 normal subjects and in a total of 47 patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Mean (±SD) values of the HMA fraction of HSA, f(HMA), [ HMA (HMA+HNA) ], was significantly lower in NIDDM patients than in normal subjects (0.63±0.067 vs 0.75±0.028, P<0.001). It was lower in poorly controlled NIDDM patients (0.63±0.058, n=20) than in well controlled NIDDM patients (0.67±0.032, n=9) ( P<0.05). Plasma glucose values sampled on occasions including overnight fasting and postprandial ones ( r= −0.441, n=47, P<0.01), but not plasma glucose values sampled on overnight fasting ( r= −0.345, n=29) or postprandial ( r= −0.467, n=18) conditions and HbAlc ( r= −0.211, n=34), negatively correlated with the f(HMA) values, indicating that mercapt-nonmercapt conversion may not be due to cumulative hyperglycemia over a month, but due to short-term alteration in blood glucose level. The presence or absence of diabetic complications including nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy did not affect the f(HMA) values. In conclusion, decreased f(HMA) values in the diabetic patients suggested the presence of a rapidly altered oxidative change of albumin due to hyperglycemia.

Profiles of Serum Bile Acids in Live Diseases

Cholylglycine (CG) and sulfolithocholylglycine (SLCG) in fasting and postprandial serum were determined in patients with liver diseases by radioimmunoassay. In normal controls, fasting CG and SLCG were 54.67±68.66ng/100ml and 16.61 ±12.84ng/100ml respectively, while postprandial CG and SLCG were 61.21 ±37.29ng/100ml and 21.95± 15.9ng/100ml respectively.In liver disease, serum bile acids were elevated. The greatest increase was found in acute viral hepatitis but moderate or slight increase was also found in chronic active hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatoma. Fasting bile acids seem to be a sensitive index for hepatocellular dysfunction but not for differential diagnosis of liver diseases.In liver diseases except hepatoma, fasting CG and SLCG correlated significantly with total bilirubin, albumin, GOT, GPT, and alkaline phosphatase but not with cholesterol.Insignificant elevation of bile acids was found postprandially in patients with liver diseases as well as normal controls and postprandial bile acids were not more sensitive than fasting ones.

Glucose turnover and recycling in unrestrained and unanesthetized 48-h-old fasting or post-absorptive newborn pigs.

The metabolism of glucose has been studied in 48-h-old unanesthetized fasting and post-absorptive sucking piglets. Both [6-3H]- and [U-14C]glucose were administered either by a single injection method or by a primed infusion technique. The rates of glucose turnover and recycling were estimated under steady-state conditions. The rates of glucose turnover and recycling in 48-h-old fasting or post-absorptive piglets were not statistically different when measured using the single injection technique or the primed infusion method. The mean (with SE) rate of glucose turnover was 65.8 (2.5) in post-absorptive and 31.1 (1.9) mumol/kg per min in fasted newborn pigs. Glucose utilization was linearly related to blood glucose concentration; regression analysis indicated a y-intercept of 7.2 mumol/kg per min. As tested by arterio-portal differences the gut was not releasing glucose or galactose in 5 h-post-absorptive sucking newborn pigs. Thus, the higher rates of glucose turnover in post-absorptive newborn pigs compared with fasting ones suggest that hepatic glucose production is enhanced in post-absorptive sucking piglets. The mean (with SE) rates of glucose recycling were four times higher in post-absorptive piglets than in fasting ones, i.e. 14.4 (1.6) and 3.7 (0.5)% of [6-3H]glucose turnover respectively. As liver glycogen was exhausted in 48-h-old sucking piglets, this suggests that hepatic glucose production results from gluconeogenesis.

Variations postprandiales des taux d'acides biliaires seriques chez l'homme indemne de troubles hepatiques ou intestinaux

The levels of unsulfated, free or conjugated cholic, deoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids were measured using gas chromatography in 39 humans free of hepatic or intestinal diseases before and 10, 60, 120 and 180 min after ingestion of a standard meal. The probable maximal levels were determined with an error risk lower than 0.05. In fasting subjects, the observed values are comparable with those obtained by other authors working with gas chromatography or radioimmunoassay. Meal ingestion does not influence in the same way the serum levels of the various bile acids: the chemodeoxycholic serum level rose significantly in all cases whereas cholic and deoxycholic serum levels rose only in two-thirds of observed subjects; 60 and 120 min after the meal for chenodeoxycholic acid, and only 60 min after the meal for cholic acid, the mean values are significantly higher than the fasting ones; 120 min after the meal, the chenodeoxycholic and total bile acid probable maximal levels (respectively 7.4 and 10.3 micrometer) are twice the fasting ones. The cholic to chenodeoxycholic serum level ratio is nearly always lower than 1 but may reach 3. On the basis of these results, the validity and efficacy of the exploration tests based on serum bile acid level determinations are discussed.

Effect of Source of Dietary Nitrogen on Plasma Concentration and Urinary Excretion of Amino Acids of Men

The postprandial plasma concentration of most essential and nonessential amino acids decreased or remained at fasting values when the major portion of the daily intake of 6.28 g N was provided by casein. When a mixture of 18 amino acids simulating casein was given, the postprandial plasma concentration of both essential and nonessential amino acids increased during the first hour but decreased during the second hour to values somewhat above the fasting ones. When the nonessential nitrogen was furnished by glycine and diammonium citrate or by glycine, diammonium citrate and glutamic acid, the plasma concentration of individual essential amino acids increased by the first hour and during the second hour remained elevated or continued to increase. The fasting and postprandial concentrations of histidine and proline were much lower and that of arginine somewhat lower when these amino acids were excluded from the diet. Glycine in fasting and postprandial plasma and in urine increased significantly when this amino acid furnished one-half or one–third of the nonessential nitrogen. The concentration of threonine in fasting plasma and the amounts of threonine, serine and taurine excreted were significantly increased when large amounts of glycine or diammonium citrate were given.

Gastric secretogogues in postprandial thoracic duct lymph.

Fasting and postprandial thoracic duct lymph was collected from Heidenhain pouch dogs. When autogenous lymph was returned intravenously, postprandial samples stimulated pouch acid output, whereas fasting ones did not. The gastric secretogogues were more active in lymph collected 2–4 hr postprandially than 0–2 hr. After ultracentrifugal separation, both fatty and clear fractions of postprandial lymph contained gastric secretogogues. These stimulatory factors were not present in either clear or fatty fractions of lymph after antrectomy. Histamine was not the gastric secretogogue involved here. The gastric secretogogue present in postprandial lymph may be antral gastrin.

Histochemical investigations of the “Kul' chitskii cells” in the gastrointestinal tract of experimental animals

The authors conducted a histochemical study of the distribution of “Kul' chitskii cells” and their saturation with the granules in various laboratory animals. The argentaffin and chromaffin reaction were determined with a parallel diazo reaction. An uneven distribution of “Kul'chitskii cells” along the intestine was revealed. The highest density of the cells and the greatest granule saturation were observed in the duodenal mucous membrane of cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, white rats, white mice, monkeys and chicks. The content of argentaffin granules is slightly decreased in the cellular protoplasma of fasting guinea pigs, but even in animals dead of hunger they do not disappear completely. After intraperitoneal injection of reserpine, argentaffin granules vanish in normal animals, but not in fasting ones.