Fasting Period Research Articles

Bioequivalence Study of Salbutamol 400 mg Tablet in Healthy Indonesian Volunteers by Liquid Chromatography Tandem with Mass Spectrometry

This study objective was to determine the bioequivalence of Salbutamol 4 mg Tablet manufactured by PT Kimia Farma Tbk compared to Ventolin® 2x2 mg Tablet manufactured by Glaxo Wellcome Indonesia, in healthy Indonesian volunteer. The pharmacokinetic parameters calculated in this study are AUC0-24, AUC0-inf, Cmax, Tmax, and T1/2. The study was conducted in a randomized, single-dose, open-label, two-way crossover design (2 treatments, 2 periods, and 2 sequences) under fasting state with 7 (seven) days washed-out period. The number of subjects who participated in the study were 24 volunteers ((12 males and 12 females). The participants were provided with an overview of the study and signed the informed consent form. The study participants underwent a minimum 8-hour fasting period prior to receiving both the test drug and the reference drug, and blood samples were collected at 14 specified time points: 0 hours (before drug administration), minutes-20, minutes-40, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours after drug administration. Plasma concentrations of the drug were determined by LCMS/MS method. The acceptance criteria for the bioequivalence test are 80.00 - 125.00% for AUC0-t and Cmax with 90% Confidence Interval (CI) with α = 5.00%. The mean SD value of AUC0-24, AUC0-inf, Cmax, Tmax, and T1/2 respectively for test drug is 84.49 ±18.99 ng.mL-1.hour; 89.66 ±21.29 ng.mL-1.hour; 13.85 ±4.25 ng/mL; 2.00 ±0.71 hour and 5.08 ±1.27 hour. The mean SD values of AUC0-24, AUC0-inf, Cmax, Tmax, and C1/2 respectively for reference drug are 88.81 ±26.50 ng.mL-1.jam; 93.78 ±27.97 ng.mL-1.jam; 13.39 ±5.39 ng/mL; 2.63 ±1.45 hour and 5.03 ±1.16 hour. Meanwhile, the geometric mean ratio of test drug to reference drug (90% confidence interval) is 96.35% (90.55- 102.53%) for AUC0-24 and 105.39% (93.62-118.65%) for Cmax. Based on the AUC0-24 and Cmax values, Salbutamol 4 mg Tablet manufactured by PT Kimia Farma Tbk is bioequivalent to Ventolin® 2x2 mg Tablet manufactured by Glaxo Wellcome Indonesia.

Prolonged fasting times reap greater geroprotective effects when combined with caloric restriction in adult female mice

Emerging new evidence highlights the importance of prolonged daily fasting periods for the health and survival benefits of calorie restriction (CR) and time-restricted feeding (TRF) in male mice; however, little is known about the impact of these feeding regimens in females. We placed 14-month-old female mice on five different dietary regimens, either CR or TRF with different feeding windows, and determined the effects of these regimens on physiological responses, progression of neoplasms and inflammatory diseases, serum metabolite levels, and lifespan. Compared with TRF feeding, CR elicited a robust systemic response, as it relates to energetics and healthspan metrics, a unique serum metabolomics signature in overnight fasted animals, and was associated with an increase in lifespan. These results indicate that daytime (rest-phase) feeding with prolonged fasting periods initiated late in life confer greater benefits when combined with imposed lower energy intake.

Dietary Management in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis and Renal Failure

Cirrhosis patients are prone to develop kidney dysfunction. Hepatorenal failure (HRS) is one of the most severe complications of cirrhosis. Majority of cirrhosis patients have higher nutritional requirements owing to hyper catabolic state. The macronutrient intake is tailored to suit liver failure in cirrhosis patients with renal failure while regarding fluid and minerals like sodium; potassium etc weightage is given for the renal failure. Energy intake of 30 kcal/kg/day and protein intake of 1.2 g/kg/day for maintenance of nutritional status and 35 kcal/kg/day and 1.5 g/kg/day protein for improvement of nutritional status is recommended. Dietary protein of at least 1.0-1.2g/kg/day may be sufficient to prevent negative nitrogen balance. Multiple meals and snacks containing food rich in carbohydrates should be given to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, Late evening snacks and a breakfast containing some proteins to shorten the period of fasting is recommended. Medium chain triglycerides should be used in case of fat malabsorbtion. In cirrhotic patients with ascites the recommended intake of sodium is nearly 80 mmol day or 2 g of sodium. Hyperkalemia may occur in HRS (or AKI) and patients using potassium sparing diuretics Hypokalemia has to be avoided as it can precipitate HE Micronutrients and vitamins need to administer for treating confirmed or clinically suspected deficiency Appropriate, adequate and timely nutritional management with individualized and intensive dietary counselling is the key component to prevent malnutrition.

Association of time-restricted feeding, arterial age, and arterial stiffness in adults with metabolic syndrome.

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is a kind of intermittent fasting defined as eating and drinking only during a certain number of hours in a day. It has been suggested that intermittent fasting may improve cardiovascular risk factors. This study evaluated the association of TRF and arterial stiffness, using pulse wave velocity (PWV), pulse wave analysis, and arterial age in metabolic syndrome participants. A cohort study was carried out among metabolic syndrome adults who were followed over the Ramadan fasting period (used as a model of TRF since food was only allowed for about 8 h/day). The subjects were divided into Ramadan fasting and Ramadan nonfasting groups. The aortic PWV and central aortic pressure waveform were measured. Central systolic pressure, central pulse pressure, and indices of arterial compliance, such as augmentation pressure and augmentation index (AIx), were determined from waveform analysis. Ninety-five adults (31.57% female, age: 45.46 ± 9.10 years) with metabolic syndrome (based on the International Diabetes Federation definition) participated in this study. Ramadan fasting and Ramadan nonfasting groups were including 80 and 15 individuals respectively. A significant reduction was seen in PWV (0.29 m/s), central systolic pressure (4.03 mmHg), central pulse pressure (2.43 mmHg), central augmentation pressure (1.88 mmHg), and central AIx (2.47) in the Ramadan fasting group (p = 0.014, p < 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.003, and p = 0.036 respectively). There were no significant changes in these indices among the Ramadan nonfasting group. This study suggested that TRF reduces arterial age and improves arterial stiffness among people with metabolic syndrome. This might be considered a beneficial nutrition strategy for extending healthspan (and perhaps longevity).

Research into the effects of pigment printing parameters on sensorial comfort to guide garment designers in the apparel industry

The printing process, which is an aesthetically significant process subprocess in garment design, has the potential to affect the physical properties and sensory comfort of the fabric. Due to its low cost and very fast process period and the fact that it is environmentally conscious, pigment printing is widely used in the textile industry. This study it’s aimed to guide the designers in the selection of printing type for piece printing according to the fabric type by considering the print area and print pattern in the apparel industry. For this purpose, the effects of commonly used pigment printing pastes on the physical properties and sensorial comfort in knit fabrics of different constructions were studied. To that end, two different patterns were applied to three knit fabrics with different constructions by using three different pigment printing methods to assess several features of the fabrics, namely, print quality, air permeability, roughness, compressibility and bending. As a result of this study, it was observed that the printing application method and print pattern design have a significant impact on the handle properties of the fabric. Consequently, it was revealed that it is necessary to take into account the printing application method and print pattern design in the process of printed clothing design. Among the print types evaluated in this study, the best print type was determined in terms of sensorial comfort and physical properties. In addition, suggestions were made on the issues to be considered during the print design of print types with worse comfort and physical properties.

The Effect of Vitamin C and E Supplementation into Drinking Water on Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality and Intestinal Microflora During Pre-Slaughter Feed Withdrawal in Broiler Chickens

This study investigates the effects of adding vitamin C and E to the drinking water on carcass characteristics, meat quality and intestinal microflora populations in broiler chickens during the 10-h pre-slaughter feed withdrawal (FW) period. As study materials, forty male broilers at the age of 42 days were used. The broilers were randomly divided into four groups: Control (non-vitamin, NV), vitamin C (1000 mg/L, VC), vitamin E (500 mg/L, VE) and vitamin combination (1000 mg/L VC+500 mg/L VE, VCE). In the study, vitamin additions didn’t affect carcass characteristics, visceral weights and the pH values of the digestive system (P&amp;gt;0.05). The addition of VC and VE increased the weight of the Bursa of Fabricius, and the addition of VE increased the weight of thymus (P&amp;lt;0.05). Additions of vitamin decreased tendency of carcass contamination (P&amp;lt;0.01) and increased pH45min and pH24h of thigh meat and pH24h of breast meat (P&amp;lt;0.05, P&amp;lt;0.01, P&amp;lt;0.01, respectively). While a* color intensity of breast and thigh meat increased with all vitamin supplements, L* and b* values of thigh meat decreased (P&amp;lt;0.01). Vitamin supplements, especially VE, reduced the drip loss of breast and thigh meat (P&amp;lt;0.05) and the pathogenic microorganism populations of intestinal contents (P&amp;lt;0.01). As a result, it is thought that the addition of 500 mg/L vitamin E to the drinking water of broiler chickens exposed to the pre-slaughter fasting period will be beneficial to improve meat quality and reduce intestinal pathogenic microorganism load. However, more extensive experimental studies are needed.

Differential effect of ramadan fasting on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in diabetes mellitus and non-diabetes mellitus patients

BackgroundThe month of Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. During this month, Muslims do not eat, drink, or smoke from sunrise to sunset. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) will also fast from dawn to dusk, creating a unique opportunity to study the effects of dietary changes during fasting period. One of the interesting results of Ramadan fasting is its effect on endothelial dysfunction, measured using Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as a biological marker of endothelial function. AimTo determine the changes ICAM-1 levels in T2DM and non-DM patients during Ramadan fasting. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was performed on 26 T2DM patients and 21 non-DM, age-matched patients (aged 19–60 years). Measurement of metabolic parameters (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total calorie intake, and intensity of physical activity), anthropometry (body weight, body mass index (BMI) and abdominal circumference), total dietary intake, and laboratory analysis (blood glucose fasting, HbA1c, lipid profile, ICAM-1) were done at 4 weeks before (T0) and 14 days after Ramadan fasting (T1). ResultThe median ICAM-1 level in T2DM patients at T0 was 340.9 (193–505) ng/mL and at T1 was 312.3 (158–581) ng/mL, while the ICAM-1 level in non-DM patients at T0 was 482 (305–653) and at T1 was 398.4 (202–526) ng/mL. There was no significant difference of ICAM-1 level between study groups at both T0 and T1 (p > 0.05). Both T2DM and non-DM patients had lower ICAM-1 level following Ramadan fasting. However, only non-DM patients had significantly lower post Ramadan ICAM-1 (p = 0.008) ConclusionThere was a significant decrease in ICAM-1 level in both T2DM and non-DM patients after Ramadan fasting.

Prototype System for Production of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF-5) from Municipal Solid Waste Using Natural Rubber as Binder

The development of RDF-5 fuel from community waste using natural rubber as a binder was investigated. The results showed that the calorific and heat values were increased proportionately to the amount of rubber added. The ratio with the highest calorific value was 50:50, followed by 75:25, 90:10, and 95:5. The calorific value was 40.67 MJ/kg (9720 kcal/kg), 40.24 MJ/kg (9,617 kcal/kg), 39.28 (9,389 kcal/kg) and 39.18 MJ/kg (9,365 kcal/kg), respectively. Compared with 100:0, have a calorific value of 38.84 MJ/kg (9,284 kcal/kg). The experimental addition of natural rubber as a binder makes the combustion process more complete, resulting in faster fuel ignition time or easier igniting, less ash content, and being environmentally friendly. The research team chose to develop the ratio of 95:5 because the economic analysis showed a fast payback period of only 5.72 years. So, the ratio of 95:5 is the optimal condition that can scale up to the industrial level. The production cost of RDF-5 is 1,935 baht/ton for 50 baht/kg of natural rubber. The amount of emission caused by the combustion process of RDF-5 (95:5) passed the standard. Therefore, the evaluation of this research found that RDF-5 fuels from community waste using natural rubber as a binder. It is one of the attractive alternatives to renewable fuel generation and solid waste management solutions and helps improve the environmental quality of communities.

Fluctuations of serum fibroblast growth factor-21 levels in prolonged fasting in male adults

Fibroblast Growth Factor-21 (FGF21) is a significant protein in the process of adaptation to fasting. The aim of this cross-sectional study to examine the effects of fasting on serum FGF21 levels, nutritional status, and anthropometric measurements of adult males during prolonged Ramadan fasting. This study included a total of 12 healthy individuals with normal body mass index, between the ages of 18-35. All individuals fasted for 16h each day for 29 days of Ramadan. A questionnaire was administered to determine individuals' general characteristics and nutritional habits. Anthropometric measurements, 24-h dietary recall, and physical activities were recorded, and blood samples were collected four times in the following periods: before Ramadan, 1st week of Ramadan, 3rd week of Ramadan and 4 weeks after Ramadan. It was observed that serum FGF21 levels increased until the 1st week of fasting. Remarkably, FGF21 levels declined in most subjects during the late phase of fasting and continued to decrease until 4 weeks after fasting. There was a positive correlation between serum FGF21 levels and protein intake at the 3rd week of fasting. Individuals' PAL and energy expenditure increased during fasting and continued to increase until 4 weeks after fasting. Energy intake, on the other hand, decreased from baseline until 4 weeks after fasting. FGF21 serum levels may show an increase during fasting, however in long-term fasting periods like Ramadan it may decrease back to the beginning levels, therefore, FGF21 serum levels must be evaluated carefully.

Strategies for improving mental health and wellbeing used by adults ageing with HIV from the Kenyan coast: a qualitative exploration.

Background: Physical and mental health problems are common among older adults living with HIV (OALWH). Adaptive coping strategies play a vital role in improving these adults' mental health and well-being despite the deleterious effects of HIV and ageing. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, limited evidence exists on the commonly utilized coping strategies in this population. We explore the coping strategies used by Kenyan OALWH to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted between October and December 2019 with 56 participants: 34 OALWH (53% female), 11 healthcare providers (63% female) and 11 primary caregivers (73% female) in Kilifi County. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used the framework approach to synthesize the qualitative data. Results: Five major themes emerged from the analysis of participants' narratives, including self-care practices, religion and spirituality, relational living (social connectedness), generativity, identity, and mastery. Our study further revealed maladaptive coping strategies, including reliance on over-the-counter medications, self-isolation, waiting to see if symptoms would subside despite doing nothing, and HIV treatment interruptions during prolonged periods of prayer and fasting. Conclusions: Our findings provide an initial understanding of the coping strategies used by OALWH to confront HIV and ageing challenges in a low-literacy, low socio-economic Kenyan setting. Our results suggest that interventions designed to enhance personal capacity, social support, positive religiosity and spirituality, and intergenerational connections may be beneficial in improving the mental health and well-being of OALWH.

Effect of total fasting hours on the overall quality of recovery after surgery: An observational study.

Preoperative fasting is one of the pre-requisite for patients undergoing a surgery. Despite clear instructions, patients frequently fast for extended periods before elective surgeries. Longer periods of fasting may cause discomfort, thirst, hunger, and other physiological problems. To assess the quality of postoperative recovery among adult patients having different preoperative fasting hours by using the postoperative Quality of Recovery40 (QoR40) score. This was an observational study that was conducted for adult patients undergoing elective surgery during four weeks between 19th September and 13th October 2022 at Security Forces Hospital Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We excluded pediatric patients, patients undergoing spine or neurosurgery, emergency cases, or local anesthesia cases. Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used in this study. The postoperative quality of recovery-40 (QoR-40) questionnaire was distributed among 200 patients. All analyses were performed with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS) v25. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, median, and IQR) were used for the questionnaire's variables. The difference between the variables was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, and a P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Out of 200 patients, 172 patients responded but 16 responses were excluded. A total of 156 adult patients' responses were included in this study. The majority were female (53%), 31% were older than 45 years. More than 50% of patients reported fasting for more than 6 hours for drinking and more than 8 hours for eating. On the positive scale, the comfort score was significantly affected by the fasting hours for drinking (P value = 0.045). On the negative scale of the questionnaire, the emotions were significantly affected by fasting hours for both drinking (P value = 0.027) and eating (P value = 0.043). The study results showed better comfort for patients with lesser fasting hours for drinking. Moreover, the results strongly suggest the need of following the fasting guidelines without prolonging the fasting duration. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended.

Correlations Between Clinical and Metabolic Variables and Smoking among Antipsychotic- Naïve First-Episode and Nonadherent Chronic Patients with Psychosis

An interaction between smoking and antipsychotic medications could potentially affect treatment efficacy and promote metabolic side effects. We investigated the contribution of smoking status towards Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores and metabolic syndrome- related parameters (plasma lipid and glucose concentrations, and body mass index) among two groups of unmedicated patients with psychosis from the Croatian population: antipsychotic-naïve first-episode patients and nonadherent chronic patients. Previous data are inconsistent regarding the effects of smoking on clinical psychopathology among antipsychotic-naïve or minimally medicated patients with first-episode psychosis, and no studies have examined the potential influence of smoking on clinical psychopathology and metabolic parameters among nonadherent patients with chronic psychosis. Information about smoking status and antipsychotic nonadherence was obtained via auto-anamnestic and hetero-anamnestic information. PANSS data were obtained while patients were in a psychotic state during the illness requiring hospitalization. Plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol (HDL- c), triglyceride, and glucose levels were determined after a 12-hour fasting period. Compared with non-smoking antipsychotic-naïve first-episode individuals, antipsychotic-naïve smokers exhibited significantly lower depression factor scores, and significantly higher triglyceride levels and triglyceride/HDL- c ratio (p &lt; 0.05). Compared with non-smoking nonadherent chronic individuals, nonadherent smokers exhibited significantly lower negative symptoms and negative factor scores, and lower HDL- c levels. Contributions of smoking to clinical and metabolic parameters ranged from ~ 3.4 % to 10 %. Our present results indicated that smoking may be associated with less severe clinical psychopathology, and with increased risk for metabolic abnormalities, among unmedicated patients with first-episode psychosis and chronic psychosis.

Beyond Religions: The Serenity of Fasting in Buddhism and its Impact on Mental Well-being

This research delves into the practice of fasting in Buddhism, specifically focusing on Vihara Karuna Mukti in Bandung, Indonesia, and its implications for mental well-being. Fasting is a religious practice observed in various faiths, including Buddhism, and this study aims to explore its significance within this particular context. Using a descriptive qualitative research approach, the author investigates the practice of fasting in Buddhism, employing data collection techniques such as observation, interviews, and documentation. The findings reveal that at Vihara Karuna Mukti, fasting is observed on specific dates according to the Buddhist calendar, including the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd days of the lunar month, as well as by the monks who fast daily. Buddhists are permitted to consume food from morning until noon, approximately from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM, after which they abstain from eating until the following day. However, they are still allowed to drink water during the fasting period. Additionally, adherence to Atthasila, which encompasses eight virtues, is expected during fasting. The study concludes that the practice of fasting among Buddhists at Vihara Karuna Mukti holds implications for mental well-being when approached with sincerity. Fasting aids in cultivating self-control, promoting a sense of inner calmness, and nurturing virtues such as patience and honesty. It highlights the transformative potential of fasting as a means to enhance mental and spiritual aspects of life beyond religious boundaries. Overall, this research sheds light on the serenity of fasting in Buddhism and its positive impact on mental well-being, providing valuable insights into the interplay between religious practices and personal growth within the context of Vihara Karuna Mukti.&#x0D;

Intermittent fasting – a novel approach to treating overweight and obesity? – meta-analysis and literature review

Introduction Intermittent fasting (IF) is a form of dietary intervention that includes periods of regular calorie intake alternated with periods of fasting. IF has gained a lot of attention as a potential approach to treating metabolic syndrome-related diseases. Therefore, health care professionals need to be able to provide their patients with evidence-based information on IF. The aim of this article is to review data on effectiveness of IF in weight loss, especially in comparison with calorie restriction.&#x0D; MethodsPubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies published from 1.01.2017 to 31.12.2022 that included phrases “intermittent fasting” or “alternate day fasting”, “intermittent fasting obesity”, “alternate day fasting obesity”. Intervention studies on obese or overweight patients were included. We excluded studies of short duration and studies that focused on intercurrent medical conditions. In total, 14 articles that suited those criteria were identified.&#x0D; ResultsIntermittent fasting induces pronounced metabolic changes in the body due to strict and time-limited restriction of calorie intake and in animal models was proved to prolong lifespan and modulate tumorigenesis and aging. It is a proposed new approach to treating obesity, which is a a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.&#x0D; ConclusionsIn our study, IF was found as effective, but not superior to calorie restriction in reducing body mass, improving body composition and reducing other cardiometabolic risk factors. Our findings are consistent with other recent systematic reviews. Further research is needed to directly compare various IF regimens and determine patients’ characteristics that may be associated with more successful implementation of intermittent fasting regimens.

Bioimpedance Analysis on The Effects of Intermittent Fasting

Analysis and assessments of body composition are very important for evaluating the efficacy of any dietary interventions and tracking changes related to health and illness. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Ramadan fasting on body composition of the human body. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis using bioimpedance analyzer device is used throughout this study for the analysis and assessments of body composition. The main objectives of this study to determine Body composition including BMI (Body Mass Index), FFM (Fat Free Mass), FM (Fat Mass) and TBW (Total Body Water), from the raw BIA measurements and to compare body composition values before and after undergoing Ramadan fasting. The study was conducted on total of thirty (15 men and 15 women) Healthy students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia between the age of 18 and 27 undergoing Ramadan fasting for 30 days from April 12 until May 12, 2022 in Johor, Malaysia. Bioimpedance analysis was taken before and after the month of Ramadan. A statistical analysis of T-test for dependent samples was performed using Excel to compare body composition before and after fasting period. The results of Body mass index and weight lost during the fasting period were found to be significantly different. Between pre- and post-Ramadan, there was also a significant decrease in fat mass and a slight increase in lean body mass. Furthermore, the findings revealed that it had no adverse effects on total body water

Role of Intermittent Fasting in the Management of the Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Patients in Karachi

To determine the role of intermittent fasting in managing Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 patients in Karachi. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study conducted at Bahria University Health Sciences Campus, Karachi with total duration of three months from February 2022 to May-2022. After IRB approval random sampling technique was used to recruit subjects. 156 patients with DM type II were part of the study out of which 102 were in fasting among them 75 patients found intermittent fasting beneficial in managing blood glucose and symptoms, remaining 27 did not find it beneficial. Data Analysis was conducted by using SPSS version 25. Results: A total of 156 patients with DM type II were part of the study out of which 102 were fasting among them 75 patients found intermittent fasting beneficial in managing blood glucose and symptoms, remaining 27 did not find it beneficial thus 73.5 % patients were better able to manage DM II with intermittent fasting. There was no association between the beneficial effects of intermittent fasting with a specific type. Conclusion: Intermittent Fasting is beneficial for diabetes mellitus type II patients which proves our alternate hypothesis, but there is no specific type of intermittent fasting associated with it being beneficial. As long as a patient of DM II was observing periods of intermittent fasting, it has been show a clear evident that intermittent fasting plays a key role in the management of diabetes mellitus type II patients. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, DM, Intermittent Fasting, Control of DM, Fasting

Effect of induced molting on ovarian function remodeling in laying hens

Induced molting (IM) can restore the laying rate of aged laying hens to the peak level of laying and rejuvenate ovarian function for the second laying cycle. To explore the mechanism of ovarian function remodeling during IM in laying hens, in this study, ninety 71-wk-old laying lady hens with 60% laying rate and uniform weight were selected for molting induction by fasting. Samples (serum and fresh ovarian tissue) were collected on the day before fasting (F0), the 3rd and 16th days of fasting (F3, F16), and the 6th, 15th, 32nd days of refeeding (R6, R15, and R32), and the number of follicles in each period was counted. Then, the reproductive hormone levels in serum and antioxidant levels in ovarian tissues were detected at different stages, and the gene expression of the KIT-PI3K-PTEN-AKT pathway and GDF-9 in ovaries was measured by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the laying rate increased rapidly after refeeding and returned to the prefasting level by R32. At F16 and R6, the number of mature follicles significantly decreased; the number of primary and secondary follicles significantly increased; the contents of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) in serum decreased; the relative expression of KIT, PI3K, AKT, and GDF-9 significantly increased; and that of PTEN significantly decreased. At R15 and R32, except for GDF-9, which maintained a high expression state, other indicators showed opposing trends to those observed at F16 and R6. In conclusion, IM activated the KIT-PI3K-PTEN-AKT signaling pathway and promoted the activation of primordial follicles during the fasting period and early resumption of feeding; gonadotropin secretion increased gradually, which promoted the rapid development of primary and secondary follicles to mature follicles and ovulation. This study explained the mechanism of ovarian function remodeling in the process of IM and provided a theoretical basis for improving the ovarian function of laying hens and optimizing the IM program.

Evolution, mechanism and limits of dietary restriction induced health benefits & longevity

Dietary restriction (DR) is the most powerful intervention to enhance health and lifespan across species. However, recent findings indicate that DR started in late life has limited capacity to induce health benefits. Age-dependent changes that impair DR at old age remain to be delineated. This requires a better mechanistic understanding of the different aspects that constitute DR, how they act independently and in concert. Current research efforts aim to tackle these questions: Are fasting periods needed for the induction of DR's health benefits? Does the improvement of cellular and organismal functions depend on the reduction of specific dietary components like proteins or even micronutrients and/or vitamins? How is the aging process intervening with DR-mediated responses? Understanding the evolutionary benefits of nutrient stress responses in driving molecular and cellular adaptation in response to nutrient deprivation is likely providing answers to some of these questions. Cellular memory of early life may lead to post-reproductive distortions of gene regulatory networks and metabolic pathways that inhibit DR-induced stress responses and health benefits when the intervention is started at old age. Inhere we discuss new insights into mechanisms of DR-mediated health benefits and how evolutionary selection for fitness in early life may limit DR-mediated improvements at old age.

Excretion by subjects on a low (poly)phenol diet of phenolic gut microbiota catabolites sequestered in tissues or associated with catecholamines and surplus amino acids

Phenolic catabolites excreted by fasting subjects with a functioning colon and ileostomists on a low (poly)phenol diet have been investigated. Urine was collected over a 12 h fasting period after adherence to a low (poly)phenol diet for 36 h. UHPLC-HR-MS quantified 77 phenolics. Some were present in the urine of both groups in similar trace amounts and others were excreted in higher amounts by participants with a colon indicating the involvement of the microbiota. Most were present in sub- or low-µmol amounts, but hippuric acid dominated accounting on average for 60% of the total for both volunteer categories indicating significant production from sources other than non-nutrient dietary (poly)phenols. The potential origins of the phenolics associated with the low (poly)phenol diet, include endogenous catecholamines, surplus tyrosine and phenylalanine, and washout of catabolites derived from pre-study intakes of non-nutrient dietary (poly)phenols.

Food determines ephemerous and non-stable gut microbiome communities in juvenile wild and farmed Mediterranean fish

Novel insights were provided by contrasting the composition of wild and farmed fish gut microbiomes because the latter had essentially different environmental conditions from those in the wild. This was reflected in the gut microbiome of the wild Sparus aurata and Xyrichtys novacula studied here, which showed highly diverse microbial community structures, dominated by Proteobacteria, mostly related to an aerobic or microaerophilic metabolism, but with some common shared major species, such as Ralstonia sp. On the other hand, farmed non-fasted S. aurata individuals had a microbial structure that mirrored the microbial composition of their food source, which was most likely anaerobic, since several members of the genus Lactobacillus, probably revived from the feed and enriched in the gut, dominated the communities. The most striking observation was that after a short fasting period (86 h), farmed gilthead seabream almost lost their whole gut microbiome, and the resident community associated with the mucosa had a very much reduced diversity that was highly dominated by a single potentially aerobic species Micrococcus sp., closely related to M. flavus. The results pointed to the fact that, at least for the juvenile S. aurata studied, most of the microbes in the gut were transient and highly dependent on the feed source, and that only after fasting for at least 2 days could the resident microbiome in the intestinal mucosa be determined. Since an important role of this transient microbiome in relation to fish metabolism could not be discarded, the methodological approach needs to be well designed in order not to bias the results. The results have important implications for fish gut studies that could explain the diversity and occasional contradictory results published in relation to the stability of marine fish gut microbiomes, and might provide important information for feed formulation in the aquaculture industry.