Higher Intake Rates Research Articles

High rates of protein intake are associated with an accelerated rate of decline of residual kidney function in incident peritoneal dialysis patients.

Preservation of residual kidney function (RKF) is a relevant objective in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The influence of dietary protein intake (PI) on this variable has not been adequately investigated. Following an observational design, we studied 336 patients incident on PD, with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. The main study variable was the mean PI [normalized rate of protein nitrogen appearance (nPNA)] during the first 4 months on PD. The main outcome variables were the absolute rate of decline of RKF and the proportion of patients presenting a >50% decay of their RKF during the first year of follow-up. We applied univariate and multivariate strategies of analysis, taking into consideration the main control variables bearing a correlation with nPNA and/or RKF. Mean nPNA (first 4 months) was 1.23 ± 0.33 g/kg/day, while the overall rate of decline of RKF was -0.13 ± 0.29 mL/min/month; 69 patients (25.1%) had lost >50% of their initial RKF by the end of the first year. Univariate analysis disclosed consistent associations between the main study variable on one hand and baseline RKF (r = 0.32, P < 0.0005) and its rate of decline (r = -0.23, P < 0.0005) on the other. The latter two variables were also significantly correlated (r = -0.36, P < 0.0005). Multivariate analysis identified mean nPNA as an independent predictor of the rate of decline of RKF [odds ratio 1.09 per 0.10 g/kg/day, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.99-1.19, P = 0.058] and, in particular, of the probability of losing >50% of the baseline RKF during the first year of treatment (odds ratio 1.15 per 0.10 g/kg/day, 95% CI 1.04-1.27, P = 0.006). Higher rates of PI during the first months of therapy are associated with a faster decline of RKF among patients incident on PD. Our results underline the convenience of keeping an adequate balance between sufficient protein ingestion, to prevent malnutrition and wasting, and sensible restriction in stable, adequately nourished individuals with rates of intake in the higher range or above-recommended allowances.

Military combat movements and exercises: is there a role for adopting sports nutrition carbohydrate recommendations during exercise?

Abstract The daily energy requirements for specialist military troops can reach 5000 kcal during training and wartime deployment. Maintaining energy balance is important for health and physical and mental performance in this population, who can effectively be considered as high-performance endurance athletes. In the sporting world, a balanced diet consisting of 50-60% carbohydrate (CHO), 20-25% protein and 25-30% fat is recommended for these athletes. CHO intake is regarded as a key dietary constituent, as this substrate provides the sole fuel source during high-intensity exercise. However, achieving such high CHO intake rates can be challenging for military personnel, especially in the field. In sports nutrition, athletes commonly use dietary CHO supplements to reduce this deficit. There may be lessons and insight from nutrition and metabolism in sport that could provide Royal Marines, Medical Officers and other embedded medical professionals with strategies to increase CHO intake during intense training or combat situations. This review will highlight the exercise demands of infantry soldiering, will suggest supplementary strategies to increase CHO intake, in addition to dietary intake, and will describe the metabolic effects of CHO ingestion during prolonged activity in the context of military exercise.

An update of the profile of older adults with dementia in Europe: findings from SHARE

Background: The increase in longevity due to the reduction of premature deaths has led to an increase of the number of people with dementia. The objective of the present work was to analyze the profile of the European population with dementia aged more than 50.Methods: The sample of individuals aged 51 or more years was taken from a European database within the last wave of the SHARE Project (Wave 6, March 2017). Participants with and without a diagnosis of dementia were compared in terms of socio-demographic, general health, mental health, behavioural risks, education and employment, by age group. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square test, quantitative variables were compared with the independent sample t-test.Results: From 45,340 subjects (40% males) 897 (2%) had dementia. The findings corroborate recent evidence stating that individuals with dementia have a lower physical and mental health as well as a lower quality of life than people without dementia. It was also verified that people with dementia: (i) had a lower employment rate; (ii) showed lower levels of formal education; (iii) less were living a married life; (iv) exhibited a moderate pattern of behavioural risks, but had higher levels of physical inactivity; (v) had more chronic diseases and (iv) higher intake of more than 5 drugs per day. The unfavourable health and well-being status of dementia subjects was found in all age groups.Conclusions: An update of the profile of older Europeans with dementia was performed with data from 18 countries. The findings of co-morbidity, high rates of intake of more than 5 drugs daily and low levels of well-being irrespective of age should be considered in the assessment and management of dementia in the European population.

Abiotic and Biotic Factors Affecting the Ingestion Rates of Mixotrophic Nanoflagellates (Haptophyta)

Mixotrophic haptophytes comprise one of several important groups of mixotrophic nanoflagellates in the pelagic environment. This study aimed to investigate if phagotrophy in mixotrophic haptophytes is regulated by light or other factors in the surface (SE) and bottom (BE) of the euphotic zone in the subtropical northwestern Pacific Ocean. We estimated the rates of bacterial ingestion by haptophytes using fluorescently labeled bacteria (FLBs) and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Haptophyte diversity and abundance were also investigated in the same sampling area. The annual mean abundance of haptophytes was 419 ± 85.6cellsmL-1 in both SE and BE. Cells 3-5μm in size were the dominant group in all haptophytes and accounted for majority of bacteria standing stock removed by haptophytes (53%). Most haptophyte ingestion rates (IRs) were not significantly different between the two layers (average SE ingestion rate: 12.5 ± 2.29bacHap-1h-1; BE: 14.7 ± 3.03bacHap-1h-1). Furthermore, the haptophyte IRs were negatively correlated with nitrate concentrations in the SE and positively correlated with bacterial abundances in the BE, which accounts for the significantly high IRs in August 2012 and 2013. These findings imply that mixotrophic haptophytes in this region had different factors affecting phagotrophy to adapt to the ambient light intensity alterations between SE and BE.

The Behaviour and Productivity of Mid-Lactation Dairy Cows Provided Daily Pasture Allowance over 2 or 7 Intensively Grazed Strips.

Simple SummaryRecent technological advances will soon allow pastoral dairy farmers to manage their cattle using increasingly intense and complex grazing regimes. Ensuring there is merit in the implementation of more intense grazing regimes will minimise the potential misuse of this technology and the associated consequences of misuse for animal welfare and productivity. Two groups of dairy cattle were provided with the same amount of fresh pasture over either 2 or 7 feeds per day. Cows that received pasture over 7 feeds produced less milk and spent less time ruminating, but more time resting, per day. However, feeding frequency did not affect the time cows spent feeding or estimated pasture consumption. Increasing the frequency of feeding restricts the amount of pasture available to cattle at any one time. In response, cattle adjust their ingestive behaviour (e.g., adopt high intake rates) which may negatively impact digestive processes. The success of more intensive pastoral dairy production requires grazing regimes that support the natural ingestive, digestive, and social behaviours of cattle, rather than necessitating cattle to substantially alter their behaviour in accordance with the grazing regime imposed upon them.Research into the effects of intense grazing regimes on cattle behaviour and productivity will support the ethical intensification of pastoral dairy production. Two treatments were applied to two herds of 30 mid-lactation cows over 28 days. Cows were offered an estimated 12 kg DM/cow (above 5 cm from ground level) of irrigated pasture per day. The control herd received their daily pasture allocation in two equal grazings while the experimental herd received theirs over seven smaller grazings. Backgrazing beyond the current allocation (morning or afternoon) was prevented. Individual records were taken daily for milk production and behaviour (MooMonitor+). Milk composition, energy corrected milk (ECM), and live weight were recorded weekly. Feeding mid-lactation dairy cows over seven smaller grazing allocations reduced the time cows spent ruminating (p < 0.001), milk yield (p < 0.001), and ECM (p < 0.05). However, milk composition, live weight, time feeding, and pasture consumption were not affected by feeding frequency (p > 0.05). Cattle may have adapted their ingestive behaviour in response to the more intensive strip-grazing regime utilised in this study, with negative consequences for digestive processes and consequently milk production. Intense grazing regimes need to support the ingestive, digestive, and social behaviours of cattle.

Carbon Budgets of Mesozooplankton Copepod Communities in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean—Regional and Vertical Patterns Between 24°N and 21°S

AbstractThe copepods' impact on vertical carbon flux was assessed for stratified depth layers down to 2,000 m at six stations along a transect between 24°N and 21°S in the eastern Atlantic Ocean in October/November 2012. Total copepod community consumption ranged from 202 to 604 mg C m−2 day−1, with highest ingestion rates in the tropical North Atlantic. Calanoids consumed 75–90% of the particulate organic carbon (POC) ingested by copepods, although the relative contribution of cyclopoids (mostly Oncaeidae) increased with depth. Net ingestion (= consumption − fecal pellet egestion) of POC varied from 106 to 379 mg C m−2 day−1 for calanoids and 37–51 mg C m−2 day−1 for cyclopoids, corresponding to 16–58% and 5–9%, respectively, of primary production (PP). In total, 9–33% and 2–5% of PP were respired as inorganic carbon by calanoids and cyclopoids, respectively. Copepod ingestion was highly variable between stations and depth layers, especially in the epipelagic and upper mesopelagic zone. Diel vertical migrants such as Pleuromamma enhanced the vertical flux to deeper layers, particularly in the region influenced by the Benguela Current. The impact of copepod communities on POC flux decreased below 1,000 m, and POC resources reaching the bathypelagic zone were far from being fully exploited by copepods. As key components, copepods are important mediators of carbon fluxes in the ocean. Their biomass, community composition, and interactions strongly affect the magnitude of organic carbon recycled or exported to deeper layers. High variability, even at smaller vertical scales, emphasizes the complex dynamics of the biological carbon pump.

Grazing Impact of the Copepod Calanus sinicus on Phytoplankton in the Northern East China Sea in Late Spring

We investigated the feeding habits of Calanus sinicus during its four developmental stages as copepodite 4 (CIV), copepodite 5 (CV), adult males and females in early June 2015 at 12 sampling stations along the southern coast of Korea to the northern East China Sea, to better understand the role of C. sinicus in controlling phytoplankton stocks. Ingestion rate, daily ration as body carbon, population ingestion rate, and grazing impact were estimated using the gut pigment method. The mean biomass of CVs was the greatest (13.5 mg C m–3) and that of adult males was the lowest (0.7 mg C m–3). The ingestion rate per C. sinicus individual tended to increase with developmental stage, with the highest rate in adult females (519 ng chl ind–1 d–1) and the lowest rate in CIVs (305 ng chl ind–1 d–1). A significant correlation was found between ingestion rate and temperature, but not salinity or chlorophyll-a concentration. The daily ration of C. sinicus as body carbon significantly decreased with increased body weight, with the highest value found in CIVs (66.4%) and the lowest value in adult males (30%). Despite the high ingestion rate of the adults, the mean grazing impact of C. sinicus on phytoplankton biomass, in terms of chlorophyll-a concentration, was the highest in CVs (2.6%), followed by CIVs and adult females, and was the lowest in adult males (0.1%). The higher grazing impact of copepodites than adults underscores the importance of evaluating copepodite stages in the feeding studies of marine food webs.

High intake rates of microplastics in a Western Atlantic predatory fish, and insights of a direct fishery effect.

Microplastic contamination was investigated in the gut contents of an economically important estuarine top predator, Cynoscion acoupa, according to spatiotemporal and ontogenetic use of a tropical estuary. Microplastic contamination was found in more than half of the analysed fish. Ingested microplastics were classified by type, colour and length with most of the particles consisting of filaments (<5 mm). Longer filaments were more frequently ingested in the upper estuary and smaller filaments in the lower estuary, as a result of differences in hydrodynamic forces and proximity to the probable input sources. The river is likely an important source of filaments to the estuary and filaments ingested in the upper estuary showed little sign of weathering, when compared with those from the lower estuary, which are subject to intense weathering and consequent break-up of particles to smaller sizes. Most filaments, of all colours, accumulated in adults of C.acoupa, which are more susceptible to contamination through both direct ingestion and trophic transference as they shift their feeding mode to piscivory. Moreover, the highest ingestion of filaments in adults occurred in the lower estuary, during the late rainy season, likely associated with the intense fishing activities in this habitat, which results in a greater input of filaments from fishing gear, which are mainly blue in colour. Overall, 44% of the ingested filaments were blue, 20% purple, 13% black, 10% red and 12% white. The next most common colour, the purple filaments, are most likely blue filaments whose colour has weathered to purple. Red filaments were proportionally more ingested in the lower estuary, indicating a coastal/oceanic source. White and black filaments were more commonly ingested in the inner estuary, suggesting that they have a riverine origin and/or were actively ingested by juveniles and sub-adults, which inhabit the inner estuary and have zooplankton as an important food resource.

Growth and feed utilization of Boer x Kacang crossbred goats offered total mixed rations of different protein and energy levels

The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth of and feed utilization by Boer x Kacang crosses goats fed on total mixed ration differing in protein and energy levels. Four total mixed rations combination were formulated to contain 16 and 18% crude protein and 2650 and 2850 Kcal ME/ kg DM (dried matter) energy density. Twenty-eight male Boer x Kacang crosses goats (14.5 ± 1.14 kg) and of age ranging from 4 to 5 months were randomly allocated to one of these four TMRs (total mixed rations) (7 animals/TMR). The effects of dietary treatment were assessed using the general linear model and significance of the diet effects was detected using Duncan’s multiple range test. Dry matter intake increased as metabolizable energy density of diet increased from 2650 to 2850 Kcal/kg DM, but it is not affected by increasing crude protein level from 16 to 18%. The average daily gains were not improved (P&amp;gt;0.05) as the crude protein levels and metabolizable energy density of diet increased. Crude protein levels and ME density did not affect (P&amp;gt;0.05) the DM, OM and energy digestibility, but NDF digestibility was affected by the ME density of diets (P&amp;lt;0.05). Daily N intakes were greater (P&amp;lt;0.0%) in goats received diets higher in the crude protein and metabolizable energy levels. At this high rate of feed intake this type of goats are able to gain optimally when offered feed with crude protein level of 16% and metabolizable energy density of 2850 Kcal/kg DM.

Interactions between the Newly Described Small- and Fast-Swimming Mixotrophic Dinoflagellate Yihiella yeosuensis and Common Heterotrophic Protists.

The mixotroph Yihiella yeosuensis is a small- and fast-swimming dinoflagellate. To investigate its protistan predators, interactions between Y.yeosuensis and 11 heterotrophic protists were explored. No potential predators were able to feed on actively swimming Y. yeosuensis cells, which escaped via rapid jumps, whereas Aduncodinium glandula, Oxyrrhis marina, and Strombidinopsis sp. (approximately 150μm in cell length) were able to feed on weakly swimming cells that could not jump. Furthermore, Gyrodinium dominans, Luciella masanensis, and Pfiesteria piscicida were able to feed on heat-killed Yihiella cells, whereas Gyrodinium moestrupii, Noctiluca scintillans, Oblea rotunda, Polykrikos kofoidii, and Strombidium sp. (20μm) did not feed on them. Thus, the jumping behavior of Y.yeosuensis might be primarily responsible for the observed lack of predation. With increasing Yihiella concentration, the growth rate of O.marina decreased, whereas that of Strombidinopsis did not change. However, with increasing Yihiella concentration (up to 530ng C/ml), the ingestion rate of Strombidinopsis on Yihiella increased linearly. The highest ingestion rate was 24.1ng C per predator per d. The low daily carbon acquisition from Yihiella relative to the body carbon content of Strombidinopsis might be responsible for its negligible growth. Thus, Y.yeosuensis might have an advantage over its competitors due to its low mortality rate.

Frequency of Microplastics in Mesopelagic Fishes from the Northwest Atlantic

Microplastics are a ubiquitous pollutant in our seas today and are known to have detrimental effects on a variety of organisms. Over the past decade numerous studies have documented microplastic ingestion by marine species with more recent investigations focussing on the secondary impacts of microplastic ingestion on ecosystem processes. However, few studies so far have examined microplastic ingestion by mesopelagic fish which are one of the most abundant pelagic groups in our oceans and through their vertical migrations are known to contribute significantly to the rapid transport of carbon and nutrients to the deep sea. Therefore, any ingestion of microplastics by mesopelagic fish may adversely affect this cycling and may aid in transport of microplastics from surface waters to the deep-sea benthos. In this study microplastics were extracted from mesopelagic fish under forensic conditions and analysed for polymer type utilising micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (micro-FTIR) analysis. Fish specimens were collected from depth (300 - 600 m) in a warm-core eddy located in the Northwest Atlantic, 1200 km due west of Newfoundland during April and May 2015. In total, 233 fish gut contents from seven different species of mesopelagic fish were examined. An alkaline dissolution of organic materials from extracted stomach contents was performed and the solution filtered over a 0.7 µm borosilicate filter. Filters were examined for microplastics and a subsample originating from 35 fish was further analysed for polymer type through micro-FTIR analysis. 73% of all fish contained plastics in their gut contents with Gonostoma denudatum having the highest ingestion rate (100 %) followed by Serrivomer beanii (93 %) and Lampanyctus macdonaldi (75 %). Overall, we found a much higher occurrence of microplastic fragments, mainly polyethylene fibres, in the gut contents of mesopelagic fish than previously reported. Stomach fullness, species and the depth at which fish were caught at, were found to have no effect on the amount of microplastics found in the gut contents. However, these plastics were similar to those sampled from the surface water. Additionally, using forensic techniques we were able to highlight that fibres are a real concern rather than an artefact of airborne contamination.

Mixotrophic Activity and Diversity of Antarctic Marine Protists in Austral Summer

Identifying putative mixotrophic protist species in the environment is important for understanding their behavior, with the recovery of these species in culture essential for determining the triggers of feeding, grazing rates and overall impact on bacterial standing stocks. In this project, mixotroph abundances determined using tracer ingestion in water and sea ice samples collected in the Ross Sea, Antarctica during the summer of 2011 were compared with data from the spring (Ross Sea) and fall (Arctic) to examine the impacts of bacterivory/mixotrophy. Mixotrophic nanoplankton were usually less abundant than heterotrophs, but consumed more of the bacterial standing stock per day due to relatively higher ingestion rates (1-7 bacteria mixotroph-1 h-1 vs. 0.1-4 bacteria heterotroph-1 h-1). Yet, even with these high rates observed in the Antarctic summer, mixotrophs appeared to have a smaller contribution to bacterivory than in the Antarctic spring. Additionaly, putative mixotroph taxa were identified through incubation experiments accomplished with bromodeoxyuridine labeled bacteria as food, immunoprecipitation (IP) of labeled DNA, and amplification and high throughput sequencing of the eukaryotic ribosomal V9 region. Putative mixotroph OTUs were identified in the IP samples by taxonomic similarity to known phototroph taxa. OTUs that had increased abundance in IP samples compared to the non-IP samples from both surface and chlorophyll maximum (CM) depths were considered to represent active mixotrophy and include ones taxonomically similar to Dictyocha, Gymnodinium, Pentapharsodinium and Symbiodinium. These OTUs represent target taxa for isolation and laboratory experiments on triggers for mixotrophy, to be combined with qPCR to estimate their abundance, seasonal distribution and potential impact.

Contribution of diet to lead exposure among children aged 1 to 7 years in La Plata, Buenos Aires.

Lead is a toxic metal which, even at low blood levels, can alter normal neurodevelopment in children, so no blood lead level is acceptable. Lead absorption from diet accounts for the highest contribution to blood lead levels in the population who is not exposed to contaminated environments or because of their occupation. The objective of this study was to determine the contribution of diet to lead exposure among children aged 1 to 7 years who attended Hospital de Niños de La Plata for health check-ups. The study was conducted between June 2015 and May 2016. A questionnaire on the frequency of food intake was administered to 91 children whose average age ± standard deviation was 3.0 ± 1.7 years, and foods included in the analysis were selected based on this questionnaire. Selected foods were purchased from different regional stores. Composite samples were made up of different food groups. Lead levels corresponding to each food group were determined and, finally, the daily intake of lead was estimated for the studied population. The daily intake of lead was 138 µg/day. The food groups with the higher intake rates were processed meat products (15.4%), bakery products (14.8%), milk (12.5%), and meat (11.7%). Children aged 1 to 7 years attending a public hospital in La Plata have a lead burden from dietary intake of 138 µg/day.

Association between beverage intake and obesity in children: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2013-2015.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESNumerous researches have studied the association between sugar intake and obesity of children in many countries. This study was undertaken to investigate the association between beverage intake and obesity of children by reviewing a database for total sugar contents established in all foods and presented in a nutrition survey by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).SUBJECTS/METHODSData of 1,520 children aged 6–11 years in the 6th KNHANES (2013–2015) were analyzed for this study. A database for total sugar intake comprises the total sugar contents of all foods included in the results of a nutrition survey using the 24-hour recall method of 6th KNHANES. Beverages were categorized into carbonated beverages, fruit & vegetable drinks, other drinks, tea, and coffee.RESULTSThe average daily beverage intake of all children was 131.75 g/day, and the average daily total sugar intake in beverages was 13.76 g/day. Carbonated beverages had the highest intake rate (58.85 g/day) and also ranked highest for sugar intake (6.36 g/day). After adjusting for confounding variables, the odds ratio for obesity in children with beverage intake of ≥ 200 mL/day significantly increased by 1.83 times (95% CI, 1.11–3.00) as compared to children with beverage intake of < 200 mL/day. Also, a significant increase was observed in the odds ratio for obesity in total children (2.41 times; 95% CI, 1.35–4.33) and boys (3.15 times; 95% CI, 1.53–6.49) with carbonated beverage intake of ≥ 200 mL/day when compared with children who consumed < 200 mL/day.CONCLUSIONA positive association is observed between beverage intake and obesity in Korean children. In particular, an intake of carbonated beverages has a positive correlation with childhood obesity in boys. This study can therefore be used as scientific evidence for reducing sugar, and for the continuous management and research on beverages.

Potentiality of Bioconverted Leafy Vegetable Waste as Aquaculture Feed Supplement

Purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) are well known for their ability in transforming organic substrates for their own source of nutrients. The nutritional values of leafy vegetable waste could be improved through bioconversion with PNSB. This study was conducted to access nutritional status of leafy vegetable waste bio-converted product and efficacy of derived product as aquaculture feed supplement. Proximate compositions of bio-converted leafy vegetable wastes were improved after 6 days with 30% inoculums of Afifella marina strain ME (KC205142). The crude proteins (%) and ashes (%) in derived product was increased to 51.7% and 19.6% respectively. On the other hand, the fiber (%) in the bio-converted derived product was decreased by 21%. During feeding trial in Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), no significant differences were observed in the feed intake (g/fish/day), but significant differences were observed in the value of feed conversion ratio and weight gain (%) among the used diets. However, lower ingestion rate (g/d/fish) and better feed conversion ratio were obtained while fishes were fed with diet composed of commercial feed mixed with 5% of the bio-converted product. The higher ingestion rate (g/d/fish) and lower feed conversion ratio were observed with only commercial diet. There observed no significant differences in the ingestion rate (g/d/fish) and FCR values among the diet composed of commercial feed with 5% (D5) and 10% (D10) of the bio-converted product. The derived bio-converted product can be a promising approach to open new market segment in aquafeed industry.

Evaluating the Selection of a Booster Pump on the Suction Line of a Floating Dredge

Approaches to the prevention of cavitation in a soil pump at high soil intake rates are analyzed. It is shown that installation of an additional (booster) pump in the underwater part of a suction-type hydraulic-fill pipeline is an optimal approach. As a result of calculations it is found that axial- and diagonal-type booster pumps possess the best energy indicators.

Exposure to acrylamide induces cardiac developmental toxicity in zebrafish during cardiogenesis.

Acrylamide (AA), an environmental pollutant, has been linked to neurotoxicity, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. AA is widely used to synthesize polymers for industrial applications, is widely found in Western-style carbohydrate-rich foods and cigarette smoke, and can also be detected in human umbilical cord blood and breast milk. This is the first study that demonstrated the cardiac developmental toxicity of AA in zebrafish embryos. Post-fertilization exposure to AA caused a clearly deficient cardiovascular system with a shrunken heart and abortive morphogenesis and function. Disordered expression of the cardiac genes, myl7, vmhc, myh6, bmp4, tbx2b and notch1b, as well as reduced number of myocardial cells and endocardial cells, indicated the collapsed development of ventricle and atrium and failed differentiation of atrioventricular canal (AVC). Although cell apoptosis was not affected, the capacity of cardiomyocyte proliferation was significantly reduced by AA exposure after fertilization. Further investigation showed that treatment with AA specifically reduced the expressions of nkx2.5, myl7 and vmhc in the anterior lateral plate mesoderm (ALPM) during the early cardiogenesis. In addition, AA exposure disturbed the restricted expressions of bmp4, tbx2b and notch1b during atrioventricular (AV) valve development and cardiac chambers maturation. Our results showed that AA-induced cardiotoxicity was related to decreased cardiac progenitor genes expression, reduced myocardium growth, abnormal cardiac chambers morphogenesis and disordered AVC differentiation. Our study demonstrates that AA exposure during a time point analogous to the first trimester in humans has a detrimental effect on early heart development in zebrafish. A high ingestion rate of AA-containing products may be an underlying risk factor for cardiogenesis in fetuses.

Prenatal supplementations of iron, iron-containing multimicronutrients and antianemic Chinese patent medicines in women in Shaanxi province, 2010-2013

Objective: To understand the prevalence of prenatal supplementations of iron, iron-containing multi-micronutrients (IMMN) and antianemic Chinese patent medicines (ACPM) and associated factors in women in Shaanxi province. Methods: A sample of 28 367 childbearing-age women who gave birth during 2010-2013 and had specific information of the prenatal nutrients supplementation were recruited using stratified multistage cluster random sampling in Shaanxi province. The information about their basic characteristics and prenatal supplementation of nutrients were collected by a questionnaire survey. Descriptive analysis method was used to analyze the intake rate of iron, IMMN and ACPM during each period of pregnancy, and logistic regression model was used to identify associated factors. Results: The overall prevalence of prenatal iron, IMMN and ACPM supplementation was low (28.99%), and the intake rate of iron was the lowest (5.33%). The prevalence of prenatal supplementation of iron, IMMN and ACPM were lower before pregnancy and in the first trimester than in the second and third trimester. The intake rates for consecutive 2 periods were very low (all were lower than 2.00%). The intake rates of iron, IMMN and ACPM significantly increased year by year. Women living in central Shaanxi had relatively high intake rates of iron (7.22%) and IMMN (16.55%), and women in southern Shaanxi had relatively high intake rate of ACPM (18.50%). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that higher educational level (OR=1.920, 95%CI: 1.617-2.279), antenatal care times≥6 (OR=1.832, 95%CI: 1.604-2.091), etc. were the positive factors for iron intake, and these positive factors were similar to those for IMMN intake. Additionally, rural residence was the negative factor for IMMN intake (compared with urban residence, OR=0.872, 95%CI: 0.788-0.966). Conversely, higher educational level (OR=0.855, 95%CI: 0.746-0.979), higher household income (OR=0.864, 95%CI: 0.796-0.938) were negative factors for ACPM intake, and rural residence was its positive factor (OR=1.285, 95%CI: 1.141-1.447). Conclusions: The prevalence of prenatal supplementation of iron, IMMN and ACPM were low in women in Shaanxi, especially the intake rate of iron was the lowest. The prophylactic iron supplementation before pregnancy or in the first trimester was rare. Measures should be taken to improve the prenatal supplementation of iron in Shaanxi and to standardize the clinical use of ACPM.

Maternal Alcohol Use and Nutrition During Pregnancy: Diet and Anthropometry.

Despite known risks of prenatal nutritional deficiencies and studies documenting increased prevalence of poor dietary intake among nonpregnant alcohol abusers, the nutritional status of heavy drinking pregnant women remains largely unstudied. Animal models have found interactions between prenatal ethanol exposure and micronutrients, such as choline, folate, B12, and iron, and human studies have reported that lower maternal weight and body mass confer increased fetal alcohol-related risk. One hundred and twenty-three heavy drinking Cape Coloured pregnant women and 83 abstaining controls were recruited at their first antenatal clinic visit. At 3 prenatal study visits, each gravida was interviewed about alcohol, smoking, and drug use and weight, height, and arm skinfolds were measured. Dietary intakes of energy, protein, fat, and major micronutrients were assessed from three 24-hour recall interviews. The majority of women gained less than the recommended 0.42kg/wk during pregnancy. Whereas methamphetamine use was associated with smaller biceps skinfolds, an indicator of body fat, alcohol consumption was not related to any anthropometric indicator. Alcohol was related to higher intake of phosphorus, choline, and vitamins B12 and D. Alcohol, cigarette, and methamphetamine use were related to lower vitamin C intake. Insufficient intake was reported by >85% of women for 10 of 22 key nutrients, and >50% for an additional 3 nutrients. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy was not associated with meaningful changes in diet or anthropometric measures in this population, suggesting that poor nutrition among drinkers does not confound the extensively reported effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on growth and neurobehavior. The poor gestational weight gain and high rates of insufficient intake for several nutrients in both the alcohol-exposed and control groups are also of public health importance.

Feeding preference and daily ration of 12 dominant copepods on mono and mixed diets of phytoplankton, rotifers, and detritus in a tropical coastal water.

Results of the experimental studies on the feeding habit and daily ration (DR) of 12 dominant copepods from a tropical coastal water (off Kochi, Southwest coast of India) on different food items (phytoplankton, rotifers, and detritus) are presented. Even though, all species of copepods consumed all types of food items in the experiments, they showed noticeable feeding preferences, having important ecological implications. Calanoid Paracalanus parvus and Acrocalanus gracilis consumed phytoplankton and rotifers equally in mono diets (74-89% of DR) and mixed diets (53-82% of DR), which indicated their ability to shift their diet in natural environment based on the availability of food items. Calanoid Acartia erythraea and A. danae consumed more phytoplankton (DR 83 and 72%, respectively) than rotifers (DR 51 and 46%, respectively) in mono diets, and in mixed diets, their consumption was high in phytoplankton combined food mixtures (P+R DR and P+D DR) rather than the R+D food type, indicated their preference for mixed diets of phytoplankton. Similarly, Calanoid Temora turbinata, Pseudodiaptomus serricaudatus, and Centropages tenuiremis preferred a herbivorous diet as evidenced by their high ingestion rate on phytoplankton mono (70 to 87% to their DR) and mixed diets (58 to 80% of DR). On the other hand, Cyclopoid Oithona similis and Poecilostomatoid Corycaeus danae preferred a carnivorous diet, consuming more rotifers (>80% of DR) than phytoplankton (18-20% of DR) and detritus (5-6% of DR). Harpacticoids Macrosetella gracilis and Euterpina acutifrons equally preferred phytoplankton (78-92% of DR) and detritus (65-89% of DR). The study showed that the dominant copepods in the coastal waters off Kochi occupy different trophic niches available in the environment, which may be applicable in other similar environments as well.