Large Meals Research Articles

Acute primary gastric volvulus with open suture gastropexy: a case report

Introduction & importance: Gastric volvulus is rare and may result in a closed loop obstruction. Even with appropriate management, mortality may occur in up to 50% of patients. The conventional treatment for acute gastric volvulus has been immediate operation with reducing and detorsion of the volvulus. Case Presentation: Here, we present a case of acute gastric volvulus following fasting. Our patient underwent definitive surgical treatment with detorsion and gastropexy, and discharged with no postoperative complications. Clinical Discussion: Acute gastric volvulus is a rare yet serious medical condition that requires immediate diagnosis and intervention to prevent complications. The case presented highlights the importance of recognizing both common and subtle signs of gastric volvulus, though nonspecific symptoms may delay diagnosis. In this patient, the acute onset of symptoms following a large meal and failure to pass a nasogastric tube were early indicators that prompted imaging and led to the diagnosis of mesenteroaxial gastric volvulus. CT imaging played a crucial role in confirming the diagnosis, demonstrating its value in acute abdominal presentations where symptoms overlap with other causes of gastrointestinal obstruction. This case also emphasizes the importance of early intervention to avoid ischemic complications and improve survival rates. Conclusion: Acute gastric volvulus is a rare, potentially life-threatening condition that can easily be missed due to nonspecific symptoms. Early recognition, prompt imaging, and immediate surgical intervention are critical to preventing serious complications such as strangulation and necrosis.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTE OF TRANSMISSION AND HOST SPECIFICITY OF CYRTOSOMUM PENNERI IN FLORIDA'S INVASIVE LIZARDS.

The atractid nematode Cyrtosomum penneri is an autoinfective parasite of several lizard species. Intraspecific transmission between hosts appears to occur exclusively through sexual copulation, yet it is unclear how worms are transferred between different host species. Our research aims to test the possibility of oral transmission of C. penneri using experimental infections. The lizards Anolis sagrei, Leiocephalus carinatus, Hemidactylus mabouia, and Agama picticauda were experimentally exposed to C. penneri in 1 of these groups: (1) oral infection using a feces and saline slurry to approximate host coprophagy, (2) oral infection with a large meal to approximate host predation, and (3) venereal infection using a pipette to confirm sexual transmission. Experimental infections to test venereal transmission were successful in A. sagrei, A. picticauda, and H. mabouia, but were unable to establish infections in L. carinatus. In the predation exposures, A. picticauda, A. sagrei, and H. mabouia hosted infections, whereas L. carinatus were uninfected. Finally, coprophagy experimental infections did not result in infections for any species of host. Our study corroborates venereal transmission of C. penneri in multiple species of lizards and establishes predation as an alternative route of infection. Predation as an oral route of transmission may provide C. penneri an opportunity for interspecific transmission that would otherwise be unlikely during host copulation.

Effects of meal timing on human plasma metabolite rhythms

The term ‘chrono-nutrition’ describes the interaction between circadian timing and nutritional intake, as demonstrated by a wealth of animal and human studies(1). This relationship is bidirectional, with post-prandial response varying across the day and meal timing acting as a synchronising signal for some circadian rhythms. In humans, we have demonstrated that meal timing is a strong synchroniser of plasma glucose rhythms(2). Our recent data also suggest that interstitial glucose concentration can anticipate large meals(3). However, little is known about the effects of meal timing on other metabolic pathways. The existence of circadian rhythms in human plasma metabolites(4-6) provides a clear opportunity to address this timely issue. Here, in a controlled laboratory protocol, we tested the hypothesis that the anticipation of large meals is observed in human plasma metabolites.Twenty-four male participants undertook an 8-day laboratory study, with strict sleep-wake schedules, light-dark schedules, and food intake. For 6 days, participants consumed either hourly small meals throughout the waking period or two large daily meals (7.5 and 14.5 h after wake-up). Isocaloric meals were calculated using the Mifflin St Jeor formula, and contained 55% carbohydrate, 15% protein, 30% fat(2). All participants then undertook a 37-h constant routine. Samples were collected across a 30-h period in the middle of the constant routine. Plasma was collected every 30 minutes for targeted UPLC-MS/MS metabolomics analysis (Absolute p180 Biocrates kit), and saliva was collected hourly for assessment of melatonin onset, a marker of circadian timing. Data were statistically evaluated by cosinor analysis, unpaired t-test, and repeated measures ANOVA.There was no difference (p >0.05) in melatonin onset between the two groups. Rhythms, as indicated by significant (p < 0.05) cosinor fit, were detected in 64 plasma metabolites (out of 141 detected) in both groups. These metabolites included glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, plus multiple amino acids, acylcarnitines, phospholipids and sphingolipids. Consistent with previous work, there was a large (c. 7-hour) difference in the phase of plasma glucose between groups, with no significant difference in the phase of plasma triglyceride. Some other metabolites (e.g. histidine and proline) exhibited phase changes like that of glucose, but the phase was mostly unchanged. Glucose, alanine, arginine, citrulline, glutamine, methionine, phenylalanine, met-SO, 3 acylcarnitines and 13 phospholipids exhibited a significant interaction (FDR <0.05 meal-size x time, n=25). Totalcholesterol, asparagine, glutamate, glycine, isoleucine, leucine, ornithine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, kynurenine, SDMA, sarcosine, t4-OH-Pro, taurine, 6 acylcarnitines, 25 phospholipids and SMC18:1 exhibited a significant effect of meal-size and time. A further 8 metabolites had a significant effect of time only. Sixteen metabolites had no significant differences in neither meal size nor time. Our data therefore reveal novel effects of meal timing on multiple metabolite rhythms and average daily concentrations.

Exploring the Role of Circadian Rhythms in Sleep and Recovery: A Review Article.

Sleep is essential for every living organism. Humans spend about one-third of their lives sleeping. Sleep has been studied extensively, and the role of sleep in psychological, mental, and physical well-being is established to be the best. The rhythm of the brain between wakefulness and sleep is called the circadian rhythm, which ismainly controlled by melatonin and the pineal gland. The imbalance of this rhythm can lead to devastating effects on health. Vigorous workouts close to bedtime can interfere with falling asleep. Meal timing and composition can significantly affect sleep quality. It is advised to avoid large meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime. Heavy meals close to bedtime can lead to poor sleep and hormone disruption. By following these guidelines enumerated in the article, individuals can improve sleep quality and overall health. Sleep cycles, especially rapid eye movement sleep, have a profound influence on mental and physical health. Adhering to recommended sleep practices enhances bodily restoration, fortifies the immune system, and upholds metabolic equilibrium. Sleep hygiene aligned with circadian rhythms is crucial for disease prevention and well-being. Healthcare professionals should prioritize sleep optimization strategies for patient care and public health.

PSIV-A-8 Effects of meal frequency on heart rate in horses

Abstract In humans, meal size has been shown to affect heart function with meal ingestion being associated with an increase in heart rate (HR) and cardiac output lasting significantly longer when larger meals are consumed. In horses, HR spikes at the sight of feed due to anticipation, but no studies have specifically evaluated the effect of meal frequency or size on HR. Heart rate has also been used as a measure both positive and negative stress. Domesticated horses are often meal fed, with small frequent meals requiring more labor than large infrequent meals. Fewer larger meals may have negative welfare implications for a grazing species. As part of a larger project investigating the effects of meal frequency on the behavior and metabolism of horses, the objective of this study was to evaluate equine HR in response to feeding frequencies commonly practiced in the field [once (1x), twice (2x), or thrice (3x) per day]. Feeding times were at 0800 (1x, 2x, and 3x), 1300 (3x), and 1800 (2x and 3x) h. The 12 adult clinically healthy horses [average ± SD; 14 ± 6 yr and 572 ± 32 kg body weight (BW)] were separated into two equal groups before completing a 14-d acclimation period to the diet during which they were fed 2x. The diet was provided at 2% BW on a dry matter (DM) basis (1.55% BW grass hay in a slow feed hay net plus 0.45% BW complementary fortified feed). During the study the same diet was fed but the meal frequency, and therefore meal size, differed between the treatments. The order of treatments, lasting 1 wk each, was decided at random for each group. On d 6 of each treatment HR was measured using individual H10 Polar HR monitors, which recorded every second from 0700 to 1900 h yielding 1,514,799 data points. During this time the aisleways housing the stalled horses were blocked off to minimize exposure to human presence other than at feeding time(s). After removing outliers, the mode was calculated for HR of each horse, which was considered to be the resting HR for that horse and ranged from 31 to 46 beats/min. The percentage of data above, below, or at the mode was calculated for each horse over the 12 h period and evaluated using Chi Square tests for statistical significance. The proportion of HR values above, below, or at the mode differed between treatments (P = 0.02). When fed 1x, 69 ± 14% of the HR readings were above the mode on average, as compared with 42 ± 18% and 44 ± 18% for 2x and 3x, respectively. These results suggest that the increase in HR was more than anticipatory and that there may be sustained stress when horses are fed at fewer frequency, such as once daily.

Localizing Protein Expression of Transporters in Epithelial Cell Membranes of Mosquitoes.

Identifying and localizing ion transport proteins in epithelia is important for understanding how these tissues can regulate salt and water balance in animals. Mosquitoes face distinct challenges regarding salt and water balance as larvae live in water of varying ionic composition while adult female mosquitoes must deal with periodic large blood meals. This protocol will explain how to localize ion transporters in epithelia of mosquitoes. Antibodies raised against specific proteins can be used to carry out immunohistochemistry to tag and visualize native proteins in tissues and cells. This technique may be used for whole tissues and organs or can also be used on histological thin sections of fixed tissue. This protocol will detail the use of immunohistochemistry to localize membrane proteins in mosquito organs.

PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD) IN MEDICAL COLLEGE STUDENTS

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, leading to heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain. Objectives: The study's main aim is to find the prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux disease in medical college students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore from October 2023 to March 2024. Data were collected from 550 medical college students from 1st year, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th year. Data were collected through an online survey, including demographic data, GERD symptoms, dietary habits and lifestyle factors, and stress levels. GERD symptoms were reported, which include all data related to heartburn, chest pain and dysphagia. Results: Data were collected from 550 participants. The mean age of the participants (with GERD) was 24.0 ± 3.0 years, and without GERD, 23.0 ± 2.5 years. There were 65% female and 35 % male in the GERD group and 55% female and 45% male in the without GERD group. Students with GERD exhibited significantly higher prevalence rates of certain lifestyle factors compared to those without GERD. Specifically, students with GERD reported higher rates of consumption of spicy/acidic foods (50% vs. 35%), high intake of caffeine/carbonated beverages (60% vs. 40%), irregular meal patterns (40% vs. 20%), large meals before bedtime (30% vs. 15%), and sedentary lifestyle behaviors (70% vs. 40%). These differences were statistically significant, as indicated by the p-values <0.05 for consumption of spicy/acidic foods and large meals before bedtime, <0.01 for high intake of caffeine/carbonated beverages and irregular meal patterns, and <0.001 for sedentary lifestyle behaviours. Conclusion: It is concluded that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) presents a significant health concern among medical college students, with a notable prevalence of symptoms reported in this population.

Method dependency of maximum oxygen uptake rate and its repeatability in the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis.

The maximum rate at which fish can take up oxygen from their environment to fuel aerobic metabolism is an important feature of their physiology and ecology. Methods to quantify maximum oxygen uptake rate (ṀO2), therefore, should reliably and reproducibly estimate the highest possible ṀO2 by an individual or species under a given set of conditions (peak ṀO2). This study determined peak ṀO2 and its repeatability in Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, subjected to three methods to elevate metabolism: swimming at increasing water speeds, during recovery after an exhaustive chase, and after ingestion of a large meal. Estimates of peak ṀO2 during swimming and after an exhaustive chase were repeatable across two trials, whereas peak ṀO2 after feeding was not. Peak ṀO2 determined by the three methods was significantly different from one another, being highest during swimming, lowest after an exhaustive chase, and intermediate after feeding. In addition, peak ṀO2 during recovery from an exhaustive chase depended on the length of time of recovery: in nearly 60% of the trials, values within the first hour of the chase were lower than those measured later. A novel and important finding was that an individual's peak ṀO2 was not repeatable when compared across methods. Therefore, the peak ṀO2 estimated for a group of fish, as well as the ranking of individual ṀO2 within that group, depends on the method used to elevate aerobic metabolism.

CASE REPORT: EPIGASTRIC PAIN

A male patient (76 years) complained of heartburn since last night, pain scale of 7 to 8 (very disturbing). Examination of vital signs found increased blood pressure, and the patient's condition was still experiencing abdominal pain and or heart ulcers. The early admission diagnosis was epigastric pain. Gastroscopy examination revealed multiple nodules on the border of the corpus and fundus, antral erosive gastritis and hypotonia pylori. On anatomic pathological study, gastric mucosa results were obtained: Granulative chronic inflammation, degenerative proliferative. Investigations showed a decrease in hemoglobin, hematocrit, and sodium levels. The main diagnosis is anthral erosive gastritis. Secondary diagnoses are hypotonia pylori, hypertension, hyperthyroidism and hyponatremia. Therapy given cliad (clidium/chlordiazepoxide) 1 tab/8 hours, infusion of 3% NaCl 100 mL/24 hours, alprazolam one tab/24 hours, injection of pantoprazole 1 amp/24 hours, rebamipide one tab/8 hours, amlodipine one tab /24 hours, thyrozol ½ tab/24 hours, amitryptiline one tab/12 and lioresal 10 mg/12 hours. Education is provided, such as avoiding and changing eating or drinking patterns like spicy foods and coffee drinks. Eat smaller meals more often than 2 or 3 large meals. Pharmacists play an important role in monitoring heartburn pain scales and sodium levels.

Lingual Taste Nerve Transection Alters Food Selection, Relative Macronutrient Intake, and Meal Patterns in Rats Consuming a Cafeteria Diet without Changing Total Energy Intake.

The control of ingestive behavior is complex and involves input from many different sources, including the gustatory system. Signals transmitted via the taste nerves trigger responses that promote or discourage ingestion. The lingual taste nerves innervate 70% of taste buds, yet their role in the control of food selection and intake remarkably remains relatively underinvestigated. Here we used our custom five-item Food Choice Monitor to compare postsurgical behavioral responses to chow and a five-choice cafeteria diet (CAF) between male rats that had sham surgery (SHAM) or histologically verified transection of the chorda tympani and glossopharyngeal nerves (2NX). Compared with SHAM rats, 2NX rats ate significantly more of the high-fat CAF foods. The altered food choices led to dramatically increased fat intake and substantially reduced carbohydrate intake by 2NX vs SHAM rats. Furthermore, whether offered chow or CAF, 2NX rats ate fewer, larger meals each day. Eating rates implied that, compared with SHAM, 2NX rats were equally motivated to consume CAF but less motivated to eat chow. Even with these differences, energy intake and weight gain trajectories remained similar between SHAM and 2NX rats. Although some rats experienced CAF before surgery, contrary to our expectations, the effects of prior CAF experience on postsurgical eating were minimal. In conclusion, although total energy intake was unaffected, our results clearly indicate that information from one or both lingual taste nerves has a critical role in food selection, regulation of macronutrient intake, and meal termination but not long-term energy balance.

Quickest detection of bias injection attacks on the glucose sensor in the artificial pancreas under meal disturbances

Modern glucose sensors deployed in closed-loop insulin delivery systems, so-called artificial pancreas use wireless communication channels. While this allows a flexible system design, it also introduces vulnerability to cyberattacks. Timely detection and mitigation of attacks are imperative for device safety. However, large unknown meal disturbances are a crucial challenge in determining whether the sensor has been compromised or the sensor glucose trajectories are normal. We address this issue from a control-theoretic security perspective. In particular, a time-varying Kalman filter is employed to handle the sporadic meal intakes. The filter prediction error is then statistically evaluated to detect anomalies if present. We compare two state-of-the-art online anomaly detection algorithms, namely the χ2 and CUSUM tests. We establish a robust optimal detection rule for unknown bias injections. Even if the optimality holds only for the restrictive case of constant bias injections, we show that the proposed model-based anomaly detection scheme is also effective for generic non-stealthy sensor deception attacks through numerical simulations.

Difference of Dietary Habit on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients at Perumnas I Public Health Center, West Pontianak

Highlights: Good eating habits can control the blood sugar levels and BMI of type 2 DM patients. Good dietary control includes the schedule, amount, and type of food consumed. The schedule recommendation for type 2 DM consists of six meals a day, divided into three large meals and three times breaks. Abstract Introduction: In 2019, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) at Perumnas I Public Health Center was sixth-placed among the top ten diseases with 1,118 cases. This study aimed to determine the dietary habits of type 2 DM patients based on body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose at Perumnas I Public Health Center, West Pontianak. Methods: This was an observational analysis study with a cross-sectional design. A total of 78 type 2 DM patients who were treated from January to July 2021 at Perumnas I Public Health Center were involved in this study. This study used a three-day food record questionnaire to get patients’ food dishes and the Wilcoxon test for correlation between variables. Results: Most of the respondents had a calorie deficit for three days straight (70.5%, 76.9%, and 71.8%), a normal BMI (51.3%), and above-normal fasting blood glucose (88.5%). The p-value of the Wilcoxon test that showed dietary habits on day one, two, and three with BMI was 0.000. The p-value of the Wilcoxon test that showed dietary habits on day one, two, and three with fasting blood glucose was 0.000. This showed a significant distinction between patients’ three-day dietary habits and their BMI and fasting blood glucose. Conclusion: There was a difference between nutritional status and fasting blood glucose in three-day dietary habits in type 2 DM patients at Perumnas I Public Health Center, West Pontianak.

Deficiency of Brummer lipase disturbs lipid mobilization and locomotion, and impairs reproduction due to defects in the eggshell ultrastructure in the insect vector Rhodnius prolixus

Rhodnius prolixus is a hematophagous insect, which feeds on large and infrequent blood meals, and is a vector of trypanosomatids that cause Chagas disease. After feeding, lipids derived from blood meal are stored in the fat body as triacylglycerol, which is recruited under conditions of energy demand by lipolysis, where the first step is catalyzed by the Brummer lipase (Bmm), whose orthologue in mammals is the adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). Here, we investigated the roles of Bmm in adult Rhodnius prolixus under starvation, and after feeding. Its gene (RhoprBmm) was expressed in all the analyzed insect organs, and its transcript levels in the fat body were not altered by nutritional status. RNAi-mediated knockdown of RhoprBmm caused triacylglycerol retention in the fat body during starvation, resulting in larger lipid droplets and lower ATP levels compared to control females. The silenced females showed decreased flight capacity and locomotor activity. When RhoprBmm knockdown occurred before the blood meal and the insects were fed, the females laid fewer eggs, which collapsed and showed low hatching rates. Their hemolymph had reduced diacylglycerol content and vitellogenin concentration. The chorion (eggshell) of their eggs had no difference in hydrocarbon amounts or in dityrosine crosslinking levels compared to control eggs. However, it showed ultrastructural defects. These results demonstrated that Bmm activity is important not only to guarantee lipid mobilization to maintain energy homeostasis during starvation, but also for the production of viable eggs after a blood meal, by somehow contributing to the right formation of the egg chorion.

High- or low-fibre diet, meal size and frequency: Effect on ileal and total tract digestibility and mean retention time in growing pigs

This study aimed to determine the effect of the size and frequency of meals and diet type (high- or low-fibre) on fibre degradation and retention time of digesta in growing pigs. Pigs (n = 6) were fitted with a T-cannula, and each received all treatments following a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement in a 6 × 6 Latin square experimental design. The diets were either corn-soybean meal-based diet with low fibre (LowFibre) or wheat-barley based diet with high fibre (HighFibre) and distributed differently: 2 meals per day that met 3 times the maintenance energy requirement (2M), the same amount of feed in 8 meals (8M), and 8 meals per day that met 5 times the requirements (8M+). A diet type × meal interaction was observed for mean retention time (MRT) of the solid and liquid phase of digesta where MRT in LowFibre diet was higher in 2M compared to 8M and 8M+ while in HighFibre only 8M had lower MRT than 2M and 8M+ (Solid phase, P = 0.023, Liquid phase, P = 0.097). Ileum digesta from the LowFibre diet was less viscous than ileum digesta from HighFibre diet (P = 0.028) regardless of the meal distribution. Concentrations of the indigestible markers in the ileal digesta (TiO2 and YbCl3) increased faster in the LowFibre compared to the HighFiber diet, and marker concentrations were more constant in the 2M than the 8M and 8M+ treatments (P < 0.05). Coefficient of apparent ileal digestibility (CAID) of dry matter, energy, crude protein, total non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and insoluble NSP was higher in the HighFibre diet than the LowFibre diet, while opposed results were observed for apparent total tract digestibility (P < 0.05). No effect of meal type was observed on CAID. Blood glucose levels were stable throughout the day for 8M and 8M+ while blood glucose for 2M was decreased between two meals (meal × time effect, P = 0.035). Larger meals in 2M-LowFibre, 2M-HighFibre and 8M+HighFibre can therefore explain longer MRT potentially due to decreased motility and slower gastric emptying. In conclusion, feeding pigs with an increased number of meals per day allows a continuous flow of digesta, stabilized blood glucose and increased digestibility. Ingestion of a high-fibre diet causes increased digesta viscosity. The type of diet had more impact on digestibility and transit time than the meal size and frequency.

Effect of pre- and postpartum supplementation of a pure glycerol product to dairy cows on feeding behavior, lying behavior, and reticulorumen pH

The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of supplementing a low level of dry glycerol product pre- and postpartum on the feeding behavior, lying behavior, and reticulorumen pH of dairy cows. Multiparous Holstein dairy cows (n = 60) were enrolled in a 2 × 2 factorial design study. Twenty-one days before expected parturition, cows individually received a dry cow diet with (1) 250 g/d glycerol supplementation (GLY; 66% pure glycerol, United States Pharmacopeia grade), or (2) no supplementation (CON). Following parturition, cows were individually assigned to either (1) 250 g/d glycerol product (GLY; 66% pure glycerol), or (2) no supplementation (CON) to their partial mixed ration (PMR) for the first 21 d in milk (DIM). All cows were milked by an automated milking system and offered a target of 5.4 kg/d pellet (23% of target total dry matter intake [DMI]). For both treatment periods, cows were individually assigned to automated feed bins to measure PMR feeding behavior. Rumination time and lying behavior were monitored with electronic sensors for the whole study (-21 to 21 DIM). Reticulorumen pH boluses were administered to a subset of cows (n = 40) where pH was recorded every 10 min from 21 d prepartum to 21 d postpartum. Prepartum, cows fed GLY had fewer, larger meals and spent 20.2% more time feeding than CON while consuming feed at a similar rate. Cows on the CON diet prepartum spent more time lying down in more frequent bouts in the 21 d before calving. Following parturition, cows that received GLY prepartum continued to devote more time to eating, while tending to spend less time ruminating per kilogram of DMI. Cows receiving CON postpartum had larger meals with longer intervals between meals. In the first 21 DIM, cows receiving CON prepartum tended to have shorter, but significantly more frequent, lying bouts than cows fed GLY prepartum. Glycerol supplementation pre- and postpartum resulted in less time spent lying down following parturition. Minimal differences between treatments were observed for pre- and postpartum sorting behavior or reticulorumen pH. Overall, supplementation of glycerol pre- and postpartum altered cow time budgets, with cows spending more time eating pre- and postpartum, less time lying pre- and postpartum, and having fewer, larger meals prepartum when receiving glycerol prepartum, and with cows having slower feeding rates and smaller meals following parturition with postpartum glycerol supplementation.

The physiological consequences of a very large natural meal in a voracious marine fish, the staghorn sculpin (Leptocottus armatus).

Little information exists on physiological consequences when wild fish eat natural food. Staghorn sculpins at 10-13°C voluntarily consumed 15.8% of their body mass in anchovies. Gastric clearance was slow with >60% of the meal retained in the stomach at 48 h, and was not complete until 84 h. At 14-24 h post-feeding, pH was depressed by 3 units and Cl- concentration was elevated 2-fold in gastric chyme, reflecting HCl secretion, while in all sections of the intestine, pH declined by 1 pH unit but Cl- concentration remained unchanged. PCO2and total ammonia concentration were greatly elevated throughout the tract, whereas PNH3and HCO3- concentration were depressed. Intestinal HCO3- secretion rates, measured in gut sacs in vitro, were also lower in fed fish. Whole-animal O2 consumption rate was elevated approximately 2-fold for 72 h post-feeding, reflecting 'specific dynamic action', whereas ammonia and urea-N excretion rates were elevated about 5-fold. Arterial blood exhibited a modest 'alkaline tide' for about 48 h, but there was negligible excretion of metabolic base to the external seawater. PaCO2and PaO2remained unchanged. Plasma total amino acid concentration and total lipid concentration were elevated about 1.5-fold for at least 48 h, whereas small increases in plasma total ammonia concentration, PNH3and urea-N concentration were quickly attenuated. Plasma glucose concentration remained unchanged. We conclude that despite the very large meal, slow processing with high efficiency minimizes internal physiological disturbances. This differs greatly from the picture provided by previous studies on aquacultured species using synthetic diets and/or force-feeding. Questions remain about the role of the gastro-intestinal microbiome in nitrogen and acid-base metabolism.

The effect of intradialytic food intake on hemodialysis adequacy and blood pressure; a quasi-experimental study

Introduction: Food intake during hemodialysis (HD) is a controversial issue. The potential benefits include improvement of nutritional status and patient satisfaction. However, the risks include the possibility of intradialytic hypotension (IDH) and dialysis inadequacy. There are no guidelines regarding food intake during HD. Objectives: To assess the impact of food intake during HD on IDH and dialysis adequacy. Patients and Methods: This was a single-center quasi-experimental study. Thirty patients undergoing regular maintenance HD were recruited for the study. The patients themselves served as their controls. In three separate sessions, they were assessed for IDH and dialysis adequacy (spKt/V, URR). The first session was without a meal, the second with a small meal, and the third with a large meal. Change in measured variables (spKt/V, URR) was assessed by repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). The McNemar test was conducted to compare the incidence of IDH between three different dialysis sessions. Results: Nine patients (30%) had IDH when they consumed a small meal (P=0.02, McNemar test), and eight patients had IDH (26.7%) when they consumed a large meal (P=0.03, McNemar test). The mean spKt/v and URR were not significantly different in the three sessions. Conclusion: There is a significantly increased risk of IDH due to food intake. IDH is associated with significant morbidity and mortality; hence, restricting food intake during HD sessions would be prudent.

Knockdown of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1) reduces fat body lipid mobilization and resistance to starvation in the insect vector Rhodnius prolixus.

The energy stored in fatty acids is essential for several critical activities of insects, such as embryogenesis, oviposition, and flight. Rhodnius prolixus is an obligatory hematophagous hemipteran and vector of Chagas disease, and it feeds infrequently on very large blood meals. As digestion slowly occurs, lipids are synthesized and accumulate in the fat body, mainly as triacylglycerol, in lipid droplets. Between feeding bouts, proper mobilization and oxidation of stored lipids are crucial for survival, and released fatty acids are oxidized by mitochondrial β-oxidation. Carnitine palmitoyl transferase I (CPT1) is the enzyme that catalyzes the first reaction of the carnitine shuttle, where the activated fatty acid, acyl-CoA, is converted to acyl-carnitine to be transported into the mitochondria. Here, we investigated the role of CPT1 in lipid metabolism and in resistance to starvation in Rhodnius prolixus. The expression of the CPT1 gene (RhoprCpt1) was determined in the organs of adult females on the fourth day after a blood meal, and the flight muscle showed higher expression levels than the ovary, fat body, and anterior and posterior midgut. RhoprCpt1 expression in the fat body dramatically decreased after feeding, and started to increase again 10days later, but no changes were observed in the flight muscle. β-oxidation rates were determined in flight muscle and fat body homogenates with the use of 3H-palmitate, and in unfed females, they were higher in the flight muscle. In the fat body, lipid oxidation activity did not show any variation before or at different days after feeding, and was not affected by the presence of etomoxir or malonyl-CoA. We used RNAi and generated RhoprCPT1-deficient insects, which surprisingly did not show a decrease in measured 3H-palmitate oxidation rates. However, the RNAi-knockdown females presented increased amounts of triacylglycerol and larger lipid droplets in the fat body, but not in the flight muscle. When subjected to starvation, these insects had a shorter lifespan. These results indicated that the inhibition of RhoprCpt1 expression compromised lipid mobilization and affected resistance to starvation.

Why do some fish grow faster than others?

AbstractAll animals must acquire food to grow, but there is a vast diversity in how different species and even different individuals approach and achieve this task. Individuals within a species appear to fall along a bold‐shy continuum, whereby some fish acquire food aggressively and with seemingly high risk, while others appear more submissive and opportunistic. Greater food consumption generally results in faster growth, but only if the energy acquired through food is more than enough to compensate for heightened metabolism associated with a more active lifestyle. Fast‐growing phenotypes also tend to have elevated baseline metabolism – at least when food is plentiful – which may be linked with gut morphology and digestive efficiency. The net energy gained from a meal (as calculated from the specific dynamic action (SDA) coefficient) is optimised with larger meal sizes, but the digestion of large meals can erode the aerobic metabolic scope available for other critical activities such as predator avoidance, perhaps at an interindividual level. Thus, complex interactions between an individual's genes and environment are likely to regulate the growth phenotype. This review compiles available knowledge to shed light on the question: Why do some fish grow faster than others? We discuss the elaborate interrelationships between behaviour, physiology and the gut microbiome with a goal to better understand what drives interindividual differences in growth performance.

"Forbidden Fish": Did King Henry I Die of Lamprey Poisoning?

For centuries, the sudden and mysterious death of King Henry I has been attributed to a large meal of lampreys that accidentally poisoned the unfortunate monarch. In this article, we conclude that lampreys were likely not the cause of the king's illness, nor is it likely that he was deliberately poisoned.Although a wide variety of abdominal pathologies could have been responsible, we suggest that asporadic central nervous system (CNS) infection ofListeria monocytogenesappears to be the most likely cause of Henry's death, correlating with both his symptoms and rapid decline.