Normal Meal Research Articles

Potential food factors affect the fatality rate of COVID-19: an analysis using multiple linear regression

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused great harm to people around the world. This article explores the relationship between healthy diets and the fatality rate of COVID-19 from the perspective of healthy diets. This article collects data from Kaggle, pre-processes and standardizes it, conducts principal component analysis(PCA), divides it into five different dietary patterns(The contribution rate of these five dietary patterns is 72.917%, which can be interpreted as the principal component), and then constructs a multiple linear regression model. In the construction of this model, this article uses the idea of stepwise regression to remove variables that are not significant, leaving the parameters of the first and second principal components significantly non-zero. The results show that the estimated value of the parameter for the first dietary pattern in linear regression is 0.013, whereas the estimated value of the parameter for the second dietary pattern in linear regression is -0.005. Vegetable oils and vegetable products are negatively correlated with the fatality rate of COVID-19, while starchy root foods and animal products are positively correlated with it. Finally, the conclusion is drawn: In normal meals, it is more important to pay attention to the intake of vegetable foods, and try to ensure that the intake of meat foods should also be accompanied by a large amount of different types of vegetables. In the process of cooking, try to use vegetable oils such as soybean oil, olive oil, etc., which contain a lot of vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids. For starchy root foods and certain high-protein, high-fat animal products, try to eat less in life. On the premise of ensuring good eating habits, it will have a good protective effect on COVID-19.

Sirtuin 4 regulates nutrient-stimulated insulin secretion by modulating GLP-1 secretion

Sirtuin 4 (SIRT4) is a mitochondrial enzyme that can remove several novel post-translational modifications (PTMs) on target proteins and thereby modify their activity. We and others have previously shown that young mice lacking SIRT4 (SIRT4KO mice) have elevated glucose, leucine, and glutamine-stimulated insulin secretion. As these mice aged, they developed insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. We hypothesize that when these mice are young and eat a mixed nutrient diet, they secrete elevated amounts of insulin in response to each meal and this hyperinsulinemia drives the development of insulin resistance in old age. However, while insulin secretion in response to glucose, leucine, and glutamine individually has been reported in these mice, it has not been shown how much insulin these mice secrete in response to combinations of these nutrients, which would more closely resemble a normal meal. Thus, we sought to characterize insulin secretion in SIRT4KO mice in response to mixed nutrient challenges. Indeed, SIRT4KO mice secrete more insulin response to different combinations of glucose, leucine, and glutamine. In most cases, these increases in insulin secretion were synergistic, rather than just an additive effect of each individual nutrient. In particular, when leucine and glucose were administered together in aged SIRT4KO males, plasma insulin levels were synergistically increased more than 3-fold over glucose or leucine alone. Remarkably, treating aged SIRT4KO mice with leucine during a glucose tolerance test resulted in so much insulin secretion that glucose intolerance was normalized. Importantly, despite these extremely high insulin levels, there were no signs of dangerous hypoglycemia. To determine whether these synergistic effects of glucose and leucine on insulin secretion were due to effects of SIRT4 on pancreatic beta-cells, we treated beta-cell specific SIRT4KO mice with glucose and leucine and found no differences in insulin secretion compared to wild-type mice, suggesting that SIRT4 affects insulin secretion by acting indirectly on the beta-cell. To determine whether SIRT4 may affect insulin secretion by altering incretin secretion, we measured GLP-1 secretion in response glucose and leucine in combination and found that GLP-1 secretion was elevated in SIRT4KO mice compared to wild-type controls. Taken together, our data show that SIRT4 may be a key regulator of insulin secretion in response to mixed nutrients via effects on GLP-1 secretion. NIH Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) Pilot Project Award #SC2GM141997 San Jose State University Department of Biological Sciences Start-up Funds. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Glucose turnover at whole-body and skeletal muscle level in response to parenteral nutrition in male patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is associated with insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance, which may be caused by impairments at different tissue levels (liver, skeletal muscle, and/or beta cell). Here, glucose kinetics at whole-body and skeletal muscle level in patients with cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A and B) were studied during parenteral nutrition using the isotope dilution technique and arteriovenous balance approach across the leg. As opposed to the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp or glucose tolerance tests applied in previous studies, this approach provides a nutrient composition more similar to a normal meal while circumventing any possible portal-systemic shunting, impaired hepatic uptake and incretin effect. We confirmed the presence of hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance in our patient population. Endogenous glucose production was less suppressed in response to parenteral nutrition. However, glucose uptake in skeletal muscle was increased. Our results suggests that in our study participants with cirrhosis, the hepatic and peripheral insulin resistance is compensated for by increased insulin secretion and thus, increased glucose uptake in muscle. Hereby, glucose homeostasis is maintained.

54 Impact of Ileal Indigestible Protein on Nitrogen Excretion and Fecal Microbiota may be Greater Compared with Total Protein Concentration of Diets in Growing Pigs

Abstract The effect of changes in dietary ileal indigestible protein concentration may be more influential in the amount of nitrogen flowing to the large intestine compared with changes in total dietary protein concentration. For this reason, we hypothesized that an increase in dietary ileal indigestible protein concentration induces an increase in hindgut nitrogen utilization and nitrogen excretion and a shift in fecal microbiota in growing pigs, when compared with pigs given a high total protein diet. Three diets were prepared: 1) standard protein diet based on corn and soybean meal, 2) high-indigestible protein diet in which autoclaved soybean meal replaced normal soybean meal in the first diet, and 3) high protein diet where the inclusion rate of soybean meal was greater than that of the other diets. T-cannulated barrows (n = 18; initial BW = 63.4 ± 8.0 kg) were allotted to the 3 diets in a randomized complete block design with BW as a blocking factor. Pigs were individually housed in pens and the experiment lasted for 23 days. On d 7 and 21, fecal samples were collected by rectal massage for microbiota analysis. Grab samples of feces were collected on d 20 and 21, and ileal digesta were collected on d 22 and 23 for the determination of energy and nitrogen utilization. Energy and nitrogen utilization data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS using a pig as the experimental unit and a model that included diet as a fixed variable and block as a random variable. For microbiome analysis, R was used. Alpha and beta diversity metrics were analyzed and the difference in abundance of the genus was determined using the DESeq2 function. The high-indigestible protein diet achieved decreased apparent ileal digestibility of nitrogen and resulted in greater ileal indigestible nitrogen concentration (P < 0.05). Apparent total tract digestibility of nitrogen was less (P < 0.05), and correspondingly fecal nitrogen concentration and daily fecal nitrogen output were greater (P < 0.05) in the high-indigestible protein diet. Apparent post-ileal digestibility and hindgut disappearance of nitrogen and gross energy were the greatest (P < 0.05) in the high protein diet. Beta diversity metrics of feces in the high-indigestible protein diet on d 21 were different (q < 0.05) from those in the other two diets, which indicates a shift in fecal microbiota. According to the DESeq2 results, the direction of the microbiota shift induced by the high-indigestible protein diet may have reduced hindgut fiber utilization. In conclusion, an increase in dietary ileal indigestible protein increased nitrogen excretion and shifted fecal microbial communities but did not increase hindgut nitrogen utilization.

Tea Tree Oil Improves Energy Metabolism, Non-Specific Immunity, and Microbiota Diversity via the Intestine-Hepatopancreas Axis in Macrobrachium rosenbergii under Low Fish Meal Diet Administration.

Tea tree oil (TTO) is an essential plant oil with diverse antibacterial and antioxidant properties; however, whether the role played by TTO in low fish meal (LF) diets induced the observed effects in the farmed crustaceans remains unclear. Therefore, this study used Macrobrachium rosenbergii as the model crustacean, and an 8-week feeding experiment with NF (normal fish meal), LF (soybean meal replacing 40% fish meal), and LFT (LF with 200 mg/kg TTO) diets was conducted to evaluate the positive effects of TTO under the LF diet. Compared to the NF diet, the LF diet reduced hemolymph antioxidant capacity and non-specific immunity, and induced hepatopancreas apoptosis and damage. However, in comparison with LF, LTF significantly ameliorated morphological impairment in the hepatopancreas, improved hepatopancreas energy metabolism by upregulating the Bcl-2/Bax and Akt/mTOR pathways, and enhanced antioxidant and non-specific immune capacity by activating the NF-κB/NO pathway. In addition, LFT repaired intestinal barrier injury and the imbalance of intestinal microbiota induced by the LF diet. Moreover, the Pearson correlation revealed the variations of the above indicators, which were related to the abundance changes of Klebsiella, Clostridium sensu stricto 12, Thermobifida, Bifidobacterium, and Alistipes, indicating that these microbes might serve as prospective targets for the intestine-hepatopancreas axis to affect hepatopancreas apoptosis, metabolism, and non-specific immunity. In summary, 200 mg/kg TTO supplementation mediated gut microbiota and positively improved energy metabolism and non-specific immunity, thereby alleviating hepatopancreas dysplasia and damage induced by the LF diet in M. rosenbergii.

The effect of the modified fat-protein unit algorithm compared with that of carbohydrate counting on postprandial glucose in adults with type-1 diabetes when consuming meals with differing macronutrient compositions: a randomized crossover trial

BackgroundThe optimization of glucose control in type-1 diabetes is challenged by postprandial glycemic variability. This study aimed to compare the postprandial glycemic effects of carbohydrate counting and the modified fat-protein unit (FPU) algorithms following meals with different protein and fat emphases in adults with type-1 diabetes.MethodsThirty adults with type-1 diabetes aged 18 to 45 years participated in a randomized crossover trial. In a random order, participants consumed four test meals with equivalent energy and different macronutrient emphases on four separate mornings. The modified FPU algorithms and carbohydrate counting were used to determine the insulin dose for the test meals. A continuous glucose monitoring system was used to measured postprandial glycemia.ResultsCompared with carbohydrate counting, the modified FPU algorithm significantly decreased the late postprandial mean glucose levels (p = 0.026) in high protein-fat meals. The number of hypoglycemia episodes was similar between insulin dosing algorithms for the high protein-fat meals; hypoglycemic events were considerably higher for the modified FPU in the normal protein-fat meal (p = 0.042).ConclusionsThe modified FPU algorithm may improve postprandial glycemic control after consuming high protein-fat meals in adults with type-1 diabetes but may result in increased hypoglycemia risk when used with a normal protein-fat meal.

Triglyceride content increases while cholesterol content decreases in HDL and LDL+IDL fractions following normal meals: The Copenhagen General Population Study of 25,656 individuals

Background and aimsDuring fat tolerance tests, plasma triglycerides increase while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL) cholesterol decrease. However, it is unknown whether triglyceride content increases and cholesterol content decreases in HDL and LDL + IDL fractions following normal meals in the general population. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that triglyceride content increases while cholesterol content decreases in HDL and LDL + IDL fractions following normal meals. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we included 25,656 individuals aged 20–100 years, all without lipid-lowering therapy at examination and selected for metabolomic profiling from the Copenhagen General Population Study. Triglyceride and cholesterol content of 14 lipoprotein fractions weas measured using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Time since last meal was recorded by the examiner immediately before blood sampling. ResultsFollowing normal meals in age and sex-adjusted analyses and when compared with fasting levels, plasma triglycerides were higher for up to 5–6 h, and triglyceride content was higher for up to 6–7 h in HDL fractions, for up to 6–7 h in LDL + IDL fractions, and for up to 5–6 h in very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) fractions. Further, plasma cholesterol was lower for up to 2–3 h, and cholesterol content was lower for up to 0–1 h in HDL fractions and for up to 4–5 h in LDL + IDL fractions, while cholesterol content was higher for up to 4–5 h in VLDL fractions. ConclusionsFollowing normal meals, triglyceride content increases while cholesterol content decreases in HDL and LDL + IDL fractions.

Modulatory effect of Picralima Nitida on oxidative stress: Cobalt, thiol, total protein in Drosophila melanogaster exposed to lead

Drosophila melanogaster, commonly known as fruit fly, vinegar fly, is a small model organism used in the study of various disciplines. D. biochemical, neurological and physiological sim ilarities with human beings and has about 75% functional homologs of genes causing diseases in humans. Picralima nitida is a diseases in humans. Picralima nitida is a therapeutic herb used in ethnomedicine for the management of several disease conditions. Theobjective of this study is to induce oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster using lead and determine its effect on the levels of selected oxidative stress parameters. Determining the potential modulatory effect of Picralima nitida on selected oxidative stress parameters in lead-induced oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster was also known in this study. The phytochemicals of Picralima nitida, and survival rate in Drosophila melanogaster exposed to different concentrations of lead and/or Picralima nitida in meal were also studied. A total of 250 Drosophila melanogaster flies were seen in each of the 9 groups (A-I). Group A was used as the control group and was fed with normal standard meal with water only. Group B were fed with 0.25mg/dl lead acetate meal, group C were fed with 1mg/dl lead acetate meal, group D were fed with 10mg/kg Picralima nitida meal, group E were fed with 100mg/kg Picralima nitida diet, group F were fed with 0.25mg/dl lead acetate and 10mg/kg Picralima nitida diet, group G were fed with 1 mg/dl lead acetate and 10mg/kg Picralima nitida diet, group H were fed with 0.25mg/dl lead acetate 100mg/kg Picralima nitida meal and group I were fed with 1mg/dl lead acetate and 100mg/kg Picralima nitida diet. After about 5 days, flies were homogenized and the supernatant recovered were then used for the various biochemical and survival assay, Cobalt was determined with inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry, total protein was determined with Lowrys method and total thiols was determined with Ellman's method. The results showed that lead at various concentrations had a toxic effect on the level of oxidative stress parameters (cobalt, thiols, total protein) in Drosophila melanogaster. While Picralima nitida a medicinal plant had a modulatory effect on the level of oxidative stress parameters (Cobalt, total thiols, total protein) in lead- induced Drosophila melanogaster, although it can become toxic when taken in high concentration. All varying concentrations of lead acetate or/and Picralima nitida reduced the survival rate in the flies. From this study it could be deduced that at low concentration Picralima nitida has modulatory effect on oxidative stress.

Nasojejunal tube-assisted endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastrojejunostomy for the management of gastric outlet obstruction is safe and effective.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastrojejunostomy (EUS-GJ) is a therapeutic option for patients with gastric outlet obstruction (GOO), which provides long-term luminal patency without the risk of tumor ingrowth and/or overgrowth and avoids surgical morbidity. The goal of this study was to assess technical success, clinical success, and adverse events associated with a nasojejunal tube-assisted EUS- GJ technique. This was a retrospective study conducted at a single tertiary care center. The nasojejunal tube (14F) was used to perform the EUS-GJ (device-assisted method). During the study period, consecutive GOO patients who underwent EUS-GJ between August 2018 and December 2021 were included. Technical success was defined as adequate positioning and deployment of the stent. The patient's ability to tolerate a normal oral diet without vomiting was defined as clinical success. Thirty patients underwent EUS-GJ during this study period. Twenty-six patients had malignant GOO, while four had a benign obstruction. EUS-GJ was successfully performed in 29 patients, and technical success was 96.67% (29/30). Nasojejunal tube-assisted EUS-GJ technique was used in all patients. Clinical success was achieved in all patients who had technical success (29/29, 100%). The adverse events rate was 6.6%. During the procedure, the median procedure time was 25 min (interquartile range 15-42.5), and the average hospitalization was 4.4 days. Normal meals were tolerated by all patients. After 210 days of median follow-up (range 5-880 days), no recurrence of symptoms was observed. The nasojejunal tube-assisted EUS-GJ is a safe and effective technique to treat GOO symptoms.

GLUT2 expression by glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive tanycytes is required for promoting feeding-response to fasting

Feeding behavior is a complex process that depends on the ability of the brain to integrate hormonal and nutritional signals, such as glucose. One glucosensing mechanism relies on the glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) in the hypothalamus, especially in radial glia-like cells called tanycytes. Here, we analyzed whether a GLUT2-dependent glucosensing mechanism is required for the normal regulation of feeding behavior in GFAP-positive tanycytes. Genetic inactivation of Glut2 in GFAP-expressing tanycytes was performed using Cre/Lox technology. The efficiency of GFAP-tanycyte targeting was analyzed in the anteroposterior and dorsoventral axes by evaluating GFP fluorescence. Feeding behavior, hormonal levels, neuronal activity using c-Fos, and neuropeptide expression were also analyzed in the fasting-to-refeeding transition. In basal conditions, Glut2-inactivated mice had normal food intake and meal patterns. Implementation of a preceeding fasting period led to decreased total food intake and a delay in meal initiation during refeeding. Additionally, Glut2 inactivation increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells in the ventromedial nucleus in response to fasting and a deregulation of Pomc expression in the fasting-to-refeeding transition. Thus, a GLUT2-dependent glucose-sensing mechanism in GFAP-tanycytes is required to control food consumption and promote meal initiation after a fasting period.

Accelerated operative recovery in elderly patients with femoral fractures: Our experience of ten years with 870 patients

Background: The WHO considers elderly as an individual who is ≥ 60 y of age, and there are ≥ 37.7 million elderly people. In 2006, the ACERTO Project (Acceleration of Total Post-Operative Recovery) was introduced in Brazil in colorectal surgeries, and in elderly orthopedic femur fractures in 2010, with primary objective for the patient to early return to independent life. The objective of this descriptive study is to evaluate the clinical results 870 elderly patients undergoing surgical treatment of femoral fractures in ten years (2010-2019) after employing the perioperative acceleration protocol.
 Methodology: It was a cross-sectional, prospective study in patients ≥ 60 y, of both genders, undergoing corrective hip fracture for ten years at a hospital covered by the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS). The data regarding preoperative condition of the patients, fasting status, mode of anesthesia, drugs used, intra-operatively measured variables and immediate post-operative variables measured in the PACU, quality of lumbar plexus block analgesia, presence of delirium in the first day of postoperative was obtained from the study protocol. The deaths during the first postoperative month were noted.
 Results: A total of 829 patients underwent surgery for a fracture of the hip, under spinal anesthesia, of whom 583 were women and 246 were men. The average hospital stay was 10.2 ± 7.1 days, and it was associated with the age. The mean fasting time was 2:50 ± 0:32 h. The dose of isobaric bupivacaine was 9.62 ± 1:85 mg. The cephalad spread varied from T12 to T5. The duration of the spinal block was 2:50 ± 0:38 h, the time for the use of dextrinomaltose in PACU was 1:39 ± 0:47 h, the time in the PACU was 2:03 ± 0:46 h and the time to reintroduce normal meals was 6:18 ± 1:02 h. Arterial hypotension occurred in 36 (4.3%) patients, bradycardia in 4 (0.4%), and delirium in 16 patients. Eleven (1.3%) patients were sent to the ICU due to surgical problems. There were no deaths directly related to anesthesia or surgery.
 Conclusion: The implementation of the ACERTO Project in 829 patients with femur fracture of the Brazilian Public Health System, showed favorable results regarding length of stay, patient satisfaction, decreased use of bladder tube and drains, and referral to ICU, with early discharge to residence.
 Citation: Imbelloni LE, Teixeira DMP, Lima U, Ventura TB, Lacerda S, Brasileiro, Barbosa R, Sales MBL, Duarte M, Filho GBDM. Accelerated operative recovery in elderly patients with femoral fractures: Our experience of ten years with 870 patients. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2022;26(5):608-615; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v26i5.1992

Stability of circulating microRNAs in serum.

There is a strong body of evidence by several translational studies which demonstrate the potential of circulating miRNAs as a potential biomarker in oncology. However, recent reports documented varying stability of these small RNA molecules in serum samples. The aim of our pilot study was to evaluate the stability of miRNAs in serum in relation to food intake and sample storage. Serum miRNA expression levels of 16 different miRNAs from 8 healthy volunteers were quantified by real-time PCR. 4 samples from each donor were analysed—2 samples (fasting, in the morning and after food intake, at noon) were analysed within 24h and 2 samples (fasting and after food intake, at noon) were stored at -80°C for 14 days and subsequently analysed. Student´s t-test was used to determine significant differences. The detectability of the distinct miRNA as a surrogate for the stability of these small RNA molecules was slightly altered by the storage conditions, but only a miRNA 22-3p, out of the analysed 16 miRNAs, shows significant lower dCq expression (3.821 vs. 4.530; p<0,01) by qPCR dependent on storage conditions (-80°C vs. 4°C). However, miRNA levels were not affected by food intake. The difference between samples taken in the morning (fasting) and at noon (after a normal meal) did not show any significant differences. MiRNAs can be considered to be a relatively stable tool in laboratory diagnostics, but clearly every new assay needs thorough evaluation. The stability of miRNAs documented here in healthy volunteers shows their potential in the search for innovative biomarkers in oncology.

Viscoelastic or Viscoplastic Glucose Theory (VGT #72): Risk of Developing Complications, Such as CVD, CKD, and Cancers, resulting from Different Distribution Percentages between Normal PPG Meals Versus Hyperglycemic PPG Meals for a Type 2 Diabetes Patient using a Customized Software Program and VGT Energy Tool Based on GH-Method: Math-Physical Medicine (No. 661)

The author has been a type 2 diabetes (T2D) patient since 1995. Beginning in 2012, he started to collect his body weight and finger-piercing glucose data every day. In addition, since 2015, he accumulates other medical condition-related biomarker data, including a combination of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and blood lipid data along with important lifestyle details. Using collected big data, he further organized them into two main groups. The first is the medical conditions group (MC) with 4 chronic disease-related categories: weight, glucose, BP, and blood lipids. The second is the lifestyle details group (LD) with 6 root-cause and lifestyle-related categories: food &amp; diet, exercise, water intake, sleep, stress, and daily life routine. He then use these 2 groups, 10 categories, and 500+ elements to build a metabolism index (MI) model for his follow-up medical research work.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Dietary Pattern of Indian Population: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: COVID-19 pandemic triggered fear, anxiety, and worries among people making it a phobia, named as Coronaphobia. This, in turn, changed the dietary pattern of people. Objective: The present study was carried out to investigate, whether there was a change in the dietary pattern of during pandemic. Methodology: An online survey was conducted using Google Form to assess the change in the dietary pattern of Indian population (n = 130) during the pandemic. Moreover, the present study examines the impact of socioeconomic profile of respondents to the extent of change in dietary pattern using a multiple regression equation. Results: The study finds that 76% of the participants, of which 69% were male changed their dietary pattern. Further, addition of immunity boosters along with the normal meal was prominent as the changed dietary pattern among a majority of respondents. Moreover, a majority of participants stopped consuming junk food to strengthen their immunities. In addition, the study found a significant positive effect of age (P &lt; 0.0001) on the extent of change in dietary pattern among survey participants. Conclusion: The study concludes with the recommendation that people should consume immunity boosters and also be engaged with some physical activities to strengthen their immunities.

Meal delivery routing optimization with order allocation strategy based on transfer stations for instant logistics services

The rapid development of instant logistics services has brought not only convenience to people's life but also a great challenge to traffic management. Due to the limited delivery range of instant delivery systems, customers are usually recommended the meals nearby or pay much higher delivery fees for long-distance delivery. This study proposes a novel order splitting strategy based on transfer stations for long-distance meal orders to satisfy the diverse customer demands. The meal delivery routing problem is addressed with an order allocation strategy based on transfer stations through developing a three-stage modelling framework consisting of order combination, splitting and delivery routing for the online-to-offline instant logistics services. Normal meal orders are combined by the DBSCAN algorithm, and the cross-regional long-distance orders are split by transfer stations. Based on order combination and splitting, a mixed integer programming model is constructed for the meal delivery routing problem and solved by the adaptive large neighbourhood search algorithm. The proposed algorithm converges quickly for the tested instances constructed based on real platform data. The proposed order allocation strategy can expand the delivery scopes of couriers effectively, stimulate more potential orders and guarantee the timeliness of meal delivery.

SUMOylation Is Essential for Dengue Virus Replication and Transmission in the Mosquito Aedes aegypti.

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is a reversible post-translational protein modifier. Protein SUMOylation regulates a wide variety of cellular processes and is important for controlling virus replication. Earlier studies suggest that dengue virus envelope protein interacts with Ubc9, the sole E2-conjugating enzyme required for protein SUMOylation in mammalian cells. However, little is known about the effect of protein SUMOylation on dengue virus replication in the major dengue vector, Aedes aegypti. Thus, in this study, we investigated the impact of protein SUMOylation on dengue virus replication in A. aegypti. The transcription of A. aegypti Ubc9 was significantly increased in the midgut after a normal blood meal. Silencing AaUbc9 resulted in significant inhibition of dengue virus NS1 protein production, viral genome transcription, and reduced viral titer in the mosquito saliva. In addition, we showed that dengue virus E proteins and prM proteins were SUMOylated post-infection. The amino acid residues K51 and K241 of dengue virus E protein were essential for protein SUMOylation. Taken together, our results reveal that protein SUMOylation contributes to dengue virus replication and transmission in the mosquito A. aegypti. This study introduces the possibility that protein SUMOylation is beneficial for virus replication and facilitates virus transmission from the mosquito.

How Does Your Body Deal With Fast-Food Meals?

Eating a less-than-healthy diet can increase the chances of becoming obese, which usually happens when body organs have difficulties using or storing the excess fat and sugar that we eat. To better understand how what we eat affects the functioning of our organs, we measured substances called metabolites, which come from food, in the blood of obese minipigs. We then used computers to figure out what happens to these metabolites inside the liver following normal meals or a fast-food meal. We found that the liver fights against unhealthy food by finding ways to use or remove the excess fat and sugar. However, some of the paths normally followed by healthy food might become blocked when we eat too much unhealthy food. Our work showed that a better understanding of how the liver processes the metabolites from unhealthy diets could help people suffering from the effects of obesity.

Effects of Dietary Natural Mycotoxins Exposure on Performance, Biochemical Parameters and Milk Small Molecule Metabolic Pathways of Lactating Cows

The presence of mycotoxins in feed has the potential to cause significant detriment to animal and human health, and even severe economic implications. Previous studies on the effects of mycotoxins mainly focused on the addition of commercially available mycotoxins into feeds in animals. In the present study, corn meal and cottonseed were kept in warm and humid conditions to allow for mycotoxins produced and then used to substitute 50% and 100% of normal corn meal and cottonseed in diets for lactating cows for 14 days. The results showed that aflatoxin M1, deoxynivalenol, aflatoxin B1, and zearalenone were primary mycotoxins in milk from cows fed the diets. Compared with the control group, feeding the diets containing mildewy corn meal and cottonseed reduced feed intake, milk yield, and milk fat, protein and lactose productions (p &gt; 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the acetate and valerate concentrations, acetate to propionate ratio, and the calculated CH4 production in rumen fluid (p &gt; 0.05), whereas, the propionate, butyrate, isovalerate concentrations were affected (p &lt; 0.05) depending on the content and type of natural mycotoxins. Serum creatinine and total glyceride concentrations were influenced with corn meal and cottonseed fully replaced with the mildewy feeds. Metabolic pathways for small molecule metabolites in milk were altered by dietary mycotoxin exposures, and the changes were mainly associated with amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism, and energy metabolism. However, cows exposed to natural mycotoxins in the diets were still in healthy conditions and had low somatic cell count in milk.

MRNA vaccination induces tick resistance and prevents transmission of the Lyme disease agent.

Ixodes scapularis ticks transmit many pathogens that cause human disease, including Borrelia burgdorferi. Acquired resistance to I. scapularis due to repeated tick exposure has the potential to prevent tick-borne infectious diseases, and salivary proteins have been postulated to contribute to this process. We examined the ability of lipid nanoparticle–containing nucleoside-modified mRNAs encoding 19 I. scapularis salivary proteins (19ISP) to enhance the recognition of a tick bite and diminish I. scapularis engorgement on a host and thereby prevent B. burgdorferi infection. Guinea pigs were immunized with a 19ISP mRNA vaccine and subsequently challenged with I. scapularis. Animals administered 19ISP developed erythema at the bite site shortly after ticks began to attach, and these ticks fed poorly, marked by early detachment and decreased engorgement weights. 19ISP immunization also impeded B. burgdorferi transmission in the guinea pigs. The effective induction of local redness early after I. scapularis attachment and the inability of the ticks to take a normal blood meal suggest that 19ISP may be used either alone or in conjunction with traditional pathogen-based vaccines for the prevention of Lyme disease, and potentially other tick-borne infections.

69-Year Old Man With Dysphagia and Nasal Regurgitation

69-Year Old Man With Dysphagia and Nasal Regurgitation