Labeling Period Research Articles

Quality of life and mood in patients with medically intractable epilepsy treated with targeted responsive neurostimulation

PurposeThe primary efficacy and safety measures from a trial of responsive neurostimulation for focal epilepsy were previously published. In this report, the findings from the same study are presented for quality of life, which was a supportive analysis, and for mood, which was assessed as a secondary safety endpoint. MethodsThe study was a multicenter randomized controlled double-blinded trial of responsive neurostimulation in 191 patients with medically resistant focal epilepsy. During a 4-month postimplant blinded period, patients were randomized to receive responsive stimulation or sham stimulation, after which all patients received responsive neurostimulation in open label to complete 2years. Quality of life (QOL) and mood surveys were administered during the baseline period, at the end of the blinded period, and at year 1 and year 2 of the open label period. ResultsThe treatment and sham groups did not differ at baseline. Compared with baseline, QOL improved in both groups at the end of the blinded period and also at 1year and 2years, when all patients were treated. At 2years, 44% of patients reported meaningful improvements in QOL, and 16% reported declines. There were no overall adverse changes in mood or in suicidality across the study. Findings were not related to changes in seizures and antiepileptic drugs, and patients with mesial temporal seizure onsets and those with neocortical seizure onsets both experienced improvements in QOL. ConclusionsTreatment with targeted responsive neurostimulation does not adversely affect QOL or mood and may be associated with improvements in QOL in patients, including those with seizures of either mesial temporal origin or neocortical origin.

Plant and microbial uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus affected by drought using 15N and 32P tracers

Competition for nutrients between plants and microbes is an important determinant for plant growth, biodiversity and carbon cycling. Perturbations such as drought affect the availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and may cause shifts in uptake of N and P between plants and microbes. Competitiveness for these nutrients may depend on how flexible plants and microbes are in taking up N and P. We used a novel dual isotope labelling technique (15N and 32P) to assess short-term uptake of N and P by plants and microbes affected by drought in two different plant–soil systems. Mesocosms were extracted from two grassland sites differing in soil nutrient availability and plant species. Half of the mesocosms were subjected to drought one week prior to injection of 15N (as KNO3) and 32P (as H3PO4) tracers. Uptake rates of NO3− and P in plants and microbes were estimated based on average source pool enrichment during the labelling period and on plant and microbial recovery of 15N and 32P measured after 4 days of labelling. Overall competition for N and P was reduced with drought as less NO3− and P was taken up in plants and microbes. However, plant uptake of NO3− was more sensitive to drought than microbial NO3− uptake, while microbial P uptake was more sensitive than plant P uptake. These different sensitivities to drought by plants and microbes may decouple the N and P cycle with increased drought conditions.

Modeling the contribution of individual proteins to mixed skeletal muscle protein synthetic rates over increasing periods of label incorporation.

Advances in stable isotope approaches, primarily the use of deuterium oxide ((2)H2O), allow for long-term measurements of protein synthesis, as well as the contribution of individual proteins to tissue measured protein synthesis rates. Here, we determined the influence of individual protein synthetic rates, individual protein content, and time of isotopic labeling on the measured synthesis rate of skeletal muscle proteins. To this end, we developed a mathematical model, applied the model to an established data set collected in vivo, and, to experimentally test the impact of different isotopic labeling periods, used (2)H2O to measure protein synthesis in cultured myotubes over periods of 2, 4, and 7 days. We first demonstrated the influence of both relative protein content and individual protein synthesis rates on measured synthesis rates over time. When expanded to include 286 individual proteins, the model closely approximated protein synthetic rates measured in vivo. The model revealed a 29% difference in measured synthesis rates from the slowest period of measurement (20 min) to the longest period of measurement (6 wk). In support of these findings, culturing of C2C12 myotubes with isotopic labeling periods of 2, 4, or 7 days revealed up to a doubling of the measured synthesis rate in the shorter labeling period compared with the longer period of labeling. From our model, we conclude that a 4-wk period of labeling is ideal for considering all proteins in a mixed-tissue fraction, while minimizing the slowing effect of fully turned-over proteins. In addition, we advocate that careful consideration must be paid to the period of isotopic labeling when comparing mixed protein synthetic rates between studies.

13C Tracer Studies of Metabolism in Mouse Tumor Xenografts.

Mice are widely used for human tumor xenograft studies of cancer development and drug efficacy and toxicity. Stable isotope tracing coupled with metabolomic analysis is an emerging approach for assaying metabolic network activity. In mouse models there are several routes of tracer introduction, which have particular advantages and disadvantages that depend on the model and the questions addressed. This protocol describes the bolus i.v. route via repeated tail vein injections of solutions of stable isotope enriched tracers including 13C6-glucose and 13C5,15N2-glutamine. Repeated injections give higher enrichments and over longer labeling periods than a single bolus. Multiple injections of glutamine are necessary to achieve adequate enrichment in engrafted tumors.

Erratum for: Weight reduction and maintenance with IQP-PV-101: A 12-week randomized controlled study with a 24-week open label period

Barbara Grube, Wen-Fen Chong, Pee-Win Chong and Linda Riede Obesity (2014) 22:645–651. doi:10.1002/oby.20577 After the article above was published, the authors noted several errors that they felt needed to be corrected. Per the authors, these changes however would not have an impact on the final results and conclusions in the original article. The authors apologize for any confusion caused by these errors. The errors and their corrected information are listed below: Page 647 Energy Intake From original text: During the WL study, there was no significant difference between the two groups in daily energy intake. The mean for all subjects was 2,337+/−392 kcal per day. Energy intake was not recorded in the WM study. To: During the WL study, there was no significant difference between the two groups in daily energy intake. The mean energy intake for all subjects was in the range of 1793 +/− 370 kcal per day (visit 2) and 1821 +/−425 kcal per day (visit 4), which were hypocaloric from the mean calculated energy requirement of 2337 +/−392 kcal per day. Energy intake was not recorded in the WM study. Page 647 Section: Investigational product compliance From original text: In the WL study, there was no significant difference in the percentage of compliance between subjects on IQP-PV-101 and subjects on placebo (p=0.154). To: In the WL study, there was no significant difference in the percentage of compliance between subjects on IQP-PV-101 and subjects on placebo (p=0.153). Page 647 Section: Efficacy – Body weight From original text: Significantly more subjects in the IQP-PV-101 group lost at least 5% of their baseline body weight compared with the placebo group (30.6% vs. 8.2%, p<0.001). To: Significantly more subjects in the IQP-PV-101 group lost at least 5% of their baseline body weight compared with the placebo group (30.6% vs. 8.2%, p=0.002). Page 648 Figure 1: Subject recruitment and follow-up – WL study From original text: ITT placebo – 62 To: ITT placebo – 61 Page 648 Section: Efficacy – Body fat mass From original text: The mean body fat mass at the start of the WL study was 31.9 ± 7.3 kg in the IQP-PV-101 group and 31.9 ± 7.3 kg in the placebo group (p=0.992). To: The mean body fat mass at the start of the WL study was 31.4 ± 7.1 kg in the IQP-PV-101 group and 31.9 ± 7.3 kg in the placebo group (p=0.992). Page 650 Section: Acknowledgements From original text: The studies were registered with clinicaltrials.gov, No.:NCT01233349 (WL study) and NCT01435278 (WM study). To: The studies were registered with clinicaltrials.gov, No.: NCT01407393 (WL study) and NCT01435278 (WM study).

SAT0372 Clinical and Imaging Efficacy of Etanercept in Early Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: 48-Week Treatment Data

BackgroundOur previous data show that Etanercept (ETN) has superior clinical and anti-inflammatory efficacy to placebo (PBO) in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) and inadequate response to NSAIDs in a...

Deep brain stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert in Alzheimer's dementia.

Cholinergic neurons of the medial forebrain are considered important contributors to brain plasticity and neuromodulation. A reduction of cholinergic innervation can lead to pathophysiological changes of neurotransmission and is observed in Alzheimer's disease. Here we report on six patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) treated with bilateral low-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM). During a four-week double-blind sham-controlled phase and a subsequent 11-month follow-up open label period, clinical outcome was assessed by neuropsychological examination using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale as the primary outcome measure. Electroencephalography and [(18)F]-fluoro-desoxyglucose positron emission tomography were, besides others, secondary endpoints. On the basis of stable or improved primary outcome parameters twelve months after surgery, four of the six patients were considered responders. No severe or non-transitional side effects related to the stimulation were observed. Taking into account all limitations of a pilot study, we conclude that DBS of the NBM is both technically feasible and well tolerated.

Assembly of the cardiac intercalated disk during pre- and postnatal development of the human heart.

BackgroundIn cardiac muscle, the intercalated disk (ID) at the longitudinal cell-edges of cardiomyocytes provides as a macromolecular infrastructure that integrates mechanical and electrical coupling within the heart. Pathophysiological disturbance in composition of this complex is well known to trigger cardiac arrhythmias and pump failure. The mechanisms underlying assembly of this important cellular domain in human heart is currently unknown.MethodsWe collected 18 specimens from individuals that died from non-cardiovascular causes. Age of the specimens ranged from a gestational age of 15 weeks through 11 years postnatal. Immunohistochemical labeling was performed against proteins comprising desmosomes, adherens junctions, the cardiac sodium channel and gap junctions to visualize spatiotemporal alterations in subcellular location of the proteins.ResultsChanges in spatiotemporal localization of the adherens junction proteins (N-cadherin and ZO-1) and desmosomal proteins (plakoglobin, desmoplakin and plakophilin-2) were identical in all subsequent ages studied. After an initial period of diffuse and lateral labelling, all proteins were fully localized in the ID at approximately 1 year after birth. Nav1.5 that composes the cardiac sodium channel and the gap junction protein Cx43 follow a similar pattern but their arrival in the ID is detected at (much) later stages (two years for Nav1.5 and seven years for Cx43, respectively).ConclusionOur data on developmental maturation of the ID in human heart indicate that generation of the mechanical junctions at the ID precedes that of the electrical junctions with a significant difference in time. In addition arrival of the electrical junctions (Nav1.5 and Cx43) is not uniform since sodium channels localize much earlier than gap junction channels.

Producing Isotopically Enriched Plant, Soil Solution, and Rhizosphere Soil Materials over a Few Hours

There are scientific benefits for using an automated closed steady-state flow 13C (carbon; C) plant–soil labeling system (PSLS) for online recording and adjustment of 13CO2 (carbon dioxide) concentration equivalents to those used by photosynthesis, as compared to widely used uncontrolled open pulse labeling systems. Wheat plants were labeled at four growth stages (four leaves, tillering, late boot, and early dough) with 13CO2 for 2 and 6 h continuously. Analyses of the 13C/12C isotope using isotope ratio mass spectrometry of plant, soil solution, and rhizosphere soil samples showed that the injected 13CO2 was closely correlated with the 13C pools. The labeled 13C root exudates at tillering stage to rhizosphere soil increased from 0.4 ± 0.1 mg 13C pot−1 (four plants) after 2 h to 2.5 ± 1.0 mg 13C pot−1 after 6 h of labeling. The steady-state PSLS permits rapid control and maintenance of 13C by 13CO2 injection, enabling detailed examination of the C budget over short labeling periods.

Two-year seizure reduction in adults with medically intractable partial onset epilepsy treated with responsive neurostimulation: final results of the RNS System Pivotal trial.

ObjectiveTo demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of responsive stimulation at the seizure focus as an adjunctive therapy to reduce the frequency of seizures in adults with medically intractable partial onset seizures arising from one or two seizure foci.MethodsRandomized multicenter double-blinded controlled trial of responsive focal cortical stimulation (RNS System). Subjects with medically intractable partial onset seizures from one or two foci were implanted, and 1 month postimplant were randomized 1:1 to active or sham stimulation. After the fifth postimplant month, all subjects received responsive stimulation in an open label period (OLP) to complete 2 years of postimplant follow-up.ResultsAll 191 subjects were randomized. The percent change in seizures at the end of the blinded period was −37.9% in the active and −17.3% in the sham stimulation group (p = 0.012, Generalized Estimating Equations). The median percent reduction in seizures in the OLP was 44% at 1 year and 53% at 2 years, which represents a progressive and significant improvement with time (p < 0.0001). The serious adverse event rate was not different between subjects receiving active and sham stimulation. Adverse events were consistent with the known risks of an implanted medical device, seizures, and of other epilepsy treatments. There were no adverse effects on neuropsychological function or mood.SignificanceResponsive stimulation to the seizure focus reduced the frequency of partial-onset seizures acutely, showed improving seizure reduction over time, was well tolerated, and was acceptably safe. The RNS System provides an additional treatment option for patients with medically intractable partial-onset seizures.

Time‐encoded pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling: Basic properties and timing strategies for human applications

In this study, the basic properties and requirements of time-encoded pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (te-pCASL) are investigated. Also, the extra degree of freedom delivered by changing block durations is explored. First, the minimal duration of encoding blocks, the influence of cardiac triggering, and the effect of dividing the labeling period into blocks are evaluated. Two new strategies for timing the encoding blocks in te-pCASL are introduced: variable block duration to compensate for T1-decay and the free lunch approach that uses the postlabeling delay time that is idle in standard pCASL to acquire arterial transit time (ATT) information. Simulations are used to probe possible signal losses. No signal loss was found when dividing the labeling period into blocks with duration >50 ms. In time-encoded perfusion imaging, no cardiac triggering is required. Summation of results for individual blocks in te-pCASL postprocessing causes severe loss of temporal SNR. Quality of cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps was not affected by the encoding line order. Adjusting the timing of encoding blocks in te-pCASL allows for tailoring the acquisition to specific applications. With the free lunch setup, te-pCASL delivers CBF and high resolution ATT maps within a single scan, with a small penalty in tSNR.

Is it safe to withdraw etanercept in established rheumatoid arthritis after low disease activity achievement?

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an immunologically drivenchronic condition characterized not only by persistent jointinflammation (synovitis) but also by systemic inflammation[1].Uncontrolled active RA produces disability and areduction of the health-related quality of life that result inloss of work and high medical and social costs [2]. Theimpact of RA on patients and society justifies treatmentwith biologics [2], expensive drugs that are not free fromcomplications and adverse events, even severe [3].The target of treatment in RA is achievement of lowdisease activity or remission [4]. It is yet to be clarifiedwhether low disease activity or remission can be alsosustained, not only by maintaining the recommendedtherapy but also by reducing or discontinuing the biologictreatment. In fact, a reduction or withdrawal of suchtreatment could imply a great amount of financial savingfor the National Health Systems.Although there are many observational studies regardingwithdrawal of anti-TNF-alpha after a period of induction,evidence coming from randomized clinical trials is stilllacking.SummaryIn a randomized controlled trial, Smolen et al. [5] assessedwhether the response to conventional doses of biologicsand background methotrexate in patients with moderatelyactive disease would be sustained after etanercept reduc-tion or withdrawal. Patients aged between 18 and 70 withmoderate disease activity, defined as a disease activityscore on 28 joints (DAS28) value between 3.2 and 5.1despite treatment with methotrexate were enrolled andgiven 50 mg etanercept plus methotrexate every weekduring an open label period of 36 weeks. Patients whocompleted the open label stage and achieved a sustainedlow disease activity (DAS28\3.2) were considered eli-gible for a subsequent double-blind period of 52 weeks.They were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to a weekly sub-cutaneous injection of 50 mg of etanercept plus metho-trexate, 25 mg of etanercept plus methotrexate oretanercept placebo plus methotrexate.The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients atweek 88 with a low disease activity (DAS28 B 3.2) in thegroups given 50 mg of etanercept and etanercept placeboin the double-blind period. If low disease activity wasmaintained significantly more frequently when 50 mg e-tanercept was continued than with placebo, a conditionalprimary endpoint was the proportion of patients receiving25 mg etanercept who achieved low disease activity. Aconditional endpoint was the proportion of patientsreceiving 25 mg of etanercept who maintained a low dis-ease activity. Secondary endpoints were remission basedon DAS28 (\2.6) and remission based on simplified dis-ease activity index criteria (B3.3).Out of the 834 enrolled patients, 604 were eligible forthe double-blind period: 202 were assigned to 50 mg eta-nercept plus methotrexate, 202 to 25 mg of etanercept plus

Effects of winter buds on winter nitrogen uptake and allocation in Pinus densiflora saplings

Studies of nitrogen (N) use by plants have confirmed some winter N uptake; however, the mode of regulation of plant N use in winter is unknown. The regulation of N use by plants during winter may differ from that in the growing season, as plant growth strongly affects N use. We investigated the effects of winter buds on winter N use by Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora), as a previous study demonstrated that N absorbed during winter contributes significantly to leaf growth in the following spring. We conducted a bud pruning experiment during winter to examine the effects of winter buds on winter N uptake and allocation among plant organs using 15N labeling. Over a three-week labeling period, the 15N content in roots increased to 0.20 ± 0.12 mg N g DW−1, which is equivalent to 1.8 ± 1.1 % of the total N content in the roots. However, this absorbed 15N rarely appeared in needles and buds. Bud pruning did not affect 15N uptake and allocation. On the other hand, significant total N retranslocation was found within the crowns of saplings without bud pruning, but N was not retranslocated in bud-pruned plants. The bud pruning experiment indicated that N was retranslocated from needles into winter buds. Since soil N availability changes dramatically and is unstable in many forest ecosystems, N contained in needles would be a more stable source of N than newly absorbed N.

Closing the gap between T-cell life span estimates from stable isotope-labeling studies in mice and humans

AbstractQuantitative knowledge of the turnover of different leukocyte populations is a key to our understanding of immune function in health and disease. Much progress has been made thanks to the introduction of stable isotope labeling, the state-of-the-art technique for in vivo quantification of cellular life spans. Yet, even leukocyte life span estimates on the basis of stable isotope labeling can vary up to 10-fold among laboratories. We investigated whether these differences could be the result of variances in the length of the labeling period among studies. To this end, we performed deuterated water-labeling experiments in mice, in which only the length of label administration was varied. The resulting life span estimates were indeed dependent on the length of the labeling period when the data were analyzed using a commonly used single-exponential model. We show that multiexponential models provide the necessary tool to obtain life span estimates that are independent of the length of the labeling period. Use of a multiexponential model enabled us to reduce the gap between human T-cell life span estimates from 2 previously published labeling studies. This provides an important step toward unambiguous understanding of leukocyte turnover in health and disease.

Weight reduction and maintenance with IQP‐PV‐101: A 12‐week randomized controlled study with a 24‐week open label period

The safety and efficacy of IQP-PV-101, a proprietary extract of Phaseolus vulgaris, on weight management in two phases was evaluated here. The weight loss (WL) phase was conducted over 12 weeks and the weight maintenance (WM) phase took 24 weeks. In the double-blind WL phase, subjects were randomized to receive either IQP-PV-101 or placebo. All subjects adhered to a mildly hypocaloric diet. Body weight and other body composition parameters were measured at baseline and every 4 weeks thereafter. During the single arm, open label WM trial, energy intake was ad libitum. Efficacy parameters were measured at baseline, week 12 and week 24. At the end of the WL study, the IQP-PV-101 group lost a mean of 2.91 ± 2.63 kg in body weight compared with 0.92 ± 2.00 kg in the placebo group (P < 0.001). During the WM phase, 36 out of 49 subjects (73.5%) were able to maintain their weight, even without dietary restrictions. No serious or related adverse events were reported over the combined period of 36 weeks. Results indicate that IQP-PV-101 is safe and effective for weight loss and maintenance.

Altered subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue lipid synthesis in obese, insulin-resistant humans

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variability of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (AT) dynamics in obese subjects with a wide range of insulin sensitivity (IS) and the correlation between these two metabolic measures. Ten obese (BMI 30-40 kg/m²) nondiabetic subjects with (n = 6) and without (n = 4) the metabolic syndrome were studied following a 12-wk ²H₂O labeling period. Subcutaneous abdominal AT biopsies were collected. Deuterium incorporation into triglyceride (TG)-glycerol and TG-palmitate were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the calculation of fractional TG synthesis (fTG) and fractional de novo lipogenesis (fDNL). Muscle IS and insulin-mediated nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) suppression (a measure for adipose IS) indexes were derived from the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The ability of subcutaneous abdominal AT to synthesize lipids varied significantly in obese subjects (fTG range 7-28%, fDNL range 1.1-4.6%) with significantly lower values (>35% reduction) for both parameters in obese with the metabolic syndrome. fTG correlated positively with muscle IS (r = 0.64, P = 0.04) and inversely with NEFA suppression during the OGTT (r = -0.69, P = 0.03). These results demonstrate a large variability in subcutaneous abdominal AT lipid turnover in obesity. Moreover, a reduced capacity for subcutaneous abdominal AT fat storage is associated with muscle and adipose tissue insulin resistance as well as with the metabolic syndrome, thus identifying a form of obesity at heightened risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

In situ 13C tracer experiments elucidate carbon translocation rates and allocation patterns in eelgrass Zostera marina

Zostera marina L. carbon dynamics have been intensively studied, yet in situ translo- cation rate estimates remain elusive, particularly for north temperate seagrasses. To better under- stand carbohydrate synthesis, allocation and use in Z. marina, we conducted summer and winter in situ 13 C labeling experiments and measured the δ 13 C of bulk tissue and individual carbohydrate compounds. Leaf tissue exhibited immediate isotope enrichment within hours of the tracer pulse. As the isotope ratio of the leaf tissue decreased over a period of days, enrichment became more evident in the belowground tissues (rhizome and roots) not directly exposed to the 13 C-dissolved inorganic carbon label, indicating that non-structural carbohydrate was translocated below- ground. Rhizome δ 13 C increased for up to 2 wk after the 13 C label pulse. The isotopic enrichment of glucose, fructose and sucrose were similar and significantly greater than the enrichment of myo-inositol. Maximum enrichment occurred in the glucose pool, with leaf tissue at 258 ± 61‰ and rhizome tissue at 55.1 ± 28.8‰ during the July 2004 labeling period. Leaf excess 13 C loss rates (4 d average) were on the order of 11% 13 C d −1 , while the excess 13 C accumulation rate in the rhi- zome combined with roots was about 1.5% 13 C d −1 (4 d average). Whole plant excess 13 C loss rates as a result of respiration, detrital production and exudation ranged between about 8.8 and 10% 13 C d −1 (4 d average). The results provide important estimates of carbon uptake and translocation that can be used to better understand whole plant carbon budgets as well as the transfer of sea- grass-derived carbon to other trophic communities.

Investigation of photosynthate-C allocation 27 days after 13C-pulse labeling of Zea mays L. at different growth stages

AimsPulse labeling of crops using 13C is often employed to trace photosynthesized carbon (C) within crop-soil systems. However, few studies have compared the C distribution for different labeling periods. The overall aim of this study was to determine the length of the monitoring interval required after 13C-pulse labeling to quantify photosynthate C allocation into plant, soil and rhizosphere respiration pools for the entire growing season of maize (Zea mays L.).MethodsPot grown maize was pulse-labeled with 13CO2 (98 at. %) at the beginning of emergence, elongation, heading and grainfilling growth stages. The routing of 13C into shoot and root biomass, soil CO2 flux and soil organic carbon (SOC) pools was monitored for 27 days after 13C-pulse labeling at the beginning of each growth stage.ResultsThe majority of the 13C was recovered after 27 d in the maize shoots, i.e., 57 %, 53 %, 70 % and 80 %, at the emergence, elongation, heading, and grainfilling stages, respectively. More 13C was recovered in the root biomass at elongation (27 %) compared to the least at the grainfilling stage (3 %). The amount recovered in the soil was the smallest pool of 13C at emergence (2.3 %), elongation (3.8 %), heading and grainfilling (less than 2 %). The amount of 13C recovered in rhizosphere respiration, i.e. 13CO2, was greatest at emergence (26 %), and similar at the elongation, heading and grainfilling stages (~16 %).ConclusionsAt least 24 days is required to effectively monitor the recovery of 13C after pulse labeling with 13CO2 for maize in plant and soil pools. The recovery of 13C differed between growth stages and corresponded to the changing metabolic requirements of the plant, which indicated labeling for the entire growth season would more accurately quantify the C budget in plant-soil system.

Menu Calorie Labelling in a Fine Dining Restaurant: Will it Make a Difference?

This study examines the implications of menu calorie labelling in a fine dining restaurant, both on consumer food choices as well as on the restaurant operation team. Menu nutrition labelling has been mandatory in restaurants with more than 20 branches in countries such as United States since 2008, and has been seen practiced in independent restaurants in other countries such as UK and Canada, on voluntarily basis, in recent years. These menu nutrition labelling programs have been initiated in response to growing consumer demand for menu transparency as well as growing global health concerns such obesity and chronic diseases. The impact of menu labelling in fast food restaurants and full service restaurants has been studied extensively, however there is a lack of evidence on implication of menu labelling in fine dining restaurant settings. This study examines clients’ food choices in a fine dining restaurant during a 3-week period without calories labelling (control phase) followed by a 3-week period of menu calorie labelling. Study findings reflected a direct impact of menu calorie labelling on clients’ food choice, with significant reduction in sales of menus with higher calorie content during the labelling phase compared to control phase. An evaluation of the average calories consumer per client during each phase reflected a reduction of 227 calories consumed per client during the labelling phase. Survey results indicated that calorie information was most valued and used by women and older clients. This study also summarizes the opportunities and limitations involved in implementation of menu calorie in fine dining restaurants.

Determination of steady-state protein breakdown rate in vivo by the disappearance of protein-bound tracer-labeled amino acids: a method applicable in humans

A method to determine the rate of protein breakdown in individual proteins was developed and tested in rats and confirmed in humans, using administration of deuterium oxide and incorporation of the deuterium into alanine that was subsequently incorporated into body proteins. Measurement of the fractional breakdown rate of proteins was determined from the rate of disappearance of deuterated alanine from the proteins. The rate of disappearance of deuterated alanine from the proteins was calculated using an exponential decay, giving the fractional breakdown rate (FBR) of the proteins. The applicability of this protein-specific FBR approach is suitable for human in vivo experimentation. The labeling period of deuterium oxide administration is dependent on the turnover rate of the protein of interest.