Whole Genome Association Study of the Plasma Metabolome Identifies Metabolites Linked to Cardiometabolic Disease in Black Individuals

Integrating genetic information with metabolomics has provided new insights into genes affecting human metabolism. However, gene-metabolite integration has been primarily studied in individuals of European Ancestry, limiting the opportunity to leverage genomic diversity for discovery. In addition, these analyses have principally involved known metabolites, with the majority of the profiled peaks left unannotated. Here, we perform a whole genome association study of 2,291 metabolite peaks (known and unknown features) in 2,466 Black individuals from the Jackson Heart Study. We identify 519 locus-metabolite associations for 427 metabolite peaks and validate our findings in two multi-ethnic cohorts. A significant proportion of these associations are in ancestry specific alleles including findings in APOE, TTR and CD36. We leverage tandem mass spectrometry to annotate unknown metabolites, providing new insight into hereditary diseases including transthyretin amyloidosis and sickle cell disease. Our integrative omics approach leverages genomic diversity to provide novel insights into diverse cardiometabolic diseases

Metabolite Profiles of Incident Diabetes and Heterogeneity of Treatment Effect in the Diabetes Prevention Program

Novel biomarkers of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and response to preventative treatment in individuals with similar clinical risk may highlight metabolic pathways that are important in disease development. We profiled 331 metabolites in 2,015 baseline plasma samples from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). Cox models were used to determine associations between metabolites and incident T2D, as well as whether associations differed by treatment group (i.e., lifestyle [ILS], metformin [MET], or placebo [PLA]), over an average of 3.2 years of follow-up. We found 69 metabolites associated with incident T2D regardless of treatment randomization. In particular, cytosine was novel and associated with the lowest risk. In an exploratory analysis, 35 baseline metabolite associations with incident T2D differed across the treatment groups. Stratification by baseline levels of several of these metabolites, including specific phospholipids and AMP, modified the effect that ILS or MET had on diabetes development. Our findings highlight novel markers of diabetes risk and preventative treatment effect in individuals who are clinically at high risk and motivate further studies to validate these interactions

Investigate of Bitter Component in Bamboo Shoot

In the present study, the objective was to investigate the relationship between bitter components and whether the bamboo shoots greening or not within Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees et Arn. ex Munro which is known for no bitterness taste and other verities of bamboo shoots. Taxiphyllin can be decomposed to hydrogen cyanide and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Hydrogen cyanide concentrations are high in the top of bamboo shoots, and get lower in the base of bamboo shoots. In greening bamboo shoots of Leleba oldhami Nakai, hydrogen cyanide concentrations are 3.12 mg/g•F.W in the top, 2.87 mg/g•F.W. in the middle, and 0.48 mg/g•F.W. in the base. But in etiolated bamboo shoots of Leleba oldhami Nakai, hydrogen cyanide concentrations are 0.44 mg/g•F.W in the top, 0.03 mg/g•F.W. in the middle, and 0.00 mg/g•F.W. in the base. Hydrogen cyanide concentrations have significant differences between greening bamoo shoots and etiolated shoots of Leleba oldhami Nakai. There are similar results in other verities. Like Dendrocalamus latifloxus Munro, and Leleba edulis Odashimo. However, there are very low hydrogen cyanide concentrations in Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees et Arn. ex Munro. The sensory evaluation, shows positive correlations between bitterness and accumulation of hydrogen cyanide. Besides, total phenolic compounds, free amino acids, and soluble proteins in Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees et Arn. ex Munro are lower than Leleba oldhami Nakai.本試驗擬調查筍出青與否之苦味物質變化，與不具苦味之甜龍筍進行比較，以確定甜龍筍無論出青與否均不具苦味的原因。紫杉氰醣苷分解後產物為氰酸 (HCN) 與對羥基苯乙醇腈 (p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde)，藉由測定氰酸含量，可得知紫杉氰醣苷的累積程度。竹筍氰酸濃度頂端最高，往下而遞減。出青綠竹筍氰酸濃度頂段 3.12 mg/g•F.W.、中段 2.87 mg/g•F.W.、底段 0.48 mg/g•F.W.；未出青綠竹筍氰酸濃度依序為 0.44、0.03、0.00 mg/g•F.W.。顯示綠竹筍出青與否對氰酸濃度有明顯之差異，而麻竹筍、烏殼綠竹筍、也有相同趨勢。然而甜龍筍無論出青與否，在各部位氰酸累積均極低，在官能品評上，亦沒有苦味之口感，顯示苦味產生與氰酸之累積具有相關性。此外，總酚類化合物、總游離胺基酸、及可溶性性蛋白質甜龍筍較綠竹筍低。中文摘要 ii Summary iii 壹、前言 1 貳、前人研究 2 一、竹筍概述 2 二、食用竹筍苦味 3 三、竹筍營養價值 4 參、材料與方法 5 一、 材料 5 (一) 第一次試驗 5 (二) 第二次試驗 5 二、 竹筍外觀與色澤 5 三、 出青與未出青竹筍之品質分析 6 (一) 多酚氧化酶活性、過氧化酶活性及氰酸 6 (二) 總酚類化合物、游離胺基酸、可溶性蛋白質及酪胺酸 6 (三) 總可溶性固形物 7 四、 煮沸處理對竹筍品質之影響 8 (一) 官能品評 8 五、 統計分析 8 肆、試驗結果 10 一、竹筍不同部位與出青與否氰酸含量差異 10 二、夏季常見食用筍出青與否之官能品評與品質調查 14 伍、討論 20 一、食用筍出青與否之官能品評與不同部位與出青與否氰酸含量差異 20 二、夏季常見食用筍品質調查 21 參考文獻 22 附錄 2

Massive Thymic Hyperplasia Masquerading as Cancer: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A 34-year-old woman presenting with abdominal pain, chest pressure, weight loss, and tachycardia was found to have an 11.4-cm anterior mediastinal mass associated with intrathoracic lymphadenopathy on chest computed tomography (Fig. 1A). Core needle biopsy was concerning for a type B1 thymoma.During this patient’s initial workup, she was found to have both clinical and laboratory evidence of Graves’ thyroiditis, raising diagnostic suspicion for thymic hyperplasia rather than thymoma. The case discussed here highlights the unique challenges that arise in the evaluation and management of thymic masses and serves as a prudent reminder that both benign and malignant disorders may present with mass-like changes

RESPUESTA DE TRES VARIEDADES DE ARROZ (ORYZA SATIVA) A DIFERENTES NIVELES DE NITR6GENO EN LA LINEA NOROESTE DE LA REPUBLICA DOMINICANA

Durante la etapa de primavera-verano de afio 1999, el Centro de Investigaciones Arroceras (CEDIA) localizado en Juma, Bonao, Republica Dominicana, realizo el presente experimento en la zona de Esperanza, Mao-Valverde, con el objetivo de determinar la respuesta de las variedades de arroz Juma 66, Juma 67 e ISA -40. En la que fue utilizado un diseflo en bloques al azar, con cuatros repeticiones, trasplantada a un marco de siembra de 0.25 x 0.25 m con 5 plantas por golpes, en parcelas experimentales de 10 m2 . Los tratamientos en estudio correspondieron a 8 niveles de nitrdgeno (0,25,50,75,100,125, 150 y 175kg.ha-l). Los resultados obtenidos muestran que, los rendimientos en grano aumentaran, con el aumento de los niveles de nitrdgeno aplicado, en las diferentes variedades. La variedad Juma 66 reporto el mas alto rendimiento en comparacion con las demas variedades, llegando a alcanzar un rendimiento grano de 6514 kg.ha-1, teniendo esta variedad una respuesta al nitrdgeno aplicado representada por la ecuacion de segundo grado Y = 3324 + 30.276X - 0.0721X2 y un coeficiente de determination igual a R2 =0.97 , igual comportamiento registro la variedad Isa-40 con una ecuacion de Y = 3132.6 + 28.733X - 0.0944X2 y R2=0.94, mientras que la variedad Juma 67 presento un aumento linear de los rendimientos por efecto de la aplicacion de nitrdgeno con la ecuacion Y = 3039.2 + 19.027X con R2=0.98, indicando que la variedad Juma 66 presenta un efecto mayor sobre los rendimiento por cada kg. de nitrdgeno aplicado. La altura promedio alcanzada fuede 93.4,84.1 y 83.0 cm, para las variedades Juma 66, Isa-40 y Juma 67 respectivamente

Conservation of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Chinese White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis): Fishers' Perspectives and Management Implications.

The abundance of the eastern Taiwan Strait (ETS) population of the Chinese white dolphin (Sousa chinensis) has been estimated to be less than 100 individuals. It is categorized as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Thus, immediate measures of conservation should be taken to protect it from extinction. Currently, the Taiwanese government plans to designate its habitat as a Major Wildlife Habitat (MWH), a type of marine protected area (MPA) for conservation of wildlife species. Although the designation allows continuing the current exploitation, however, it may cause conflicts among multiple stakeholders with competing interests. The study is to explore the attitude and opinions among the stakeholders in order to better manage the MPA. This study employs a semi-structured interview and a questionnaire survey of local fishers. Results from interviews indicated that the subsistence of fishers remains a major problem. It was found that stakeholders have different perceptions of the fishers' attitude towards conservation and also thought that the fishery-related law enforcement could be difficult. Quantitative survey showed that fishers are generally positive towards the conservation of the Chinese white dolphin but are less willing to participate in the planning process. Most fishers considered temporary fishing closure as feasible for conservation. The results of this study provide recommendations for future efforts towards the goal of better conservation for this endangered species

Metabolomic Markers of Southern Dietary Patterns in the Jackson Heart Study.

SCOPE: New biomarkers are needed that are representative of dietary intake. METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed metabolites associated with Southern dietary patterns in 1,401 Jackson Heart Study participants. Three dietary patterns were empirically derived using principal component analysis: meat and fast food, fish and vegetables, and starchy foods. We randomly selected two subsets of the study population: 2/3 sample for discovery (n=934) and 1/3 sample for replication (n=467). Among the 327 metabolites analyzed, 14 were significantly associated with the meat and fast food dietary pattern, four were significantly associated with the fish and vegetables dietary pattern, and none were associated with the starchy foods dietary pattern in the discovery sample. In the replication sample, nine remained associated with the meat and fast food dietary pattern (indole-3-propanoic acid, C24:0 LPC, N-methyl proline, proline betaine, C34:2 PE plasmalogen, C36:5 PE plasmalogen, C38:5 PE plasmalogen, cotinine, hydroxyproline) and three remained associated with the fish and vegetables dietary pattern [1,7-dimethyluric acid, C22:6 lysophosphatidylethanolamine, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)]. CONCLUSION: Twelve metabolites were discovered and replicated in association with dietary patterns detected in a Southern U.S. African-American population, which could be useful as biomarkers of Southern dietary patterns

Differences in views among the fishers who employed different fishing techniques (n = 62).

<p>Differences in views among the fishers who employed different fishing techniques (n = 62).</p

Hepatic Fat in Participants With and Without Incident Diabetes in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcome Study

Abstract Purpose To characterize hepatic fat content and fatty liver prevalence, their determinants, and effect of interventions to prevent diabetes using computerized tomography in a cohort with prediabetes, in those developing diabetes versus not. Methods We measured liver fat as liver attenuation (LA) in Hounsfield units in 1876 participants at ~14 years following randomization into the Diabetes Prevention Program, which tested the effects of lifestyle or metformin interventions versus standard care to prevent diabetes. LA was compared among intervention groups and in those with versus without diabetes, and associations with baseline and follow-up measurements of anthropometric and metabolic covariates were assessed. Results There were no differences in liver fat between treatment groups at 14 years of follow-up. Participants with diabetes had lower LA (mean ± SD: 46±16 vs. 51±14HU; p<0.001) and a greater prevalence of fatty liver (LA<40HU) (34% vs 17%; p<0.001). Severity of metabolic abnormalities at the time of LA evaluation were associated with lower LA categories in a graded manner and more strongly in those with diabetes. Averaged annual fasting insulin (an index of insulin resistance [OR, 95% CI 1.76, 1.41-2.20]) waist circumference (1.63, 1.17-2.26), and triglyceride (1.42, 1.13-1.78), but not glucose, were independently associated with LA<40HU prevalence. Conclusions Fatty liver is common in the early phases of diabetes development. The association of LA with insulin resistance, waist circumference and triglyceride levels emphasizes the importance of these markers for hepatic steatosis in this population and that assessment of hepatic fat in early diabetes development is warranted