Child stunting is associated with low circulating essential amino acids

AbstractBackgroundStunting affects about one-quarter of children under five worldwide. The pathogenesis of stunting is poorly understood. Nutritional interventions have had only modest effects in reducing stunting. We hypothesized that insufficiency in essential amino acids may be limiting the linear growth of children.MethodsWe used a targeted metabolomics approach to measure serum amino acids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and other metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in 313 children, aged 12–59months, from rural Malawi. Children underwent anthropometry.FindingsSixty-two percent of the children were stunted. Children with stunting had lower serum concentrations of all nine essential amino acids (tryptophan, isoleucine, leucine, valine, methionine, threonine, histidine, phenylalanine, lysine) compared with nonstunted children (p<0.01). In addition, stunted children had significantly lower serum concentrations of conditionally essential amino acids (arginine, glycine, glutamine), non-essential amino acids (asparagine, glutamate, serine), and six different sphingolipids compared with nonstunted children. Stunting was also associated with alterations in serum glycerophospholipid concentrations.InterpretationOur findings support the idea that children with a high risk of stunting may not be receiving an adequate dietary intake of essential amino acids and choline, an essential nutrient for the synthesis of sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids

Design, Formulation, and Characterization of Valsartan Nanoethosomes for Improving Their Bioavailability

The objective of this study was to formulate and evaluate valsartan (VLT) ethosomes to prepare an optimized formula of VLT-entrapped ethosomes that could be incorporated into a sustained release transdermal gel dosage form. The formulation of the prepared ethosomal gel was investigated and subjected to in vitro drug release studies, ex vivo test, and in vivo studies to assess the effectiveness of ethosomal formulation in enhancing the bioavailability of VLT as a poorly soluble drug and in controlling its release from the transdermal gel dosage form. The acquired results are as follows: Dependent responses were particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency. The optimized VLT-ETHs had a nanometric diameter (45.8 &plusmn; 0.5 nm), a negative surface charge (&minus;51.4 &plusmn; 6.3 mV), and a high drug encapsulation (94.24 &plusmn; 0.2). The prepared VLT ethosomal gel (VLT-ethogel) showed a high peak plasma concentration and enhanced bioavailability in rats compared with the oral solution of valsartan presented in the higher AUC (0&ndash;&infin;). The AUC (0&ndash;&infin;) with oral treatment was 7.0 &plusmn; 2.94 (&mu;g.h/mL), but the AUC (0&ndash;&infin;) with topical application of the VAL nanoethosomal gel was 137.2 &plusmn; 49.88 (&mu;g.h/mL), providing the sustained release pattern of VLT from the tested ethosomal gel

Health related quality of life and psychological problems in Egyptian children with simple obesity in relation to body mass index

Background: Obesity in childhood or adolescence could affect quality of life (QOL). There is little existing information about the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of obese children and adolescents. Objective: To assess HRQOL and psychiatric co-morbidities in obese children and adolescents; and their relationship to body mass index (BMI). Methods: Fifty obese children and adolescents were compared to 50 healthy age-, sex- and pubertal stage-matched non obese children and adolescents serving as controls. They were assessed by child self-report and parent proxy report using a pediatric HRQOL inventory scale, also, Children Anxiety Scale and Children Depression Inventory (CDI) were assessed. Results: Obese children had total HRQOL score: 69.1 ± 8.4 versus 81.1 ± 7.8 respectively, p < 0.001 and their parents had total score: 62.9 ± 9.5 versus 74.9 ± 7.2 respectively, p < 0.001. Obese children reported lower health-related QOL scores in all domains than controls. BMI standard deviation score (SDS) correlated negatively with total score and all domains in child self report and parent proxy report. Anxiety (mild: 8%, moderate: 38%, severe: 54%) and depression (mild: 18%, moderate: 24%, severe: 58%) were pre-existing or diagnosed in all obese children with significant positive correlations between BMISDS and each of anxiety (r = 0.81, p < 0.01) and CDI scores (r = 0.78, p = 0.01). BMI (OR: 5.72, 95%CI: 2.57–5.9) and waist circumference (OR:2.27, 95%CI:1.99–5.31) SDSs were independent risk factors affecting the total QOL score. Conclusions: Obese children and adolescents have lower health-related QOL that correlated negatively with BMI, also they are more susceptible to anxiety and depression symptoms than non obese children

Indigenous microalgae strains characterization for a sustainable biodiesel production

International audienceMicroalgae have been widely recognized as a promising feedstock for sustainable biofuels production to tackle global warming and pollution issues related to fossil fuels uses. This study identified and analyzed indigenous microalgae strains for biodiesel production, specifically Chlorella vulgaris and Coelastrella thermophila var. globulina, from two distinct locations in Algeria. Molecular identification confirmed their identity, and the microalgae exhibited notable growth characteristics. Local Chlorella vulgaris and Coelastrella thermophila var. globulina showed a good growth and high biomass yield, compared to Chlorella vulgaris CCAP211/11B reaching a weight of 1.48 g/L, 1.95g/L and 2.10 g/L, respectively. Lipids content of local Chlorella vulgaris, Coelastrella thermophila var. globulina, and Chlorella vulgaris CCAP211/11B, were found to be 31.39 ± 3.3%, 17 ± 2.26%, and 19 ± 0.64%, respectively. Chlorella vulgaris stood out as a candidate for biodiesel production due to its equilibrium between SFA and PUFA (43.24% and 45.27%). FAs are predominated by SFA and MUFA for Coelastrella thermophila var. globulina with value of 81.49% (SFA+MUFA). Predicted biodiesel qualities are complying with ASTM6751 and EN14214 standards. Studied microalgae have therefore a promising potential for biodiesel production. However, optimising cultivation conditions is necessary to enhance biomass and lipids yield at large scale. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Native Rhizospheric and Endophytic Fungi as Sustainable Sources of Plant Growth Promoting Traits to Improve Wheat Growth under Low Nitrogen Input

Wheat crops require effective nitrogen fertilization to produce high yields. Only half of chemical N2 fertilizers are absorbed into plants while the rest remains in the soil, causing environmental problems. Fungi could maximize nitrogen absorption, and from an environmental and biodiversity point of view, there is an urgent necessity for bioprospecting native fungi associated with wild plants growing in harsh environments, e.g., St. Katherine Protectorate (SKP) in the arid Sinai. Recovered taxa, either endophytic and/or rhizospheric, were screened for their plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits. Eighteen fungal isolates (15 rhizospheric and 3 endophytic) belonging to anamorphic ascomycetes were recovered from 9 different wild plants, and their PGP traits (indole-3-acetic acid [IAA] production, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and hydrolytic enzyme production) were measured. Rhizospheric isolate NGB-WS14 (Chaetosphaeronema achilleae) produced high levels of IAA (119.1 &mu;g mL&minus;1) in the presence of tryptophan, while NGB-WS 8 (Acrophialophora levis) produced high IAA levels (42.4 &mu;g mL&minus;1) in the absence of tryptophan. The highest phosphate-solubilizing activity (181.9 &mu;g mL&minus;1) was recorded by NGB-WFS2 (Penicillium chrysogenum). Endophytic isolate NGB-WFE16 (Fusarium petersiae) exhibited a high percentage level of Siderophore Unit (96.5% SU). All isolates showed variability in the secretion of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. Remarkably, all isolates had antagonistic activity (55.6% to 87.3% suppression of pathogen growth) against the pathogenic taxon Alternaria alternata (SCUF00001378) in the dual-assay results. Out of the 18 isolates, 4 rhizospheric and 1 endophytic isolate showed significant increases in shoot dry weight and shoot nitrogen and chlorophyll content of wheat plants subjected to low inputs of chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizers (50% reduction) compared with the non-inoculated control in a pot experiment. Potent taxa were subjected to sequencing for molecular confirmation of phenotypic identification. The retrieved ITS sequences in this study have been deposited in GenBank under accession numbers from LC642736 to LC642740. This study considered the first report of endophytic fungi of Cheilanthes vellea, a wild plant with PGPF which improves wheat growth. These results recommend using PGPF as inoculants to alleviate low nitrogen fertilization