Vitamin D status of Irish adults: findings from the National Adult Nutrition Survey

Previous national nutrition surveys in Irish adults did not include blood samples; thus, representative serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) data are lacking. In the present study, we characterised serum 25(OH)D concentrations in Irish adults from the recent National Adult Nutrition Survey, and determined the impact of vitamin D supplement use and season on serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Of the total representative sample (n 1500, aged 18+ years), blood samples were available for 1132 adults. Serum 25(OH)D was measured via immunoassay. Vitamin D-containing supplement use was assessed by questionnaire and food diary. Concentrations of serum 25(OH)D were compared by season and in supplement users and non-users. Year-round prevalence rates for serum 25(OH)D concentration 125 nmol/l. These first nationally representative serum 25(OH)D data for Irish adults show that while only 6·7 % had serum 25(OH)D < 30 nmol/l (vitamin D deficiency) throughout the year, 40·1 % had levels considered by the Institute of Medicine as being inadequate for bone health. These prevalence estimates were much higher during winter time. While vitamin D supplement use has benefits in terms of vitamin D status, at present rates of usage (17·5 % of Irish adults), it will have only very limited impact at a population level. Food-based strategies, including fortified foods, need to be explored

An engineered cytidine deaminase for biocatalytic production of a key intermediate of the COVID-19 antiviral Molnupiravir

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MOF-based heterogeneous catalysis in continuous flow via incorporation onto polymer-based spherical activated carbon supports

We present an approach to harnessing the tuneable catalytic properties of complex nanomaterials for continuous flow heterogeneous catalysis by combining them with the scalable and industrially implementable properties of carbon pelleted supports. This approach, in turn, will enable these catalytic materials, which largely currently exist in forms unsuitable for this application (e.g. powders), to be fully integrated into large scale, chemical processes. A composite heterogeneous catalyst consisting of a metal–organic framework-based Lewis acid, MIL-100(Sc), immobilised onto polymer-based spherical activated carbon (PBSAC) support has been developed. The material was characterised by focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, light scattering and crush testing with the catalytic activity studied in continuous flow. The mechanically robust spherical geometry makes the composite material ideal for application in packed-bed reactors. The catalyst was observed to operate without any loss in activity at steady state for 9 hours when utilised as a Lewis acid catalyst for the intramolecular cyclisation of (±)-citronellal as a model reaction. This work paves the way for further development into the exploitation of MOF-based continuous flow heterogeneous catalysis

Role of Histone Acetylation in the Stimulatory Effect of Valproic Acid on Vascular Endothelial Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator Expression

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Impaired distal nephron acidification in chronically phosphate depleted rats

Renal tubular bicarbonate reabsorption and acidification were evaluated in phosphate depleted rats (PD) and controls. After 33 days of phosphate depletion, urine pH of PD rats ( N =5, 6.36±0.15) was significantly higher than control ( N =5, 5.64±0.09, P <0.005) following an NH 4 Cl load. Urinary titratable acid of PD rats (9.6±1.8) was significantly reduced compared to control (117.2±19.7 μEq/3 h, P <0.001), whereas NH 4 + excretion was not different. The plasma HCO 3 − thresholds at which bicarbonaturia occurred (approximately 25 mEq/l) were identical in controls and phosphate depleted rats during isotonic bicarbonate infusion. The higher urine pH of phosphate depleted rats following NH 4 Cl administration was not due to low urinary phosphate as 3-day phosphate depleted rats could normally acidify urine after NH 4 Cl (pH=5.86±0.09, N =6 vs. control 5.87±0.08, N =6, P =N.S.) despite urinary phosphate excretion as low as in 33-day PD rats. These data indicate the presence of impaired distal tubular acidification in chronically phosphate depleted rats.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47445/1/424_2004_Article_BF00584277.pd

A Riemann approach to random variation

summary:This essay outlines a generalized Riemann approach to the analysis of random variation and illustrates it by a construction of Brownian motion in a new and simple manner