Validation of energy expenditure and macronutrient oxidation measured by two new whole-room indirect calorimeters

Objective The aim of this study was to validate two new whole-room indirfect calorimeters according to Room Indirect Calorimetry Operating and Reporting Standards (RICORS 1.0). Methods For technical validation, 16 propane combustion tests were performed to determine accuracy and precision of energy expenditure (EE) and ventilation rates of oxygen (VO2 ), carbon dioxide (VCO2 ), and respiratory exchange ratio (VCO2 /VO2 ). For biological validation, eight participants (mean [SD], age 24.1 [2.5] years; BMI 24.3 [3.1] kg/m2 ) underwent four 24-hour protocols under highly standardized conditions: (1) isocaloric sedentary, (2) fasting sedentary, (3) isocaloric active, and (4) fasting active. Reliability (coefficients of variation [CV]) and minimal detectable changes (MDC) were calculated for 24-hour EE, sleeping metabolic rate (SMR), physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), thermic effect of food (TEF), and macronutrient oxidation rates. Results Technical validation showed high reliability and recovery rates for VO2 (0.75% and 100.8%, respectively), VCO2 (0.49% and 100.6%), and EE (0.54% and 98.2%). Biological validation revealed CV and MDC for active conditions of 1.4% and 4.3% for 24-hour EE, 1.7% and 5.9% for SMR, and 30.2% and 38.4% for TEF, as well as 5.8% and 10.5% for PAEE, respectively. Mean CV and MDC for macronutrient oxidation rates were 9.9% and 22.9%, respectively. Conclusions The precision of 24-hour EE and SMR was high, whereas it was lower for PAEE and poor for TEF

A Delphi Survey Study to Formulate Statements on the Treatability of Inherited Metabolic Disorders to Decide on Eligibility for Newborn Screening

The Wilson and Jungner (W&amp;J) and Andermann criteria are meant to help select diseases eligible for population-based screening. With the introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods for newborn screening (NBS), more inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs) can technically be included, and a revision of the criteria was attempted. This study aimed to formulate statements and investigate whether those statements could elaborate on the criterion of treatability for IMDs to decide on eligibility for NBS. An online Delphi study was started among a panel of Dutch IMD experts (EPs). EPs evaluated, amended, and approved statements on treatability that were subsequently applied to 10 IMDs. After two rounds of Delphi, consensus was reached on 10 statements. Application of these statements selected 5 out of 10 IMDs proposed for this study as eligible for NBS, including 3 IMDs in the current Dutch NBS. The statement: ‘The expected benefit/burden ratio of early treatment is positive and results in a significant health outcome’ contributed most to decision-making. Our Delphi study resulted in 10 statements that can help to decide on eligibility for inclusion in NBS based on treatability, also showing that other criteria could be handled in a comparable way. Validation of the statements is required before these can be applied as guidance to authorities.</p

A Delphi Survey Study to Formulate Statements on the Treatability of Inherited Metabolic Disorders to Decide on Eligibility for Newborn Screening

The Wilson and Jungner (W&J) and Andermann criteria are meant to help select diseases eligible for population-based screening. With the introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods for newborn screening (NBS), more inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs) can technically be included, and a revision of the criteria was attempted. This study aimed to formulate statements and investigate whether those statements could elaborate on the criterion of treatability for IMDs to decide on eligibility for NBS. An online Delphi study was started among a panel of Dutch IMD experts (EPs). EPs evaluated, amended, and approved statements on treatability that were subsequently applied to 10 IMDs. After two rounds of Delphi, consensus was reached on 10 statements. Application of these statements selected 5 out of 10 IMDs proposed for this study as eligible for NBS, including 3 IMDs in the current Dutch NBS. The statement: 'The expected benefit/burden ratio of early treatment is positive and results in a significant health outcome' contributed most to decision-making. Our Delphi study resulted in 10 statements that can help to decide on eligibility for inclusion in NBS based on treatability, also showing that other criteria could be handled in a comparable way. Validation of the statements is required before these can be applied as guidance to authorities

Deadly Dynamics: Studies of an Invasive Parasite of Waterfowl

There are many knowns and unknowns about invasive species and their patterns. The purpose of this research is to investigate variation in invasion history between invasive trematodes, snails, and waterfowl. To do this, snails (Bithynia tentaculata) were crushed and analyzed under a microscope to find metacercariae (Cyathocotyle bushiensis and Sphaeridiotrema spp.), which are the parasites that infect the host. They were counted and added to data showing prevalence, abundance, and intensity. Data from 2018, 2019, and 2020 were compared to each other to check for annual variation in prevalence, abundance, and intensity between the years. Even though the data for 2020 needs to be completed, variation was seen in all factors over the three years. Future work can be done in order to make a connection between infection dynamics and waterfowl mortality rates.B.S. (Bachelor of Science

Gastrointestinal Tolerability and Absorption of R- Versus R,S-Lipoic Acid in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Crossover Trial

We compared the gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability and assessed for bioequivalent absorption of R-lipoic acid (LA) in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) in a single-center, double-blind, randomized crossover trial. Participants randomly assigned to formulation sequence took 600Â mg of R-LA or 1200Â mg of a 1:1 racemic R,S-LA mixture in single daily doses for 7 to 10 days, underwent a washout of at least 7 days, and then took the other form of LA for 7 to 10 days. At the end of each period on LA, GI symptoms were assessed with GI questions from the Monitoring of Side Effects Scale. Serum LA concentrations were measured before and 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes after the first and last day\u27s dose of each form of LA to derive an area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum serum concentration (Cmax ). Twenty participants enrolled (12 women; 15 secondary progressive MS, 5 primary progressive MS; mean age, 59.6 years). Two withdrew early due to symptoms while taking R,S-LA, and one withdrew early while taking R-LA. The mean GI Monitoring of Side Effects Scale score was 1.7 points lower on R-LA than on R,S-LA (P = .069), and there were fewer reports of each GI side effect when taking the R-LA than the R,S-LA (31 vs 60; P = .025). The AUC and Cmax for R-LA were bioequivalent for the 2 formulations (90% confidence intervals 97.4% to 99.3% for AUC and 93.4% to 98.2% for Cmax ). This study supports that in people with progressive MS, there is better GI tolerability and bioequivalent serum absorption of R-LA when 600Â mg of R-LA is taken as R-LA alone than when taken in a 1:1 racemic R,S-LA mixture

ARS2 Is a Conserved Eukaryotic Gene Essential for Early Mammalian Development▿ †

Determining the functions of novel genes implicated in cell survival is directly relevant to our understanding of mammalian development and carcinogenesis. ARS2 is an evolutionarily conserved gene that confers arsenite resistance on arsenite-sensitive Chinese hamster ovary cells. Little is known regarding the function of ARS2 in mammals. We report that ARS2 is transcribed throughout embryonic development and is expressed ubiquitously in mouse and human tissues. The mouse ARS2 protein is predominantly localized to the nucleus, and this nuclear localization is ablated in ARS2-null embryos, which in turn die around the time of implantation. After 24 h of culture, ARS2-null blastocysts contained a significantly greater number of apoptotic cells than wild-type or heterozygous blastocysts. By 48 h of in vitro culture, null blastocysts invariably collapsed and failed to proliferate. These data indicate ARS2 is essential for early mammalian development and is likely involved in an essential cellular process. The analysis of data from several independent protein-protein interaction studies in mammals, combined with functional studies of its Arabidopsis ortholog, SERRATE, suggests that this essential process is related to RNA metabolism