34 research outputs found
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BAJA SAE: Building an Engineer
of the necessary experience needed to perform the job with a high level of competence. Simulating this real-world experience in a classroom or lab becomes difficult when it has to be squeezed into a class like senior design. While for some, a good grade might be incentive enough to put forth the effort to properly gain these experiences, other things will likely become a larger priority. The SAE student design series introduces students to a competitive atmosphere that promotes extreme learning growth in a short period of time. Each portion of the competition has a specific aim that, when combined together, train a student into an engineer who is far more experienced and educated than one born from a traditional classroom. The opportunities that come from this competition, presented both to learn and grow more familiar with the real world environment of engineering are invaluable. It submerges students into an environment that encourages and promotes growth in every dimension.Cockrell School of Engineerin
A critical reappraisal of dietary practices in methylmalonic acidemia raises concerns about the safety of medical foods. Part 2: cobalamin C deficiency
PURPOSE: Cobalamin C (cblC) deficiency impairs the biosynthesis of 5'-deoxyadenosyl-adenosyl- and methyl-cobalamin, resulting in methylmalonic acidemia combined with hyperhomocysteinemia and hypomethioninemia. However, some patients with cblC deficiency are treated with medical foods, devoid of methionine and high in leucine content, that are formulated for patients with isolated propionate oxidative defects. We examined the effects of imbalanced branched-chain amino acid intake on growth outcomes in cblC-deficient patients. METHODS: Dietary intake was correlated with biochemical, anthropometric, and body composition measurements and other disease parameters in a cohort of 28 patients with early-onset cblC deficiency. RESULTS: Protein-restricted diets were followed by 21% of the patients, whereas 32% received medical foods. Patients on protein-restricted diets had lower height-for-age z-score (P = 0.034), whereas patients consuming medical foods had lower head circumference Z-scores (P = 0.037), plasma methionine concentrations (P = 0.001), and predicted methionine influx through the blood-brain barrier Z-score (-1.29 vs. -0.0617; P = 0.007). The combination of age at diagnosis, a history of seizures, and the leucine-to-valine dietary intake ratio best predicted head circumference Z-score based on multiple regression modeling (R(2) = 0.945). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cblC deficiency treated with medical foods designed for isolated methylmalonic acidemia are at risk for iatrogenic methionine deficiency that could adversely affect brain growth and development.Genet Med 18 4, 396-404