Showing papers on "Low protein published in 2006"
TL;DR: EGFR gene copy number was a predictor of clinical benefit from gefitinib in ISEL, and the limited amount of data collected for KRAS and BRAF mutations prevented any meaningful evaluation of clinical outcomes in relation to these mutations.
Abstract: Purpose The phase III Iressa Survival Evaluation in Lung Cancer (ISEL) trial compared gefitinib with placebo in 1,692 patients with refractory advanced non–small-cell lung cancer. We analyzed ISEL tumor biopsy samples to examine relationships between biomarkers and clinical outcome after gefitinib treatment in a placebo-controlled setting. Methods Biomarkers included epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene copy number by fluorescence in situ hybridization (n = 370); EGFR (n = 379) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) protein expression (n = 382) by immunohistochemistry; and mutations in EGFR (n = 215), KRAS (n = 152), and BRAF (n = 118). Results High EGFR gene copy number was a predictor of a gefitinib-related effect on survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.61 for high copy number and HR, 1.16 for low copy number; comparison of high v low copy number HR, P = .045). EGFR protein expression was also related to clinical outcome (HR for positive, 0.77; HR for negative, 1.57; comparison of high v low protein expressio...
720 citations
TL;DR: Lower maternal levels of insulin, leptin and IGF‐1 may link maternal protein malnutrition to reduced fetal growth by down‐regulation of key placental amino acid transporters, suggesting that these placental transport changes are a cause, rather than a consequence of IUGR.
Abstract: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) represents an important risk factor for perinatal complications and for adult disease. IUGR is associated with a down-regulation of placental amino acid transporters; however, whether these changes are primary events directly contributing to IUGR or a secondary consequence is unknown. We investigated the time course of changes in placental and fetal growth, placental nutrient transport in vivo and the expression of placental nutrient transporters in pregnant rats subjected to protein malnutrition, a model for IUGR. Pregnant rats were given either a low protein (LP) diet (n = 64) or an isocaloric control diet (n = 66) throughout pregnancy. Maternal insulin, leptin and IGF-I levels decreased, whereas maternal amino acid concentrations increased moderately in response to the LP diet. Fetal and placental weights in the LP group were unaltered compared to control diet at gestational day (GD) 15, 18 and 19 but significantly reduced at GD 21. Placental system A transport activity was reduced at GD 19 and 21 in response to a low protein diet. Placental protein expression of SNAT2 was decreased at GD 21. In conclusion, placental amino acid transport is down-regulated prior to the development of IUGR, suggesting that these placental transport changes are a cause, rather than a consequence, of IUGR. Reduced maternal levels of insulin, leptin and IGF-1 may link maternal protein malnutrition to reduced fetal growth by down-regulation of key placental amino acid transporters.
314 citations
TL;DR: The results show that piglet performance may suffer when dietary CP is reduced by 4 or more percentage units from 23% and support the hypothesis that low-CP diets help maintain enteric health in pigs by lowering toxic microbial metabolites such as ammonia.
Abstract: The effects of low-protein AA-supplemented diets on piglet performance, visceral organ mass, incidence of diarrhea, intestinal microbial population, and fermentation were studied in a 3-wk trial. After a 7-d adaptation period, 96 piglets (approximately 6.2 kg of initial BW) were assigned to 4 corn-wheat, soybean meal-based dietary treatments in a completely randomized design to give 6 replicate pens per treatment (n = 4 piglets per pen). The treatments were a control wheat-corn-soybean meal-based phase I diet containing 23% CP, or the same diet with CP reduced to 21%, 19%, or 17% and supplemented with crystalline AA to achieve equal standardized ileal digestible contents of Lys, Met plus Cys, Thr, and Trp in all diets. Diets were formulated to similar nutrient levels and provided ad libitum. Blood from all pigs was taken on d 0, 7, 14, and 21 for determining plasma urea N. Weekly feed intake, BW changes, and G:F were determined. On d 21, 2 pigs per pen were randomly selected and killed to determine small intestinal morphology, digesta pH and ammonia levels, and luminal microbial counts. Average daily feed intake, ADG, and G:F were not affected (P > 0.10) by reducing CP to 21%, but a reduction to 19% or 17% decreased ADFI (P 0.10) on G:F; however, this response criterion was decreased linearly (P 0.10) with dietary CP reduction. Plasma urea N was decreased linearly (P 0.10). The results show that piglet performance may suffer when dietary CP is reduced by 4 or more percentage units from 23% and support the hypothesis that low-CP diets help maintain enteric health in pigs by lowering toxic microbial metabolites such as ammonia.
291 citations
TL;DR: This work has tested the display levels of a range of proteins using different translocation pathways by employing different signal sequences and found that directing proteins to the cotranslational signal recognition particle (SRP) translocation pathway resulted in much higher display levels than directing them to the conventional post-translational Sec translocated pathway.
Abstract: Even proteins that fold well in bacteria are frequently displayed poorly on filamentous phages. Low protein presentation on phage might be caused by premature cytoplasmic folding, leading to inefficient translocation into the periplasm. As translocation is an intermediate step in phage assembly, we tested the display levels of a range of proteins using different translocation pathways by employing different signal sequences. Directing proteins to the cotranslational signal recognition particle (SRP) translocation pathway resulted in much higher display levels than directing them to the conventional post-translational Sec translocation pathway. For example, the display levels of designed ankyrin-repeat proteins (DARPins) were improved up to 700-fold by simply exchanging Sec- for SRP-dependent signal sequences. In model experiments this exchange of signal sequences improved phage display from tenfold enrichment to >1,000-fold enrichment per phage display selection round. We named this method 'SRP phage display' and envision broad applicability, especially when displaying cDNA libraries or very stable and fast-folding proteins from libraries of alternative scaffolds.
209 citations
TL;DR: In summary, low CP diets result in optimal growth of broilers with Gly + Ser levels of 2.44% and increase final BW, daily gain, and gain:feed (G:F) when CP was reduced.
175 citations
TL;DR: The role of platelet activation is underscored in the development of PAH and stresses its occurrence even among patients who are regularly transfused, especially those who are older and have had splenectomies.
Abstract: The pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PAH), a serious complication in thalassemia, is not well understood. Thromboembolism has been postulated as one of the causative factors; however, there are currently limited specific data on its role. To examine whether increased platelet activation and hypercoagulability are linked to PAH, 25 beta-thalassemia major and beta-thalassemia intermedia patients were evaluated with Doppler echocardiograms for estimation of pulmonary artery pressure and with laboratory assays for indications of a prothrombotic state. The association of clinical variables and abnormal coagulation assays with PAH was determined. PAH was identified in 17 (68%) patients; mean pulmonary artery systolic pressure was 39.8 +/- 5.4 mm Hg. PAH was significantly associated with prior splenectomy, older age, and evidence for chronic hemolysis, diagnosed in both transfused (n = 10) and nontransfused (n = 7) patients. Increased platelet activation, measured by P-selectin, was significantly associated with PAH (P = 0.001). Increased thrombin-antithrombin III level was more prevalent in the presence of PAH, but increased fibrinolysis or low protein C levels were not. This study underscores the role of platelet activation in the development of PAH and stresses its occurrence even among patients who are regularly transfused, especially those who are older and have had splenectomies.
135 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the feasibility of CBWM based on meat cropping was evaluated in New Dabaga/Ulangambi Forest Reserve (NDUFR) and the results indicated that CBWM only has limited capacity to reduce these causes of hunting, maintain the communities' interest and offset the opportunity costs of conservation.
134 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the physiologic properties of high protein buckwheat flour (PBF) by examining its effects on serum cholesterol and body fat in rats and on cholesterol gallstone formation in mice.
117 citations
TL;DR: Cerebrospinal fluid function, physiology, analytical techniques and interpretations in disease states of companion animals, and its role in the nervous system is reviewed.
Abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear, colourless ultrafiltrate of plasma with low protein content and few cells. The CSF is mainly produced by the choroid plexus, but also by the ependymal lining cells of the brain's ventricular system. CSF flows through the ventricular system and then into the subarachnoid space and it is subsequently absorbed through the subarachnoid villi into the venous system. CSF has several functions in the nervous system. It protects the brain during blood pressure fluctuations, regulates the chemical environment of the central nervous system and it is a vehicle for intracerebral transport. This two-part article reviews CSF function, physiology, analytical techniques and interpretations in disease states of companion animals. This first part will address the function and composition of CSF in companion animals.
115 citations
TL;DR: Preliminary applications of the QSAR model—to the selection of anticancer drugs, minimization of dye and drug toxicity and the designed synthesis of fluorescent probes—are outlined.
Abstract: Selectivity of nuclear probes is controlled by competitive accumulation of the probe by cellular organelles as well as the high affinity for nucleic acids. Physicochemical features of probes which favor nucleic acid binding include cationic character and a planar aromatic system above a minimum size. Features of probes which permit entry into cells are low protein and lipid binding. Features which reduce accumulation in non-nuclear sites include high base strength and hydrophilicity of the cation. The overall quantitative structure–activity (QSAR) model specifying nuclear accumulation may be expressed as follows: CBN log Pneutral species>0; AI 0; -5 10; LCF>17; LCF/CBN>0.70 (where CBN is the conjugated bond number, log Px the logarithm of the water–octanol partition coefficient of species x, AI the amphilicity index, Z the electric charge, pKa the negative logarithm of the equilibrium constant for the free base–protonated base reaction, and LCF the largest conjugated fragment). Preliminary applications of the QSAR model—to the selection of anticancer drugs, minimization of dye and drug toxicity and the designed synthesis of fluorescent probes—are outlined.
107 citations
TL;DR: A review of the literature regarding low protein diets (LCP) for broilers reveals that by using crystalline amino acids, dietary CP could be reduced in each phase safely by a factor of 10%.
Abstract: A review of the literature regarding Low Protein diets (LCP) for broilers reveals that by using crystalline amino acids, dietary CP could be reduced in each phase safely by a factor of 10% (a figure fairly consistent with turkeys but quite low with that found for ducks and swine) from the respective NRC (1994) levels; the calculated minimum dietary CP levels thus appeared to be 20.7, 18.0, and 16.2% respectively for 0-21, 21-42 and 42-56 days of age. It is, however, noted that the magnitude of protein reduction, without affecting the growth performance of broilers, could have been increased depending upon the EAA concentration and balance of LCP vs. control-CP diets as well as the response criteria used (gain vs. composition of gain). Further reduction in dietary protein results in depressed live/carcass yield in almost all cases. Depressed feed intake appears partially to explain the negative effect of LCP diets in some cases. Addition of NEAA-like glycine above the current NRC recommendations has shown partially to alleviate the negative effect of LCP diets indicating imprecision of our knowledge about NEAA (like glycine, serine and proline etc) requirements of broilers under these conditions. The dietary NEAA/EAA ratio seems to be an important, though poorly understood, factor in defining the performance of broilers fed on LCP diets. It seems that regardless of the absolute amounts of dietary amino acids, performance tend to be depressed when NEAA/EAA ratio is decreased from 50/50; thus the NEAA level of about 50% of protein seems “minimum” state of adequacy. More work is needed before a precise role of the ratio of nitrogen coming from NEAA vs. EAA is proposed. A wider NE:ME in LCP diets seems to explain the higher body fat accretion on these diets; more work on how dietary NE:ME ratio modulates the growth performance of broilers, and how it interacts with different genetic stocks (lean vs. fat lines) is warranted.
TL;DR: It was concluded that endocrine responses to total amino acid supply during imbalance can override imperfections in the circulating amino acid profile to maintain milk protein yield at higher levels than expected from deficiency states.
TL;DR: The main challenge in measurement of cytokines in EBC is the low protein content, which requires concentration steps that conflict with the need for excessive fluid required by most commonly used kits.
Abstract: Background: To improve monitoring of lung diseases, we analyzed cytokines in exhaled breath condensate (EBC). The main challenge in measurement of cytokines in EBC is the low protein content, which requires concentration steps that conflict with the need for excessive fluid required by most commonly used kits. Methods: Here, a multiplex bead array for the detection of interleukins (IL) -1b, -6, -8, -10, TNF-a, and IL-12p70 was modified and validated for analysis in EBC samples. Furthermore, 33 healthy volunteers and 11 patients with acute lung injury were investigated. Results: In patients with inflammatory lung diseases, cytokine levels for all investigated cytokines were higher in comparison to healthy smokers or healthy volunteers. Discussion: Multiplexed immunoassays in highly sensitive approaches allow for cytokine detection in EBC. We found significant differences between patients and controls for all investigated cytokines. q 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology
TL;DR: In this paper, the interactive effects of P nutrition and drought stress on P accumulation and translocation, yield, and protein concentration in grains of two cultivars of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.].
Abstract: Drought affects many physiological and biochemical processes and thus reduces plant growth. Phosphorus (P) fertilization improves tolerance to drought stress in many plants. A greenhouse experiment examined the interactive effects of P nutrition and drought stress on P accumulation and translocation, yield, and protein concentration in grains of two cultivars of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Plants of cultivars ‘Heisheng 101’ (high protein in grains) and ‘Dongnong 464’ (low protein) were grown in a P-deficient soil supplied with 0–30 mg P kg−1 soil. Drought stress was imposed at the initial flowering (R1) or the podding (R4) stage. Drought stress limited P accumulation and reduced P translocation to the seed. The addition of P enhanced the concentration and accumulation of nitrogen (N) and P in shoots and seeds of both cultivars. Drought stress decreased shoot biomass, grain yield, and P accumulation; the decrease was greater in ‘Dongnong 46’ than ‘Heisheng 101,’ and even more so if drought s...
TL;DR: A conceptual framework is proposed, and the role of signalling networks in three major areas: signal transduction, cellular rhythms and cell-to-cell communication is discussed, and a variety of modelling techniques and associated tools are reported on, which provide a range of descriptive and analytical powers.
Abstract: This article is a critical review of computational techniques used to model, analyse and simulate signalling networks. We propose a conceptual framework, and discuss the role of signalling networks in three major areas: signal transduction, cellular rhythms and cell-to-cell communication. In order to avoid an overly abstract and general discussion, we focus on three case studies in the areas of receptor signalling and kinase cascades, cell-cycle regulation and wound healing. We report on a variety of modelling techniques and associated tools, in addition to the traditional approach based on ordinary differential equations (ODEs), which provide a range of descriptive and analytical powers. As the field matures, we expect a wider uptake of these alternative approaches for several reasons, including the need to take into account low protein copy numbers and noise and the great complexity of cellular organisation. An advantage offered by many of these alternative techniques, which have their origins in computing science, is the ability to perform sophisticated model analysis which can better relate predicted behaviour and observations.
TL;DR: Araucaria angustifolia seeds are composed of 34% of starch and very low fractions of protein, lipids and phenolic compounds, which is favorable to obtain a stable, white in color and odorless starch, useful in the food industry as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The pinhao seeds (Araucaria angustifolia), are composed of 34% of starch and very low fractions of protein, lipids and phenolic compounds. This composition is favorable to obtain a stable, white in color and odorless starch, useful in the food industry. The isolated starch is constituted predominantly of small-sized round granules (10–25 μm), rather than oval ones. Compared to corn starch, pinhao starch has a lower temperature and enthalpy of gelatinization. Retrogradation occurs to a lower extent in pinhao starch, due to its lower amylose content (∼25%). The pasting profile of pinhao starch showed a higher consistency than that of corn starch, with lower temperature in the peak of maximum viscosity. The higher swelling and solubility values of pinhao starch, in conjunction with the higher storage modulus (G') suggest new different applications of this novel starch. The low protein content of the starch granule favors applications like production of glucose and fructose syrups. The simple method of extraction and the high yield of starch from pinhao seed might be attractive not only for pilot-plant but also for commercial-scale production.
TL;DR: Results support the hypothesis that diet-related factors associated with both subsistence economies influenced craniofacial morphology, and indicate that farmers have a smaller cranioFacial size than hunter-gatherers.
Abstract: The Argentine Center-West was the southernmost portion of the Andes where domestication of plants and animals evolved. Populations located in the southern portion of this area displayed a hunter-gatherer subsistence economy up to historical times, and coexisted with farmers located to the north. Archaeological and biological evidence suggests that the transition to food production was associated with the consumption of a softer diet and a more sedentary way of life. This study tests the hypothesis that diet-related factors influenced morphological differentiation, by comparing functional cranial components of farmers and hunter-gatherers. Three-dimensional changes on eight minor functional components (anteroneural, midneural, posteroneural, otic, optic, respiratory, masticatory, and alveolar) were measured on skulls derived from both subareas. Volumetric and morphometric indices were calculated to estimate the absolute and relative size of components, respectively. Results of a paired t-test indicated that farmers have a smaller craniofacial size than hunter-gatherers. The components that varied the most were masticatory and posteroneural, showing smaller absolute and relative sizes in farmers. Discriminant analyses indicated that lengths and widths were the most affected dimensions of these and other components. The pattern of differentiation, which involves specific components, enabled us to exclude differential gene flow and stochastic mechanisms as the main causes. Instead, results support the hypothesis that diet-related factors associated with both subsistence economies influenced craniofacial morphology. A proportion of the observed variation associated with size differences can be explained by two systemic factors: the lesser quality of nutrition due to a low protein content in the diet, and a decrease of growth hormone circulation induced by a lower mobility due to sedentism. However, differentiation is better explained by a localized factor: the reduction in the masticatory and posteroneural components in farmers resulted from a decrease of masticatory stresses and workload on the head and neck, linked to the consumption of a softer diet.
TL;DR: Exercise training, decreased adiposity, and long-term consumption of a low-protein, low-calorie diet are associated with low plasma growth factors and hormones that are linked to an increased risk of cancer.
TL;DR: The identification of a large number of QTL (at least 40 each for oil, protein, starch, and kernel weight) with small effects agrees in general with earlier estimates based on quantitative genetic theory and has implications for breeding strategies for improved corn kernel quality traits.
Abstract: To identify and characterize quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting kernel weight and concentrations of protein, oil, and starch in the corn (Zea mays L.) kernel, plants from generations 70 of the Illinois High Protein (IHP) and Illinois Low Protein (ILP) strains, previously developed by divergent selection for kernel protein concentration, were crossed. The cross was random mated (RM) seven generations and selfed twice to develop 500 F 1 RM 7 S 2 lines. The lines per se were evaluated at three locations with two replications for 2 yr and testcrosses were evaluated at three locations in 1 yr. Genotypes were evaluated using 499 SNP markers on DNA from a bulk of leaf tissue from each line. As the parent plants used to make the original cross were not available for genotyping, previously reported multivariable and modified simple interval mapping (SIM) procedures were used. SIM identified more significant regions for all traits than did single marker analysis. Correlations and signs of QTL effects suggest development of high protein-high starch lines would be difficult but that it should be possible to develop high protein-high oil lines with minimal effects on kernel weight. The identification of a large number of QTL (at least 40 each for oil, protein, starch, and kernel weight) with small effects agrees in general with earlier estimates based on quantitative genetic theory and has implications for breeding strategies for improved corn kernel quality traits.
TL;DR: Fungal culturing of PKC brought about an increase in the level of unsaturated- and a decrease in thelevel of the saturated-fatty acids, which affected amino acid, fatty acid, cellulose and hemicellulose fractions.
TL;DR: It is found that at low protein solution concentrations, ppNIPAM-treated surfaces are low fouling below the LCST, but protein retentive above it, and the temperature dependent difference in protein activity as well as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and principal component analysis study suggest that proteins take different conformations/orientations after adsorption on ppNipAM above and below theLCST.
Abstract: Thorough studies of protein interactions with stimulus responsive polymers are necessary to provide a better understanding of their applications in biosensors and biomaterials. In this study, protein behavior on a thermoresponsive polymer surface, plasma polymerized N-isopropyl acrylamide (ppNIPAM), is investigated using multiple characterization techniques above and below its lower critical solution temperature (LCST). Protein adsorption and binding affinity are probed using radiolabeled proteins. Protein activity is estimated by measuring the immunological activity of an antibody adsorbed onto ppNIPAM using surface plasmon resonance. Conformation/orientation of the proteins is probed by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and principal component analysis (PCA) of the TOF-SIMS data. In this work, we find that at low protein solution concentrations, ppNIPAM-treated surfaces are low fouling below the LCST, but protein retentive above it. The protein adsorption isotherms demonstrate that apparent affinity between soluble protein molecules and the ppNIPAM surface are an order of magnitude lower at room temperature than at 37 °C. Although direct protein desorption is not observed in our study when the surface temperature drops below the LCST, the binding affinity of surface adsorbed protein with ppNIPAM is reduced, as judged by a detergent elution test. Furthermore, we demonstrated that proteins adsorbed onto ppNIPAM are functionally active, but the activity is better preserved at room temperature than 37 °C. The temperature dependent difference in protein activity as well as TOF-SIMS and PCA study suggest that proteins take different conformations/orientations after adsorption on ppNIPAM above and below the LCST.
TL;DR: Results suggest that once royal jelly is hydrolyzed using enzyme, the hydrolysate possesses much higher antioxidative activity and scavenging activity against active oxygen species.
Abstract: Enzymatic hydrolysates were prepared from royal jelly using three enzymes (pepsin, trypsin, and papain), and their antioxidative properties were evaluated. The yield of these hydrolysates was very high, about 20-26% on a raw weight basis. In comparison with the antioxidative activities of water extract and alkaline extract of royal jelly, the antioxidative activities and scavenging activities against active oxygen species such as superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical of each hydrolysate were high in the sample with a low protein concentration. These results suggest that once royal jelly is hydrolyzed using enzyme, the hydrolysate possesses much higher antioxidative activity and scavenging activity against active oxygen species. Royal jelly will act as a medicinal food in the human body.
TL;DR: Results suggest that a considerable proportion of differences in protein content of several cassava clones are genetic in nature and therefore that there are excellent possibilities for exploiting these differences and further increasing them by traditional breeding methods.
TL;DR: The effects of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate on the plasma activity levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity as well as glucose‐6‐phosphatase (G6Pase) in liver homogenates and lipid peroxidation levels are investigated.
Abstract: The effects of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo) protein isolate on the plasma activity levels of catalase (CA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as well as glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in liver homogenates and lipid peroxidation (LPO-malondialdehyde-MDA) levels in liver homogenates and liver microsomal fractions against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in low-protein fed Sprague-Dawley rats (Rattus norvegicus) were investigated.
A group of male Sprague-Dawley rats maintained on a low-protein diet for 5 days were divided into three subgroups. Two subgroups were injected with carbon tetrachloride and the other group with an equivalent amount of olive oil. Two hours after CCl4 intoxication one of the two subgroups was administered with pumpkin seed protein isolate and thereafter switched onto a 20% pumpkin seed protein isolate diet. The other two groups of rats were maintained on the low-protein diet for the duration of the investigation. Groups of rats from the different subgroups were killed at 24, 48 and 72 h after their respective treatments. After 5 days on the low-protein diet the activity levels of all the enzymes as well as antioxidant levels were significantly lower than their counterparts on a normal balanced diet. However, a low-protein diet resulted in significantly increased levels of lipid peroxidation. The CCl4 intoxicated rats responded in a similar way, regarding all the variables investigated, to their counterparts on a low-protein diet. The administration of pumpkin seed protein isolate after CCl4 intoxication resulted in significantly increased levels of all the variables investigated, with the exception of the lipid peroxidation levels which were significantly decreased. From the results of the present study it is concluded that pumpkin seed protein isolate administration was effective in alleviating the detrimental effects associated with protein malnutrition and CCl4 intoxication. It is therefore apparent that pumpkin seed protein isolate has components that have antiperoxidative properties. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: It is shown that the long-range interactions provide remarkable stabilization of the DNA methylation rate in the face of large fluctuations in methionine input, enabling the system to maintain methylation in the faces of low and extremely low protein input.
Abstract: Several metabolites in the folate and methionine cycles influence the activities of distant enzymes involved in one-carbon metabolism. Many hypotheses have been advanced about the functional impact of these long-range interactions. Using both steady-state and fluctuation analyses of a mathematical model of methionine metabolism, we investigate the biochemical basis for several of these hypotheses. We show that the long-range interactions provide remarkable stabilization of the DNA methylation rate in the face of large fluctuations in methionine input. In particular, they enable the system to maintain methylation in the face of low and extremely low protein input. These interactions may therefore have evolved primarily to stabilize DNA methylation under conditions of methionine starvation. In silico experimentation allows us to evaluate the independent effects of various combinations of the long-range interactions, and thereby propose a plausible evolutionary scenario.
TL;DR: Diet supplementation with high protein was able to improve resilience and resistance to natural infection by endoparasites during the rainy season and in the dry season there was a decrease in both of these traits, which were intimately linked to the quality of available forage under tropical conditions.
TL;DR: It is suggested that young mothers are at increased risk of having an infant with gastroschisis if they smoke and are also malnourished.
Abstract: BACKGROUND
Gastroschisis is a severe birth defect characterized by a tear in the infant's abdominal wall. Young mothers have the highest risk of having an infant with gastroschisis. In an animal model, the defect resulted from exposure of pregnant mice to carbon monoxide (CO) in combination with a low protein and low zinc diet.
METHODS
We evaluated this model in a study of 55 infants with gastroschisis and 94 age-matched controls that included maternal interview with a food frequency questionnaire. Smoking cigarettes (≥1 pack/day) or marijuana (more than once) 3 months prior to pregnancy indicated CO exposure. Low protein or zinc intake and a low body mass index (BMI) indicated maternal malnutrition.
RESULTS
When assessed separately, high CO, low protein, low zinc, and low BMI were each significantly associated with an increased risk of gastroschisis. Although we observed significant CO-BMI and CO-zinc interactions after adjusting for income, only a combination of high CO exposure and low BMI yielded a synergistic adverse effect. Compared to the low risk of having an infant with gastroschisis for mothers who did not have low BMI and did not smoke, the risk of having an infant with gastroschisis was 16.3 times (95% CI, 2.49–113.4) higher for mothers who did not have low BMI but smoked, and 19.7 times (95% CI, 4.33–89.6) higher for mothers who did not smoke but had low BMI. However, the risk was 26.5 times (95% CI, 7.85–89.4) higher for mothers who had low BMI and smoked.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that young mothers are at increased risk of having an infant with gastroschisis if they smoke and are also malnourished. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
TL;DR: Substitution of powdered latex gloves with low protein powder-free NRL gloves or latex-free gloves greatly reduces NRL aeroallergens, NRL sensitisation, and NRL-asthma in healthcare workers.
Abstract: Methods: Eight primary prevention intervention studies on natural rubber latex (NRL) published since 1990 were identified and reviewed. This is the largest evidence base of primary prevention studies for any occupational asthmagen. Results: Review of this small and largely observational evidence base supports the following evidence statement: Substitution of powdered latex gloves with low protein powder-free NRL gloves or latex-free gloves greatly reduces NRL aeroallergens, NRL sensitisation, and NRL-asthma in healthcare workers. Evidence in support of this statement is ranked SIGN level 2+, referring to well conducted case-control or cohort studies with a low risk of confounding, bias, or chance and a moderate probability that the relationship is causal. Conclusion: Substitution of powdered latex gloves with low protein powder-free NRL gloves or latex-free gloves promises benefits to both workers’ health and cost and human resource savings for employers. This message should be broadly disseminated beyond the hospital sector to include other healthcare settings (such as aged care facilities) as well as food service and other industries where latex gloves might be used.
TL;DR: Results showed that different qualitative restriction treatments can limit growth rate close to target, with T4, with 40% OH and increasing CaP, limited body weight closest to the desired level.
TL;DR: The protein levels were as follows: starter, 21, 22, 23, grower, 19, 20, 21; finisher, 17, 18, 19; and withdrawal.
Abstract: Versazyme (VZ) is a keratinase-based feed additive. Broiler diets were formulated with low (95%), medium (100%), or high (105%) CP and amino acid levels relative to US Poultry Industry Reporting Service averages (2003). In each diet, amino acid minimums were maintained relative to the percentage of CP. The protein levels were as follows: starter—21, 22, 23%; grower—19, 20, 21%; finisher—17, 18, 19%; and withdrawal—16, 17, 18%. Mixed sex broilers 0 to 48 d of age were fed the 3 protein levels with and without VZ (0.10%) in a 3 × 2 factorial experiment. Statistical main effects indicated 48-d BW was greater on the high protein diets (2.42 kg) compared with low protein (2.36 kg), with the medium protein diet being intermediate (2.40 kg). Overall, VZ significantly (P