METHODS AND RESULTS: The POME final discharge, upstream (unpolluted by POME), and downstream (effluent receiving point) parts of the rivers from two sites were physicochemically characterized. The taxonomic and gene profiles were then evaluated using de novo metatranscriptomics, while the metabolites were detected using qualitative metabolomics. A similar bacterial community structure in the POME final discharge samples from both sites was recorded, but their composition varied. Redundancy analysis showed that several families, particularly Comamonadaceae and Burkholderiaceae [Pr(>F) = 0.028], were positively correlated with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The results also showed significant enrichment of genes regulating various metabolisms in the POME-receiving rivers, with methane, carbon fixation pathway, and amino acids among the predominant metabolisms identified (FDR 4, and PPDE > 0.95). This was further validated through qualitative metabolomics, whereby amino acids were detected as the predominant metabolites.
CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that genes regulating amino acid metabolism have significant potential for developing effective biomonitoring and bioremediation strategies in river water influenced by POME final discharge, fostering a sustainable palm oil industry.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the uses, needs and preferences towards a dietary application among the caregivers of AAMDs patients.
METHODS: We conducted a mixed-method study comprising focus group discussion (FGD) and a quantitative questionnaire survey among caregivers of patients aged between 6-month-old to 18-year-old with AAMDs who are receiving active treatment, both medical and dietetic treatment in the genetic clinic, Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).
RESULTS: A total of 76 and 20 caregivers participated in the survey and FGD respectively. All the caregivers (100%) possessed a smartphone and most of the caregivers (89.5%) had the experience of using smartphone or other technological devices to search for health or medical information. However, majority of the participants were not aware of the existence of any web-based or mobile application related to AAMDs (89.5%). While for the qualitative part, three themes emerged: (1) experience with current source of information; (2) needs for supporting self-management educational contents and needs for technological design application. Most of the caregivers used the nutritional booklet as sources of reference but some of them searched for web-based information. Features perceived by the caregivers included a digital food composition database, sharing diet recall with healthcare providers, self-monitoring diet intake as well as low protein recipes. Besides that, user-friendly and ease to use were also perceived as the important features by the caregivers.
CONCLUSION: The identified features and needs by the caregivers should be integrated into the design of the apps to promote acceptance and usage.
RESULTS: A clear separation was only observed between non-organic G and organic Z, which were then selected for further investigation in the fermentation of soybeans (GF and ZF). All four groups (G, Z, GF, ZF) were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy along with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In this way a total of 41 and 47 metabolites were identified respectively, with 12 in common. A clear variation (|log1.5 FC| > 2 and P amino acids and organic acids were found in ZF. An additional four metabolites clustered as C-glycosylflavonoids were discovered from MS/MS-based molecular networking.
CONCLUSION: Chemical profiles of non-organic and organic soybeans exhibited no significant difference. However, the metabolite profile of the unfermented soybeans, which were higher in sugars, shifted to higher amino acid and organic acid content after fermentation, thereby potentially enhancing their nutritional value. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
RESULTS: Eight weeks of CDAHFD resulted in a significantly altered colon microbiota mainly driven by the bacterial families Lachnospiraceae and Enterobacteriaceae, being decreased and increased in relative abundance, respectively. Metabolomics analysis revealed that CDAHFD decreased colon content of short-chain fatty acid and increased colonic pH. In addition, serum levels of the microbially produced metabolite imidazole propionate were significantly elevated as a consequence of CDAHFD feeding. Hepatic gene expression analysis showed upregulation of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Ras Homolog, MTORC1 binding in addition to downregulation of insulin receptor substrate 1, insulin receptor substrate 2 and the glucagon receptor in CDAHFD fed minipigs. Further, the consequences of CDAHFD feeding were associated with increased levels of circulating cholesterol, bile acids, and glucagon but not total amino acids.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate imidazole propionate as a new potentially relevant factor in relation to NASH and discuss the possible implication of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the development of NASH. In addition, the study emphasizes the need for considering the gut microbiota and its products when developing translational animal models for NASH.
METHODS: Twelve rats were used in the study and divided in to two equal groups. All the animals in the control group were intragastically gavaged by distilled water and continues for ten days, from day 24 to day 34 of age, while the animals in the study group were intragastically gavaged by GT extract (300mg/kg/day) which continues also for ten days from day 24 to day 34 of age. On day 34 of age, and two hours after the last dose, the rats were anaesthetized and blood collection by cardiac puncture was taken.
RESULTS: The results showed that the intragastric gavage of a high dose of GT extract caused a non-significant increase in serum magnesium, and calcium levels (p>0.05), but a significant increase in zinc serum level was seen(p< 0.05).
CONCLUSION: GT can cause a significant increase in zinc serum level, and this may explain the significant role of GT in the response to different oxidative stress. It is recommended to measure the Zn serum level in rats after a period longer than two hrs from the time of the last dose of intragastric gavage of GT extract.