Quantitative comparison of manuka and clover honey proteomes with royal jelly.

Royal jelly and honey are two substances produced successively by the worker bee caste. Modern proteomics approaches have been used to explore the protein component of each substance independently, but to date none have quantitatively compared the protein profile of honey and royal jelly directly. Sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment-ion spectra mass spectrometry (SWATH-MS) was used to compare protein quantities of bee origin in manuka and clover honey to royal jelly. Two analysis techniques identified 76 proteins in total. Peptide intensity was directly compared for a subset of 31 proteins that were identified with high confidence, and the relative changes in protein abundance were compared between each honey type and royal jelly. Major Royal Jelly Proteins (MRJPs) had similar profiles in both honeys, except MRJP6, which was significantly more abundant in clover honey. Proteins involved in nectar metabolism were more abundant in honey than in royal jelly as expected. However, the trend revealed a potential catalytic role for MRJP6 in clover honey and a nectar- or honey-specific role for uncharacterised protein LOC408608. The abundance of MRJP6 in manuka honey was equivalent to royal jelly suggesting a potential effect of nectar type on expression of this protein. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD038889.

IGF1 does not overcome sexual dimorphism of body and muscle size in Mstn-/- mice.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) is crucial for regulating post-natal growth and, along with myostatin (MSTN), regulates muscle size. Here, we sought to clarify the roles of these two genes in regulating sexually dimorphic growth of body and muscle mass. In the first study, we established that Igf1 mRNA was increased to a greater extent and Igf1 receptor mRNA increased earlier in male, than in female, gastrocnemius muscles during the rapid phase of growth (from 2 to 6 weeks) were unchanged, thereafter, to 32 weeks of age in WT mice (P < 0.001). In the second study, we sought to determine if supplemental IGF1 could overcome the sexual dimorphism of muscle and body mass, when myostatin is absent. We crossed myostatin null (Mstn-/-) mice with mice over-expressing Igf1 in skeletal muscle (Igf1+) to generate six genotypes; control (Mstn+/+), Mstn+/-, Mstn-/-, Mstn+/+:Igf1+, Mstn+/-:Igf1+ and Mstn-/-:Igf1+ (n = 8 per genotype and sex). In both sexes, body mass at 12 weeks was increased by at least 1.6-fold and muscle mass by at least 3-fold in Mstn-/-:Igf1+ compared with Mstn+/+ mice (P < 0.001). The abundance of AKT was increased in muscles of mice transgenic for Mstn, while phosphorylation of AKTS473 was increased in both male and female mice transgenic for Igf1+. The ratio of phosphorylated to total AKT was 1.9-fold greater in male mice (P < 0.001). Thus, despite increased growth of skeletal muscle and body size when myostatin was absent and IGF1 was in excess, sexual dimorphism persisted, an effect consistent with greater IGF1-induced activation of AKT in skeletal muscles of males.

Impact of a Planned Workflow Change: Super Track Improves Quality and Service for Low-Acuity Patients at an Inner-City Hospital.

ED volume and acuity were anticipated to increase at an inner-city hospital. A strategy to mitigate the impact was needed. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team facilitated a workflow modification project implementing a Super Track to treat low-acuity patients. A literature review led to the creation of an evidence-based framework. Staff education regarding the change process and the results of an analysis in the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threat format, along with simulation exercises and a pilot project, supported implementation of this strategy. RESULTS: Simulation exercises demonstrated that the proposed workflow with a Super Track had the potential to reduce the length of stay among level 4 and 5 patients coming to the emergency department. Implementing a Super Track reduced the patient arrival-to-provider time for low-acuity patients, but length of stay was not affected. After implementation, the number of patients who left without being seen decreased by 40%, and patient satisfaction increased by 36%. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A modified front-end workflow process produced a statistically significant, sustainable improvement in patient flow of low-acuity patients in our emergency department. Use of an evidence-based, multidisciplinary team approach supported the change process.

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