Iron status determined changes in health measures induced by nordic walking with time-restricted eating in older adults- a randomised trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study evaluated whether stored iron determines the adaptive response induced by Nordic walking (NW) training combined with 10 hours' time-restricted eating (TRE) in older adults. TRIAL DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-four participants underwent 12-week NW training supported by 10 h of TRE. The group was divided due to baseline ferritin concentration low < 75 ng/ml (LF) and high level ≥ 75 ng/ml (HF). Body composition, physical fitness and blood collection were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: NW + TRE induced a statistically significant decrease in ferritin levels in all participants (p = 0.01). Additionally, statistically significant intergroup differences in the LF vs. HF in the reduction of serum ferritin levels (p = 0.04) were observed. The procedure NW + TRE diminished HbA1c levels (p < 0.01) and glucose in all participants (p = 0.05). The range of HbA1c drop was more pronounced among those participants who experienced a greater decrease in the stored iron (p = 0.04, [Formula: see text]=0.17, F=4.59). Greater changes in body weight and percent of body fat were recorded in the HF group (for both p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Body iron stores determine the effects of a 12-week NW + TRE intervention on serum ferritin. The changes in HbA1c are more pronounced in subjects with a higher decrease in serum ferritin. TRIAL REGISTRATION: All experimental protocols were approved by the Bioethical Committee of the Regional Medical Society in Gdansk, Poland (NKBBN/330/2021) according to the Declaration of Helsinki. We confirm that all methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. The trial was registered as a clinical trial (NCT05229835, date of first registration: 14/01/2022, direct link: https://classic. CLINICALTRIALS: gov/ct2/show/NCT05229835 ). Informed consent was obtained from all subjects.

Determination of amino acids in human biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography: critical review.

The quantitation and qualification of amino acids are most commonly used in clinical and epidemiological studies, and provide an excellent way of monitoring compounds in human fluids which have not been monitored previously, to prevent some diseases. Because of this, it is not surprising that scientific interest in evaluating these compounds has resurfaced in recent years and has precipitated the development of a multitude of new analytical techniques. This review considers recent developments in HPLC analytics on the basis of publications from the last few years. It helps to update and systematize knowledge in this area. Particular attention is paid to the progress of analytical methods, pointing out the advantages and drawbacks of the various techniques used for the preparation, separation and determination of amino acids. Depending on the type of sample, the preparation conditions for HPLC analysis change. For this reason, the review has focused on three types of samples, namely urine, blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Despite time-consuming sample preparation before HPLC analysis, an additional derivatization technique should be used, depending on the detection technique used. There are proposals for columns that are specially modified for amino acid separation without derivatization, but the limit of detection of the substance is less beneficial. In view of the fact that amino acid analyses have been performed for years and new solutions may generate increased costs, it may turn out that older proposals are much more advantageous.

Plasma free amino acid profiling as metabolomic diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in paediatric cancer patients: a follow-up study.

Amino acids (AAs) play a crucial role in cancer cell metabolism. Levels of 22 plasma AAs at the time of diagnosis and after treatment were established among 39 pediatric cancer patients and 33 healthy children. Glutamic acid levels decreased and tryptophan levels increased during treatment. Cancer patients presented significantly lower levels of glutamine and leucine post-treatment while levels of 12 other AAs were higher comparing to controls. Results suggest that plasma free AA profile may serve as a prognostic biomarker.

Poultry Farms as a Potential Source of Environmental Pollution by Pharmaceuticals.

Industrial poultry breeding is associated with the need to increase productivity while maintaining low meat prices. Little is known about its impact on the environment of soil pollution by pharmaceuticals. Breeders routinely use veterinary pharmaceuticals for therapeutic and preventive purposes. The aim of this work was to determine the influence of mass breeding of hens on the soil contamination with 26 pharmaceuticals and caffeine. During two seasons-winter and summer 2019-15 soil samples were collected. Liquid extraction was used to isolate analytes from samples. Extracts were analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry detection (UPLC-MS/MS). The results showed the seasonal changes in pharmaceutical presence in analyzed soil samples. Ten pharmaceuticals (metoclopramide, sulphanilamide, salicic acid, metoprolol, sulphamethazine, nimesulide, carbamazepine, trimethoprim, propranolol, and paracetamol) and caffeine were determined in soil samples collected in March, and five pharmaceuticals (metoclopramide, sulphanilamide, sulphamethazine, carbamazepine, sulfanilamid) in soil samples collected in July. The highest concentrations were observed for sulphanilamide, in a range from 746.57 ± 15.61 ng/g d.w to 3518.22 ± 146.05 ng/g d.w. The level of bacterial resistance to antibiotics did not differ between samples coming from intensive breeding farm surroundings and the reference area, based on antibiotic resistance of 85 random bacterial isolates.

Environmental Risk Assessment Resulting from Sediment Contamination with Perfluoroalkyl Substances.

Due to wide use of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (e.g., in metal-plating, in fire-fighting foam, lubricants) and their resistance to degradation, they occur widely in the environment. The aim of this study was to estimate the environmental risk resulting from the presence of PFASs in the Gulf of Gdansk. Therefore, 17 PFASs concentrations were determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry detection (UPLC-MS/MS). Additionally, sediment ecotoxicity was investigated. The results of the chemical analysis were used to asses environmental risk of PFASs. In samples collected around discharge collectors from a wastewater treatment plant and the Vistula mouth, Σ17PFASs values were 0.00403 ÷ 40.6 and 0.509 ÷ 614 ng/g d.w., respectively. In samples collected around discharge collectors, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFHpA, and PFOA were dominating, while at the Vistula River mouth, PFHxS, PFDS, and PFBS were prevalent. For most sediments, no toxic effect was observed in the toxicity tests with Heterocypris inconguens and Aliivibrio ficsheri. There was no observed correlation between the PFASs level and their ecotoxicity. Generally, the results of environmental risk assessment indicate that the PFASs would not generate high impact on the aquatic life (five water samples have shown medium risk related to PFBS and PFDoA).

Amino acid profile after oral nutritional supplementation in hemodialysis patients with protein-energy wasting.

OBJECTIVES: Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is highly prevalent in patients on hemodialysis (HD). Oral nutritional supplementation (ONS) is recommended for malnourished patients on HD. The aim of this study was to evaluate ONS on plasma amino acid in HD patients with PEW. METHODS: Thirty-two HD patients with a mean age 59.1 ± 9.5 y with PEW were enrolled into the study. Patients were prescribed ONS (125 mL twice a day for 3 mo) together with dietary advice. The nutritional status was evaluated by means of body mass index, Subjective Global Assessment, and serum albumin and prealbumin levels. The percentages of body fat and lean body mass were measured by means of the near-infrared method. The lean body mass-to-body weight ratios were calculated. Tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Serum concentrations of amino acids were measured by the high-performance liquid chromatography method. RESULTS: After 3 mo of ONS, a significant increase of both serum prealbumin and albumin was observed. The concentration of most of the amino acids increased independently on inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary advice, combined with ONS, is effective in HD patients with PEW. Both dietary advice and ONS are needed to be sure that patients consume an adequate daily amount of calories and protein.

Amino acid profiles as potential biomarkers for pediatric cancers: a preliminary communication.

AIM: Childhood cancer remains one of the main cause of death in the pediatric population. Amino acids (AAs) level alterations in plasma are considered to play a role in carcinogenesis and further course of the disease. METHODS: Seventy-seven children with cancer, including 47 with hematological and 30 with solid tumors were enrolled in this study and compared with healthy children. Twenty-two plasma-free AAs were determined by HPLC with fluorometric detection. RESULTS: The results revealed significant decrease in glutamine levels for oncological patients and significant increase in aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, serine, citrulline, alanine, GABA, tryptophan, methionine, valine, phenylalanine and isoleucine levels in cancer children versus control. CONCLUSION: Plasma-free AA profile as a biomarker, which combines metabolic and clinical data, as an innovative and interdisciplinary approach, may allow for faster detection of tumor occurrence, and in the future for monitoring patient during treatment, and possible prediction of cancer recurrence.

Indoor Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Children: Health Risk Assessment in the Context of Physiological Development.

Indoor air quality is strongly affected by the contamination of ambient air and that related to building and finishing materials and to human activity. Poor ventilation of closed spaces facilitates retention of greater quantity of pollutants. Infants and children are at particular risk of exposure to indoor air pollutants as they undergo rapid physiological and biochemical changes and demonstrate activity patterns unlike those in adults. Health risk assessment in children should be carried out with regard to children-specific factors, since these factors may constitute a source of errors. In this article we weigh up two different: Scenario 1 in which risk assessment was carried out in five age-groups (0-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-11, and 12-16 years of age) and Scenario 2 encompassing only two age-groups (0-6 and 7-16 years of age). The findings indicate that data on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects obtained by applying the second scenario were overestimated or averaged; either giving much reduced information that may lead to a false judgment on actual risk. This kind of fallacy is avoided when applying the age stratification into a greater number of groups for the health risk assessment in children.