Stonefish (Synanceia spp.) Ichthyocrinotoxins: An ecological review and prospectus for future research and biodiscovery.

Marine organisms possess a diverse array of unique substances, many with wide ranging potential for applications in medicine, industry, and other sectors. Stonefish (Synanceia spp.), a bottom-dwelling fish that inhabit shallow and intertidal waters throughout the Indo-Pacific, harbour two distinct substances, a venom, and an ichthyocrinotoxin. Stonefish are well-known for the potent venom associated with their dorsal spines as it poses a significant risk to public health. Consequently, much of the research on stonefish focusses on the venom, with the aim of improving outcomes in cases of envenomation. However, there has been a notable lack of research on stonefish ichthyocrinotoxins, a class of toxin that is synthesised within specialised epithelial cells (i.e., tubercles) and exuded onto the skin. This has resulted in a substantial knowledge gap in our understanding of these animals. This review aims to bridge this gap by consolidating literature on the ecological functions and biochemical attributes of ichthyocrinotoxins present in various fish species and juxtaposing it with the current state of knowledge of stonefish ecology. We highlight the roles of ichthyocrinotoxins in predator defence, bolstering innate immunity, and mitigating integumentary interactions with parasites and detrimental fouling organisms. The objective of this review is to identify promising research avenues that could shed light on the ecological functions of stonefish ichthyocrinotoxins and their potential practical applications as therapeutics and/or industrial products.

Hair and cord blood element levels and their relationship with air pollution, dietary intake, gestational diabetes mellitus, and infant neurodevelopment.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Exposure to a range of elements, air pollution, and specific dietary components in pregnancy has variously been associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk or infant neurodevelopmental problems. We measured a range of pregnancy exposures in maternal hair and/or infant cord serum and tested their relationship to GDM and infant neurodevelopment. METHODS: A total of 843 pregnant women (GDM = 224, Non-GDM = 619) were selected from the Complex Lipids in Mothers and Babies cohort study. Forty-eight elements in hair and cord serum were quantified using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between hair element concentrations and GDM risk, while multiple linear regression was performed to analyze the relationship between hair/cord serum elements and air pollutants, diet exposures, and Bayley Scales of infant neurodevelopment at 12 months of age. RESULTS: After adjusting for maternal age, BMI, and primiparity, we observed that fourteen elements in maternal hair were associated with a significantly increased risk of GDM, particularly Ta (OR = 9.49, 95% CI: 6.71, 13.42), Re (OR = 5.21, 95% CI: 3.84, 7.07), and Se (OR = 5.37, 95% CI: 3.48, 8.28). In the adjusted linear regression model, three elements (Rb, Er, and Tm) in maternal hair and infant cord serum were negatively associated with Mental Development Index scores. For dietary exposures, elements were positively associated with noodles (Nb), sweetened beverages (Rb), poultry (Cs), oils and condiments (Ca), and other seafood (Gd). In addition, air pollutants PM2.5 (LUR) and PM10 were negatively associated with Ta and Re in maternal hair. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the potential influence of maternal element exposure on GDM risk and infant neurodevelopment. We identified links between levels of these elements in both maternal hair and infant cord serum related to air pollutants and dietary factors.

Metabolomic signatures of corals thriving across extreme reef habitats reveal strategies of heat stress tolerance.

Anthropogenic stressors continue to escalate worldwide, driving unprecedented declines in reef environmental conditions and coral health. One approach to better understand how corals can function in the future is to examine coral populations that thrive within present day naturally extreme habitats. We applied untargeted metabolomics (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)) to contrast metabolite profiles of Pocillopora acuta colonies from hot, acidic and deoxygenated mangrove environments versus those from adjacent reefs. Under ambient temperatures, P. acuta predominantly associated with endosymbionts of the genera Cladocopium (reef) or Durusdinium (mangrove), exhibiting elevated metabolism in mangrove through energy-generating and biosynthesis pathways compared to reef populations. Under transient heat stress, P. acuta endosymbiont associations were unchanged. Reef corals bleached and exhibited extensive shifts in symbiont metabolic profiles (whereas host metabolite profiles were unchanged). By contrast, mangrove populations did not bleach and solely the host metabolite profiles were altered, including cellular responses in inter-partner signalling, antioxidant capacity and energy storage. Thus mangrove P. acuta populations resist periodically high-temperature exposure via association with thermally tolerant endosymbionts coupled with host metabolic plasticity. Our findings highlight specific metabolites that may be biomarkers of heat tolerance, providing novel insight into adaptive coral resilience to elevated temperatures.

Inter-species variation in stonefish (Synanceia spp.) ichthyocrinotoxins; an ecological perspective.

Although stonefish (Synanceia spp.) are well-known to harbour a highly noxious defensive venom in their dorsal spines, very little is known about the composition and ecological function of the ichthyocrinotoxins that they secrete onto their epidermis. This study profiled reef (Synanceia verrucosa) and estuarine (Synanceia horrida) stonefish ichthyocrinotoxins via electrophoresis, liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry to visualise and compare the composition of these toxins between the two species. Stonefish ichthyocrinotoxins were found to be multifarious concoctions that exhibited subtle differences between reef and estuarine species. We speculate that these variations and similarities are driven by the different and similar ecology of these fish species. Further research into the activity of the toxins components is now required to better understand their ecological role.

The relationship between hair metabolites, air pollution exposure and gestational diabetes mellitus: A longitudinal study from pre-conception to third trimester.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic condition defined as glucose intolerance with first presentation during pregnancy. Many studies suggest that environmental exposures, including air pollution, contribute to the pathogenesis of GDM. Although hair metabolite profiles have been shown to reflect pollution exposure, few studies have examined the link between environmental exposures, the maternal hair metabolome and GDM. The aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal relationship (from pre-conception through to the third trimester) between air pollution exposure, the hair metabolome and GDM in a Chinese cohort. Methods: A total of 1020 women enrolled in the Complex Lipids in Mothers and Babies (CLIMB) birth cohort were included in our study. Metabolites from maternal hair segments collected pre-conception, and in the first, second, and third trimesters were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Maternal exposure to air pollution was estimated by two methods, namely proximal and land use regression (LUR) models, using air quality data from the air quality monitoring station nearest to the participant's home. Logistic regression and mixed models were applied to investigate associations between the air pollution exposure data and the GDM associated metabolites. Results: Of the 276 hair metabolites identified, the concentrations of fourteen were significantly different between GDM cases and non-GDM controls, including some amino acids and their derivatives, fatty acids, organic acids, and exogenous compounds. Three of the metabolites found in significantly lower concentrations in the hair of women with GDM (2-hydroxybutyric acid, citramalic acid, and myristic acid) were also negatively associated with daily average concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO and the exposure estimates of PM2.5 and NO2, and positively associated with O3. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the maternal hair metabolome reflects the longitudinal metabolic changes that occur in response to environmental exposures and the development of GDM.

An Evaluation of Different Digestion Methods for the Quantitation of Inorganic Elements in Human Hair Using ICP-MS.

The inorganic elements have unique properties in biochemical processes in humans. An increasing number of pathologies have been associated with essential element ions, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. Hair has become an attractive clinical specimen for studying the longitudinal exposure to elements from the external environment. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) coupled with nitric acid (HNO3) digestion is the most common approach for determining inorganic elements from human hair. This study aims to optimize the digestion method for the absolute quantitation of 52 elements using ICP-MS, for a large cohort study in human hair. Five different HNO3 (65%) digestion methods were investigated and evaluated for their internal standard solution stability, reproducibility, element coverage, and standard solution recovery efficiency, namely, room temperature for 24 h (RT), 90°C for 4 h (T90), ultrasonic-assisted digestion (UltraS), programmed digestion of microwave digestion (MicroD), and ordinary microwave oven digestion (O-MicroD). Our results demonstrated that O-MicroD, MicroD, and RT were the best performing digestion methods for coefficient of variation (CV) scores, coverage, and recovery efficiency, respectively. In particular, the O-MicroD method detected multiple elements in a small quantity of hair (3 mg), with minimum nitric acid usage (200 µl) and a short digestion time (30 min). The O-MicroD method had excellent reproducibility, as demonstrated by a continuous thousand injections of hair samples with three internal standards (CV: 103Rh = 3.59%, 115In = 3.61%, and 209Bi = 6.31%). Future studies of the elemental content of hair should carefully select their digestion method to meet the primary purpose of their study.

Nutrient-Level Evaluation of Meals Provided on the Government-Funded School Lunch Program in New Zealand.

Approximately 1 in 6 children in New Zealand are living in households facing poverty and 14% of the population is food insecure. The Ka Ora, Ka Ako|Healthy School Lunches program aims to reduce food insecurity by providing access to a nutritious lunch every school day. This study analyzed the nutritional content of Ka Ora, Ka Ako meals and compared them to national and international standards. Meals were selected at random from approved menus. The suppliers covered by the 302 meals analyzed provide 161,699 students with a lunch (74.9% of students on the program). The meals were analyzed using Foodworks 10 nutrient analysis software. The nutrient content was compared against the New Zealand/Australia Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) and to nutrient-level standards for international school lunch programs. A total of 77.5% of nutrients analyzed exceeded 30% of the recommended daily intakes. Protein, vitamin A and folate met the NRV targets and a majority of the international standards (55/57). Energy, calcium, and iron were low compared to NRVs and international standards (meeting 2/76 standards). Carbohydrates were low compared to international standards. The findings have been used to inform the development of revised nutrition standards for the program, which will be released in 2022.

Environmental drivers of the occurrence and abundance of the Irukandji jellyfish (Carukia barnesi).

Understanding the links between species and their environment is critical for species management. This is particularly true for organisms of medical and/or economic significance. The 'Irukandji' jellyfish (Carukia barnesi) is well known for its small size, cryptic nature, and highly venomous sting. Being the namesake of the Irukandji syndrome, contact with this marine stinger often leads to hospitalization and can be fatal. Consequently, the annual occurrence of this organism is believed to cost the Australian government an estimated $AUD3 billion annually in medical costs and losses for tourism. Despite its economic importance the logistical difficulties related to surveying C.barnesi in situ has led to a paucity of knowledge regarding its ecology and significantly impeded management strategies to date. In this study, we use six years of direct C. barnesi capture data to explore patterns pertaining to the annual occurrence and abundance of this species in the nearshore waters of the Cairns coast. We provide novel insights into trends in medusae aggregations and size distribution and primarily focus on the potential role of environmental drivers for annual C. barnesi occurrence patterns. Using a two-part hurdle model, eight environmental parameters were investigated over four time periods for associations with records of medusa presence and abundance. Final models showed a small amount of variation in medusa presence and abundance patterns could be accounted for by long-term trends pertaining to rainfall and wind direction. However, the assessed environmental parameters could not explain high annual variation or site location effects. Ultimately best-fit models had very low statistical inference power explaining between 16 and 20% of the variance in the data, leaving approximately 80% of all variation in medusa presence and abundance unexplained.

Plasma nervonic acid levels were negatively associated with attention levels in community-living older adults in New Zealand.

The global population is aging. Preserving function and independence of our aging population is paramount. A key component to maintaining independence is the preservation of cognitive function. Metabolomics can be used to identify biomarkers of cognition before noticeable deterioration. Our study investigated the plasma metabolome of 332 community-living New Zealanders between 65 and 74 years of age, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Six cognitive domains were assessed. Of the 123 metabolites identified using an in-house mass spectral libraries of standards, nervonic acid had a significant, inverse association with the attention domain (P-value = 1.52E- 4; FDR = 0.019), after adjusting for covariates (apolipoprotein E -ε4 genotype, sex, body fat percentage (standardised by sex), age, education, deprivation index, physical activity, metabolic syndrome, polypharmacy, smoking status, and alcohol intake) and multiple testing. Attention is defined as the ability to concentrate on selected aspects of the environment while ignoring other stimuli. This is the first study to identify nervonic acid as a potential biomarker of attention in older adults. Future research should confirm this association in a longitudinal study.

An Investigation of the Relationship Between Dietary Patterns in Early Pregnancy and Maternal/Infant Health Outcomes in a Chinese Cohort.

Background: Studies assessing links between maternal diet and pregnancy outcomes have focused predominantly on individual nutrients or foods. However, nutrients are typically consumed in combinations of foods or beverages (i.e., dietary patterns). Taking into account the diet as a whole appreciates that nutrient absorption and metabolism are influenced by other nutrients and the food matrix. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary pattern consumption in early pregnancy and pregnancy/infant outcomes, including gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational weight gain, preeclampsia, placental weight, gestational age at delivery, small-for-gestational-age, large-for-gestational-age, macrosomia, measures of infant body composition, and scores on two main indices of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development [Mental Development Index (MDI) and the Psychomotor Development Index (PDI)] at 12 months. Design: Our study included 1,437 participants from a mother-infant cohort in Chongqing, China. Maternal diet was assessed using a 96-item food frequency questionnaire at 11-14 weeks gestation. Dietary patterns were constructed using principal component analysis. Multivariate regressions were performed to assess associations between maternal dietary pattern scores and pregnancy and infant outcomes, adjusting for confounders. Results: Two dietary patterns were derived: a pattern high in pasta, sweetened beverages, and oils and condiments (PSO-based dietary pattern) and a pattern high in fish, poultry, and vegetables (FPV-based dietary pattern). Higher scores on the PSO-based dietary pattern were associated with lower infant standardized scores on the PDI of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, ß (95% confidence interval) = -1.276 (-2.392, -0.160); lower placental weight, ß (95% CI) = -6.413 (-12.352g, -0.473); and higher infant's tricep skinfold thickness at 6 weeks of age. ß (95% CI) = 0.279 (0.033, 0.526). Higher scores on the FPV-based dietary pattern were associated with higher gestational weight gain between visit 1 (11-14 week's gestation) and 3 (32-34 week's gestation). ß (95% CI) = 25.612 (13.255, 37.969). No significant associations were observed between dietary pattern scores and the remaining pregnancy/infant outcomes investigated or MDI scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. This was the first study to investigate the association between dietary patterns in early pregnancy and infant neurocognition in a Chinese cohort.

Use of clonidine in the treatment of Irukandji syndrome: A 4-year retrospective cohort study on safety, efficacy and clinical utility.

OBJECTIVE: Irukandji syndrome (IS) is an extremely painful condition that causes a significant catecholamine surge and sympathetic autonomic response related to the envenomation from certain types of jellyfish. Current management involves intravenous fluids, magnesium sulphate and large doses of opioids for symptom control. Clonidine, a centrally acting alpha-2 agonist, is often used as an analgesic adjunct to reduce opioid requirements in acute pain. The present study explores the safety and efficacy of clonidine in reducing opioid requirements in IS. METHODS: All patients diagnosed with IS at Cairns Hospital between 1 March 2016 and 30 April 2020, and participants from the Magnesium in Irukandji Study Trial, were included in this retrospective study (n = 114). Cases were separated into two groups depending on whether or not they received clonidine, and subsequently analysed according to pre- and post-intervention opioid requirements, clonidine dose administered and adverse effects. RESULTS: Notably, 39 patients with IS received ≥1 mcg/kg clonidine and the remaining 75 did not. There was no difference in oral morphine equivalent daily dose (oMEDD) between groups before clonidine administration; however, there was a significant reduction in oMEDD required after patients received clonidine (26.1 mg; 95% CI 4.6-47.7) compared with those who did not (66.6 mg; 95% CI 56.9-86.1) (F = 8.722, df = 1 × 224, P = 0.003). One episode of hypotension occurred following the intervention. CONCLUSION: Patients with IS who received clonidine required significantly lower opioid requirements than those who did not receive clonidine. Clonidine was safe to administer and should be considered early when treating IS. The optimal clonidine dose remains unclear and requires prospective studies to validate our findings.

The effects of gestational diabetes mellitus with maternal age between 35 and 40 years on the metabolite profiles of plasma and urine.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy and without a history of diabetes mellitus. While there are limited metabolomic studies involving advanced maternal age in China, we aim to investigate the metabolomic profiling of plasma and urine in pregnancies complicated with GDM aged at 35-40 years at early and late gestation. METHODS: Twenty normal and 20 GDM pregnant participants (≥ 35 years old) were enlisted from the Complex Lipids in Mothers and Babies (CLIMB) study. Maternal plasma and urine collected at the first and third trimester were detected using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: One hundred sixty-five metabolites and 192 metabolites were found in plasma and urine respectively. Urine metabolomic profiles were incapable to distinguish GDM from controls, in comparison, there were 14 and 39 significantly different plasma metabolites between the two groups in first and third trimester respectively. Especially, by integrating seven metabolites including cysteine, malonic acid, alanine, 11,14-eicosadienoic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, and 2-methyloctadecanoic acid using multivariant receiver operating characteristic models, we were capable of discriminating GDM from normal pregnancies with an area under curve of 0.928 at first trimester. CONCLUSION: This study explores metabolomic profiles between GDM and normal pregnancies at the age of 35-40 years longitudinally. Several compounds have the potential to be biomarkers to predict GDM with advanced maternal age. Moreover, the discordant metabolome profiles between the two groups could be useful to understand the etiology of GDM with advanced maternal age.

Dietary patterns and cognitive function in older New Zealand adults: the REACH study.

PURPOSE: The global population is ageing. Evidence show dietary patterns may be associated with cognitive status in older adults. This cross-sectional study investigated associations between dietary patterns and cognitive function in older adults in New Zealand. METHODS: The REACH study (Researching Eating, Activity, and Cognitive Health) included 371 participants (65-74 years, 36% male) living independently in Auckland, New Zealand. Valid and reproducible dietary patterns were derived, using principal component analysis, from dietary data collected by a 109-item validated food frequency questionnaire. Six cognitive domains (global cognition, attention and vigilance, executive function, episodic memory, working memory, and spatial memory) were tested using COMPASS (Computerised Mental Performance Assessment System). Associations between dietary patterns and cognitive scores, adjusted for age, sex, education, physical activity, energy, and Apolipoprotein E-ε4 status were analysed using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Three dietary patterns explained 18% of dietary intake variation-'Mediterranean style' (comprising: salad vegetables, leafy cruciferous vegetables, other vegetables, avocados and olives, alliums, nuts and seeds, white fish and shellfish, oily fish, and berries); 'Western' (comprising: processed meats, sauces and condiments, cakes, biscuits and puddings, meat pies and chips, and processed fish); and 'Prudent' (comprising: dried legumes, soy-based foods, fresh and frozen legumes, whole grains, and carrots). No associations between any cognitive domain and dietary pattern scores were observed. Global cognitive function was associated with being younger and having a university education. CONCLUSION: In this cohort of community-dwelling, older adults in New Zealand, current dietary patterns were not associated with cognitive function.

Characterizing patterns of dietary exposure using metabolomic profiles of human biospecimens: a systematic review.

CONTEXT: Establishing diet-disease associations requires reliable assessment of dietary intake. With the rapid advancement of metabolomics, its use in identifying objective biomarkers of dietary exposure has substantially increased. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our review was to systematically combine all observational studies linking dietary intake patterns with metabolomic profiles of human biospecimens. DATA SOURCES: Five databases were searched - MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL - to March 2020. DATA EXTRACTION: Of the 14 328 studies initially screened, 35 observational studies that met the specified inclusion criteria were included. DATA ANALYSIS: All reviewed studies indicated that metabolomic measures were significantly correlated with dietary patterns, demonstrating the potential for using objective metabolomic measures to characterize individuals' dietary intake. However, similar dietary patterns did not always result in similar metabolomic profiles across different study populations. CONCLUSION: Metabolomic profiles reflect a multitude of factors, including diet, genetic, phenotypic, and environmental influences, thereby providing a more comprehensive picture of the impact of diet on metabolism and health outcomes. Further exploration of dietary patterns and metabolomic profiles across different population groups is warranted.

Associations between dietary patterns and the metabolic syndrome in older adults in New Zealand: the REACH study.

The metabolic syndrome is common in older adults and may be modified by the diet. The aim of this study was to examine associations between a posteriori dietary patterns and the metabolic syndrome in an older New Zealand population. The REACH study (Researching Eating, Activity, and Cognitive Health) included 366 participants (aged 65-74 years, 36 % male) living independently in Auckland, New Zealand. Dietary data were collected using a 109-item FFQ with demonstrated validity and reproducibility for assessing dietary patterns using principal component analysis. The metabolic syndrome was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Associations between dietary patterns and the metabolic syndrome, adjusted for age, sex, index of multiple deprivation, physical activity, and energy intake were analysed using logistic regression analysis. Three dietary patterns explained 18 % of dietary intake variation - 'Mediterranean style' (salad/leafy cruciferous/other vegetables, avocados/olives, alliums, nuts/seeds, shellfish and white/oily fish, berries), 'prudent' (dried/fresh/frozen legumes, soya-based foods, whole grains and carrots) and 'Western' (processed meat/fish, sauces/condiments, cakes/biscuits/puddings and meat pies/hot chips). No associations were seen between 'Mediterranean style' (OR = 0·75 (95 % CI 0·53, 1·06), P = 0·11) or 'prudent' (OR = 1·17 (95 % CI 0·83, 1·59), P = 0·35) patterns and the metabolic syndrome after co-variate adjustment. The 'Western' pattern was positively associated with the metabolic syndrome (OR = 1·67 (95 % CI 1·08, 2·63), P = 0·02). There was also a small association between an index of multiple deprivation (OR = 1·04 (95 % CI 1·02, 1·06), P < 0·001) and the metabolic syndrome. This cross-sectional study provides further support for a Western dietary pattern being a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome in an older population.

Relative Validity and Reproducibility of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Assessing Dietary Patterns and Food Group Intake in Older New Zealand Adults: The Researching Eating, Activity, and Cognitive Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Dietary pattern analysis considers the overall dietary intake and combinations of foods eaten. Valid and reproducible tools for determining dietary patterns are necessary to assess diet-disease relationships. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the relative validity and reproducibility of the Researching Eating, Activity, and Cognitive Health (REACH) Study food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) specifically designed to identify dietary patterns in older adults. DESIGN: A subset of participants from the REACH study completed two identical 109-item FFQs 1 month apart (FFQ1 and FFQ2) to assess reproducibility and a 4-day food record between FFQ administrations to assess relative validity. Foods from each dietary assessment tool were assigned to 57 food groups. Principal component analysis was applied to the food group consumption reported in each dietary assessment tool to derive dietary patterns. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Dietary data were collected (2018 and 2019) from a subset of the REACH study (n = 294, 37% men) aged 65 to 74 years, living in Auckland, New Zealand. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Daily intakes of 57 food groups and dietary patterns of older adults participating in REACH living in New Zealand. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Agreement of dietary pattern loadings were assessed using Tucker's congruence coefficient. Agreement of dietary pattern scores and food group intakes were assessed using Spearman correlation coefficients (acceptable correlation rho = 0.20 to 0.49), weighted kappa statistic (acceptable statistic κw = 0.20 to 0.60), and Bland-Altman analysis, including mean difference, limits of agreement, plots, and slope of bias. RESULTS: Three similar dietary patterns were identified from each dietary assessment tool: Mediterranean style, Western, and prudent. Congruence coefficients between factor loadings ranged from 0.54 to 0.80. Correlations of dietary pattern scores ranged from 0.47 to 0.59 (reproducibility) and 0.33 to 0.43 (validity) (all P values < 0.001); weighted kappa scores from 0.40 to 0.48 (reproducibility) and 0.27 to 0.37 (validity); limits of agreement from ± 1.79 to ± 2.09 (reproducibility) and ± 2.09 to ± 2.27 (validity); a negative slope of bias was seen in the prudent pattern for reproducibility and validity (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The REACH FFQ generated dietary patterns with acceptable reproducibility and relative validity and therefore can be used to examine associations between dietary patterns and health outcomes in older New Zealand adults.

The Geographic Distribution, Venom Components, Pathology and Treatments of Stonefish (Synanceia spp.) Venom.

Stonefish are regarded as one of the most venomous fish in the world. Research on stonefish venom has chiefly focused on the in vitro and in vivo neurological, cardiovascular, cytotoxic and nociceptive effects of the venom. The last literature review on stonefish venom was published over a decade ago, and much has changed in the field since. In this review, we have generated a global map of the current distribution of all stonefish (Synanceia) species, presented a table of clinical case reports and provided up-to-date information about the development of polyspecific stonefish antivenom. We have also presented an overview of recent advancements in the biomolecular composition of stonefish venom, including the analysis of transcriptomic and proteomic data from Synanceia horrida venom gland. Moreover, this review highlights the need for further research on the composition and properties of stonefish venom, which may reveal novel molecules for drug discovery, development or other novel physiological uses.

Immunological Responses to Envenomation.

Venoms are complex mixtures of toxic compounds delivered by bite or sting. In humans, the consequences of envenomation range from self-limiting to lethal. Critical host defence against envenomation comprises innate and adaptive immune strategies targeted towards venom detection, neutralisation, detoxification, and symptom resolution. In some instances, venoms mediate immune dysregulation that contributes to symptom severity. This review details the involvement of immune cell subtypes and mediators, particularly of the dermis, in host resistance and venom-induced immunopathology. We further discuss established venom-associated immunopathology, including allergy and systemic inflammation, and investigate Irukandji syndrome as a potential systemic inflammatory response. Finally, this review characterises venom-derived compounds as a source of immune modulating drugs for treatment of disease.

Complex patterns of circulating fatty acid levels in gestational diabetes mellitus subclasses across pregnancy.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To investigate the relationship between maternal serum fatty acid levels and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) subtypes across pregnancy. METHODS: A total of 680 singleton mothers enrolled in the Complex Lipids in Mothers and Babies (CLIMB) study in Chongqing, China were included. Clinical information and serum samples were collected at gestational weeks (GWs) 11-14, 22-28, and 32-34. 75 g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) was conducted at GW 24-28 and GDM subtypes divided into three groups using International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) guidelines criteria: elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG group; n = 59); 1-h and/or 2-h post-load glucose (1h/2h-PG group; n = 94); combined group (FPG&1h/2h-PG group; n = 42). Non-GDM pregnancies were included (n = 485) as controls. Twenty fatty acids were quantified in serum using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. RESULTS: Overall, most serum fatty acid concentrations increased rapidly from the first to second trimester, followed by a plateauing or reduction in the third trimester (p < 0.001). In cross sectional analysis, fatty acid concentrations were significantly higher in the FPG group at GW 11-14 and decreased in the 1h/2h-PG group at GW 32-34, relative to controls. Moreover, higher α-linolenic acid (ALA; the second tertile: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.53, 95% CI: 1.17 to 5.47; the third tertile: aOR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.20 to 5.65) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; the second tertile: aOR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.10 to 4.97; the third tertile: aOR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.00 to 4.63) were significantly associated with a higher risk of GDM in women with elevated fasting plasma glucose at GW 11-14 (first tertile as reference). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of considering GDM subtypes for the individualised management of GDM in pregnancy. ALA and DHA in early pregnancy are associated with a higher risk of FPG-GDM subtype. This has widespread implications when recommending n-3 PUFAs supplementation for women with GDM.

Dietary Patterns, Their Nutrients, and Associations with Socio-Demographic and Lifestyle Factors in Older New Zealand Adults.

Dietary patterns analyse combinations of foods eaten. This cross-sectional study identified dietary patterns and their nutrients. Associations between dietary patterns and socio-demographic and lifestyle factors were examined in older New Zealand adults. Dietary data (109-item food frequency questionnaire) from the Researching Eating, Activity and Cognitive Health (REACH) study (n = 367, 36% male, mean age = 70 years) were collapsed into 57 food groups. Using principal component analysis, three dietary patterns explained 18% of the variation in diet. Dietary pattern associations with sex, age, employment, living situation, education, deprivation score, physical activity, alcohol, and smoking, along with energy-adjusted nutrient intakes, were investigated using regression analysis. Higher 'Mediterranean' dietary pattern scores were associated with being female, higher physical activity, and higher education (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.07). Higher 'Western' pattern scores were associated with being male, higher alcohol intake, living with others, and secondary education (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.16). Higher 'prudent' pattern scores were associated with higher physical activity and lower alcohol intake (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.15). There were positive associations between beta-carotene equivalents, vitamin E, and folate and 'Mediterranean' dietary pattern scores (p < 0.0001, R2 ≥ 0.26); energy intake and 'Western' scores (p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.43); and fibre and carbohydrate and 'prudent' scores (p < 0.0001, R2 ≥ 0.25). Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors were associated with dietary patterns. Understanding relationships between these characteristics and dietary patterns can assist in health promotion.