Minimally processed foods have a higher total antioxidant content compared to processed and ultra-processed foods: results from an analysis of 1946 food items.

Ultra-processed foods (UPF), per the NOVA Classification, provide a major source of calories within modern food systems and are associated with poor health outcomes related to chronic inflammation. Dietary antioxidants play a key role in preventing disease; however, the relationship between the NOVA Classification and the total antioxidant content (TAC) of foods is not well characterised. We hypothesised that TAC would be highest in minimally processed food (MPF), lower in processed food (PRF) and lowest in UPF.

Food processing according to the NOVA classification is not associated with glycemic index and glycemic load: results from an analysis of 1995 food items.

Background: Ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) comprise most calories in the United States diet. Glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) are measures of the quality and quantity of carbohydrates in food based on their effect on postprandial blood glucose. Diets high in UPFs and GI/GL are associated with chronic metabolic diseases but the relationship between them is unclear.

Acute metformin induces hyperglycemia in healthy adult mourning doves, Zenaida macroura.

Birds have the highest blood glucose among vertebrates. Several mechanisms may explain this including the lack of a functional insulin-responsive glucose transport protein, high glucagon concentrations, and reliance on lipid oxidation resulting in the production of gluconeogenic precursors. The hypothesis was that interruption of gluconeogenesis using the diabetes medication metformin would lower glucose concentrations in wild-caught birds.

The relationship between diet, plasma glucose, and cancer prevalence across vertebrates.

Could diet and mean plasma glucose concentration (MPGluC) explain the variation in cancer prevalence across species? We collected diet, MPGluC, and neoplasia data for 160 vertebrate species from existing databases. We found that MPGluC negatively correlates with cancer and neoplasia prevalence, mostly of gastrointestinal organs. Trophic level positively correlates with cancer and neoplasia prevalence even after controlling for species MPGluC.

No fry zones: How restaurant distribution and abundance influence avian communities in the Phoenix, AZ metropolitan area.

Urbanization is one of the most widespread and extreme examples of habitat alteration. As humans dominate landscapes, they introduce novel elements into environments, including artificial light, noise pollution, and anthropogenic food sources. One understudied form of anthropogenic food is refuse from restaurants, which can alter wildlife populations and, in turn, entire wildlife communities by providing a novel and stable food source.

An urban diet differentially alters the gut microbiome and metabolomic profiles compared with a seed diet in mourning doves.

Urbanization influences food quality and availability for many avian species, with increased access to human refuse and food subsidies in built environments. In relation to such nutritional intakes and their presumed impact on microbes harbored in the intestinal tract and metabolic profiles of host physiological systems, our overall knowledge of the role of gut microbiome (GM) and metabolomic expression in the avian host lags far behind our understanding of mammals. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to examine the potential differential effect of an urban modeled versus control (i.

Effect of macronutrient and micronutrient manipulation on avian blood glucose concentration: A systematic review.

Animals with natural protections against diabetes complications may provide clues to improve human health. Birds are unique in their ability to avoid hyperglycemia-associated complications (e.g.

Valuing the Diversity of Research Methods to Advance Nutrition Science.

The ASN Board of Directors appointed the Nutrition Research Task Force to develop a report on scientific methods used in nutrition science to advance discovery, interpretation, and application of knowledge in the field. The genesis of this report was growing concern about the tone of discourse among nutrition professionals and the implications of acrimony on the productive study and translation of nutrition science. Too often, honest differences of opinion are cast as conflicts instead of areas of needed collaboration.

The PET tracer [C]MK-6884 quantifies M4 muscarinic receptor in rhesus monkeys and patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Positron emission tomography (PET) ligands play an important role in the development of therapeutics by serving as target engagement or pharmacodynamic biomarkers. Here, we describe the discovery and translation of the PET tracer [C]MK-6884 from rhesus monkeys to patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). [H]MK-6884/[C]MK-6884 binds with high binding affinity and good selectivity to an allosteric site on M4 muscarinic cholinergic receptors (M4Rs) in vitro and shows a regional distribution in the brain consistent with M4R localization in vivo.

A Four-Week Urban Diet Impairs Vasodilation but Not Nutritional Physiology in Wild-Caught Mourning Doves ().

AbstractBirds living in urban areas routinely consume anthropogenic foods, but the physiological consequences of this consumption are poorly understood. To address this question, we investigated the effects of an urban diet (UD) in wild, urban-caught mourning doves in a controlled environment. Since anthropogenic foods often contain a high proportion of refined carbohydrate and fat, we predicted that UD consumption alters body mass as well as plasma and tissue metabolites and that it impairs vasodilation.

An evolutionary mismatch narrative to improve lifestyle medicine: a patient education hypothesis.

An evolutionary perspective provides a unifying explanation for the modifiable risk factors and lifestyle-based interventions for the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. Non-communicable diseases develop from an evolutionary mismatch between the prior environment and modern patterns of behavior; however, it is unclear whether an evolutionary mismatch narrative could promote positive behavior change in patients. We hypothesize that educating patients about evolutionary mismatch could augment efforts to improve healthful behavior.

A four-week high fat diet does not alter plasma glucose or metabolic physiology in wild-caught mourning doves (Zenaida macroura).

The aim of this study was to determine the metabolic effects of a four-week 60% high-fat (HF) diet on mourning doves. Plasma glucose concentrations are, on average, 1.5-2 times higher in birds than in mammals of similar body mass, but birds have innate mechanisms that protect them from high blood glucose-associated pathologies normally developed in mammals.

A four-week white bread diet does not alter plasma glucose concentrations, metabolic or vascular physiology in mourning doves, Zenaida macroura.

Birds are an enigma: their plasma glucose concentration is 1.5-2 times higher than similar-sized mammals, yet they do not normally exhibit symptoms of diabetes. We hypothesized that feeding adult mourning doves a refined carbohydrate diet (white bread: WB) for four weeks would raise plasma glucose concentrations and alter metabolic pathways and endothelial function when compared to birds receiving a nutritionally-balanced diet (bird seeds: SD).

No Influence of Overweight/Obesity on Exercise Lipid Oxidation: A Systematic Review.

Compared to lean counterparts, overweight/obese individuals rely less on lipid during fasting. This deficiency has been implicated in the association between overweight/obesity and blunted insulin signaling via elevated intramuscular triglycerides. However, the capacity for overweight/obese individuals to use lipid during exercise is unclear.

Probiotic Supplementation Has a Limited Effect on Circulating Immune and Inflammatory Markers in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: A main mechanism of action proposed for oral probiotic supplementation is immunomodulation, which is expected to impart health benefits in the host by influencing circulating immune and inflammatory factors. To date, the effectiveness of probiotic supplementation for immunomodulation in healthy adults without disease has not been evaluated in a systematic review.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of probiotic supplementation on circulating immune and inflammatory markers of healthy adults compared to placebo.

Status of evolutionary medicine within the field of nutrition and dietetics: A survey of professionals and students.

Lay Summary: Through an online survey of nutrition and dietetic professionals and students, we learned there is interest to incorporate evolutionary medicine into the nutrition and dietetics field and education programs.

Background And Objectives: Evolutionary medicine is an emerging field that examines the evolutionary significance of modern disease to develop new preventative strategies or treatments. While many areas of interest in evolutionary medicine and public health involve diet, we currently lack an understanding of whether nutrition and dietetics professionals and students appreciate the potential of evolutionary medicine.

Glucose elicits cephalic-phase insulin release in mice by activating K channels in taste cells.

The taste of sugar elicits cephalic-phase insulin release (CPIR), which limits the rise in blood glucose associated with meals. Little is known, however, about the gustatory mechanisms that trigger CPIR. We asked whether oral stimulation with any of the following taste stimuli elicited CPIR in mice: glucose, sucrose, maltose, fructose, Polycose, saccharin, sucralose, AceK, SC45647, or a nonmetabolizable sugar analog.

β2-Adrenoceptor agonists as novel, safe and potentially effective therapies for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic and progressive neuromuscular disease for which no cure exists and better treatment options are desperately needed. We hypothesize that currently approved β2-adrenoceptor agonists may effectively treat the symptoms and possibly slow the progression of ALS. Although β2-agonists are primarily used to treat asthma, pharmacologic data from animal models of neuromuscular diseases suggest that these agents may have pharmacologic effects of benefit in treating ALS.

Population pharmacokinetics of pegaptanib sodium (Macugen(®)) in patients with diabetic macular edema.

Objective: Population pharmacokinetic modeling of pegaptanib was undertaken to determine influence of renal function on apparent clearance.

Methods: In a randomized, double-masked multicenter trial, intravitreal pegaptanib (0.3, 1.

Integrating disease progression models, non-clinical pharmacokinetic data and treatment response endpoints to optimize intravitreal dosing regimens.

Objective: To rapidly identify patients who will ultimately respond to 1 year of therapy, and optimize their inter dose interval.

Materials And Methods: An intravitreal (IVT) ophthalmic dosing paradigm was designed based on clinical efficacy, nonclinical pharmacokinetics (PK), and disease progression modeling. Relevant non-clinical PK models were used to extrapolate IVT drug concentrations to patients.

RTP801 gene expression is differentially upregulated in retinopathy and is silenced by PF-04523655, a 19-Mer siRNA directed against RTP801.

Purpose: The intraocular pharmacodynamics of PF-04523655, a small-interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against RTP801, was characterized using rat models of retinopathy.

Methods: Rat models of streptozotocin-induced diabetes and wet AMD were used to determine the onset, extent, and duration of siRNA inhibition of retinal RTP801 expression by PF-04523655, and this inhibition was characterized by pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling. A rat model of wet AMD was also used to examine PF-04523655 dose-dependent effects on the incidence of clinical grade 3 or 4 choroidal neovascularization lesions.

Gene expression profiling of transporters in the solute carrier and ATP-binding cassette superfamilies in human eye substructures.

The barrier epithelia of the cornea and retina control drug and nutrient access to various compartments of the human eye. While ocular transporters are likely to play a critical role in homeostasis and drug delivery, little is known about their expression, localization and function. In this study, the mRNA expression levels of 445 transporters, metabolic enzymes, transcription factors and nuclear receptors were profiled in five regions of the human eye: cornea, iris, ciliary body, choroid and retina.

Dose-ranging evaluation of intravitreal siRNA PF-04523655 for diabetic macular edema (the DEGAS study).

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of three doses of PF-04523655, a 19-nucleotide methylated double stranded siRNA targeting the RTP801 gene, for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) compared to focal/grid laser photocoagulation.

Methods: This multicenter, prospective, masked, randomized, active-controlled, phase 2 interventional clinical trial enrolled 184 DME patients with best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/40 to 20/320 inclusive in the study eye. Patients were randomly assigned to 0.

Amitifadine, a triple monoamine uptake inhibitor, reduces binge drinking and negative affect in an animal model of co-occurring alcoholism and depression symptomatology.

The co-occurrence of alcoholism and depression is highly prevalent and difficult to treat. In an animal model of binge drinking that exhibits abstinence-induced behaviors reminiscent of negative affective states, the triple monoamine uptake inhibitor, amitifadine, produced a selective, dose dependent attenuation of binge drinking. Amitifadine also reversed abstinence-induced increases in the intracranial self-stimulation threshold, a model of anhedonia, and immobility in the forced swim test, reflecting behavioral despair.

Exciton relaxation in PbSe nanorods.

Measurements of the picosecond-time-scale dynamics of photoexcited electrons in PbSe nanorods are reported. The intraband (1Π → 1Σ) relaxation occurs with a time constant of ~500 fs, which corresponds to a fast energy-relaxation rate of ~0.6 eV/ps.