Publications by authors named "R P Louw"

Article Synopsis
  • Mitochondrial diseases, particularly those linked to complex I defects, currently have no cure, highlighting the need for better drug discovery methods.
  • *Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be genetically modified using CRISPR-Cas9, creating models like the NDUFS4 knockout (KO) that exhibit significant metabolic changes linked to mitochondrial dysfunction.
  • *Metabolomic profiling of NDUFS4 KO iPSCs revealed an increased NADH/NAD ratio, and treatment with β-lapachone improved the redox state, emphasizing the potential of iPSCs for developing new therapies for mitochondrial disorders.*
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The exposure to modifiable risk factors at young ages have been linked to premature fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular and kidney outcomes. The use of urinary metabolomics has shown strong predictability of kidney function and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We therefore determined the associations between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary metabolites in young adults with and without CVD risk factors.

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The contrasting relationships of plant and animal protein intake with blood pressure (BP) may be partially attributed to the differential non-protein (e.g., saturated fat and fibre) and amino acid (AA) compositions.

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Background: Drug checking services aim to provide compositional information for the illicit drug supply and are being employed in public health responses to extreme rates of overdose associated with fentanyl within street opioids. The technologies used within these services range from basic qualitative tests, such as immunoassay test strips, to comprehensive quantitative analyses, such as mass spectrometry. In general, there is concern that heterogeneity of a drug mixture adds significant uncertainty when using drug checking results based on a small subsamples.

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HIV-exposed, uninfected (HEU) children present with suboptimal growth and a greater susceptibility to infection in early life when compared to HIV-unexposed, uninfected (HUU) children. The reasons for these findings are poorly understood. We used a metabolomics approach to investigate the metabolic differences between pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWH) and their HEU infants compared to the uninfected and unexposed controls.

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