scholarly journals Alterations in Urine Metabolomics Following Sport-Related Concussion: A 1H NMR-Based Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary R. Wanner ◽  
Cormac G. Southam ◽  
Prachi Sanghavi ◽  
Naveenjyote S. Boora ◽  
Eric J. Paxman ◽  
...  

Objective: Millions of sport-related concussions (SRC) occur annually in North America, and current diagnosis of concussion is based largely on clinical evaluations. The objective of this study was to determine whether urinary metabolites are significantly altered post-SRC compared to pre-injury.Setting: Outpatient sports medicine clinic.Participants: Twenty-six male youth sport participants.Methods: Urine was analyzed pre-injury and after SRC by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Data were analyzed using multivariate statistics, pairwise t-test, and metabolic pathway analysis. Variable importance analysis based on random variable combination (VIAVC) was applied to the entire data set and resulted in a panel of 18 features. Partial least square discriminant analysis was performed exploring the separation between pre-injury and post-SRC groups. Pathway topography analysis was completed to identify biological pathway involvement. Spearman correlations provide support for the relationships between symptom burden and length of return to play and quantifiable metabolic changes in the human urinary metabolome.Results: Phenylalanine and 3-indoxysulfate were upregulated, while citrate, propylene glycol, 1-methylhistidine, 3-methylhistidine, anserine, and carnosine were downregulated following SRC. A receiver operator curve (ROC) tool constructed using the 18-feature classifier had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.887. A pairwise t-test found an additional 19 altered features, 7 of which overlapped with the VIAVC analysis. Pathway topology analysis indicated that aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and beta-alanine metabolism were the two pathways most significantly changed. There was a significant positive correlation between post-SRC 2-hydroxybutyrate and the length of return to play (ρ = 0.482, p = 0.02) as well as the number of symptoms and post-SRC lactose (ρ = 0.422, p = 0.036).Conclusion: We found that 1H NMR metabolomic urinary analysis can identify a set of metabolites that can correctly classify SRC with an accuracy of 81.6%, suggesting potential for a more objective method of characterizing SRC. Correlations to both the number of symptoms and length of return to play indicated that 2-hydroxybutyrate and lactose may have potential applications as biomarkers for sport-related concussion.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manasi S. Gholkar ◽  
Jia V. Li ◽  
Poonam G. Daswani ◽  
P. Tetali ◽  
Tannaz J. Birdi

Abstract Background Herbal medicines are fast gaining popularity. However, their acceptability by modern practitioners is low which is often due to lack of standardization. Several approaches towards standardization of herbals have been employed. The current study attempted to recognize key peaks from 1H NMR spectra which together would comprise of a spectral fingerprint relating to efficacy of Psidium guajava (guava) leaf extract as an antidiarrhoeal when a number of unidentified active principles are involved. Methods Ninety samples of guava leaves were collected from three locations over three seasons. Hydroalcoholic (water and ethanol, 50:50) extracts of these samples were prepared and their 1H NMR spectra were acquired. Spectra were also obtained for quercetin, ferulic acid and gallic acid as standards. Eight bioassays reflecting different stages of diarrhoeal pathogenesis were undertaken and based on pre-decided cut-offs, the extracts were classified as ‘good’ or ‘poor’ extracts. The bioactivity data was then correlated with the 1H NMR profiles using Regression or Orthogonal Partial Least Square-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA). Results OPLS-DA showed seasonal and regional segregation of extracts. Significant models were established for seven bioassays, namely those for anti-bacterial activity against Shigella flexneri and Vibrio cholerae, adherence of E. coli, invasion of E. coli and S. flexneri and production and binding of toxin produced by V. cholerae. It was observed that none of the extracts were good or bad across all the bioassays. The spectral analysis showed multiple peaks correlating with a particular activity. Based on NMR and LC-MS/MS, it was noted that the extracts contained quercetin, ferulic acid and gallic acid. However, they did not correlate with the peaks that segregated extracts with good and poor activity. Conclusions The current study identified key peaks in 1H NMR spectra contributing to the anti-diarrhoeal activity of guava leaf extracts. The approach of using spectral fingerprinting employed in the present study can thus be used as a prototype towards standardization of plant extracts with respect to efficacy.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Falkenreck ◽  
Ralf Wagner

Purpose Until today, scholars claim that the phenomenon of “co-creation” of value in an “interacted” economy and in the context of positive actor-to-actor relationships has not been adequately explored. This study aims to first to identify and separate the accessible values of internet of things (IoT)-based business models for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) customer groups. It quantifies the drivers to successfully implement disruptive business models. Design/methodology/approach Data were gathered from 292 customers in Western Europe. The conceptual framework was tested using partial least square structural equation modeling. Findings Managing disruptions in the digital age is closely related to the fact that the existing trust in buyer-seller relationships is not enough to accept IoT projects. A company’s digitalization capabilities, satisfaction with the existing relationship and trust in the IoT credibility of the manufacturer drives the perceived value of IoT-based business models in B2B settings. Contrastingly, in B2G settings, money is less important. Research limitations/implications Research refers to one business field, the data set is of European origin only. Findings indicate that the drivers to engage in IoT-related projects differ significantly between the customer groups and therefore require different marketing management strategies. Saving time today is more important to B2G buyers than saving money. Practical implications The disparate nature of B2B and B2G buyers indicates that market segmentation and targeted marketing must be considered before joint-venturing in IoT business models. To joint venture supply chain partners co-creating value in the context of IoT-related business models, relationship management should be focused with buyers on the same footing, as active players and co-developers of a personalized experience in digital service projects. Originality/value Diverging from established studies focusing on the relationship within a network of actors, this study defines disruptive business models and identifies its drivers in B2B and B2G relationships. This study proposes joint venturing with B2B and B2G customers to overcome the perceived risk of these IoT-related business models. Including customers in platforms and networks may lead to the co-creation of value in joint IoT projects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 91-119
Author(s):  
Victor Osadolor ◽  
◽  
Kalu Emmanuel Agbaeze ◽  
Ejikeme Emmanuel Isichei ◽  
Samuel Taiwo Olabosinde ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: The paper focuses on assessing the direct effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention and the indirect effect of the need for independence on the relationship between the constructs. Despite increased efforts towards steering the interest of young graduates towards entrepreneurial venture, the response rate has been rather unimpressive and discouraging, thus demanding the need to account for what factors could drive intention towards venture ownership among graduates in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: A quantitative approach was adopted and a data set from 235 graduates was used for the study. The data was analyzed using the partial least square structural equation model (PLS-SEM). FINDINGS: It was found that self-efficacy does not significantly affect intention. It was also found that the need for independence affects entrepreneurial intention. The study found that the need for independence fully mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and entrepreneurial intention. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This paper provides new insight into the behavioral reasoning theory, through its application in explaining the cognitive role of the need for independence in decision-making, using samples from a developing economy. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: The study advances a new perspective on the underlining factors that account for an entrepreneur’s intent to start a business venture, most especially among young graduates in Nigeria, through the lens of the behavioral reasoning theory. We further support the application of the theory in entrepreneurship literature, given the paucity of studies that have adopted the theory despite its relevance.


Metabolites ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Khushman Taunk ◽  
Priscilla Porto-Figueira ◽  
Jorge A. M. Pereira ◽  
Ravindra Taware ◽  
Nattane Luíza da Costa ◽  
...  

The urinary volatomic profiling of Indian cohorts composed of 28 lung cancer (LC) patients and 27 healthy subjects (control group, CTRL) was established using headspace solid phase microextraction technique combined with gas chromatography mass spectrometry methodology as a powerful approach to identify urinary volatile organic metabolites (uVOMs) to discriminate among LC patients from CTRL. Overall, 147 VOMs of several chemistries were identified in the intervention groups—including naphthalene derivatives, phenols, and organosulphurs—augmented in the LC group. In contrast, benzene and terpenic derivatives were found to be more prevalent in the CTRL group. The volatomic data obtained were processed using advanced statistical analysis, namely partial least square discriminative analysis (PLS-DA), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and multilayer perceptron (MLP) methods. This resulted in the identification of nine uVOMs with a higher potential to discriminate LC patients from CTRL subjects. These were furan, o-cymene, furfural, linalool oxide, viridiflorene, 2-bromo-phenol, tricyclazole, 4-methyl-phenol, and 1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methyl-3-morpholinopropan-1-one. The metabolic pathway analysis of the data obtained identified several altered biochemical pathways in LC mainly affecting glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, and fatty acid biosynthesis. Moreover, acetate and octanoic, decanoic, and dodecanoic fatty acids were identified as the key metabolites responsible for such deregulation. Furthermore, studies involving larger cohorts of LC patients would allow us to consolidate the data obtained and challenge the potential of the uVOMs as candidate biomarkers for LC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 140-152
Author(s):  
Alireza Jalali ◽  
Nur Izzati Hidzir ◽  
Mastura Jaafar ◽  
Norziani Dahalan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between three key factors that cause workplace bullying among subcontractor managers toward intention to quit the undertaken project within the context of Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach This study utilized the simple sampling method to select its study sample, while the questionnaire survey approach was implemented amidst 500 G6 and G7 contractor managers across Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 210 completed questionnaires were returned. Partial least square-structural equation modeling was administered to analyze the data via SmartPls 3.0 software. Findings This study discovered three significant factors (main contractor leadership, construction culture, work organization and job design) that displayed positive effect on workplace bullying among subcontractor managers toward intention to quit. The study outcomes can serve as a direction for policy makers to reduce bullying within the construction project environment. Practical implications This study serves as an instruction for main contractors to reinvent their style of management in overcoming bullying in construction projects. This paper guides that collaborative relationship among various parties in construction projects, including the representatives of main contractors and subcontractor managers, may assist in addressing the hostile environment of construction project, in order to create a constructive relationship between them that leads to overall project success. Originality/value Recognition of the three key factors that lead to workplace bullying among subcontractor managers in the construction industry, which are bound to enhance intention to quit based on the data set with strong statistical results, has made the research original.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Sauer ◽  
Josep Gómez ◽  
Manuel Ruiz Botella ◽  
David R. Ziehr ◽  
William M. Oldham ◽  
...  

AbstractWhile serum lactate level is a predictor of poor clinical outcomes among critically ill patients with sepsis, many have normal serum lactate. A better understanding of this discordance may help differentiate sepsis phenotypes and offer clues to sepsis pathophysiology. Three intensive care unit datasets were utilized. Adult sepsis patients in the highest quartile of illness severity scores were identified. Logistic regression, random forests, and partial least square models were built for each data set. Features differentiating patients with normal/high serum lactate on day 1 were reported. To exclude that differences between the groups were due to potential confounding by pre-resuscitation hyperlactatemia, the analyses were repeated for day 2. Of 4861 patients included, 47% had normal lactate levels. Patients with normal serum lactate levels had lower 28-day mortality rates than those with high lactate levels (17% versus 40%) despite comparable physiologic phenotypes. While performance varied between datasets, logistic regression consistently performed best (area under the receiver operator curve 87–99%). The variables most strongly associated with normal serum lactate were serum bicarbonate, chloride, and pulmonary disease, while serum sodium, AST and liver disease were associated with high serum lactate. Future studies should confirm these findings and establish the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, thus disentangling association and causation.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Contreras-Jodar ◽  
Nazri Nayan ◽  
Soufiane Hamzaoui ◽  
Gerardo Caja ◽  
Ahmed A.K. Salama

AbstractThe aim of the study was to identify the candidate biomarkers of heat stress (HS) in the urine of lactating dairy goats through the application of proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomic analysis. Dairy does (n = 16) in mid-lactation were submitted to thermal neutral (TN; indoors; 15 to 20°C; 40 to 45% humidity) or HS (climatic chamber; 37°C day, 30°C night; 40% humidity) conditions according to a crossover design (2 periods of 21 days). Thermophysiological traits and lactational performances were recorded and milk composition analyzed during each period. Urine samples were collected at day 15 of each period for 1H NMR spectroscopy analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square–discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) assessment with cross validation were used to identify the goat urinary metabolome from Human Metabolome Data Base. HS increased rectal temperature (1.2°C), respiratory rate (3.5-fold) and water intake (74%), but decreased feed intake (35%) and body weight (5%) of the lactating does. No differences were detected in milk yield, but HS decreased the milk contents of fat (9%), protein (16%) and lactose (5%). Metabolomics allowed separating TN and HS urinary clusters by PLS-DA. Most discriminating metabolites were hippurate and other phenylalanine (Phe) derivative compounds, which increased in HS vs. TN does. The greater excretion of these gut-derived toxic compounds indicated that HS induced a harmful gastrointestinal microbiota overgrowth, which should have sequestrated aromatic amino acids for their metabolism and decreased the synthesis of neurotransmitters and thyroid hormones, with negative impact on milk yield and composition. In conclusion, HS markedly changed the thermophysiological traits and lactational performances of dairy goats, which were translated into their urinary metabolomic profile through the presence of gut-derived toxic compounds. Hippurate and other Phe-derivative compounds are suggested as urinary biomarkers to detect heat stressed dairy animals in practice.


Metabolites ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 302
Author(s):  
Elin Strand ◽  
Ingvild L. Tangen ◽  
Kristine E. Fasmer ◽  
Havjin Jacob ◽  
Mari K. Halle ◽  
...  

Endometrial cancer has a high prevalence among post-menopausal women in developed countries. We aimed to explore whether certain metabolic patterns could be related to the characteristics of aggressive disease and poorer survival among endometrial cancer patients in Western Norway. Patients with endometrial cancer with short survival (n = 20) were matched according to FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2009 criteria) stage, histology, and grade, with patients with long survival (n = 20). Plasma metabolites were measured on a multiplex system including 183 metabolites, which were subsequently determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Partial least square discriminant analysis, together with hierarchical clustering, was used to identify patterns which distinguished short from long survival. A proposed signature of metabolites related to survival was suggested, and a multivariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis yielded an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.820–0.965 (p ≤ 0.001). Methionine sulfoxide seems to be particularly strongly associated with poor survival rates in these patients. In a subgroup with preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography data, selected metabolites correlated with the estimated abdominal fat distribution parameters. Metabolic signatures may predict prognosis and be promising supplements when evaluating phenotypes and exploring metabolic pathways related to the progression of endometrial cancer. In the future, this may serve as a useful tool in cancer management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (8) ◽  
pp. 457-473
Author(s):  
Shimaila Ali ◽  
Soledad Saldias ◽  
Nimalka Weerasuriya ◽  
Kristen Delaney ◽  
Saveetha Kandasamy ◽  
...  

This study aimed to identify possible relationships between corn (Zea mays L.) productivity and its endosphere microbial community. Any insights would be used to develop testable hypotheses at the farm level. Sap was collected from 14 fields in 2014 and 10 fields in 2017, with a yield range of 10.1 to 21.7 tonnes per hectare (t/ha). The microbial sap communities were analyzed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and identified using an internal pure culture reference database and BLAST. This technique is rapid and inexpensive and is suitable for use at the grower level. Diversity, richness, and normalized abundances of each bacterial population in corn sap samples were evaluated to link the microbiome of a specific field to its yield. A negative trend was observed (r = –0.60), with higher-yielding fields having lower terminal restriction fragment (TRF) richness. A partial least square regression analysis of TRF intensity and binary data from 2014 identified 10 TRFs (bacterial genera) that positively, or negatively, correlated with corn yields, when either absent or present at certain levels or ratios. Using these observations, a model was developed that accommodated criteria for each of the 10 microbes and assigned a score for each field out of 10. Data collected in 2014 showed that sites with higher model scores were highly correlated with larger yields (r = 0.83). This correlation was also seen when the 2017 data set was used (r = 0.87). We were able to conclude that a positive significant effect was seen with the model score and yield (adjusted R2 = 0.67, F[1,22] = 46.7, p < 0.001) when combining 2014 and 2017 data. The results of this study are being expanded to identify the key microbes in the corn sap community that potentially impact corn yield, regardless of corn variety, geographic factors, or edaphic factors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ambra Iuculano ◽  
Federica Murgia ◽  
Cristina Peddes ◽  
Maria Laura Santoru ◽  
Laura Tronci ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In prenatal diagnosis, a thickened nuchal translucency (NT) is one of the most sensitive and specific markers for several defects but it may also be found in 5% of healthy fetuses. The pathophysiological causes that lead to an increase in NT are not yet fully understood. Metabolomics represents a new promising approach, useful for studying different metabolites in biological organisms in response to environmental stressors. The aim of our study was to investigate the metabolomic profile of the amniotic fluid samples (AFS) of euploid fetuses with enlarged nuchal translucency (ENT) compared to a control group (C group). Methods This study was carried out on a group of women who underwent second-trimester amniocentesis for advanced maternal age (C group) or for NT ≥95th percentile (ENT group) found during first-trimester aneuploidy screening. AFS were analyzed with proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and subsequent multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were conducted, followed by pathway analysis. Results In total, 67 AFS from the C group and 23 from the ENT group were analyzed. Partial least square discriminate analysis was carried out (R2X=0.784, R2Y=0.658, Q2=0.622, P<0.0001). A different metabolic profile was observed in the ENT group compared with the C group, suggesting an energetic shift to a glycolytic phenotype in an oxidative environment in the ENT group compared to the C group. Conclusion Metabolomic studies enable the identification of metabolic alterations occurring in fetuses with ENT. These findings may provide a new basis for better understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms in this prenatal phenomenon.


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