Metabolomics Meets Nutritional Epidemiology: Harnessing the Potential in Metabolomics Data

Traditionally, nutritional epidemiology is the study of the relationship between diet and health and disease in humans at the population level. Commonly, the exposure of interest is food intake. In recent years, nutritional epidemiology has moved from a “black box” approach to a systems approach where genomics, metabolomics and proteomics are providing novel insights into the interplay between diet and health. In this context, metabolomics is emerging as a key tool in nutritional epidemiology. The present review explores the use of metabolomics in nutritional epidemiology. In particular, it examines the role that food-intake biomarkers play in addressing the limitations of self-reported dietary intake data and the potential of using metabolite measurements in assessing the impact of diet on metabolic pathways and physiological processes. However, for full realisation of the potential of metabolomics in nutritional epidemiology, key challenges such as robust biomarker validation and novel methods for new metabolite identification need to be addressed. The synergy between traditional epidemiologic approaches and metabolomics will facilitate the translation of nutritional epidemiologic evidence to effective precision nutrition.

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Parasite-mediated anorexia increases or decreases virulence evolution, depending on dietary context

10.1101/401760 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

J. L. Hite ◽

C. E. Cressler

Keyword(s):

Food Intake ◽

Population Level ◽

Parasite Development ◽

Infection Prevalence ◽

Individual Level ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

Gastrointestinal Conditions ◽

The Individual ◽

Spread Of Infection ◽

Host Parasite

AbstractParasite-mediated anorexia is a ubiquitous, but poorly understood component of host-parasite interactions. These temporary but substantial reductions in food intake (range: 4-100%) limit exposure to parasites and alter within-host physiological processes that regulate parasite development, production, and survival, such as energy allocation, immune function, host-microbiota interactions, and gastrointestinal conditions. By altering the duration, severity, and spread of infection, anorexia could substantially alter ecological, evolutionary, and epidemiological dynamics. However, these higher-order implications are typically overlooked and remain poorly understood — even though medical (e.g., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, vaccines, targeted signaling pathways, calorie restriction) and husbandry practices (e.g., antibiotic and diet use for rapid growth, nutrient supplementation) often directly or indirectly alter host appetite and nutrient intake. Here, we develop theory that helps elucidate why reduced food intake (anorexia) can enhance or diminish disease severity and illustrates that the population-level outcomes often contrast with the individual-level outcomes: treatments that increase the intake of high quality nutrients (suppressing anorexia), can drive rapid individual-level recovery, but inadvertently increase infection prevalence and select for more virulent parasites. Such a theory-guided approach offers a tool to improve targeting host nutrition to manage disease in both human and livestock populations by revealing a means to predict how nutrient-driven feedbacks will affect both the host and parasite.

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Population-level effects of acoustic disturbance in Atlantic cod: a size-structured analysis based on energy budgets

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2020.0490 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 287 (1929) ◽

pp. 20200490 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Floor H. Soudijn ◽

Tobias van Kooten ◽

Hans Slabbekoorn ◽

André M. de Roos

Keyword(s):

Food Intake ◽

Energy Expenditure ◽

Population Growth ◽

Atlantic Cod ◽

Population Level ◽

Anthropogenic Noise ◽

Energy Budgets ◽

Lethal Effects ◽

Sound Exposure ◽

The Impact

Anthropogenic underwater noise may negatively affect marine animals. Yet, while fishes are highly sensitive to sounds, effects of acoustic disturbances on fishes have not been extensively studied at the population level. In this study, we use a size-structured model based on energy budgets to analyse potential population-level effects of anthropogenic noise on Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ). Using the model framework, we assess the impact of four possible effect pathways of disturbance on the cod population growth rate. Through increased stress, changes in foraging and movement behaviour, and effects on the auditory system, anthropogenic noise can lead to (i) increased energy expenditure, (ii) reduced food intake, (iii) increased mortality, and (iv) reduced reproductive output. Our results show that population growth rates are particularly sensitive to changes in energy expenditure and food intake because they indirectly affect the age of maturation, survival and fecundity. Sub-lethal effects of sound exposure may thus affect populations of cod and fishes with similar life histories more than lethal effects of sound exposure. Moreover, anthropogenic noise may negatively affect populations when causing persistent increases of energy expenditure or decreases of food intake. Effects of specific acoustic pollutants on energy acquisition and expenditure should therefore be further investigated.

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A Systems Approach to ER Stress Pathway Dynamics Reveals the Impact of Freeze-Dried Broccoli Extract to Mitigate Inflammation in Human Adipocytes through the Mevalonate Pathway

Diabetes ◽

10.2337/db18-2076-p ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 67 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 2076-P

Author(s):

ALICE MURPHY ◽

SAHAR AZHARIAN ◽

GYANENDRA TRIPATHI ◽

GUY BARKER ◽

MICHAEL J. CHAPPELL ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Er Stress ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Mevalonate Pathway ◽

Human Adipocytes ◽

Freeze Dried ◽

The Impact ◽

Stress Pathway

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Analyzing the impact of financial momentum on the development of the economy

Finance and Credit ◽

10.24891/fc.26.2.299 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 299-315

Author(s):

V.V. Smirnov

Keyword(s):

Financial Regulation ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Financial System ◽

Modern Economic ◽

And Performance ◽

The Interest Rate ◽

National Economies ◽

Economic Ties ◽

The Impact ◽

Global Financial System

Subject. The article discusses the momentum in finance. Objectives. The study reveals the impact of financial momentum as the unity of antipodes in the development of the national economy. Methods. The study is based on a systems approach and methods of descriptive statistics. Results. I discover the ultimate goal of globalization, i.e. the substantive simplification of national economies and strengthening of global economic ties. The goals determine the logic tendency of national economies for reducing the interest rate so as to gain the financial momentum and, consequently, fanning the crisis risk in the global financial system. The global financial system became the substance of global economic processes, which determined development opportunities of national economies. I reveal what countries have the high and low financial momentum. Conclusions and Relevance. Being the unity of antipodes in the modern economic development, financial momentum causes countries to lose their economic identity, making them just functions of the global financial system. The cyclical development model of national economies is replaced with the metron model that rests on fluctuating advanced economies with the low financial momentum at its bottom and emerging economies at its top. The findings crystallize the concept and new competencies for a person who decide on the determination and performance of financial regulation activities.

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Use of Nutrition Information and Understanding of “Percent Daily Value” on Nutrition Facts Tables: Evaluating the Impact of a National Public Education Campaign among Youth and Young Adults in Canada

Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research ◽

10.3148/cjdpr-2019-010 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 80 (4) ◽

pp. 200-204 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brittany Cormier ◽

Lana Vanderlee ◽

David Hammond

Keyword(s):

Population Level ◽

Correct Recall ◽

Nutrition Information ◽

Education Campaign ◽

Knowledge Based ◽

Public Education Campaign ◽

Youth And Young Adults ◽

Campaign Message ◽

Health Canada ◽

The Impact

Purpose: In 2010, Health Canada implemented a national campaign to improve understanding of “percent daily value” (%DV) in Nutrition Facts Tables (NFTs). This study examined sources of nutrition information and knowledge of %DV information communicated in the campaign. Methods: Respondents aged 16–30 years completed the Canada Food Study in 2016 (n = 2665). Measures included sources of nutrition information, NFT use, and %DV knowledge based on the campaign message (“5% DV or less is a little; 15% DV or more is a lot”). A logistic regression examined correlates of providing “correct” responses to %DV questions related to the campaign messaging. Results: Overall, 7.2% (n = 191) respondents correctly indicated that 5% is “a little”, and 4.3% (n = 115) correctly indicated 15% DV was “a lot”. Only 4.0% (n = 107) correctly answered both. Correct recall of %DV amounts was not associated with number of information sources reported, but was greater among those who were female, were younger, and reported greater NFT understanding and serving size information use (P < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: Results show low awareness of messaging from the Nutrition Facts Education Campaign among young Canadians. Such a mass media campaign may be insufficient on its own to enhance population-level understanding of %DV.

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1033 REDUCING NITROGEN FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS BY BALANCING THE NITROGEN SULFUR RATIO

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.29.5.576d ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 576d-576

Author(s):

Ellen T. Paparozzi

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Contamination ◽

Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽

Nutrient Balance ◽

Ornamental Plants ◽

Consumer Perceptions ◽

Consumer Acceptance ◽

Statistical Techniques ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

The Impact ◽

Future Plans

Fertilizer particularly nitrogen is part of the concern about groundwater contamination. Many floricultural and ornamental plants do not need the high rates of nitrogen that are typically recommended. However, whenever one alters the quantity of a given nutrient the overall nutrient balance, as well as other physiological processes, changes. A brief overview of our research on poinsettias, roses, and chrysanthemums will be presented. Suggested ratios, critical S levels and nutrient problems associated with incorrect balances will be shared. Limitations due to statistical methods and the impact nutrient balance has on certain plant processes such as flowering and coloring and thus, consumer acceptance will be summarized. Future plans in this area may focus on the need for new statistical techniques, nutrient acquisition by roots and consumer perceptions of plant quality.

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Understanding and responding to COVID-19 in Wales: protocol for a privacy-protecting data platform for enhanced epidemiology and evaluation of interventions

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043010 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. e043010

Author(s):

Jane Lyons ◽

Ashley Akbari ◽

Fatemeh Torabi ◽

Gareth I Davies ◽

Laura North ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Policy Development ◽

Healthcare Utilisation ◽

Population Data ◽

Population Level ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Service Utilisation ◽

Natural Experiments ◽

Spread Of Infection ◽

The Impact

IntroductionThe emergence of the novel respiratory SARS-CoV-2 and subsequent COVID-19 pandemic have required rapid assimilation of population-level data to understand and control the spread of infection in the general and vulnerable populations. Rapid analyses are needed to inform policy development and target interventions to at-risk groups to prevent serious health outcomes. We aim to provide an accessible research platform to determine demographic, socioeconomic and clinical risk factors for infection, morbidity and mortality of COVID-19, to measure the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare utilisation and long-term health, and to enable the evaluation of natural experiments of policy interventions.Methods and analysisTwo privacy-protecting population-level cohorts have been created and derived from multisourced demographic and healthcare data. The C20 cohort consists of 3.2 million people in Wales on the 1 January 2020 with follow-up until 31 May 2020. The complete cohort dataset will be updated monthly with some individual datasets available daily. The C16 cohort consists of 3 million people in Wales on the 1 January 2016 with follow-up to 31 December 2019. C16 is designed as a counterfactual cohort to provide contextual comparative population data on disease, health service utilisation and mortality. Study outcomes will: (a) characterise the epidemiology of COVID-19, (b) assess socioeconomic and demographic influences on infection and outcomes, (c) measure the impact of COVID-19 on short -term and longer-term population outcomes and (d) undertake studies on the transmission and spatial spread of infection.Ethics and disseminationThe Secure Anonymised Information Linkage-independent Information Governance Review Panel has approved this study. The study findings will be presented to policy groups, public meetings, national and international conferences, and published in peer-reviewed journals.

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Synthesis and Biological Activity of Brassinosteroid Analogues with a Nitrogen-Containing Side Chain

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22010155 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 155

Author(s):

Mikhail V. Diachkov ◽

Karoll Ferrer ◽

Jana Oklestkova ◽

Lucie Rarova ◽

Vaclav Bazgier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Activity ◽

Functional Groups ◽

Side Chain ◽

Biotic And Abiotic Stresses ◽

Short Side ◽

Arabidopsis Root ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

Growth Promoting ◽

The Impact ◽

Brassinosteroid Analogues

Brassinosteroids are a class of plant hormones that regulate a broad range of physiological processes such as plant growth, development and immunity, including the suppression of biotic and abiotic stresses. In this paper, we report the synthesis of new brassinosteroid analogues with a nitrogen-containing side chain and their biological activity on Arabidopis thaliana. Based on molecular docking experiments, two groups of brassinosteroid analogues were prepared with short and long side chains in order to study the impact of side chain length on plants. The derivatives with a short side chain were prepared with amide, amine and ammonium functional groups. The derivatives with a long side chain were synthesized using amide and ammonium functional groups. A total of 25 new brassinosteroid analogues were prepared. All 25 compounds were tested in an Arabidopsis root sensitivity bioassay and cytotoxicity screening. The synthesized substances showed no significant inhibitory activity compared to natural 24-epibrassinolide. In contrast, in low concentration, several compounds (8a, 8b, 8e, 16e, 22a and 22e) showed interesting growth-promoting activity. The cytotoxicity assay showed no toxicity of the prepared compounds on cancer and normal cell lines.

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Household and Population-Level Behavioural Changes Due to COVID-19 Pandemic: A Smart Thermostat Based Comparative Data Analysis

Proceedings of the International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care ◽

10.1177/2327857921101057 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Kirti Sundar Sahu ◽

Arlene Oetomo ◽

Niloofar Jalali ◽

Plinio P. Morita

Keyword(s):

Data Analysis ◽

Population Level ◽

World Health ◽

Motion Sensors ◽

Household Level ◽

Work From Home ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Health Organization ◽

Smart Thermostat ◽

The Impact

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. To inhibit the spread of COVID-19, governments around the globe, including Canada, have implemented physical distancing and lockdown measures, including a work-from-home policy. Canada in 2020 has developed a 24-Hour Movement Guideline for all ages laying guidance on the ideal amount of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep (PASS) for an individual in a day. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes on the household and population-level in lifestyle behaviours (PASS) and time spent indoors at the household level, following the implementation of physical distancing protocols and stay-at-home guidelines. For this study, we used 2019 and 2020 data from ecobee, a Canadian smart Wi-Fi thermostat company, through the Donate Your Data (DYD) program. Using motion sensors data, we quantified the amount of sleep by using the absence of movement, and similarly, increased sensor activation to show a longer duration of household occupancy. The key findings of this study were; during the COVID-19 pandemic, overall household-level activity increased significantly compared to pre-pandemic times, there was no significant difference between household-level behaviours between weekdays and weekends during the pandemic, average sleep duration has not changed, but the pattern of sleep behaviour significantly changed, specifically, bedtime and wake up time delayed, indoor time spent has been increased and outdoor time significantly reduced. Our data analysis shows the feasibility of using big data to monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the household and population-level behaviours and patterns of change.

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Adjustment of Whey:Casein Ratio from 20:80 to 60:40 in Milk Formulation Affects Food Intake and Brainstem and Hypothalamic Neuronal Activation and Gene Expression in Laboratory Mice

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10030658 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 658

Author(s):

Erin L. Wood ◽

David G. Christian ◽

Mohammed Arafat ◽

Laura K. McColl ◽

Colin G. Prosser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Intake ◽

Area Postrema ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Early Gene ◽

Hypothalamic Nucleus ◽

Laboratory Mice ◽

Neuronal Activation ◽

Short Term ◽

Animal Milk ◽

The Impact

Adjustment of protein content in milk formulations modifies protein and energy levels, ensures amino acid intake and affects satiety. The shift from the natural whey:casein ratio of ~20:80 in animal milk is oftentimes done to reflect the 60:40 ratio of human milk. Studies show that 20:80 versus 60:40 whey:casein milks differently affect glucose metabolism and hormone release; these data parallel animal model findings. It is unknown whether the adjustment from the 20:80 to 60:40 ratio affects appetite and brain processes related to food intake. In this set of studies, we focused on the impact of the 20:80 vs. 60:40 whey:casein content in milk on food intake and feeding-related brain processes in the adult organism. By utilising laboratory mice, we found that the 20:80 whey:casein milk formulation was consumed less avidly and was less preferred than the 60:40 formulation in short-term choice and no-choice feeding paradigms. The relative PCR analyses in the hypothalamus and brain stem revealed that the 20:80 whey:casein milk intake upregulated genes involved in early termination of feeding and in an interplay between reward and satiety, such as melanocortin 3 receptor (MC3R), oxytocin (OXT), proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1R). The 20:80 versus 60:40 whey:casein formulation intake differently affected brain neuronal activation (assessed through c-Fos, an immediate-early gene product) in the nucleus of the solitary tract, area postrema, ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus and supraoptic nucleus. We conclude that the shift from the 20:80 to 60:40 whey:casein ratio in milk affects short-term feeding and relevant brain processes.

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