The Effect of Fasting on Human Metabolism and Psychological Health

Fasting is a prevalent approach to weight loss and is a feasible method for treating some diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Meanwhile, the effects of intermittent fasting on health, aging, and disease process are hot issues and are of concern by researchers of multiple areas, even the public. This article introduces the effects of fasting on human lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, protein metabolism, and neuroendocrine metabolism; demonstrates the metabolic conversion caused by fasting; and describes the effects of fasting on human psychological health, the relationship between mood regulation and glucose, and the emotional enhancing effect induced by fasting.

The effectiveness of the metabolic map in promoting meaningful learning

Context Many medical students and practicing physicians view biochemistry, especially its metabolic pathways, as a challenging topic given the depth of material. Medical biochemistry educators aim to help prepare future physicians to apply knowledge of metabolism to disease processes. Research confirms that study tools promote critical thinking and help to connect biochemistry concepts to health and disease processes. Objectives To explore whether the Pathways of Human Metabolism Map as a study tool helps to connect basic metabolic pathways to clinical applications. Methods We provided the Pathways of Human Metabolism Map to our first-year osteopathic medical students and conducted a survey to assess their perceptions. Our survey questions aimed to explore the effectiveness of utilizing the metabolic map for connecting the basic metabolic pathways to clinical applications on their studies. Students were surveyed at the end of the course utilizing a Qualtrics survey encompassing Likert scale questions as well as open-ended responses. Results The results of our comprehensive survey questions revealed the unique perceptions of students. Analysis of our data implicates that study tools like the metabolic map inspire meaningful learning. Conclusions Our data show that students who utilized the metabolic map in their studies reported that utilizing the map improved their understanding of medical biochemistry. Our research results suggest that providing study aids like the metabolic map encourages students to minimize rote memorization and promotes integration with clinical context. Our results provide a support for study strategies that implement meaningful learning in medical education.

Overview of Usual Food Leftovers in Inpatients at the Jailolo Regional General Hospital, West Halmahera Regency

Hospital nutrition services are part of a complete health service. Each hospital provides nutritional services, not only providing food for patients and staff, but the most important thing is the provision of food that meets the needs of human metabolism for recovery during treatment. Food waste is the amount of food that is not eaten or not consumed by the patient. The purpose of this study was to determine the type of food and the amount of leftover food that was not consumed by patients who received regular food at the Jailolo Hospital. The type of research used is descriptive with sampling using purposive sampling as many as 20 respondents. The results showed that of the 20 respondents using the Comstock method, the average patient leftover food left a lot (> 20%) in the staple food type 40%, animal side dishes 35%, vegetable side dishes 30%, vegetables 30% and fruit 40%. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that most of the respondents still left a lot of food and it is recommended for nutrition installations to improve the quality and taste of the food served so that there is no more food left.

Human metabolism and urinary excretion of seven neonicotinoids and neonicotinoid-like compounds after controlled oral dosages

Few human data on exposure and toxicity are available on neonicotinoids and neonicotinoid-like compounds (NNIs), an important group of insecticides worldwide. Specifically, exposure assessment of humans by biomonitoring remains a challenge due to the lack of appropriate biomarkers. We investigated the human metabolism and metabolite excretion in urine of acetamiprid (ACE), clothianidin (CLO), flupyradifurone (FLUP), imidacloprid (IMI), sulfoxaflor (SULF), thiacloprid (THIAC) and thiamethoxam (THIAM) after single oral dosages at the currently acceptable daily intake levels of the European Food Safety Authority. Consecutive post-dose urine samples were collected up to 48 h. Suspect screening of tentative metabolites was carried out by liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. Screening hits were identified based on their accurate mass, isotope signal masses and ratios, product ion spectra, and excretion kinetics. We found, with the exception of SULF, extensive metabolization of NNIs to specific metabolites which were excreted next to the parent compounds. Overall, 24 metabolites were detected with signal intensities indicative of high metabolic relevance. Phase-I metabolites were predominantly derived by mono-oxidation (such as hydroxy-FLUP, -IMI, and -THIAC) and by oxidative N-desalkylation (such as N-desdifluoroethyl-FLUP and N-desmethyl-ACE, -CLO and -THIAM). IMI-olefin, obtained by dehydration of hydroxylated IMI, was identified as a major metabolite of IMI. SULF was excreted unchanged in urine. Previously reported metabolites of NNIs such as 6-chloronicotinic acid or 2-chlorothiazole-4-carboxylic acid and their glycine derivatives were detected either at low signal intensities or not at all and seem less relevant for human biomonitoring. Our highly controlled approach provides specific insight into the human metabolism of NNIs and suggests suitable biomarkers for future exposure assessment at environmentally relevant exposures.

Chronic toxicity and environmental risk assessment of antivirals in Ceriodaphnia dubia and Raphidocelis subcapitata

Antiviral drugs are a class of medications used for treating viral infections. Due to their widespread use, especially in cases of pandemics and limited human metabolism, antivirals have been detected in multiple environmental matrices. This study aims to evaluate the chronic effects of acyclovir, efavirenz, lamivudine and zidovudine using Ceriodaphnia dubia and Raphidocelis subcapitata. The results with R. subcapitata showed the following toxicities: zidovudine (IC50 = 5.442 mg L−1) < acyclovir (IC50 = 3.612 mg L−1) < lamivudine (IC50 = 3.013 mg L−1) < efavirenz (IC50 = 0.034 mg L−1). The results of the chronic bioassay with C. dubia demonstrated that zidovudine is the least toxic (EC50 = 5.671 mg L−1), followed by acyclovir (EC50 = 3.062 mg L−1), lamivudine (EC50 = 1.345 mg L−1) and efavirenz (EC50 = 0.026 mg L−1). Both species have been shown to be sensitive to efavirenz. A risk quotient (RQ) was calculated, and efavirenz had an RQ greater than 1 for both species, and lamivudine had an RQ greater than 1 for C. dubia, representing a high ecological risk for these organisms. Antivirals pose a significant environmental risk to aquatic organisms and should be taken into consideration in future monitoring of water sources. HIGHLIGHT Evaluation of the ecotoxicity of acyclovir, efavirenz, lamivudine and zidovudine. The most toxic antiviral for Ceriodaphnia dubia and Raphidocelis subcapitata was efavirenz. Results suggest potential risk to environmental and public health.

Gut microbiota influence in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)

A strong and expanding evidence base supports the influence of gut microbiota in human metabolism. Altered glucose homeostasis is associated with altered gut microbiota, and is clearly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated complications. Understanding the causal association between gut microbiota and metabolic risk has the potential role of identifying susceptible individuals to allow early targeted intervention.