We investigated plasma methionine and cysteine kinetics in eight healthy adult men receiving for 6 d each of five L-amino acid diets supplying 13 mg methionine.kg-1.d-1 without cystine or 6.5 mg methionine.kg-1.d-1 plus 0, 5.2, 10.5, or 20.9 mg cystine.kg-1.d-1. On the morning of day 7, primed, constant intravenous infusions of L-[2H3-methyl, 1-13C]methionine and L-[3,3-2H]cysteine were given for 8 h (for the first 3 h subjects remained in a fasted state and for the next 5 h received small, equal meals at hourly intervals to achieve a fed state). Methionine and cysteine fluxes and rate of methionine oxidation were estimated from plasma methionine and cysteine labeling and 13C in expired air. Methionine oxidation declined (P < 0.05) with lowered methionine intake. Cysteine flux was similar across diets and dietary cystine did not affect tracer methionine oxidation. If there is a sparing effect of dietary cystine on the methionine requirement in adults, it probably takes place during the "first-pass" removal of these amino acids within the splanchnic region.

BackgroundThe prevalence of non-communicable diseases is increasing throughout the world, including developing countries.ObjectiveThe intent was to conduct a study of a preventive medical service in a developing country, combining eHealth checkups and teleconsultation as well as assess stratification rules and the short-term effects of intervention.MethodsWe developed an eHealth system that comprises a set of sensor devices in an attaché case, a data transmission system linked to a mobile network, and a data management application. We provided eHealth checkups for the populations of five villages and the employees of five factories/offices in Bangladesh. Individual health condition was automatically categorized into four grades based on international diagnostic standards: green (healthy), yellow (caution), orange (affected), and red (emergent). We provided teleconsultation for orange- and red-grade subjects and we provided teleprescription for these subjects as required.ResultsThe first checkup was provided to 16,741 subjects. After one year, 2361 subjects participated in the second checkup and the systolic blood pressure of these subjects was significantly decreased from an average of 121 mmHg to an average of 116 mmHg (P<.001). Based on these results, we propose a cost-effective method using a machine learning technique (random forest method) using the medical interview, subject profiles, and checkup results as predictor to avoid costly measurements of blood sugar, to ensure sustainability of the program in developing countries.ConclusionsThe results of this study demonstrate the benefits of an eHealth checkup and teleconsultation program as an effective health care system in developing countries.

Twenty young men received an L-amino acid diet, supplying 140 mg N.kg-1 x d-1 and patterned as in the Egg diet for 1 wk, and then for 3 wk either a pattern based on international recommendations (modified FAO diet; n = 7), our new amino acid requirement pattern (MIT diet; n = 7), or the egg pattern (Egg diet; n = 6). At the end of the initial week, at 1 and 3 wk with the three experimental diets, and after 3 d after return to the Egg diet, an 8-h continuous intravenous infusion with [1-13C]leucine (3 h fast, 5 h fed while subjects received hourly meals supplying the equivalent of one-twelfth the daily intake) was conducted. After 3 wk with the different diets, mean daily leucine balances were lower (P < 0.01) with the FAO diet (-160 mumol.kg-1 x d-1) than with the MIT diet (-15 mumol.kg-1 x d-1). Together with changes in plasma amino acid profiles [eg, methionine increased (P < 0.05) during feeding with the FAO and Egg diets but not with the MIT diet; increased proline concentrations during the fed state (P < 0.05) with the FAO diet but not with the MIT or Egg diets] we interpret these findings to indicate that the FAO diet is not capable of maintaining amino acid homeostasis, as is the case with the MIT and Egg diets.

No abstract