Intermittent fasting and the liver: Focus on the Ramadan model

Intermittent fasting(IF)is an intervention that involves not only dietary modific-ations but also behavioral changes with the main core being a period of fasting alternating with a period of controlled feeding.The duration of fasting differs from one regimen to another.Ramadan fasting(RF)is a religious fasting for Muslims,it lasts for only one month every one lunar year.In this model of fasting,observers abstain from food and water for a period that extends from dawn to sunset.The period of daily fasting is variable(12-18 hours)as Ramadan rotates in all seasons of the year.Consequently,longer duration of daily fasting is observed during the summer.In fact,RF is a peculiar type of IF.It is a dry IF as no water is allowed during the fasting hours,also there are no calorie restrictions during feeding hours,and the mealtime is exclusively nighttime.These three variables of the RF model are believed to have a variable impact on different liver diseases.RF was evaluated by different observational and interventional studies among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and it was associated with improve-ments in anthropometric measures,metabolic profile,and liver biochemistry regardless of the calorie restriction among lean and obese patients.The situation is rather different for patients with liver cirrhosis.RF was associated with adverse events among patients with liver cirrhosis irrespective of the underlying etiology of cirrhosis.Cirrhotic patients developed new ascites,ascites were increased,had higher serum bilirubin levels after Ramadan,and frequently developed hepatic encephalopathy and acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.These complications were higher among patients with Child class B and C cirrhosis,and some fatalities occurred due to fasting.Liver transplant recipients as a special group of patients,are vulnerable to dehydration,fluctuation in blood immunosuppressive levels,likelihood of deterioration and hence observing RF without special precautions could represent a real danger for them.Patients with Gilbert syndrome can safely observe RF despite the minor elevations in serum bilirubin reported during the early days of fasting.

A review of salivary composition changes induced by fasting and its impact on health

Human saliva is an indispensable fluid that maintains a healthy oral cavity which otherwise can lead to oral diseases(dental caries and periodontitis).In addition,salivary metabolites and microbiome profile provide early detection of systemic diseases such as cancer and obesity.Salivary diagnostic has gained popularity due to its non-invasive sampling technique.Fasting(abstinence from food or drink or both)research for weight loss and improve health is common,but studies using fasting saliva are scarce.Some metabolites in fasting saliva have been reported with interesting results,which can be enhanced by considering different confounding factors.For example,fasting saliva contains higher salivary nitrite,which is related to nitric oxide(NO).NO is a vasodilator supporting the healthy function of endothelial cells and its deficiency is connected to many diseases.The timely supply of NO through exogenous and endogenous means is highlighted and the potential advantage of fasting salivary composition changes in relation to COVID-19 infection is speculated.This review aims to provide a general discussion on the salivary composition,properties,and functions of the whole saliva,including the health benefits of fasting.

The effect of fasting plasma glucose on in-hospital mortality after acute myocardial infarction in patients with and without diabetes:findings from a prospective,nationwide,and multicenter registry

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the predictive value of fasting plasma glucose(FPG)for in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)with different glucose metabolism status.METHODS We selected 5,308 participants with AMI from the prospective,nationwide,multicenter CAMI registry,of which 2,081 were diabetic and 3,227 were nondiabetic.Patients were divided into high FPG and low FPG groups according to the optim-al cutoff values of FPG to predict in-hospital mortality for diabetic and nondiabetic cohorts,respectively.The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality.RESULTS Overall,94 diabetic patients(4.5%)and 131 nondiabetic patients(4.1%)died during hospitalization,and the optimal FPG thresholds for predicting in-hospital death of the two cohorts were 13.2 mmol/L and 6.4 mmol/L,respectively.Compared with individuals who had low FPG,those with high FPG were significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality in diabet-ic cohort(10.1%vs.2.8%;odds ratio[OR]=3.862,95%confidence interval[CI]:2.542-5.869)and nondiabetic cohort(7.4%vs.1.7%;HR=4.542,95%CI:3.041-6.782).After adjusting the potential confounders,this significant association was not changed.Further-more,FPG as a continuous variable was positively associated with in-hospital mortality in single-variable and multivariable models regardless of diabetic status.Adding FPG to the original model showed a significant improvement in C-statistic and net reclassification in diabetic and nondiabetic cohorts.CONCLUSIONS This large-scale registry indicated that there is a strong positive association between FPG and in-hospital mor-tality in AMI patients with and without diabetes.FPG might be useful to stratify patients with AMI.

Intermittent fasting boosts antitumor immunity by restricting CD11b^(+)Ly6C^(low)Ly6G^(low) cell viability through glucose metabolism in murine breast tumor model

Intermittent fasting can benefit breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or immunotherapy.However,it is still uncertain how to select immunotherapy drugs to combine with intermittent fasting.Herein we observed that two cycles of fasting treatment significantly inhibited breast tumor growth and lung tissue metastasis,as well as prolonged overall survival in mice bearing 4T1 and 4T07 breast cancer.During this process,both the immunosuppressive monocytic-(M-)and granulocytic-(G-)myeloid-derived suppressor cell(MDSC)decreased,accompanied by an increase in interleukin(IL)7R^(+)and granzyme B^(+)T cells in the tumor microenvironment.Interestingly,we observed that Ly6G^(low)G-MDSC sharply decreased after fasting treatment,and the cell surface markers and protein mass spectrometry data showed potential therapeutic targets.Mechanistic investigation revealed that glucose metabolism restriction suppressed the splenic granulocytemonocyte progenitor and the generation of colony-stimulating factors and IL-6,which both contributed to the accumulation of G-MDSC.On the other hand,glucose metabolism restriction can directly induce the apoptosis of Ly6G^(low)G-MDSC,but not Ly6G^(high)subsets.In summary,these results suggest that glucose metabolism restriction induced by fasting treatment attenuates the immune-suppressive milieu and enhances the activation of CD3^(+)T cells,providing potential solutions for enhancing immune-based cancer interventions.

Mechanistic insights into fasting-induced autophagy in the aging heart

Autophagy is a prosurvival mechanism for the clearance of accumulated abnormal proteins,damaged organelles,and excessive lipids within mammalian cells.A growing body of data indicates that autophagy is reduced in aging cells.This reduction leads to various diseases,such as myocardial hypertrophy,infarction,and atherosclerosis.Recent studies in animal models of an aging heart showed that fasting-induced autophagy improved cardiac function and longevity.This improvement is related to autophagic clearance of damaged cellular components via either bulk or selective autophagy(such as mitophagy).In this editorial,we summarize the mechanisms of autophagy in normal and aging hearts.In addition,the protective effect of fasting-induced autophagy in cardiac aging has been highlighted.

Fasting and Cancer: Practice and Patients’ Quality of Life during Ramadan

Introduction: Ramadan is the ninth lunar month of the Muslim calendar, and fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. Muslim cancer patients and health professionals are faced with a dilemma between the necessity of fasting and its possible adverse effects during Ramadan on the health status of cancer patients. We believe that addressing the issue of fasting in cancer patients is of global interest. Objectives: Prevalence of fasting in cancer patients during Ramadan;Predictive factors of Ramadan fasting in cancer patients;The effect of fasting during Ramadan on the quality of life of cancer patients. Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to interview adult cancer patients who received chemotherapy IV—or oral treatment at the medical oncology department at the Hassan II University Hospital in Fez during the month of Ramadan 1443 Hijri (April to May 2022). The quality of cancer patients’ lives during their fasting practice in Ramadan was evaluated via the QLQ-C30 questionnaires. Results: 48% of patients did not fast during Ramadan, 22% and 30% were partial and complete fasters respectively. Patients, with OMS 0 to 1, who receive outpatient treatment, non-metastatic patients and patients on oral treatment were more frequent in the completely fasted group. All these factors showed statistically significant values (p < 0.05). 44% of patients sought advice from the treating oncologist if they could fast, while only 15% of patients during Ramadan asked an imam if they could be excused from fasting. A comparison of the QLQ-C30 data showed a significant improvement in emotional functioning with fasting, however, patients had clinically more but not significantly fatigue after fasting. Conclusion: Female gender, good WHO, non-metastatic disease, and oral or outpatient treatment were more likely to be fasting. This study argues that fasting did not influence the quality of life, and appears to significantly improve emotional functioning in cancer patients during Ramadan.

The emerging role of fasting-mimicking diets in cancer treatment

Cancer is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.The high demand for specific nutrients and the sensitivity to nutritional deficiencies are newly recognized features of cancer cells.Dietary interventions can suppress tumor demand for particular nutrients and alter certain nutrients to target a tumor's metabolic vulnerability.Cyclic fasting or fasting-mimicking diets(FMDs)are popular approaches that can reduce nutrient intake over a specific period.Accumulating evidence suggests that FMDs attenuate tumor growth by altering the energy metabolism of cancer cells.Furthermore,FMDs potentiate the sensitivity of tumors to conventional cancer treatments and limit adverse events.Recent findings also highlight the potential value of FMDs in boosting antitumor immune surveillance.However,clinical trials regarding the impact of FMDs on cancer patients remain limited and controversial.Here,we provide the latest information on the effects of FMDs on cancer progression and treatment,focusing on future clinical applications.

Lowering fasting blood glucose with non-dialyzable material of cranberry extract is dependent on host genetic background,sex and diet

Background:Type 2 diabetes(T2D)is a polygenic metabolic disease,character-ized by high fasting blood glucose(FBG).The ability of cranberry(CRN)fruit to regulate glycemia in T2D patients is well known.Here,a cohort of 13 lines of the genetically diverse Collaborative Cross(CC)mouse model was assessed for the effect of non-dialyzable material(NDM)of cranberry extract in lowering fasting blood glucose.Methods:Eight-week-old mice were maintained on either a standard chow diet(con-trol group)or a high-fat diet(HFD)for 12 weeks,followed by injections of intraperi-toneal(IP)NDM(50 mg/kg)per mouse,three times a week for the next 6 weeks.Absolute FBG(mg/dl)was measured bi-weekly and percentage changes in FBG(%FBG)between weeks 0 and 12 were calculated.Results:Statistical analysis showed a significant decrease in FBG between weeks 0 and 12 in male and female mice maintained on CHD.However,a non-significant in-crease in FBG values was observed in male and female mice maintained on HFD dur-ing the same period.Following administration of NDM during the following 6 weeks,the results show a variation in significant levels of FBG lowering between lines,male and female mice and under the different diets.Conclusion:The results suggest that the efficacy of NDM treatment in lowering FGB depends on host genetic background(pharmacogenetics),sex of the mouse(phar-macosex),and diet(pharmacodiet).All these results support the need for follow-up research to better understand and implement a personalized medicine approach/uti-lization of NDM for reducing FBG.

Fasting produces antidepressant-like effects via activating mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling pathway in ovariectomized mice

Recent studies have shown that a 9-hour fast in mice reduces the amount of time spent immobile in the forced swimming test.Howeve r,whether 9-hour fasting has therapeutic effects in female mice with depressive symptoms has not been established.Therefore,in this study,we simulated perimenopausal depression via an ovariectomy in mice,and subjected them to a single 9-hour fasting 7 days later.We found that the ovariectomy increased the time spent immobile in the forced swimming test,inhibited expression of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling pathway in the hippocampus and prefro ntal cortex,and decreased the density of dendritic spines in the hippocampus.The 9-hour acute fasting alleviated the above-mentioned phenomena.Furthermore,all of the antidepressant-like effects of 9-hour fasting were reve rsed by an inhibitor of the mammalian to rget of rapamycin complex 1.Electrophysiology data showed a remarkable increase in long-term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 of the ovariectomized mice subjected to fasting compared with the findings in the ovariectomized mice not subjected to fasting.These findings show that the antidepressant-like effects of 9-hour fasting may be related to the activation of the mammalian target of the rapamycin complex 1 signaling pathway and synaptic plasticity in the mammalian hippocampus.Thus,fasting may be a potential treatment for depression.

Preoperative Fasting of More Than 14 Hours Increases the Risk of Time-to-Death after Cardiothoracic Surgery in Children:A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background:Prolonged preoperative fasting can cause hypoglycemia,hyperglycemia,and intravascular volume depletion in children.We aimed to examine whether prolonged preoperative fasting is associated with in-hospital mortality and other morbidities in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery.Methods:This retrospective cohort study included children aged 0–3 years who underwent cardiac surgery between July 2014 and October 2020.The patient demographic data,surgery-related and anesthesia-related factors,and postoperative outcomes,including hypoglycemia,hyperglycemia,sepsis,length of intensive care unit stay,and in-hospital mortality,were recorded.The main exposure and outcome variables were prolonged fasting and time-to-death after surgery,respectively.The associations between prolonged fasting and perioperative death were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression analysis.Results:In total,402 patients were recruited.The incidence of perioperative mortality was 21%(85/402).The proportion of perioperative deaths was significantly higher in the prolonged fasting group than that in the normal fasting group.The proportion of postoperative bacteremia and hypoglycemia was significantly higher in the very prolonged fasting group than that in the prolonged fasting group.After adjusting for preoperative conditions and anesthesia-and surgery-related factors,preoperative prolonged fasting>14.4 h was significantly associated with time-to-death(HR[95%CI]:2.2[1.2,3.9],p=0.036).The 30-day survival rates of fasting time>14.4 h,9.25–14.4 h,and<9.25 h were 0.67(0.55,0.81),0.79(0.72,0.87),and 0.85(0.79,0.91),respectively.Conclusions:Preoperative fasting of more than 14.4 h was associated with a two-fold increase in the hazard rate of time-to-death in children who underwent cardiac surgery.

Advances in intermittent fasting and neurodegeneration

Intermittent fasting is a kind of diet that extends the fasting time every day or several days per week.It mainly includes time-limited eating,alternate day fasting and periodic fasting.Intermittent fasting triggers evolutionary indications and conserved cellular responses to protect and improve body status by triggering a"metabolic switch"from hepatogenic glucose to adipocyte-derived ketone bodies.Gut microbiota and circadian rhythms have also been linked to intermittent fasting.This article focuses on the research progress of intermittent fasting and neurodegenerative diseases in order to provide a theoretical basis for nutritional treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Fasting and Non-Fasting Lipid Profile among Health Care Workers at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa SriLanka

Requesting patients to come with long fasting state (12 - 14 hours) for lipid profile measurements are a major inconvenience. However, most blood tests, even glycemic management, can be done in a non-fasting state, for example by requesting an HbA1C. It is understandable that when we order lipid profile test, laboratories are very rigid on fasting (12 - 14 h) or refuse to do the test if fasting is not enough. To answer these delusions, we conducted a cross-sectional study among the health care workers at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa, SriLanka, after an overnight fast (12 - 14 hours) blood taken for lipid profile. Following weeks, we collected blood from the same healthcare workers, after breakfast (2 - 4 hours after meal). In this study, measurements of fasting lipid profile, including high-density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and non-HDL significantly (p < 0.05) differ from non-fasting lipid profile measurement. The mean difference in lipid profile in fasting versus non-fasting among healthcare workers was 34.13 mg/dl for TG, -5.65 mg/dl for total TC, -1.94 mg/dl for HDL-cholesterol, 3.71 mg/dl for non-HDL and 12.3 mg/dl for LDL-cholesterol. This momentous change of different meanings does not play any significant role in cardiovascular risk assessment. However, a patient with a family history of the premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), or familial hyperlipidemia, screening and follow-up should preferably be performed with fasting.

Fasting for Laboratory Tests Poses a High Risk of Hypoglycemia in Patients with Diabetes: A Pilot Prevalence Study in Clinical Practice

Objective: Fasting for lipid profiles is a deeply-rooted tradition that is being revisited. In patients with diabetes, such fasting poses a risk of hypoglycemia, as observed in recent studies and case reports. This iatrogenic, overlooked, form of hypoglycemia has been referred to as Fasting-Evoked En-route Hypoglycemia in Diabetes (FEEHD). The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of FEEHD in clinical practice. Methods: A two-page survey was administered to adults with diabetes on anti-diabetic medication(s). Patients were asked if they recalled having experienced hypoglycemia while fasting for laboratory tests (FEEHD) during the preceding 12 months. Results: Of 168 patients enrolled, 166 completed the survey, with a mean age of 55.3 (SD: 15.4) years. Seventy-nine (47.6%) were females. Of these 166 patients, 119 (71 %) had type 2 diabetes. Forty-five patients (27.1%) reported having experienced one or more FEEHD events. Notably, only 31.1% of the patients who experienced a FEEHD event informed their provider of the event, and only 40% of FEEHD events reportedly resulted in any subsequent provider-made medication change(s) to prevent future events. Conclusions: This is the first study of FEEHD prevalence in clinical practice, the results of which serve to increase awareness amongst clinicians about the occurrence of FEEHD. We believe that FEEHD appears to be overlooked by clinicians. The prevalence of FEEHD in clinical practice is strikingly high (27.1%). More concerning is the significant underreporting of FEEHD events by patients to their clinicians (31%). We hope this study will trigger further investigation to confirm these preliminary findings and modify practice guidelines.

Reducing preoperative fasting time: A trend based on evidence

Preoperative fasting is mandatory before anesthesia to reduce the risk of aspiration.However,the prescribed 6-8 h of fasting is usually prolonged to 12-16 h for various reasons.Prolonged fasting triggers a metabolic response that precipitates gluconeogenesis and increases the organic response to trauma.Various randomized trials and meta-analyses have consistently shown that is safe to reduce the preoperative fasting time with a carbohydrate-rich drink up to 2 h before surgery.Benefits related to this shorter preoperative fasting include the reduction of postoperative gastrointestinal discomfort and insulin resistance.New formulas containing amino acids such as glutamine and other peptides are being studied and are promising candidates to be used to reduce preoperative fasting time.

Gestational diabetes mellitus: Screening with fasting plasma glucose

Fasting plasma glucose(FPG) as a screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) has had a checkered history. During the last three decades, a few initial anecdotal reports have given way to the recent well-conducted studies. This review:(1) traces the history;(2) weighs the advantages and disadvantages;(3) addresses the significance in early pregnancy;(4) underscores the benefits after delivery; and(5) emphasizes the cost savings of using the FPG in the screening of GDM. It also highlights the utility of fasting capillary glucose and stresses the value of the FPG in circumventing the cumbersome oral glucose tolerance test. An understanding of all the caveats is crucial to be able to use the FPG for investigating glucose intolerance in pregnancy. Thus, all health professionals can use the patient-friendly FPG to simplify the onerous algorithms available for the screening and diagnosis of GDM-thereby helping each and every pregnant woman.

Effects of intermittent fasting on health markers in those with type 2 diabetes:A pilot study

AIMTo determine the short-term biochemical effects and clinical tolerability of intermittent fasting (IF) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).METHODSWe describe a three-phase observational study (baseline 2 wk, intervention 2 wk, follow-up 2 wk) designed to determine the clinical, biochemical, and tolerability of IF in community-dwelling volunteer adults with T2DM. Biochemical, anthropometric, and physical activity measurements (using the Yale Physical Activity Survey) were taken at the end of each phase. Participants reported morning, afternoon and evening self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG) and fasting duration on a daily basis throughout all study stages, in addition to completing a remote food photography diary three times within each study phase. Fasting blood samples were collected on the final days of each study phase.RESULTSAt baseline, the ten participants had a confirmed diagnosis of T2DM and were all taking metformin, and on average were obese [mean body mass index (BMI) 36.90 kg/m2]. We report here that a short-term period of IF in a small group of individuals with T2DM led to significant group decreases in weight (-1.395 kg, P = 0.009), BMI (-0.517, P = 0.013), and at-target morning glucose (SMBG). Although not a study requirement, all participants preferentially chose eating hours starting in the midafternoon. There was a significant increase (P < 0.001) in daily hours fasted in the IF phase (+5.22 h), although few attained the 18-20 h fasting goal (mean 16.82 ± 1.18). The increased fasting duration improved at-goal (< 7.0 mmol/L) morning SMBG to 34.1%, from a baseline of 13.8%. Ordinal Logistic Regression models revealed a positive relationship between the increase in hours fasted and fasting glucose reaching target values (χ2 likelihood ratio = 8.36, P = 0.004) but not for afternoon or evening SMBG (all P > 0.1). Postprandial SMBGs were also improved during the IF phase, with 60.5% readings below 9.05 mmol/L, compared to 52.6% at baseline, and with less glucose variation. Neither insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), nor inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein) normalized during the IF phase. IF led to an overall spontaneous decrease in caloric intake as measured by food photography (Remote Food Photography Method). The data demonstrated discernable trends during IF for lower energy, carbohydrate, and fat intake when compared to baseline. Physical activity, collected by a standardized measurement tool (Yale Physical Activity Survey), increased during the intervention phase and subsequently decreased in the follow-up phase. IF was well tolerated in the majority of individuals with 6/10 participants stating they would continue with the IF regimen after the completion of the study, in a full or modified capacity (i.e., every other day or reduced fasting hours).CONCLUSIONThe results from this pilot study indicate that short-term daily IF may be a safe, tolerable, dietary intervention in T2DM patients that may improve key outcomes including body weight, fasting glucose and postprandial variability. These findings should be viewed as exploratory, and a larger, longer study is necessary to corroborate these findings.

The role and its mechanism of intermittent fasting in tumors:friend or foe?

Intermittent fasting(IF)is becoming a prevailing topic worldwide,as it can cause changes in the body’s energy metabolism processes,improve health,and affect the progression of many diseases,particularly in the circumstance of oncology.Recent research has shown that IF can alter the energy metabolism of tumor cells,thereby inhibiting tumor growth and improving antitumor immune responses.Furthermore,IF can increase cancer sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and reduce the side effects of these traditional anticancer treatments.IF is therefore emerging as a promising approach to clinical cancer treatment.However,the balance between long-term benefits of IF compared with the harm from insufficient caloric intake is not well understood.In this article,we review the role of IF in tumorigenesis and tumor therapy,and discuss some scientific problems that remain to be clarified,which might provide some assistance in the application of IF in clinical tumor therapy.

Adaptive changes of gastro-entero-pancreatic system endocrine cells in the black-spotted pond frog Rana nigromaculata after fasting

Changes in distribution density,morphology and secretory content of endocrine cells in the gastro-entero-pancreatic system of black-spotted frogs Rana nigromaculata before and after fasting were investigated using immunohistochemistry and antisera to six gut hormones.Six types of endocrine cells were detected in the digestive tract of Rana nigromaculata,including 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),gastrin(GAS),somatostatin(SOM),glucagon(GLU),pancreatic polypeptide(PP)and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide(VIP)cells.After fasting,the density of 5-HT cells in the esophagus,cardia and fundus,GAS cells in the fundus and pylorus,PP cells in the fundus decreased significantly(P<0.01),while SOM cells in the cardia,GLU cells in the rectum increased significantly(P<0.01).The cytoplasmic processes of 5-HT cells became shorter or not detectable.The secretory content of GAS cells reduced in the cardia.The positive immunostaining reaction in the perinuclear region of SOM cells in the cardia,fundus and pylorus became weaker,while the staining intensity in the periphery of these cells became stronger.VIP cells were not detectable in the whole digestive tract after fasting.Five types of endocrine cells were found in the pancreas of Rana nigromaculata,including 5-HT,GAS,SOM,GLU and PP cells.After fasting,the density of 5-HT cells decreased slightly(P>0.05),while SOM,GAS,GLU and PP cells increased significantly(P<0.01).Furthermore,the secretory content of GLU cells increased significantly.Considering their functionalities,our results indicate that the changes of GEP endocrine cells in Rana nigromaculata responded adaptively to starvation-induced stress.

Cloning,tissue distribution and effects of fasting on pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide in largemouth bass

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide （PACAP） has a wide range of biological functions. We cloned the full-length cDNAs encoding PACAP and PACAP-related peptide （PRP） from the brain of largemouth bass （Micropterus salmoides） and used real-time quantitative PCR to detect PRP- PACAP mRNA expression. The PRP-PACAP cDNA has two variants expressed via alternative splicing： a long form, which encodes both PRP and PACAP, and a short form, which encodes only PACAR Sequence analysis results are consistent with a higher conservation of PACAP than PRP peptide sequences. The expression of PACAP-Iong and PACAP-short transcripts was highest in the forebrain, followed by the medulla, midbrain, pituitary, stomach, cerebellum, intestine, and kidney; however, these transcripts were either absent or were weakly expressed in the muscle, spleen, gill, heart, fatty tissue, and liver. The level of PACAP-short transcript expression was significantly higher than expression of the long transcript in the forebrain, cerebella, pituitary and intestine, but lower than that of the long transcript in the stomach. PA CAP- long and PACAP-short transcripts were first detected at the blastula stage of embryogenesis, and the level of expression increased markedly between the muscular contraction stage and 3 d post hatch （dph）. The expression of PACAP-long and PACAP-short transcripts decreased significantly in the brain following 4 d fasting compared with the control diet group. The down-regulation effect was enhanced as fasting continued. Conversely, expression levels increased significantly after 3 d of re-feeding. Our results suggest that PRP- PA CAP acts as an important factor in appetite regulation in largemouth bass.

Enhanced recovery after surgery strategy to shorten perioperative fasting in children undergoing non-gastrointestinal surgery:A prospective study

BACKGROUND Enhanced recovery after surgery strategies are increasingly implemented to improve the management of surgical patients.AIM To evaluate the effects of new perioperative fasting protocols in children≥3 mo of age undergoing non-gastrointestinal surgery.METHODS This prospective pilot study included children≥3 mo of age undergoing nongastrointestinal surgery at the Children’s Hospital(Zhejiang University School of Medicine)from January 2020 to June 2020.The children were divided into either a conventional group or an ERAS group according to whether they had been enrolled before or after the implementation of the new perioperative fasting strategy.The children in the conventional group were fasted using conventional strategies,while those in the ERAS group were given individualized fasting protocols preoperatively(6-h fasting for infant formula/non-human milk/solids,4-h fasting for breast milk,and clear fluids allowed within 2 h of surgery)and postoperatively(food permitted from 1 h after surgery).Pre-operative and postoperative fasting times,pre-operative blood glucose,the incidence of postoperative thirst and hunger,the incidence of perioperative vomiting and aspiration,and the degree of satisfaction were evaluated.RESULTS The study included 303 patients(151 in the conventional group and 152 in the ERAS group).Compared with the conventional group,the ERAS group had a shorter pre-operative food fasting time[11.92(4.00,19.33)vs 13.00(6.00,20.28)h,P<0.001],shorter preoperative liquid fasting time[3.00(2.00,7.50)vs 12.00(3.00,20.28)h,P<0.001],higher preoperative blood glucose level[5.6(4.2,8.2)vs 5.1(4.0,7.4)mmol/L,P<0.001],lower incidence of thirst(74.5%vs 15.3%,P<0.001),shorter time to postoperative feeding[1.17(0.33,6.83)vs 6.00(5.40,9.20),P<0.001],and greater satisfaction[7(0,10)vs 8(5,10),P<0.001].No children experienced perioperative aspiration.The incidences of hunger,perioperative vomiting,and fever were not significantly different between the two groups.CONCLUSION Optimizing fasting and clear fluid drinking before non-gastrointestinal surgery in children≥3 mo of age is possible.It is safe and feasible to start early eating after evaluating the recovery from anesthesia and the swallowing function.