A5014553940- Folate and B Vitamins Research
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
- Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Esophageal and GI Pathology
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency
- Vitamin D Research Studies
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Nutrition and Health in Aging
- Cardiovascular Function and Risk Factors
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Prenatal Screening and Diagnostics
- Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Fluoride Effects and Removal
Lincoln University
2022-2024
University of Otago
2013-2023
Canterbury Health Laboratories
2004-2015
University of Auckland
2014
Massachusetts General Hospital
2014
Harvard University
2014
University of Ottawa
2012
Ottawa Hospital
2012
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
2012
McGill University
2012
Observational studies have reported an inverse association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels and incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). However, results clinical trials vitamin supplementation been inconclusive.To determine the effect on severity URTIs in healthy adults.Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted among 322 adults February 2010 November 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand.Participants were randomly assigned to receive initial dose...
Background Betaine is a major osmolyte, also important in methyl group metabolism. Concentrations of betaine, its metabolite dimethylglycine and analog trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) blood are cardiovascular risk markers. Diabetes disturbs betaine: does diabetes alter associations between betaine-related measures risk? Methods Plasma samples were collected from 475 subjects four months after discharge following an acute coronary admission. Death (n = 81), secondary MI 87), admission for heart...
Tissue betaine is an intracellular osmolyte that also provides a store of labile methyl groups. Despite these important biological roles, there are few data regarding tissue content. We measured the concentration plasma and various tissues (brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, intestine, reproductive tissues, skeletal muscle skin) in male female rats assessed whether were any gender-specific differences content or distribution was relationship between accumulation levels. Betaine...
Background Betaine insufficiency is associated with unfavourable vascular risk profiles in metabolic syndrome patients. We investigated associations between betaine and secondary events acute coronary Methods Plasma (531) urine (415) samples were collected four months after discharge following an event. Death (34), myocardial infarction (MI) (70) hospital admission for heart failure (45) recorded over a median follow-up of 832 days. Principal Findings The highest lowest quintiles urinary...
Background Plasma betaine concentrations and urinary excretions have high test-retest reliability. Abnormal excretion is common in diabetes. We aimed to confirm the individuality of plasma an overweight population with type 2 diabetes compare this other osmolytes, one-carbon metabolites trimethylamine- N-oxide (TMAO), thus assessing their potential usefulness as disease markers. Methods Urine were collected from subjects at four time points over a two-year period. measured osmolytes:...
Background Low plasma betaine has been associated with unfavorable lipid profiles and cardiovascular risk. In some studies raised after supplementation is elevations in lipids. We aimed to measure the relationships between urine lipids, effects of lipid-lowering drugs on these. Methodology Fasting samples were collected from 531 subjects (and 415) 4 months hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome episode. this cross-sectional study, dimethylglycine concentrations excretions compared...
Previous randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation and blood pressure (BP) mainly have given for short periods (<6 months) or at low doses (400 IU per day). This study aims to determine whether long-term high-dose taken 18 months lowers BP. Adults were recruited from a healthcare organization university into double-blind trial receive either D3 200 000 2 followed by 100 monthly up (n=161) placebo (n=161). BP was measured baseline, 5, months. Subjects had mean (SD) age 47.6...
Background and Aims The methylene-tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (NADP+ dependent) 1-like (MTHFD1L) gene is involved in mitochondrial tetrahydrofolate metabolism. Polymorphisms MTHFD1L, including rs6922269, have been implicated risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the association between rs6922269 known metabolic factors survival two independent cohorts of heart patients. Methods Results DNA plasma from 1940 patients with acute syndromes were collected a median 32 days...
Betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) added to culture media is known substantially improve the development of preimplantation mouse embryos in vitro, and be imported into 1-cell by a transporter that also accepts proline. Here, we found betaine/proline active only for short period development,between 1- 2-cell stages. Betaine/proline transport was activated after fertilization, beginning ∼4 hours post-egg activation reaching maximum ∼10 hours. One- contained endogenous betaine, indicating likely...
Variation in the ovine DQA2 gene was investigated approximately 2,000 sheep from six breeds. Fragments of DNA containing exon 2 were amplified using PCR. Single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis and sequence employed to detect genetic variation. Twenty-three nucleic acid sequences, encoding 22 amino identified. This increases number alleles identified 10 23. In some cases, three or four unique sequences isolated individual sheep, suggesting that these may represent two loci....
Betaine (N,N,N-trimethylglycine) has previously been shown to function in cell volume homeostasis early mouse embryos and also be a key donor the methyl pool blastocyst. A betaine transporter (SLC6A20A or SIT1) activated after fertilization, but there is no saturable uptake oocytes eggs. Unexpectedly, same high level of present mature metaphase II (MII) eggs as found one-cell despite lack transport Significant is, however, intact cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). This system an affinity for...
Since betaine is an osmolyte and methyl donor, abnormal loss common in diabetes mellitus (>20% patients), we investigated the relationship between post-methionine load rise homocysteine, control subjects. The test reported to be both independent vascular risk factor a measure of sufficiency. Patients with type 2 (n = 34) subjects 17) were recruited. We measured baseline fasting plasma 4-hour (L-methionine, 0.1 mg/kg body weight) concentrations betaine, metabolite N,N-dimethylglycine....
Low vitamin D status is associated with increased risk of pneumonia, greater disease severity and poorer outcome. However, no trials have examined the effect adjunctive therapy on outcomes in adults community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial examining effects hospitalised CAP. Participants were randomised to either single oral dose 200,000 IU D3 or placebo. The primary outcome was complete resolution chest radiograph infiltrate at 6...