Measuring Protein Turnover in Humans Across the Lifespan by Metabolic Labeling With Deuterium Oxide

Eligibility Criteria

• * Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
• * Male or female, age \>= 20years.
• * BMI \>20 and \<30.
• * In good general health as evidenced by medical history/exam/laboratory.
• * IL6\< 3.5 pg/mL.
• * Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) \> 0.9.
• * No history of increased bleeding due to either a known medical condition or an undiagnosed cause.
• * Does not currently smoke/tobacco use.
• * Eligible for muscle biopsy procedures.
• * Is not allergic to lidocaine or other local anesthetics.
• * Able to speak and read English.
• * Ability of subject to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
• * Routinely taking (more than 2x/week) non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) and unwilling to stop taking them for the duration of the study.
• * Taking medications that could increase the chance of bleeding such as anticoagulants/antiplatelet such as Coumadin, Plavix, and Heparin. Low dose (81mg) aspirin use is okay.
• * Is unable to reach down to perform wound care of the lower legs.
• * Has laboratory evidence of diabetes at screening (fasting glucose \>= 126) and/or diabetes requiring treatment, or treatment with any glucose lowering drug(s).
• * Has current or history of inflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases.
• * History of keloid formation.
• * Researchers are unable to access biopsy sites due to conditions such as wounds, rashes, or large deposits of adipose tissue.
• * Is on treatment with an investigational drug or other intervention within 8 weeks of enrollment.
• * Has any chronic disease that the study PI considers as a significant comorbidity that affects health and life expectancy.
• * Has established genetic diseases such as sickle cell, hemochromatosis (iron overload), cystic fibrosis or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (connective tissue disorder).
• * Has autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto s thyroiditis, Myasthenia Gravis, or Rheumatoid arthritis.
• * Has severe mobility disability as evidenced by inability to walk without aids, perform activities of daily living and to reach down to lower legs to perform wound care.
• * Has had active cancer on treatment in the last 10 years.
• * Has muscle-skeletal conditions due to diseases or traumas (that cause pathological weakness and/or chronic pain).
• * Has any medical condition that requires absolute and continuous need for long term treatment with antibiotics, corticosteroids, immunosuppressors, or pain medications.
• * Has important sensory deficits such as legally blind.
• * Is currently pregnant or a nursing mother.
• * Has history of, or laboratory evidence of HIV, Hepatitis B or C at Screening.
• * Has laboratory evidence of Platelets \< 100,000 or \>600,000 k/microliter.
• * Has a positive urine drug screen unless taking prescribed medication and at the discretion of the PI.
• * Has a current illness that as judged by the study physician substantially increases the risks associated with performing a biopsy procedure.
• * Has a history of an active bleeding disorder such as haemophilia or Von Willebrand disease.
• * Is claustrophobic and/or is not eligible to perform MRI as per the MRI eligibility form.
• * Has a hip or knee replacement or other medical conditions that prevents MRI research scans from being performed.
• * Has a diagnosis of cognitive impairment that clearly prevents the participant from providing informed consent.
• * Has a history of, or evidence of heart disease including unstable angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular diseases, uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled cardiac arrythmias, moderate to severe valvular disease.
• * Has a history or has chronic liver disease as evidenced by medical history or ALT, AST, or alkaline phosphatase twice the normal serum concentration.
• * Drinks more than three drinks of alcohol per day on average.
• * Has a history of, or evidence of chronic kidney disease or serum creatinine \>1.1 mg/dL.