Search

Food flavour is an important key driver in consumer acceptability [...]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of leading cause of cirrhosis, that is the strongest risk factor for the development of HCC in Western countries (1,2).

Introduction Considering the high risk of dysplasia and cancer in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], surveillance is advocated. However, international guidelines do not reach a uniform recommendation on the way to perform surveillance. We performed a systematic review with a meta-analysis to assess the best endoscopic surveillance strategy in colonic IBD. Methods The systematic review was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases to identify studies comparing white light endoscopy [WLE] and augmented endoscopy [AE] in the detection of dysplasia/neoplasia in colonic IBD. A sub-analysis between dye-spray chromoendoscopy [DCE], narrow-band imaging [NBI], I-SCAN, full-spectrum endoscopy [FUSE], and auto-fluorescence imaging [AFI] was also performed. Furthermore, a meta-regression and a network meta-analysis were also performed. Results A total of 27 studies [6167 IBD patients with 2024 dysplastic lesions] met the inclusion criteria. There was no publication bias. AE showed a higher likelihood of detecting dysplasia than WLE (19.3% vs 8.5%, odds ratio [OR] = 2.036), with an incremental yield [IY] of 10.8%. DCE [OR = 2.605] and AFI [OR = 3.055] had higher likelihood of detecting dysplasia than WLE; otherwise, I-SCAN [OR = 1.096], NBI [OR = 0.650], and FUSE [OR = 1.118] were not superior to WLE. Dysplasia was found in 1256/7267 targeted biopsies [17.3%] and in 363/110 040 random biopsies [0.33%] [OR = 66.559, IY = 16.9%]. Meta-regression found no variable impacting on the efficacy of AE techniques. Network meta-analysis identified a significant superiority of DCE to WLE in detecting dysplasia [OR 2.12], but no other single technique was found to be superior to all others in dysplasia detection. Conclusions DCE was associated with higher likelihood of discovering dysplastic lesions than WLE. Chromoendoscopy is the best supported endoscopic technique for IBD surveillance.

Background & Aims Although the discriminative ability of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is generally considered acceptable, its calibration is still unclear. In a validation study, we assessed the discriminative performance and calibration of 3 versions of the model: original MELD-TIPS, used to predict survival after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS); classic MELD-Mayo; and MELD-UNOS, used by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). We also explored recalibrating and updating the model. Methods In total, 776 patients who underwent elective TIPS (TIPS cohort) and 445 unselected patients (non-TIPS cohort) were included. Three, 6 and 12-month mortality predictions were calculated by the 3 MELD versions: discrimination was assessed by c-statistics and calibration by comparing deciles of predicted and observed risks. Cox and Fine and Grey models were used for recalibration and prognostic analyses. Results In the TIPS/non-TIPS cohorts, the etiology of liver disease was viral in 402/188, alcoholic in 185/130, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in 65/33; mean follow-up±SD was 25±9/19±21 months; and the number of deaths at 3-6-12 months was 57-102-142/31-47-99, respectively. C-statistics ranged from 0.66 to 0.72 in TIPS and 0.66 to 0.76 in non-TIPS cohorts across prediction times and scores. A post hoc analysis revealed worse c-statistics in non-viral cirrhosis with more pronounced and significant worsening in the non-TIPS cohort. Calibration was acceptable with MELD-TIPS but largely unsatisfactory with MELD-Mayo and -UNOS whose performance improved much after recalibration. A prognostic analysis showed that age, albumin, and TIPS indication might be used to update the MELD. Conclusions In this validation study, the performance of the MELD score was largely unsatisfactory, particularly in non-viral cirrhosis. MELD recalibration and candidate variables for an update to the MELD score are proposed. Lay summary While the discriminative performance of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is credited to be fair to good, its calibration, the correspondence of observed to predicted mortality, is still unsettled. We found that application of 3 different versions of the MELD in 2 independent cirrhosis cohorts yielded largely imprecise mortality predictions particularly in non-viral cirrhosis. Thus, we propose a recalibration and suggest candidate variables for an update to the model.

The special nature of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data requires special image analysis treatments using mathematical, statistical, and software programming approaches. These operations are crucial in building an automatic computer-integrated HSI system qualified for nondestructive assessment of various food quality traits. The theory, fundamentals, and principles of such a system and all accompanying methods associated with the development of robust image processing algorithms of hyperspectral images are explored and reported in this chapter. The quality of the acquired hyperspectral images, the way of extracting spectral fingerprints, and methods of data modeling have substantial effects on the outcomes of the analyses and processing. Fundamental image analysis operations experienced on hyperspectral images during food quality evaluation processes are the cornerstone of this technique. The explored methodologies will have positive impacts not only for food engineers and scientists but also for the food industry willing to adopt this technology in their premises. The strategy applied for image processing for analyzing and visualizing the final results is extremely important to identify the proper decision in detection, classification, quantification, and/or prediction processes. The applications of HSI systems in different sorts of agrifood products were reported with specific examples to demonstrate the potential of such systems in a wide range of analytical tasks. At the end of this chapter, the reader can realize the great capabilities of HSI systems as a novel emerging technique for noninvasive estimation of quality parameters, which proofs why this technology received great acceptance from scientific communities and gained a rapid interest from researchers and food industries. Therefore the state of the art for HSI is expected to gain more and more applications in food analysis and characterization.

This study aimed to develop an oil-in-water emulsion with the presence of proteins, to be used as an ingredient in meat products. The emulsion can be used to increase the protein content of the final formulation, and the effect of the presence of proteins in the emulsion was assessed in terms of rheological and sensory properties of the meat products. Five emulsion formulations were designed, by changing the ratios of sodium caseinate, beef rumen, sunflower oil, and water. The emulsion formulated with 10% sodium caseinate, 10% beef rumen, 35% oil, and 45% water provided the optimal protein:fat/oil:water ratio and was suggested for further use as an additive in meat products. It was determined that the addition of 15–20% of O/W emulsion in the composition of forcemeats increases the water and fat-holding capacities and emulsifying ability to the maximum rate compared to the sample without O/W emulsion, which improves the consistency of minced meat. It was found that the addition of 15% of O/W emulsion increases the total number of PUFA up to 55.7%, MUFA up to 25.2%, while the content of SFA decreased to 19.2%.

Molecular gastronomy is a novel discipline within the food science area. Its main difference with the traditional food science and technology studies is its focus on kitchen restaurant and home kitchen levels. The collaboration among food scientists (food chemists, food engineers, sensory scientists, etc.) and innovative chefs led to the implementation of a new approach to cooking, often referred to as “science-based cooking” or “molecular cooking.” This implies implementing new techniques, tools, or ingredients borrowed from scientific laboratories. In parallel, a closer look at the kitchen led scientists to investigate phenomena or methods that are often ignored by food scientists. The difference between molecular gastronomy and conventional food science has been discussed in this chapter, with some examples related to studies on olive oil, sous-vide cooking, the use of liquid nitrogen and ultrasound treatment, as well as the technique called “spherification.” The importance of food pairing in haute-cuisine restaurants and for researchers in the area of sensory science has been highlighted, with the presentation of the theoretical/computational approach based on the so-called flavor network and reporting some results based on empirical laboratory-based studies. The negative outcome of these investigations proves the difficulties of simplifying such a complex system, in which odor, taste-active compounds, texture, and other factors interact, and additional complexity is added by cooking itself. Also, the final consumers’ experience depends on other factors such as the dish presentation and their general expectations.

Background Gaps of knowledge still exist about the potential association between severe thrombocytopenia and increased risk of procedure‐associated bleeding in patients with liver disease. Methods In this narrative review, we aimed at examining the association between procedure‐related bleeding risk and platelet count in patients with cirrhosis and severe thrombocytopenia in various settings. We updated to 2020 a previously conducted literature search using MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE. The search string included clinical studies, adult patients with chronic liver disease and thrombocytopenia undergoing invasive procedures, any interventions and comparators, and haemorrhagic events of any severity as outcome. Results The literature search identified 1276 unique publications, and 15 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analysed together with those identified by the previous search. Most of the new studies included in our analysis did not assess the association between post‐procedural bleeding risk and platelet count alone in patients with chronic liver disease. Furthermore, some results could have been biased by prophylactic platelet transfusions. A few studies found that severe thrombocytopenia may be predictive of bleeding following percutaneous liver biopsy, dental extractions, percutaneous ablation of liver tumours and endoscopic polypectomy. Conclusions Currently available literature cannot support definitive conclusions about the appropriate target platelet counts to improve the risk of bleeding in cirrhotic patients who underwent invasive procedures; moreover, it showed enormous variability in the use of prophylactic platelet transfusions.

Olive oil is the product obtained from the olive fruit. Several grades can be obtained, extra virgin olive oil being the top category. The balanced fatty acid composition of olive oil, particularly its high content of oleic acid, makes this product nutritionally important. In addition, virgin olive oil contains bioactive compounds such as unsaponifiable constituents and phenolic compounds. Polar phenols and volatile compounds are two of the most interesting classes of compounds in olive oil. The scientifically proven beneficial health effects related to VOO consumption and the unique sensory properties of this product make it versatile for several culinary uses. This chapter reviews olive oil composition, focusing on the flavour-active compounds and their changes due to the variety, environmental conditions, processing and technological factors. The culinary uses of olive oils are then presented, with emphasis on traditional uses, possible food pairing and innovative applications including substitution of other fats and molecular gastronomy.

Increasing awareness about the use of compounds obtained from natural sources exerting health-beneficial properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, led to increased number of research papers focusing on the study of functional properties of target compounds to be used as functional foods or in preventive medicine. Pomegranate has shown positive health properties due to the presence of bioactive constituents such as polyphenols, tannins, and anthocyanins. Punicalagin is the major antioxidant, abundantly found in pomegranate's peel. Research has shown that pomegranate polyphenols not only have a strong antioxidant capacity but they also inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria like V. cholera, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, B. cereus, E. coli, and S. virulence factor, and inhibits fungi such as A. Ochraceus, and P. citrinum. Compounds of natural origin inhibit the growth of various pathogens by extending the shelf life of foodstuffs and assuring their safety. Therefore, the need to find compounds to be used in combination with antibiotics or as new antimicrobial sources, such as plant extracts. On the basis of the above discussion, this review focuses on the health benefits of pomegranate, by summarizing the current body of research focusing on pomegranate bioactive constituents and their therapeutic potential against some pathogenic microbes.

Background: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) volatile composition is mainly used as a means of characterisation and authentication, especially for protected denomination of origin (PDO) products. This work investigated the volatile compounds from 25 EVOOs from four Spanish (Cornicabra, Manzanilla Castellana, Picual and Manzanilla Cacerena) and four Italian (Ortice, Ravece, Nocellara del Belice and Itrana) cultivars in terms of odour activity value (OAV). Forty-seven volatile compounds were analysed by solid phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). OAVs of volatile compounds with similar descriptors were grouped in order to establish eight odorant series: fruity, grass, apple, tomato, floral, woody-spicy, fatty and mushroom.; Results: No differences in sensory descriptors were observed among the EVOOs analysed by official VOO sensory analysis. The method of odorant series applied herein was demonstrated to successfully characterise EVOO odour as expected from a sensory panel but using only instrumental analysis of volatile compounds, and giving additional reliable quantitative information. The results can be presented as a 'barcode', providing a visual and effective graphical representation allowing an easy and rapid description of EVOO sensory attributes using instrumental data.; Conclusion: The odorant series have the potential to better differentiate the aroma of food products, opening new possibilities allowing a schematic and effective visual representation to be used for EVOO quality control and consumer information, especially in new olive oil consuming countries. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Butyric acid (butyrate) is a candidate marker of milk fat in complex fat blends, since it is exclusive of milk triacylglycerols (TAGs) from different ruminant species. In this work, we determined the amount of milk fat used for the preparation of fat blends by 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C NMR) spectroscopy-based quantification of butyrate. When tested on fat samples spiked with known amounts of reference bovine milk fat (BCR-519 certified material), the relative composition of the mixtures was reliably assessed through the integration of the diagnostic 13C NMR carbonyl (C1) or ?-carbonyl methylene (C2) resonances of butyrate. NMR data exhibited strict correlation with high resolution-gas chromatography (GC) of fatty acid methyl esters (R2?=?0.99), which was used as an independent and well-established method for the determination of butyrate. Thus, 13C NMR can be used for the direct assessment of milk fat content in fat mixtures, at a limit of detection lower than 5%, with clear advantages over the traditional GC methods in terms of speed, robustness and minimal sample handling. The natural variability of butyrate in milk has been taken into account to estimate the uncertainty associated with the milk fat content in unknown fat blends.

Background. The use of direct antiviral agents (DAA) has radically modified the course of HCV hepatitis in renal patients. Aim of this study was to assess the effects of HCV eradication on quality of life (QOL) in renal transplant recipients (RTR), measured by CLDQ and SF-36. Methods. Sixteen RTR with well preserved GFR (mean: 60.3±19.3 ml/min) and chronic HCV infection with moderate liver stiffness (9.3±1.7 kPa) were given a sofosbuvir-based regimen for 12 weeks and had a 1 year follow-up. Results. At end of treatment (EOT) a complete viral clearance was observed in all the patients, with normalization of most laboratory data and a consistent reduction in liver stiffness. All these parameters remained stable after 1 year, as well as renal function and proteinuria. Questionnaire data showed consistent amelioration in different “emotional” domains at EOT, which persisted after 1 year and were associated with a globally improved QOL, although there was no change in most of the “physical” domains in both questionnaires. One patient under ribavirin developed an acute anemia and withdrew from the study, but no further adverse episode was observed throughout the study. Conclusions. Our data, while confirming the efficacy of oral DAA, show that HCV infection represents a heavy psychological burden in renal transplant recipients, greatly alleviated by viral eradication, which determines a significant improvement in QOL that represents an important outcome in management of all transplant recipients. This trial is registered with ISRCTN97560076.

The western diet high in fat and fructose may cause metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases.To evaluate whether long-term daily vitamin DThree groups of rats were fed for 6 months with standard diet (SD), western diet (WD) or WD containing 23 IU/day/rat vitamin DSixty-one per cent of hepatocytes in WD rats had steatotic vacuoles compared with just 27% in rats on a WD plus vitamin DIn animal models of liver and cardiovascular metabolic damage, the supplementation of vitamin D

The direct use of phenolic extracts from grape by-products can be useful when formulating functional food to improve consumer health. The use of phenolic extracts instead of pure polyphenols as an ingredient is relevant in this context. The present study investigated the bioavailability and absorption of polyphenols from grape by-product extracts and their health effect on cholesterolemia, by adding the extract (GE) to Wistar rats diet (50 g kg-1 ) in vivo.; Results: GE caused the appearance of (+)-catechin, myricetin and quercetic acid in plasma and liver. (+)-Catechin was the most abundant compound (6 μg mL-1 in plasma and 0.7 μg mg-1 protein in liver), whereas no phenolic compounds were detected in plasma or liver in the control group. Similarly, 3,4-hydroxyphenylacetic, a major product of polyphenol digestion, was detected in the plasma, liver and urine of the GE-group only. GE-group had significantly lower cholesterol level and lower total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio in plasma. Total bile acid content significantly increased in fecal matter after 24 h administration of the GE-enriched diet.; Conclusion: Grape extract polyphenols are partially bioavailable and showed improvement in lipid metabolism. Thus, the results suggest that GE is promising as a functional ingredient in the prevention of hypercholesterolemia. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) tool has been developed to estimate patients' 10-yr probability of fracture, thus establishing which patients should undergo dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan. This study aimed to evaluate if the FRAX tool can replace or optimize the use of DXA scan in celiac disease (CD). We prospectively enrolled all CD patients aged over 40 yr diagnosed at our third-level unit. At time of CD diagnosis, all patients underwent FRAX score calculation for risk of major osteoporotic and hip fractures and DXA scan (used as gold standard) to assess the accuracy of the FRAX score. The FRAX score calculation was based on the following 10 variables: age (>40 yr), sex (M/F), body mass index, history of previous fracture (yes/no), parent fractured hip (yes/no), current smoking (yes/no), use of steroids (yes/no), rheumatoid arthritis (yes/no), secondary osteoporosis (yes/no), and alcohol ≥3 units/d (yes/no). DXA assessment was performed within 1 week from FRAX calculation. The FRAX score was dichotomized as normal or pathologic in accordance with the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group. A total of 160 CD patients were enrolled (M/F = 20/140; mean age 48.7 yr). A pathologic FRAX score was evident in 14 out of 160 patients (8.7%), whereas osteoporosis based on DXA scan was found in 10 patients (6%) (κ = 0.6); 3 patients with osteoporosis (1.9%) showed a 10-yr risk of major fracture >10% according to the National Osteoporosis Guideline Group criteria. With regard to diagnostic accuracy, the FRAX score showed sensitivity of 0%, specificity of 91%, positive predictive value of 0%, and negative predictive value of 94%. The prevalence of osteoporosis in adult CD appears to be quite low and only a small proportion of patients would require a DXA investigation. The FRAX score could be an effective tool to avoid useless DXA scans in CD patients in view of its high negative predictive value.

Hyperspectral imaging (1000–2500 nm) was used for rapid prediction of moisture and total lipid content in intact green coffee beans on a single bean basis. Arabica and Robusta samples from several growing locations were scanned using a “push-broom” system. Hypercubes were segmented to select single beans, and average spectra were measured for each bean. Partial Least Squares regression was used to build quantitative prediction models on single beans (n = 320–350). The models exhibited good performance and acceptable prediction errors of ∼0.28% for moisture and ∼0.89% for lipids. This study represents the first time that HSI-based quantitative prediction models have been developed for coffee, and specifically green coffee beans. In addition, this is the first attempt to build such models using single intact coffee beans. The composition variability between beans was studied, and fat and moisture distribution were visualized within individual coffee beans. This rapid, non-destructive approach could have important applications for research laboratories, breeding programmes, and for rapid screening for industry., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Intact single green coffee beans were analysed for their moisture and fat content by HSI. • NIR Hyperspectral imaging was applied to develop PLS calibrations for these constituents. • The PLSR performance showed a performance comparable with traditional NIR instrumentation. • A classification model was successfully applied by PLS-DA to discriminate Arabica vs Robusta.

Highlights • HSI was applied for non-destructive prediction of total protein content in wheat kernels. • Above 2100 wheat kernels were taken from ~200 batches and individually analysed. • PLS regression models had R2 = 0.82 and prediction error lower than 0.93%. • Protein distribution had wide range (6–20%) and was visualised by applying the calibration. • The performance of HgGcTe was superior to the one built by simulating InGaAs sensors., Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combines Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and digital imaging to give information about the chemical properties of objects and their spatial distribution. Protein content is one of the most important quality factors in wheat. It is known to vary widely depending on the cultivar, agronomic and climatic conditions. However, little information is known about single kernel protein variation within batches. The aim of the present work was to measure the distribution of protein content in whole wheat kernels on a single kernel basis, and to apply HSI to predict this distribution. Wheat samples from 2013 and 2014 harvests were sourced from UK millers and wheat breeders, and individual kernels were analysed by HSI and by the Dumas combustion method for total protein content. HSI was applied in the spectral region 980–2500 nm in reflectance mode using the push-broom approach. Single kernel spectra were used to develop partial least squares (PLS) regression models for protein prediction of intact single grains. The protein content ranged from 6.2 to 19.8% (“as-is” basis), with significantly higher values for hard wheats. The performance of the calibration model was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R2) and the root mean square error (RMSE) from 3250 samples used for calibration and 868 used for external validation. The calibration performance for single kernel protein content was R2 of 0.82 and 0.79, and RMSE of 0.86 and 0.94% for the calibration and validation dataset, enabling quantification of the protein distribution between kernels and even visualisation within the same kernel. The performance of the single kernel measurement was poorer than that typically obtained for bulk samples, but is acceptable for some specific applications. The use of separate calibrations built by separating hard and soft wheat, or on kernels placed on similar orientation did not greatly improve the prediction ability. We simulated the use of the lower cost InGaAs detector (1000–1700 nm), and reported that the use of proposed HgCdTe detectors over a restricted spectral range gave a lower prediction error (RMSEC = 0.86% vs 1.06%, for HgCdTe and InGaAs, respectively), and increased R2 value (Rc2 = 0.82 vs 0.73).

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combines spectroscopy and imaging, providing information about the chemical properties of a material and their spatial distribution. It represents an advance of traditional Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The present work reviews the most recent applications of NIR spectroscopy for cereal grain evaluation, then focused on the use of HSI in this field. The progress of research from ground material to whole grains and single kernels is detailed. The potential of NIR-based methods to predict protein content, sprout damage and α-amylase activity in wheat and barley is shown, in addition to assessment of quality parameters in other cereals such as rice, maize and oats, and the estimation of fungal infection. This analytical technique also offers the possibility to rapidly classify grains based on properties such as variety, geographical origin, kernel hardness, etc. Further applications of HSI are expected in the near future, for its potential for rapid single-kernel analysis.

We investigated the role of HFE C282Y, H63D, and TMPRSS6 A736V variants in the pathogenesis of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in celiac disease (CD) patients, at diagnosis and after 1 year of gluten-free diet (GFD). Demographic and clinical features were prospectively recorded for all CD patients between 2013 and 2017. C282Y, H63D, and A736V variants were evaluated for CD patients and controls. Finally, 505 consecutive CD patients and 539 age-matched control subjects were enrolled. At diagnosis, 229 CD subjects had IDA (45.3%), with a subgroup of anemic patients (45.4%) presented persistent IDA at follow-up. C282Y allele frequency was significantly increased in CD compared with controls (1.1% vs 0.2%, P = .001), whereas H63D and A736V allele frequencies were similar among patients and controls (P = .92 and .84, respectively). At diagnosis, C282Y variant in anemic CD patients was significantly increased compared to nonanemic group (2% and 0.5%, P = .04). At follow-up, A736V was significantly increased in IDA persistent than in IDA not persistent (57.7% vs 35.2%, P

Available data on HBV prevalence in Italy are outdated and assessed with studies conducted in small towns. We aimed to evaluate prevalence of and risk factors for HBV infection in the metropolitan area of Naples, 24 years after the introduction of mass vaccination campaign against Hepatitis B in Italy.A random systematic sample of the adult general population of Naples was selected from the register of 3 general practitioners in 3 different socio-economic districts. Independent predictors of the likelihood of HBV infection were identified by logistic regression analysis.Among 900 selected subjects, 772 (85.8%) participated in the study. The overall HBsAg and anti-HBc prevalences were 1.7% and 14.4%, respectively. Both markers were more likely detected in the district at low socioeconomic status than in those at medium-high status (p0.01). Anti-HBc prevalence linearly increased from 0% in subjects 30 years old or younger to 28.0% in those older than 60 years of age (p0.01). At multivariate analysis, age60 years (OR3.38; 95%CI:1.98-5.74), low socioeconomic district of residence (OR3.26; 95%CI:1.72-6.18), and low educational qualification (OR2.73; 95%CI:1.45-5.16) were independent predictors of anti-HBc positivity.Differences in socioeconomic conditions have played a major role in the past spread of HBV infection in Naples. Hepatitis B vaccination has resulted very effectively in preventing HBV infection, regardless of the district of residence, as none of the subjects in the vaccinated cohorts was exposed to the infection.

Highlights • Quantitative calibrations were built from shelled and in-shell single cocoa beans by HSI. • The fat content of commercial batches of cocoa beans varies by up to 15% within batches. • HSI prediction of the total lipid content was successful for shelled and unshelled beans. • Segregation using HSI fat calibration enhanced cocoa bean fat content by 6%., This work aimed to explore the possibility of predicting total fat content in whole dried cocoa beans at a single bean level using hyperspectral imaging (HSI). 170 beans randomly selected from 17 batches were individually analysed by HSI and by reference methodology for fat quantification. Both whole (i.e. in-shell) beans and shelled seeds (cotyledons) were analysed. Partial Least Square (PLS) regression models showed good performance for single shelled beans (R2 = 0.84, external prediction error of 2.4%). For both in-shell beans a slightly lower prediction error of 4.0% and R2 = 0.52 was achieved, but fat content estimation is still of interest given its wide range. Beans were manually segregated, demonstrating an increase by up to 6% in the fat content of sub-fractions. HSI was shown to be a valuable technique for rapid, non-contact prediction of fat content in cocoa beans even from scans of unshelled beans, enabling significant practical benefits to the food industry for quality control purposes and for obtaining a more consistent raw material.

Non-alcoholic-fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is spreading worldwide. Specific drugs for NAFLD are not yet available, even if some plant extracts show beneficial properties. We evaluated the effects of a combination, composed by Berberis Aristata, Elaeis Guineensis and Coffea Canephora, on the development of obesity, hepatic steatosis, insulin-resistance and on the modulation of hepatic microRNAs (miRNA) levels and microbiota composition in a mouse model of liver damage. C57BL/6 mice were fed with standard diet (SD, n = 8), high fat diet (HFD, n = 8) or HFD plus plant extracts (HFD+E, n = 8) for 24 weeks. Liver expression of miR-122 and miR-34a was evaluated by quantitativePCR. Microbiome analysis was performed on cecal content by 16S rRNA sequencing. HFD+E-mice showed lower body weight (p &lt, 0.01), amelioration of insulin-sensitivity (p = 0.021), total cholesterol (p = 0.014), low-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (p &lt, 0.001), alanine-aminotransferase (p = 0.038) and hepatic steatosis compared to HFD-mice. While a decrease of hepatic miR-122 and increase of miR-34a were observed in HFD-mice compared to SD-mice, both these miRNAs had similar levels to SD-mice in HFD+E-mice. Moreover, a different microbial composition was found between SD- and HFD-mice, with a partial rescue of dysbiosis in HFD+E-mice. This combination of plant extracts had a beneficial effect on HFD-induced NAFLD by the modulation of miR-122, miR-34a and gut microbiome.

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is a pollutant by-product from the virgin olive oil production. Its high content in phenolic compounds makes them play an important role for their use in foods, for their high antioxidant significance. The present paper gives an overview on the techniques for OMW valuable ingredient separation, focusing on the most effective ones for their use in food products as functional ingredients. We report on effective methods to recover OMW phenolics, and give several examples on the use these extracts in foods. When added into vegetable oils, their effect on retarding lipid oxidation improves the oxidative status of the product, whilst several challenges need to be faced. OMW phenolic extracts were also used in food emulsions, milk products or other model systems, showing promising results and little or no negative impact on the sensory characteristics or other properties. Their possible use as antimicrobial agents is also another promising approach, as positive results were obtained when applied in meat products. Other examples of using natural phenolic extracts from other sources are suggested also for OMW extracts, to expand their use and thus to improve the nutritional and technological quality of foods.

Background To date, potential coeliac disease (PCD) occurring in adults remains an almost unexplored condition. Aims To explore the prognostic role of Marsh grade in adult PCD patients, and to evaluate the effects of gluten-containing diet (GCD) in asymptomatic PCD patients. Methods We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive adult PCD patients followed-up for at least 6 years. Patients were divided into: Group A (patients with Marsh 0 histology) and Group B (Marsh 1 patients). Symptomatic patients were started gluten-free diet (GFD), while asymptomatic subjects were kept on GCD and were followed-up. Results 56 PCD patients were enrolled (21 in Group A and 35 in Group B). Forty-three patients were symptomatic and started GFD. Of these, none of 15 patients in Group A and 8 of 28 patients in Group B developed immune-mediated disorders (IMD) during follow-up (P = 0.03; OR = 4.2). The 13 asymptomatic PCD patients were kept on GCD. During the follow-up, 9 patients developed CD-related symptoms, 6 villous atrophy and 8 IMD. At the end, patients kept on GCD were at higher risk of developing IMD than those following a GFD (61% vs 18%, P = 0.03, OR = 3.3). Conclusions Although PCD with normal mucosa seems to be a milder disease, the continuation of GCD places patients at a high risk of developing villous atrophy and IMD compared to commencement of GFD. Adult PCD patients should start GFD even if not symptomatic.

The present paper reports on the characterisation of white figs cv. “Dottato” from Southern Italy for their volatile compounds as a function of drying treatment, i.e. natural sun-drying or oven-dry...

Fresh lemons (Citrus limon L.) from two locations in Italy were added to fresh olives before milling them to produce flavoured olive oils (FOO). FOOs were characterized for their quality parameters, fatty acid composition, biophenol content, volatile compound composition and sensory profile. Sensory results showed that lemon volatiles would mask negative notes of olive oil obtained from olives with slight off-flavours by adding strong notes of lemon leaf, albedo and lemon juice, while they decreased the positive notes of olive fruit, green, leaf and bitter-pungent from good quality olives. Flavouring OO with lemon significantly affected quality indices, with a significant increase of the acidity value and UV indices. OO flavouring with fresh lemon also affected the phenolic compounds, particularly the simplest forms, hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol. A dramatic decrease of the concentration of aldehydic and dialdehydic forms of oleuropein was also observed in FOO. As expected, volatile profile of virgin OO dramatically changed due to lemons addition, which caused the presence of several terpene compounds, namely limonene, α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, β-mircene and γ-terpinene. In contrast, virgin OO volatile compounds decreased with lemon addition. In conclusion, addition of lemon to OO should be carried out by considering these results, as well as the legislation for this kind of product.

The aim of this research was to study the variability in kernel composition within the canopy of hazelnut trees.; Results: Kernel fresh and dry weight increased linearly with fruit height above the ground. Fat content decreased, while protein and ash content increased, from the bottom to the top layers of the canopy. The level of unsaturation of fatty acids decreased from the bottom to the top of the canopy. Thus, the kernels located in the bottom layers of the canopy appear to be more interesting from a nutritional point of view, but their lipids may be more exposed to oxidation. The content of different phytosterols increased progressively from bottom to top canopy layers.; Conclusion: Most of these effects correlated with the pattern in light distribution inside the canopy. The results of this study indicate that fruit position within the canopy is an important factor in determining hazelnut kernel growth and composition. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

SummaryBackground It is unclear whether the efficacy and long-term outcome of treating patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive cirrhosis with the new protease inhibitors will extend to those with Child C cirrhosis. Aim To assess the effectiveness of the interferon-free regimens in Child C cirrhotic patients with HCV infection. Methods A systematic Medline search was conducted to retrieve studies describing the treatment of Child C patients with direct-acting agents. Citations from identified studies were cross-referenced and abstracts from European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) meetings were checked. Extracted data were evaluated using a meta-analysis to calculate a weighted response rate. Results Seven full-text records and two conference abstracts were retained for analysis from the 649 records identified. Data from an Italian real-life trial were also interrogated. Information on treatment outcome was available for 228 of the 240 Child C patients evaluated in the 10 trials. Overall, the weighted mean sustained virological response (SVR12) was 74.9% (95% CI: 65.6–82.4%). Neither duration of treatment (24 or 12 weeks), nor addition of ribavirin influenced these rates. The weighted SVR12 was 65.4% (95% CI: 46.8–80.2) after sofosbuvir/simeprevir, 76.0% (95% CI: 54.4–89.3%) after sofosbuvir/daclatasvir and 83.0% (95% CI: 73.4–89.6) after sofosbuvir/ledipasvir. Some studies did not provide information on the rate of post-treatment relapse or functional improvement. However, in those studies that did provide such data, a relapse was documented in 12.1% of patients and an improvement of ≥2 points on the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in 61.1% of patients. Conclusion The improvement in MELD scores strongly suggests HCV-positive patients with Child C cirrhosis should be treated with these agents.

Coffee consumption is inversely associated with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A gap in the literature still exists concerning the intestinal mechanisms that are involved in the protective effect of coffee consumption towards NAFLD. In this study, twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups each receiving a standard diet, a high-fat diet (HFD) or an HFD plus decaffeinated coffee (HFD+COFFEE) for 12 weeks. Coffee supplementation reduced HFD-induced liver macrovesicular steatosis (P P P PPAR- α(P P ABCA1) and subfamily G1 (ABCG1) (P P P P Alcaligenaceaein the faeces (P

Virgin olive oil (VOO) has unique chemical characteristics among all other vegetable oils which are of paramount importance for human health. VOO constituents are also responsible of its peculiar flavor, a complex sensation due to a combination of aroma, taste, texture, and mouthfeel or trigeminal sensations. VOO flavor depends primarily on the concentration and nature of volatile and phenolic compounds present in olive oil which can change dramatically depending on agronomical and technological factors. Another aspect that can change the flavor perception is linked to the oral process during olive oil tasting. In fact, in this case, some human physiological and matrix effects modulate the flavor release in the mouth. The present review aims to give an overview on VOO flavor, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms affecting its production and release during a tasting.

Data on the prevalence of HCV infection in Italy are often outdated and from non-urban populations. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection in a large metropolitan area in southern Italy. A random 1:3 systematic sample of the adult general population of Naples was selected from three general practitioner patient registers in three different city districts. Socioeconomic indicators and risk factors for HCV infection were collected. Anti-HCV and HCV-RNA assays were performed. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of HCV infection. Of 1,500 randomly selected subjects, 1,315 (87.7%) participated in the study. Forty subjects (3.0%; 95%CI: 2.1-4.0) were anti-HCV-positive, with HCV-RNA detected by PCR in 31 (77.5%) of these. Anti-HCV prevalence increased with age, peaking (8.2%) in people born during the years 1945-1955. It was 1.7% in people residing in the better socioeconomic districts; but 5.7% in those residing in the district with lower socioeconomic status (P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, age ≥60 years (OR 2.8, 95%CI: 1.3-6.1) and lower educational level (OR 3.6; 95%CI: 1.4-9.3), which is a proxy of low socioeconomic status, were the only independent predictors of the likelihood of anti-HCV positivity. Overall, 22.5% of anti-HCV positive subjects were previously unaware of their status. In the large city of Naples, infection with HCV is most common in people aged older than 60 years. Differences in socioeconomic conditions have played an important role in the spread of this infection. HCV positive subjects born during the years 1945-1955 are those who may benefit, to a greater extent, to be identified in order to receive the new effective therapy. J. Med. Virol. 89:291-297, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Osteoporosis is a complication of chronic liver disease, with impact on morbidity, quality of life, and survival. The progress of medicine and the new therapies stretched the disease's natural history and improved the survival of patients with liver disease. So, it is fundamental to make better the quality of life and to prevent complications. Metabolic bone disorders are common complications of chronic liver disease (CLD). Patients with CLD have an increased risk of bone fractures, with significant impact on morbidity, quality of life, and even on survival. Bone diseases, including osteomalacia, osteoporosis, and osteopenia, are frequently observed in many types of liver disease. The pathogenesis of damage and the mechanisms of bone loss are different in relation to the specific liver disease. The relevance of these conditions induced many authors to create a new nosographic entity known as "hepatic osteodystrophy", although this term is rarely used anymore and it is now commonly referred to as osteopenia or osteoporosis associated with chronic liver disease. This review is based on the personal experiences of the authors and upon research done of the available literature on this subject matter. The authors searched the PubMed database for publications containing the term "liver disease" in combination with "bone disease", "hepatic osteodistrophy", "osteoporosis", "osteopenia", "osteomalacia", and "fractures". They selected publications from the past 10 years but did not exclude older seminal publications, especially for colestatic liver diseases. This review of literature shows that osteoporosis crosses all CLD. It is important to underline that the progress of medicine and the new therapies stretched the disease's natural history and improved the survival of patients with CLD. It is fundamental to make better the quality of life and it is mandatory to prevent complications and in particular the osteoporotic ones, especially fractures.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. A reduction in insulin receptor (IR) expression has been reported in these patients. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of a mixture of plant extracts consisting of Berberis aristata, Elaeis guineensis and decaffeinated green coffee by Coffea canephora on the improvement of glycaemic profile, through the modulation of IR levels, and of hepatic steatosis in NAFLD patients. Forty-nine patients with a grade of steatosis S1-S2 were randomly allocated to the treatment with plant extracts or placebo for six months. Hepatic steatosis was evaluated using transient elastography with CAP (controlled attenuation parameter). Glucose, insulin, and IR levels were measured in serum samples. At the end of the study, patients treated with plant extracts displayed a significant reduction of serum glucose (p &lt, 0.001), insulin levels (p &lt, 0.01), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index (p &lt, 0.001), and CAP value (p &lt, 0.01) compared to placebo. Moreover, the IR expression was increased significantly in the plant extracts group compared to the placebo group (p &lt, 0.05). The combination of plant extracts increases serum IR levels, determining amelioration of glycemic profile and improvement of hepatic steatosis in NAFLD patients.

The effect of the presence of virgin olive oil (VOO) phenolic compounds was studied during the in-vivo consumption of an olive oil-in-water (O/W) food emulsion, assessed by APCI-MS. VOO phenolic compounds were present at 593 mg kg−1. Four volatile compounds, i.e. ethyl acetate, hexanal, hexanol and linalool, were monitored based on their physicochemical characteristics and their aroma impact. Olive O/W emulsions were stabilized by whey protein isolate (WPI) and xanthan gum. Our results suggested that ethyl acetate and hexanal have a “salting out” effect in the presence of VOO phenolics at swallowing of emulsion. Among the volatiles investigated, hexanal showed the highest release. The persistence in the breath was higher for linalool only, potentially due to its higher hydrophobicity. This study could be beneficial in the formulation of new functional foods to enhance aroma release and persistence in the presence of natural phenolic compounds.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) volatile composition is mainly used as a means of characterisation and authentication, especially for protected denomination of origin (PDO) products. This work investigated the volatile compounds from 25 EVOOs from four Spanish (Cornicabra, Manzanilla Castellana, Picual and Manzanilla Cacereña) and four Italian (Ortice, Ravece, Nocellara del Belice and Itrana) cultivars in terms of odour activity value (OAV). Forty-seven volatile compounds were analysed by solid phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS). OAVs of volatile compounds with similar descriptors were grouped in order to establish eight odorant series: fruity, grass, apple, tomato, floral, woody-spicy, fatty and mushroom.No differences in sensory descriptors were observed among the EVOOs analysed by official VOO sensory analysis. The method of odorant series applied herein was demonstrated to successfully characterise EVOO odour as expected from a sensory panel but using only instrumental analysis of volatile compounds, and giving additional reliable quantitative information. The results can be presented as a 'barcode', providing a visual and effective graphical representation allowing an easy and rapid description of EVOO sensory attributes using instrumental data.The odorant series have the potential to better differentiate the aroma of food products, opening new possibilities allowing a schematic and effective visual representation to be used for EVOO quality control and consumer information, especially in new olive oil consuming countries. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background In the management of Crohn's disease [CD] patients, having a simple score combining clinical, endoscopic, and imaging features to predict the risk of surgery could help to tailor treatment more effectively. Aims We aimed to prospectively evaluate the 1-year risk factors for surgery in refractory/severe CD and to generate a risk matrix for predicting the probability of surgery at 1 year. Methods CD patients needing a disease re-assessment at our tertiary inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] centre underwent clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and bowel sonography [BS] examinations within 1 week. The optimal cut-off values in predicting surgery were identified using receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curves for the Simple Endoscopic Score for CD [SES-CD], bowel wall thickness [BWT] at BS, and small bowel CD extension at BS. Binary logistic regression and Cox regression were then carried out. Finally, the probabilities of surgery were calculated for selected baseline levels of covariates and results were arranged in a prediction matrix. Results Of 100 CD patients, 30 underwent surgery within 1 year. SES-CD ≥9 (odds ratio [OR] 15.3; p

We report on the analysis of volatile compounds by SPME-GC-MS for individual roasted coffee beans. The aim was to understand the relative abundance and variability of volatile compounds between individual roasted coffee beans at constant roasting conditions. Twenty-five batches of Arabica and robusta species were sampled from 13 countries, and 10 single coffee beans randomly selected from each batch were individually roasted in a fluidised-bed roaster at 210 °C for 3 min. High variability (CV = 14.0–53.3%) of 50 volatile compounds in roasted coffee was obtained within batches (10 beans per batch). Phenols and heterocyclic nitrogen compounds generally had higher intra-batch variation, while ketones were the most uniform compounds (CV, Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image, Highlights • Volatile compounds associated with individual roasted coffee beans were analysed by SPME-GC-MS. • High inter- and intra-batch variability was observed, especially for 3-ethylpyridine. • Multivariate statistics allowed prediction of coffee origin (species and location). • Variability of volatiles is wide, with different chemical classes showing diverse behaviour.

Highlights • Measurements of single cocoa beans were made by NIR HSI. • PLS regression models were built for several chemical properties. • Fermentation (FI), total phenolics (TP) and antioxidant activity (AA) were predicted. • Prediction performance was suitable for screening purposes., The aim of the current work was to use hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in the spectral range 1000–2500 nm to quantitatively predict fermentation index (FI), total polyphenols (TP) and antioxidant activity (AA) of individual dry fermented cocoa beans scanned on a single seed basis, in a non-destructive manner. Seventeen cocoa bean batches were obtained and 10 cocoa beans were used from each batch. PLS regression models were built on 170 samples. The developed HSI predictive models were able to quantify three quality-related parameters with sufficient performance for screening purposes, with external validation R2 of 0.50 (RMSEP = 0.27, RPD = 1.40), 0.70 (RMSEP = 34.1 mg ferulic acid g−1, RPD = 1.77) and 0.74 (60.0 mmol Trolog kg−1, RPD = 1.91) for FI, TP and AA, respectively. The calibrations were subsequently applied at a single bean and pixel level, so that the distribution was visualised within and between single seeds (chemical images). HSI is thus suggested as a promising approach to estimate cocoa bean composition rapidly and non-destructively, thus offering a valid tool for food inspection and quality control.

Background and Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of a low FODMAP (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols) diet on patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), non-active inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), and celiac disease (CD) on a gluten-free diet (GFD). Methods: Dietetic interventional prospective study. IBS, IBD, and CD subjects were evaluated to check if they fulfilled the Rome III criteria. Each subject was educated to follow a low FODMAP diet after being evaluated by filling out questionnaires that assessed the quality of life (QoL) and symptoms experienced (IBS-SSS and SF-36), and was reevaluated after 1 and 3 months. Results: One hundred twenty-seven subjects were enrolled: 56 with IBS, 30 with IBD, and 41 with CD. IBS-SSS showed that abdominal symptoms improved after 1 and 3 months of diet in all subjects, with significant difference among the 3 groups at T0 (average scores IBS: 293 ± 137, IBD: 206 ± 86, CD: 222 ± 65, p < 0.001), but no difference at T3 (IBS: 88 ± 54, IBD: 73 ± 45, CD: 77 ± 49, p = ns). By analyzing the SF-36 questionnaire, we did not observe any difference between the 3 groups, in terms of response to diet (p = ns), we observed a clinical improvement from T0 to T3 for most of the questionnaire’s domains. Conclusions: A low FODMAP diet could be a valid option to counter ­abdominal symptoms in patients with IBS, non-active IBD, or CD on a GFD, and thus, improve their QoL and social ­relations.

Background and aims The postoperative course of Crohn's disease (CD) is best predicted by ileocolonoscopy. Ultrasonography (US) has been proposed as indicator for postsurgical recurrence (PSR), but further confirmation is needed. We performed a systemic review with meta-analysis to assess the pooled diagnostic accuracy of US in the evaluation of PSR. Methods The systematic review was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane databases to identify studies assessing the US accuracy in PSR diagnosis. A sub-analysis between bowel sonography (BS), small-intestine contrast ultrasound (SICUS), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was performed. Pooling was performed using diagnostic fixed or random-effect model according with heterogeneity. Results Ten studies (536 patients) met the inclusion criteria. There was no publication bias. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of US in detecting PSR were 0.94 (95% CI, 0.86-0.97) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.62-0.94; diagnostic accuracy 90%), respectively. At sub-analysis, pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.82 (95% CI, 0.76-0.88) and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.74-0.95) respectively for BS, with 0.99 (95% CI, 0.99-1.00) and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.73-0.74) for SICUS. Finally, an SROC curve was built to establish the best bowel wall thickness (BWT) cutoff able to predict the presence of severe PSR (Rutgeerts ≥3): a BWT ≥5.5 mm at US revealed sensitivity of 83.8% (95% CI, 73.6%-90.6%), specificity of 97.7% (95% CI, 93%-99%). Conclusions US shows high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of PSR. SICUS appears more sensitive-but less specific-than BS, while the role of CEUS needs further investigation. A cutoff value of BWT ≥5.5 mm is strongly indicative of severe PSR. 10.1093/ibd/izy012_video1izy012.video15775249754001.

Molecular gastronomy (MG) is a relatively new scientific discipline, which focuses on food preparation mainly at domestic and restaurant levels. The number of scientific papers on MG has increased in the past few years. It is, however, difficult to differentiate specifically between the MG discipline or other research areas in food science and technology. Otherwise, molecular cooking, i.e., an application of MG principles, seems limited to a few “fancy” techniques supported by famous chefs. This paper aims to critically review the recent developments of MG, the most interesting applications, and the outcomes obtained from the fruitful collaboration among food scientists and innovative chefs. The controversies and merits associated with MG are also presented, e.g., the principle of food pairing and consumers’ appreciation of innovative dishes, and a few research papers promising exciting future developments.