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The utilization of edible insects (EIs) as an alternative source of nutrients and functional foods has gained substantial recognition in recent years, opening doors to sustainable food production, improved dietary health, and unique food experiences. EIs are rich in bioactive compounds (BACs) encompassing proteins, peptides, PUFA, vitamins, and antioxidants. These BACs have a wide array of health-enhancing qualities, from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and immune system-modulating effects. Furthermore, the potential of EIs extends to the management or mitigation of health conditions like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and malnutrition. The incorporation of EIs into food systems has evolved beyond traditional consumption, with applications in the development of functional foods, dietary supplements, and food ingredients. In this context, this critical review aims to amalgamate the most recent developments in the realm of EIs-based food products, in addition to elucidating the most efficient process intensification procedures for the extraction and recovery of these BACs. The sustainable utilization of EIs calls for a careful examination of several crucial considerations, including consumer acceptance or allergenicity. In this respect, intensified technologies have emerged to maximize the potential of BACs derived from EIs, while simultaneously enhancing their functionality, stability, and regulatory approval within the ambit of food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Majid Moshirfar,1– 3 Noor F Basharat,4 Tanner S Seitz,5 Christian M Peterson,6 Seth R Stapley,5 Melody Ziari,7 Nour Bundogji,2 Yasmyne C Ronquillo,1 Phillip C Hoopes1 1Hoopes Vision Research Center, Hoopes Vision, Draper, UT, 84020, USA; 2John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; 3Utah Lions Eye Bank, Murray, UT, USA; 4University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA; 5Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glendale, AZ, USA; 6University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; 7University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, USACorrespondence: Majid Moshirfar, Hoopes Vision Research Center, 11820 S, State Street Suite &num;200, Draper, UT, 84020, Tel +1-801-568-0200, Fax +1-801-563-0200, Email cornea2020@me.comPurpose: To analyze refractive changes after neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) posterior capsulotomy in pseudophakic eyes.Patients and Methods: Patients who underwent Nd:YAG capsulotomy after cataract surgery from January 2013 to April 2022 were included in this retrospective study. Sphere, cylinder, spherical equivalent (SE), axis, and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were compared pre- and postoperatively in 683 eyes of 548 patients at one month (n = 605 eyes) and one year (n = 211 eyes). Patients with both one-month and one-year follow-ups (n = 133) were also compared. Eyes were stratified into single-piece (n = 330), three-piece (n = 30), and light adjustable lenses (LALs) (n = 16). Pre- and postoperative measurements were analyzed within each group.Results: Cylinder was significantly decreased at one-month (difference: 0.042± 0.448 D, p = 0.006) and one-year (difference: 0.101± 0.455 D, p = 0.003) compared to preoperative measurements. No significant change in sphere or axis was observed at follow-up visits (p > 0.05). CDVA significantly improved at both time points (p < 0.05). No significant change in any parameters between the one-month and one-year groups was observed (p > 0.05). There was significant improvement in CDVA in the single and three-piece lens groups (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.026, respectively), with no change in the LAL group (p > 0.05).Conclusion: There were no changes in sphere, axis, or spherical equivalent after Nd:YAG capsulotomy. However, cylindrical error and CDVA were significantly better after the procedure. Lens type did not impact refractive parameters postoperatively.Keywords: PCO, posterior capsular opacification, cataract, light adjustable lenses, LAL

Abstract High amylose rice (HAR) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) are the preferred choices for enhancement of resistant starch content and lowering of glycemic index in dairy desserts. The effects of different levels of skimmed milk powder (SMP): HAR flour (45:55 to 75:25) and CMC (0.1 to 1%) were investigated on physical characteristics of dry-mix and on texture profile parameters, resistant starch (RS), predicted glycemic index (pGI), glycemic load (GL) and overall acceptability of phirni (a traditional milk pudding). Design expert predicted SMP (70): HAR (30) and CMC (0.8%) as optimum levels for reducing the pGI and maximizing the RS content and other quality characteristics in phirni. RS content of phirni (4.38%) prepared from optimized dry-mix (ODM) was higher while pGI (48.12) and GL (7.50) were lower as compared to phirni prepared from market dry-mix (MDM). The visco-thermal properties of ODM and MDM also showed significant variations. Storage modulus (Gʹ) and loss modulus (Gʹʹ) indicated that ODM phirni was less solid than MDM phirni. Scanning electron micrographs showed fused structures in ODM, while coarse sheet like structures were observed across the surface of MDM. Thus, ODM can be a promising substitute for the available milk desserts for diabetic patients.

Tuberculosis (TB) is endemic in many developing countries including Pakistan. It is a leading cause of death from a single infectious agent worldwide. Identification and early treatment of latent conditions help reduce the complications associated with TB. However, the identification of individuals with latent infection is a time taking and expensive process. According to previous studies, a promising and cheap biomarker of TB may be the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR). It may indicate a body’s immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Since household contacts of tuberculosis (TB) patients have an increased risk of latent tuberculosis (LTBI), using the established diagnostic procedures as well as checking their MLR might help determine if they contracted LTBI or not. We conducted acrosssectional study to determine if MLR could be used to identify LTBI among household contacts of patients with active tuberculosis. Out of the 100 subjects selected for this study, about 40 patients were recently diagnosed with active tuberculosis, 40 were close contacts of these patients, while20 were chosen to be controls. The mean was 0.165, 0.06 (range 0.03–0.08), and 0.04 (0.02–0.04) inpatients with active tuberculosis, close contacts of patients, and control subjects, respectively. Hence, it was determined that MLR (> 0.6 %)is a significant predictor for LTBI 2 can be used to diagnose it in close contacts of TB patients. It was additionally observed that patients over the age of 50 with pulmonary tuberculosis have higher MLR.

Certain Rh positive blood groups showed a link between the ABO blood grouping and susceptibility to some infectious ailments. Study was carried out to find the association of ABO Blood Group System / Rh type with different viral infection. A retrospective observational study was carried in 7631 blood donors to find the association of ABO Blood Group System / Rh type with viral infection due to hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus and Syphilis. Data of the study indicateF that the highest incidence of blood group in blood donor was B followed by O, A and AB. The incidence of HBsAg +ve, HCV Ab +ve and infection of Syphilis was also highest in donor with blood group B followed by O, A and AB. Blood group A were more susceptible to HIV Ab +ve followed by blood group B, O and AB. The group B donors had the greatest risk of viral infection with HBV, HCV, HIV, and Syphilis; followed by the groups O, A, and AB. Donors in group AB had the lowest incidence rate of all viral infection. The study revealed that blood group B is most prevalent among donors, followed by blood groups O, A, and AB. On the other side, the rate of HBV, HCV, HIV, and Syphilis infection was greatest among group B donors, followed by group O, group A, and group AB. Keywords: ABO Blood Group System, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis Copyright(c) The Authors

An ecofriendly extraction technology using infrared (IR) irradiation Ired-Irrad® was applied to purple corn cobs to enhance polyphenol recovery for the first time. The IR extraction efficiency was compared to that of the water bath (WB) method. Response surface methodology (RSM) using a central composite design was conducted to determine the effect of the experimental conditions (extraction time and treatment temperature) and their interactions on the total polyphenol and anthocyanin yields. Optimal extraction of total phenolic compounds (37 mg GAE/g DM) and total monomeric anthocyanins (14 mg C3G/g DM) were obtained at 63 °C for 77 min using IR as an extraction technique and water as a solvent. HPLC revealed that the recovery of peonidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside was enhanced by 26% and 34%, respectively, when using IR. Finally, purple corn cobs’ spray-dried extract was proven to be an important natural colorant of pickled turnip. It offers great potential for use as a healthy alternative to the carcinogenic rhodamine B synthetic dye, which was banned.

The table olive industry generates high amounts of wastewater annually during the alkaline treatment, fermentation, and washing steps of olives. High conductivity and salt content, as well as the high organic and biophenol contents of these waters, is a worldwide problem, especially in the Mediterranean region, which is the major table olive producing area. There is a wide variety of bioactives found in wastewater derived from table olive processing. The main compounds of table olive wastewater, such as those derived from phenolic, hydrocarbon, and sugar fractions, can be recovered and reused. In this review, the table olive manufacturing processes and the volumes and composition of wastewater generated from the different methods of table olive processing are discussed. In addition, biophenols of table olive water and their biological activities are also introduced. The high concentrations of valuable biophenols, such as tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, show promising potential for valorizing table olive wastewater; however, more research is needed in this area.

Vegan alternatives to cheese (VAC) and yogurt (VAY) are fast-growing markets in Europe due to the increasing interest in plant-based alternatives to dairy products. This study aimed to take a closer look at the year 2020 and accordingly retrieved the nutritional information of dairy cheese and yogurt and their vegan counterparts for comparison. It was found that VAY (n = 182) provide more energy, total fats, and carbohydrates than dairy yogurt (n = 86), while saturated fatty acids (SFAs), sugars, and salt were not different between the two categories. Compared to dairy products (25.6%), 72.9% of the alternative products were declared low/no/reduced allergen, hence providing a larger spectrum of products to respond to consumers’ requirements. VAC (n = 114) showed high versatility of form compared to dairy (n = 115). Nutritionally, VAC have higher total fats, SFAs, and carbohydrates, but lower protein, salt, and sugar than dairy cheese. Food developers will continue to look for clean label solutions to improve the nutritional values of vegan products through the incorporation of natural ingredients, besides enhancing their taste and texture to appeal to flexitarians.

Abstract \nHIGHLIGHTS Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in regulating the response to immune checkpoint therapy, therefore modulation of the microbiome with bioactive molecules like carotenoids might be a very effective strategy to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. This review highlights the bio-functional effect of carotenoids on Gut Microbiota modulation based on a bibliographic search of the different databases. The methodology given in the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) has been employed for developing this review using papers published over two decades considering keywords related to carotenoids and gut microbiota. Moreover, studies related to the health-promoting properties of carotenoids and their utilization in the modulation of gut microbiota have been presented. Results showed that there can be quantitative changes in intestinal bacteria as a function of the type of carotenoid. Due to the dependency on several factors, gut microbiota continues to be a broad and complex study subject. Carotenoids are promising in the modulation of Gut Microbiota, which favored the appearance of beneficial bacteria, resulting in the protection of villi and intestinal permeability. In conclusion, it can be stated that carotenoids may help to protect the integrity of the intestinal epithelium from pathogens and activate immune cells. Gut microbiota plays an essential role in regulating the immune checkpoint therapy Carotenoids are promising molecules in the alteration of gut microbiota Carotenoids activate the immune cells resulting in a low incidence of oxidative stress Gut microbiota plays an essential role in regulating the immune checkpoint therapyCarotenoids are promising molecules in the alteration of gut microbiotaCarotenoids activate the immune cells resulting in a low incidence of oxidative stress [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae contain a diverse range of high-value compounds that can be utilized directly or fractionated to obtain components with even greater value-added potential. With the use of microalgae for food and medical purposes, there is a growing interest in their digestive properties and impact on human gut health. The extraction, separation, and purification of these components are key processes in the industrial application of microalgae. Innovative technologies used to extract and purify microalgal high-added-value compounds are key for their efficient utilization and evaluation. This review's comprehensive literature review was performed to highlight the main high-added-value microalgal components. The technologies for obtaining bioactive compounds from microalgae are being developed rapidly, various innovative, efficient, green separation and purification technologies are emerging, thus helping in the scaling-up and subsequent commercialization of microalgae products. Finally, the digestive behavior of microalgae nutrients and their health effects on the human gut microbiota were discussed. Microalgal nutrients exhibit favorable digestive properties and certain components have been shown to benefit gut microbes. The reality that must be faced is that multiple processes are still required for microalgae raw materials to final usable products, involving energy, time consumption and loss of ingredients, which still face challenges.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as the most common cancer type, arising from various causes, and responsible for a substantial number of cancer-related fatalities. Recent advancements in viral metagenomics have empowered scientists to delve into the intricate diversity of the virosphere, viral evolution, interactions between viruses and their hosts, and the identification of viral causes behind disease outbreaks, the development of specific symptoms, and their potential role in altering the host's physiology. The present study had the objective of "Molecular Characterization of HBV, HCV, anelloviruses, CMV, SENV-D, SENV-H, HEV, and HPV viruses among individuals suffering from HCC." A total of 381 HCC patients contributed 10 cc of blood each for this study. The research encompassed the assessment of tumor markers, followed by molecular characterization of HBV, HCV, Anelloviruses (TTV, TTMV, and TTMDV), SENV-H and SENV-D viruses, HEV, CMV, and HPV, as well as histopathological examinations. The outcomes of this study revealed that majority of the HCC patients 72.4% (276/381) were male as compared to females. HCV infection, at 76.4% (291 out of 381), exhibited a significant association (p < 0.05) with HCC. Most patients displayed singular lesions in the liver, with Child Pugh Score Type B being the predominant finding in 45.2% of cases. Plasma virome analysis indicated the prevalence of TTMDV (75%), followed by TTMV (70%) and TTV (42.1%) among anelloviruses in HCC patients. Similarly, SENV-H (52%) was followed by SENV-D (20%), with co-infections at 15%. The presence of CMV and HEV among the HCC patients was recorded 5% each however 3.5% of the patients showed the presence of HPV. In conclusion, this study underscores that HCC patients serve as reservoirs for various pathogenic and non-pathogenic viruses, potentially contributing to the development, progression, and severity of the disease., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Echinococcosis is a neglected tropical zoonotic infection that affects both the human and livestock populations. In Pakistan, the infection is long-standing, but data on its molecular epidemiology and genotypic characterization in the southern Punjab region are limited. The aim of the current study was the molecular characterization of human echinococcosis in southern Punjab, Pakistan., Methods: Echinococcal cysts were obtained from a total of 28 surgically treated patients. Patients' demographic characteristics were also recorded. The cyst samples were subjected to further processing to isolate DNA in order to probe the Nad1 and Cyt-b genes, followed by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis for genotypic identification., Results: The majority of the echinococcal cysts were from male patients (60.7%). The liver was the most commonly infected organ (60.71%), followed by the lungs (25%), spleen (7.14%), and the mesentery (7.14%). Molecular and genotypic identification through sequencing and phylogenetic tree analysis showed that most of the cysts (24/28, 85.7%) were caused by the species Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto ( E. granulosus s.s. ) (G1 and G3), followed by Echinococcus multilocularis ( E. multilocularis ) and Echinococcus canadensis ( E. canadensis ) (G6/G7) (3/28, 10.8%, and 1/28, 3.5%, respectively)., Conclusion: The current study concluded that the majority of human infections were caused by E. granulosus s.s. , followed by the E. multilocularis and E. canadensis species (G6/G7). Genotypic characterization among both human and livestock populations is needed to explore the genetic diversity of echinococcosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Basharat, Khan, Ullah, Shah and Ali.)

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by viral infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Where upregulation of several important biomarkers and multiple organ dysfunction occurs, this study aimed to evaluate the association of cardiac biomarkers and CS induced acute lung damage with disease severity and mortality in survival of COVID-19 patients. A total of 500 COVID-19 patients with elevated cardiac biomarkers were studied for the analysis of myocardial abnormality through cardiac enzymes, inflammatory biomarkers, and the expression analysis of various cytokines, including IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-25 genes. The elevation of various cardiac enzymes including LDH (87%), CK (78.4%), TNI (80.4%), CK-MB (83%), and D-dimer (80.8%) were found correlated (p < 0.001) with COVID-19 infection. Cardiac enzyme elevation was highly associated with an increased level of inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP (14.2%), SAA (11.4%) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (7.8%) (p = 0.001 for all). The quantitative expression analysis of IL-10, 1L-17, and 1L-25 were found to be high, while those of IL-1 and IL-6 were moderately elevated. The death-to-live ratio of COVID-19 patients was 457:43 indicating that the patients having elevated levels of both CKMB, D-dimer, CK and IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and D-dimer, Troponin, CK and IL-1, IL-10 had high fatality rate (73% and 12% respectively). The current finding concludes that the evaluation of cardiac biomarkers with cytokine storm plays a significant role in COVID-19-associated anatomical organ damage, myocardial injury, and mortality. Physicians should pay special attention to cardiac biomarkers in patients with old age, inflammation, and comorbidities among COVID-19 infections.

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder in the intestinal tract as a response to the use of gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. It is a worldwide problem, with a high prevalence rate in North America. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 1090 samples collected from different hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, from January 2019 to December 2019. In this study, 1090 blood samples screened for seroprevalence of anti-tTG antibodies in CD symptomatic patients via ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). 1090 fecal samples from the same CD patients were collected and tested for the presence of rotavirus (RV) via ELISA and RT-PCR. Of the 1090 patients tested for seroprevalence of anti-tTG antibodies, 112/1090 (10.3%) were found to be positive. Of the 112 anti-tTG-positive patients, 78/112 (70%) were positive for RV via ELISA and 74/112 (66.1%) were RV positive via RT-PCR. A statistically significant association was reported between rotavirus infection and celiac disease ( p ˂0.05). Anti-tTG antibodies were higher in age group 6 (12-18 years) patients (18.4%) and at minimum in age group 3 (1-3 years) patients (4.8%). However, there was a statistically insignificant relationship between group age and CD prevalence ( p > 0.05). The highest CD prevalence was noted during winter season (19.6%) and the lowest (3.0%) during fall/autumn. Our study findings demonstrate that Pakistan has a high prevalence of CD compared to other studies. Further studies in the fields of environmental risk factors and treatment with more advanced serological and histopathological studies are needed in the future., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Asma Sadiq et al.)

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin (PCT), C- reactive protein (CRP), total leukocyte count (TLC) and lactate in critically ill patients admitted with suspicion of sepsis., Methods: It was a cross sectional study conducted at the department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology AFIP, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with Medical and surgical intensive care units (ICU) of CMH Rawalpindi from January 2019 to December 2019. A total of 126 patients of both genders with age above 18 years and fulfilling the inclusion criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were inducted in the study., Results: Out of 126 patients 82 (65%) patients have positive blood culture results. Male predominance was noted in patients with positive blood culture. Out of 82 patients with positive blood culture results 69(84%) patients have positive PCT results as well whereas 13(15%) patients with positive blood culture results have negative PCT values. 57(69%) patients had Gram negative bacterial infection and 25(30%) patients had Gram positive bacterial infection. Significant difference was noted between the medians of PCT in blood culture positive and blood culture negative group (p value< 0.05) whereas no significant difference was found between medians of CRP, TLC and lactate between blood culture positive and blood culture negative patients (p value > 0.05). ROC curve analysis of PCT, CRP and TLC were done, keeping blood culture as reference standard, PCT showed largest area under the curve (AUC) and clearly outperformed TLC and CRP. PCT showed AUC of 0.781 as compared to CRP and TLC, which was 0.568 and 0.617 respectively. PCT showed sensitivity of 93.9%, specificity of 47.7%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 77% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 80.8%., Conclusion: Higher NPV makes it a reliable marker for screening out sepsis in suspected cases., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None., (Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.)