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Background: Food malabsorption and intolerance is implicated in gastrointestinal symptoms among patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Key triggers include fructose and fructan. Prior studies examined fructose and fructan malabsorption separately in IBS patients. None have concurrently assessed both within the same patient group. We aimed to investigate the association between fructose and fructan malabsorption in the same patients with IBS using hydrogen breath testing (HBT). Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with IBS who underwent fructose and fructan HBTs and abstracted their results from the electronic medical record. Fructose and fructan HBTs were performed by administering a 25 g fructose solution or 10 g fructan solution, followed by breath hydrogen readings every 30 min for 3 h. Patients were positive for fructose or fructan malabsorption if breath hydrogen levels exceeded 20 ppm. Results: Of 186 IBS patients, 71 (38.2%) were positive for fructose malabsorption and 91 (48.9%) were positive for fructan malabsorption. Of these patients, 42 (22.6%) were positive for fructose malabsorption and fructan malabsorption. Positive fructose HBT readings were significantly associated with positive fructan HBT readings (p = 0.0283). Patients positive for fructose malabsorption or fructan malabsorption had 1.951 times higher odds of testing positive for the other carbohydrate. Conclusions: Our results reveal a clinically significant association between fructose malabsorption and fructan malabsorption in patients with IBS. Fructan malabsorption should be assessed in patients with fructose malabsorption, and vice versa. Further studies are required to identify the mechanisms underlying our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the synthesis of a new class of surfactants that is based on the bioderived building blocks fructose, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), and hydroxy propionitrile (cyanoethanol, 3-HP). The synthesis is scalable, is carried out at ambient conditions, and does not require chromatography. The produced surfactants have excellent surfactant properties with critical micelle concentrations and Krafft points comparable to current glucose-based surfactants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Unsaturated furanic aldehydes are derived from lignocellulosic biomass resources and subsequently used to produce valuable chemicals. However, the highly efficient, selective hydrogenation of the biomass-derived unsaturated furan C O bond remains challenging. Here we report that graphene-like nitrogen doped porous carbon (GNPC) nanosheets are synthesized from carbon-rich, sustainable, and renewable biomass precursors (glucose, fructose and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, HMF) with high surface areas, large pore volumes and narrow mesopores. GNPC derived from HMF is an excellent catalyst support for PtCo nanoparticles with ultrafine nanoparticles size and homogeneous distributions. This catalyst is highly efficient for hydrogenation of biomass-derived furan-based unsaturated aldehydes, with high yields, to the corresponding unsaturated alcohols under mild conditions. This design strategy should further allow the development of selective, simple, green heterogeneous catalysts for challenging chemical transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing a biphasic catalyst is of great significance for improving reaction efficiency and its industrial application. Herein a novel biphasic catalyst containing three functional groups of chlorophenol, amino and carboxyl was synthesized and used as mimic glucose isomerase to catalyze the isomerization. The mimic enzyme exhibited excellent catalytic performance for isomerization of glucose to fructose under mild conditions. Temperature and pH of solution showed significant influence on the conversion of glucose and the selectivity of fructose. The yield and selectivity of fructose reached 32.4 % and 91.0 % after reacting 2 h, respectively, at pH 9.5 and 90 °C. The solubility of the catalyst exhibited dual sensitivity to both pH and temperature. The catalyst was in a soluble state during the reaction process and could be precipitated by reducing the pH and temperature of the reaction system. The catalyst could be reused and still maintained good catalytic activity after five consecutive cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overconsumption of dietary fructose has been proposed as a major culprit for the rise of many metabolic diseases in recent years, yet the relationship between a high fructose diet and neurological dysfunction remains to be explored. Although fructose metabolism mainly takes place in the liver and intestine, recent studies have shown that a hyperglycemic condition could induce fructose metabolism in the brain. Notably, microglia, which are tissueresident macrophages (Mφs) that confer innate immunity in the brain, also express fructose transporters (GLUT5) and are capable of utilizing fructose as a carbon fuel. Together, these studies suggest the possibility that a high fructose diet can regulate the activation and inflammatory response of microglia by metabolic reprogramming, thereby altering the susceptibility of developing neurological dysfunction. In this review, the recent advances in the understanding of microglia metabolism and how it supports its functions will be summarized. The results from both in vivo and in vitro studies that have investigated the mechanistic link between fructose-induced metabolic reprogramming of microglia and its function will then be reviewed. Finally, areas of controversies and their associated implications, as well as directions that warrant future research will be highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bud sport is a common and stable somatic variation in perennial fruit trees, and often leads to significant modification of fruit traits and affects the breeding value. To investigate the impact of bud sport on the main metabolites in the fruit of white-fleshed loquat, we conducted a multi-omics analysis of loquat fruits at different developmental stages of a white-fleshed bud sport mutant of Dongting loquat (TBW) and its wild type (TBY). The findings from the detection of main fruit quality indices and metabolites suggested that bud sport resulted in a reduction in the accumulation of carotenoids, fructose, titratable acid and terpenoids at the mature stage of TBW, while leading to the accumulation of flavonoids, phenolic acids, amino acids and lipids. The comparably low content of titratable acid further enhances the balanced and pleasent taste profile of TBW. Expression patterns of differentially expressed genes involved in fructose metabolism exhibited a significant increase in the expression level of S6PDH (EVM0006243, EVM0044405) prior to fruit maturation. The comparison of protein sequences and promoter region of S6PDH between TBY and TBW revealed no structural variations that would impact gene function or expression, indicating that transcription factors may be responsible for the rapid up-regulation of S6PDH before maturation. Furthermore, correlation analysis helped to construct a comprehensive regulatory network of fructose metabolism in loquat, including 23 transcription factors, six structural genes, and nine saccharides. Based on the regulatory network and existing studies, it could be inferred that transcription factors such as ERF, NAC, MYB, GRAS, and bZIP may promote fructose accumulation in loquat flesh by positively regulating S6PDH. These findings improve our understanding of the nutritional value and breeding potential of white-fleshed loquat bud sport mutant, as well as serve as a foundation for exploring the genes and transcription factors that regulate fructose metabolism in loquat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different functional foods with bioactive nutrients are being explored for the management of NAFLD. Whey proteins are rich in bioactive peptides and are suggested to show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. We aim to test the hypothesis that the whey protein supplementation following a high fat-high fructose (HFHF) diet would protect against liver damage, inflammation, endotoxemia and steatosis in male Wistar rats. 36 rats were randomized into four groups for 8 weeks as the HFHF diet group, HFHF diet and whey protein isolate (WPI-200mg/kg/day) group (HFHF+WPI), control (C) group, and C+WPI (200mg/kg/day) group. Rats fed with a HFHF diet had higher final body weight compared to C and C+WPI groups (p = 0.002). Thus, WPI showed no significant effects for the body weight of rats with a HFHF diet. On the other hand, the HFHF+WPI group had significantly lower abdominal circumference when compared with the HFHF group (p<0,001). Higher serum CRP levels were observed in the groups with a HFHF diet (p<0,001) and WPI supplementation showed no effects on CRP levels. Whey protein supplementation resulted with lower total liver damage score in HFHF+WPI group compared with the HFHF diet group (p<0,001). Conversely, higher liver damage scores were observed with the C+WPI group compared to C group (p<0,001). HFHF diet resulted with higher expression of TLR-4 in the liver meanwhile WPI supplementation showed no effects on liver TLR-4 expression. We observed higher colon Occludin expression in HFHF+WPI and C+WPI groups compared with HFHF and C groups (p<0,001). Our results showed that, whey protein supplementation might help improve liver damage associated with a high fat-high fructose diet and increase the expression of Occludin in the small intestine and colon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paraoxonase-1 (PON1), a serum antioxidant enzyme, has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis that involves early oxidative damage. Corinthian currants and their components have been shown to display antioxidant and other neuroprotective effects in AD. We evaluated the effect of a Corinthian currant paste-supplemented diet (CurD), provided to 1-month-old 5xFAD mice for 1, 3, and 6 months, on PON1 activity and levels of oxidation markers in serum and the brain of mice as compared to a control diet (ConD) or glucose/fructose-matched diet (GFD). Administration of CurD for 1 month increased PON1 activity and decreased oxidized lipid levels in serum compared to ConD and GFD. Longer-term administration of CurD did not, however, affect serum PON1 activity and oxidized lipid levels. Furthermore, CurD administered for 1 and 3 months, but not for 6 months, increased PON1 activity and decreased free radical levels in the cortex of mice compared to ConD and GFD. To probe the mechanism for the increased PON1 activity in mice, we studied the effect of Corinthian currant polar phenolic extract on PON1 activity secreted by Huh-7 hepatocytes or HEK293 cells transfected with a PON1-expressing plasmid. Incubation of cells with the extract led to a dose-dependent increase of secreted PON1 activity, which was attributed to increased cellular PON1 expression. Collectively, our findings suggest that phenolics in Corinthian currants can increase the hepatic expression and activity of antioxidant enzyme PON1 and that a Corinthian currant-supplemented diet during the early stages of AD in mice reduces brain oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vicia faba L. is a significant grain legume that is rich in protein and nutrients. It is widely cultivated for human consumption and animal feed in temperate regions. As a signaling molecule, fructose is involved in many metabolic and developmental processes. The objective of this study was to demonstrate whether fructose may increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in guard cells inducing stomatal closure and examine whether the exogenous application of fructose may regulate photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics. Methods: After approximately 4 weeks of sowing the treated broad bean seeds, the fully inflated leaves were used for experimental data collection including stomatal movement, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and ROS production in guard cells. Result: Fructose reduced stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr) and stomatal aperture of intact leaves, indicating that fructose can trigger stomatal closure in a dose- and time-dependent manner in the epidermal peels of the broad bean plant (Vicia faba L.). Meanwhile, fructose increased the photochemical efficiency, photosynthetic rate (Pn) and water use efficiency (WUE). Fructose-induced stomatal closure was associated with nitric oxide (NO), calcium ion (Ca2+), aquaporin and ROS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A panel of 1,1-(phenylene)bis[3-chloro-4-(substituted phenyl)azetidin-2-ones] (4a-m) and 3,3′-(1,4-phenylene)bis[2-(substituted phenyl)thiazolidin-4-ones] (5a-m) were synthesized from Schiff base intermediates 3a-m, that were in turn prepared from reaction between p-phenylenediamine and substituted benzaldehydes. The structures of title compounds and intermediates were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectral data. The compounds were screened for antibacterial, DPPH radical scavenging and antidiabetic activities. Compounds 4f and 4a exhibited good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, but none showed appreciable activity against Gram-negative bacteria. In DPPH scavenging assay, compounds 5f, 5e and 5a exhibited good activity. Compound 5a displayed highly significant antidiabetic activity in fructose-induced diabetes in rats. The molecular docking studies of bis-thiazolidinones with PPAR-ã revealed the fit with high binding affinity and good interactions. Docking of compound 5a was comparable to the standard drug pioglitazone. The in silico physicochemical, drug-likeness and ADME properties of title compounds were also performed and the majority of them displayed satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This assessment addresses a food enzyme preparation consisting of the immobilised non‐viable cells of the non‐genetically modified bacterium identified by the applicant (Samyang Corporation) as Microbacterium foliorum strain SYG27B. This strain produces the enzyme D‐psicose 3‐epimerase (EC 5.1.3.30). The food enzyme preparation is used for the isomerisation of fructose to produce the speciality carbohydrate D‐allulose (synonym D‐psicose). Since the hazard identification and characterisation could not be made and the identity of the production organism could not be established, the Panel was unable to complete the assessment of this food enzyme preparation containing D‐psicose 3‐epimerase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study a potent fibrinolytic protease producing Bacillus cereus VMI2 was isolated from Grape wine (Vitis vinifera) and studied the protease activity and fibrinolytic activity. The organism was identified by morphological, biochemical and molecular analysis. The potent Bacillus cereus VMI2 showed significant clot lysis activity in 2h of incubation. In order to enhance the fibrinolytic activity, the medium was optimized. Inoculum size, pH, temperature, nitrogen and carbon were selected for the optimization. Compared with base medium the optimized medium with fructose, beef extract and 1000 µL inoculum volume were incubated at 35℃ and showed significant increase in fibrinolytic activity. The potent strain also showed a maximum of enzyme production and enzyme activity at 6th h which showed the optimum time for production of nattokinase. The FTIR-HPLC results confirmed the presence of nattokinase. The molecular weight of the enzyme was analysed by SDS PAGE. It was found to be a 29kDa protein, confirmed the presence of nattokinase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study delves into the intricate defense mechanisms of cotton plants against the primary pest Adelphocoris suturalis Jakovlev, which has become a major concern in Bt-cotton fields. Through advanced analytical techniques, this study identified specific changes in the cotton plant's metabolism and protein expression triggered by A. suturalis feeding. These findings revealed a notable increase in the expression of certain α-linolenic acid metabolism pathway-related proteases and a simultaneous decrease in fructose and mannose biosynthesis-related proteases. These molecular responses shed light on the complex interplay between cotton plants and A. suturalis. Therefore, this study not only deepens our understanding of plant–insect interactions but also provides valuable insights for developing innovative strategies to control this cotton pest, thereby offering potential solutions for sustainable cotton cultivation. The recent dominance of Adelphocoris suturalis Jakovlev as the primary cotton field pest in Bt-cotton-cultivated areas has generated significant interest in cotton pest control research. This study addresses the limited understanding of cotton defense mechanisms triggered by A. suturalis feeding. Utilizing LC-QTOF-MS, we analyzed cotton metabolomic changes induced by A. suturalis, and identified 496 differential positive ions (374 upregulated, 122 downregulated) across 11 categories, such as terpenoids, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, isoflavones, etc. Subsequent iTRAQ-LC-MS/MS analysis of the cotton proteome revealed 1569 differential proteins enriched in 35 metabolic pathways. Integrated metabolome and proteome analysis highlighted significant upregulation of 17 (89%) proteases in the α-linolenic acid (ALA) metabolism pathway, concomitant with a significant increase in 14 (88%) associated metabolites. Conversely, 19 (73%) proteases in the fructose and mannose biosynthesis pathway were downregulated, with 7 (27%) upregulated proteases corresponding to the downregulation of 8 pathway-associated metabolites. Expression analysis of key regulators in the ALA pathway, including allene oxidase synthase (AOS), phospholipase A (PLA), allene oxidative cyclase (AOC), and 12-oxophytodienoate reductase3 (OPR3), demonstrated significant responses to A. suturalis feeding. Finally, this study pioneers the exploration of molecular mechanisms in the plant–insect relationship, thereby offering insights into potential novel control strategies against this cotton pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Different nutritional supplements can differentially affect the reproductive performance of parasitoid wasps, and selection of optimal diets can increase parasitoid quality, increasing their effectiveness as biological control agents. Binodoxys communis (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is the main parasitoid attacking Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphidae) in Xinjiang, China. In this study we tested the effects of fructose, glucose, sucrose, trehalose, maltose, melezitose, and sorbitol on the longevity, parasitism ability, parasitism behavior, and flight ability of B. communis. We found that, compared with other sugars, B. communis fed on glucose, sucrose, or fructose had significantly greatly longevity and parasitism ability. Also, parasitoids that were fed these sugars interacted with A. gossypii more frequently during parasitization and had an enhanced ability. The above information helps in the evaluation of nutritional supplements, both to improve the parasitoid's reproductive performance and its effectiveness as a biological control agent. Alterative nutritional foods consumed by adult parasitoids play an important role in their fitness and ability to control pests because of food scarcity in many crops. While adult parasitoids feed on various sugars, they vary in their nutritional value for parasitoids. We assessed the effects of seven sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose, trehalose, maltose, melezitose, and sorbitol) on the longevity, parasitism ability, parasitism behavior, and flight ability of B. communis, an important parasitoid of cotton aphids. We found that access to glucose, sucrose, or fructose, increased B. communis adult longevity more than the other sugars offered. All sugars except trehalose increased the parasitism rate to more than 50% compared to the starved control (only provided with water). We then compared parasitoid behaviors of wasps fed glucose, sucrose, or fructose to that of the starved control (with access only to water) and found that those fed B. communis spent more time either examining or attacking aphids than parasitoids in the control group, which spent more time walking or resting. Also, consumption of glucose, sucrose, or fructose also significantly improved the flight ability (the total flight distance, flight time, and average flight speed) of B. communis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a global health concern, affecting a significant portion of the population worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing globally due to the rising of obesity and physical inactivity. Objectives: In the present study, we evaluated Lupinus angustifolius seeds for their potential in alleviating metabolic abnormalities associated with metabolic syndrome induced by High Fructose Diet. Materials and Methods: Hexane and ethyl acetate seeds extracts of L. angustifolius (HELA and EAELA) were screened for phytochemical constituents. Normoglycemic male albino Wistar rats were distributed into 6 groups with 6 in each. Fructose solution (10% w/v) administered p.o. for 8 weeks caused induction of Metabolic Disorder. The metabolic parameters were assessed and recorded before and after the administration of 200 mg/kg of extracts over 8 weeks. Results: Preliminary screening demonstrated the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides among others from both extracts. HELA and EAELA showed a significant (p<0.001) decrease in obesity. They also led to significantly (p<0.001) decreased expression of inflammatory mediators like IL-6, TGFβ, and TNF-α. Hematological parameters exhibited improvement whereas HbA1C expressed a significant (p<0.001) increase in plasma insulin and HOMA IR revealed a significant (p<0.001) decrease in insulin resistance when compared to disease control. Metabolic hormone levels also showed a positive change after administration where leptin and adiponectin levels are decreased (p<0.001 and p<0.1 respectively) and gherlin levels were increased non-significantly (p<0.05). Antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant potential of the extracts was more proficient. Conclusion: The EAELA at 200 mg/kg displayed significant capacity in inhibiting the Metabolic Syndrome induced by High fructose diet when compared to that of HELA at 200 mg/kg which was effective in comparison with Standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing study held in the Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, University of Tikrit, Iraq, sought to increase the production of some secondary metabolite compounds in tissue cultures of Chrysanthemum hortorum Hort. cv. 'Dwarf White.' Inducing callus by culturing the bases of young leaf explants on the MS medium received supplementation of different concentrations of Benzyl adenine (BA) (0, 1.5, and 2 mg L-1) and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (0.0, 0.5, and 1.5 mg L-1). Tyrosine addition at different concentrations (0, 30, 60, and 80 mg L-1) and sucrose at 30, 60, 80, and 100 g L-1 concentrations ensued. In addition, fructose and glucose applications at 90.0, 60.0, 30.0, and 120.0 g L-1 transpired for the callus growth. The combination of 2.0 mg L-1 BA + 1.5 mg L-1 IAA gave the highest average fresh and dry weights of callus, reaching 1.8 and 5.72 mg, respectively. The best treatment was 60 g L-1, which ecorded the maximum pyrethrin concentration, amounting to 2.134 µg/ml DW. The treatment of 90 g L-1 fructose + 60 mg L-1 tyrosine was more effective in increasing pyrethrin production in the callus, reaching 3.175 µg/ml DW. The treatment of 90 g L-1 glucose + 60 mg L-1 tyrosine was recorded with the utmost pyrethrin concentration, reaching 3.346 µg/ml DW. The treatment of 90 g L-1 glucose + 80 mg L-1 tyrosine provided 2.826 µg/ml DW of pyrethrin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Due to the limitations in acquiring raw materials to produce beer, the Tínima Brewery Company has had its production very depressed. For this reason, the company set itself the task of looking for alternative productions. Objective: To simulate the process of obtaining Tínima Base Wine for the analysis of the influence of the main operating variables, which make the process more efficient from a technical-economic and environmental point of view. Materials and Methods: With the base wine production conditions, the simulation of the process was carried out with the SuperPro Designer program, called base case, then the evaluation of two alternatives was carried out: influence of temperature and influence of initial concentration of sucrose in the fermenter, taking into account that the process is efficient from a technical-economic and environmental point of view. Results and Discussion: It was determined that the best results were obtained with the alternative of increasing the initial sucrose concentration in the fermenter. Conclusions: In the fermentation of alternative 2, the production of alcohol is high, but with the remaining glucose and fructose the fermentation could be extended to 10 days, the CO2 emission has a low impact on the environment and the alternative 2 is selected the best, where fermentation is at 15 °C and an alcohol concentration of 85.86 g/L is reached in 9 days, with a lower unit cost and higher annual production volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy is a period that is characterized by several metabolic and physiological changes and requires special attention, especially with regard to the relationship between feeding and foetal development. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether the practice of voluntary physical exercise (VPE) in combination with chronic consumption of fructose (FRU) from the beginning of life and/or until the gestational period causes genotoxic changes in pregnant females and in their offspring. Seventy Swiss female mice received FRU in the hydration bottle and/or practiced VPE for 8 weeks (prepregnancy/pregnancy). After the lactation period, the offspring groups were separated by sex. It was observed that the consumption of FRU affected the food consumption, serum concentration of FRU, and glycemic profile in the mothers and that the VPE decreases these parameters. In addition, FRU was genotoxic in the mothers' peripheral tissues and VPE had a preventive effect on these parameters. The offspring showed changes in food consumption, serum FRU concentration, and body weight, in addition to an increase in the adiposity index in male offspring in the FRU (FRU) group and a decrease in the FRU + VPE group. FRU leads to hepatic steatosis in the offspring and VPE was able to decrease the area of steatosis. In addition, FRU led to genotoxicity in the offspring and VPE was able to modulate this effect, reducing damages. In conclusion, we observed that all interventions with VPE had nutritional, genetic, and biochemical benefits of the mother and her offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In wine, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are responsible for the bioconversion of malic acid to lactic acid, malolactic fermentation that mainly aims at reducing wine acidity. Two LAB strains isolated from the red wine microbiota (Oenococcus oeni 13-7 and Lactobacillus plantarum R1-1), were tested for their ability to exhibit the carbon catabolite repression (CCR) mechanism, that allows the rapid use of certain carbohydrates, over other carbon sources. Bacterial cells were inoculated in 0.1 M glycine buffer (pH 3.5), incubated at 30°C, with different carbohydrates (45 mM) and malic acid (45 mM). For both strains, the presence of glucose significantly inhibited malic acid metabolization (-60%), a similar effect being observed for galactose, mannose and maltose. The highest rate of malic acid conversion was shown in fructose/malate medium. Obtained results showed that malolactic strains can control the utilization of carbon sources via CCR, further studies being necessary to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactulose was produced from lactose using subcritical phosphate or carbonate buffer solution. Phosphate buffer with an initial pH of 8.0 accomplished the maximum yield of 29% at 120 °C. A long reaction time and high pH led to the rapid decomposition of lactulose and a large color change of the reaction solution. The formation of some monosaccharides, such as glucose, galactose, fructose, tagatose, talose, allulose, and sorbose, occurred due to the hydrolysis and isomerization reactions in the production of lactulose. These monosaccharides could be classified into two groups based on their time to arise and the reaction mechanism. The coloration of lactose was less than that of glucose and galactose, which are the constituents of lactose, due to degradants formed during their reaction in the subcritical phosphate buffer. Therefore, the application of a subcritical buffer solution would be suitable for the production of lactulose because of a small burden on the purification process. [Display omitted] • Lactose was converted to lactulose in subcritical phosphate buffer solution. • Buffer with an initial pH of 8.0 accomplished the maximum yield at 120 °C. • The maximum yield of 29% was obtained at 10 min as a reaction time. • The coloration of lactose was less than that of glucose and galactose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We investigated the effects of intraperitoneal injections of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs, 100 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days on the developmental competence of murine oocytes. Furthermore, study the effects of TiO2 NPs on antioxidant and oxidative stress biomarkers, as well as their effects on expression of apoptotic and hypoxia inducing factor-1α (HIF1A) protein translation. Moreover, the possible ameliorating effects of intraperitoneal injections of fructose (2.75 mM/ml) was examined. Materials and methods: Thirty sexually mature (8–12 weeks old; ~ 25 g body weight) female mice were used for the current study. The female mice were assigned randomly to three treatment groups: Group1 (G1) mice were injected intraperitoneal (ip) with deionized water for 5 consecutive days; Group 2 (G2) mice were injected ip with TiO2 NPs (100 mg/kg BW) for 5 consecutive days; Group 3 (G3) mice were injected ip with TiO2 NPs (100 mg/kg BW + fructose (2.75 mM) for 5 consecutive days. Results: Nano-titanium significantly decreased expression of GSH, GPx, and NO, expression of MDA and TAC increased. The rates of MI, MII, GVBD and degenerated oocytes were significantly less for nano-titanium treated mice, but the rate of activated oocytes was significantly greater than those in control oocytes. TiO2 NPs significantly increased expression of apoptotic genes (BAX, Caspase 3 and P53) and HIF1A. Intraperitoneal injection of fructose (2.75 mM/kg) significantly alleviated the detrimental effects of TiO2 NPs. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that fructose mitigated adverse effects of TiO2 NPs to alter the cell surface of murine oocytes. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that the i/p infusion of fructose for consecutive 5 days enhances development of murine oocytes and decreases toxic effects of TiO2 NPs through positive effects on oxidative and antioxidant biomarkers in cumulus-oocyte complexes and effects to inhibit TiO2-induced increases in expression of apoptotic and hypoxia inducing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xylitol is an increasingly popular functional food additive, and the newly isolated yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus WA has shown extensive substrate utilization capability, with the ability to grow on hexose (d -galactose, d -glucose, d -mannose, l -fructose, and d -sorbose) and pentose (d -xylose and l -arabinose) substrates, as well as high tolerance to xylose at concentrations of up to 300 g/L. Optimal xylitol fermentation conditions were achieved at 32 °C, 140 rpm, pH 5.0, and initial cell concentration OD 600 of 2.0, with YP (yeast extract 10 g/L, peptone 20 g/L) as the optimal nitrogen source. Xylitol yield increased from 0.61 g/g to 0.91 g/g with an increase in initial substrate concentration from 20 g/L to 180 g/L. Additionally, 20 g/L glycerol was found to be the optimal co-substrate for xylitol fermentation, resulting in an increase in xylitol yield from 0.82 g/g to 0.94 g/g at 140 rpm, enabling complete conversion of xylose to xylitol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey, a complex natural foodstuff is used for various purposes without any processing. Honey has been used in medicine as well as raw food since ancient times. Essentially, it is a blend of sugars, especially fructose and glucose. Honey which is available in the commercial market may not be pure and could be adulterated with sugar. The objective of the study is to determine the major sugar composition in honey and to assess its freshness. A total of twenty five samples were collected from local markets and analyzed for the content of glucose and fructose. Total sugar content in terms of glucose and fructose was in the range of 51 to 69 %. The ratio of fructose to glucose in these honey samples was in the range of 1.0 to 1.3 which is also an important parameter to assess the purity of honey. Out of twenty five samples, only one sample has fructose to glucose ratio below 1.0 indicating lesser chances for honey to crystallize on storage. A convention for the assurance of two important monosaccharide sugars (fructose and glucose) in honey is set up within the current study by utilizing ordinary stage amino column (NH2)partition liquid chromatography using a Refractive Index detector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric aerosol hygroscopicity and reactivity play key roles in determining the aerosol's fate and are strongly affected by its composition and physical properties. Fatty acids are surfactants commonly found in organic aerosol emissions. They form a wide range of different nanostructures dependent on water content and mixture composition. In this study we follow nano-structural changes in mixtures frequently found in urban organic aerosol emissions, i.e. oleic acid, sodium oleate and fructose, during humidity change and exposure to the atmospheric oxidant ozone. Addition of fructose altered the nanostructure by inducing molecular arrangements with increased surfactant-water interface curvature. Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) was employed for the first time to derive the hygroscopicity of each nanostructure by measuring time- and humidity-resolved changes in nano-structural parameters. We found that hygroscopicity is directly linked to the specific nanostructure and is dependent on the nanostructure geometry. Reaction with ozone revealed a clear nanostructure-reactivity trend, with notable differences between the individual nanostructures investigated. Simultaneous Raman microscopy complementing the SAXS studies revealed the persistence of oleic acid even after extensive oxidation. Our findings demonstrate that self-assembly of fatty acid nanostructures can significantly impact two key atmospheric aerosol processes: water uptake and chemical reactivity, thus directly affecting the atmospheric lifetime of these materials. This could have significant impacts on both urban air quality (e.g. protecting harmful urban emissions from atmospheric degradation and therefore enabling their long-range transport), and climate (e.g. affecting cloud formation), with implications for human health and wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) is a pivotal enzyme in various metabolic pathways, including glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the Calvin cycle. It plays a critical role in CO2 fixation. Building on previous studies on the FBA gene family in Moso bamboo, our study revealed the biological function of PeFBA6. To identify CSN5 candidate genes, this study conducted a yeast two-hybrid library screening experiment. Subsequently, the interaction between CSN5 and PeFBA6 was verified using yeast two-hybrid and LCI experiments. This investigation uncovered evidence that FBA may undergo deubiquitination to maintain glycolytic stability. To further assess the function of PeFBA6, it was overexpressed in rice. Various parameters were determined, including the light response curve, CO2 response curve, and the levels of glucose, fructose, sucrose, and starch in the leaves of overexpressing rice. The results demonstrated that overexpressed rice exhibited a higher saturation light intensity, net photosynthetic rate, maximum carboxylation rate, respiration rate, and increased levels of glucose, fructose, and starch than wild-type rice. These findings indicated that PeFBA6 not only enhanced the photoprotection ability of rice but also improved the photosynthetic carbon metabolism. Overall, this study enhanced our understanding of the function of FBA and revealed the biological function of PeFBA6, thereby providing a foundation for the development of excellent carbon fixation bamboo varieties through breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbohydrate intake is a commonly used strategy in sports, and supplementation for triathletes includes pre-competition, intra-competition, and post-competition intake. The consumption of fructose–glucose improves intestinal transit and gastric emptying. The main purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of intra-session carbohydrate intake in triathletes training in the super-sprint modality. Eleven adolescent triathletes (boys, n = 9, 14.6 years; girls, n = 2, 15.2 years) participated in a crossover, randomised, and blind study on the effect of supplementation with 45 g of carbohydrates (glucose:fructose; 1:2) The participants performed two super-sprint tests (swimming 250 m, cycling 6 km, and running 2 km) with a rest period (2 h) during which they drank a placebo drink (PG) or a carbohydrate drink (SG). The effect on blood glucose was evaluated, but there were no significant changes in glucose values. However, it was higher in the SG after supplementation. No significant differences were found in the cycling, swimming, and running tests, except for RPE in the swimming sector (p < 0.05). Neither were significant changes in body weight observed during the assessments. Supplementation with 45 g of liquid carbohydrates composed of fructose and glucose in a 2:1 ratio was not effective for delaying fatigue or improving performance markers or blood glucose levels in super-sprint triathletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, childhood obesity cases continue to rise, and its prevalence is known to increase the risk of non-communicable diseases typically found in adults, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus, comprehending its multiple causes to build healthier approaches and revert this scenario is urgent. Obesity development is strongly associated with high fructose intake since the excessive consumption of this highly lipogenic sugar leads to white fat accumulation and causes white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation, oxidative stress, and dysregulated adipokine release. Unfortunately, the global consumption of fructose has increased dramatically in recent years, which is associated with the fact that fructose is not always evident to consumers, as it is commonly added as a sweetener in food and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). Therefore, here, we discuss the impact of excessive fructose intake on adipose tissue biology, its contribution to childhood obesity, and current strategies for reducing high fructose and/or free sugar intake. To achieve such reductions, we conclude that it is important that the population has access to reliable information about food ingredients via food labels. Consumers also need scientific education to understand potential health risks to themselves and their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased fructose consumption has been elucidated to contribute to metabolic diseases. Bone is a dynamic organ that undergoes constant remodeling. However, the effects of fructose on bone health are still in dispute. Here, we identified fructose deteriorated bone mineral density while promoting the abundance of bone marrow adipose tissue. Fructose remarkably promoted the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells' (BMMSCs) adipogenic commitment at the expense of osteogenic commitment. Fructose boosted the glycolysis of BMMSCs and inhibited phosphorylation of adenosine 5ʹ-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which played a crucial role in bone-fat alteration. Our results suggested that fructose potentiated bone loss and marrow adipose tissue accumulation by suppressing AMPK activation in BMMSCs. Understanding fructose which affected bone metabolism was thus of primary importance in order to establish preventative measures or treatments for this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the changes in colour, amino acids, and volatile flavour compounds in the enzymatic hydrolysates of chicken carcasses containing different types and amounts of reducing sugars (xylose, arabinose, glucose, and fructose), so as to develop a chicken-based flavouring agent. Before heat treatment at 100 °C for 60 min, the chosen reducing sugars were separately added to the chicken carcass hydrolysate at its natural pH. Pentoses decreased pH more significantly than hexoses in the chicken carcass hydrolysate. The browning degree followed the pattern of pH decline, as pentoses caused more intense browning than hexoses, with xylose dosage having the greatest effect on the colour changes (ΔE). Fructose addition notably reduced free amino acids (FAAs) and cystine contents. Furthermore, phenylalanine decreased with increasing dosages of arabinose, xylose, and fructose. Glutamic acid content decreased significantly with fructose addition but showed insignificant changes with xylose. At the same dosage, the addition of pentoses resulted in the production of more sulphur-containing volatile compounds like methional, 2-[(methylthio) methyl] furan, and dimethyl disulphide than hexoses. Methional and furfural, which provide a roasted, savoury flavour, were produced by adding more xylose. Heat treatment with xylose also removed hexanal, the main off-odourant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrips are insect pests that threaten pepper crops. This study, conducted in the arid Biskra region of Algeria, evaluated the impact of applying infra-doses of fructose at the concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 ppm) on enhancing the resistance of chilli pepper plants to thrips. We monitored the population of thrips after 24, 48, 72 hours, 7 and 21 days post treatment application for each concentration. The same infra-doses were re-applied using the same protocol. The data revealed that spraying fructose at 100 ppm was the most effective, reducing thrips population significantly after 48 hours (F = 61.383, P < 0.05), resulting in an average of 52 ± 10.56 adult thrips per plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conjugation with glucose (G) and fructose (F) via the Maillard reaction under the wet-heating condition is a natural and non-toxic method of improving the technological functions of 7S/11S proteins in different kinds of gels. It may be used as an affordable supply of emulsifiers and an excellent encapsulating matrix for gels. This study aimed to create a glucose/fructose-conjugated 7S/11S soy protein via the Maillard reaction. The conjugation was confirmed by determining the SDS-PAGE profile and circular dichroism spectra. In addition, these conjugates were comprehensively characterized in terms of grafting degree, browning degree, sulfhydryl content, surface hydrophobicity (H0), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) through various reaction times (0, 24, 48, and 72 h) to evaluate their ability to be used in food gels. The functional characteristics of the 7S/11S isolate–G/F conjugate formed at 70 °C, with a high degree of glycosylation and browning, were superior to those obtained at other reaction times. The SDS-PAGE profile indicated that the conjugation between the 7S and 11S proteins and carbohydrate sources of G and F through the Maillard reaction occurred. Secondary structural results revealed that covalent interactions with G and F affected the secondary structural components of 7S/11S proteins, leading to increased random coils. When exposed to moist heating conditions, G and F have significant potential for protein alteration through the Maillard reaction. The results of this study may provide new insights into protein modification and establish the theoretical basis for the therapeutic application of both G and F conjugation with soy proteins in different food matrixes and gels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Contributions to Tobacco & Nicotine Research is the property of Sciendo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In overweight and obese patients, elevated serum and breastmilk leptin concentrations are observed, with serum leptin also being likely affected by the diet. We analyzed serum and breastmilk leptin in normal weight (NW) and overweight/obese (OW/OB) mothers, and evaluated its associations with (1) maternal anthropometric parameters; (2) markers of cardiometabolic health; and (3) the maternal diet. The BLOOM (Breastmilk and the Link to Overweight/Obesity and Maternal diet) study was conducted among 40 women (n = 20 OW/OB; n = 20, NW) who were exclusively or predominantly breastfeeding for 15.5 ± 1.2 (OW/OB group (0.99)) weeks. We collected 24 h breastmilk and fasting blood samples for leptin analysis by ELISA. Maternal dietary habits were evaluated using a 3-day dietary record and food frequency questionnaire, which were used to calculate the Polish-adapted Mediterranean Diet score. Maternal anthropometric measurements and DEXA scans were performed, and anthropometric and cardiometabolic indices were calculated. The OW mothers had 1.4 times higher serum levels, while OB mothers had 4.5 and 6.2 higher serum and breastmilk leptin levels, respectively, in comparison to the NW mothers. The FM% was correlated with serum and breastmilk leptin levels (r = 0.878, r = 0.638). Serum leptin was associated with markers of cardiometabolic health such as AIP, CMI, and VAI in the NW mothers, and with LAP in the OW/OB mothers. Higher energy, fructose intake and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were associated with serum leptin in the NW mothers (β = 0.323, 0.039–0.608; β = 0.318, 0.065–0.572; β = 0.279, 0.031–0.528); meanwhile, higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet could protect against elevated breastmilk leptin concentrations in OW/OB mothers (β = −0.444, −0.839–−0.050), even after adjustment for FM%. Our results suggest a potential association between maternal serum leptin concentrations and cardiometabolic health. In addition, we confirm the importance of healthy dietary patterns in the improvement of breastmilk composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi‐enzyme reaction systems have become an interesting option to avoid transformation and purification steps in productive reactor‐based systems; when carried out in a single vessel, they are termed one‐pot systems. This novel work aims to model and simulate the behavior of a one‐pot heterogeneous catalysis system in a batch‐stirred bioreactor and in a continuous stirred bioreactor with co‐immobilized enzymes to determine the compromise operation temperature that maximizes the volumetric productivity, considering thermal decay of the biocatalyst. The production of fructose from lactose is considered a case study, using co‐immobilized β ${\beta }$ ‐galactosidase (β ${\beta }$ ‐gal) and glucose‐isomerase (GI) in a spherical particle. A diffusion and reaction mathematical model was used to calculate the effectiveness factor for every reaction species considering the thermal decay of both enzymes. Simulations in both batch and continuous operation were done at temperatures ranging from 40 to 60 °C, for initial enzyme activity load ratios ranging from 0.1 to 0.9 IUGI IUβ-gal-1 ${_{{\rm{{\rm \beta} }}{\kern 1pt} {\rm{ - gal}}{\kern 1pt} }^{ - 1} }$. Resulting effectiveness factors were close to one, indicating no significant limitations on reaction rates due to internal diffusional constraints. In both cases, temperature exerted a more substantial effect than the initial enzyme activity load ratio, showing different scenarios of high volumetric productivity (batch) or amount of produced fructose (continuous). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient simultaneous lactic acid production with fructose isomerization from glucose at 90 °C under atmospheric pressure was demonstrated using a physically mixed Li/S-1 and Sn-Beta catalyst, resulting in a lactic acid yield of 33.1% and a fructose yield of 56.0% for 1 h in water. In situ FTIR and 13C NMR spectroscopy and the control experiment results revealed the formation of enol intermediates over the Li/S-1 catalyst through a typical alkali-catalyzed reaction in glucose isomerization. In the subsequent tandem catalysis over the Sn-Beta catalyst, strong adsorption between Sn sites and the enol structure efficiently promotes C–C breaking during the retro-aldol reaction process, which was proved by the detailed EXAFS results and DFT calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pursuit of designing a bio-based catalyst for the dehydration of biomass (i.e., fructose) to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, a novel catalytic composite was prepared by in-situ formation of an Al-based metal–organic framework in the presence of chitosan. To enhance the acidity of the as-prepared catalyst, it was sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid. Various characterization techniques, including XRD, XPS, FTIR, SEM/EDX, TGA, and elemental mapping analysis were applied to validate the formation of the acidic composite. Fructose dehydration conditions were also optimized using Response Surface Method (RSM) and it was found that reaction in the presence of catalyst (23 wt%) in DMSO, at 110 °C for 40 min led to the formation of HMF in 97.1%. Noteworthy, the catalyst was recyclable and stable up to five runs with a minor reduction in its activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemically catalyzed production of fructose syrup from high concentrations of glucose is crucial for the food industry and biorefining. In this work, a single crystal catalyst was synthesized via protective desilication of zeolite while incorporating indium. Glucose was isomerized in methanol at concentrations as high as 33 wt % before being hydrolyzed with water. The final fructose production was 54.9 %, with 89.1 % selectivity and 93.3 % sugar recovery, the highest isomerization rate at the highest concentration ever reported. Indium was present in the single‐crystal catalyst as oxide nanoparticles and boundary framework atoms, and it achieved intelligent cooperation in the production of fructose syrup in methanol by catalyzing isomerization and selective glycosidation, minimizing degradation due to fructose accumulation and eliminating side reactions. This study contributed to the advancement of the industrial practice of chemically catalyzed glucose isomerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructose is the most preferred sugar to provide benefits for sweetening and health. As many industrial enzymes are used to produce High Fructose Syrup (HFS), it is vital to explore alternative enzymes for fructose production. Oligo-α-1,6-glucosidase (O-1-6-glucosidase) hydrolyzes non-reducing ends of isomaltooligosaccharides, panose, palatinose, and an a-limit dextrin by breaking α-1,6-glucoside bonds, although it generally has no activity on α-1,4-glucoside bonds of maltooligosaccharides. In this study, sucrose-hydrolyzing activity of O-1-6-glucosidase of thermophilic A. gonensis was evaluated. For this purpose, O-1-6-glucosidase gene region of A. gonensis was cloned in the pET28(a)+ expression vector, the expression product was purified, modeled, and biochemically characterized. The optimal activity of the enzyme was to be at pH 7.0 and 60 °C. The enzyme activity was halved at the end of the 276th h at 60 °C. The enzyme maintained its activity even after 300 h at pH 6.0-10.0. The values of Km, Vmax, kcat, and kcat/Km were determined as 44.69 ± 1.27 mM, 6.28 ± 0.05 µmoL/min/mg protein, 6.70 1/s and 0.15 1/mMs−1, respectively. While Zn2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Ag2+, Fe3+, Hg2+, and Al2+ metal ions inhibited O-1-6-glucosidase, Mn2+, Fe2+, and Mg2+ ions activated the enzyme. Consequently, A. gonensis O-1-6-glucosidase (rAgoSuc2) has interesting properties, especially for HFS production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Various factors, such as obstructive azoospermia, cause infertility in men. Biochemical examination of ejaculate, especially measurement of fructose, can be an additional investigation that can be used for this diagnosis in reproductive health. Examination of fructose is carried out after routine ejaculate analysis, resulting in prolonging the examination time so that it will affect the measurement of fructose level in the ejaculate and the accuracy of the diagnosis. This study aims to determine the best timing and procedure for measurement of fructose using a semiautomatic method. Methods: This research is an analytic observational study conducted at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya. A total of 13 ejaculate samples from infertile male patients who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated. Each ejaculate was divided into eight aliquots that were examined for fructose using a semiautomated method after different intervals of time and centrifugation modalities. Results: This study showed a significant difference in fructose levels when aliquots were centrifuged and examined immediately or after different interval of time (p = 0.036). In addition, aliquots left standing for more than 60 minutes (p = 0.012) and 120 minutes (p < 0.001) before centrifugation, showed significantly lower levels compared to aliquots that were centrifuged and then immediately examined. Conclusions: We suggest that measuring fructose immediately after centrifugation is more reliable than measuring fructose left standing before or after centrifugation. Leaving the ejaculate standing will reduce the fructose level so that it does not resemble its real level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous meta-analysis, we showed that long-term melatonin administration minimizes diet-induced changes in lipid profiles. The present work was aimed to use a meta-analysis to study the diet-denendent effect of melatonin monotherapy on body weight gain (BWG) and eating behavior in rats. We carried out a meta-analysis of 43 publications examining the effects of melatonin monotherapy on BWG, blood leptin levels, food and water intake in rats fed a standard diet (37 publications), as well as high-fructose (5 publications) and high-fat (9 publications) diets. Our findings suggest that although melatonin reduced triglyceride, total cholesterol and leptin levels in rats fed high-fructose and high-fat, but not a standard, diets, melatonin therapy prevented BWG in rats on either diet. Increasing the dose of melatonin did not enhance the effect of therapy on any diet. We did not obtain convincing evidence that the effect of melatonin depends on the initial body weight and age of rats. On a standard diet, melatonin has been found to reduce food and water intake. Melatonin did not reduce BWG with a standard diet when administered intraperitoneally. Our research suggests that melatonin may be beneficial in diet-induced metabolic disorders as it improves lipid profiles and prevents BWG. However, a decrease in appetite and BWG when taking melatonin may also be due to negative side effects of the drug, which requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Post‐harvest maturation of two Malaysian honeys, the Tualang and Kelulut was studied by measuring changes in physicochemical and antioxidant properties, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) contents and bacterial profiles at room temperature of 23–26 °C. After maturation at the recommended period of 26 weeks, water activity of both honeys increased between 0.89% and 2.34% while free acidity increased between 2.05% and 2.24%. Results suggested the prominence of fermentation reactions in honey during post‐harvest maturation as fructose concentration reduced by 10.6% and 1.05% for the Tualang and Kelulut honey, respectively, while HMF concentrations were kept at a safe limit of 48.00 and 61.23 mg/kg honey. The total phenolic content of Tualang and Kelulut honey increased significantly by 12.61% and 54.66% respectively. The highlight of this post‐harvest maturation process for Kelulut honey was the improvement found in antioxidant properties of DPPH radical scavenging activity by 10.01%–54.74% and also the probiotic‐like potential in terms significant increase in relative abundance of the Bacillus genera to 2.6% and Lactobacillus to 6.25% at 26 weeks. The prolonged maturation process up to 1 year however revealed continuous accumulation of HMF to values above 80 mg/kg honey, surpassing the limits by the Codex Alimentarius Commission despite improvements of antioxidant properties and bacterial profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi engage in symbiosis with more than 80% of terrestrial plants, enlarging root phosphorus (P) absorption volume by producing extensive extraradical hyphae (ERH) in the soil. In addition, AM fungi recruit and cooperate with soil bacteria to enhance soil organic P mobilization and improve fungal and plant fitness through hyphal exudates. However, the role of the dominant compounds in the hyphal exudates in enhancing organic P mobilization in the mycorrhizal pathway is still not well understood. In this study, we added sugars, i.e., glucose, fructose, and trehalose, which are detected in the hyphal exudates, to the hyphal compartments (HCs) that allowed the ERH of the AM fungus to grow or not. The results showed that in AM fungus-inoculated pots, adding three sugars at a concentration of 2 mmol C kg−1 soil significantly increased the phosphatase activity and facilitated the mobilization of organic P in the HCs. The addition of fructose at a concentration of 2 mmol C kg−1 soil was the most efficient in increasing the phosphatase activity and enhancing organic P mobilization. The released inorganic P was then absorbed by the ERH of the AM fungus. The enhanced mobilization of organic P was correlated with the increase in phoD gene number and the changing bacterial community in the presence of fungal hyphae. The sugar addition enriched the relative abundance of some bacterial taxa, e.g., Betaproteobacteriales. Our study suggested that the addition of the sugars by mycorrhizae could be a pivotal strategy in managing P uptake in agricultural production, potentially directing future practices to optimize plant–fungi–bacteria interactions for improved P use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel sustainable approach was proposed for the integral valorisation of Arctium lappa (burdock) seeds and roots. Firstly, a preliminary recovery of bioactive compounds, including unsaturated fatty acids, was performed. Then, simple sugars (i.e., fructose and sucrose) and phenolic compounds were extracted by using compressed fluids (supercritical CO2 and propane). Consequently, a complete characterisation of raw biomass and extraction residues was carried out to determine the starting chemical composition in terms of residual lipids, proteins, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and ash content. Subsequently, three alternative ways to utilise extraction residues were proposed and successfully tested: (i) enzymatic hydrolysis operated by Cellulases (Thricoderma resei) of raw and residual biomass to glucose, (ii) direct ethanolysis to produce ethyl levulinate; and (iii) pyrolysis to obtain biochar to be used as supports for the synthesis of sulfonated magnetic iron-carbon catalysts (Fe-SMCC) to be applied in the dehydration of fructose for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). The development of these advanced approaches enabled the full utilisation of this resource through the production of fine chemicals and value-added compounds in line with the principles of the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress is a significant abiotic stress that profoundly impacts the quality of fruits and vegetables. This study parsed the effects of fermentation supernatant (CFS-R1) and bacterial suspension (CRS-R1) of antagonistic bacteria R1 on the physiological quality and sugar metabolism of 'Nanguo' pears under chilling stress. The results demonstrated that both CFS-R1 and CRS-R1 significantly reduced the browning and weight loss of the fruit and suppressed the chilling injury. The relative electrolyte leakage of CFS-R1 and CRS-R1 treated fruits were reduced by 9.4 % and 9.9 % respectively on day 7 of storage, indicating improved cell membrane stability. Furthermore, both CFS-R1 and CRS-R1 maintained the sucrose content of the fruits, with CFS-R1 also increasing the content of glucose and fructose. In conclusion, the antagonist R1 can serve as a biological preservative to enhance the cold tolerance of Nanguo pear fruit by regulating sugar metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) is a crucial tool in kidney research. These technologies cluster cells based on transcriptome similarity, irrespective of the anatomical location and order within the nephron. Thus, a transcriptome cluster may obscure the heterogeneity of the cell population within a nephron segment. Elevated dietary fructose leads to salt-sensitive hypertension, in part, through fructose reabsorption in the proximal tubule (PT). However, the organization of the four known fructose transporters in apical PTs (SGLT4, SGLT5, GLUT5, and NaGLT1) remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that cells within each subsegment of the proximal tubule exhibit complex, heterogeneous fructose transporter expression patterns. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed rat kidney transcriptomes and proteomes from publicly available scRNAseq and tubule microdissection databases. We found that microdissected PT-S1 segments consist of 81% ± 12% cells with scRNAseq-derived transcriptional characteristics of S1, whereas PT-S2 express a mixture of 18% ± 9% S1, 58% ± 8% S2, and 19% ± 5% S3 transcripts, and PT-S3 consists of 75% ± 9% S3 transcripts. The expression of all four fructose transporters was detectable in all three PT segments, but key fructose transporters SGLT5 and GLUT5 progressively increased from S1 to S3, and both were significantly upregulated in S3 vs. S1/S2 (Slc5a10: 1.9 log2FC, p < 1 × 10−299; Scl2a5: 1.4 log2FC, p < 4 × 10−105). A similar distribution was found in human kidneys. These data suggest that S3 is the primary site of fructose reabsorption in both humans and rats. Finally, because of the multiple scRNAseq transcriptional phenotypes found in each segment, our findings also imply that anatomical labels applied to scRNAseq clusters may be misleading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic inflammation is a key player in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) progression. Necroptosis, an inflammatory cell death pathway, is elevated in MAFLD patients and mouse models, yet its role is unclear due to the diverse mouse models and inhibition strategies. In our study, we inhibited necroptosis by targeting mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL), the terminal effector of necroptosis, in a high-fat, high-fructose, high-cholesterol (HFHFrHC) mouse model of diet-induced MAFLD. Despite the HFHFrHC diet upregulating MLKL (2.5-fold), WT mice livers showed no increase in necroptosis markers or associated proinflammatory cytokines. Surprisingly, Mlkl−/− mice experienced exacerbated liver inflammation without protection from diet-induced liver damage, steatosis, or fibrosis. In contrast, Mlkl+/− mice showed a significant reduction in these parameters that was associated with elevated Pparα and Pparγ levels. Both Mlkl−/− and Mlkl+/− mice on the HFHFrHC diet resisted diet-induced obesity, attributed to the increased beiging, enhanced oxygen consumption, and energy expenditure due to adipose tissue, and exhibited improved insulin sensitivity. These findings highlight the tissue-specific effects of MLKL on the liver and adipose tissue, and they suggest a dose-dependent effect of MLKL on liver pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amoxicillin is commonly used in clinical settings to target bacterial infection and is frequently prescribed during pregnancy. Investigations into its developmental toxicity and effects on disease susceptibility are not comprehensive. Our present study examined the effects of embryonic amoxicillin exposure on liver development and function, especially the effects on susceptibility to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using zebrafish as an animal model. We discovered that embryonic amoxicillin exposure did not compromise liver development, nor did it induce liver toxicity. However, co-treatment of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid diminished BESP expression, caused bile stasis and induced liver toxicity. Embryonic amoxicillin exposure resulted in elevated expression of lipid synthesis genes and exacerbated hepatic steatosis in a fructose-induced NAFLD model, indicating embryonic amoxicillin exposure increased susceptibility to NAFLD in zebrafish larvae. In summary, this research broadens our understanding of the risks of amoxicillin usage during pregnancy and provides evidence for the impact of embryonic amoxicillin exposure on disease susceptibility in offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The composition and abundance of soluble sugars in mature pear (Pyrus) fruit are important for its acceptance by consumers. However, our understanding of the genes responsible for soluble sugar accumulation remains limited. In this study, a S1‐group member of bZIP gene family, PbrbZIP15, was characterized from pear genome through the combined analyses of metabolite and transcriptome data followed by experimental validation. PbrbZIP15, located in nucleus, was found to function in fructose, sucrose, and total soluble sugar accumulation in pear fruit and calli. After analyzing the expression profiles of sugar‐metabolism‐related genes and the distribution of cis‐acting elements in their promoters, the glucose isomerase 1 gene (PbrXylA1), whose corresponding protein catalyzed the isomerization of glucose and fructose in vitro, was identified as a downstream target gene of PbrbZIP15. PbrbZIP15 could directly bind to the G‐box element in PbrXylA1 promoter and activate its transcription, as evidenced by chromatin immunoprecipitation‐quantitative PCR, yeast one‐hybrid, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and dual‐luciferase assay. PbrXylA1, featuring a leucine‐rich signal peptide in its N‐terminal, was localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. It was validated to play a significant role in fructose, sucrose, and total soluble sugar accumulation in pear fruit and calli, which was associated with the upregulated fructose/glucose ratio. Further studies revealed a positive correlation between the sucrose content and the expression levels of several sucrose‐biosynthesis‐related genes (PbrFRK3/8, PbrSPS1/3/4/8, and PbrSPP1) in PbrbZIP15‐/PbrXylA1‐transgenic fruit/calli. In conclusion, our results suggest that PbrbZIP15‐induced soluble sugar accumulation during pear development is at least partly attributed to the activation of PbrXylA1 transcription. Significance Statement: The composition and abundance of soluble sugars in mature pear fruit are important for its acceptance by consumers, but our understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying soluble sugar accumulation remains limited. Our findings suggest that PbrbZIP15 and its target gene PbrXylA1 participate in glucose isomerization and thus alter the composition and abundance of soluble sugars, ultimately resulting in the sweetness improvement in pear, making them potential targets for molecular breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gout is at least three times more prevalent in males than in females. However, concurrent with rising total gout prevalence, complex factors, including comorbidities, diet, lifestyle, and aging, have promoted higher gout prevalence in females. This narrative review focuses on summarizing recent developments in the landscape of gout in females and the mechanisms involved. New knowledge on sex hormone effects on both urate-excreting and urate-reabsorbing transporters and higher hypertension and chronic kidney disease prevalence in females compared to males may help explain why gout incidence rises robustly after menopause in females, to approach that in males. Racial and ethnic factors, risk profiles based on heritable genetic polymorphisms of urate transporters, diet, body mass index, and lifestyle factors differ according to sex. In addition, sex differences in clinical phenotypes, outcomes of gout, and non-gout illnesses include more frequent comorbidities, more pain and disability during gout flares, different perceptions of disease burden, and more frequent severe cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction to allopurinol in females. Collectively, such findings support the potential clinical benefits of tailoring gout and hyperuricemia treatment according to sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]