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Introduction Personnel engaged in high-stakes occupations, such as military personnel, law enforcement, and emergency first responders, must sustain performance through a range of environmental stressors. To maximize the effectiveness of military personnel, an a priori understanding of traits can help predict their physical and cognitive performance under stress and adversity. This work developed and assessed a suite of measures that have the potential to predict performance during operational scenarios. These measures were designed to characterize four specific trait–based domains: cognitive, health, physical, and social-emotional. Materials and Methods One hundred and ninety-one active duty U.S. Army soldiers completed interleaved questionnaire–based, seated task–based, and physical task–based measures over a period of 3-5 days. Redundancy analysis, dimensionality reduction, and network analyses revealed several patterns of interest. Results First, unique variable analysis revealed a minimally redundant battery of instruments. Second, principal component analysis showed that metrics tended to cluster together in three to five components within each domain. Finally, analyses of cross-domain associations using network analysis illustrated that cognitive, health, physical, and social-emotional domains showed strong construct solidarity. Conclusions The present battery of metrics presents a fieldable toolkit that may be used to predict operational performance that can be clustered into separate components or used independently. It will aid predictive algorithm development aimed to identify critical predictors of individual military personnel and small-unit performance outcomes.

whISOBAX (WH), an extract of the witch-hazel plant that is native to the Northeast coast of the United States, contains significant amounts of a phenolic compound, Hamamelitannin (HAMA). Green tea (GT) is a widely consumed plant that contains various catechins. Both plants have been associated with antimicrobial effects. In this study we test the effects of these two plant extracts on the pathogenesis of staphylococci, and evaluate their effects on bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and toxin production. Our observations show that both extracts have antimicrobial effects against both strains of S. aureus and S. epidermidis tested, and that this inhibitory effect is synergistic. Also, we confirmed that this inhibitory effect does not depend on HAMA, but rather on other phenolic compounds present in WH and GT. In terms of biofilm inhibition, only WH exhibited an effect and the observed anti-biofilm effect was HAMA-depended. Finally, among the tested extracts, only WH exhibited an effect against Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A (SEA) production and this effect correlated to the HAMA present in WH. Our results suggest that GT and WH in combination can enhance the antimicrobial effects against staphylococci. However, only WH can control biofilm development and SEA production, due to the presence of HAMA. This study provides the initial rationale for the development of natural antimicrobials, to protect from staphylococcal colonization, infection, or contamination.

The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as integral to human health, and is emerging as a mediator of human physical and cognitive performance. This has led to the recognition that US Department of Defense (DoD) research supporting a healthy and resilient gut microbiome will be critical to optimizing the health and performance of future Warfighters. To facilitate knowledge dissemination and collaboration, identify resource capabilities and gaps, and maximize the positive impact of gut microbiome research on the Warfighter, DoD partners in microbiome research participated in a 2-day informational meeting co-hosted by the Natick Soldier Research, Engineering and Development Center (NSRDEC) and the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) on 16–17 November 2015. Attendee presentations and discussions demonstrated that multiple DoD organizations are actively advancing gut microbiome research. Common areas of research included the influence of military-relevant stressors on interactions between the microbiome and Warfighter biology, manipulation of the microbiome to influence Warfighter health, and use of the microbiome as a biomarker of Warfighter health status. Although resources and capabilities are available, they vary across laboratories and it was determined that centralizing certain DoD capabilities could accelerate progress. More significantly, the meeting created a foundation for a coordinated gut microbiome and nutrition research program aligning key DoD partners in the area of microbiome research. This report details the presentations and discussions presented during the 1st DoD Gut Microbiome Informational Meeting.

OBJECTIVES: From a military perspective, the gut microbiome serves as an ideal tool to enhance Soldier gut and immune health and to improve survivability and performance. Our work employs in vitro tools as a means to elucidate systematic processes of colonic bacterial metabolism of dietary inputs under native and stressed conditions. This talk will focus on the use of in vitro fermentation to investigate both the prebiotic potential of cranberry proanthocyanidins (PAC) within a healthy microbiome and stress-induced alterations in microbial inter-species competition for fermentable fiber. METHODS: Fermentations were performed in triplicate, utilizing fecal inocula derived from at least three individuals, in a nutrient-rich anaerobic medium with sampling at 0 and 24 hrs. Within PAC supplementation studies, samples were analyzed for bacterial identification (16 s rRNA sequencing) and metabolite content (GC-FID and GC/MS). Stressed metabolism studies, which utilized fecal samples before and after a 21-day change in diet challenge (habitual vs. Meal Ready-to-Eat), employed media supplemented with resistant starch under ascending colon domain-specific conditions; samples taken were analyzed for bacterial identification (16 s rRNA) and enumeration of select organisms (qPCR). RESULTS: Bacterial population dynamics within PAC supplementation studies indicated a dose-dependent increase in several beneficial taxa, including Ruminococcus spp (P

Interactions between gut microbes and dietary components modulate intestinal permeability (IP) and inflammation. Recent studies have reported altered fecal microbiota composition together with increased IP and inflammation in individuals consuming military food rations in austere environments, but could not isolate effects of the diet from environmental factors. To determine how the U.S. Meal, Ready-to-Eat food ration affects fecal microbiota composition, IP and inflammation, 60 adults (95% male,18-61 years) were randomized to consume their usual ad libitum diet for 31 days (CON) or a strictly controlled Meal, Ready-to-Eat-only diet for 21 days followed by their usual diet for 10 days (MRE). In both groups, fecal microbiota composition was measured before, during (INT, days 1-21) and after the intervention period. IP and inflammation [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)] were measured on days 0, 10, 21 and 31. Longitudinal changes in fecal microbiota composition differed between groups (P=.005), and fecal samples collected from MRE during INT were identified with 88% accuracy using random forest models. The genera making the strongest contribution to that prediction accuracy included multiple lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc), which demonstrated lower relative abundance in MRE, and several genera known to dominate the ileal microbiota (Streptococcus, Veillonella, Clostridium), the latter two demonstrating higher relative abundance in MRE. IP and hsCRP were both lower (34% and 41%, respectively) in MRE relative to CON on day 21 (P

The gut microbiome is extremely important for maintaining homeostasis with host intestinal epithelial, neuronal, and immune cells and this host-microbe interaction is critical during times of stress or disease. Environmental, nutritional, and cognitive stress are just a few factors known to influence the gut microbiota and are thought to induce microbial dysbiosis. Research on this bidirectional relationship as it pertains to health and disease is extensive and rapidly expanding in both in vivo and in vitro/ex vivo models. However, far less work has been devoted to studying effects of host-microbe interactions on acute stressors and performance, the underlying mechanisms, and the modulatory effects of different stressors on both the host and the microbiome. Additionally, the use of in vitro/ex vivo models to study the gut microbiome and human performance has not been researched extensively nor reviewed. Therefore, this review aims to examine current evidence concerning the current status of in vitro and ex vivo host models, the impact of acute stressors on gut physiology/microbiota as well as potential impacts on human performance and how we can parlay this information for DoD relevance as well as the broader scientific community. Models reviewed include widely utilized intestinal cell models from human and animal models that have been applied in the past for stress or microbiology research as well as ex vivo organ/tissue culture models and new innovative models including organ-on-a-chip and co-culture models.

Theobroma cacao (cocoa) contains a wide variety of phenolic phytochemicals, including proanthocyanidins (PACs), and their bioactivities have been reported in various reports. The present study investigates the carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme inhibitory activity of cocoa. Defatted cocoa powder was extracted in 100 mL acetone solution (acetone: water: hydrochloric acid, 70:29.9:0.01) for 2 h at room temperature. The acetone extract was subjected to LH-20 column chromatography using two different methods to recover fractions of different polarities. The extract and resulting fractions were evaluated for the total phenolic content, PAC content and in vitro inhibitory activity against carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes. COAE-PAC had higher total phenolic content and PACs than COAE-LMW; however, COAE-LMW resulted to higher inhibitory activity against carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes. Our findings suggest that cocoa acetone extracts have potential to manage post-prandial hyperglycemia via inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolysis enzymes and that this effect is not PAC dependent. Practical Applciation Type 2 diabetes prevention is a major hurdle of our society. Various research findings suggest that natural product ingredients in combination with lifestyle changes can prevent the progression of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. To effectively design natural product ingredients for the prevention of prediabetes progression to type 2 diabetes requires thorough evaluation of the mechanism of action and potential bioactives. Proanthocyanidins (PACs) present in cocoa have been linked to various health benefits of cocoa. Recent findings suggest that cocoa can potentially prevent type 2 diabetes via inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes. This work identifies whether this inhibitory activity is PAC or lower molecular weight phenolic dependent. Ultimately, this work contributes a small piece in the deeper evaluation of cocoa for the management of type 2 diabetes.

Green tea (GT), cranberry (CR), and tart cherry extracts were evaluated for their ability to inhibit yeast α-glucosidase, relevant to glucose uptake. The total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, and in vitro inhibitory activity of yeast α-glucosidase were examined for the extracts in the present study. GT had higher TPC and antioxidant activity, but CR demonstrated a greater α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, on phenolic basis. CR was fractionated using LH-20 column chromatography into two fractions: 30% methanol (CME) and 70% acetone (CAE). TPC, antioxidant activity, and yeast α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were determined for the fractions. CAE had a greater TPC and antioxidant activity than CME, but the two fractions had a synergistic effect when inhibiting yeast α-glucosidase. Our findings suggest that CR has the greatest potential to possibly manage post-prandial blood glucose levels via the inhibition of α-glucosidase, and that the effect is through synergistic activity of the extract’s phenolic compounds.

This study investigates the carbohydrate-hydrolyzing inhibitory potential of blueberry extract on carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes and evaluates if the inhibitory activity is proanthocyanidin (PAC) or lower molecular weight phenolic dependent. Freeze-dried blueberry powder was extracted using acetone and subjected to C18 extraction (BAE). Low-molecular weight phenolics (BAE-LMW) and PACs (BAE-PAC) were separated from BAE with gel filtration chromatography using LH-20 column. Total phenolic content, PAC content, and phenolic profiles using HPLC, as well as rat α-glucosidase, sucrase, and maltase inhibitory activities, were determined for all samples. The rat alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity of BAE (IC50 0.390 mg/mL TP basis) was enhanced in BAE-LMW (IC50 0.242 mg/mL TP basis) and reduced in BAE-PAC (IC50 0.915 mg/mL TP basis). Similar trends were observed with maltase and sucrase inhibitory activities. Our findings suggest that blueberry acetone extract has inhibitory activity on carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes and this effect is dependent on LMWs rather than PAC.

Pistachio consumption is associated with reductions in serum cholesterol and oxidative stress due to their constituents of unsaturated fats, phytosterols, fiber, and antioxidants. Bleaching has been applied to whiten nut shells for antifungal and cosmetic purposes. However, the impact of bleaching on nutritional quality and safety of pistachios remains to be examined. In this study, we investigated whether bleaching would increase malondialdehyde (MDA) or 7-keto-sitosterol and decrease phytosterols in pistachio oil, as well as cause cytotoxicity of modeled Hepa1c1c7 cells. Bleached pistachio oil had larger than 12.6% decrease in b-sitosterol and total phytosterols as compared to the raw oil (P � 0.05). Bleaching with Fe 2þ significantly increase 7-keto-sitosterol compared to bleaching alone. Hepatic cell viability was decreased the most by the oil of the pistachios treated with bleach containing Fe 2þ (P � 0.05), and lactate dehydrogenase activity in medium was elevated by >18-folds (P � 0.05). Compared to natural pistachios, the bleaching treatment had detrimental effects on nutritional quality and expected health benefits of pistachios by increasing lipid peroxidation, decreasing phytosterol content, and causing cytotoxicity. Practical applications: Bleaching has been applied to whiten the nut shell for antifungal and cosmetic purposes. However, the results of this study indicate that bleaching treatment has a detrimental impact on nutritional quality and expected health benefits of pistachios. Particularly, treatment with a bleach formula with hydrogen peroxide and transit metals increases formation of lipid peroxidation products and decreases phytosterol content. The resulting pistachio oil causes cell toxicity. Thus, bleaching practice for whitening pistachios is strongly discouraged.

The purpose of this study was to characterise the purified fractions of the novel highly stable polymer polyepicatechin and test them for their antioxidant potency. This paper presents, for the first time, a methodology for separating the fractions for food applications. Polyepicatechin is synthesised, using Green chemistry, through the enzymatic polymerisation, in a water/ethanol mixture of epicatechin (a flavonol found in green tea). The polyepicatechin, which is entirely different from the natural proanthocyanidin, is soluble in a water/ethanol mixture. The ultimate objective is to increase the thermal stability and antioxidant potency of epicatechin so it can be applied to foods, such as poultry and fish, to reduce their rancidity. UV–Vis, FTIR, MS–MS and NMR were used to deduce certain aspects of the structure, and the experimental work was combined with computational modeling. The results show polyepicatechin gives a preferable site of reaction via-resorcinol and the lowest polar fraction shows higher antioxidant potency compared to tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). The next step is to assess the enzyme inhibition and anticancer potency of these fractions.

Cinnamomum cassia (cinnamon) proanthocyanidins (PACs) are believed to have anti-hyperglycemic potential via stimulation of insulin sensitivity. The present study investigates the carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme inhibition of cinnamon PACs. Five grams of cinnamon bark powder were extracted in 100 mL acetone solution (CAE) (acetone: water: hydrochloric acid, 70:29.9:0.01) for 2 h at room temperature and in 100 mL deionized water for 30 min at 90 °C (CWE). PACs were purified from CAE using LH-20 (CAE-PAC) to be further evaluated. PAC contents were evaluated by 4-Dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC) assay and yielded 795, 177 and 123 mg/g, for CAE-PAC, CAE and CWE respectively. The total phenolic contents of CAE and CWE were determined to be 152 and 134 mg/g respectively. All extracts were adjusted to the same PAC content (180, 90, 45 and 20 μg) and the inhibitory activity against rat α-glucosidase was determined. The CAE-PAC fraction had very low rat α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, CAE had the highest (IC50 0.474 mg/mL total phenolic (TP) basis) followed by CWE (IC50 0.697 mg/mL TP basis). The specific maltase and sucrase inhibitory activities were determined and CAE (IC50 0.38 and 0.10 mg/mL TP basis) had higher inhibition than CWE (IC50 0.74 and 0.37 mg/mL TP basis). Results suggest that the observed bioactivity is not PAC dependent and that CAE has a higher anti-hyperglycemic potential than CWE via inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes.

Intestinal mucosa models using Caco-2 cells have been utilized extensively to evaluate bioavailability of nutrients, drugs and mechanisms of inflammation and innate immune responses. However, data ...

Unabsorbed polyphenols are subject to metabolism catalyzed by colonic microbiota into a wide range of phenolic acids (PA) with implications for gut health. The aim of this study was to develop a re...

Dismounted operations make it difficult for Warriors to drink and eat enough. The Nutrient Delivery System (NDS) is an add-on to collapsible bladder with drink tube personal hydration systems, and is intended to facilitate fluid and on-the-move nutrient intake. Tests were performed using an artificial sipping system and carbohydrate-beverage concentrates (CHO) to characterize NDS performance attributes. A variety of CHO formulations were also studied to define the ideal beverage concentrate for maximizing system efficiency. The NDS performed optimally with concentrate bag oriented spout down with the top of bag positioned ~ 6-inches below the bite valve. Sip to sip coefficient of variation as measured by sip-to-sip changes in % solids was 2 [1.5]%. At faster sipping rates (13-14 ml/sec) the blended drink was 4 [13]% more concentrated compared to a lower sip rate (7-9 ml/sec). A concentrate viscosity of 0.022 Pa.S. created the desired dynamic range (0 to 7% CHO) and efficiency (~ 1 Liter of mixed drink from 100 ml concentrate). The NOS is a valid and reproducible system for mixing drinks with a PHS.