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Incorporating β-glucan-rich oat bran (OB) can attenuate postprandial glycemic response (PPGR) in solid foods, but its effect in liquid matrices is unclear. This study investigated the ability of differently processed low-dose-β-glucan-containing beverages to lower PPGR, and the mechanisms of action. Twenty participants consumed five malt beverages made from cocoa powder: intact OB (Intact), OB treated with enzymatic hydrolysis (EnzymA, EnzymB) or extrusion (Extr), or no OB (Ctrl). Four-hour postprandial incremental areas under the curve (iAUC) and peak incremental concentrations (iCmax) of glucose, insulin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and paracetamol were evaluated. The molecular weight (MW) and extractability of the β-glucan in all the test products were also assessed. The three-hour glucose iAUC significantly decreased by -26%, -28%, -32%, and -38% in Intact, EnzymA, EnzymB, and Extr, respectively, and the insulin levels of the oat-containing products were also significantly lower compared to Ctrl. Intact and Extr elicited a lower insulin iCmax and GLP-1 3 h iAUC compared to Ctrl. However, the GIP and paracetamol levels were not changed. All the processed OBs improved β-glucan extractability and lowered the MW of β-glucan compared to Intact. In conclusion, low-dose oat β-glucan in a beverage significantly reduced PPGR, with effects maintained across different oat processing methods.

Foods are analysed for their vitamin content to support the verification of regulatory compliance or to generate food composition data. Many international reference methods for the analysis of vitamins in foods originate from the 1990s. Advances in nutrition science and analytical technology and the continuing evolution of statutory regulations necessitate the need of new or supplementary regulatory standards. We have evaluated recent developments in these areas and conclude that most current international reference methods are no longer fit-for-purpose to accurately determine vitamin content in foods and food supplements. We have made recommendations to consider new and/or updated reference methods and regulatory standards for the analysis of vitamins A, D, E, K, B 1 , B 2 , B 3, B 5 , B 6 , B 7 , B 9 , B 12 , C and carotenoids in foods and food supplements. This area of nutrients may benefit from globally harmonised definitions specifying what compounds to include or exclude for analysis, and applicable bioactivity factors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Pet food production is a fast-growing industry. While extruded dry pet food is the favored pet food due to its convenience of use, it may have poorer palatability than other pet foods such as wet pet foods. However, palatability plays a pivotal role in meeting nutritional requirements or providing therapeutic benefits in cats and dogs, as it ensures food acceptance. Thus, both academics and manufacturers conduct routine palatability tests to assess acceptance and preference of products among pets, alongside sensory analyses involving human panels. Palatability is greatly influenced by species-specific and environmental factors in cats and dogs. The review will hence present the current knowledge on palatability assessment and animal food perception; it will then aim to explore strategies for effectively managing palatability in dry pet food by examining the impact of key ingredients and process parameters on the finished product's palatability. Moreover, the demands and needs for sustainable and healthier products as well as supply constraints present novel challenges and opportunities for academics and manufacturers., Competing Interests: Authors Gautier Le Guillas and Pascal Vanacker were employed by the company Centre R&D Nestlé S.A.S. The remaining 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.

Background : Oxidative stress is a key risk factor for visual impairment and consuming dietary antioxidant-rich foods may help in managing visual impairments. However, a limited number of studies have investigated the effect of dietary antioxidant-rich food including grapes on eye health in older adults. Objectives : To assess the effects on macular pigment accumulation of regular consumption of grapes in Singapore older adults. Methods : This was a 16 week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty-four Singapore older adults were randomized into regularly consuming either 46 g day -1 of freeze-dried table grape powder (the intervention group) or the same amount of placebo powder (the control group). Macular pigment optical density (MPOD), skin carotenoid status, advanced glycation end product (AGEs) status and dietary lutein intake were assessed every 4 weeks, and plasma lutein concentration, total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content were measured every 8 weeks. Results : A significant time effect ( p = 0.007) was observed for MPOD, and this is largely attributed to the improvement in the MPOD for the intervention group, as a significant increase was observed only in this group (week 0: 0.56 ± 0.04 D.U.; week 16: 0.61 ± 0.04 D.U., p < 0.01). Additionally, a significant increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity (week 0: 0.26 ± 0.13 mM TEAC; week 16: 0.36 ± 0.20 mM TEAC, p < 0.01) and total phenolic content (week 0: 10.50 ± 0.44 mg L -1 GAE; week 16: 12.58 ± 0.55 mg L -1 GAE, p < 0.001) was observed for the intervention group only. In contrast, a significant increase in skin AGE status was observed in the control group (week 0: 2.47 ± 0.24; week 16: 2.99 ± 0.12, p < 0.05) while this was mitigated in the intervention group. There were no differences in dietary lutein intake, plasma lutein concentration and skin carotenoid status between groups throughout the study. Conclusions : Regular intake of grapes may improve eye health in Singapore older adults, specifically in augmenting MPOD, which can be explained by an increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity and phenolic content, and the downregulation of AGEs. This study was registered at clinicatrials.gov as NCT05064865.

Precision nutrition involves several data collection methods and tools that aim to better inform nutritional recommendations and improve dietary intake, nutritional status, and health outcomes. While the benefits of collecting precise data and designing well-informed interventions are vast, it is presently unclear whether precision nutrition is a relevant approach for tackling nutrition challenges facing populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), considering infrastructure, affordability, and accessibility of approaches. The Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley (SFNV) Precision Nutrition for LMIC project working group assessed the relevance of precision nutrition for LMIC by first conducting an expert opinion survey and then hosting a workshop with nutrition leaders who live or work in LMIC. The experts were interviewed to discuss four topics: nutritional problems, current solutions, precision nutrition, and collaboration. Furthermore, the SFNV Precision Nutrition for LMIC Virtual Workshop gathered a wider group of nutrition leaders to further discuss precision nutrition relevance and opportunities. Our study revealed that precision public health nutrition, which has a clear focus on the stratification of at-risk groups, may offer relevant support for nutrition and health issues in LMIC. However, funding, affordability, resources, awareness, training, suitable tools, and safety are essential prerequisites for implementation and to equitably address nutrition challenges in low-resource communities.

Purpose of Review: The aim of this study was to introduce novel metrics of dietary carbohydrates quality relevant for products and diets., Recent Findings: Carbohydrate quality has long been associated with a low glycemic index. More recently, novel metrics of carbohydrate quality featuring variations of total carbohydrates-fibers-free sugars ratios have been applied to carbohydrate-rich foods, including grains, beans, vegetables, and fruit. High scoring products had higher levels of health-promoting nutrients (protein, dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, selenium, and various B-vitamins) and lower levels of nutrients of public health concern (total sugar, added/free sugars, and fat profile). Cross-sectional studies also found variants of carbohydrate quality metrics to be associated with better markers of cardiometabolic disease, including lower levels of blood triglycerides:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, and SBP., Summary: New ratio-based carbohydrate quality metrics are built around high fiber and whole grain content, combined with a low free sugar content. Such metrics allow the identification of food products of higher overall nutritional quality, and are associated with improved diet quality and certain health outcomes., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background and Aims: Carbohydrate quality may play a key role in cardiometabolic health and disease risk. This study aimed to assess the dietary carbohydrate quality of the free-living middle-aged and older adults in Singapore, and its association with overall diet quality and cardiometabolic health., Methods and Results: This cross-sectional study examined the diet and cardiometabolic disease risk indicators of middle-aged and older adults in Singapore (n = 104). Dietary carbohydrate quality was assessed as the pass and fail rate of the population to four measures of carbohydrate quality: (i) dietary fiber recommended daily allowance (RDA), (ii) whole-grain recommendation, (iii) free sugar recommendation, and (iv) carbohydrate metrics. The association between each carbohydrate quality measure and diet quality, as well as cardiometabolic health, was assessed. Except for free sugar recommendation, the carbohydrate quality of the population was found to be poor with a low adherence (20-36%) to three measures. Subjects meeting these measures had generally higher intakes of fiber, protein, and most micronutrients compared with subjects who failed. Meeting different variants of the carbohydrate metrics was associated with 60% lower odds of pre-hypertensive blood pressure (p = 0.037; p = 0.047), and meeting the dietary fiber RDA was associated with lower waist circumference (p = 0.021)., Conclusion: An improvement in carbohydrate quality is warranted among free-living middle-aged and older adults in Singapore. Not all measures of carbohydrate quality were equally effective in preserving overall diet quality; the carbohydrate metrics and dietary fiber RDA can be identified as effective measures in relation to cardiometabolic disease risk., Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03554954, 13 Sept. 2018., (Copyright © 2023 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fatty acids (FA) play a key role in infant growth and development. The aim of this study was to study the temporal evolution of FA from 3 or 4 weeks to 4 months postpartum in human milk (HM) from Filipino mothers. Mid-morning HM samples (n = 41) were collected after full expression from a single breast and FA were assessed using gas-liquid chromatography coupled to flame ionization detector. The total FA content remained relatively constant over the study period. The most abundant FA in HM were oleic acid (OA), palmitic acid (PA) and linoleic acid (LA), a trend similarly reported in HM from European and Chinese mothers. The former two were unchanged over the course of lactation while there was a slight increase in LA content over time. Similarly, the saturated fatty acid (SFA) and monounsaturated FA (MUFA) contents did not vary over the first four months of lactation. The SFA content was much higher than that reported in HM from Europe and China, mainly driven by PA, lauric and myristic acids. The MUFA content on the other hand, while comparable to that reported in HM from Chinese populations was lower than that reported in Europe. There was a small increase in the polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) content over the study duration. The levels of essential FA, linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) were found to be much lower than that reported in other populations. The concentrations of arachidonic acid (AA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) remained stable over the study duration. AA and DHA in HM from Filipino mothers were comparable to global averages, however in case of the latter the concentration was found to be lower than in previous reports. DHA is of great clinical significance as it plays a key role in infant growth and development. In our study, we observed a wide inter- and intra-individual variability in the levels of DHA in HM, presumably reflecting diverse intakes of DHA rich foods and bioconversion in vivo. Personalized recommendations may help achieve recommended levels of DHA amongst population with levels below global averages. This may help achieve HM sufficiency and therefore be linked to clinical benefits for the mother and the baby. SUMMARY: This study details the temporal evolution of human milk (HM) fatty acids (FA) in Filipino mothers up to four months postpartum. The total FA content remained relatively constant over the study period. The most abundant FA were oleic, palmitic and linoleic acids. HM from Filipino mothers had relatively higher saturated FA content driven by palmitic, lauric and myristic acids, while the levels of essential FA, linoleic and α-linoleic acids were lower compared to other populations. Similarly, the concentration of monounsaturated FA were also lower than that reported in HM from European mothers. Arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations were comparable to global averages however the HM DHA levels were seen to have decreased when compared to previous reports from the Philippines. Additionally, a wide variability was seen in HM DHA levels suggesting a need for strategies such as personalized recommendations in order to ensure HM DHA sufficiency., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Francesca Giuffrida, Tinu Mary Samuel, Sagar K. Thakkar, Surabhi Devaraj and Mickaël Hartweg are employees of Société des Produits Nestlé SA., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Raman imaging technology combined with targeted chemometrics can play a vital role in the rapid detection of milk powder adulteration, which threatens the lives of infants and other people. However, these methods always suffer from a narrow detection range. Nontargeted methods show a broader detection range but cannot recognize adulterants. Here, a novel nontargeted chemometric method, named as the adversarial discrimination neural network (ADNN), is proposed to detect and recognize adulterants simultaneously. The method comprises building a tight boundary in the feature space of Raman images to discriminate milk powder samples from the majority of adulterated cases. Then a first-order partial derivative of the ADNN is calculated to recognize different adulterants through a local approximation strategy. A validation set containing samples adulterated with various adulterants at concentrations ranging from 0.3% to 1.5% w/w was provided to challenge the proposed method. The validated detection accuracy of the proposed method for authentic and adulterated samples was 99.9% and 99.7% and the adulterants were recognized correctly. The ADNN-Raman represents a novel nontargeted and end-to-end tool for detecting and recognizing adulterants in milk powder simultaneously, providing new insights into nontargeted chemometric analysis.

The consumption of processed and refined food lacking in fiber has led to global prevalence of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. Fiber-fortification into these foods can yield potential health improvements to reduce disease risk. This meta-analyses aimed to evaluate how fiber-fortified food consumption changes body composition, blood pressure, blood lipid-lipoprotein panel, and glycemic-related markers. Searches were performed from 5 databases, with 31 randomized controlled trial eventually analyzed. Hedges' g values (95% confidence interval [CI]) attained from outcome change values were calculated using random-effects model. Fiber-fortified food significantly reduced body weight (-0.31 [-0.59, -0.03]), fat mass (-0.49 [-0.72, -0.26]), total cholesterol (-0.54 [-0.71, -0.36]), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.49 [-0.65, -0.33]), triglycerides (-0.24 [-0.36, -0.12]), fasting glucose (-0.30 [-0.49, -0.12]), and HbA1c (-0.44 [-0.74, -0.13]). Subgroup analysis differentiated soluble fiber as significantly reducing triglycerides and insulin while insoluble fiber significantly reduced body weight, BMI, and HbA1c. Greater outcome improvements were observed with solid/semi-solid food state than liquid state. Additionally, fiber fortification of <15 g/day induced more health outcome benefits compared to ≥15 g/day, although meta-regression found a dose-dependent improvement to waist circumference ( p -value = 0.036). Findings from this study suggest that consuming food fortified with dietary fiber can improve anthropometric and cardiometabolic outcomes.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2053658.

Citrus fruits are consumed in large quantities worldwide due to their attractive aromas and taste, as well as their high nutritional values and various health-promoting effects, which are due to their abundance of nutrients and bioactives. In addition to water, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibers are important nutrients in citrus, providing them with high nutritional values. Citrus fruits are also rich in various bioactives such as flavonoids, essential oils, carotenoids, limonoids, and synephrines, which protect from various ailments, including cancer and inflammatory, digestive, and cardiovascular diseases. The composition and content of nutrients and bioactives differ significantly among citrus varieties, fruit parts, and growth stages. To better understand the nutrient and bioactive profiles of citrus fruits and provide guidance for the utilization of high-value citrus resources, this review systematically summarizes the nutrients and bioactives in citrus fruit, including their contents, structural characteristics, and potential health benefits. We also explore the composition variation in different citrus varieties, fruits parts, and growth stages, as well as their health-promoting effects and applications.

Understanding food texture sensitivity in children is important in guiding food selection. The objective of this work was to develop a short questionnaire that could be completed by parents in nonclinical settings to provide a categorization for food texture sensitivity in children. This study evaluated the distribution of children as texture sensitive (TS) or non-texture sensitive (NTS) and the predictive validity of these questions to explain rejection of specific food textures. Three sets of survey data were examined, including data from a home-use test (HUT) in children with and without Down syndrome (DS), and lingual tactile sensitivity measured by grating orientation task (GOT). From three parent-completed surveys, the use of the questionnaire yielded a similar distribution of children in the TS category (16-22%) as previously reported. TS children (4-36 months) were more likely to reject specific food textures, including chewy, hard, lumpy, and "tough meat" (p < .05). A higher percentage of children with a diagnosis of DS were TS (36.9%). Children who were TS showed increased negative behaviors to foods and ate less than NTS children. In older children (5-12 years), TS children were fussier than NTS children (p < .001). Lingual tactile sensitivity was not significantly different by TS/NTS categorization (p = .458). This study demonstrated that the use of these five questions specific to food texture provides a useful tool in categorizing a child as TS/NTS, with this information being useful in selecting preferred food textures. Future studies involving these TS questions should perform psychometric assessments and measures of criterion validity using other questionnaires., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Quercetin is a flavonoid that has been shown to have health-promoting capacities due to its potent antioxidant activity. However, the effect of chronic intake of quercetin on the gut microbiome and diabetes-related biomarkers remains unclear. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed HF or HF supplemented with 0.05% quercetin (HFQ) for 6 weeks. Diabetes-related biomarkers in blood were determined in mice fed high-fat (HF) diets supplemented with quercetin. Mice fed the HFQ diet gained less body, liver, and adipose weight, while liver lipid and blood glucose levels were also lowered. Diabetes-related plasma biomarkers insulin, leptin, resistin, and glucagon were significantly reduced by quercetin supplementation. In feces, quercetin supplementation significantly increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia and decreased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. The expression of genes Srebf1 , Ppara , Cyp51 , Scd1 , and Fasn was downregulated by quercetin supplementation. These results indicated that diabetes biomarkers are associated with early metabolic changes accompanying obesity, and quercetin may ameliorate insulin resistance.

Colored common beans are associated with health promoting and chronic disease prevention effects. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed high-fat (HF) diets supplemented with cooked black turtle beans (HFB) to prevent obesity related insulin resistance. Mice on both HF and HFB were obese compared to mice fed a low-fat (LF) diet. Plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride concentrations of mice fed HFB diet were 28% and 36.6% lower than those on HF diet. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index of mice fed HFB diet was 87% lower than that of mice fed HF diet. Diabetes related biomarkers, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), leptin, glucagon, and inflammatory cytokines interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-5, 10 and 12, IFN-g and TNF-α were significantly affected by HFB diet. Pparα, Cyp7a1 and Fasn were down-regulated by HFB diet while LDL-R, Srebp-2 , Adipoq and Slc2a4 were up-regulated by HFB diet. The ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) was also decreased 64.1% by HFB diet compared to HF diet. The results indicated that cooked black turtle bean consumption could ameliorate insulin resistance and lower plasma LDL in mice fed HF diet through glucose signaling pathway and JNK/c-Jun pathway. Meanwhile, cooked black turtle bean consumption restored the gut microbiome.

Tropane alkaloids are toxic secondary metabolites produced by a wide variety of plants that can be present in edible materials or animal feed. Several human poisoning cases through consumption of cereals were reported over the last years and highlighted the need for reliable and robust analytical methodologies for safety control. To rationalize analyses in high-throughput laboratory environments dealing with shorter and shorter turn-around-around time, the scope of our multi mycotoxins method was extended to the analysis of two regulated tropane alkaloids, namely atropine and scopolamine. Extraction procedure is based on the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Efficient, Rugged, and Safe) approach followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) detection. Quantification is performed by the isotopic dilution approach using labelled isotopomers as internal standard. The procedure was validated at two fortification levels (0.5 µg/kg and 10 µg/kg) on different cereal-based products according to the European SANTE/12682/2019 document and performance parameters such as precision (RSD(r) ≤ 6%, RSD(iR) ≤ 6%) and recovery (82-114%) fulfilled its requirements. The limit of quantification (0.5 µg/kg) is low enough to ensure compliance with existing regulations. The method was further applied on 95 cereals and cereal-based products collected from Asian and African countries. All samples were found free of the two targeted TAs, with the exception of a rice-based product in which both atropine and scopolamine were quantified at 9.6 µg/kg and 2.6 µg/kg, respectively. A total of 29 cereals samples, shown to be free of both atropine and scopolamine were also analysed for mycotoxins. Aflatoxins, fumonisins, and deoxynivalenol were sporadically detected at levels below the maximum levels defined by the European Union legislation often considered as the most stringent regulation.

Carbohydrate quality is an aetiological factor of diet-related disease. Indices of carbohydrate quality featuring various ratios of carbohydrates-to-dietary fibre-to-sugar have been associated with improved product and/or diet quality in westernised countries. Carbohydrate intake is especially high in Asia Pacific. Thus, this study evaluated the ability of such carbohydrate metrics to discriminate the nutritional quality of carbohydrate-rich packaged foods and beverages in Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, with an additional focus on beverages. This evaluation was conducted by comparing product nutritional composition and assessing products against three national nutrient profiling models. Results showed that Australia had the highest proportion of products meeting all metrics, compared to the Southeast Asian countries. Beverages had a low adherence to all metrics compared to solid foods. Across the five countries, both processed food and beverages meeting the metrics generally contained higher dietary fibre, protein, and certain vitamins and minerals whilst having lower energy, total sugars, free sugars, trans fat and cholesterol content compared to products not meeting the metrics. The metrics were also aligned with national nutrient profiling models to identify nutritious products. In conclusion, these metrics allowed us to discriminate product nutritional quality in the countries assessed and are applicable to beverages.

Dynamic covalent hydrogels crosslinked by boronate ester bonds are promising materials for biomedical applications. However, little is known about the impact of the crosslink structure on the mechanical behaviour of the resulting network. Herein, we provide a mechanistic study on boronate ester crosslinking upon mixing hyaluronic acid (HA) backbones modified, on the one hand, with two different arylboronic acids, and on the other hand, with three different saccharide units. Combining rheology, NMR and computational analysis, we demonstrate that carefully selecting the arylboronic-polyol couple allows for tuning the thermodynamics and molecular exchange kinetics of the boronate ester bond, thereby controlling the rheological properties of the gel. In particular, we report the formation of "strong" gels (i.e. featuring slow relaxation dynamics) through the formation of original complex structures (tridentate or bidentate complexes). These findings offer new prospects for the rational design of hydrogel scaffolds with tailored mechanical response.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) may provide health benefits to infants partly by shaping the development of the early-life intestinal microbiota. In a randomized double-blinded controlled multicentric clinical trial, healthy term infants received either infant formula (control) or the same formula with two HMOs (2'-fucosyllactose and lacto-N- neo tetraose; test) from enrollment (0 to 14 days) to 6 months. Then, all infants received the same follow-up formula without HMOs until 12 months of age. Breastfed infants (BF) served as a reference group. Stool microbiota at 3 and 12 months, analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, clustered into seven fecal community types (FCTs) with marked differences in total microbial abundances. Three of the four 12-month FCTs were likely precursors of the adult enterotypes. At 3 months, microbiota composition in the test group ( n  = 58) appeared closer to that of BF ( n  = 35) than control ( n  = 63) by microbiota alpha (within group) and beta (between groups) diversity analyses and distribution of FCTs. While bifidobacteriaceae dominated two FCTs, its abundance was significantly higher in one (FCT BiH for Bifidobacteriaceae at high abundance) than in the other (FCT Bi for Bifidobacteriaceae ). HMO supplementation increased the number of infants with FCT BiH (predominant in BF) at the expense of FCT Bi (predominant in control). We explored the association of the FCTs with reported morbidities and medication use up to 12 months. Formula-fed infants with FCT BiH at 3 months were significantly less likely to require antibiotics during the first year than those with FCT Bi. Previously reported lower rates of infection-related medication use with HMOs may therefore be linked to gut microbiota community types. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration number NCT01715246.) IMPORTANCE Human milk is the sole and recommended nutrition for the newborn infant and contains one of the largest constituents of diverse oligosaccharides, dubbed human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). Preclinical and clinical association studies indicate that HMOs have multiple physiological functions largely mediated through the establishment of the gut microbiome. Until recently, HMOs were not available to investigate their role in randomized controlled intervention trials. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the effects of 2 HMOs on establishing microbiota in newborn infants. We provide a detailed description of the microbiota changes observed upon feeding a formula with 2 HMOs in comparison to breastfed reference infants' microbiota. Then, we associate the microbiota to long-term health as assessed by prescribed antibiotic use., (Copyright © 2020 Berger et al.)

There are no published harmonized nutrient reference values for the complementary feeding period. The aim of the study was to develop proposals on adequate and safe intake ranges of micronutrients that can be applied to dietary guidance and menu planning. Dietary intake surveys from 6 populous countries were selected as pertinent to the study and reviewed for data on micronutrients. The most frequently underconsumed micronutrients were identified as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate. Key published reference values for these micronutrients were identified, compared, and reconciled. WHO/FAO values were generally identified as initial nutrient targets and reconciled with nutrient reference values from the Institute of Medicine and the European Food Standards Authority. A final set of harmonized reference nutrient intake ranges for the complementary feeding period is proposed., (Copyright © The Author(s) 2020.)

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) faces many challenges in fulfilling the growing demand for elite materials. A high-throughput approach is required to accelerate the optimization of SE protocols by multiplying experimental conditions within a limited time period. For the first time in plant micropropagation, we have developed a miniaturized and automated screening system to meet high-throughput standards. Coffea arabica embryo regeneration, classically achieved in 250-ml Erlenmeyer flasks, was successfully miniaturized in 24-well plates, allowing a volume downscaling factor of 100 and a space saving of 53 cm 2 /well. Cell clusters were ground and filtered to fit the automated pipetting platform, leading to fast, reproducible and uniform cluster distribution (23.0 ± 5.5 cell clusters/well) and successful regeneration (6.5 ± 2.2 embryos/well). Pilot screening of active compounds on SE was carried out. Compounds belonging to the histone deacetylase inhibitor family were tested for embryo regeneration efficiency. Cells treated with 1 µM Trichostatin A showed a marked 3-fold increase in the number of regenerated embryos. When re-tested in 250-ml flasks, the same enhancement was obtained, thereby validating the miniaturized and automated screening method. These results showed that our screening system is reliable and well suited to screening hundreds of compounds, offering unprecedented perspectives in plant micropropagation.

We demonstrate here, for the first time, formation of injectable dynamic covalent hydrogels at physiological pH using benzoxaborin-saccharide complexation as a reversible cross-linking method. The gels were prepared by simply mixing hyaluronic acid modified with an original boronic acid derivative, 3,4-dihydro-2 H -benzo[ e ][1,2]oxaborinin-2-ol (1,2-ABORIN), and HA functionalized with 1-amino-1-deoxy-d-fructose. Dynamic rheological experiments confirmed the gel-like behavior (storage modulus ( G ') > loss modulus ( G ″) in the frequency window explored) for the designed HA-1,2-ABORIN/HA-fructose network. Furthermore, this hydrogel exhibited excellent self-healing and injectability behaviors in aqueous conditions and was found to be responsive to pH. Additionally, fibroblast cells encapsulated in the HA network showed high viability (>80% after 7 days of cell culture), as monitored by Live/Dead staining. Taken together, this new class of boronate ester cross-linked hydrogel provides promising future for diverse biomedical applications.

Minor structural modifications-sometimes single atom changes-can have a dramatic impact on the properties of compounds. This is illustrated here on structures related to known mTOR inhibitor Sapanisertib. Subtle changes in the hinge binder lead to strikingly different overall profiles with changes in physical properties, metabolism, and kinase selectivity., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following competing financial interest(s): All authors were Nestle Skin Health R&D or Synchrotron Soleil full-time employees at the time this work was carried out., (Copyright © 2019 American Chemical Society.)

The effects of the natural ingredients Angelica sinensis (AS) and Codonopsis pilosula (CP) on the shelf life of chicken seasoning were investigated. Color differences and sensory evaluation were used to indicate sensory differences. Changes in volatiles were monitored. The rate of increase in the color value a* of the AS and CP samples was lower than that in the control. Rancid flavor appeared later in the AS and CP samples than in the control. The levels of aldehydes, ketones, and alkenes increased during storage. A kinetic model was built based on the proportion of aldehydes (main marker), to predict shelf life. The predicted shelf life at room temperature was 60 days for the control, 114 days for AS, and 89 days for CP. The shelf life of chicken seasoning could be prolonged with AS and CP. This kinetic model can be used to predict the shelf life of chicken seasoning., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Coffee species such as Coffea canephora P. (Robusta) and C. arabica L. (Arabica) are important cash crops in tropical regions around the world. C. arabica is an allotetraploid (2n = 4x = 44) originating from a hybridization event of the two diploid species C. canephora and C. eugenioides (2n = 2x = 22). Interestingly, these progenitor species harbour a greater level of genetic variability and are an important source of genes to broaden the narrow Arabica genetic base. Here, we describe the development, evaluation and use of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array for coffee trees. A total of 8580 unique and informative SNPs were selected from C. canephora and C. arabica sequencing data, with 40% of the SNP located in annotated genes. In particular, this array contains 227 markers associated to 149 genes and traits of agronomic importance. Among these, 7065 SNPs (~82.3%) were scorable and evenly distributed over the genome with a mean distance of 54.4 Kb between markers. With this array, we improved the Robusta high-density genetic map by adding 1307 SNP markers, whereas 945 SNPs were found segregating in the Arabica mapping progeny. A panel of C. canephora accessions was successfully discriminated and over 70% of the SNP markers were transferable across the three species. Furthermore, the canephora-derived subgenome of C. arabica was shown to be more closely related to C. canephora accessions from northern Uganda than to other current populations. These validated SNP markers and high-density genetic maps will be useful to molecular genetics and for innovative approaches in coffee breeding., (© 2018 The Authors. Plant Biotechnology Journal published by Society for Experimental Biology and The Association of Applied Biologists and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Studies investigating the penetration of amorolfine through the nail have shown the highest concentration in the uppermost layer and measurable antifungal activity even in the lower layers of the nail., Objectives: This pilot, ex vivo study compared the penetration of antifungal concentrations of amorolfine 5% nail lacquer in different layers of healthy, human cadaver toenails with that of terbinafine 10% nail solution, ciclopirox 8% nail lacquer and naftifine 1% nail solution. Moreover, the effect of nail filing prior to application on the penetration of amorolfine 5% was assessed., Methods: Unfiled (n = 3) and filed (n = 3) nails were used for each antimycotic agent and amorolfine 5% nail lacquer, respectively. Twenty-four hours after topical application, the nails were sliced (10 μm), solubilised and added to agar plates seeded with Trichophyton rubrum. Zones of growth inhibition were measured., Results: Only amorolfine penetrated the nails at sufficient concentrations to inhibit growth of T rubrum at different nail depths. In contrast, the comparators did not show antifungal efficacy. Nail filing resulted in larger zones of inhibition for amorolfine compared with those of intact nails., Conclusions: Unlike its comparators, a single application of amorolfine 5% nail lacquer resulted in antifungal efficacy within the nail plate. Nail filing increased the antifungal efficacy of amorolfine 5% nail lacquer., (© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Low glycemic index (GI) and/or low glycemic load (GL) are associated with decreased risks of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is therefore relevant to consider GI and GL in the early phases of the development of packaged foods and beverages. This paper proposes a model that predicts GI and GL from macronutrient composition, by quantifying both the impact of glycemic carbohydrates and the GI-lowering effects of nutrients such as proteins, fats and fibers. The precision of the model is illustrated using data on 42 breakfast cereals. The predictions of GI ( r = 0.90, median residual = 2.0) and GL ( r = 0.96, median residual = 0.40 g) compete well with the precision of the underlying in-vivo data (Standard Error SE = 3.5 for GI). This model can guide product development towards lowering GI and GL, before final confirmation by in vivo testing.

Skin conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) exist as two distinct subsets, cDC1s and cDC2s, which maintain the balance of immunity to pathogens and tolerance to self and microbiota. Here, we examined the roles of dermal cDC1s and cDC2s during bacterial infection, notably Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). cDC1s, but not cDC2s, regulated the magnitude of the immune response to P. acnes in the murine dermis by controlling neutrophil recruitment to the inflamed site and survival and function therein. Single-cell mRNA sequencing revealed that this regulation relied on secretion of the cytokine vascular endothelial growth factor α (VEGF-α) by a minor subset of activated EpCAM + CD59 + Ly-6D + cDC1s. Neutrophil recruitment by dermal cDC1s was also observed during S. aureus, bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), or E. coli infection, as well as in a model of bacterial insult in human skin. Thus, skin cDC1s are essential regulators of the innate response in cutaneous immunity and have roles beyond classical antigen presentation., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Severe nodular acne is characterized by inflammatory nodules and scarring. Their natural evolution and duration are insufficiently investigated., Aim: To investigate the evolution and duration of untreated acne nodules., Methodology: Four-week, single-centre, non-interventional, prospective study in subjects with severe nodular acne on the back. Nodule evolution and duration was assessed using standardized photographs taken twice weekly., Results: Data from 23 subjects were evaluable. Mean age was 25.1 ± 4.9 years, 87% were males, and mean acne duration was 9.7 ± 6.7 years. At baseline, the overall total nodule count was 132 (mean number: 5.7 ± 3.0 nodules/subject). Among others, the following two main pathways were observed: nodules evolving directly into atrophic scars (31.8%) and nodules evolving towards papules into atrophic scars (37.9%). After 4 weeks, 77.3% of baseline nodules had evolved into atrophic scars. After baseline visit, a total of 247 new nodules (3.1 ± 2.2 nodules/week/subject) with a mean duration of 4.9 ± 2.6 days were observed. The mean duration of new nodules was significantly longer in subjects (n = 16) with ≥6 new nodules compared to subjects (n = 7) with <6 new nodules (5.2 ± 1.4 vs. 3.6 ± 0.8 days; P = 0.008)). There was no correlation between the number of new nodules and acne duration or with the number of baseline nodules., Conclusion: This study documents the natural nodule evolution and duration over 4 weeks and showed in 23 patients the scarring potential of untreated severe nodular acne of the back., (© 2019 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

In a context where climate change is threatening coffee productivity, the management of coffee leaf rust is a challenging issue. Major resistant genes, which have been used for many years, are systematically being overcome by pathogens. Developing healthy plants, able to defend themselves and be productive even when attacked by the pathogen, should be part of a more sustainable alternative approach. We compared one hybrid (GPFA124), selected for its good health in various environments including a reduced rust incidence, and the cv. 'Caturra', considered as a standard in terms of productivity and quality but highly susceptible to rust, for phenotypic variables and for the expression of genes involved in the circadian clock and in primary photosynthetic metabolism. The GPFA124 hybrid showed increased photosynthetic electron transport efficiency, better carbon partitioning, and higher chlorophyll content. A strong relationship exists between chlorophyll a fluorescence and the expression of genes related to the photosynthetic electron transport chain. We also showed an alteration of the amplitude of circadian clock genes in the clone. Our work also indicated that increased photosynthetic electron transport efficiency is related to the clone's better performance. Chlorophyll a fluorescence measurement is a good indicator of the coffee tree's physiological status for the breeder. We suggest a connection between the circadian clock and carbon metabolism in coffee tree.

Malted barley is the main source for fermentable sugars used by yeasts in the traditional brewing of beers but its use has been increasingly substituted by unmalted barley and other raw grain adjuncts in recent years. The incorporation of raw grains is mainly economically driven, with the added advantage of improved sustainability, by reducing reliance on the malting process and its associated cost. The use of raw grains however, especially in high proportion, requires modifications to the brewing process to accommodate the lack of malt enzymes and the differences in structural and chemical composition between malted and raw grains. This review describes the traditional malting and brewing processes for the production of full malt beer, compares the modifications to these processes, namely milling and mashing, when raw barley or other grains are used in the production of wort-a solution of fermentable extracts metabolized by yeast and converted into beer, and discusses the activity of endogenous malt enzymes and the use of commercial brewing enzyme cocktails which enable high adjunct brewing.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic allergic disease typically accompanied by atopy and thus, a tendency to develop allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma or food allergies. Currently, individuals with AD are classified into those presenting with AD alone and those presenting with AD along with other allergic diseases (AD+). It is important to identify the various endophenotypes of AD using anthropometric, environmental, socio-economic, and disease history data in order to improve disease management. To characterize the phenotypic differences among Singaporean Chinese individuals with AD alone and AD+, and identify the socioeconomic, lifestyle, and environmental factors associated with these different presentations., Methods: Based on data collected via a standardized/validated questionnaire, 4604 participants (mean age: 22.1 years) were classified into three groups: 1) AD alone group; 2) AD with other allergic diseases group (AD+); and 3) Control group., Results: Participants were less sensitized to common inhalant allergens in the AD alone group versus the Control group (67% vs. 72%, respectively; p < 0.05).High Body Mass Index (i.e., BMI > 23) was associated with the disease and the difference was more pronounced in the AD alone group compared to the AD+ group (Odds Ratio: 1.38; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.4-1.67; p < 0.001). No major differences in habits were observed between the AD alone and AD+ groups., Conclusions: The two presentations of AD may have different underlying pathogenesis and associated risk factors.

The minipig continues to build a reputation as a viable alternative large animal model to predict humans in dermatology and toxicology studies. Therefore, it is essential to describe and predict the pharmacokinetics in that species to speed up the clinical candidate selection. Essential input parameters in whole-body physiologically based pharmacokinetic models are the tissue-to-plasma partition coefficients and the resulting volume of distribution at steady-state (V ss ). Mechanistic in vitro- and in silico-based models used for predicting these parameters of tissue distribution of drugs refer to the tissue composition-based model (TCM). Robust TCMs were initially developed for some preclinical species (e.g., rat and dog) and human; however, there is currently no model available for the minipig. Therefore, the objective of this present study was to develop a TCM for the minipig and to estimate the corresponding tissue composition data. Drug partitioning into the tissues was predominantly governed by lipid and protein binding effects in addition to drug solubilization and pH gradient effects in the aqueous phase on both sides of the biological membranes; however, some more complex tissue distribution processes such as drug binding to the collagen-laminin material in dermis and a restricted drug partitioning into membranes of tissues for compounds that are amphiphilic and contain sulfur atom(s) were also challenged. The model was validated by predicting V ss and the dermis-to-plasma partition coefficients (K p-dermis ) of 68 drugs. The prediction of K p-dermis was extended to humans for comparison with the minipig. The results indicate that the extended TCM provided generally good agreements with observations in the minipig showing that it is also applicable to this preclinical species. In general, up to 86% and 100% of the predicted V ss values are respectively within 2-fold and 3-fold errors compared to the experimentally determined values, whereas these numbers are 78% and 94% for K p-dermis when the anticipated outlier compounds are not included. Binding data to dermis are comparable between minipigs and humans. Overall, this study is a first step toward developing a mechanistic TCM for the minipig, with the aim of increasing the use of physiologically based pharmacokinetic models of drugs for that species in addition to rats, dogs, and humans because such models are used in preclinical and clinical transdermal studies., (Copyright © 2019 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Chicken seasoning is a widely consumed palatable seasoning made with chicken meat. Quality, and especially sensory quality, may determine the consumer choice of food. The same bag of chicken seasoning will be stored by the consumers over a long period of time when it is in use, so it is particularly important to be able to assess its sensory quality. However, the sensory quality defects of chicken seasoning during storage remain unknown. This study evaluated flavor changes in chicken seasoning during storage using sensory evaluation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)., Results: The sensory evaluation indicated a perceptible change in rancidity during storage. The GC-MS results showed increases in the content of aldehydes, heterocyclic compounds, ketones, and sulfur compounds associated with lipid oxidation. A random forest model was constructed to predict the storage time based on the data for volatile compounds related to lipid oxidation. The low average predicted error indicated a good correlation between lipid oxidation and storage time., Conclusion: These results suggest that lipid oxidation is the main factor behind sensory quality defects in chicken seasoning during storage. This can be used as the basis for further evaluation of sensory quality and the shelf life of chicken seasoning. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Characteristic vascular changes in rosacea skin include enlarged, dilated vessels of the upper dermis and blood flow increase. Brimonidine is approved for symptomatic relief of the erythema of rosacea. It acts by selectively binding to α2-adrenergic receptors present on smooth muscle in the peripheral vasculature, resulting in transient local vasoconstriction., Objectives: To provide further evidence of the anti-inflammatory potential of brimonidine across preclinical models of skin inflammation and its ability to decrease the neutrophil infiltration in human skin after ultraviolet light exposure., Methods: The anti-inflammatory properties of brimonidine through modulation of the vascular barrier function were assessed using in vivo neurogenic vasodilation and acute inflammatory models and a well-described in vitro transmigration assay. A clinical study assessed the neutrophil infiltration in human skin after exposure to UV in 37 healthy Caucasian male subjects., Results: In vitro, brimonidine affects the transmigration of human neutrophils through the endothelial barrier by modulating adhesion molecules. In vivo, in the mouse, topical treatment with brimonidine, used at a vasoconstrictive dose, confirmed its anti-inflammatory properties and prevented leucocyte recruitment (rolling and adhesion) mediated by endothelial cells. Topical pretreatment with brimonidine tartrate 0.33% gel once a day for 4 days significantly prevented neutrophil infiltration by 53.9% in human skin after exposure to UV light., Conclusion: Results from in vitro, in vivo and from a clinical study indicate that brimonidine impacts acute inflammation of the skin by interfering with neurogenic activation and/or recruitment of neutrophils., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Since the 1990s, somatic embryogenesis (SE) has enabled the propagation of selected varieties, Arabica F1 hybrid and Robusta clones, originating from the two cultivated coffee species, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora , respectively. This paper shows how mostly empirical research has led to successful industrial transfers launched in the 2000s in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Coffee SE can be considered as a model for other woody perennial crops for the following reasons: (i) a high biological efficiency has been demonstrated for propagated varieties at all developmental stages, and (ii) somaclonal variation is understood and mastered thanks to intensive research combining molecular markers and field observations. Coffee SE is also a useful model given the strong economic constraints that are specific to this species. In brief, SE faced four difficulties: (i) the high cost of SE derived plants compared to the cost of seedlings of conventional varieties, (ii) the logistic problems involved in reaching small-scale coffee growers, (iii) the need for certification, and (iv) the lack of solvency among small-scale producers. Nursery activities were professionalized by introducing varietal certification, quality control with regard to horticultural problems and somaclonal variation, and sanitary control for Xylella fastidiosa . In addition, different technology transfers were made to ensure worldwide dissemination of improved F1 Arabica hybrids and Robusta clones. Innovations have been decisive for successful scaling-up and reduction of production costs, such as the development of temporary immersion bioreactors for the mass production of pre-germinated embryos, their direct sowing on horticultural soil, and the propagation of rejuvenated SE plants by rooted mini-cuttings. Today, SE is a powerful tool that is widely used in coffee for biotechnological applications including propagation and genetic transformation. Basic research has recently started taking advantage of optimized SE protocols. Based on -omics methodologies, research aims to decipher the molecular events involved in the key developmental switches of coffee SE. In parallel, a high-throughput screening of active molecules on SE appears to be a promising tool to speed-up the optimization of SE protocols.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are key enzymes involved in epigenetic modulation and were targeted by HDAC inhibitors (HDACis) for cancer treatment. The action of HDACis is not restricted to histones and also prevents deacetylation of other proteins, supporting their wide biological actions. The HuT78 cell line is recognized as a key tool to support and understand cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) biology and was used as a predictive model since HDACi such as Vorinostat and Panobinostat have both demonstrated apoptotic activities in HuT78 cells and in primary blood CTCL cells. In this study, Quisinostat (JNJ-26481585) a novel second-generation HDACi with highest potency for HDAC1, was tested on HuT78 cell line. Quantitative mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics after acetylated-lysine peptide enrichment and a targeted antibody-based immunoassay (DigiWest) were used as complementary technologies to assess the modifications of the acetylated proteome. As expected, several acetylated lysines of histones were increased by the HDACi. Additional acetylated non-histone proteins were modulated after treatment with Quisinostat including the nucleolin (a major nucleolar protein), the replication protein A 70 kDa DNA-binding subunit, the phosphoglycerate kinase 1, the stress-70 protein, the proto-oncogene Myc and the serine hydroxymethyltransferase. A better knowledge of histone and non-histone acetylated protein profile after Quisinostat treatment can strongly support the understanding of non-clinical and clinical results of this HDACi. These technological tools can also help in designing new HDACis in a pharmaceutical drug discovery program., Significance: A better knowledge of histone and non-histone acetylated protein profile after HDAC inhibitors (HDACis) treatment can strongly support the understanding of non-clinical and clinical investigations in a pharmaceutical drug discovery program. Relative quantification using mass spectrometry -based proteomics after acetylated-lysine peptide enrichment and a targeted antibody-based immunoassay (DigiWest) are proposed as complementary technologies to assess the modifications of the acetylated proteome. Quisinostat (JNJ-26481585) a novel second-generation HDACi with highest potency for HDAC1 was better characterized in vitro in HuT78 cells to support and understand cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) therapeutic research program., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A series of squaramide-based hydroxamic acids were designed, synthesized and evaluated against human HDAC enzyme. Squaramides were found to be potent in the Hut78 cell line, but initially suffered from low solubility. Leads with improved solubility and metabolic profiles were shown to be class I, IIB and IV selective., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Currently, imaging technologies that can accurately assess or provide surrogate markers of the human cutaneous microvessel network are limited. Dynamic optical coherence tomography (D-OCT) allows the detection of blood flow in vivo and visualization of the skin microvasculature. However, image processing is necessary to correct images, filter artifacts, and exclude irrelevant signals. The objective of this study was to develop a novel image processing workflow to enhance the technical capabilities of D-OCT., Materials and Methods: Single-center, vehicle-controlled study including healthy volunteers aged 18-50 years. A capsaicin solution was applied topically on the subject's forearm to induce local inflammation. Measurements of capsaicin-induced increase in dermal blood flow, within the region of interest, were performed by laser Doppler imaging (LDI) (reference method) and D-OCT., Results: Sixteen subjects were enrolled. A good correlation was shown between D-OCT and LDI, using the image processing workflow. Therefore, D-OCT offers an easy-to-use alternative to LDI, with good repeatability, new robust morphological features (dermal-epidermal junction localization), and quantification of the distribution of vessel size and changes in this distribution induced by capsaicin. The visualization of the vessel network was improved through bloc filtering and artifact removal. Moreover, the assessment of vessel size distribution allows a fine analysis of the vascular patterns., Conclusion: The newly developed image processing workflow enhances the technical capabilities of D-OCT for the accurate detection and characterization of microcirculation in the skin. A direct clinical application of this image processing workflow is the quantification of the effect of topical treatment on skin vascularization., (© 2018 The Authors. Skin Research and Technology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)