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Oxygen heterocyclic compounds play a beneficial role in plants, and their presence in foods, such as Citrus fruits, cinnamon, carrots, and parsley, has been documented in recent years. Published research articles reported several extractions and chromatographic techniques for their determination. The aim of this review was to take into consideration the research articles published from 2016 to 2024 in which the authors developed extraction and chromatographic analysis methods of oxygen heterocyclic compounds in foods. The objective of this review was to assist researchers in choosing the best approach for their future work by identifying all the possible approaches to characterize coumarins, furocoumarins, and polymethoxyflavones in foodstuffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediabetes is a risk state that defines a high chance of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Oxidative stress mediated by hyperglycemia‐induced production of reactive species could play a crucial role in this context. In the present study, we investigated whether the anion exchange capability mediated by AE1 (SLC4A1), which is sensitive to oxidative stress, was altered in human red blood cells (RBCs) obtained from prediabetic volunteers. In addition, we assessed the precise composition of bioactive compounds and the potential benefits of finger lime juice extract (Citrus australasica, Faustrime cultivar) in counteracting oxidative stress‐related functional alterations. Human RBCs from normal and prediabetic volunteers were incubated with 50 µg/mL juice extract for 2 h at 25°C. Juice extract restored alterations of the anion exchange capability mediated by AE1 and prevented the structural rearrangements of AE1 and α/β‐spectrin in prediabetic RBCs. AE1 functional and structural alterations were not associated with an increase in lipid peroxidation or protein oxidation at the level of the plasma membrane. An increased production of intracellular ROS, which provoked the oxidation of hemoglobin to methemoglobin, both reverted by juice extract, was instead observed. Importantly, juice extract also induced a reduction in glycated hemoglobin levels in prediabetic RBCs. Finally, juice extract blunted the overactivation of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase and prevented glutathione depletion in prediabetic RBCs. These findings contribute to clarifying cellular and molecular mechanisms related to oxidative stress and glycation events that may influence RBC and systemic homeostasis in prediabetes, identify AE1 as a sensitive biomarker of RBC structural and function alterations in prediabetes and propose finger lime juice extract as a natural antioxidant for the treatment and/or prevention of the complications associated with the prediabetic condition. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The data obtained here reveal that structural and functional alterations related to the increase of oxidative stress and/or glycation events can still be reversible and the early application of bioactive molecules could counteract the majority of derangements in prediabetic RBCs. This study identifies finger lime as an antioxidant/anti‐glycation functional food and suggests that diet supplementation with finger lime might contribute to the prevention or attenuation of pathophysiological events linked to RBC dysfunction during the prediabetic condition. Additionally, our findings proved that measurement of anion exchange capability via AE1 remains a valid tool for monitoring the impact of oxidative stress/glycation on human RBC and systemic homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coumarin and furocoumarins characterization in cosmetics plays an important role in protecting consumer health. The analytical technique mostly employed for the analysis of these molecules is certainly liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array or mass spectrometer detectors. The aim of this article was to investigate on the oxygen heterocyclic compounds content in fifty hydro alcoholic fragrances using a fast, sensitive and eco-friendly liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer detector analytical method without any sample pre-treatment. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first research article on the quantification of thirty-six oxygen heterocyclic compounds in hydro alcoholic fragrances in less than 4 min and with the use of water/ethanol as mobile phase. Thanks to the good performance of the analytical method used, this can be proposed among the routine methods for the quality control of cosmetics and finished products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the serum and faecal expression of miR‐126 and miR‐20a in children with Crohn's disease (CD) during infliximab (IFX) therapy. Methods: In this prospective observational study, serum and faeces from CD patients were collected before IFX therapy (T0), after induction (T1) and after 6 months from IFX (T2). IFX levels were determined by Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay at T1 and T2. miRNAs were profiled through Real‐Time RT‐PCR. The activity of disease was evaluated through the Paediatric Crohn's disease activity index (PCDAI), serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) and faecal calprotectin. Results: Nine CD children were enrolled. Serum and faecal miR‐126 and miR‐20a levels were higher at T0 and showed a time‐dependent decrease, being significantly down‐regulated after IFX treatment at T2. Specifically, IFX levels recorded at T1 and T2 negatively correlated with the serum and faecal expression of miR‐126 and miR‐20a. Serum and faecal changes of miR‐126 and miR20‐a were positively associated with the decrease of the inflammatory marker CRP and PDCAI at all time points. Conclusion: In children with CD, IFX therapy decreases the expression of serum and faecal miR‐126 and miR‐20a, suggesting an involvement of these two miRNAs in the action of the drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of bright short-wave infrared fluorophores remains a grand challenge. Here we investigate the impact of deuteration on the properties in a series of heptamethine dyes, the absorption of which spans near-infrared and SWIR regions. We demonstrate that it is a generally applicable strategy that leads to enhanced quantum yields of fluorescence, longer-lived singlet excited states and suppressed rates of non-radiative deactivation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]