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Freshman-15 is a phenomenon of first-year university students resulting in weight gain partly due to new cafeteria eating patterns and stress. This study determined if a premeal walnut snack alters planned eating behavior and mealtime nutrient intake during a subsequent buffet-model meal. Healthy university students (n = 36; 18.1 ± 0.5 years; body mass index: 23.6 ± 3.9) received three treatments (90 min premeal) in randomized order on 3 consecutive days: (1) snack of 190 Cal (1 oz) of walnuts (WS), (2) snack of 190 Cal of gummy candy (GS), or (3) no snack (NS; control) before a standard cafeteria dinner (1760 Cal). Visual analog scale (VAS) surveys were administered before and after dinner, and caloric intake was determined. Premeal VAS desire to eat was lower after WS and GS than NS, whereas the sense of hunger and sense of fullness were higher after WS and GS compared with NS. Postmeal VAS was not different between treatments. Mealtime calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, protein, sodium, fiber, and sugar consumed after WS were significantly less than NS. Total fat and sodium consumed after GS did not significantly differ from NS. Mealtime total fat, sodium, and fiber for WS were significantly less than GC, and a trend was observed for total calories. Differences in calorie intake were not observed between treatments when snack calories were included as part of the mealtime caloric intake. These findings could be helpful for promoting WS and to a lesser degree GS for increased satiety before meals possibly leading to reduced food intake during dinner by university students.

Given the importance of poor nutrition as a cause for human chronic disease, it is surprising that nutrition receives so little attention during medical school training and in clinical practice. Specific vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids and water in the diet are essential for health, and deficiencies lead or contribute to many diseases. Proper use of the dietary guidelines and nutrition facts labeling can improve nutritional status and lead to the consumption of a healthy diet. COVID-19 has altered access to nutritious foods for millions and increased awareness of the importance of diet and immune function. An improved appreciation for nutrition will improve the outcomes of clinical care.

Allosteric changes modulate the enzymatic activity, leading to activation or inhibition of the molecular target. Understanding the induced fit accommodation mechanism of a ligand in its lowest-free energy state and the subsequent conformational changes induced in the protein are important questions for drug design. In the present study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, binding free energy calculations, and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to analyze the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Leishmania mexicana (LmGPDH) conformational changes induced by its cofactor and substrate binding. GPDH is a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent enzyme, which has been reported as an interesting target for drug discovery and development against leishmaniasis. Despite its relevance for glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways, the structural flexibility and conformational motions of LmGPDH in complex with NADH and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) remain unexplored. Here, we analyzed the conformational dynamics of the enzyme-NADH complex (cofactor), and the enzyme-NADH-DHAP complex (adduct), mapped the hydrogen-bond interactions for the complexes and pointed some structural determinants of the enzyme that emerge from these contacts to NADH and DHAP. Finally, we proposed a consistent mechanism for the conformational changes on the first step of the reversible redox conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate to glycerol 3-phosphate, indicating key residues and interactions that could be further explored in drug discovery. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

This study determined non-nutritive sweetener (NNS; artificial sweetener) depth of knowledge among university health and science students. An online survey was delivered to 1248 science students and completed by 493 respondents (19.0 ± 2.2 years old), evaluating ability to provide an NNS description/definition, examples of NNS from memory, and evaluate NNS word familiarity with a click-drag-box to identify six NNS by chemical name (CN) and six NNS by trade name (TN), relative to six decoy NNS, six caloric sweeteners, and six food items (mean ± standard deviation). NNS definitions contained 1.1 ± 1.1 of four previously defined elements suggestive of knowledge depth, with highest scores among self-described non-NNS users and food ingredient label users. Knowledge depth was not correlated with gender, age, American College Test score, or history of weight loss attempts. Without prompting, respondents could name 0.9 ± 1.1 NNS from memory, with highest scores among self-described non-NNS users (1.4 ± 0.8) and food ingredient label users (1.4 ± 0.8). NNS example memory was not correlated with gender, age, ACT score, or history of weight loss attempts. With the click-drag-box exercise, NNS were correctly identified 4.9 ± 1.0 times by TN and significantly less by CN (3.9 ± 1.9 times). Decoy NNS were incorrectly identified as being a real NNS 4.7 ± 1.3 times, while caloric sweeteners and food items were incorrectly identified as NNS 1.7 ± 1.7 times and 1.0 ± 1.5 times, (TN and Decoy NNS > CN > caloric sweetener and food item). NNS knowledge among university students may be inadequate for understanding what NNS are, if they consume NNS, or whether NNS are important for dietary health.

OBJECTIVES: Energy drinks have been anecdotally associated with deleterious cardiovascular health outcomes. These drinks contain ingredients which could affect glycemic response to the carbohydrate content. The aim of this study was to determine if acute exercise would alter the glycemic and physiological response to the consumption of Monster Energy. METHODS: Following an overnight fast, human subjects (19.1 ± 1.4 years; 30 female; 5 male) were randomized to exercise on a stationary bike at 33% of their predicted VO(2) max for 10 minutes with a five minute sitting rest after, or sitting (control) for 15 minutes prior to ingestion of Monster Energy. Blood glucose, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured 0-, 30-, 60-, and 90-minutes postprandially. Data is represented as LSM ± SE with significance analyzed using a t-test, or multiple comparison test (P

Assessments of electrocardiographic (ECG) responses during swimming activities are impossible without mobile waterproof recording units and rarely completed. This preliminary study characterized ch...

Eggplant fruits are known to contain different classes of phenolic phytochemicals (flavonols, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins) that can exert beneficial effects on human health. This study developed methods for the qualitative and quantitative composition analysis of phenolic compounds in the skin of eggplant fruits harvested following conventional and certified organic farming conditions. Eggplant skin was extracted using aqueous methanol prior to phenolic profiling with UHPLC-ESI-MS-MS. Eggplant skin extracts yielded a profile of 16 phenolic acids, 4 anthocyanins, and 11 flavonols, the first report of quercetin-3-diglucoside, myricetin-3-neohesperidoside, myricetin-3-galactoside, kaempferol-3,7-diglucoside, kaempferol-diglucoside and quercetin-3-rhamnoside. Polyphenolic extracts from all sources potently delayed the cupric ion-mediated lag-time for LDL lipid oxidation and protected Apo-B100 proteins against oxidative modification. Organic growing environment positively influences eggplant skin extract phenolic profile but not antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, eggplant skin has a robust profile of phenolic phytochemicals with excellent antioxidant properties.

Cranberry is reported to have health benefits, including prevention of urinary tract infections and other chronic diseases, due to the high content of polyphenols, including flavonols and flavan-3-ols. The aim of this study was to determine the clearance of flavonol glycosides and flavan-3-ols and/or their metabolites in human urine. Ten healthy women volunteers ingested 240 mL of cranberry juice containing flavonol glycosides. Urine samples were collected at 0, 90, 225, and 360 min postingestion. While flavan-3-ols were not detected, five flavonol glycosides common in cranberry were identified. Quercetin-3-galactoside, the most abundant cranberry flavonol, exhibited the highest peak urine concentration (Cmax) of 1315 pg/mg creatinine, followed by quercetin-3-rhamnoside, quercetin-3-arabinoside, myricetin-3-arabinoside, and myricetin-3-galactoside. Quercetin-3-arabinoside showed delayed clearance, Cmax at 237 min (Tmax), relative to other flavonols (90–151 min). Both aglycone and the conjugated sugar moie...

Northeast China (NEC) has recently become one of the largest commercial rice production regions in China. However, the increased production combined with increasingly frequent climate oscillations is severe competing for fresh water with the non-agricultural sectors in this region and is threatening national food security. In this study, the ORYZA (v3) crop model was used to estimate the rice yields and water applications under three management regimes, continuous flooded irrigation (CF), alternate wetting and drying (AWD), and rain-fed (RF), in the full nutrient supply and biotic-stress-free conditions in NEC from 1961 to 2016. The predicted average rice yields in these three production regimes were 12.7, 12.7 and 10.6 t ha−1. El Nino events reduced yields by 2.5% and 2.4% (P

Energy drink consumption is popular among the college-aged population for perceived improvements in mental function and alertness, but anecdotally linked to cardiovascular dysfunction. Fasting 19.4 ± 1.03 year old subjects (n = 75) consumed 480 ml of Monster Energy drink, isocaloric dextrose, water, or nothing. Blood glucose increased significantly after Monster Energy drink and isocaloric dextrose at 30 min. Urine formation was significantly greater at 120 minutes in the Monster Energy drink group. In the present study consumption of Monster Energy drink was associated with no deleterious changes in cardiovascular or renal physiology. *Corresponding author: Ted Wilson, Department of Biology, 232 Pasteur Hall, Winona State University, Winona, MN 55987, Tel: 507-457-2485; E-mail: twilson@winona.edu Received Date: January 17, 2016 Accepted Date: September 06, 2016 Published Date: September 12, 2016

Background Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly sensitive and specific method for pathogen detection. While direct methods enable rapid identification, they are limited by pathogen titer, available assays, or sample matrix. Transcriptomic analysis addresses these limitations by measuring systemic host gene expression changes to infections. The BioFire System uses sample-to-answer multiplex PCR that was adapted to detect 42 transcripts differentially expressed during viral and bacterial infections. Here we report concordance between indirect detection of viral respiratory pathogens and the FDA-cleared BioFire® Respiratory Panel 2 (RP2). Methods Paired nasal pharyngeal swabs and blood samples were obtained by informed consent from patients with suspected acute respiratory illness. Swabs (COPAN FLOQSwab™) were collected and stored in viral transport media (BD) for BioFire RP2 testing and peripheral blood samples were collected in PAXgene tubes (Qiagen) for testing with the research use only human response (HR) panel. A logistic regression model was developed to classify viral and nonviral positive samples using normalized quantification cycles for each assay. Probabilities of viral infection for each sample were calculated via cross-validation and an optimal threshold of positivity was identified. Results Overall accuracy of the HR panel relative to BioFire RP2 was 86% (CI95% 80%, 91%) for all viral infections with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.87 (CI95% 0.76, 0.95). Accuracy varied by infection etiology: Influenza virus 100% (CI95% 88%, 100%) Human Rhinovirus/Enterovirus 63% (CI95% 35%, 85%), other viral infections 50% (CI95% 25%, 75%). While most of the BioFire RP2 negative results exhibited low viral probabilities, strong viral probabilities were measured in a few samples; this may be indicative of an infection at a low titer or the presence of a viral pathogen not on the BioFire RP2 Panel. Conclusion These results demonstrate that indirect transcriptomic analysis resulted in similar accuracy to direct viral pathogen detection in acute respiratory patients; however, additional research is needed to elucidate the relationship between transcriptional results and infectious etiologies. Disclosures C. Gritzen, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee, Salary. T. Wilson, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee, Salary. J. Nawrocki, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee, Salary. M. Deneris, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee, Salary. C. Baird, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee, Salary. E. Ott, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee, Salary. J. Jones, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee, Salary. J. Bastar, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee, Salary. H. Kim, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee, Salary. S. House, Washington University School of Medicine: Research Contractor, Research support. D. Cohen, Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Research Contractor, Research support. A. Leber, Nationwide Children’s Hospital: Research Contractor, Research support. R. Crisp, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee, Salary. A. Hemmert, BioFire Diagnostics, LLC.: Employee and Investigator, Salary.