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BACKGROUND: Soybeans are popularly known as a healthy food in many Asian countries and are mostly consumed as sprouts. The present study aimed to investigate the potential applications of chitosan as a natural growth regulator of soybean sprouts, as well as to determine the variation and composition of nutrients and anti‐nutrients of soybean sprouts pre‐soaked in different concentrations of chitosan solutions. RESULTS: The hypocotyl length and fresh weight of the soybean sprouts could be positively affected by chitosan treatment. The content changes of bioactive products in chitosan‐soaked soybean sprouts were dependent on the concentration of chitosan and germination time. Additionally, the lowest phytic acid content was observed in 8 g kg−1 chitosan‐treated soybean sprouts, and the phytic acid content values after 5 days of germination was 1.56 g kg−1, which was decreased by 79.0% compared to the value in ungerminated soybean. CONCLUSION: Chitosan pre‐soaking can increase the hypocotyl length and fresh weight of soybean sprouts and also positively effect the content of bioactive products in sprouts, whereas phytic acid can be partially removed, thereby leading to the enhancement of product quality. Chitosan pre‐soaking is an alternative technology for the production of low‐cost functional foods, where the dose of chitosan is a key factor. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lignan, sisymbrifolin (1) found in the fruits of Solanum sisymbriflolium has been isolated from the bark extract of Salix alba (Salicaceae). Its structure was elucidated by its direct spectrum data of ESI-MS and one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Cognitive impairment develops with pre-diabetes and dementia is a complication of diabetes. Natural products like turmeric and cinnamon may ameliorate the underlying pathogenesis. Methods: People ≥60 years (n=48) with newly-recognised untreated pre-diabetes were randomised to a double-blind metabolic study of placebo, turmeric (1 g), cinnamon (2 g) or both (1 g & 2 g respectively), ingested at a white bread (119 g) breakfast. Observations were made over 6 hours for pre- and post-working memory (WM). glycaemic and insulin responses and biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD)(0, 2, 4 and 6 hours): amyloid precursor protein (APP), y-secretase subunits presenilin-1 (PS1), presenilin-2 (PS2), and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3β). Differences between natural product users and non-users were determined by Students t and chi square tests; and between pre-test and post-test WM by Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Interaction between turmeric and cinnamon was tested by 2-way ANOVA. Multivariable linear regression (MLR) took account of BMI, glycaemia, insulin and AD biomarkers in the WM responses to turmeric and cinnamon. Results: No interaction between turmeric and cinnamon was detected. WM increased from 2.6 to 2.9 out of 3.0(p=0.05) with turmeric, but was unchanged with cinnamon. WM improvement was inversely associated with insulin resistance (r=-0.418, p<0.01), but not with AD biomarkers. With MLR, the WM responses to turmeric were best predicted with an R2 of 34.5%; and with significant turmeric, BMI and insulin/glucose AUC beta-coefficients. Conclusions: Co-ingestion of turmeric with white bread increases working memory independent of body fatness, glycaemia, insulin, or AD biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) have a generally poor prognosis and antithrombotic management patterns (AMPs) used post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain unclear. Duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and patient characteristics was evaluated in NSTEMI patients enrolled in EPICOR Asia., Hypothesis: Patients stopping DAPT early may benefit from more intensive monitoring., Methods: EPICOR Asia was a prospective, real-world, primary data collection, cohort study in adults with an ACS, conducted in eight countries/regions in Asia, with 2 year follow-up. Eligible patients were hospitalized within 48 hours of symptom onset and survived to discharge. We describe AMPs and baseline characteristics in NSTEMI patients surviving ≥12 months with DAPT duration ≤12 and > 12 months post-discharge. Clinical outcomes (composite of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke; and bleeding) were also explored., Results: At discharge, 90.8% of patients were on DAPT (including clopidogrel, 99%). At 1- and 2-year follow-up, this was 79.2% and 60.0%. Patients who stopped DAPT ≤12 months post-discharge tended to be older, female, less obese, have prior cardiovascular disease, and have renal dysfunction. While causality cannot be inferred, the incidence of the composite endpoint over the subsequent 12 months was 10.6% and 3.1% with shorter vs longer use of DAPT, and mortality risk over the same period was 8.4% and 1.6%., Conclusions: Over 90% of NSTEMI patients were discharged on DAPT, with 60% on DAPT at 2 years. Patients stopping DAPT early were more likely to have higher baseline risk and may therefore benefit from more intensive monitoring during long-term follow-up., (© 2020 The Authors. Clinical Cardiology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)