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Many technical challenges still need to be overcome to improve the quality of the green coffee beans. In this work, the wet Arabica coffee processing in batch and continuous modus were investigated. Coffee beans samples as well as by-products and wastewaters collected at different production steps were analyzed in terms of their content in total phenols, antioxidant capacity, caffeine content, organic acids, reducing sugars, free amino group and protein content. The results showed that 40% of caffeine was removed with pulp. Green coffee beans showed highest concentration of organic acids and sucrose (4.96 ± 0.25 and 5.07 ± 0.39 g/100 g DW for the batch and continuous processing). Batch green coffee beans contained higher amount of phenols. 5-caffeoylquinic Acid (5-CQA) was the main constituent (67.1 and 66.0% for the batch and continuous processing, respectively). Protein content was 15 and 13% in the green coffee bean in batch and continuous processing, respectively. A decrease of 50 to 64% for free amino groups during processing was observed resulting in final amounts of 0.8 to 1.4% in the processed beans. Finally, the batch processing still revealed by-products and wastewater with high nutrient content encouraging a better concept for valorization.
Background: Hepatic steatosis is a common chronic liver disease that can progress into more severe stages of NAFLD or promote the development of life-threatening secondary diseases for some of those affected. These include the liver itself (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH; fibrosis and cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma) or other organs such as the vessels and the heart (cardiovascular disease) or the islets of Langerhans (type 2 diabetes). In addition to elevated caloric intake and a sedentary lifestyle, genetic and epigenetic predisposition contribute to the development of NAFLD and the secondary diseases. Scope of review: We present data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and functional studies in rodents which describe polymorphisms identified in genes relevant for the disease as well as changes caused by altered DNA methylation and gene regulation via specific miRNAs. The review also provides information on the current status of the use of genetic and epigenetic factors as risk markers. Major conclusion: With our overview we provide an insight into the genetic and epigenetic landscape of NAFLD and argue about the applicability of currently defined risk scores for risk stratification and conclude that further efforts are needed to make the scores more usable and meaningful.
Nanomaterials play an important role in mimicking the biochemical and biophysical cues of the extracellular matrix in human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Increasing studies have demonstrated the crucial impact of functional groups on MSCs, while limited research is available on how the functional group's density on nanoparticles regulates MSC behavior. Herein, the effects of dendritic polyglycerol (dPG)-conjugated gold nanostars (GNSs) with different densities of functional groups on the osteogenesis of MSCs are systematically investigated. dPG@GNS nanocomposites have good biocompatibility and the uptake by MSCs is in a functional group density-dependent manner. The osteogenic differentiation of MSCs is promoted by all dPG@GNS nanocomposites, in terms of alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition, and expression of osteogenic protein and genes. Interestingly, the dPGOH@GNSs exhibit a slight upregulation in the expression of osteogenic markers, while the different charged densities of sulfate and amino groups show more efficacy in the promotion of osteogenesis. Meanwhile, the sulfated nanostars dPGS20@GNSs show the highest enhancement. Furthermore, various dPG@GNS nanocomposites exerted their effects by regulating the activation of Yes-associated protein (YAP) to affect osteogenic differentiation. These results indicate that dPG@GNS nanocomposites have functional group density-dependent influence on the osteogenesis of MSCs, which may provide a new insight into regulating stem cell fate.
Cold plasma is considered to be a novel, non-thermal, chemical-free and eco-friendly disinfection and surface modification technology. Plasma treatment of air to generate the so called plasma processed air (PPA) induces the formation of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS). As a result, PPA has a different chemical composition compared to untreated air and suits therefore as an alternative method for microbial disinfection. However, depending on the product properties of the food matrix and its composition, a number of plasmainduced reactions also need to be taken into consideration.
This necessitates also the elucidation and understanding of the basic interactions of plasma species with bioactive compounds. The intention here is to avoid the degradation of these valuable substances and to prevent other undesirable effects in future food related applications.
In the present study, the effects of PPA treatment on selected antioxidants such as pyrocatechol and derivatives of hydroxycinnimic acid were investigated in model systems to specify possible reactions induced. Antioxidant capacity, pH value, UV-Vis spectroscopy, RP-HPLC and LC-MS analysis were applied to identify reaction products providing information on possible changes induced in food matrices by PPA treatment.
Exposure to PPA caused a perceptible color change towards yellow-brown accompanied by a strong reduction of the pH and the formation of insoluble sediments in the model solutions. The accumulation of nitrate, nitrite, but not of hydrogen peroxide was shown. LC-MS analysis demonstrated the formation of plasma-modified derivatives in all tested systems. The main reactions in liquid model solutions exposed to PPA were attributed to oxidation, nitration and polymerization of the phenolic compounds.
ABCB1/4 gallbladder cancer risk variants identified in India also show strong effects in Chileans
(2020)
Background: The first large-scale genome-wide association study of gallbladder cancer (GBC) recently identified and validated three susceptibility variants in the ABCB1 and ABCB4 genes for individuals of Indian descent. We investigated whether these variants were also associated with GBC risk in Chileans, who show the highest incidence of GBC worldwide, and in Europeans with a low GBC incidence.
Methods: This population-based study analysed genotype data from retrospective Chilean case-control (255 cases, 2042 controls) and prospective European cohort (108 cases, 181 controls) samples consistently with the original publication.
Results: Our results confirmed the reported associations for Chileans with similar risk effects. Particularly strong associations (per-allele odds ratios close to 2) were observed for Chileans with high Native American (=Mapuche) ancestry. No associations were noticed for Europeans, but the statistical power was low.
Conclusion: Taking full advantage of genetic and ethnic differences in GBC risk may improve the efficiency of current prevention programs.
Genome-wide association analysis in humans links nucleotide metabolism to leukocyte telomere length
(2020)
Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a heritable biomarker of genomic aging. In this study, we perform a genome-wide meta-analysis of LTL by pooling densely genotyped and imputed association results across large-scale European-descent studies including up to 78,592 individuals. We identify 49 genomic regions at a false dicovery rate (FDR) < 0.05 threshold and prioritize genes at 31, with five highlighting nucleotide metabolism as an important regulator of LTL. We report six genome-wide significant loci in or near SENP7, MOB1B, CARMIL1 , PRRC2A, TERF2, and RFWD3, and our results support recently identified PARP1, POT1, ATM, and MPHOSPH6 loci. Phenome-wide analyses in >350,000 UK Biobank participants suggest that genetically shorter telomere length increases the risk of hypothyroidism and decreases the risk of thyroid cancer, lymphoma, and a range of proliferative conditions. Our results replicate previously reported associations with increased risk of coronary artery disease and lower risk for multiple cancer types. Our findings substantially expand current knowledge on genes that regulate LTL and their impact on human health and disease.
Weltweit sind fast 40 % der Bevölkerung übergewichtig und die Prävalenz von Adipositas, Insulinresistenz und den resultierenden Folgeerkrankungen wie dem Metabolischen Syndrom und Typ-2-Diabetes steigt rapide an. Als häufigste Ursachen werden diätetisches Fehlverhalten und mangelnde Bewegung angesehen. Die nicht-alkoholische Fettlebererkrankung (NAFLD), deren Hauptcharakteristikum die exzessive Akkumulation von Lipiden in der Leber ist, korreliert mit dem Body Mass Index (BMI). NAFLD wird als hepatische Manifestation des Metabolischen Syndroms angesehen und ist inzwischen die häufigste Ursache für Leberfunktionsstörungen. Die Erkrankung umfasst sowohl die benigne hepatische Steatose (Fettleber) als auch die progressive Form der nicht-alkoholischen Steatohepatitis (NASH), bei der die Steatose von Entzündung und Fibrose begleitet ist. Die Ausbildung einer NASH erhöht das Risiko, ein hepatozelluläres Karzinom (HCC) zu entwickeln und kann zu irreversibler Leberzirrhose und terminalem Organversagen führen. Nahrungsbestandteile wie Cholesterol und Fett-reiche Diäten werden als mögliche Faktoren diskutiert, die den Übergang einer einfachen Fettleber zur schweren Verlaufsform der Steatohepatitis / NASH begünstigen. Eine Ausdehnung des Fettgewebes wird von Insulinresistenz und einer niedrig-gradigen chronischen Entzündung des Fettgewebes begleitet. Neben Endotoxinen aus dem Darm gelangen Entzündungsmediatoren aus dem Fettgewebe zur Leber. Als Folge werden residente Makrophagen der Leber, die Kupfferzellen, aktiviert, die eine Entzündungsantwort initiieren und weitere pro-inflammatorische Mediatoren freisetzen, zu denen Chemokine, Cytokine und Prostanoide wie Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) gehören. In dieser Arbeit soll aufgeklärt werden, welchen Beitrag PGE2 an der Ausbildung von Insulinresistenz, hepatischer Steatose und Entzündung im Rahmen von Diät-induzierter NASH im komplexen Zusammenspiel mit der Regulation der Cytokin-Produktion und anderen Co-Faktoren wie Hyperinsulinämie und Hyperlipidämie hat. In murinen und humanen Makrophagen-Populationen wurde untersucht, welche Faktoren die Bildung von PGE2 fördern und wie PGE2 die Entzündungsantwort aktivierter Makrophagen reguliert. In primären Hepatozyten der Ratte sowie in isolierten humanen Hepatozyten und Zelllinien wurde der Einfluss von PGE2 allein und in Kombination mit Cytokinen, deren Bildung durch PGE2 beeinflusst werden kann, auf die Insulin-abhängige Regulation des Glucose- und Lipid-stoffwechsels untersucht. Um den Einfluss von PGE2 im komplexen Zusammenspiel der Zelltypen in der Leber und im Gesamtorganismus zu erfassen, wurden Mäuse, in denen die PGE2-Synthese durch die Deletion der mikrosomalen PGE-Synthase 1 (mPGES1) vermindert war, mit einer NASH-induzierenden Diät gefüttert. In Lebern von Patienten mit NASH oder in Mäusen mit Diät-induzierter NASH war die Expression der PGE2-synthetisierenden Enzyme Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) und mPGES1 sowie die Bildung von PGE2 im Vergleich zu gesunden Kontrollen gesteigert und korrelierte mit dem Schweregrad der Lebererkrankung. In primären Makrophagen aus den Spezies Mensch, Maus und Ratte sowie in humanen Makrophagen-Zelllinien war die Bildung pro-inflammatorischer Mediatoren wie Chemokinen, Cytokinen und Prostaglandinen wie PGE2 verstärkt, wenn die Zellen mit Endotoxinen wie Lipopolysaccharid (LPS), Fettsäuren wie Palmitinsäure, Cholesterol und Cholesterol-Kristallen oder Insulin, das als Folge der kompensatorischen Hyperinsulinämie bei Insulinresistenz verstärkt freigesetzt wird, inkubiert wurden. Insulin steigerte dabei synergistisch mit LPS oder Palmitinsäure die Synthese von PGE2 sowie der anderen Entzündungsmediatoren wie Interleukin (IL) 8 und IL-1β. PGE2 reguliert die Entzündungsantwort: Neben der Induktion der eigenen Synthese-Enzyme verstärkte PGE2 die Expression der Immunzell-rekrutierenden Chemokine IL-8 und (C-C-Motiv)-Ligand 2 (CCL2) sowie die der pro-inflammatorischen Cytokine IL-1β und IL-6 in Makrophagen und kann so zur Verstärkung der Entzündungsreaktion beitragen. Außerdem förderte PGE2 die Bildung von Oncostatin M (OSM) und OSM induzierte in einer positiven Rückkopplungsschleife die Expression der PGE2-synthetisierenden Enzyme. Andererseits hemmte PGE2 die basale und LPS-vermittelte Bildung des potenten pro-inflammatorischen Cytokins Tumornekrosefaktor α (TNFα) und kann so die Entzündungsreaktion abschwächen. In primären Hepatozyten der Ratte und humanen Hepatozyten beeinträchtigte PGE2 direkt die Insulin-abhängige Aktivierung der Insulinrezeptor-Signalkette zur Steigerung der Glucose-Verwertung, in dem es durch Signalketten, die den verschiedenen PGE2-Rezeptoren nachgeschaltet sind, Kinasen wie ERK1/2 und IKKβ aktivierte und eine inhibierende Serin-Phosphorylierung der Insulinrezeptorsubstrate bewirkte. PGE2 verstärkte außerdem die IL-6- oder OSM-vermittelte Insulinresistenz und Steatose in primären Hepatozyten der Ratte. Die Wirkung von PGE2 im Gesamtorganismus sollte in Mäusen mit Diät-induzierter NASH untersucht werden. Die Fütterung einer Hochfett-Diät mit Schmalz als Fettquelle, das vor allem gesättigte Fettsäuren enthält, verursachte Fettleibigkeit, Insulinresistenz und eine hepatische Steatose in Wildtyp-Mäusen. In Tieren, die eine Hochfett-Diät mit Sojaöl als Fettquelle, das vor allem (ω-6)-mehrfach-ungesättigte Fettsäuren (PUFAs) enthält, oder eine Niedrigfett-Diät mit Cholesterol erhielten, war lediglich eine hepatische Steatose nachweisbar, jedoch keine verstärkte Gewichtszunahme im Vergleich zu Geschwistertieren, die eine Standard-Diät bekamen. Im Gegensatz dazu verursachte die Fütterung einer Hochfett-Diät mit PUFA-reichem Sojaöl als Fettquelle in Kombination mit Cholesterol sowohl Fettleibigkeit und Insulinresistenz als auch hepatische Steatose mit Hepatozyten-Hypertrophie, lobulärer Entzündung und beginnender Fibrose in Wildtyp-Mäusen. Diese Tiere spiegelten alle klinischen und histologischen Parameter der humanen NASH im Metabolischen Syndrom wider. Nur die Kombination von hohen Mengen ungesättigter Fettsäuren aus Sojaöl und Cholesterol in der Nahrung führte zu einer exzessiven Akkumulation des Cholesterols und der Bildung von Cholesterol-Kristallen in den Hepatozyten, die zur Schädigung der Mitochondrien, schwerem oxidativem Stress und schließlich zum Absterben der Zellen führten. Als Konsequenz phagozytieren Kupfferzellen die Zelltrümmer der Cholesterol-überladenen Hepatozyten, werden dadurch aktiviert, setzen Chemokine, Cytokine und PGE2 frei, die die Entzündungsreaktion verstärken und die Infiltration von weiteren Immunzellen initiieren können und verursachen so eine Progression zur Steatohepatitis (NASH). Die Deletion der mikrosomalen PGE-Synthase 1 (mPGES1), dem induzierbaren Enzym der PGE2-Synthese aus Cyclooxygenase-abhängigen Vorstufen, reduzierte die Diät-abhängige Bildung von PGE2 in der Leber. Die Fütterung der NASH-induzierenden Diät verursachte in Wildtyp- und mPGES1-defizienten Mäusen eine ähnliche Fettleibigkeit und Zunahme der Fettmasse sowie die Ausbildung von hepatischer Steatose mit Entzündung und Fibrose (NASH) im histologischen Bild. In mPGES1-defizienten Mäusen waren jedoch Parameter für die Infiltration von Entzündungszellen und die Diät-abhängige Schädigung der Leber im Vergleich zu Wildtyp-Tieren erhöht, was sich auch in einer stärkeren Diät-induzierten systemischen Insulinresistenz widerspiegelte. Die Bildung des pro-inflammatorischen und pro-apoptotischen Cytokins TNFα war in mPGES1-defizienten Mäusen durch die Aufhebung der negativen Rückkopplungshemmung verstärkt, was einen gesteigerten Diät-induzierten Zelluntergang gestresster Lipid-überladener Hepatozyten und eine nach-geschaltete Entzündungsantwort zur Folge hatte. Zusammenfassend wurde unter den gewählten Versuchsbedingungen in vivo eine anti-inflammatorische Rolle von PGE2 verifiziert, da das Prostanoid vor allem indirekt durch die Hemmung der TNFα-vermittelten Entzündungsreaktion die Schädigung der Leber, die Verstärkung der Entzündung und die Ausbildung von Insulinresistenz im Rahmen der Diät-abhängigen Fettlebererkrankung abschwächte.
Background Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a multi-organ disease caused by mutations in neurofibromin 1 (NF1). Amongst other features, NF1 patients frequently show reduced muscle mass and strength, impairing patients' mobility and increasing the risk of fall. The role of Nf1 in muscle and the cause for the NF1-associated myopathy are mostly unknown. Methods To dissect the function ofNf1in muscle, we created muscle-specific knockout mouse models for NF1, inactivatingNf1in the prenatal myogenic lineage either under the Lbx1 promoter or under the Myf5 promoter. Mice were analysed during prenatal and postnatal myogenesis and muscle growth. Results Nf1(Lbx1)and Nf1(Myf5)animals showed only mild defects in prenatal myogenesis. Nf1(Lbx1)animals were perinatally lethal, while Nf1(Myf5)animals survived only up to approximately 25 weeks. A comprehensive phenotypic characterization of Nf1(Myf5)animals showed decreased postnatal growth, reduced muscle size, and fast fibre atrophy. Proteome and transcriptome analyses of muscle tissue indicated decreased protein synthesis and increased proteasomal degradation, and decreased glycolytic and increased oxidative activity in muscle tissue. High-resolution respirometry confirmed enhanced oxidative metabolism in Nf1(Myf5)muscles, which was concomitant to a fibre type shift from type 2B to type 2A and type 1. Moreover, Nf1(Myf5)muscles showed hallmarks of decreased activation of mTORC1 and increased expression of atrogenes. Remarkably, loss of Nf1 promoted a robust activation of AMPK with a gene expression profile indicative of increased fatty acid catabolism. Additionally, we observed a strong induction of genes encoding catabolic cytokines in muscle Nf1(Myf5)animals, in line with a drastic reduction of white, but not brown adipose tissue. Conclusions Our results demonstrate a cell autonomous role for Nf1 in myogenic cells during postnatal muscle growth required for metabolic and proteostatic homeostasis. Furthermore, Nf1 deficiency in muscle drives cross-tissue communication and mobilization of lipid reserves.
Moxidectin (MOX) is a widely used anthelmintic drug for the treatment of internal and external parasites in food-producing and companion animals. Transformation products (TPs) of MOX, formed through metabolic degradation or acid hydrolysis, may pose a potential environmental risk, but only few were identified so far. In this study, we therefore systematically characterized electro- and photochemically generated MOX TPs using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Oxidative electrochemical (EC) TPs were generated in an electrochemical reactor and photochemical (PC) TPs by irradiation with UV-C light. Subsequent HRMS measurements were performed to identify accurate masses and deduce occurring modification reactions of derived TPs in a suspected target analysis. In total, 26 EC TPs and 59 PC TPs were found. The main modification reactions were hydroxylation, (de-)hydration, and derivative formation with methanol for EC experiments and isomeric changes, (de-)hydration, and changes at the methoxime moiety for PC experiments. In addition, several combinations of different modification reactions were identified. For 17 TPs, we could predict chemical structures through interpretation of acquired MS/MS data. Most modifications could be linked to two specific regions of MOX. Some previously described metabolic reactions like hydroxylation or O-demethylation were confirmed in our EC and PC experiments as reaction type, but the corresponding TPs were not identical to known metabolites or degradation products. The obtained knowledge regarding novel TPs and reactions will aid to elucidate the degradation pathway of MOX which is currently unknown.
Real time monitoring of oxygen uptake of hepatocytes in a microreactor using optical microsensors
(2020)
Most in vitro test systems for the assessment of toxicity are based on endpoint measurements and cannot contribute much to the establishment of mechanistic models, which are crucially important for further progress in this field. Hence, in recent years, much effort has been put into the development of methods that generate kinetic data. Real time measurements of the metabolic activity of cells based on the use of oxygen sensitive microsensor beads have been shown to provide access to the mode of action of compounds in hepatocytes. However, for fully exploiting this approach a detailed knowledge of the microenvironment of the cells is required. In this work, we investigate the cellular behaviour of three types of hepatocytes, HepG2 cells, HepG2-3A4 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes, towards their exposure to acetaminophen when the availability of oxygen for the cell is systematically varied. We show that the relative emergence of two modes of action, one NAPQI dependent and the other one transient and NAPQI independent, scale with expression level of CYP3A4. The transient cellular response associated to mitochondrial respiration is used to characterise the influence of the initial oxygen concentration in the wells before exposure to acetaminophen on the cell behaviour. A simple model is presented to describe the behaviour of the cells in this scenario. It demonstrates the level of control over the role of oxygen supply in these experiments. This is crucial for establishing this approach into a reliable and powerful method for the assessment of toxicity.
Aging has been viewed both as a random process due to accumulation of molecular and cellular damage over time and as a programmed process linked to cellular pathway important for growth and maturation. These views converge on mitochondria as both the major producer of damaging reactive oxidant species (ROS) and as signaling organelles. A finite proton leak across the inner mitochondrial membrane leading to a slight uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and respiration is an intrinsic property of all mitochondria and according to the "uncoupling to survive" hypothesis it has evolved to protect against ROS production to minimize oxidative damage. This hypothesis is supported by evidence linking an increased endogenous, uncoupling protein (UCP1) mediated, as well as experimentally induced mitochondrial uncoupling to an increased lifespan in rodents. This is possibly due to the synergistic activation of molecular pathways linked to life extending effects of caloric restriction as well as a mitohormetic response. Mitohormesis is an adaptive stress response through mitonuclear signaling which increases stress resistance resulting in health promoting effects. Part of this response is the induction of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), two stress-induced mitokines which elicit beneficial systemic metabolic effects via endocrine action.
Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and contributes to global morbidity and mortality mediated via the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular (CVD) and other diseases. It is a consequence of an elevated caloric intake, a sedentary lifestyle and a genetic as well as an epigenetic predisposition. This review summarizes changes in DNA methylation and microRNAs identified in blood cells and different tissues in obese human and rodent models. It includes information on epigenetic alterations which occur in response to fat-enriched diets, exercise and metabolic surgery and discusses the potential of interventions to reverse epigenetic modifications.
Intermittierendes Fasten
(2020)
Übergewicht und Adipositas erhöhen die Risiken für Stoffwechselstörungen und können zu einem Typ-2-Diabetes führen. Deshalb stellen die Behandlung und Prävention von Fettleibigkeit eine große medizinische Herausforderung dar. Häufig werden eine erhöhte körperliche Aktivität und die Reduktion der täglichen Kalorienaufnahme um 25–30 % angeraten. Eine andere Möglichkeit bietet intermittierendes Fasten, also eine Kalorieneinschränkung über bestimmte Zeiten, d. h. an einem oder mehreren Tagen pro Woche oder über mehr als 14 h pro Tag. Tier- und Humanstudien lieferten Hinweise darauf, dass intermittierendes Fasten bei Adipositas zu einer Verringerung der Körperfettmasse sowie zu Verbesserungen der Stoffwechselparameter und der Insulinsensitivität führt. Diese positiven Effekte werden nicht nur allein durch die Abnahme der Körpermasse, sondern auch durch die Aktivierung von Stoffwechselwegen und zellulären Prozessen ausgelöst, die für Fastenbedingungen spezifisch sind. In diesem Artikel beschreiben wir die derzeit bekannten Mechanismen, die durch intermittierendes Fasten induziert werden, und stellen Ergebnisse aus randomisierten kontrollierten Studien am Menschen vor.
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of blanching followed by fermentation of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) with commercial meat starter cultures on the functional properties of powders produced from the larvae. Full fat and defatted powder samples were prepared from non-fermented and fermented mealworm pastes. Then the crude protein, crude fat, and dry matter contents, pH, bulk density, colour, water and oil binding capacity, foaming capacity and stability, emulsion capacity and stability, protein solubility, quantity of free amino groups, and protein composition of the powders were evaluated. Regardless of the starter culture used, the blanching plus fermentation process reduced the crude and soluble protein contents of the full fat powders and in general impaired their water and oil binding, foaming, and emulsifying properties. Defatting of the powders improved most functional properties studied. The o-phthaldialdehyde assay revealed that the amount of free amino groups was higher in the fermented powders while sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that the soluble proteins of the fermented powders were composed of molecules of lower molecular mass compared to non-fermented powders. As molecular sizes of the soluble proteins decreased, it was clear that the protein structure was also modified by the fermentation process, which in turn led to changes in functional properties. In general, it was concluded that fermentation of mealworms with blanching as a pre-treatment does not contribute to the functional properties studied in this work. Nevertheless, the results confirmed that the properties of non-fermented powders are comparable to other food protein sources.
Microplastics are a global environmental issue contaminating aquatic and terrestrial environments. They have been reported in atmospheric deposition, and indoor and outdoor air, raising concern for public health due to the potential for exposure. Moreover, the atmosphere presents a new vehicle for microplastics to enter the wider environment, yet our knowledge of the quantities, characteristics and pathways of airborne microplastics is sparse. Here we show microplastics in atmospheric deposition in a major population centre, central London. Microplastics were found in all samples, with deposition rates ranging from 575 to 1008 microplastics/m(2)/d. They were found in various shapes, of which fibrous microplastics accounted for the great majority (92%). Across all samples, 15 different petrochemical-based polymers were identified. Bivariate polar plots indicated dependency on wind, with different source areas for fibrous and non-fibrous airborne microplastics. This is the first evidence of airborne microplastics in London and confirms the need to include airborne pathways when consolidating microplastic impacts on the wider environment and human health.
Vitamin A, vitamin E and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) are a focus of current obesity research in humans. The impact of body weight (BW) gain on fat-soluble vitamins and its associated parameters in equines has not been previously reported. Ten Shetland ponies and 9 Warmblood horses, all adult geldings, non-obese and healthy, were fed an excessive energy diet for 20 months to induce BW gain. Serum alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), retinol (vitamin A), retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and retinol/RBP4 ratio were analysed before BW gain induction and at six timepoints during the BW gaining period. The mean (+/- SD) % BW gain achieved during two years of excess energy intake was 29.9 +/- 19.4% for ponies and 17 +/- 6.74% for horses. Serum alpha-tocopherol increased significantly in ponies and horses during excess energy intake and circulating alpha-tocopherol levels correlated positively with alpha-tocopherol intake (r = .6; p < .001). Serum retinol concentrations showed variations during the study but without relation to intake. Serum RBP4 decreased at the end of the study. The retinol/RBP4 ratio increased with BW gain without differences between ponies and horses. In comparison with human research, the increase in the retinol/RBP4 ratio was unexpected and needs further elucidation.