Nevin Manimala

Food Sci Nutr. 2023 Jun 30;11(10):5967-5977. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3530. eCollection 2023 Oct.

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated how daily vitamin C administration impacts systemic oxidative stress and inflammation and its safety in T2D patients. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial included 70 patients with T2D. They were allocated to receive either 500 mg/day of vitamin C or a matching placebo for 8 weeks. Of the 70 subjects assigned to the trial, 57 were included in the statistical analysis (vitamin C: n = 32, placebo: n = 25). Inflammatory and oxidative markers, including advanced glycation end products (AGEs), malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were measured at baseline and the end of the trial. In addition, vitamin C tolerance was evaluated. A nutritionist visited all participants for a standard diabetic regimen. Following vitamin C supplementation, the serum levels of MDA (p-value < .001) and AGEs (p-value = .002) demonstrated a significant decrease after controlling for multiple confounders, including age, blood pressure, waist circumference, HbA1C, TG, and LDL-C, while no significant changes were observed for AOPP (p-value = .234) and ox-LDL (p-value = .480). The FRAP showed an increasing trend as an antioxidant marker but was not statistically significant (p-value = .312). The hs-CRP and TNF-α had no significant changes (p-value: .899 and .454, respectively). Also, no major adverse events were observed. Vitamin C supplementation may be beneficial in reducing AGEs and MDA in patients with T2D.

PMID:37823170 | PMC:PMC10563761 | DOI:10.1002/fsn3.3530

Food Sci Nutr. 2023 Jul 11;11(10):6223-6230. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3562. eCollection 2023 Oct.

ABSTRACT

In this work, a storage study was conducted to find suitable packaging material for tomato powder storage. Experiments were laid out in a single factor completely randomized design (CRD) to study the effect of packaging materials on lycopene, vitamin C moisture content, and water activity of tomato powder; The factor (packaging materials) has three levels (low-density polyethylene bag, polypropylene bottle, wrapped with aluminum foils, and packed in low-density polyethylene bag) and is replicated three times. During the study, a twin layer solar tunnel dried tomato slices of var. Galilea was used. The dried tomato slices were then ground and packed (40 g each) in the packaging materials and stored at room temperature. Samples were drawn from the packages at 2-month interval for quality analysis and SAS (version 9.2) software was used for statistical analysis. From the result, higher retention of lycopene (80.13%) and vitamin C (49.32%) and a nonsignificant increase in moisture content and water activity were observed for tomato powder packed in polypropylene bottles after 6 months of storage. For low-density polyethylene packed samples and samples wrapped with aluminum foil and packed in a low-density polyethylene bag, 57.06% and 60.45% lycopene retention and 42.9% and 49.23% Vitamin C retention were observed, respectively, after 6 months of storage. Considering the results found, it can be concluded that lycopene and vitamin C content of twin layer solar tunnel dried tomato powder can be preserved at ambient temperature storage by packing in a polypropylene bottle with a safe range of moisture content and water activity levels for 6 months.

PMID:37823153 | PMC:PMC10563716 | DOI:10.1002/fsn3.3562

Food Sci Nutr. 2023 Aug 11;11(10):6626-6633. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3611. eCollection 2023 Oct.

ABSTRACT

We investigated the associations of one-carbon metabolism (OCM)-related metabolites, including choline, betaine, dimethylglycine (DMG), and methionine with fetal growth of twins. This hospital-based cohort study included dichorionic twin gestations. Blood samples were collected at a median of 14.7 weeks of gestation. Blood plasma metabolite levels were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Generalized estimating equations and mixed effects models were used to explore associations between plasma metabolite levels and fetal growth. In total, 115 women with dichorionic diamniotic pregnancies were included. The maternal plasma DMG level was negatively correlated with fetal birth weight (β = -43.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -74.1 to -12.8, p < .05) and head circumference (β = -0.23, 95% CI = -0.39 to -0.07, p < .05). Other metabolites were not significantly associated with birth weight, body length, head circumference (HC), or chest circumference. Analysis of the relationships between plasma metabolite levels and fetal biological parameters on ultrasound revealed that the maternal choline level was negatively correlated with fetal abdominal circumference (AC) (β = -0.12, 95% CI = 0.24 to -0.004, p < .05); the maternal DMG level was negatively correlated with fetal AC (β = -0.17, 95% CI = 0.28-0.07, p < .05), femur length (β = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.04-0.003, p < .05), and estimated fetal weight (β = 26.4, 95% CI = -41.6 to -11.2, p < .05), but not with HC. The maternal methionine level was negatively correlated with HC (β = -0.08, 95% CI = -0.14 to -0.02, p < .05). The plasma level of the OCM-related metabolite DMG during the second trimester was negatively correlated with fetal intrauterine growth and birth weight. However, further studies with larger samples are needed.

PMID:37823151 | PMC:PMC10563705 | DOI:10.1002/fsn3.3611

Food Sci Nutr. 2023 Jul 5;11(10):6073-6084. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3543. eCollection 2023 Oct.

ABSTRACT

Unsaturated fatty acids have been reported to be associated with the risk of psoriasis. However, the causal relationship between them remains unclear This study aimed to explore the causal relationship between unsaturated FAs and psoriasis. Firstly, we obtained genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for psoriasis from the FINNGEN database (number of cases = 4510, number of controls = 212,242) and different FA levels (number of samples = 114,999) from the IEU OpenGWAS Project. Secondly, the genetic correlation coefficient was calculated using linkage disequilibrium fractional regression. Thirdly, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using independent instrumental variables (p < 5 × 10^-8) to determine the direction of randomization. Finally, expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL)-related analyses of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were carried out to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of unsaturated FAs affecting psoriasis. We found that an increase in the ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) to total fatty acids could increase the risk of psoriasis (inverse-variance weighted [IVW], adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.175; adjusted 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.045-1.321; adjusted p = .007). However, an increase in the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAa) to total fatty acids could decrease the risk of psoriasis (IVW, adjusted OR = 0.754; adjusted 95% CI = 0.631-0.901; adjusted p = .002). Moreover, an increase in the ratio of PUFAs to MUFAs could decrease the risk of psoriasis (IVW, adjusted OR = 0.823; adjusted 95% CI = 0.715-0.948; adjusted p = .007). The heterogeneity of data was eliminated, and pleiotropy was not detected. There was no statistical difference in the MR analysis of other fatty acids indices with psoriasis. Further, no statistically significant evidence was found to verify a causal relationship between psoriasis and fatty acid levels in reverse MR. Functional enrichment analysis showed that these eQTL related to common SNPs were mainly involved in organic ion transport, choline metabolism, and the expression of key metabolic factors mediated by PKA, ChREBP, and PP2A. Our study indicated that the ratio of MUFAs to total fatty acids had a positive causal effect on psoriasis, while the ratio of PUFAs to total fatty acids and the ratio of PUFAs to MUFAs had a negative causal effect on psoriasis. Moreover, PKA-, PP2A-, and ChREBP-mediated activation of metabolic factors may play an important role in this process.

PMID:37823124 | PMC:PMC10563715 | DOI:10.1002/fsn3.3543

Food Sci Nutr. 2023 Aug 6;11(10):6447-6458. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.3587. eCollection 2023 Oct.

ABSTRACT

Practical methodologies that include food safety and hygiene education in pedagogical activities are strategies to prevent foodborne diseases (FBDs). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge of 7th-grade middle school students regarding food microbiology and food safety, and to apply workshop-based educational strategies that focus on scientific literacy. The students (144) were initially evaluated using a Likert-scale questionnaire (pre-intervention, Q0) with ten objective questions on microbiology and food safety. Once the questionnaire was evaluated, interventions were conducted through five science workshops of 50 min, over a period of 5 months. The workshops included educational games, laboratory practices, videos, and lectures that addressed microorganisms that are known to cause the most common FBDs in Brazil. After each workshop, students were asked to express their opinions and understanding of the content through semi-structured interviews. Six months after the end of the practical interventions, the students completed a second identical Likert-scale questionnaire (post-intervention, Q1), and the answers to both questionnaires (Q0 and Q1) were analyzed by calculating the middle rank. The middle rank of Q1 (mean = 0.65 ± 0.13) was 21% greater than the middle rank of Q0 (mean = 0.44 ± 0.16), and statistical significance was observed (p = .0135). This demonstrates that new information acquired during the workshops positively influenced learning. We believe that when practical approaches to food safety are included in school education as a priority, the prevalence of FBD will decrease.

PMID:37823090 | PMC:PMC10563696 | DOI:10.1002/fsn3.3587

Front Nutr. 2023 Sep 26;10:1228172. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1228172. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

Millets are becoming more popular as a healthy substitute for people with lifestyle disorders. They offer dietary fiber, polyphenols, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, protein, and antioxidants. The nutritional importance of millets leads to the present in-silico study of selective bioactive compounds docked against the targets of lifestyle diseases, viz., diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis using molecular docking and molecular simulations approach. Pharmacokinetic analysis was also carried out to analyse ADME properties and toxicity analysis, drug-likeliness, and finally target prediction for new targets for uncharacterized compounds or secondary targets for recognized molecules by Swiss Target Prediction was also done. The docking results revealed that the bioactive compound flavan-4-ol, among all the 50 compounds studied, best docked to all the four targets of lifestyle diseases, viz., Human dipeptidyl peptidase IV (-5.94 kcal mol^-1 binding energy), Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (-6.49 kcal mol^-1) diabetes-related enzyme, the Human angiotensin-converting enzyme (-6.31 kcal mol^-1) which plays a significant role in hypertension, and Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (-4.67 kcal mol^-1) for atherosclerosis. Molecular dynamics simulation analysis substantiates that the flavan-4-ol forms a better stability complex with all the targets. ADMET profiles further strengthened the candidature of the flavan-4-ol bioactive compound to be considered for trial as an inhibitor of targets DPPIV, SGLT2, PCSK9, and hACE. We suggest that more research be conducted, taking Flavon-4-ol into account where it can be used as standard treatment for lifestyle diseases.

PMID:37823087 | PMC:PMC10562582 | DOI:10.3389/fnut.2023.1228172

Saudi Dent J. 2023 Sep;35(6):657-662. doi: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.05.017. Epub 2023 May 24.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Compare the bonding survival rate of two distinct bonding materials: Ortho Solo + Gradia LoFlo Resin and single component GC Ortho Connect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Indirect bonding fixed appliance treatment was required for 26 consecutive patients, 8 males and 18 females, with a mean age of 22.1 +/- 4.2 years. All patients were treated with SWM (Straight-Wire Mirabella) technique (Sweden and Martina, Due Carrare, Padova, Italy). Each patient’s bonding process followed a contralateral pattern. Firstly, a 37 % orthophosphoric acid etching gel was used for 20 s, subsequently the single or two components light-cured adhesives were applied through a split-mouth cross-arch procedure. The patients underwent a 12-month follow-up period and brackets failures were rebounded, but not further included in the study. Statistical analysis was performed to analyse the survival rate of the bonding materials and the influence of the variables, with a significant level of α = 0,05.

RESULTS: The GC Connect group was used on 349 teeth, while the Ortho Solo + Gradia group was used on 351 teeth, and the indirect debonding rate was respectively 17.5% and 12.8%. With respect to the total sample, statistically significant values were found for both sex and dental arch. The bracket’s survival rate for incisors, canines, premolars and molars was not significant. However, a higher debonding rate was clinically appreciable in upper and lower molars.

CONCLUSION: In a 12-months observation period, considering all maxillary and mandibular teeth the indirect survival rate for the group GC Ortho Connect and Ortho Solo + Gradia was respectively 82.5% and 87.2%. Although the difference was not significant, a pronounced tendency to debonding for the single component group was appreciable from a clinically point of view.

PMID:37823083 | PMC:PMC10562160 | DOI:10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.05.017

Saudi Dent J. 2023 Sep;35(6):753-759. doi: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.05.026. Epub 2023 Jun 2.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic success rate of blood clot and platelet rich fibrin (PRF) as a scaffold system in regenerative endodontic procedure in immature traumatized necrotic teeth..

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study examined the records of 28 subjects with necrotic immature open apex due to trauma treated with blood clot or PRF as a scaffold in regenerative endodontic procedure. The disinfection was carried out with calcium hydroxide as an intra-canal medicament. The clinical outcome was recorded using a binary variable of presence or absence of pain and intra-oral swelling. The radiographic outcome was recorded for periapical healing using Ørstavik’s Periapical Index and apical response using Chen and Chen index. Comparison of frequencies of categories of variables with groups was done using the chi-square test. The pairwise comparison of time intervals was done using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test.

RESULTS: Intra-group comparison of pain and intra-oral swelling had highly significant (p = 0.000) results for both groups over a period of 12 months. Inter-group comparison for clinical outcomes was insignificant. For the radiographic outcome, there was a statistically non-significant difference for periapical healing and apical response for both intra-group and inter-group comparisons.

CONCLUSION: Both PRF and blood clot have a favourable outcome for a regenerative endodontic procedure with a disinfectant protocol using calcium hydroxide as intracanal medicament. Considering the cumbersome procedure involved in procuring PRF scaffold, especially in children, inducing bleeding can be considered a recommended method for a regenerative endodontic procedure.

PMID:37823081 | PMC:PMC10562131 | DOI:10.1016/j.sdentj.2023.05.026

Front Psychol. 2023 Sep 26;14:1273004. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1273004. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Inspired by the rhetorical/relational goal theory, the current inquiry evaluated the role of two teacher relational behaviors, namely care and confirmation, in predicting Chinese EFL learners’ empowerment.

METHODS: To do this, we administered three closed-ended scales to 391 Chinese students who studying English as a foreign language in various educational institutions in China. Students’ attitudes toward the interplay between teacher care, teacher confirmation, and learner empowerment were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Amos software.

RESULTS: The results uncovered that teacher confirmation and teacher care serve an essential role in improving Chinese EFL learners’ empowerment. This indicates that EFL learners’ empowerment strictly depends on the relational behaviors that teachers employ in instructional-learning contexts.

DISCUSSION: The study outcomes may have some theoretical and practical implications for L2 researchers, language teachers, and teacher trainers.

PMID:37823078 | PMC:PMC10562693 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1273004

JAAD Int. 2023 Jun 28;13:140-149. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2023.06.009. eCollection 2023 Dec.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: During Mohs surgery for melanoma, evidence has demonstrated that many surgeons opt for smaller initial margins than traditionally recommended (0.5 cm for in situ and 1 cm for invasive). Literature regarding surgical outcomes based on initial margin is sparse.

OBJECTIVE: To determine differences in disease-specific survival of melanoma after Mohs micrographic surgery for varied initial surgical margins.

METHODS: A literature search was conducted on February 14, 2022, from MEDLINE via PubMed (1946-present), Embase (1974-present), Central (1991-present), and Scopus (1960-present). The primary outcome was disease-specific mortality.

RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included for final analysis. The overall disease-specific mortality rate of melanoma in all included studies was 0.5% (CI, 0.1-0.8; P, .010). Disease-specific mortality for 1 to 5, 5, and 6 to 10 mm categories were 0.4% (CI, 0.0-0.9; P, .074), 0.7% (CI, 0.2-1.3; P, .2-1.3), and 0.4% (CI, -0.9 to 1.8; P, .524), respectively. None of the variances across initial margin categories were statistically significant.

LIMITATIONS: Early-stage melanomas have low overall mortality rates. In our associated article, initial margins of 5 to 10 mm were shown to have the lowest rates of local recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, melanoma-specific mortality was not significantly impacted by the initial surgical margin taken during Mohs micrographic surgery.

PMID:37823046 | PMC:PMC10562175 | DOI:10.1016/j.jdin.2023.06.009