Ankaflavin and Monascin Prevent Fibrillogenesis of Hen Egg White Lysozyme: Focus on Noncovalent and Covalent Interactions.

Misfolding and amyloid fibrillogenesis of proteins have close relationships with several neurodegenerative diseases. The present work investigates the inhibitive activities of ankaflavin (AK) and monascin (MS), two yellow pigments separated from Monascus-fermented rice, on hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) fibrillation. The results demonstrated that AK/MS suppressed HEWL fibrillation through interfering with the nucleation period and AK was more potent. Fluorescence quenching and in silico docking studies revealed that AK/MS bond to HEWL by the formation of noncovalent forces with some critical amino acid residues that tend to form fibrils. Compared to those of AK, hydrogen bonding interactions between MS and Asn46, Trp62, and Trp63 residues in HEWL were slightly weaker. Besides, the covalent interaction between MS and HEWL with the binding site of Arg68 was found. These observations offered reasonable explanations for the difference in the mechanisms of AK and MS inhibiting HEWL fibrillogenesis. In a word, all data acquired herein indicated AK/MS as potent candidates for the improvement and treatment of neurological disorders.

Monascus pigments suppress fructose-mediated BSA glycation by trapping methylglyoxal and covalent binding to proteins.

In this study, four Monascus pigments (ankaflavin, AK; monascin MS; rubropunctatin, O1; monascorubrin, O2) were proved to exhibit considerable anti-glycation properties in bovine serum albumin (BSA)-fructose model. AK (40.62 %) and MS (48.38 %) were found to exert lower inhibitory effects on the formation of fluorescent advanced glycation end products (AGEs) than aminoguanidine (59.4 %), while O1 (90.64 %) and O2 (93.82 %) displayed much stronger abilities. AK and MS could trap methylglyoxal (MGO) with maximum capture rates of 85.67 % and 84.90 %, respectively, and only mono-MGO adducts of them were detected. LC-Orbitrap MS/MS analysis revealed that four pigments significantly altered the type and reduced the number of the glycated sites and they all covalently bound to BSA, with O1 and O2 possessing high reactivity. Altogether, AK and MS suppressed fluorescent AGEs formation mainly via trapping MGO and covalently interacting with BSA, and blocking free amino groups was the dominant mechanism for O1 and O2. These findings presented new insights into Monascus pigments as dietary supplement for inhibiting protein glycation.

Incidence and influencing factors of olfactory dysfunction in patients 1 week after endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumor: a cross-sectional study of 158 patients.

Objective: To investigate the current situation of olfactory dysfunction in patients after endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors, and analyze its influencing factors, to provide references for clinical nursing and rehabilitation. Methods: A cross-sectional study design and convenience sampling method were used to investigate 158 patients with pituitary tumors treated by endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection in the Department of Neurosurgery of three Grade-A general hospitals in Sichuan Province from January 2022 and June 2023. The olfactory function of patients was evaluated 1 week after surgery, and the general clinical data and olfactory related data of patients were collected, and the influencing factors of olfactory disorder were analyzed by logistic regression. Results: The incidence of olfactory dysfunction was 73.42%. analysis revealed that the formation of blood scabs, nasal cavity adhesion, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and operation time were independent risk factors for olfactory dysfunction in patients after transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory dysfunction is high in patients after endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumors, suggesting that medical staff should pay close attention to and identify patients with olfactory dysfunction based on the guidance of disease knowledge and skills, develop targeted nursing interventions, and promote the improvement of patients' olfactory function and quality of life.

Molecular investigation of soybean protein for improving the stability of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa willd.) milk substitute.

Soybean could greatly improve stability of quinoa milk substitute. However, the key compound and underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Here we showed that soybean protein was the key component for improving quinoa milk substitute stability but not oil or okara. Supplementary level of soybean protein at 0%, 2%, 4%, and 8% of quinoa (w/w) was optimized. Median level at 4% could effectively enhance physical stability, reduce particle size, narrow down particle size distribution, and decrease apparent viscosity of quinoa milk substitute. Microscopic observation further confirmed that soybean protein could prevent phase separation. Besides, soybean protein showed increased surface hydrophobicity. Molecular docking simulated that soybean protein but not quinoa protein, could provide over 10 anchoring points for the most abundant quinoa vanillic acid, through hydrogen bond and Van-der-Waals. These results contribute to improve stability of quinoa based milk substitute, and provide theoretical basis for the interaction of quinoa phenolics and soybean protein.

Valorization of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) brans from the sustainable perspective: A comprehensive review of bioactive compounds and health benefits with emphasis on their potential applications.

Barley is an important source of sustainable diets for humans, while its brans is commonly disposed as wastes. The recycling of barley brans has become a key for facilitating the valorization of barley as a whole to achieve its sustainable development. This review summarized the value of barley brans as an excellent source of multiple functional components (phenolic compounds, ß-glucan, and arabinoxylan), which conferred extensive health benefits to barley brans mainly including antioxidant, anti-obesity and lipid-lowering, anti-diabetic, and hepatoprotective properties. The utilization of barley brans reflected a great potential for sustainable development. Exploiting of food products and edible films containing barley brans or their bioactive compounds and non-food applications (preparation of bioactive substances, laccase enzymes, and biosorbents) have been attempted for supporting the zero-waste concept and circular economy. Considering their diverse applications, effective extraction techniques of bioactive compounds from barley brans and their safety are the priority of future research.

The relationship between sleep quality and occupational fatigue in endoscopy nurses: mediating role of positive coping style.

Background: Nursing occupational fatigue has emerged as a critical issue affecting the safety and health of nurses. This phenomenon not only impairs nurses' performance and mental well-being but also poses risks to patient safety and the quality of care provided. This study focuses on endoscopic nurses to explore the mediating role of positive coping styles between sleep quality and occupational fatigue, aiming to identify effective strategies to alleviate fatigue, thereby improving the work environment and enhancing healthcare quality. Methods: From July to August 2023, a cross-sectional design was used to select 258 endoscopy nurses from 25 top-three hospitals in 14 cities across 5 provinces in China. Data was collected through general information questionnaires, Fatigue assessment instrument, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and Simple Coping Style Questionnaire. A structural equation model of sleep quality - positive coping style - occupational fatigue was constructed using Amos 26.0, and Bootstrap was employed to test the mediating effect. Results: The results showed that the mean scores of sleep quality, occupational fatigue, and positive coping style for endoscopy nurses were 8.89 ± 4.13, 17.73 ± 5.64, and 18.32 ± 10.46, respectively. Positive coping style were negatively correlated with sleep quality and occupational fatigue (p < 0.001). Positive coping style partially mediated the relationship between sleep quality and occupational fatigue, with a mediating effect value of 0.253, accounting for 42.10% of the total effect. Conclusion: Sleep quality can indirectly affect the level of occupational fatigue through positive coping style. Nursing managers should enhance nurses' positive coping skills, improve nurses' sleep quality, and reduce occupational fatigue among nurses.

Effect of GABA combined with ultrasound stress germination treatment on phenolic content and antioxidant activity of highland barley.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) combined with ultrasonic stress germination (AUG) treatment on the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of highland barley (HB). Key variables, including germination times (ranging from 0 to 96 h), ultrasonic power (200-500 W), and GABA concentration (5-20 mmol/L), were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) to enhance the enrichment of phenolic compounds. Furthermore, the study assessed the content, composition, and antioxidant activities of phenolic compounds in HB under various treatment conditions such as germination alone (G), ultrasonic stress germination (UG), and AUG treatment. RESULTS: The study identified optimal conditions for the phenolic enrichment of HB, which included a germination time of 60 h, an ultrasound power of 300 W, and a GABA concentration of 15 mmol L-1. Under these conditions, the total phenolic content (TPC) in HB was measured at 7.73 milligrams of gallic acid equivalents per gram dry weight (mg GAE/g DW), representing a 34.96% enhancement compared to untreated HB. Notably, all treatment modalities - G, UG, and AUG - significantly increased the phenolic content and antioxidant activity in HB, with the AUG treatment proving to be the most effective. CONCLUSION: These obtained results suggest that AUG treatment is a promising processing method for enriching phenolic compounds and improving antioxidant activity in HB. Subsequently, the AUG-treated HB can be used to develop phenolic-rich germinated functional foods to further broaden the application of HB. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Meteorological parameters and hospital-acquired falls-A multicenter retrospective study based on 10 years of adverse events reporting system data.

Objective and rationale: Hospital-acquired falls are common and serious adverse events in medical institutions, with high incidence and injury rates. Studying the occurrence patterns of hospital-acquired falls is important for preventing falls in hospitalized patients. However, the effect of meteorological factors on hospital-acquired falls has not been elucidated. Therefore, this study explored the impact of meteorological parameters on hospital-acquired falls in Chongqing, China, and provided new ideas for the clinical prevention of falls in patients. Methods: Correlation analysis and distributed lag nonlinear models were employed to analyze the relationship between 3890 cases of hospital-acquired falls and meteorological data in 13 hospitals in 11 districts and counties in Chongqing from January 2013 to April 2023. Results: The number of hospital-acquired falls demonstrated a nonlinear correlation with the daily average relative humidity and negatively correlated with sunshine duration; however, temperature, air pressure, and wind speed were not correlated. Compared to the reference humidity (87 %), the immediate effects of daily average relative humidity (65-68 % and 90-97 %) increased the risk of hospital-acquired falls on the same day (relative risk [RR]:1.027-1.243). When the daily average relative humidity was 95-97 %, lags of 0-1 d and 8-12 d had greater effects on falls (RR:1.073-1.243). The daily average relative humidities of 62-74 % and 91-97 % were statistically significant at cumulative relative risk (CRR)of 4, 7, 10, and 14 d with a cumulative lag (CRR: 1.111-4.277). On sex and age stratification, the lag and cumulative effects of relative humidity more significantly impacted falls in women and patients aged ≥65 years. Conclusion: Daily average relative humidity had a nonlinear correlation and lag effect on hospital-acquired falls; therefore, medical institutions should pay attention to the effect of relative humidity on hospital-acquired falls in patients, especially old and female patients.

Pulse Proteins and Their Hydrolysates: A Comprehensive Review of Their Beneficial Effects on Metabolic Syndrome and the Gut Microbiome.

Pulses, as an important part of the human diet, can act as a source of high-quality plant proteins. Pulse proteins and their hydrolysates have shown promising results in alleviating metabolic syndrome and modulating the gut microbiome. Their bioactivities have become a focus of research, with many new findings added in recent studies. This paper comprehensively reviews the anti-hypertension, anti-hyperglycemia, anti-dyslipidemia and anti-obesity bioactivities of pulse proteins and their hydrolysates in recent in vitro and in vivo studies, which show great potential for the prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome. In addition, pulse proteins and their hydrolysates can regulate the gut microbiome, which in turn can have a positive impact on the treatment of metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of some pulse proteins and their hydrolysates on metabolic syndrome have been supported by clinical studies. This review might provide a reference for the application of pulse proteins and their hydrolysates in functional foods or nutritional supplements for people with metabolic syndrome.

Establishment of a risk prediction model for olfactory disorders in patients with transnasal pituitary tumors by machine learning.

To construct a prediction model of olfactory dysfunction after transnasal sellar pituitary tumor resection based on machine learning algorithms. A cross-sectional study was conducted. From January to December 2022, 158 patients underwent transnasal sellar pituitary tumor resection in three tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province were selected as the research objects. The olfactory status was evaluated one week after surgery. They were randomly divided into a training set and a test set according to the ratio of 8:2. The training set was used to construct the prediction model, and the test set was used to evaluate the effect of the model. Based on different machine learning algorithms, BP neural network, logistic regression, decision tree, support vector machine, random forest, LightGBM, XGBoost, and AdaBoost were established to construct olfactory dysfunction risk prediction models. The accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the model's prediction performance, the optimal prediction model algorithm was selected, and the model was verified in the test set of patients. Of the 158 patients, 116 (73.42%) had postoperative olfactory dysfunction. After missing value processing and feature screening, an essential order of influencing factors of olfactory dysfunction was obtained. Among them, the duration of operation, gender, type of pituitary tumor, pituitary tumor apoplexy, nasal adhesion, age, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, blood scar formation, and smoking history became the risk factors of olfactory dysfunction, which were the key indicators of the construction of the model. Among them, the random forest model had the highest AUC of 0.846, and the accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score were 0.750, 0.870, 0.947, and 0.833, respectively. Compared with the BP neural network, logistic regression, decision tree, support vector machine, LightGBM, XGBoost, and AdaBoost, the random forest model has more advantages in predicting olfactory dysfunction in patients after transnasal sellar pituitary tumor resection, which is helpful for early identification and intervention of high-risk clinical population, and has good clinical application prospects.

A Comparative Analysis between Whole Chinese Yam and Peeled Chinese Yam: Their Hypolipidemic Effects via Modulation of Gut Microbiome in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice.

Chinese yam is a "medicine food homology" food with medical properties, but little is known about its health benefits on hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, the effect of peeling processing on the efficacy of Chinese yam is still unclear. In this study, the improvement effects of whole Chinese yam (WY) and peeled Chinese yam (PY) on high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic mice were explored by evaluating the changes in physiological, biochemical, and histological parameters, and their modulatory effects on gut microbiota were further illustrated. The results show that both WY and PY could significantly attenuate the HFD-induced obesity phenotype, accompanied by the mitigative effect on epididymis adipose damage and hepatic tissue injury. Except for the ameliorative effect on TG, PY retained the beneficial effects of WY on hyperlipemia. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that WY and PY reshaped the gut microbiota composition, especially the bloom of several beneficial bacterial strains (Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibaculum) and the reduction in some HFD-dependent taxa (Mucispirillum, Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002, and Candidatus_Saccharimonas). PICRUSt analysis showed that WY and PY could significantly regulate lipid transport and metabolism-related pathways. These findings suggest that Chinese yam can alleviate hyperlipidemia via the modulation of the gut microbiome, and peeling treatment had less of an effect on the lipid-lowering efficacy of yam.

Enhancing the stability of mung bean-based milk: Insights from protein characteristics and raw material selection.

Plant-based milk (PBM) alternatives are gaining popularity worldwide as the change of consumers' nutritional habits and health attitudes. Mung beans, recognized for their nutritional value, have gained attention as potential ingredients for PBM. Nevertheless, mung bean-based milk (MBM) faces instability issues common to other plant-based milks. This study investigated the factors influencing MBM stability focusing on raw materials. We selected 6 out of 20 varieties based on their MBM centrifugation sedimentation rates, representing both stable and unstable MBM. Stable MBM exhibited distinct advantages, including reduced separation rate, smaller particle size, lower viscosity, fewer protein aggregates, higher soluble protein content, and increased consumer acceptance. Major nutritional components such as protein, starch, and lipids were not significant different between stable and unstable MBM varieties. The pivotal distinction may lay in the protein properties and composition. Stable MBM varieties exhibited significantly improved protein solubility and emulsion stability, along with elevated concentrations of legume-like acidic subunits, basic 7S proteins, and 28 kDa and 26 kDa vicilin-like subunits. The increasement of these proteins likely contributed to the improvement in protein characteristics that affect MBM stability. These findings offer valuable insights for raw material selection and guidance for future mung bean breeding to enhance mung bean milk production.

Enhancing the Thermal Stability of Zein Particle-Stabilized Aeratable Emulsions Through Genipin-Protein Cross-Linking and Its Possible Mechanism of Action.

Protein particle-stabilized emulsions often lack thermal stability, impacting their industrial use. This study investigated the effects of genipin (GP)-zein cross-linked particles with varying GP-to-protein weight ratios (0/0.02/0.1:1) on emulsion thermal stability. Enhanced stability was observed at the GP level of 0.1. Heat treatment increased the covalent cross-linking in raw particles and emulsions. Isolated particles from heated emulsions grew in size (micrometer scale) with higher GP levels, unlike heated raw particles (nanoscale). GP-protein cross-linking reduced the droplet-droplet and particle-emulsifier interactions in the heated emulsion. Spectroscopic analysis and electrophoresis revealed that GP-zein cross-linking increased protein structural stability and inhibited nondisulfide and non-GP cross-linking reactions in heated emulsions. The GP-zein bridges between particles at the oil-water interface create strong connections in the particle layer (shell), referred to as "particle-shell locking", enhancing the thermal stability of emulsion significantly. This insight aids the future design of protein-particle-based emulsions, preserving properties like aeratability during thermal processing.

Non-starch polysaccharides from kidney beans: comprehensive insight into their extraction, structure and physicochemical and nutritional properties.

Kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are an important legume source of carbohydrates, proteins, and bioactive molecules and thus have attracted increasing attention for their high nutritional value and sustainability. Non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) in kidney beans account for a high proportion and have a significant impact on their biological functions. Herein, we critically update the information on kidney bean varieties and factors that influence the physicochemical properties of carbohydrates, proteins, and phenolic compounds. Furthermore, their extraction methods, structural characteristics, and health regulatory effects, such as the regulation of intestinal health and anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects, are also summarized. This review will provide suggestions for further investigation of the structure of kidney bean NSPs, their relationships with biological functions, and the development of NSPs as novel plant carbohydrate resources.

Mung bean protein as an emerging source of plant protein: a review on production methods, functional properties, modifications and its potential applications.

Plant protein is rapidly becoming more of a prime interest to consumers for its nutritional and functional properties, as well as the potential to replace animal protein. In the frame of alternative protein new sources, mung bean is becoming another legume crop that could provide high quality plant protein after soybean and pea. In particular, the 8S globulins in mung bean protein have high structural similarity and homology with soybean ß-conglycinin (7S globulin), with 68% sequence identity. Currently, mung bean protein has gained popularity in food industry because of its high nutritional value and peculiar functional properties. In that regard, various modification technologies have been applied to further broaden its application. Here, we provide a review of the composition, nutritional value, production methods, functional properties and modification technologies of mung bean protein. Furthermore, its potential applications in the new plant-based products, meat products, noodles, edible packaging films and bioactive compound carriers are highlighted to facilitate its utilization as an alternative plant protein, thus meeting consumer demands for high quality plant protein resources. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Exogenous strigolactones alleviate drought stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by promoting cell wall biogenesis to optimize root architecture.

Exogenous strigolactones (SLs, GR24) are widely used to alleviate drought stress in wheat. The physiological and biochemical mechanisms via which SLs help overcome drought stress in wheat shoots have been reported; however, the mechanisms in wheat roots are unclear. The present study explored the effects of the exogenous application of SLs on wheat roots' growth and molecular responses under drought stress using physiological analysis and RNA-seq. RNA-seq of roots showed that SLs mainly upregulated signal transduction genes (SIS8, CBL3, GLR2.8, LRK10L-2.4, CRK29, and CRK8) and transcription factors genes (ABR1, BHLH61, and MYB93). Besides, SLs upregulated a few downstream target genes, including antioxidant genes (PER2, GSTF1, and GSTU6), cell wall biogenesis genes (SUS4, ADF3, UGT13248, UGT85A24, UGT709G2, BGLU31, and LAC5), an aquaporin-encoding gene (TIP4-3), and dehydrin-encoding genes (DHN2, DHN3, and DHN4). As a result, SLs reduced oxidative damage, optimized root architecture, improved leaf-water relation, and alleviated drought damage. Thus, the present study provides novel insights into GR24-mediated drought stress management and a scientific basis for proposing GR24 application.

Physiological and RNA-Seq Analyses on Exogenous Strigolactones Alleviating Drought by Improving Antioxidation and Photosynthesis in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Drought poses a significant challenge to global wheat production, and the application of exogenous phytohormones offers a convenient approach to enhancing drought tolerance of wheat. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism by which strigolactones (SLs), newly discovered phytohormones, alleviate drought stress in wheat. Therefore, this study is aimed at elucidating the physiological and molecular mechanisms operating in wheat and gaining insights into the specific role of SLs in ameliorating responses to the stress. The results showed that SLs application upregulated the expression of genes associated with the antioxidant defense system (Fe/Mn-SOD, PER1, PER22, SPC4, CAT2, APX1, APX7, GSTU6, GST4, GOR, GRXC1, and GRXC15), chlorophyll biogenesis (CHLH, and CPX), light-harvesting chlorophyll A-B binding proteins (WHAB1.6, and LHC Ib-21), electron transfer (PNSL2), E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (BB, CHIP, and RHY1A), heat stress transcription factor (HSFA1, HSFA4D, and HSFC2B), heat shock proteins (HSP23.2, HSP16.9A, HSP17.9A, HSP21, HSP70, HSP70-16, HSP70-17, HSP70-8, HSP90-5, and HSP90-6), DnaJ family members (ATJ1, ATJ3, and DJA6), as well as other chaperones (BAG1, CIP73, CIPB1, and CPN60I). but the expression level of genes involved in chlorophyll degradation (SGR, NOL, PPH, PAO, TIC55, and PTC52) as well as photorespiration (AGT2) was found to be downregulated by SLs priming. As a result, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were enhanced, and chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate were increased, which indicated the alleviation of drought stress in wheat. These findings demonstrated that SLs alleviate drought stress by promoting photosynthesis through enhancing chlorophyll levels, and by facilitating ROS scavenging through modulation of the antioxidant system. The study advances understandings of the molecular mechanism underlying SLs-mediated drought alleviation and provides valuable insights for implementing sustainable farming practice under water restriction.

The impact of insurance status on in-hospital mortality in patients with hyperglycaemic crisis: A propensity score matching analysis.

AIM: This study was designed to determine the associations between insurance status and clinical outcomes among patients with hyperglycaemic crisis. METHODS: Overall, 1668 patients with hyperglycaemic crisis were recruited from the Chongqing Medical University Medical Data Science Academy's big data platform. In-hospital mortality, length of stay and complications (i.e., hypoglycaemia, hypokalemia, pulmonary infection, multiple systemic organ failure, acute kidney injury and deep venous thrombosis) were assessed. Propensity score matching analysis was used to reduce the confounding bias, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to estimate the effect of insurance status on mortality in patients with hyperglycaemic crisis. RESULTS: After matching one uninsured patient to two insured patients with a calliper of 0.02, the uninsured group suffered a higher burden of in-hospital mortality than the insured group (16.9% vs. 9.8%); the insured status (odds ratio = 0.216, 95% confidence interval = 0.079-0.587) was a potential protect factor for in-hospital mortality of patients with hyperglycaemic crisis in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Insurance status is associated with the outcomes of hospitalisation for hyperglycaemic crisis; uninsured patients with hyperglycaemic crisis face a higher risk of mortality in China.

The effect of heat treatment on the lactosylation of milk proteins.

Protein lactosylation is a significant modification that occurs during the heat treatment of dairy products, causing changes in proteins' physical-chemical and nutritional properties. Knowledge of the detailed lactosylation information on milk proteins under various heat treatments is important for selecting appropriate thermo-processing and identifying markers to monitor heat load in dairy products. In the present study, we used proteomics techniques to investigate lactosylated proteins under different heating temperatures. We observed a total of 123 lactosylated lysines in 65 proteins, with lactosylation even occurring in raw milk. The number of lactosylated lysines and proteins increased moderately at 75°C to 130°C, but dramatically at 140°C. We found that 6 out of 10, 9 out of 16, 6 out of 12, and 5 out of 15 lysine residues in κ-casein, ß-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin, and αS1-casein, respectively, were lactosylated under the applied heating treatment. Moreover, different lactosylation states of individual lysines and proteins can indicate the intensity of heating processes. Lactosylation of K14 in ß-lactoglobulin could distinguish pasteurized and UHT milk, while lactosylation of lactotransferrin can reflect moderate heat treatment of products.