Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation versus placebo on vascular health, glycaemic control, and metabolic parameters in people with type 1 diabetes: a randomised controlled preliminary trial.

BACKGROUND: The role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFA), and the potential impact of n-3PUFA supplementation, in the treatment and management of type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains unclear and controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the efficacy of daily high-dose-bolus n-3PUFA supplementation on vascular health, glycaemic control, and metabolic parameters in subjects with T1D. METHODS: Twenty-seven adults with T1D were recruited to a 6-month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects received either 3.3 g/day of encapsulated n-3PUFA or encapsulated 3.0 g/day corn oil placebo (PLA) for 6-months, with follow-up at 9-months after 3-month washout. Erythrocyte fatty acid composition was determined via gas chromatography. Endpoints included inflammation-associated endothelial biomarkers (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1], intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], E-selectin, P-selectin, pentraxin-3, vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]), and their mediator tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFα] analysed via immunoassay, vascular structure (carotid intima-media thickness [CIMT]) and function (brachial artery flow mediated dilation [FMD]) determined via ultrasound technique, blood pressure, glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and postprandial metabolism. RESULTS: Twenty subjects completed the trial in full. In the n-3PUFA group, the mean ± SD baseline n-3PUFA index of 4.93 ± 0.94% increased to 7.67 ± 1.86% (P < 0.001) after 3-months, and 8.29 ± 1.45% (P < 0.001) after 6-months. Total exposure to n-3PUFA over the 6-months (area under the curve) was 14.27 ± 3.05% per month under n-3PUFA, and 9.11 ± 2.74% per month under PLA (P < 0.001). VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, pentraxin-3, VEGF, TNFα, CIMT, FMD, blood pressure, HbA1c, FPG, and postprandial metabolism did not differ between or within groups after treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that daily high-dose-bolus of n-3PUFA supplementation for 6-months does not improve vascular health, glucose homeostasis, or metabolic parameters in subjects with T1D. The findings from this preliminary RCT do not support the use of therapeutic n-3PUFA supplementation in the treatment and management of T1D and its associated complications. Trial Registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN40811115. Registered 27 June 2017, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN40811115 .

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa on blood pressure and cardiometabolic markers.

CONTEXT: Hibiscus sabdariffa (hibiscus) has been proposed to affect cardiovascular risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To review the evidence for the effectiveness of hibiscus in modulating cardiovascular disease risk markers, compared with pharmacologic, nutritional, or placebo treatments. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of the Web of Science, Cochrane, Ovid (MEDLINE, Embase, AMED), and Scopus databases identified reports published up to June 2021 on randomized controlled trials using hibiscus as an intervention for lipid profiles, blood pressure (BP), and fasting plasma glucose levels in adult populations. DATA EXTRACTION: Seventeen chronic trials were included. Quantitative data were examined using a random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression with trial sequential analysis to account for type I and type II errors. DATA ANALYSIS: Hibiscus exerted stronger effects on systolic BP (-7.10 mmHg [95%CI, -13.00, -1.20]; I2 = 95%; P = 0.02) than placebo, with the magnitude of reduction greatest in those with elevated BP at baseline. Hibiscus induced reductions to BP similar to that resulting from medication (systolic BP reduction, 2.13 mmHg [95%CI, -2.81, 7.06], I2 = 91%, P = 0.40; diastolic BP reduction, 1.10 mmHg [95%CI, -1.55, 3.74], I2 = 91%, P = 0.42). Hibiscus also significantly lowered levels of low-density lipoprotein compared with other teas and placebo (-6.76 mg/dL [95%CI, -13.45, -0.07]; I2 = 64%; P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Regular consumption of hibiscus could confer reduced cardiovascular disease risk. More studies are warranted to establish an effective dose response and treatment duration. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020167295.

Application of Machine Learning to Assess Interindividual Variability in Rapid-Acting Insulin Responses After Subcutaneous Injection in People With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: Circulating insulin concentrations mediate vascular-inflammatory and prothrombotic factors. However, it is unknown whether interindividual differences in circulating insulin levels are associated with different inflammatory and prothrombotic profiles in type 1 diabetes (T1D). We applied an unsupervised machine-learning approach to determine whether interindividual differences in rapid-acting insulin levels associate with parameters of vascular health in patients with T1D. METHODS: We re-analyzed baseline pretreatment meal-tolerance test data from 2 randomized controlled trials in which 32 patients consumed a mixed-macronutrient meal and self-administered a single dose of rapid-acting insulin individualized by carbohydrate counting. Postprandial serum insulin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, plasma fibrinogen, human tissue factor (HTF) activity and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were measured. Two-step clustering categorized individuals based on shared clinical characteristics. For analyses, insulin pharmacokinetic summary statistics were normalized, allowing standardized intraindividual comparisons. RESULTS: Despite standardization of insulin dose, individuals exhibited marked interpersonal variability in peak insulin concentrations (48.63%), time to peak (64.95%) and insulin incremental area under the curve (60.34%). Two clusters were computed: cluster 1 (n=14), representing increased serum insulin concentrations; and cluster 2 (n=18), representing reduced serum insulin concentrations (cluster 1: 389.50±177.10 pmol/L/IU h-1; cluster 2: 164.29±41.91 pmol/L/IU h-1; p<0.001). Cluster 2 was characterized by increased levels of fibrinogen, PAI-1, TNF-alpha and HTF activity; higher glycated hemoglobin; increased body mass index; lower estimated glucose disposal rate (increased insulin resistance); older age; and longer diabetes duration (p<0.05 for all analyses). CONCLUSIONS: Reduced serum insulin concentrations are associated with insulin resistance and a prothrombotic milieu in individuals with T1D, and therefore may be a marker of adverse vascular outcome.

The relative contribution of diurnal and nocturnal glucose exposures to HbA1c in type 1 diabetes males: a pooled analysis.

Purpose: The exact contribution of daily glucose exposure to HbA1c in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains controversial. We examined the contribution of pre- and postprandial glycaemia, nocturnal and early-morning glycaemia, and glycaemic variability to HbA1c levels in T1D. In this analysis, we used clinical data, namely age, BMI and HbA1c, as well as glycaemic metrics (24-h glycaemia, postprandial, nocturnal, early-morning glycaemia, wake-up glucose, and glycaemic variability) obtained over a four-week period of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) wear in thirty-two males with T1D. Methods: The trapezoid method was used estimate the incremental area under the glucose curve (iAUC) for 24-h, postprandial (3-h period following breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively), nocturnal (between 24:00-04:00 AM), and early-morning (2-h period 2-h prior to wake-up) glycaemia. Linear regression analysis was employed whereby CGM-derived glycaemic metrics were explanatory variables and HbA1c was the outcome. Results: Thirty-two T1D males (mean ± SD: age 29 ± 4 years; HbA1c 7.3 ± 0.9% [56 ± 13 mmol/mol]; BMI 25.80 ± 5.01 kg/m2) were included in this analysis. In linear models adjusted for age and BMI, HbA1c was associated with 24-h mean glucose (r 2 = 0.735, p < 0.001), SD (r 2 = 0.643, p = 0.039), and dinner iAUC (r 2 = 0.711, p = 0.001). CGM-derived metrics and non-glycaemic factors explained 77% of the variance in HbA1c, in which postprandial glucose accounted for 32% of the variance explained. The single greatest contributor to HbA1c was dinner iAUC resulting in 0.6%-point (~7 mmol/mol) increase in HbA1c per SD increase in dinner iAUC. Conclusions: Using comprehensive CGM profiling, we show that postprandial glucose, specifically evening-time postprandial glucose, is the single largest contributing factor to HbA1c in T1D. Trial registration number: NCT02204839 (July 30th 2014); NCT02595658 (November 3rd 2015).

Preparation of an intelligent pH film based on biodegradable polymers and roselle anthocyanins for monitoring pork freshness.

This study aims to develop an intelligent indicating film based on biodegradable polymers incorporated with roselle anthocyanins to monitor pork freshness. Three different films were prepared by using two substances of starch, polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan. The UV-vis spectra and color of anthocyanins changed at pH 2-12. SEM photographs showed that the compatibility of films was improved with the addition of anthocyanins. Furthermore, the polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/roselle anthocyanins film had the highest tensile strength (98.28 MPa). The starch/polyvinyl alcohol/roselle anthocyanins film had the highest antioxidant activity (524.07%) and the best color stability. The starch/polyvinyl alcohol/roselle anthocyanins film showed visible changes from red to green when employed to monitor the freshness of pork stored at 25 °C, before the TVB-N value of the pork gradually increased to the rejection limit (15 mg/100 g) at 36 h. Therefore, the indicator film can be used to monitor pork freshness for intelligent packaging.

Noise-free microbial colony counting method based on hyperspectral features of agar plates.

A noise-free bacterial colony counting method identifying noise (i.e., sausage, bacon, and millet fragments) with similar colors or shapes to those of colonies was developed for food quality assessment. First, spectral features corresponding to colony cluster regions and background regions (agar medium and food fragments) were extracted after collection of hyperspectral images. A cluster-segmenting calibration model that could identify colony clusters and background regions was developed. Second, spectral features of colony centers and borders were extracted, and a colony-separating calibration model that could separate single colonies from clusters (multiple colonies contacting each other) was developed. Third, each pixel of an agar plate hyperspectral image was identified using established calibration models, enabling the colonies on the agar plate to be counted successfully (R2 = 0.9998). The results demonstrated that the proposed method could identify the noises caused by food fragments with similar colors or shapes to those of colonies.

Geospatial visualisation of food contaminant distributions: Polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and aflatoxins.

Large volume of multidimensional data can be summarised, both in terms of tabulated statistics, and as graphic geospatial visualisations. The latter approach allows rapid interpretation and communication of complex information to stake-holders such as regulators, risk assessors and policy makers. In the main study on polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN), individual samples representing different edible fish species were analysed from around the UK. PCNs were observed in all samples with nearly all of the twelve measured congeners being detected. Summed congener concentrations ranged from 0.7 ng/kg ww (turbot) to 265 ng/kg ww (sprats). The highest contamination levels were recorded for sprats and mackerel with mean summed concentrations of 67 ng/kg ww and 68 ng/kg ww respectively. Two ancillary studies, on potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in crabs from China and aflatoxin in children's blood from Tanzania, demonstrate the wide applicability of this approach. The PTE contents in crab showed strong dependence on the tested tissues and elements, and crabs from Tai and Yangcheng Lakes showed obviously higher PTE levels than the other lakes. Geospatial distribution of the aflatoxin biomarker AF-alb in children's serum from 3 locations showed how individual anthropometric or socio-economic data reveals the relationship between family size, socio-economic score and magnitude of serum aflatoxin levels. In addition to facilitating the flow of interpreted data to stakeholders, these techniques can direct the formulation of risk mitigation activities and help with the identification of data gaps. When combined with hierarchical cluster analyses, correlations within the data can also be predicted.

A dual-mode sensor for colorimetric and fluorescent detection of nitrite in hams based on carbon dots-neutral red system.

Nitrite residue in hams was detected by a fluorescent and colorimetric sensor based on carbon dots (C-dots) and neutral red (NR). C-dots with green fluorescence was synthesized by a microwave-assisted method. This novel sensor was fabricated by C-dots as donors and NR as acceptors. The presence of nitrite led to decrease of absorbance and increase of fluorescence. Colorimetric and fluorescent methods for nitrite detection were developed with excellent correlation coefficients (R2 = 0.995 and 0.991) and low limits of detection (196 nM and 0.518 nM). Moreover, nitrite residue in seven types of ham was detected by the colorimetric and fluorescent methods which were verified by a standard method. The results obtained by the proposed method were comparable and agree with that of the Griess-based method (relative errors<5%). C-dots-NR system as a sensor has a potential application for nitrite detection in hams to monitor its quality and safety.

Assessing the risk to U.K. children from carbendazim residues in apple products.

We present a detailed study into the effects that uncertainty and variability have on the levels of dietary exposure of young children to carbendazim in a range of apple products, including raw apples, apple juice and processed apple foods. It is estimated that exposure is greater than the provisional EU acute reference dose of 0.02 mg/kg-bw/day on 0.29% of person days, although there is large uncertainty in the true number. The contribution from apple juice consumption appears to be significant. The issues presented are common to many dietary risk analysis problems, and the methods could be applied to any food group and chemical of interest.

Spatial analysis of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) in fish collected from UK and proximate marine waters.

Some commonly consumed marine fish species are considered to display a higher risk of bio-accumulating organic environmental contaminants such as PBDEs. As part of a study to investigate the spatial distribution of these contaminants, data on polybrominated diphenlyethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) were collected and analysed by introducing a web-based resource which enables efficient spatial, species and concentration level representations. Furthermore, hierarchical cluster analyses permits correlations within the data to be predicted. The data provide current information on levels of PBDE and PBB occurrence, allowing identification of locations that show higher contaminant levels. 135 fish samples of various species were analysed from UK marine waters, but encompassing the waters around Norway in the North and to the Algarve in the South. PBDEs were observed in all samples with the majority of measured congeners being detected. The concentrations ranged from 0.087 µg/kg to 8.907 µg/kg whole weight (ww) for the sum of all measured PBDE congeners. PBBs occurred less frequently showing a corresponding range of <0.02 µg/kg to 0.97 µg/kg ww for the sum of seven PBB congeners. Concentrations vary depending on species and locations where landed, e.g. PBBs occurred more frequently and at higher levels in grey mullet from French waters. The high frequency of PBDE occurrence makes it prudent to continue the monitoring of these commonly consumed marine fish species. The web-based resource provides a flexible and efficient tool for assessors and policy-makers to monitor and evaluate levels within caught fish species improving evidenced-based decision processes.

A rapid and nondestructive method to determine the distribution map of protein, carbohydrate and sialic acid on Edible bird's nest by hyper-spectral imaging and chemometrics.

Edible bird's nest (EBN) is a precious functional food in Southeast Asia. A rapid and nondestructive method for determining the distribution map of protein content (PC), carbohydrate content (CC) and sialic acid content (SAC) on EBN sample was proposed. Firstly, 60 EBNs were used for hyperspectral image acquisition, and components content (PC, CC and SAC) were determined by chemical analytical methods. Secondly, the spectral signals of EBN hyperspectral image and EBN components content were used to build calibration models. Thirdly, spectra of each pixel in EBN hyperspectral image were extracted, and these spectra were substituted in the calibration models to predict the PC, CC and SAC of each pixel in the EBN image, so the visual distribution maps of PC, CC and SAC on the whole EBN were obtained. It is the first time to show the distribution tendency of PC, CC and SAC on the whole EBN sample.

Bacteria counting method based on polyaniline/bacteria thin film.

A simple and rapid bacteria counting method based on polyaniline (PANI)/bacteria thin film was proposed. Since the negative effects of immobilized bacteria on the deposition of PANI on glass carbon electrode (GCE), PANI/bacteria thin films containing decreased amount of PANI would be obtained when increasing the bacteria concentration. The prepared PANI/bacteria film was characterized with cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique to provide quantitative index for the determination of the bacteria count, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was also performed to further investigate the difference in the PANI/bacteria films. Good linear relationship of the peak currents of the CVs and the log total count of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) could be established using the equation Y=-30.413X+272.560 (R(2)=0.982) over the range of 5.3×10(4) to 5.3×10(8)CFUmL(-1), which also showed acceptable stability, reproducibility and switchable ability. The proposed method was feasible for simple and rapid counting of bacteria.

A new room temperature gas sensor based on pigment-sensitized TiO2 thin film for amines determination.

A new room temperature gas sensor was fabricated with pigment-sensitized TiO2 thin film as the sensing layer. Four natural pigments were extracted from spinach (Spinacia oleracea), red radish (Raphanus sativus L), winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum), and black rice (Oryza sativa L. indica) by ethanol. Natural pigment-sensitized TiO2 sensor was prepared by immersing porous TiO2 films in an ethanol solution containing a natural pigment for 24h. The hybrid organic-inorganic formed films here were firstly exposed to atmospheres containing methylamine vapours with concentrations over the range 2-10 ppm at room temperature. The films sensitized by the pigments from black-rice showed an excellent gas-sensitivity to methylamine among the four natural pigments sensitized films due to the anthocyanins. The relative change resistance, S, of the films increased almost linearly with increasing concentrations of methylamine (r=0.931). At last, the black rice pigment sensitized TiO2 thin film was used to determine the biogenic amines generated by pork during storage. The developed films had good sensitivity to analogous gases such as putrscine, and cadaverine that will increase during storage.

Measurement of total anthocyanins content in flowering tea using near infrared spectroscopy combined with ant colony optimization models.

Flowering tea has become a popular beverage consumed across the world. Anthocyanins content is considered as an important quality index of flowering tea. The feasibility of using near infrared (NIR) spectra at the wavelength range of 10,000-4000 cm(-1) for rapid and nondestructive determination of total anthocyanins content in flowering tea was investigated. Ant colony optimization interval partial least squares (ACO-iPLS) and Genetic algorithm interval partial least squares (GA-iPLS) were used to develop calibration models for total anthocyanins content. Two characteristic wavelength regions (4590-4783, 5770-5,963 cm(-1)), which corresponding to the ultraviolet/visible absorption bands of anthocyanins, were selected by ACO-iPLS. The optimal ACO-iPLS model for total anthocyanins content (R=0.9856, RMSECV=0.1,198 mg/g) had better performance than full-spectrum PLS, iPLS, and GA-iPLS models. It could be concluded that NIR spectroscopy has significant potential in the nondestructive determination of total anthocyanins content in flowering tea.

Pre-visual diagnostics of phosphorus deficiency in mini-cucumber plants using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy.

The morphological symptoms of phosphorus (P) deficiency in the leaves of mini-cucumber plants at early stages of development have features similar to that of early stage development in healthy plants. That similarity may lead to inappropriate visual diagnostics of phosphorus deficiency in analyzed samples. Because the differences in spectral properties of leaf tissues between phosphorus-deficient and healthy plants can be demonstrated, the feasibility of using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for rapid and nondestructive diagnostics of phosphorus deficiency in mini-cucumber plants was investigated. Leaf reflection spectra in the wavelength range of 10,000-4000 cm(-1) were measured before the appearance of morphological changes caused by phosphorus deficiency. Least-squares support vector machine (LS-SVM), a method for recognizing patterns, was applied to identify phosphorus-deficient plants. Parameters (γ, σ(2)) of LS-SVM were optimized by cross-validation, and several conventional, two-class classification methods such as linear discrimination analysis and K-nearest neighbors were also used comparatively for identification. Identification rates in excess of 86% were achieved with the LS-SVM model for both the training set and the prediction set. The overall results indicated that NIR spectra combined with LS-SVM could be used efficiently for pre-visual diagnostics of phosphorus deficiency in mini-cucumber plants.

In vivo noninvasive detection of chlorophyll distribution in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) leaves by indices based on hyperspectral imaging.

The objective of this study was to investigate the spectral behavior of the relationship between reflectance and chlorophyll content and to develop a technique for non-destructive chlorophyll estimation and distribution in leaves using hyperspectral imaging. The hyperspectral imaging data cube of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) leaves in the range of 450-850 nm was investigated and preprocessed. Sixty optical signatures or indices as a function of the associated reflectance (R(λ)) at the special wavelength (λ) nm which proposed in the literatures were used to predict the total chlorophyll content in cucumber leaves. Finally, R(710)/R(760), (R(780)-R(710))/(R(780)-R(680)), (R(750)-R(705))/(R(750)+R(705)), (R(680)-R(430))/(R(680)+R(430)), R(860)/(R(550)×R(708)), (R(695-705))(-1)-(R(750-800))(-1), and REP-LEM (a index based on red edge position and estimated with a linear extrapolation method) were identified as optimum indices. Red-edge waveband (680-780 nm) appeared in all these optimum indices, indicating the importance of REP (red edge position) in chlorophyll estimation. When (R(695-705))(-1)-(R(750-800))(-1), the best index was applied to an independent validation set, chlorophyll content (r=0.8286) were reasonably well predicted, indicating model robustness. Depending on the sample, this technique enables to identify and characterize the relative content of various chlorophyll that distribution in the cucumber leaves. The map shows a relatively low level of chlorophyll at margins. Higher level can be noticed in the regions along the main veins and in some areas exhibiting dark green tissue. Our results indicate that hyperspectral imaging has considerable promise for predicting pigments in leaves and, the pigments can be detected in situ in living plant samples non-destructively.

Variables selection methods in near-infrared spectroscopy.

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has increasingly been adopted as an analytical tool in various fields, such as the petrochemical, pharmaceutical, environmental, clinical, agricultural, food and biomedical sectors during the past 15 years. A NIR spectrum of a sample is typically measured by modern scanning instruments at hundreds of equally spaced wavelengths. The large number of spectral variables in most data sets encountered in NIR spectral chemometrics often renders the prediction of a dependent variable unreliable. Recently, considerable effort has been directed towards developing and evaluating different procedures that objectively identify variables which contribute useful information and/or eliminate variables containing mostly noise. This review focuses on the variable selection methods in NIR spectroscopy. Selection methods include some classical approaches, such as manual approach (knowledge based selection), "Univariate" and "Sequential" selection methods; sophisticated methods such as successive projections algorithm (SPA) and uninformative variable elimination (UVE), elaborate search-based strategies such as simulated annealing (SA), artificial neural networks (ANN) and genetic algorithms (GAs) and interval base algorithms such as interval partial least squares (iPLS), windows PLS and iterative PLS. Wavelength selection with B-spline, Kalman filtering, Fisher's weights and Bayesian are also mentioned. Finally, the websites of some variable selection software and toolboxes for non-commercial use are given.