Energy Expenditure and Hormone Responses in Humans After Overeating High-Fructose Corn Syrup Versus Whole-Wheat Foods.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to understand how the dietary source of carbohydrates, either high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or complex carbohydrates, affects energy expenditure (EE) measures, appetitive sensations, and hormones during 24 hours of overfeeding. METHODS: Seventeen healthy participants with normal glucose regulation had 24-hour EE measures and fasting blood and 24-hour urine collection during four different 1-day diets, including an energy-balanced diet, fasting, and two 75% carbohydrate diets (5% fat) given at 200% of energy requirements with either HFCS or whole-wheat foods as the carbohydrate source. In eight volunteers, hunger was assessed with visual analog scales the morning after the diets. RESULTS: Compared with energy balance, 24-hour EE increased 12.8% ± 6.9% with carbohydrate overfeeding (P < 0.0001). No differences in 24-hour EE or macronutrient utilization were observed between the two high-carbohydrate diets; however, sleeping metabolic rate was higher after the HFCS diet (Δ = 35 ± 48 kcal [146 ± 200 kJ]; P = 0.01). Insulin, ghrelin, and triglycerides increased the morning after both overfeeding diets. Urinary cortisol concentrations (82.8 ± 35.9 vs. 107.6 ± 46.9 nmol/24 h; P = 0.01) and morning-after hunger scores (Δ = 2.4 ± 2.0 cm; P = 0.01) were higher with HFCS overfeeding. CONCLUSIONS: The dietary carbohydrate source while overeating did not affect 24-hour EE, but HFCS overconsumption may predispose individuals to further overeating due to increased glucocorticoid release and increased hunger the following morning.

Mycotoxins in wheat flour and intake assessment in Shandong province of China.

In the present study, the occurrence and contamination levels of eight mycotoxins were investigated in wheat flour samples (n = 359) from Shandong Province of China. Samples were determined using a multi-mycotoxin method based on isotope dilution ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The results indicated that the most frequently found mycotoxins were deoxynivalenol (DON) (97.2%), nivalenol (40.4%) and deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (33.4%), and mean contamination levels in positive samples were 86.7, 3.55 and 3.34 µg kg(-1), respectively. The obtained data were further used to estimate the daily intake of the local population, and indicated that wheat flour consumption contributes little to DON exposure. However, with the aim to keep the contamination levels under control and to establish a more precise evaluation of the mycotoxin burden in Shandong Province, more sample data from different harvest years and seasons are needed in the future.

Use of Triticum aestivum in open wound healing: a clinical, pathological, and tensiometric assessment in the rabbit model / Uso de Triticum aestivum na cicatrização de feridas: um ensaio clínico, histopatológico e tensiométrico em coelhos

While Triticum sp. has been shown to act in wound healing, stimulating collagen synthesis by fibroblasts, the use of this plant extract has yet to be assessed in vivo, in commercially viable presentations. This study used rabbits and assessed, on days seven, 14, and 21, the presence or absence of granulation tissue and epithelialization, histopathological structures, and scar quality through the breaking and tension strength. Treatments, performed for 21 days, were aqueous extract of T. aestivum at a concentration of 2mg/mL (group I) and 10mg/mL (group II) and a nonionic cream (control group). We demonstrate that the formation of granulation tissue was not significantly different between treatments. In the analysis of epithelial tissue, wounds in group II differed from other treatments by day 7. On days 14 and 21 there was no significant clinical difference between groups. In the histopathological evaluation, scar quality and rupture strength did not differ between the groups in the studied period. In the tension strength evaluation, group I differed from the others, presenting a higher tension strength overall. The studied treatments did not differ regarding healing evolution of the skin wounds, but T. aestivum extract, at 2mg/mL, presents better results in the tension strength evaluation...

O extrato de trigo (Triticum sp.) vem sendo usado na cicatrização de feridas por estimular a síntese de fibroblastos, entretanto a sua aplicabilidade in vivo em apresentações comercialmente viáveis ainda tem de ser demonstrada. Neste estudo, avaliaram-se feridas cutâneas de coelhos tratadas com extrato aquoso de T. aestivum quanto à presença de tecido de granulação e epitelização, estruturas histológicas, qualidade cicatricial, além de ensaio tensiométrico. As feridas foram tratadas diariamente, por 21 dias, com diferentes concentrações do extrato (grupo I = 2mg/mL; grupo II = 10mg/mL) ou apenas o veículo (grupo controle = creme não iônico), e avaliadas nos dias sete, 14 e 21. A formação de tecido de granulação não diferiu entre os tratamentos. A epitelização aconteceu em menor tempo em feridas do grupo II, mas aos 14 dias já não havia diferença neste parâmetro. Na avaliação histopatológica, a qualidade cicatricial e a força de ruptura não diferiram no período estudado, entretanto a resistência tensiométrica das feridas do grupo I foi maior que a dos demais tratamentos. Dessa forma, conclui-se que, mesmo não havendo diferença na evolução cicatricial de feridas tratadas ou não com extrato aquoso de T. aestivum, o uso desse composto, a 2mg/mL, resultou em tecidos cicatriciais mais resistentes à tração...

Mycotoxin co-occurrence in rice, oat flakes and wheat noodles used as staple foods in Ecuador.

The co-occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1) and G2 (AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1 (FB1), zearalenone (ZEN), and HT-2 and T-2 toxins in the main Ecuadorian staple cereals (rice, oat flakes, and yellow and white wheat noodles) was evaluated. A ultra high performance liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/TOFMS) method was developed and validated to screen for the presence of these mycotoxins in those cereal matrices. Matrix-matched calibration curves were used to compensate for ion suppression and extraction losses and the recovery values were in agreement with the minimum requirements of Regulation 401/2006/EC (70-110%). For most mycotoxins, the LODs obtained allowed detection in compliance with the maximum permitted levels set in Regulation EC/2006/1881, with the exception of OTA in all cereals and AFB1 in yellow noodles. Extra target analysis of OTA in oat flakes and wheat noodles was performed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. High rates of contamination were observed in paddy rice (23% DON, 23% FB1, 7% AFB1, 2% AFG1 and 2% AFG2), white wheat noodles (33% DON and 5% OTA) and oat flakes (17% DON, 2% OTA and 2% AFB1), whereas the rates of contamination were lower in polished rice (2% AFG1 and 4% HT-2 toxin) and yellow noodles (5% DON). Low rates of co-occurrence of several mycotoxins were observed only for white wheat noodles (5%) and paddy rice (7%). White noodles were contaminated with DON and/or OTA, while combinations of AFG1, AFB1, DON and FB1 were found in paddy rice. Yellow noodles were contaminated with DON only; oat flakes contained DON, OTA or AFB1, and polished rice was contaminated with AFG1 and HT-2 toxin.

Deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in Fusarium-contaminated wheat in Mexico City.

Fusarium spp. invasion causes head blight, a destructive disease in the world's main wheat-growing areas, and deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) contamination in cereal-based products. No data are available on the relationship between Fusarium spp. on commercial wheat samples in Mexico City and the presence of mycotoxins. A total of 30 wheat samples were subject to a PCR method involving genes of the trichothecene and zearalenone biosynthesis pathways to detect the presence of Fusarium. Detection and quantification of DON and ZEA was performed using liquid chromatography coupled to UV detection. PCR indicated the presence of the Tri5 and PKS4 genes in 16.7 and 23.3% of samples, respectively. DON and ZEA contamination was found in 51.2 and 71.4% of samples, respectively, where a positive amplification was obtained. This work presents up-to-date information on mycotoxin contamination in Mexico, where improved contamination/exposure data and firm control/monitoring measures are needed.

Assessment of exposure to wheat flour and the shape of its relationship with specific sensitization.

OBJECTIVES: Dust and wheat-allergen exposure were assessed among bakers, flour millers, and bakery-ingredient producers, and the risk for sensitization was studied. METHODS: About 520 inhalable dust and wheat-allergen measurements were made among 270 Dutch workers. Data on sensitization to wheat and common allergens (atopy) were also available. Exposure was estimated according to the sector of industry, job title, and tasks. The shape of the relationship between sensitization and exposure was studied using a two-stage modeling approach: semi-parametric generalized additive modeling and, consequently, a simple description of the relationship using a parametric logistic model. To reduce the effect of exposure measurement errors (attenuation), a combination of the actual measured exposure and variance-weighted estimates of exposure was used. Results The effect of exposure to both inhalable dust and wheat allergens on sensitization was described best by a linear relationship in three industries and a quadratic relationship in one industry. The relation for the whole study population was best described as quadratic, and the probability of sensitization increased with exposure up to -2.7 mg/m3 for inhalable dust and approximately 25.7 microg EQ/m3 for wheat allergens. The risk decreased at higher exposures (P = 0.0121 and P = 0.0731 for dust and wheat, respectively). Atopy and sector of industry modified the sensitization risk significantly in all the analyses. Using a variant-weighted estimator to calculate exposures corrected for the bias and resulted in almost the same point risk estimators. Conclusions Exposure-response relationships for allergens may be nonlinear and differ between industries. A threshold is not indicated on which to base occupational exposure standards; alternatively, other approaches, such as benchmarking, seem warranted.

An exploratory quantitative risk assessment for high molecular weight sensitizers: wheat flour.

OBJECTIVE: Quantitative risk assessments have been made for wheat dust and allergen exposure and wheat sensitization using classical epidemiological approaches based on simple categorizations in exposure groups. Such analyses suggest the existence of an exposure threshold level for wheat specific sensitization and were used as input in recently conducted risk assessments for wheat flour by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists and the Dutch Expert Committee on Occupational Standards. More advanced statistical analyses were applied using generalized additive modeling and smoothed plots to evaluate the shape of the exposure response relationship in greater detail and evaluate the presence of exposure thresholds. METHODS: Data were used from a recently conducted epidemiological study in bakery workers. Information was available on wheat sensitization (IgE antibodies), inhalable dust levels and wheat allergen levels. Initial analyses were based on simple exposure categorizations for inhalable dust and allergen exposure. A more detailed analysis using non-parametric generalized additive models (GAM models) and smoothing plots allowed inspection of the presence of an exposure threshold of evaluation of 'no' or 'lowest observed effect levels' (NOELs, LOELs) using exposure data on the individual level. RESULTS: All analyses showed an increasing sensitization risk with increasing exposure. The classical epidemiological analyses gave evidence for the existence of an exposure threshold or 'no observed effect level (NOEL)' for specific wheat sensitization between 0.5 and 1 mg/m3 of inhalable dust. The more advanced analyses did not suggest any evidence for the existence of an exposure threshold. However, estimates of a LOEL obtained by considering an arbitrary increase in sensitization risk between 1.5 and 2 as undesirable, were close to the NOEL from the classical analyses and would therefore not lead to an essentially different exposure limit. The criterion of an increase in wheat sensitization risk was based on the risk in non-wheat dust exposed populations. CONCLUSION: Exposure response modeling using different classical epidemiological approaches and advanced statistical methods resulted in health based LOEL or NOEL estimates within a relatively close range. But when sensitization accompanied by asthma or rhinitis symptoms was considered as critical endpoint, steeper exposure-response relationships were observed which would lead to lower LOEL values.

Wheat antigen exposure assessment for epidemiological studies in bakeries using personal dust sampling and inhibition ELISA.

BACKGROUND: Asthma in bakery workers caused by exposure to wheat flour proteins is an important occupational health problem. Until recently, gravimetric dust measurements were the only available technique for quantitative exposure assessment in bakeries. However, it is questionable whether dust levels are a good exposure parameter or only give a crude approximation of the actual flour allergen concentration. OBJECTIVE: In the present study we have investigated a method to measure wheat flour antigens with immunochemical methods. METHODS: Wheat flour antigens were measured in 449 personal dust samples taken in bakeries, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition and an anti-wheat IgG4 serum pool. Western-blotting was performed to compare the wheat flour proteins detected by IgE and IgG4. RESULTS: Electrophoresis and immunoblotting showed that many wheat flour proteins can bind IgG4 and IgE, but also a reasonable similarity in major allergens detected by our IgG4-serum pool and IgE-positive sera. Inhibition tests showed some cross-reactivity with some cereal species, but not with other ingredients used in bakeries. In bakeries, large differences in personal airborne flour levels were found between occupational titles. For several groups clear differences in wheat antigen exposure levels existed, where no differences in dust exposure levels could be found. The relationship between dust and wheat antigen exposure varied considerably, depending on the specific bakery occupation, the size of the bakery, and the type of product produced by the bakery. This study also shows that personal sampling of wheat antigens is possible on a large scale and can be used for epidemiological field studies. CONCLUSION: Measurement of airborne wheat antigens in bakeries is a more specific and sensitive measurement tool than measuring dust samples, and will probably be essential for epidemiologic field studies focusing on exposure-response relationships.

Simultaneous detection of IgE binding to several allergens using a nitrocellulose 'polydisc'.

The use of nitrocellulose for allergen disc preparation permits several different allergens to be applied as separate spots to the same disc for simultaneous evaluation with one serum sample (50 microliter). To achieve this, an immunological application method involving anti-human IgE and the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase procedure must be used with a substrate that produces an insoluble product. The suitability of the polydiscs for routine clinical evaluation of several allergens at once was demonstrated by testing the sera of seven allergic bakers with discs containing extracts of flour or pollen from wheat, cereal rye, or rye grass.