Insights into the mechanisms driving microbial community succession during pepper fermentation: Roles of microbial interactions and endogenous environmental changes.

Elucidating the driving mechanism of microbial community succession during pepper fermentation contributes to establishing efficient fermentation regulation strategies. This study utilized three-generation high-throughput sequencing technology, microbial co-occurrence network analysis, and random forest analysis to reveal microbial community succession processes and driving mechanisms during pepper fermentation. The results showed that more positive correlations than negative correlations were observed among microorganisms, with positive correlation proportions of 60 %, 51.03 %, and 71.43 % between bacteria and bacteria, fungi and fungi, and bacteria and fungi in sipingtou peppers, and 69.23 %, 54.93 %, and 79.44 % in zhudachang peppers, respectively. Microbial interactions, mainly among Weissella hellenica, Lactobacillus plantarum, Hanseniaspora opuntiae, and Kazachstania humillis, could drive bacterial and fungal community succession. Notably, the bacterial community successions during the fermentation of two peppers were similar, showing the transition from Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, Lactococcus lactis, Weissella ghanensis to Weissella hellenica and Lactobacillus plantarum. However, the fungal community successions in the two fermented peppers differed significantly, and the differential biomarkers were Dipodascus geotrichum and Kazachstania humillis. Differences in autochthonous microbial composition and inherent constituents brought by pepper varieties resulted in different endogenous environmental changes, mainly in fructose, malic acid, and citric acid. Furthermore, endogenous environmental factors could also drive microbial community succession, with succinic acid, lactic acid, and malic acid being the main potential drivers of bacterial community succession, whereas fructose, glucose, and succinic acid were the main drivers of fungal community succession. These results will provide insights into controlling fermentation processes by raw material combinations, optimization of environmental parameters, and microbial interactions.

Enhancement effect of odor and multi-sensory superposition on sweetness.

The impact of sugary foods on public health has contributed to the development of low-sugar and sugar-substituted products, and sugar reduction has become a major challenge for the food industry. There is growing empirical evidence that odor can enhance the perception of sweetness without increasing the caloric load. This current review summarizes the researches on odor-induced sweetness enhancement published in recent years and discusses the mechanisms and influencing factors of odor-sweetness interactions. In addition, by combing existing studies, this paper also summarizes the research methods and strategies to investigate odor-induced sweetness enhancement. Finally, the feasibility of synergistic enhancement of sweetness through the superposition of odor with other senses (texture, visual, etc.) is also discussed and analyzed. In conclusion, odor-induced sweetness enhancement may present an alternative or complementary approach for developing foods with less sugar.

Identification and validation of core microbes associated with key aroma formation in fermented pepper paste (Capsicum annuumL.).

Fermented peppers are usually obtained by the spontaneous fermentation of microorganisms attached to fresh peppers, and the variable microbial composition would lead to inconsistencies in flavor between batches. To demonstrate the roles of microorganisms in flavor formation, the core microbes closely associated with the key aroma compounds of fermented pepper paste were screened and validated in this study. Lactobacillus was the dominant bacterial genus in fermented pepper paste, whereas the main fungal genera were Alternaria and Kazachstania. Nine strains of the genera Lactobacillus, Weissella, Bacillus, Zygosaccharomyces, Kazachstania, Debaryomyces, and Pichia were isolated from fermented pepper paste. Eleven key aroma compounds were identified using gas chromatography combined with olfactometry and relative odor activity values. Correlation analysis showed that Zygosaccharomyces and Kazachstania were positively correlated with the majority of the key aroma compounds, whereas Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with them. Thus, Zygosaccharomyces and Kazachstania were identified as core genera associated with the key odorants. Finally, Zygosaccharomyces bisporus, Kazachstania humilis, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were used as starter cultures for fermented peppers, confirming that Z. bisporus and K. humilis were more beneficial for the key aroma compounds (e.g., acetate, linalool, and phenyl ethanol) rather than L. plantarum. This study contributed to understanding the flavor formation mechanism and provided references for the quality control of food fermentation.

Retinopathy of prematurity in southern Taiwan: a 10-year tertiary medical center study.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a leading cause of childhood blindness. This retrospective study investigated ROP, including incidence, demographic information,risk factors, treatments, and refractive outcomes, in southern Taiwan over a 10-year period. METHODS: The authors retrieved the National Cheng Kung University Hospital database between the years 2000 and 2009 for newborns with a gestational age less than 32 weeks and/or with a birth weight less than 1500 g who had been screened for ROP. We recorded sex, birth weight, gestational age, in-hospital versus out-of-hospital birth, paternal and maternal ages, whether there were multiple gestations, parity, Apgar scores, length of hospital stay, risk factors, presence and severity of ROP and whether it was treated, and refraction at the last visit. Regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for ROP. RESULTS: A total of 503 live births were included. ROP was identified in 190 (37.8%) and met criteria for treatment in 59 (11.7%).ROP was diagnosed as stage 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in 61 (12.1%), 36 (7.2%), 81 (16.1%), 11 (2.2%), and 1 (0.2%) infant, respectively. Lower birth weight and younger gestational age were risk factors for greater severity of ROP (p < 0.001). Of the 167 with extremely low birth weight (<1000 g), 118 (70.7%) had ROP and 49 (29.3%) required treatment. On univariate analysis, low birth weight, younger gestational age, and risk factors such as respiratory distress syndrome, chronic lung disease, patent ductus arteriosus, surfactant usage, indomethacin usage, sepsis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, blood transfusion, and necrotizing enterocolitis were associated with ROP. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only lower birth weight was a significant and independent risk factor for ROP. Myopia (76%)and anisometropia (28%)were common in advanced ROP. CONCLUSION: Low birth weight is a major risk factor for ROP. Infants with extremely low birth weight had a higher risk of severe ROP. Common ocular sequelae of advanced ROP were myopia and anisometropia.

A preequatorial Gore-Tex sling to restore rectus muscle pathways in myopic strabismus fixus.

A 74-year-old woman with high myopia presented with a rapid-onset, large-angle esotropia consistent with myopic strabismus fixus, or fallen eye syndrome. We treated the patient with combined bilateral disinsertion of the medial rectus muscles and resection of the right lateral rectus muscle with bilateral repositioning of the displaced superior and lateral rectus muscles toward their normal anatomic positions using a polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) sling. The eyes were held in the orthotropic position for 7 days after surgery using nylon traction sutures. After 7 months of follow-up, the patient remained orthotropic at distance with a residual esotropia of 12(Δ) at near and a persistent limitation of elevation.

Treatment of early Acanthamoeba keratitis with alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement.

PURPOSE: To study the safety and efficacy of treating early-stage Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) with 20% alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement. METHODS: Four consecutive patients (2 wearing orthokeratology lenses and 2 wearing soft contact lenses) presented with pseudodendrites, radial keratoneuritis, and epithelial irregularities. Using a technique similar to laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis, we performed alcohol-assisted full-thickness debridement of the corneal epithelium and sent portions for smears, histopathologic and ultrastructural examinations, and culture for evidence of Acanthamoeba. Patients were then started on topical propamidine isethionate and 0.02% polyhexamethylene biguanide. RESULTS: Immediately after debridement, minimal underlying anterior stromal infiltrate or haze was seen. Dosages of antiamoebic agents were tapered as corneal defects reepithelialized (in 1-3 weeks) with no evidence of post-debridement corneal infection. At the final follow-up, 1 cornea was transparent and the other 3 corneas had very faint subepithelial haze. Cultures of all epithelial debridement specimens yielded Acanthamoeba trophozoites and cysts, and histopathologic and electron microscopic examinations revealed Acanthamoeba organisms within corneal epithelial layers. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement facilitates detachment of the full-thickness corneal epithelial layer in a controlled manner and seems to be effective in the treatment of early-stage AK. Unlike the fragile fragmented specimens obtained by mechanical scraping without alcohol soaking, epithelial sheets detached easily and the architectures were well preserved, permitting histopathologic and ultrastructural examinations. Most importantly, 20% alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement did not prevent culturing of Acanthamoeba from the removed epithelial specimens.

Acute anterior uveitis and optic neuritis as ocular complications of influenza A infection in an 11-year-old boy.

The authors describe an 11-year-old boy developing bilateral acute anterior uveitis, papillitis in one eye, and neuroretinitis in the other eye after an upper respiratory tract infection of influenza A virus, possibly H1N1. Steroid pulse therapy resolved these conditions. The authors recommend alertness for visual blurring and ocular inflammation after influenza A infection.