D-tryptophan, an eco-friendly natural, safe, and healthy compound with antimicrobial activity against food-borne pathogens: A systematic review.

Recently, the use of D-amino acids as food preservatives has attracted considerable attention because these natural compounds do not have adverse effects on human health. In addition, D-amino acids such as D-tryptophan can reduce the harmful effects of other treatments. For instance, the use of D-tryptophan in food reduces the requirement for high temperatures and their damaging effects on nutrients such as proteins and vitamins. The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of D-tryptophan on food-borne pathogens in vitro and in food models. To identify related studies, scientific digital databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched from January 2000 to February 2023. The results of the studies showed that when D-tryptophan was used with other stresses such as using different salt concentrations, refrigeration, or high temperatures, it showed significant antimicrobial effects on Gram-positive and Gram-negative food-borne pathogens, and antibiofilm impacts were also observed with D-tryptophan. Since studies have shown that the antimicrobial activity of D-tryptophan depends on several factors, including the pathogen strain, the type of stress, and the concentration of D-tryptophan, and every article has focused on one of these factors, there is a need for a systematic review that summarizes and concludes the effect of all these factors on the antimicrobial activity of D-tryptophan against food-borne pathogens.

The effects of gut microbiome manipulation on glycemic indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a comprehensive umbrella review.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Increased fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) are observed in patients with NAFLD. Gut microbial modulation using prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics has shown promise in NAFLD treatment. This meta-umbrella study aimed to investigate the effects of gut microbial modulation on glycemic indices in patients with NAFLD and discuss potential mechanisms of action. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library until March 2023 for meta-analyses evaluating the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on patients with NAFLD. Random-effect models, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis were employed. RESULTS: Gut microbial therapy significantly decreased HOMA-IR (ES: -0.41; 95%CI: -0.52, -0.31; P < 0.001) and FI (ES: -0.59; 95%CI: -0.77, -0.41; P < 0.001). However, no significant effect was observed on FBS (ES: -0.17; 95%CI: -0.36, 0.02; P = 0.082). Subgroup analysis revealed prebiotics had the most potent effect on HOMA-IR, followed by probiotics and synbiotics. For FI, synbiotics had the most substantial effect, followed by prebiotics and probiotics. CONCLUSION: Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics administration significantly reduced FI and HOMA-IR, but no significant effect was observed on FBS.

Can modulation of gut microbiota affect anthropometric indices in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease? An umbrella meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background and aim: Modulating the gut microbiota population by administration of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics has shown to have a variety of health benefits in different populations, particularly those with metabolic disorders. Although the promising effects of these compounds have been observed in the management of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the exact effects and the mechanisms of action are yet to be understood. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate how gut microbiota modulation affects anthropometric indices of NAFLD patients to achieve a comprehensive summary of current evidence-based knowledge. Methods: Two researchers independently searched international databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, from inception to June 2023. Meta-analysis studies that evaluated the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on patients with NAFLD were entered into our umbrella review. The data regarding anthropometric indices, including body mass index, weight, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), were extracted by the investigators. The authors used random effect model for conducting the meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were also performed. Results: A total number of 13 studies were finally included in our study. Based on the final results, BMI was significantly decreased in NAFLD patients by modulation of gut microbiota [effect size (ES): -0.18, 05% CI: -0.25, -0.11, P<0.001]; however, no significant alteration was observed in weight and WC (ES: -1.72, 05% CI: -3.48, 0.03, P=0.055, and ES: -0.24, 05% CI: -0.75, 0.26, P=0.353, respectively). The results of subgroup analysis showed probiotics had the most substantial effect on decreasing BMI (ES: -0.77, 95% CI: -1.16, -0.38, P<0.001) followed by prebiotics (ES: -0.51, 95% CI: -0.76, -0.27, P<0.001) and synbiotics (ES: -0.12, 95% CI: -0.20, -0.04, P=0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion, the present umbrella meta-analysis showed that although modulation of gut microbiota by administration of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics had promising effects on BMI, no significant change was observed in the WC and weight of the patients. No sufficient data were available for other anthropometric indices including waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio and future meta-analyses should be done in this regard.

Health risk assessments of heavy metals and trace elements exposure in the breast milk of lactating mothers in the Northeastern Iran.

Mother's breast milk is a natural and complete food for infants but can be a main source of exposure to toxic pollutants. These pollutants can negatively affect the health of the infant. Therefore, conducting biomonitoring surveys is essential to evaluate such health effects in toxicological research. This study aimed to estimate the probable health risks for infants exposed to essential and non-essential trace elements through breast milk ingestion. This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was performed on 90 breastfeeding mothers referred to the health centers in Mashhad, Iran in January 2021. The health risk assessments (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk) were estimated using chronic daily intake (CDI), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and lifetime carcinogenic risk (CR), which were recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The results of the HQ values of trace elements through ingestion exposure for arsenic (90%), copper (90%), zinc (40%), and iron (10%) exceeded the threshold of HQ, and arsenic (66.59%), copper (16.91%), and zinc (9.68%) and iron (4.57%) had the highest contribution to increasing the HI index. The average value of CR was 5. 08 × 10-3. Chromium and iron showed significant relationships (P<0.05) with education level and disease background in this study, and the concentration of chromium, iron, and zinc in the breast milk samples significantly changed during lactation stages (P<0.05). Overall, the risk of carcinogenicity through exposure to breast milk for infants was higher than the safety level of US EPA risk. Therefore, there could be a potential health risk of trace elements, particularly arsenic, copper, and zinc for infants in Mashhad, Iran through the consumption of mothers' breast milk. More efforts are required to control and reduce routes of receiving trace elements in breastfeeding mothers by the competent authorities.

Application of Nanotechnology to Develop Carrageenan-based Films and Coatings as Carriers for Essential Oils.

This review highlights the effect of combining bioactive agents, especially nanoparticles, in carrageenan coating to increase the quality and stability of foods. This study is designed based on a review of previous studies. Biopolymer coatings and films are suitable for food and non-food packaging due to their degradability, renewable and edible nature. Edible coatings and films are based on polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids. They confer some beneficial effects on foods, such as improvement of appearance and texture, reducing the amount of moisture loss and oxidation, prevention of the release of gases and control of microbial growth, delaying ripening and adverse changes in color and taste, improvement of nutritional value, and increasing the shelf life of the product. These improvements lead to the prevention of food spoilage and increase the shelf life of various foods. In addition, nanomaterials and food additives such as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents, flavorings, and colors can be incorporated into food coatings and films to expand their applications. Nanotechnology can be applied in coatings and food films using nanoparticles. However, more research is still needed to gather information about coating formulations, especially when new materials are incorporated into them.

Effect of alginate coating activated by solid lipid nanoparticles containing Zataria multiflora essential oil on chicken fillet's preservation.

The current study aimed to assess the chemical, microbial, and sensory properties of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) in chicken fillets stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 12 days. As a result, the optimized ZEO-SLNS sample exhibited a spherical morphology with a droplet size of 251.51 ± 1.11 nm and a PDI of 0.34 ± 0.01 under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The encapsulation efficiency (EE) and zeta potential were approximately 55.4 % and -20.87 ± 1.39 mV, respectively. Furthermore, encapsulating ZEO in SLNS enhanced antibacterial and antioxidant activity compared to pure ZEO. As a result, the application of alginate-loaded ZEO-SLNS extended the storage time of fresh chicken fillets. Thus, the application of this edible coating showcased a remarkable ability to substantially decelerate both microbial and chemical changes in chicken fillets during cold storage conditions. This finding underscores the potential of the edible coating as an effective means to enhance the safety and quality of chicken products.

Genetic Variations of Angiotensinogen, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme, and Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor with the Risk of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

There is little data regarding the impact of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) gene polymorphisms on tuberculosis. The current study designed to survey the possible association between RAS polymorphisms and the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in a sample of the southeast Iranian population. This case-control study was done on 170 PTB patients and 170 healthy subjects. The AGT rs699 C>T, ACE rs4341 C>G and AT1R rs5186 C>A variants were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and ACE rs4646994 (287bp I/D) variant by PCR method. Regarding AT1R rs5186 A>C polymorphism, the findings revealed that AC genotype and C allele significantly decreased the risk of PTB (OR=0.39, 95% CI=0.22-0.67, p=0.001, and OR=0.53, 95% CI=0.25-0.72, p=0.002, C vs. A, respectively). The TC genotype and C allele of AGT rs699 T>C significantly associated with decreased the risk of PTB (OR=0.45, 95% CI=0.28-0.74, p=0.002, TC vs. TT and OR=0.51, 95% CI=0.32-0.80, p=0.005, C vs. T, respectively). The ID genotype of ACE 287bp I/D significantly increased the risk of PTB (OR=1.88, 95% CI=1.12-3.17, p=0.017). Our finding did not support an association between ACE rs4341 C>G variant and the risk of PTB. In summary, the findings revealed an association between AT1R rs5186 A>C, AGT rs699 T>C and ACE 287bp I/D polymorphisms and the risk of PTB in a sample of the southeast Iranian population. Further investigation with higher sample sizes and diverse ethnicities are required to confirm our findings.

Concentration of heavy metals in pasteurized and sterilized milk and health risk assessment across the globe: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Although milk and dairy products are almost complete food, they can contain toxic heavy elements with potential hazards for consumers. This review aims to provide a comprehensive report on the occurrence, concentration, and health risks of selected heavy metals in pasteurized and sterilized milk recorded worldwide. METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was used to develop this systematic review. Databases included the Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Scientific Information Database, Google Scholar, and PubMed from inception until January 2023. Keywords related to the terms "Heavy metals", "Arsenic" and "Pasteurized and sterilized milk" and "Risk Assessment" were used. The potential health risks to human health from milk daily consumption were estimated using extracted data on heavy metals concentration based on metal estimated daily intake, target hazard quotient, and carcinogenic risk. RESULTS: A total of 48 potentially relevant articles with data on 981 milk samples were included in the systematic review. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry were the most common valid methods to measure heavy metals in milk samples. Following the initial evaluation, Cu, Cd, Zn, and Pb were the most contaminants, which exceeded the maximum permissible criteria in 94%, 67%, 62%, and 46% of the milk samples tested. Relying on target hazard quotient and carcinogenic risk results, milk consumers in 33(68.75%) and 7 (14.5%) studies were exposed to moderate to high levels of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk, respectively. The highest level of risk is due to the consumption of pasteurized and sterilized milk detected in Pakistan, Brazil, Egypt, Slovakia, and Turkey. CONCLUSION: The elevated levels of heavy metals in milk samples, especially Pb and Cd is a public health concern; therefore, maximum control and strict regulations must be adopted to decrease heavy metals contaminants in the dairy industry. Further studies are required to develop safe milk processing and handling methods for the decontamination of heavy metals in milk and its products.

Application of novel metal organic framework-deep eutectic solvent/molecularly imprinted polymer multiple monolithic fiber for solid phase microextraction of amphetamines and modafinil in unauthorized medicinal supplements with GC-MS.

The goal of this research is the development of multiple monolithic fiber-solid phase microextraction (MMF-SPME) using a new integrated fiber for the determination of amphetamine derivatives and modafinil from unauthorized medicinal supplements. For this purpose, a monolithic fiber of metal organic framework MIL-Al (53)-deep eutectic solvent (DES)/molecularly imprinted polymers (MOF-DES/MIP) was synthesized. To find optimum microextraction conditions gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was used and the influences of effective variables were investigated using one factor at a time method. After that, the significant variables were optimized using a Box-Behnken design (BBD) combined with a desirability function (DF). Under optimized conditions (desorption solvent=1500 µL of 1-octanol, pH=3.5, extraction time=35 min, [NaCl]=0% w/v and stirring rate=600 rpm), calibration graphs of analytes were linear in a concentration range of 0.1-400 µg L-1 with correlation coefficients > 0.9966. Limits of detection and quantification were in the ranges of 0.023-0.033 µg L-1 and 0.088-0.113 µg L-1, respectively. This procedure was successfully employed in determining target analytes in spiked and unspiked unauthorized medicinal supplement samples with recoveries ranging from 95.14 to 104.63%.

The association between maternal body mass index and breast milk composition: a systematic review.

CONTEXT: Breast milk composition is influenced by many factors, ranging from maternal nutritional status to infant sex. Previous studies have explored the relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and breast milk composition; however, the findings have been inconsistent and controversial. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the evidence on the association of maternal weight and BMI with breast milk composition. DATA SOURCES: The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched up to May 3, 2023, using the following search strategy: ("maternal weight" OR "maternal BMI" OR "mother's weight" OR "mother's BMI") AND ("maternal milk" OR "human milk" OR "breast milk"). DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 83 publications, involving data from more than 11 310 lactating women, were identified. All extracted data were compiled, compared, and critically analyzed. DATA ANALYSIS: Overall, maternal BMI was associated with higher levels of leptin and insulin, and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in breast milk. However, no conclusive associations were found between maternal BMI and the levels of energy, macronutrients, micronutrients, and other components of breast milk. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review provides robust evidence supporting a positive correlation between maternal BMI and breast milk concentrations of leptin, insulin, and the omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio. Nevertheless, disparities in findings are noticeable for other constituents of breast milk. To comprehensively grasp the influence of maternal weight and BMI on breast milk composition, further research endeavors are imperative. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023458667.

The Value of Microbiome-targeted Therapy on Lipid Indices of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Umbrella Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

;Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered a global health challenge with increasing prevalence in recent years. One of the key elements in managing T2DM patients is controlling their lipid profile. Recent studies suggest microbiome-targeted therapy (MTT) as a treatment strategy for enhancing lipid profiles in these patients. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate the impact of MTT on lipid indices of T2DM patients by performing an umbrella approach. METHODS: Three international databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences were searched from inception up to April 2023 to find meta-analyses evaluating the impact of MTT (prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics) on the lipid profile of T2DM patients. Two independent researchers extracted data from the relevant meta-analyses. To find the source of heterogeneity various subgroup analyses were performed. Comprehensive Meta-Analyses (CMA) software version 3 was utilized for the final analysis. RESULTS: Based on the results of the current study MTT had a significant effect on total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (ES: - 0.092; 95%CI: -0.111, -0.074; P< 0.001, ES: -0.109; 95%CI: -0.137, -0.081; P< 0.001, ES: -0.036; 95%CI: -0.068, -0.005; P= 0.024, ES: 0.109; 95%CI: 0.056, 0.162; P<0.000, respectively). In subgroup analysis, probiotics showed the most substantial effect on all lipid biomarkers. CONCLUSION: This research has provided promising insights into the potential impact of MTT on lipid levels in patients diagnosed with T2DM. Notably, MTT had the greatest impact on HDL levels, followed by TG, TC, and LDL. As a result of our study, MTT is recommended as an adjunctive therapeutic option for T2DM treatment due to its capability to regulate lipid profiles.

Methylcellulose/chitosan nanofiber-based composites doped with lactoferrin-loaded Ag-MOF nanoparticles for the preservation of fresh apple.

Increasing demand for high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables has led to the development of innovative active packaging materials that exhibit controlled release of antimicrobial/antioxidant agents. In this study, composite biopolymer films consisting of methylcellulose (MC) and chitosan nanofibers (ChNF) were fabricated, which contained lactoferrin (LAC)-loaded silver-metal organic framework (Ag-MOF) nanoparticles. The results indicated that the nanoparticles were uniformly distributed throughout the biopolymer films, which led to improvements in tensile strength (56.1 ± 3.2 MPa), thermal stability, water solubility, swelling index, water vapor barrier properties (from 2.2 ± 2.1 to 1.9 ± 1.9 × 10-11 g. m/m2. s. Pa), and UV-shielding effects. The Ag-MOF-LAC2% films also exhibited strong and long-lasting antibacterial activity against E. coli (19.8 ± 5.2 mm) and S. aureus (20.1 ± 3.2 mm), which was attributed to the slow release of antimicrobial LAC from the films. The composite films were shown to maintain the fresh appearance of apples for at least seven days, which was attributed to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Consequently, these composite films have the potential in the assembly of innovative active packaging materials for protecting fresh fruits and vegetables. However, further work is required to ensure their safety and economic viability.

New coating containing chitosan and Hyssopus officinalis essential oil (emulsion and nanoemulsion) to protect shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) against chemical, microbial and sensory changes.

In this study, the effect of chitosan coating containing emulsion and nanoemulsion of Hyssopus officinalis essential oil (EO) on the chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was investigated. The minimum value of TVB-N (Total volatile basic nitrogen), TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), PV (peroxide value), TMA-N (Trimethylamine-nitrogen) and FFA (Free fatty acids) after 12 days were shown in NE + HEO 1% (coating containing chitosan with nanoemulsion of EO) with 20.53 mg N/100 g, 0.5 µg/kg, 0.88 MAQ peroxide/kg, 1.3 mg/100 g and 12.16 mg 100% of oleic acid, respectively. Also, minimum value of pH after 12 days was related to the CE + HEO 1% (coating containing chitosan with emulsion of EO) with 7.60. The minimum value of psychrophilic and mesophilic microbial count after 12 days were shown in NE + HEO 1%, 4.40 ± 0.36 and 4.03 ± 0.06 cfu/g, respectively. The best score of sensory evaluation was observed in the NE-HEO 1% treatment. As a result, the edible coating containing chitosan-based nanoemulsion could be effective to the preservation of shrimp's microbiological, chemical, and sensory characteristics.

The impact of gut microbiome-targeted therapy on liver enzymes in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: an umbrella meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. To date, no confirmed medication is available for the treatment of NAFLD. Previous studies showed the promising effects of gut microbiome-targeted therapies; however, the results were controversial and the strength of the evidence and their clinical significance remained unclear. OBJECTIVES: This umbrella study summarizes the results of meta-analyses investigating the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on liver enzymes in the NAFLD population. DATA SOURCE: A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was done up to December 20, 2022, to find meta-analyses on randomized control trials reporting the effects of gut microbial therapy on patients with NAFLD. DATA EXTRACTION: Two independent investigators extracted data on the characteristics of meta-analyses, and any discrepancies were resolved by a third researcher. The AMSTAR2 checklist was used for evaluating the quality of studies. DATA ANALYSIS: A final total of 15 studies were included in the analysis. Results showed that microbiome-targeted therapies could significantly reduce levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT; effect size [ES], -10.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], -13.29, -7.14; P < 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST; ES, -8.86; 95%CI, -11.39, -6.32; P < 0.001), and γ-glutamyltransferase (ES, -5.56; 95%CI, -7.92, -3.31; P < 0.001) in patients with NAFLD. Results of subgroup analysis based on intervention showed probiotics could significantly reduce levels of AST (ES, -8.69; 95%CI, -11.01, -6.37; P < 0.001) and ALT (ES, -9.82; 95%CI, -11.59, -8.05; P < 0.001). Synbiotics could significantly reduce levels of AST (ES, -11.40; 95%CI, -13.91, -8.88; P < 0.001) and ALT (ES, -11.87; 95%CI, -13.80, -9.95; P < 0.001). Prebiotics had no significant effects on AST and ALT levels (ES, -2.96; 95%CI, -8.12, 2.18, P = 0.259; and ES, -4.69; 95%CI, -13.53, 4.15, P = 0.299, respectively). CONCLUSION: Gut microbiome-targeted therapies could be a promising therapeutic approach in the improvement of hepatic damage in patients with NAFLD. However, more studies are needed to better determine the best bacterial strains, duration of treatment, and optimum dosage of gut microbiome-targeted therapies in the treatment of the NAFLD population. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022346998.

Multifunctional food packaging materials: Lactoferrin loaded Cr-MOF in films-based gelatin/κ-carrageenan for food packaging applications.

In this study, antimicrobial biocomposite films based on gelatin-κ-carrageenan (Gκ) with 1, 2 and 4 % lactoferrin (L) loaded chromium-based metal-organic frameworks (L@Cr-MOFs) nanoparticles were synthesized by casting methods. The addition of L loaded Cr-MOFs into Gκ based films increased elongation at break from 2.19 to 14.92 % and decreased the tensile strength from 65.1 to 31.22 MPa. L@Cr-MOFs addition reduced swelling index (from 105 to 70.8 %), water solubility (from 61.3 to 34.63 %) and water vapor permeability (from 2.46 to 2.19 × 10-11 g. m/m2. s). When the additional amount was 4 wt%, the Gκ/L@Cr-MOFs films showed antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with the inhibition zone of 19.7 mm and 20.2 mm, respectively. In addition, strawberries preservation trial shown that the Gκ/L@Cr-MOFs films delayed the growth of spoilage molds on the surface of fruits. This research indicated that Gκ/L@Cr-MOFs are promising active packaging materials for the preservation of perishable fruits.

The Reticulon-4 3-bp Deletion/Insertion Polymorphism Is Associated with Structural mRNA Changes and the Risk of Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Case-Control Study with Bioinformatics Analysis.

Breast cancer (BC) is a complex disease caused by molecular events that disrupt cellular survival and death. Discovering novel biomarkers is still required to better understand and treat BC. The reticulon-4 (RTN4) gene, encoding Nogo proteins, plays a critical role in apoptosis and cancer development, with genetic variations affecting its function. We investigated the rs34917480 in RTN4 and its association with BC risk in an Iranian population sample. We also predicted the rs34917480 effect on RTN4 mRNA structure and explored the RTN4's protein-protein interaction network (PPIN) and related pathways. In this case-control study, 437 women (212 BC and 225 healthy) were recruited. The rs34917480 was genotyped using AS-PCR, mRNA secondary structure was predicted with RNAfold, and PPIN was constructed using the STRING database. Our findings revealed that this variant was associated with a decreased risk of BC in heterozygous (p = 0.012), dominant (p = 0.015), over-dominant (p = 0.017), and allelic (p = 0.035) models. Our prediction model showed that this variant could modify RTN4's mRNA thermodynamics and potentially its translation. RTN4's PPIN also revealed a strong association with apoptosis regulation and key signaling pathways highly implicated in BC. Consequently, our findings, for the first time, demonstrate that rs34917480 could be a protective factor against BC in our cohort, probably via preceding mechanisms.

Endometrial cancer in women with abnormal uterine bleeding: Data mining classification methods.

Background: Over the last decade, artificial intelligence in medicine has been growing. Since endometrial cancer can be treated with early diagnosis, finding a non-invasive method for screening patients, especially high-risk ones, could have a particular value. Regarding the importance of this issue, we aimed to investigate the risk factors related to endometrial cancer and find a tool to predict it using machine learning. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 972 patients with abnormal uterine bleeding from January 2016 to January 2021 were studied, and the essential characteristics of each patient, along with the findings of curettage pathology, were analyzed using statistical methods and machine learning algorithms, including artificial neural networks, classification and regression trees, support vector machine, and logistic regression. Results: Out of 972 patients with a mean age of 45.77 ± 10.70 years, 920 patients had benign pathology, and 52 patients had endometrial cancer. In terms of endometrial cancer prediction, the logistic regression model had the best performance (sensitivity of 100% and 98%, specificity of 98.83% and 98.7%, for trained and test data sets respectively,) followed by the classification and regression trees model. Conclusion: Based on the results, artificial intelligence-based algorithms can be applied as a non-invasive screening method for predicting endometrial cancer.

Effect of feed trace elements on eggs of five strains of laying hens and their health risk assessment.

BACKGROUND: Trace elements are essential for human nutrition, and their deficiencies or excesses are strongly associated with several diseases, such as cardiovascular ones. OBJECTIVES: The current cross-sectional study investigated the concentration of essential trace elements (copper, non-metal selenium, iron, zinc, cobalt and manganese) in eggs and diets of five strains of laying hens. METHODS: The yolk and albumen were analysed separately, and wet preparation was carried out following inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry detection. The target hazard quotients (THQs) for the non-carcinogenic disease were calculated by the United States environmental protection agency (USEPA) method. RESULTS: The highest concentrations of selenium, zinc and manganese were found in egg yolks of native hens (0.76, 44.22 and 6.52 mg/kg, respectively). The highest amounts of copper and cobalt were recorded in the egg yolk of Lohman (2.07 and 0.023 mg/kg, respectively). On the other hand, the egg yolk of Bovans contained the highest amount of iron (57.46 mg/kg). CONCLUSION: Overall, the potential health risks were minimal, and the consumption of eggs was generally safe.

Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) anthocyanin loaded-pectin and chitosan nanofiber matrices for real-time monitoring of shrimp freshness.

In this study, pectin (PC)/chitosan nanofiber (ChNF) films containing a novel anthocyanin from sumac extract were successfully developed for freshness monitoring and shelf-life extension of shrimp. The physical, barrier, morphological, color, and antibacterial properties of biodegradable films were evaluated. The addition of sumac anthocyanins to the films caused intramolecular interactions (such as hydrogen bonds) in the film structure, as confirmed by using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) analysis, suggesting good compatibility of film ingredients. Also, intelligent films showed significant sensitivity to ammonia vapors and changed color from reddish to olive color at the first 5 min. Moreover, the results showed that PC/ChNF and PC/ChNF/sumac films have significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. In addition to the good functional characteristics of the smart film, the resulting films showed acceptable physicomechanical properties. So, PC/ChNF/sumac smart film exhibited the strength = 60 MPa with the flexibility = 23.3 %. Likewise, water vapor barrier reduced from 2.5 (×10-11 g. m/m2. s. Pa) to 2.3 (×10-11 g. m/m2. s. Pa) after adding anthocyanin. The results of the application of intelligent film containing anthocyanins of sumac extract for shrimp freshness monitoring showed that the color of the intelligent film changed from reddish to greenish color after 48 h of storage, which shows the high potential of the produced film for monitoring the spoilage of seafood products.

Association between the rs2241883 polymorphism of the fatty acid-binding protein-1 (FABP1) gene and obesity in a population of MASHAD study cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) gene polymorphisms are related to several metabolic properties. We investigated the association of SNPs rs2241883 of FABP 1 gene with obesity to evaluate the role of FABP1 gene in the pathogenesis of obesity in the population of MASHAD study cohort. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 2731 individuals (1883 Obese and 848 nonobese) aged 35 to 65 years old, were enrolled from the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorder (MASHAD) study cohort. DNA Quantitation was determined using the NanoDrop®-1000 instrument (NanoDrop-Technologies). The rs2241883 polymorphisms were genotyped by double ARMs PCR (double amplification refractory mutation system) reactions. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 22 and a p < 0.05 was set for statistical significance. RESULTS: The results showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, subjects having the CC genotype for rs2241883 polymorphism were at a higher risk of BMI ≥ 30 mg/kg2 with OR of 1.79 (CI = 1.05-3.07; p = 0.03) and 1.76 (CI = 1.04-2.99; p = 0.04) comparing with reference group using codominant and dominant models, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results showed that CC genotype for rs2241883 polymorphism is related to an increased risk of the obesity in dominant and codominant models in a population of MASHAD study cohort.