Mushroom oils: A review of their production, composition, and potential applications.

This review delves into the world of mushroom oils, highlighting their production, composition, and versatile applications. Despite mushrooms' overall low lipid content, their fatty acid composition, rich in essential fatty acids like linoleic acid and oleic acid, proves nutritionally significant. Variations in fatty acid profiles across mushroom species and the prevalence of unsaturated fats contribute to their cardiovascular health benefits. The exploration extends to mushroom essential oils, revealing diverse volatile compounds through extraction methods like hydrodistillation and solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE). The identification of 1-octen-3-ol as a key contributor to the distinct "mushroom flavor" adds a nuanced perspective. The focus broadens to applications, encompassing culinary and industrial uses with techniques like cold pressing and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Mushroom oils, with their unique nutritional and flavor profiles, enhance gastronomic experiences. Non-food applications in cosmetics and biofuels underscore the oils' versatility. The nutritional composition, enriched with essential fatty acids, bioactive compositions, and trace elements, is explored for potential health benefits. Bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds and terpenes contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, positioning mushroom oils as nutritional powerhouses. In short, this concise review synthesizes the intricate world of mushroom oils, emphasizing their nutritional significance, extraction methodologies, and potential health benefits. The comprehensive overview underscores mushroom oils as a promising area for further exploration and utilization. The characteristics of mushroom biomass oil for the use in various industries are influenced by the mushroom species, chemical composition, biochemical synthesis of mushroom, and downstream processes including extraction, purification and characterization. Therefore, further research and exploration need to be done to achieve a circular bioeconomy with the integration of SDGs, waste reduction, and economic stimulation, to fully utilize the benefits of mushroom, a valuable gift of nature.

Water Quality Assessment and Decolourisation of Contaminated Ex-Mining Lake Water Using Bioreactor Dye-Eating Fungus (BioDeF) System: A Real Case Study.

The environmental conditions of a lake are influenced by its type and various environmental forces such as water temperature, nutrients content, and longitude and latitude to which it is exposed. Due to population growth and development limits, former mining lakes are being converted to more lucrative land uses like those of recreational zones, agriculture, and livestock. The fungus Ganoderma lucidum has the potential to be utilised as a substitute or to perform synergistic bacteria-coupled functions in efficient contaminated lake water treatment. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the water quality and water quality index (WQI) of an ex-mining lake named Main Lake in the Paya Indah Wetland, Selangor. Furthermore, the current work simulates the use of a Malaysian fungus in decolourising the contaminated ex-mining lake by the BioDeF system in a 300 mL jar inoculated with 10% (v/v) of pre-grown Ganoderma lucidum pellets for 48 h. According to the results, the lake water is low in pH (5.49 ± 0.1 on average), of a highly intense dark brownish colour (average reading of 874.67 ± 3.7 TCU), and high in iron (Fe) content (3.2422 ± 0.2533 mg/L). The water quality index of the lake was between 54.59 and 57.44, with an average value of 56.45; thus, the water was categorized as Class III, i.e., under-polluted water, according to the Malaysian Department of Environment Water Quality Index (DOE-WQI, DOE 2020). The batch bioreactor BioDeF system significantly reduced more than 90% of the water's colour. The utilization of Ganoderma lucidum as an adsorbent material offers a variety of advantages, as it is easily available and cultivated, and it is not toxic.

Fruiting-body-base flour from an Oyster mushroom waste in the development of antioxidative chicken patty.

In a commercial oyster mushroom farm, from 300 g of the total harvest, only the cap and stem of the fruiting body parts are harvested (200 g) while the unused lower section called fruiting-body-base (FBB) is discarded (50 g). A new antioxidative FBB flour (FBBF) conversion to mixed-ratio chicken patty was recently developed which converts 16.67% of FBB into an edible flour. At the initial stage, pretreatments of FBBF were optimized at particle size (106 µm) and citric acid concentration (0.5 g/100 mL) to improve flour antioxidant responses. Such pretreatments boosted total phenolic content (2.31 ± 0.53 mg GAE/g) and DPPH (51.53 ± 1.51%) of pretreated FBBF. Mixed-ratio chicken patty containing FBBF (10%, 20%, 30%) significantly (P < 0.05) influenced the hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, and chewiness of the patties. However, only the hardness and chewiness increased proportionally with the increase FBBF in concentration. Notably, 60 panellists considered that 10% FBBF-chicken patty sensory attributes, including lightness, redness, and yellowness, is acceptable to consumers. This information could be used to market any type of commercial mushroom farm waste as alternative food products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study shows that unused harvested mushroom waste from a local farm can be used to make an antioxidative chicken patty that is acceptable to consumer panellists. The converted mushroom waste into flour suggests that smaller particles and citric acid pretreatment can increase its nutritional value. This information can be used for waste conversion into new product development from any type of mushroom farm.

Physical properties, storage stability, and consumer acceptability for sourdough bread produced using encapsulated kombucha sourdough starter culture.

This study aimed to produce sourdough bread using an encapsulated kombucha sourdough starter culture without the addition of baker's yeast. The bioactive metabolites of kombucha sourdough starter and sourdough starter without kombucha were identified using 1 H-NMR analysis with multivariate analysis. The physical properties, including loaf volume, specific loaf volume, firmness, and water activity were determined following standard methods. The shelf life and consumer acceptability of the bread were also being evaluated. The principal component analyses showed the presence of 15 metabolites in kombucha sourdough starter. The major compounds that contributed to the differences from sourdough starter without kombucha were alpha-aminobutyric acid, alanine, acetic acid, riboflavin, pyridoxine, anserine, tryptophan, gluconic acid, and trehalose. The encapsulated kombucha sourdough starter increased the loaf volume (976.7 ± 25.2 mL) and specific loaf volume (4.38 ± 0.12 mL/g) compared to yeast bread. Thus, significant (P < 0.05) reduction was observed in the crumb firmness (116.07 ± 6.28 g) compared to traditional sourdough bread and yeast bread. The encapsulated kombucha sourdough starter extended the shelf life of bread by 5 to 10 days at room temperature. The sourdough bread prepared using the encapsulated kombucha sourdough starter demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05) higher taste and overall acceptability scores compared to the other bread. The findings indicate that the encapsulated kombucha sourdough starter is promising to produce functional sourdough bread with extended shelf life and improved quality. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Encapsulated kombucha sourdough starter culture that appropriately refreshed can be used primarily as a dough leavening agent in the bread industry without the addition of baker's yeast. This starter culture applied in sourdough bread production extended the shelf life and improved the biological function of sourdough bread.

Vital parameters for high gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production by an industrial soy sauce koji Aspergillus oryzae NSK in submerged-liquid fermentation.

In submerged-liquid fermentation, seven key parameters were assessed using one-factor-at-a-time to obtain the highest GABA yield using an industrial soy sauce koji Aspergillus oryzae strain NSK (AOSNSK). AOSNSK generated maximum GABA at 30 °C (194 mg/L) and initial pH 5 (231 mg/L), thus was able to utilize sucrose (327 mg/L of GABA) for carbon source. Sucrose at 100 g/L, improved GABA production at 646 mg/L. Single nitrogen sources failed to improve GABA production, however a combination of yeast extract (YE) and glutamic acid (GA) improved GABA at 646.78 mg/L. Carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C8:N3) produced the highest cell (24.01 g/L) and GABA at a minimal time of 216 h. The key parameters of 30 °C, initial pH 5, 100 g/L of sucrose, combination YE and GA, and C8:N3 generated the highest GABA (3278.31 mg/L) in a koji fermentation. AOSNSK promisingly showed for the development of a new GABA-rich soy sauce.

Urine and Serum Sex Steroid Profile in Testosterone-Treated Transgender and Hypogonadal and Healthy Control Men.

Background: The impact of testosterone (T) treatment on antidoping detection tests in female-to-male (F2M) transgender men is unknown. We investigated urine and serum sex steroid and luteinizing hormone (LH) profiles in T-treated F2M men to determine whether and, if so, how they differed from hypogonadal and healthy control men. Method: Healthy transgender (n = 23) and hypogonadal (n = 24) men aged 18 to 50 years treated with 1000 mg injectable T undecanoate provided trough urine and blood samples and an additional earlier postinjection sample (n = 21). Healthy control men (n = 20) provided a single blood and urine sample. Steroids were measured by mass spectrometry-based methods in urine and serum, LH by immunoassay, and uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 2B17 genotype by polymerase chain reaction. Results: Urine LH, human chorionic gonadotropin, T, epitestosterone (EpiT), androsterone (A), etiocholanolone (Etio), A/Etio ratio, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 5α,3α- and 5ß,3α-androstanediols did not differ between groups or by time since last T injection. Urine T/EpiT ratio was <4 in all controls and 12/68 (18%) samples from T-treated men, but there was no difference between T-treated groups. Serum estradiol, estrone, and DHEA were higher in transgender men, and serum T and DHT were higher in earlier compared with trough blood samples, but serum LH, follicle-stimulating hormone, and 3α- and 3ß,5α-diols did not differ between groups. Conclusion: Urine antidoping detection tests in T-treated transgender men can be interpreted like those of T-treated hypogonadal men and are unaffected by time since last T dose. Serum steroids are more sensitive to detect exogenous T administration early but not later after the last T dose.

Absence of Myostatin Improves Cardiac Function Following Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Myostatin inhibits the development of skeletal muscle and regulates the proliferation of skeletal muscle fibroblasts. However, the role of myostatin in regulating cardiac muscle or myofibroblasts, specifically in acute myocardial infarction (MI), is less clear. This study sought to determine whether absence of myostatin altered left ventricular function post-MI. METHODS: Myostatin-null mice (Mstn-/-) and wild-type (WT) mice underwent ligation of the left anterior descending artery to induce MI. Left ventricular function was measured at baseline, days 1 and 28 post-MI. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were obtained at day 28 for cellular proliferation, collagen deposition, and myofibroblastic activity. RESULTS: Whilst left ventricular function at baseline and size of infarct were similar, significant differences in favour of Mstn-/- compared to WT mice post-MI include a greater recovery of ejection fraction (61.8±1.1% vs 57.1±2.3%, p<0.01), less collagen deposition (41.9±2.8% vs 54.7±3.4%, p<0.05), and lower mortality (0 vs. 20%, p<0.05). There was no difference in the number of BrdU positive cells, percentage of apoptotic cardiomyocytes, or size of cardiomyocytes post-MI between WT and Mstn-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS: Absence of myostatin potentially protects the function of the heart post-MI with improved survival, possibly by limiting extent of fibrosis.

Antifungal-demelanizing properties and RAW264.7 macrophages stimulation of glucan sulfate from the mycelium of the mushroom Ganoderma lucidum.

Underutilized mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum BCCM 31549 has been a significant source of a glucan sulfate (GS) possessing therapeutic activities. GS have been evaluated for their antifungaldemelanizing properties and nitrite oxide production from stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. GS exhibited antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger A60 with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 60 mg/mL and a minimum fungicidal concentration of 100 mg/mL. At 60mg/mL (sublethal) and 30mg/mL (subinhibitory) doses of GS, the mycelium of A. niger A60 was successfully demelanized with a conidiophore head and black pigment reduction. Additionally, GS successfully stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells at a concentration of 500 µg/mL to produce 0.45 µM of nitric oxide. The GS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were morphologically similar to those treated with lipopolysaccharide. The results highlight a novel bifunctional property of mycelial GS from G. lucidum.

Evaluation of commercial soy sauce koji strains of Aspergillus oryzae for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production.

In this study, four selected commercial strains of Aspergillus oryzae were collected from soy sauce koji. These A. oryzae strains designated as NSK, NSZ, NSJ and NST shared similar morphological characteristics with the reference strain (A. oryzae FRR 1675) which confirmed them as A. oryzae species. They were further evaluated for their ability to produce γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by cultivating the spore suspension in a broth medium containing 0.4 % (w/v) of glutamic acid as a substrate for GABA production. The results showed that these strains were capable of producing GABA; however, the concentrations differed significantly (P < 0.05) among themselves. Based on the A. oryzae strains, highest GABA concentration was obtained from NSK (194 mg/L) followed by NSZ (63 mg/L), NSJ (51.53 mg/L) and NST (31.66 mg/L). Therefore, A. oryzae NSK was characterized and the sequence was found to be similar to A. oryzae and A. flavus with 99 % similarity. The evolutionary distance (K nuc) between sequences of identical fungal species was calculated and a phylogenetic tree prepared from the K nuc data showed that the isolate belonged to the A. oryzae species. This finding may allow the development of GABA-rich ingredients using A. oryzae NSK as a starter culture for soy sauce production.

Mortality and morbidity in Cushing's syndrome in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVE: Untreated Cushing's syndrome (CS) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, recent operative series suggest low morbidity and mortality for CS, whereas population-based surveys report elevated mortality rates. We investigated the mortality and morbidity of CS in New Zealand. DESIGN: A nationwide retrospective survey of patients with CS between 1960 and 2005 managed at the four main endocrinology services. PATIENTS: A total of 253 patients with CS were identified, excluding adrenal carcinoma and malignant ectopic CS. MEASUREMENTS; The primary outcome was the standardized mortality ratio (SMR), comparing the observed number of deaths with the expected number for the population matched for age, sex and duration of follow-up. Secondary outcomes were the change in prevalence of co-morbidities at presentation and at final follow-up. RESULTS: The approximate prevalence and incidence of CS was 79/million and 1·8/million/y. The mean age at presentation was 39 year, and median duration of follow-up was 6·4 year (range 0-46). Overall, 89% achieved biochemical cure at last follow-up, with >90% achieving biochemical cure for CS from adrenal adenoma and pituitary causes. Thirty-six patients died during follow-up compared with 8·8 expected deaths (SMR 4·1, 95%CI 2·9-5·6). While hypertension, sexual dysfunction, myopathy and mild psychiatric illness were significantly reduced after treatment, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, moderate or major psychiatric illness, and osteoporosis were common at final follow-up. CONCLUSION: CS is associated with both high mortality and a high prevalence of co-morbidities, even when biochemical cure rates are between 80% and 90%.

Lymphocytic hypophysitis with associated thyroiditis in a man with aseptic meningitis.

OBJECTIVE: Lymphocytic hypophysitis (LH) is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the pituitary gland commonly affecting women during pregnancy or post-partum period. The pathogenesis remains uncertain, however an autoimmune process is frequently implicated. There is limited data on the occurrence of LH outside the setting of autoimmunity. CASE: We describe a 37-year-old man presenting with diarrhoea, nausea, weight loss, low-grade fever, headache and cerebrospinal fluid analysis consistent with aseptic meningitis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a homogenously enlarged pituitary gland with biochemical testing revealing partial hypopituitarism with adenocorticotrophic hormone and gonadotrophin deficiency. Notably, his free thyroid hormone levels were elevated with a suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone and a suppressed thyroid technetium scan consistent with thyroiditis. Tissue antibodies including thyroid antibodies were negative. Following introduction of hydrocortisone, he developed transient diabetes insipidus which spontaneously resolved after 4 months. Thyrotoxicosis resolved after 5 weeks and thyroxine was commenced as he developed secondary hypothyroidism. Repeat MRI 3 months later showed a reduction in the size of the pituitary gland which by 6 months had returned to normal size. He remains well on hydrocortisone, thyroxine and testosterone replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Based on clinical and radiological grounds, the diagnosis was consistent with lymphocytic hypophysitis associated with subacute thyroiditis. This is only the second report of this combination in the absence of autoimmunity and the first report of LH and thyroiditis with associated aseptic meningitis in the absence of tissue autoantibodies. We propose a possible viral illness as the unifying aetiological cause.

Low prevalence of retinopathy, but high prevalence of nephropathy among Maori with newly diagnosed diabetes-Te Wai o Rona: Diabetes Prevention Strategy.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: To describe the prevalence of retinopathy and microalbuminuria at diagnosis of diabetes in a predominantly Maori study population. METHODS: Biomedical assessment including photographic retinal examination was undertaken among 157 (68.9% of eligible) members of Maori families (3.3% non-Maori) diagnosed with diabetes during a community screening programme (n=5240) as part of a diabetes prevention strategy. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c of those with newly diagnosed diabetes was 7.8+/-1.5% with 34.4% having an HbA1c >/=8.0%. Retinopathy was present in 3 (1.7%) subjects, cataracts in 3.2%, microalbuminuria in 29.6% and albuminuria in 7.7%. After adjusting for covariates, only smoking was a risk factor for microalbuminuria/proteinuria (current and former smokers: increased 3.81(1.32-11.0) and 3.67(1.30-10.4) fold, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of retinopathy at diagnosis was lower than in previous studies, yet that of microalbuminuria/proteinuria remained high. The retinopathy data suggest that case detection for diabetes in the community may be improving, but that other strategies among those at risk of diabetes, including those promoting smoking cessation, will be needed to reduce the risk of renal disease among Maori with diabetes.