Unravelling the nutritional and health benefits of marketable winged termites (Macrotermes spp.) as sustainable food sources in Africa.

Termites are widely distributed globally and serve as a valuable food source in many countries. However, information on the myriad nutritional benefits of processed termite products in African markets remain largely unexploited. This study evaluated the phytochemicals, fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and proximate composition of the edible winged termites (Macrotermes spp.) from three major Counties of Kenya. A total of 9 flavonoids, 5 alkaloids, and 1 cytokinin were identified. The oil content varied from 33 to 46%, exhibiting significant levels of beneficial omega 3 fatty acids, such as methyl (9Z,12Z,15Z)-octadecatrienoate and methyl (5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-eicosapentaenoate, ranging from 82.7-95.1 to 6.3-8.1 µg/g, respectively, across the different regions. Four essential and cereal-limiting amino acids lysine (1.0-1.3 mg/g), methionine (0.08-0.1 mg/g), leucine (0.6-0.9 mg/g) and threonine (0.1-0.2 mg/g), were predominant. Moreover, termites had a rich profile of essential minerals, including iron (70.7-111.8 mg/100 g), zinc (4.4-16.2 mg/100 g) and calcium (33.1-53.0 mg/100 g), as well as vitamins A (2.4-6.4 mg/kg), C (0.6-1.9 mg/kg) and B12 (10.7-17.1 mg/kg). The crude protein (32.2-44.8%) and fat (41.2-49.1%) contents of termites from the various Counties was notably high. These findings demonstrated the promising nutrients potential of winged termites and advocate for their sustainable utilization in contemporary efficacious functional food applications to combat malnutrition.

A fluorescent MOF and its synthesized MOF@cotton composite: Ratiometric sensing of vitamin B2 and antibiotic drug molecule.

Here, we demonstrated the synthesis of a zinc based luminescent MOF, 1 (NDC = 2,6- naphthalenedicarboxylate) for the ratiometric detection of biomarker riboflavin (RBF; vitamin B2) in water dispersed medium. Further, this MOF detected two other antibiotic drug molecules, nitrofurantoin (NFT) and nitrofurazone (NZF). The detection of these analytes is very quick (∼seconds), and the limit of detection (LOD) for RBF, NZF and NFT are calculated as 16.58 ppm, 47.63 ppb and 56.96 ppb, respectively. The detection of these analytes was also comprehended by solid, solution, cost-effective paper strip method i.e., triphasic identification capabilities. The sensor is reusable without losing its detection efficacy. The sensor further showed the recognition abilities of these antibiotics in real field samples (river water, urine and tablet) and RBF in vitamin B2 pills and food samples (milk and cold drinks). The sensing merit of 1 urged us to fabricate of 1@cotton fabric composite, which exhibited the colorimetric detection of these analytes. In-depth experimental analysis suggested that the occurrence of photo-induced electron transfer (PET), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and the inner filter effect (IFE) are the possible sensing mechanisms for the recognition of the antibiotics drug. The FRET mechanism is responsible for the recognition of RBF. The sensing mechanism is further supported by the theoretical analysis and the excited lifetime measurement.

PANC-1 Cell Line as an Experimental Model for Characterizing PIVKA-II Production, Distribution, and Molecular Mechanisms Leading to Protein Release in PDAC.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents a highly aggressive malignancy with a lack of reliable diagnostic biomarkers. Protein induced by vitamin K absence (PIVKA-II) is a protein increased in various cancers (particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma), and it has recently exhibited superior diagnostic performance in PDAC detection compared to other biomarkers. The aim of our research was to identify an in vitro model to study PIVKA-II production, distribution, and release in PDAC. We examined the presence of PIVKA-II protein in a panel of stabilized pancreatic cancer cell lines by Western blot analysis and indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). After quantitative evaluation of PIVKA-II in PaCa 44, H-Paf II, Capan-1, and PANC-1, we adopted the latter as a reference model. Subsequently, we analyzed the effect of glucose addiction on PIVKA-II production in a PANC-1 cell line in vitro; PIVKA-II production seems to be directly related to an increase in glucose concentration in the culture medium. Finally, we evaluated if PIVKA-II released in the presence of increasing doses of glucose is concomitant with the expression of two well-acknowledged epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (Vimentin and Snail). According to our experimental model, we can speculate that PIVKA-II release by PANC-1 cells is glucose-dependent and occurs jointly with EMT activation.

[A survey on the current situation of serum vitamin A and vitamin D levels among children aged 2-<7 years of 20 cities in China].

Objective: To investigate serum vitamin A and vitamin D status in children aged 2-<7 years in 20 cities in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 2 924 healthy children aged 2-<7 years were recruited from September 2018 to September 2019 from 20 cities in China, categorized by age groups of 2-<3 years, 3-<5 years, and 5-<7 years. The demographic and economic characteristics and health-related information of the enrolled children were investigated. Body weight and height were measured by professional staff members. The serum vitamin A and vitamin D levels were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Chi-square test and Logistic regression were applied to analyze the association between vitamin A and vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency as well as their underlying impact factors. Results: The age of the 2 924 enrolled children was 4.33 (3.42, 5.17) years. There were 1 726 males (59.03%) and 1 198 females (40.97%). The prevalences of vitamin A and vitamin D deficiency in enrolled children were 2.19% (64/2 924) and 3.52% (103/2 924), respectively, and the insufficiency rates were 29.27% (856/2 924) and 22.20% (649/2 924), respectively. Children with both vitamin A and vitamin D deficiencies or insufficiencies were found in 10.50% (307/2 924) of cases. Both vitamin A (χ2=7.91 and 8.06, both P=0.005) and vitamin D (χ2=71.35 and 115.10, both P<0.001) insufficiency rates were higher in children aged 3-<5 and 5-<7 years than those in children aged 2-<3 years. Vitamin A and vitamin D supplementation in the last 3 months was a protective factor for vitamin A and D deficiency and insufficiency, respectively (OR=0.68 and 0.22, 95%CI 0.49-0.95 and 0.13-0.40, both P<0.05). The rates of vitamin A and D insufficiency was higher in children with annual household incomes <60 000 RMB than in those with annual household incomes ≥60 000 RMB (χ2=34.11 and 10.43, both P<0.01). Northwest and Southwest had the highest rates of vitamin A and vitamin D insufficiency in children aged 2-<7 yeas, respectively (χ2=93.22 and 202.54, both P<0.001). Conclusions: Among 20 cities in China, children aged 2-<7 years experience high rates of vitamin A and vitamin D insufficiency, which are affected by age, family economic level, vitamin A and vitamin D supplementation, and regional economic level. The current results suggest that high level of attention should be paid to vitamin A and vitamin D nutritional status of preschool children.

Fast, sustainable, and simultaneous analysis of water- and fat-soluble vitamins by the two-dimensional microcarbon fiber fractionation system hyphenated with MS detection.

BACKGROUND: Vitamins are micronutrients that are required for normal growth and development of living organisms. However, due to their various chemical properties (e.g., acid-base behavior, the presence of numerous forms) and fluctuating concentration levels within complex matrices, simultaneous analysis of multi-class vitamins, including their active forms, is a challenging task. The growing nutrient shortage in foods is concerning for food consumers, manufacturers, and quality control organizations. Hence, a simple, fast, and greener approach that can simultaneously analyze multi-class vitamins is required to aid food testing and clinical laboratories in evaluating vitamin content more rapidly and accurately. RESULTS: A green and rapid analytical method based on online two-dimensional microscale carbon fiber/activated carbon fiber fractionation-mass spectrometry (2DµCFs-MS) was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of vitamins (water- and fat-soluble vitamins and some analogs) in food supplements and fortified energy drinks. Vitamins have been successfully separated into three different fractions using the minimum toxic solvent (only 0.7 mL of organic solvent) in a single run within 6 min. The limit of detection (LOD) ranges from 0.1 to 10.4 ng/mL, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) ranges from 0.39 to 34.5 ng/mL. The method also showed adequate repeatability and intermediate precision, with RSD<10 % and R2 > 0.99 for most vitamins. The analytical method was evaluated in terms of greenness, with an analytical greenness (AGREE) score of 0.68. SIGNIFICANCE: The 2DµCFs-MS system was developed to separate and detect multi-class vitamins simultaneously, which can be used as a beneficial tool to investigate vitamin content for food labeling and determining the vitamins in biological fluids and other complex samples. The developed method can tackle the challenge of simultaneous and fast routine analysis of multi-class vitamins.

The enhancement effect of mungbean on the physical, functional, and sensory characteristics of soy yoghurt.

Vegetable drinks offer a convenient way to increase the daily intake of vegetables containing vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber. In this study, we discovered that mungbean milk serves as a carbohydrate source during fermentation using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and enhances the nutritional value of vegetable yoghurt. Mungbean milk reduces pH while titratable acidity increases faster than soybean milk during fermentation. M0S, Soybean milk 100% with added sucrose exhibited the highest titratable acidity after 16 h of fermentation. The acetic acid content of all samples did not show significant changes during fermentation, but the lactic acid content increased. Proximate analysis showed no significant change during fermentation, regardless of the fermentation time and mixing ratio of mungbean to soybean milk. The sucrose content of samples except M0S decreased after 16 h of fermentation. Mungbean milk exhibited high antioxidant activity both before and after fermentation, while M0S showed the lowest antioxidant activity. The results of this study demonstrated the potential application of mungbean milk to improve fermented vegetable drinks using LAB functionally. Fermented mungbean milk yoghurt can be a valuable addition to a healthy and balanced diet for those who consume plant-based diets.

Effective drying processes for Taikor (Garcinia pedunculata Roxb.) fruit by ultrasound-assisted osmotic pretreatment: Analysis of quality and kinetic models.

The present study aimed to analyze and establish an effective combination of ultrasound and immersion pretreatment processes for drying Taikor (Garcinia pendunculata Roxb.) fruits. Taikorslices were first immersed in 10 % sucrose, fructose, and glucose solution. Then, the immersed slices were treated in an ultrasonic bath at 30 °C for 10, 20, and 30 min. Drying operations were carried out at 50, 60, and 70 °C, with a fixed relative humidity of 30 %. The Page, Newton, Henderson and Pabis, and Weibull distribution models were fitted to the obtained drying data to determine the best kinetic model that effectively describes the drying properties ofTaikor. After drying operations, changes in quality parameters, e.g., ß-carotene, vitamin C, B vitamins, color, antioxidant activities, and microbial loads, were measured to obtain the best drying temperature and the most effective pretreatment combination with minimum loss of nutrients of the sample. Among different kinetic models, both Page and Weibull distribution models showed the best R2 values of 0.9867 and 0.9366, respectively. The chemical properties were preserved to the greatest extent possible by drying at 50 °C with glucose pretreatment. The color parameters were better preserved by fructose pretreatment. Sonication time also had profound effect on the quality parameters of dried Taikor slices. However, higher temperature drying required a shorter time for drying and exhibited better performance in microbial load reduction. This study's findings will help to establish an effective drying condition forGarcinia pedunculatafruits.

An opportunity for acerola pulp (Malpighia emarginata DC) valorization evaluating its performance during the block cryoconcentration by physicochemical, bioactive compounds, HPLC-ESI-MS/MS, and multi-elemental profile analysis.

The present study evaluated the effect of cryoconcentration of pulp blocks of acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC). The study evaluated cryoconcentration in three stages. The cryoconcentrated samples, the ice fractions, and the initial pulp were evaluated for physicochemical composition, bioactive composition, and multielement profile. The cryoconcentrated sample obtained in the third stage of cryoconcentration showed the best results for the concentration factor, process efficiency, total soluble solids content, red color intensity, and increasing of the macro and micronutrients: Cu, Ca, S, Sr, K, Mn, Na, P, Mg, Fe. All stages presented good performance in the total soluble solids content, increase in the titratable acidity of the concentrates, and progressive increase in the intensity of the red color. Generally, higher levels of total phenolic and antioxidant activity were found for the 2nd and 3rd concentrates. The phenolic activity showed an increase of 166.90% in the 3rd stage concentrate compared to fresh pulp, and the antioxidant activity was 112.10% by the ABTS method and 131.60% by the DPPH method, both in the 3rd stage concentrate. The major individual polyphenols were Ferulic acid, Protocatechuic acid, and Taxifolin, with significant increases in the concentration of the compounds in the 2nd and 3rd stage concentrates. In addition, the contents of potentially toxic metals were below detection limits. During the cryoconcentration process, there was a decrease in the values ​​of vitamin C content, moisture content, density, and elements Cu, Sr, and Zn.

Fruits of Wild-Grown Shrubs for Health Nutrition.

Cultivated fruits and berries, such as raspberries, strawberries, black currants, cherries, blueberries, are generally recognized sources of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other substances beneficial to human health and well-being. However, there are also wild berries and fruits that are of undoubted interest as food products having valuable medicinal properties due to the presence of phenolic compounds, antioxidants, and vitamins. These fruits have a great potential to be used in functional food making. The present review is dedicated to fruits of wild-grown shrubs Bird cherry (Prunus padus L.), Rowan berry (Sorbus aucuparia L.), Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus L.), Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.), and Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) The chemical compositions of these wild berries are described as well as their effects on the improvement of human health proved by clinical trials and epidemiological studies. The possibilities of using the fruits of wild-grown shrubs in the preparation of functional foods and examples of their implementation for the manufacturing of dairy, bakery and meat products are considered.

Capillary electromigration methods for food analysis and Foodomics: Advances and applications in the period March 2021 to March 2023.

This work presents a revision of the main applications of capillary electromigration (CE) methods in food analysis and Foodomics. Papers that were published during the period March 2021 to March 2023 are included. The work shows the multiple CE methods that have been developed and applied to analyze different types of molecules in foods and beverages. Namely, CE methods have been applied to analyze amino acids, biogenic amines, heterocyclic amines, peptides, proteins, phenols, polyphenols, pigments, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, DNAs, contaminants, toxins, pesticides, additives, residues, small organic and inorganic compounds, and other minor compounds. In addition, new CE procedures to perform chiral separation and for evaluating the effects of food processing as well as the last developments of microchip CE and new applications in Foodomics will be also discussed. The new procedures of CE to investigate food quality and safety, nutritional value, storage, and bioactivity are also included in the present review work.

Comparison of several HPLC methods for the analysis of vitamin C.

Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin common in food and dietary supplements. A usual problem with ascorbic acid analysis is the lack of stability of its samples and standard solutions owing to oxidation. A procedure to protect ascorbic acid from oxidation using mercaptoethanol is described in this study in connection with the comparison of three HPLC measuring methods. Two reversed-phase columns were evaluated for the separation. One technique uses UV detection, and two others use MS/MS detection. The methods were calibrated for quantitation on different ranges of concentrations. The LC-UV method covers the range 3.9 µg/ml to 500 µg/ml, one LC-MS/MS the range 80 ng/ml to 20 µg/ml, and the other 0.1 ng/ml to 20 µg/ml. As a proof of functionality all three methods were utilized for measuring vitamin C in energy drinks and chews (gummies). The sensitivity of LC-MS/MS methods was not necessary for the analysis of those samples, but the high sensitivity can be beneficial for other types of sample such as environmental or biological, where the levels of ascorbic acid are very low. The study showed that the formation of 2,3-diketogulonic acid is not a likely path for ascorbic acid oxidation following hydrolysis as reported in some studies.

Role of protein induced by vitamin-K absence-II in transplanted patients with HCC not producing alpha-fetoprotein.

Elevated Protein Induced by Vitamin-K Absence-II (PIVKA-II) has been shown to be an adverse prognostic factor in HCC patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). No definitive data are available about the impact of PIVKA-II concerning post-LT recurrence in patients not secreting (≤ 20 ng/mL) alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). An observational retrospective study of the East-West HCC-LT consortium is reported. Between 2000 and 2019, 639 HCC patients were enrolled in 5 collaborative European and Japanese centers. To minimize the initial selection bias, an inverse probability therapy weighting method was adopted to analyze the data. In the post-inverse probability therapy weighting population, PIVKA-II (HR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.52-2.64; p < 0.001) and AFP (HR=1.82; 95% CI: 1.48-2.24; p < 0.001) were the most relevant independent risk factors for post-LT recurrence. A sub-analysis focusing only on patients who are AFP non-secreting confirmed the negative role of PIVKA-II (HR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.26-3.35; p =0.004). When categorizing the entire population into 4 groups according to the AFP levels (≤ or > 20 ng/mL) and PIVKA (≤ or > 300 mUA/mL) at the time of LT, the lowest recurrence rates were observed in the low AFP-PIVKA-II group (5-year recurrence rate = 8.0%). Conversely, the high AFP-PIVKA-II group had the worst outcome (5-year recurrence rate = 35.1%). PIVKA-II secretion is a relevant risk factor for post-LT HCC recurrence. The role of this marker is independent of the AFP status. Combining both tumor markers, especially in the setting of LT, should be of great relevance for adding information about predicting the post-LT risk of tumor recurrence and selecting these patients for transplantation.

Combination of a solid phase extraction and a two-dimensional LC-UV method for the analysis of vitamin D3 and its isomers in olive oil.

The current HPLC methods for the quantification of vitamin D3 (VitD3) and its two isomers previtamin D3 (PreVitD3) and trans-vitamin D3 (trans-VitD3) in olive oil preparations present some limitations mainly due to peak overlapping of the oily matrix components with the compounds of interest. The use of two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) with different retention mechanism can reach higher resolving power thus allowing the analysis of complex samples. The present paper proposes a new alternative method including a solid phase extraction sample preparation step and a two-dimensional liquid chromatographic analysis using routine instrumentation, fitting the needs of quality assurance and quality control laboratories of pharmaceutical companies. The extraction protocol was demonstrated to provide a clean-up of the sample and a quantitative recovery of the species of interest. The 2D method proved its suitability in the isolation of vitamins from oil components in the first dimension and the separation and quantification of the analytes in the second dimension thanks to the orthogonal selectivities of phenyl and porous graphitic carbon (PGC) stationary phases. The method was validated following ICH guidelines and possesses an adequate sensitivity to quantify the impurity trans-VitD3 in pharmaceuticals considering the limits imposed by regulatory agencies. The applicability of the phenyl x PGC 2D-LC-UV method to quality control of medicinal products based on VitD3 in olive oil was confirmed by the successful quantification of vitamins in olive oil formulations.

Investigation of some quality properties of yogurt made from cow and sheep milk fortified with folic acid (B9 ), biotin (B7 ), and vitamin D3.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on some physicochemical properties and starter cultures of yogurts enriched with vitamins at different concentrations during storage. For this purpose, yogurt was produced by adding the vitamins folic acid (B9 ), biotin (B7 ), and vitamin D3 in different concentrations to sheep and cow milk and stored at 4 °C. Physicochemical analyses and microbiological analyses were performed for each group of yogurt on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. RESULTS: There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the groups in pH and titration acidity (%) during storage. It was determined that in the yogurts produced from sheep milk, the groups enriched with vitamins had a higher number of L. bulgaricus than the control group on the 7th day of storage. Moreover, the groups containing vitamin D3 exhibited a higher Lactobacillus bulgaricus count on the 21st day of storage. The highest L. bulgaricus counts on the 7th day in yogurts produced from cow's milk were observed in groups containing 0.5 mL of vitamin B9 and B7 . No mold or yeast growth was observed during storage in any of the yogurt groups made from cow and sheep milk. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it was determined that the enrichment of yogurt with vitamins B7 , B9 , and D3 did not adversely affect the quality of the yogurt; rather, it improved. We recommend that yogurt enriched with micronutrients be studied economically, and mass production should be initiated by yogurt companies as soon as possible. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Quantitation of total vitamin D2 and D4 in UV-exposed mushrooms using HPLC with UV detection after novel two-step solid phase extraction.

A robust method for quantitation of total vitamin D2 and D4 in mushrooms by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV) was developed to analyze mushrooms exposed to UV light. A two-step solid phase extraction (SPE) (silica, carbon black) removed chromatographic interferences typically resolved only with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS) and allowed quantitation of all vitamin D and pre-D analytes. The vitamin and pre-vitamin forms of D2, D4 and D3 (internal standard), as well as other photoisomers and sterols were resolved. Results for six types of UV-exposed mushrooms were comparable to LC-MS. Screening of ten additional types of UV-exposed mushrooms without the IS confirmed lack of interference with the IS. The limit of quantification (µg/100 g fresh weight) was 0.4 for vitamin D and 0.9 for pre-vitamin D. Mushrooms do not have to be dried, and separatory funnels and large solvent volumes were also eliminated from sample preparation.

Effects of ultra-high pressure, thermal pasteurization, and ultra-high temperature sterilization on color and nutritional components of freshly-squeezed lettuce juice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ultra-high pressure (UHP, 600 MPa/2 min), thermal pasteurization (TP, 95 °C/1 min) and ultra-high temperature (UHT, 115 °C/5 s) sterilization on the color, sensory evaluation, microorganisms, physicochemical characteristics and nutritional components of freshly-squeezed lettuce juice (FLJ). Results showed that three sterilization methods demonstrated desirable inactivation effects on total aerobic bacteria, yeast and mold, and there were no significant changes in the main nutritional components, including ash, protein, carbohydrate and total dietary fiber. However, UHT and TP significantly affected the color of FLJ from bright green to light brown and made chlorophyll, ß-carotene and vitamins (VE, VC, VK1, VB6, VB12, and folic acid) contents markedly decreased. By contrast, UHP maintained the original color, fresh-like sensory qualities, vitamins, and carotene of FLJ to the greatest extent. Our results provide a promising application of UHP in the large-scale processing of FLJ.

Determination of N-nitroso folic acid in folic acid and multivitamin supplements by LC-MS/MS.

Analysis of N-nitroso folic acid, a nitrosamine impurity found in folic acid, is challenging due to the complex sample matrices. Many of such supplements contain not only a variety of vitamins, including vitamin A, Bs, C, D and E, but also other ingredients such as minerals, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), glucose syrup, sugar, and herbs. On the other hand, the strength of folic acid is typically low, ranging from 50 µg to 5 mg per unit. In this study, a highly selective and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed to accurately quantify N-nitroso folic acid in supplements containing folic acid. The sample was extracted by 0.1% ammonia solution: MeOH (9:1, v/v) containing 5 ng/mL of N-nitroso folic acid-d4 (Isotope internal standard). The quantification was performed by MRM in negative ionization mode. Mobile phases A and B were 0.1% formic acid in deionized water and methanol, respectively. The method was validated and found to have sufficient linearity (R2 > 0.995), accuracy (recovery 83-110%), precision (RSD 3%) and low LOD, LOQ (4 and 10 µg/g respectively, with respect to folic acid). The method was applied to the determination of N-nitroso folic acid in 40 supplements containing folic acid with different strengths and formulation. The content of N-nitroso folic acid was found to be up to 898 ng/unit (1794 µg/g with respect to folic acid). It enabled regulatory actions, such as product recall, to safeguard public health from unsafe products.

Mixture of air pollution, brominated flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and organochlorine pesticides in relation to vitamin D concentrations in pregnancy.

Over two-thirds of pregnant women in the U.S. have insufficient 25(OH)D (Vitamin D) concentrations, which can adversely impact fetal health. Several pollutants have been associated with 25(OH)D, but have not been considered in the context of chemical co-exposures. We aimed to determine associations between a broad mixture of prenatal environmental chemical exposures and 25(OH)D concentrations in mid-pregnancy. Stored mid-pregnancy serum samples were assayed from 421 women delivering live births in Southern California in 2000-2003. 25(OH)D, six BFRs, eleven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and two organochlorine pesticides were detected in ≥60% of specimens. Gestational exposures to airborne particulate matter ≤ 10 µm (PM10) and ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone concentrations were derived from monitoring station data. Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling (BHM) and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) analyses estimated overall mixture and individual chemical associations accounting for co-exposures and covariates with mean 25(OH)D levels, and BHM was used to estimate associations with insufficient (<75 nMol/L) 25(OH)D levels. Non-mixture associations for each chemical were estimated with linear and logistic models. PM10 [BHM estimate: -0.133 nmol/l 95% Credible Interval (-0.240, -0.026)] was associated with lower 25(OH)D in BHM and BKMR. Higher quantiles of combined exposures were associated with lower 25(OH)D, though with wide credible intervals. In non-mixture models, PM10, PM2.5, NO, and NO2 were associated with lower concentrations, while O3 and PBDE153 were associated with higher 25(OH)D and/or lower insufficiency. While some chemicals were associated with increased and others with decreased 25(OH)D concentrations, the overall mixture was associated with lower concentrations. Mixture analyses differed from non-mixture regressions, highlighting the importance of mixtures approaches for estimating real-world associations.

Biotinylated Quinone as a Chemiluminescence Sensor for Biotin-Avidin Interaction and Biotin Detection Application.

Biotin, or vitamin B7, is essential for metabolic reactions. It must be obtained from external sources such as food and biotin/vitamin supplements because it is not biosynthesized by mammals. Therefore, there is a need to monitor its levels in supplements. However, biotin detection methods, which include chromatographic, immune, enzymatic, and microbial assays, are tedious, time-consuming, and expensive. Thus, we synthesized a product called biotin-naphthoquinone, which produces chemiluminescence upon its redox cycle reaction with dithiothreitol and luminol; then it was used as a chemiluminescence sensor for biotin-avidin interaction. When a quinone biotinylated compound binds avidin, the chemiluminescence decreases noticeably due to the proximity between quinone and avidin, and when free biotin is added in a competitive assay, the chemiluminescence returns. The chemiluminescence is regained as the free biotin displaces biotinylated quinone in its complex with avidin, freeing biotin-naphthoquinone. Many experiments, including the use of a biotin-free quinone, proved the competitive nature of the assay. The competitive assay method used in this study was linear in the range of 1.0-100 µM with a detection limit of 0.58 µM. The competitive chemiluminescence assay could detect biotin in vitamin B7 tablets with good recovery of 91.3 to 110% and respectable precision (RSD < 8.7%).

Physical and chemical properties of aloe-vera coated guava (Psidium guajava) fruit during refrigerated storage.

Guavas (Psidium guajava) are regarded as one of the most perishable commodities, primarily owing to their climacteric characteristics and heightened metabolic processes, resulting in a faster rate of softening. Edible coating is a natural ingredient that is employed as an alternative to extend the shelf life of fruits while also providing bioactive and functional compounds. Aloe vera gel is predominantly used for this purpose due to its widespread availability. Various concentrations of aloe vera-based coating formulation (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) were applied on fresh whole guava by dipping method. The guava was stored at a refrigerated condition (4°C) and weight loss, color, firmness, vitamin C, total phenol, and pH change were observed in this research. A significant effect of aloe vera coating was found over the storage period. Aloe vera treatment lowered the weight loss, and retarded the texture and color compared to the control sample throughout the 28 days of storage. Vitamin C and total phenol content remined high at 141.4 mg/100g and 219.6 mg GAE/100g respectively in a 100% aloe vera coated sample after 28 days of storage compared to the control. Among 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% aloe vera coated sample, 100% aloe vera was found to be the best coating material to prevent physical changes in fresh guava.