Determination of Carbohydrate Composition in Lentils Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.

Carbohydrates are the main components of lentils, accounting for more than 60% of their composition. Their content is influenced by genetic factors, with different contents depending on the variety. These compounds have not only been linked to interesting health benefits, but they also have a significant influence on the techno-functional properties of lentil-derived products. In this study, the use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict the concentration of total carbohydrate, fibre, starch, total sugars, fructose, sucrose and raffinose was investigated. For this purpose, six different cultivars of macrosperm (n = 37) and microsperm (n = 43) lentils have been analysed, the samples were recorded whole and ground and the suitability of both recording methods were compared. Different spectral and mathematical pre-treatments were evaluated before developing the calibration models using the Modified Partial Least Squares regression method, with a cross-validation and an external validation. The predictive models developed show excellent coefficients of determination (RSQ > 0.9) for the total sugars and fructose, sucrose, and raffinose. The recording of ground samples allowed for obtaining better models for the calibration of starch content (R > 0.8), total sugars and sucrose (R > 0.93), and raffinose (R > 0.91). The results obtained confirm that there is sufficient information in the NIRS spectral region for the development of predictive models for the quantification of the carbohydrate content in lentils.

Markers for meat provenance and authenticity with an account of its defining factors and quality characteristics - a review.

Provenance is becoming increasingly important in meat supply chains as it lends products higher perceived quality. However, its precise definition and interpretation along with its associated characteristics factors have remained somewhat elusive. This review meticulously defines meat provenance while dissecting the essential factors and associated quality attributes that constitute its essence and are subsequently employed to establish pertinent markers for provenance. Meat provenance emerges as a multi-dimensional construct stemming from the adept management of a constellation of factors relating to geographical origin, farm production system, traceability, and authenticity. Through intricate interactions, these factors unveil innate originality that not only forges a distinct reputation but also imparts a unique typicity to the meat product. Gaining insights into a meat product's provenance becomes attainable by scrutinizing its pertinent composition and organoleptic quality traits. Trace elements and stable isotopes stand out as provenance markers, forging a direct connection to both geographical origin and dietary sources. While somewhat less direct in linkage, other markers such as plant biomarkers, fatty acid composition, pH levels, flavour and aromatic compounds along with organoleptic characteristics contribute to the overall understanding of provenance. Additionally, the identification of animal species and breeds serves as key markers, particularly in the context of protected geographical indications. The study findings are useful for the various stakeholders of how the information for meat provenance can be linked with intrinsic and extrinsic factors for meat quality and protecting the integrity of the supply chain with special reference to traceability and authenticity. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Nutritional, chemical, and antioxidant screening of selected varieties of lentils (Lens culinaris spp.) from organic and conventional agriculture.

BACKGROUND: Lentils are an ancient legume established worldwide for direct consumption and with great potential for application in food processing. In addition, it is a sustainable crop owing to its ability to scavenge nitrogen and carbon, and it improves the nutrient status of the soil. A diet rich in lentils has been linked to significant health benefits. However, the composition of lentils can be influenced by both the lentil variety and the growing conditions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the nutritional profiles and antioxidant potential, as well as the impact that the type of cultivation (conventional or organic) and the variety could have on these parameters, in different lentil varieties. RESULTS: Overall, carbohydrates are the major macronutrients in all varieties, with notable amounts of fibre (11.62-27.36%) and starch (41.98-50.27%). High amounts of protein and ash were also identified, particularly in the Beluga variety, with 21.9-23.3 and 1.38-1.82 g 100 g-1 fresh weight, respectively. Fructose and sucrose were detected (high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with refraction index detection), along with oxalic, quinic, malic, and shikimic acids (ultra-fast liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection), and α- and γ-tocopherol isoforms (HPLC with fluorescence detection). Fatty acid methyl ester assessment showed the prevalence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (33.5-46.3%). Good antioxidant capacity (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and oxidative haemolysis inhibition assay) was also noted. CONCLUSION: The results obtained showed that all the varieties analysed are an excellent source of fibre and have a good antioxidant capacity. Lentil variety has a greater influence on its nutritional composition than the type of cultivation. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Balloon-Assisted Retrograde Puncture of Distal Vessels in Patients Unsuitable for a Conventional Transpedal Approach.

PURPOSE: To describe a novel bailout technique to approach below-the-knee chronic total occlusions after a failed bidirectional recanalization attempt using the plantar loop maneuver in patients who are poor candidates for a retrograde puncture. TECHNIQUE: After a failure of recanalization of the opposite tibial artery using the plantar loop maneuver, an assisted direct retrograde transpedal approach can be performed regardless of poor vessel caliber or even arterial occlusion. After crossing the plantar arch, a low profile angioplasty balloon is used as a landmark for the pedal puncture and to give guidance for the wire advancement from the new access. CONCLUSION: A balloon-assisted retrograde transpedal approach may be considered for below-the-knee recanalization after standard plantar loop technique failure in patients who are not candidates for conventional retrograde puncture.

Prediction of Mineral Composition in Wheat Flours Fortified with Lentil Flour Using NIR Technology.

Lentil flour is an important source of minerals, including iron, so its use in food fortification programs is becoming increasingly important. In this study, the potential of near infrared technology to discriminate the presence of lentil flour in fortified wheat flours and the quantification of their mineral composition is evaluated. Three varieties of lentils (Castellana, Pardina and Guareña) were used to produce flours, and a total of 153 samples of wheat flours fortified with them have been analyzed. The results show that it is possible to discriminate fortified flours with 100% efficiency according to their lentil flour content and to discriminate them according to the variety of lentil flour used. Regarding their mineral composition, the models developed have shown that it is possible to predict the Ca, Mg, Fe, K and P content in fortified flours using near infrared spectroscopy. Moreover, these models can be applied to unknown samples with results comparable to ICP-MS determination of these minerals.

Retrograde Balloon-Assisted Approach to Prevent Distal Embolization During Complex Recanalization Procedures.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to describe a bailout technical strategy to prevent below-the-knee (BTK) distal embolization during procedures with increased inherent risk using universally-available "off-the-shelf" devices. TECHNIQUE: A conventional retrograde access is obtained of the BTK target vessel where embolization protection is sought. Before starting any potential proximal maneuver with an associated significant risk of distal embolization (eg, atherectomy and mechanical thrombectomy), a low-profile balloon is inserted and inflated through the distal retrograde access, so that any debris resulting from the recanalization procedure is blocked by the stagnant column of blood generated by the inflated balloon. Once the revascularization procedure has been completed, a 4F curved catheter is antegradely advanced down to the distally-inflated balloon, and in case of distal embolization the debris is aspirated in a standard fashion way. CONCLUSION: A retrograde balloon-assisted "off-the-shelf" embolic protection approach may be considered for BTK revascularization procedures where there is an inherent increased risk of distal trash, especially in the presence of distal single-vessel runoff. CLINICAL IMPACT: Distal embolization following endovascular procedures can have devastating consequences and there is a general recommendation for selective use of EPDs in high-risk-scenarios. The increased cost and low availability of the current EPD devices for BTK/BTA arteries have prohibited their widespread use. The retrograde balloon-assisted "off-the-shelf" EPD prevents distal embolization during procedures with increased risk of distal trash using inexpensive, nonspecific equipment available in any basic endovascular suite.

On-Site-Modified Sheath to Overcome the Undesirable Catheterization of the Profunda Femoris Artery During Antegrade Femoral Access.

Purpose: To present a simple method to avoid favored passage of a guidewire into the profunda femoris artery (PFA) after antegrade puncture of the common femoral artery. Technique: A 6-F conventional introducer sheath with a radiopaque distal marker is placed on the nurse's table with its side port orientated to the 12 o'clock position. A small (2-2.5 mm) oval fenestration is created on the superior aspect of the sheath about 3 cm from its tip with a size 11 surgical blade. The modified introducer is passed over the angled 0.035-inch guidewire into the PFA and gently retrieved until the tip marker is ~3 cm from the femoral bifurcation. The dilator is removed, and the guidewire is withdrawn to the level of the fenestration, manipulated through it, and advanced further into the superficial femoral artery under fluoroscopic guidance. Conclusion: When repeated passage of the guidewire down the PFA persists despite conventional manipulation of the wire or needle, an on-site modification of the sheath is an easy alternative approach for the catheterization of the superficial femoral artery.

NIR Spectroscopy for Discriminating and Predicting the Sensory Profile of Dry-Cured Beef "Cecina".

For Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)-labeled products, such as the dry-cured beef meat "cecina de León", a sensory analysis is compulsory. However, this is a complex and time-consuming process. This study explores the viability of using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) together with artificial neural networks (ANN) for predicting sensory attributes. Spectra of 50 samples of cecina were recorded and 451 reflectance data were obtained. A feedforward multilayer perceptron ANN with 451 neurons in the input layer, a number of neurons varying between 1 and 30 in the hidden layer, and a single neuron in the output layer were optimized for each sensory parameter. The regression coefficient R squared (RSQ > 0.8 except for odor intensity) and mean squared error of prediction (MSEP) values obtained when comparing predicted and reference values showed that it is possible to predict accurately 23 out of 24 sensory parameters. Although only 3 sensory parameters showed significant differences between PGI and non-PGI samples, the optimized ANN architecture applied to NIR spectra achieved the correct classification of the 100% of the samples while the residual mean squares method (RMS-X) allowed 100% of non-PGI samples to be distinguished.

Prediction of Sensory Parameters of Cured Ham: A Study of the Viability of the Use of NIR Spectroscopy and Artificial Neural Networks.

Dry-cured ham is a high-quality product owing to its organoleptic characteristics. Sensory analysis is an essential part of assessing its quality. However, sensory assessment is a laborious process which implies the availability of a trained tasting panel. The aim of this study was the prediction of dry-ham sensory characteristics by means of an instrumental technique. To do so, an artificial neural network (ANN) model for the prediction of sensory parameters of dry-cured hams based on NIR spectral information was developed and optimized. The NIR spectra were obtained with a fiber-optic probe applied directly to the ham sample. In order to achieve this objective, the neural network was designed using 28 sensory parameters analyzed by a trained panel for sensory profile analysis as output data. A total of 91 samples of dry-cured ham matured for 24 months were analyzed. The hams corresponded to two different breeds (Iberian and Iberian x Duroc) and two different feeding systems (feeding outdoors with acorns or feeding with concentrates). The training algorithm and ANN architecture (the number of neurons in the hidden layer) used for the training were optimized. The parameters of ANN architecture analyzed have been shown to have an effect on the prediction capacity of the network. The Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm has been shown to be the most suitable for the application of an ANN to sensory parameters.

Technique to Facilitate Retrograde Puncture of Mid to Upper Calf Tibial Vessels.

PURPOSE: To describe a simple maneuver to facilitate the retrograde puncture of challenging tibial vessels in the lower leg. TECHNIQUE: Because of the depth of the tibial vessels at the mid to upper calf, especially in obese or muscular patients, a 7- or 9-cm, 21-G micropuncture needle is often needed to reach the artery. However, the low profile of the needle contributes to its flexibility and therefore the tendency to bend as it progresses through the deep tissues, hindering access to the target vessel. To overcome this obstacle, a 4- to 5-cm, 18-G needle is initially placed pointing to the artery. The 21-G needle is advanced through it to the target site. This simple maneuver increases the support to the 21-G needle, preventing its bending and facilitating arterial puncture in the presence of calcified vessels. CONCLUSION: The telescoping needle technique may be considered as a bailout procedure in the retrograde tibial approach after failed attempts secondary to needle bending or calcified vessels.

Towards leprosy elimination by 2020: forecasts of epidemiological indicators of leprosy in Corrientes, a province of northeastern Argentina that is a pioneer in leprosy elimination.

BACKGROUND: Corrientes, a province of northeastern Argentina with endemic leprosy, has improved its epidemiological indicators, however, a study of the dynamics over time is lacking. OBJECTIVES: We analysed data of 1308 leprosy patients between 1991 to 2014, and the forecast for 2020. METHODS: Descriptive statistics and stepwise Bayesian model selection were performed. Forecasts were made using the median of 100,000 projections using the parameters calculated via Monte Carlo methods. RESULTS: We found a decreasing number of new leprosy cases (-2.04 cases/year); this decrease is expected to continue by an estimated 20.28 +/- 10.00 cases by 2020, evidenced by a sustained decline in detection rate (from 11 to 2.9/100,000 inhabitants). Age groups that were most affected were 15-44 (40.13%) and 45-64 (38.83%) year olds. Multibacillary forms (MB) predominated (70.35%) and while gradually declining, between 10 and 30% developed disability grade 2 (DG2) (0.175 (0.110 - 0.337) DG2/MB cases), with a time delay between 0 to 15 years (median = 0). The proportion of MB clinic forms and DG2 increased and will continuously increase in the short term (0.036 +/- 0.018 logit (MB/total of cases). MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Corrientes is on the way to eliminating leprosy by 2020, however the increased proportion of MB clinical forms and DG2 signals a warning for disease control efforts.

Flavonoid and Antioxidant Capacity of Propolis Prediction Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy.

The use of propolis as a dietary supplement or as an ingredient in different food products is increasing, due to its antioxidant and bactericidal properties. These nutritional properties directly depend on its phenolic composition. For this reason, this study analysed the total contents of flavones and flavonols, flavanones and dihydroflavonols, and the antioxidant capacity by using the methods of ABTS and linoleic acid/ß-carotene in 99 samples of propolis from Spain and Chile. A rapid method was developed for quantifying these parameters in raw propolis using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy with a remote reflectance fibre-optic probe applied directly to the ground-up sample. The models developed allow for the determination of the total flavones and flavonols (0-183 mg quercetin/g propolis and 0-72 mg rutin/g propolis), of the total flavanones and dihydroflavonols (9-109 mg pinocembrin/g propolis extract), and of its antioxidant capacity by the ABTS method based on the reduction of the 2.2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation(0-3212.6 nmol Trolox/mg of propolis) and of linoleic acid/ß-carotene (22-86% inhibition). The NIR spectroscopy models were applied in external validation to different samples of the calibration group, which led to the conclusion that the methods developed provide significantly identical data to the initial chemical data of reference.

Nutritional profile and obesity: results from a random-sample population-based study in Córdoba, Argentina.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a chronic, heterogeneous, multifactorial disease, which has sharply increased in prevalence in both developed and developing countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of obesity and to identify socio-demographic risk factors associated with it, with special emphasis on diet. METHODS: Nutritional status, demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and food consumption patterns derived from a Food Frequency Questionnaire were investigated. Exhaustive exploratory analyses were performed in order to describe dietary patterns, and logistic regression models were used for odds ratio estimation. RESULTS: The study included 4328 subjects, over 18 years old and resident in Cordoba city. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 34 and 17 %, respectively, with 60 % in men and 45 % in women of BMI ≥ 25. Obesity risk factors were high intake of sodium, refined grains, starchy vegetables, and snacks. A lower risk of overweight and obesity was associated with an adequate, moderate intake of meats, eggs, alcoholic beverages, sugar and sweets, milk, yogurt, and pulses. CONCLUSIONS: A high intake of snacks, refined grains, starchy vegetables and sodium and low intake of yogurt, milk, pulses, and whole grains seem to be associated with the emergence and high prevalence of obesity in Cordoba, Argentina.

The effect of fatigue and fibromyalgia on sexual dysfunction in women with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome is attracting growing interest but, to date, few studies have analyzed it. For this reason, the authors evaluated sexual dysfunction in women with chronic fatigue syndrome (using the Golombok Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction) and explore correlations with fatigue and other symptoms. Sexual dysfunction was greater in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (n = 615) with a higher number of cognitive, neurological, and neurovegetative symptoms, concomitant fibromyalgia, Sjögren's syndrome, or myofascial pain syndrome, and more intense fatigue (p <.05).

Determination of the Mineral Composition and Toxic Element Contents of Propolis by Near Infrared Spectroscopy.

The potential of near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) with remote reflectance fiber-optic probes for determining the mineral composition of propolis was evaluated. This technology allows direct measurements without prior sample treatment. Ninety one samples of propolis were collected in Chile (Bio-Bio region) and Spain (Castilla-León and Galicia regions). The minerals measured were aluminum, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and some potentially toxic trace elements such as zinc, chromium, nickel, copper and lead. The modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression method was used to develop the NIR calibration model. The determination coefficient (R2) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) obtained for aluminum (0.79, 53), calcium (0.83, 94), iron (0.69, 134) potassium (0.95, 117), magnesium (0.70, 99), phosphorus (0.94, 24) zinc (0.87, 10) chromium (0.48, 0.6) nickel (0.52, 0.7) copper (0.64, 0.9) and lead (0.70, 2) in ppm. The results demonstrated that the capacity for prediction can be considered good for wide ranges of potassium, phosphorus and zinc concentrations, and acceptable for aluminum, calcium, magnesium, iron and lead. This indicated that the NIR method is comparable to chemical methods. The method is of interest in the rapid prediction of potentially toxic elements in propolis before consumption.

The Eurasian spruce bark beetle Ips typographus shapes the microbial communities of its offspring and the gallery environment.

The Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) is currently the most economically relevant pest of Norway spruce (Picea abies). Ips typographus associates with filamentous fungi that may help it overcome the tree's chemical defenses. However, the involvement of other microbial partners in this pest's ecological success is unclear. To understand the dynamics of the bark beetle-associated microbiota, we characterized the bacterial and fungal communities of wild-collected and lab-reared beetles throughout their development by culture-dependent approaches, meta-barcoding, and quantitative PCR. Gammaproteobacteria dominated the bacterial communities, while the fungal communities were mainly composed of yeasts of the Saccharomycetales order. A stable core of microbes is shared by all life stages, and is distinct from those associated with the surrounding bark, indicating that Ips typographus influences the microbial communities of its environment and offspring. These findings coupled with our observations of maternal behavior, suggest that Ips typographus transfers part of its microbiota to eggs via deposition of an egg plug treated with maternal secretions, and by inducing an increase in abundance of a subset of taxa from the adjacent bark.

Performance of benchtop and portable spectroscopy equipment for discriminating Iberian ham according to breed.

Iberian ham is a highly appreciated product and according to Spanish legislation different labels identify different products depending on the genetic purity. Consequently, "100% Iberian" ham from purebred Iberian animals is more expensive than "Iberian" ham from Iberian x Duroc crosses. The hypothesis of this study was that to avoid labelling fraud it is possible to distinguish the breed (Iberian or Iberian x Duroc) of acorn-fed pigs of Iberian ham without any prior preparation of the sample by using spectroscopy that is a rapid and reliable technology. Moreover, portable devices which can be used in situ could provide similar results to those of benchtop equipment. Therefore, the spectra of the 60 samples (24 samples of 100% Iberian ham and 36 samples of Iberian x Duroc crossbreed ham) were recorded only for the fat, only for the muscle, or for the whole slice with two benchtop near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers (Büchi NIRFlex N-500 and Foss NIRSystem 5000) and five portable spectrometers including four portable NIR devices (VIAVI MicroNIR 1700 ES, TellSpec Enterprise Sensor, Thermo Fischer Scientific microPHAZIR, and Consumer Physics SCiO Sensor), and one RAMAN device (BRAVO handheld). The results showed that, in general, the whole slice recording produced the best results for classification purposes. The SCiO device showed the highest percentages of correctly classified samples (97% in calibration and 92% in validation) followed by TellSpec (100% and 81%). The SCiO sensor also showed the highest percentages of success when the analyses were performed only on lean meat (97% in calibration and 83% in validation) followed by microPHAZIR (84% and 81%), while in the case of the fat tissue. Raman technology showed the best discrimination capacity (96% and 78%) followed by microPHAZIR (89% and 81%). Therefore, spectroscopy has proved to be a suitable technology for discriminating ham samples according to breed purity; portable devices have been shown to give even better results than benchtop spectrometers.

The Potential Use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to Determine the Heavy Metals and the Percentage of Blends in Tea.

The following study analyzed the potential of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict the metal composition (Al, Pb, As, Hg and Cu) of tea and for establishing discriminant models for pure teas (green, red, and black) and their different blends. A total of 322 samples of pure black, red, and green teas and binary blends were analyzed. The results showed that pure red teas had the highest content of As and Pb, green teas were the only ones containing Hg, and black teas showed higher levels of Cu. NIRS allowed to predict the content of Al, Pb, As, Hg, and Cu with ratio performance deviation values > 3 for all of them. Additionally, it was possible to discriminate pure samples from their respective blends with an accuracy of 98.3% in calibration and 92.3% in validation. However, when the samples were discriminated according to the percentage of blending (>95%, 95-85%, 85-75%, or 75-50% of pure tea) 100% of the samples of 10 out of 12 groups were correctly classified in calibration, but only the groups with a level of pure tea of >95% showed 100% of the samples as being correctly classified as to validation.

Effect of different physical pre-treatments on physicochemical and techno-functional properties, and on the antinutritional factors of lentils (Lens culinaris spp).

Lentils have a valuable physicochemical profile, which can be affected by the presence of antinutrients that may impair the benefits arising from their consumption. Different treatments can be used to reduce these undesirable compounds, although they can also affect the general composition and behaviour of the lentils. Thus, the effect of different processing methods on the physicochemical and techno-functional properties, as well as on the antinutritional factors of different lentil varieties was studied. Phytic acid was eliminated during germination, while tannins and trypsin inhibitors are mostly affected by cooking. Functional properties were also altered by processing, these being dependent on the concentration of different nutrients in lentils. All the studied treatments affected the physicochemical profile of lentils and their functional properties. Cooking and germination appear to be the most effective in reducing antinutritional factors and improving the physicochemical profile of the lentils, meeting the current nutritional demands of today's society.

Screening NK-, B- and T-cell phenotype and function in patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating neuro-immune disorder of unknown etiology diagnosed by an array of clinical manifestations. Although several immunological abnormalities have been described in CFS, their heterogeneity has limited diagnostic applicability. METHODS: Immunological features of CFS were screened in 22 CFS diagnosed individuals fulfilling Fukuda criteria and 30 control healthy individuals. Peripheral blood T, B and NK cell function and phenotype were analyzed by flow cytometry in both groups. RESULTS: CFS diagnosed individuals showed similar absolute numbers of T, B and NK cells, with minor differences in the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. B cells showed similar subset frequencies and proliferative responses between groups. Conversely, significant differences were observed in T cell subsets. CFS individuals showed increased levels of T regulatory cells (CD25+/FOXP3+) CD4 T cells, and lower proliferative responses in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, CD8 T cells from the CFS group showed significantly lower activation and frequency of effector memory cells. No clear signs of T-cell immunosenescence were observed. NK cells from CFS individuals displayed higher expression of NKp46 and CD69 but lower expression of CD25 in all NK subsets defined. Overall, T cell and NK cell features clearly clustered CFS individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that alterations in T-cell phenotype and proliferative response along with the specific signature of NK cell phenotype may be useful to identify CFS individuals. The striking down modulation of T cell mediated immunity may help to understand intercurrent viral infections in CFS.