Barley serves as a crucial feed crop and is also utilized for baking, malting, and brewing purposes. In India, the consistent demand for malting-type barley has not been met due to the lack of suitable varieties. This study evaluated 136 barley germplasm accessions for diversity in biochemical and agro-morphological traits. The accessions were grown in Augmented Block Design and biochemical estimations were carried out using official and standard methods. The accessions exhibited substantial biochemical diversity with protein content (PC) ranging from 8.6 to 17.4%, starch content (SC) from 32.4 to 60.3%, amylose content (AC) from 13.3 to 19.3%, β-glucan content (βgC) from 1.31 to 6.06%, and total phenol content (TPC) from 8.6 to 17.4%. The agro-morphological traits also displayed considerable variation, with days to spike emergence (DSE) ranging from 74 to 124 days, days to physiological maturity (DPM) from 119 to 147 days, plant height (PH) from 82 to 165 cm, spike length (SL) from 5 to 11 cm, spikelet triplet groups (STG) per spike from 13 to 35, grain number per spike (GNS) from 15 to 71, hundred-grain weight (HGW) from 2 to 6.7 grams, and grain yield per meter row (GY) from 13.7 to 236.3 grams. Multivariate analyses, including the Mantel test, Pearson's correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), were conducted. No significant correlation was observed between biochemical and agro-morphological traits. However, significant positive correlations were found between SC and AC (r = 0.48) and βgC with PC (r = 0.2). Significant negative correlations were observed between SC and PC (r = -0.41) and AC with PC (r = -0.4). Highly significant positive correlations were observed between DSE and DPM (r = 0.55), GY and PH (r = 0.29), PH and DPM (r = 0.2), and HGW and SL (r = 0.25). The GWL was significantly positively correlated with βgC (r = 0.257) and significantly negatively correlated with TPC (r = -0.235). Apart from Grain Width to Length Ratio (GWL), no other agro-morphological trait was significantly correlated with any biochemical trait. Various accessions suitable for malting, human food, and cattle feed applications were identified.
Introduction: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) ranks as one of the most aggressive primary malignant tumor affecting the brain. The persistent challenge of treatment failure and high relapse rates in GBM highlights the need for new treatment approaches. Recent research has pivoted toward exploring alternative therapeutic methods, such as the ketogenic diet, for GBM.
Methods: A total of 18 patients with GBM, 8 women and 10 men, aged between 34 and 75 years participated in a prospective study, examining the impact of ketogenic diet on tumor progression. The pool of patients originated from our hospital during the period from January 2016 until July 2021 and were followed until January 2024. As an assessment criterion, we set an optimistic target for adherence to the ketogenic diet beyond 6 months. We considered the therapeutic combination successful if the survival reached at least 3 years.
Results: Among the 18 patients participating in the study, 6 adhered to the ketogenic diet for more than 6 months. Of these patients, one patient passed away 43 months after diagnosis, achieving a survival of 3 years; another passed away at 36 months, narrowly missing the 3-year survival mark; and one is still alive at 33 months post-diagnosis but has yet to reach the 3-year milestone and is, therefore, not included in the final survival rate calculation. The remaining 3 are also still alive, completing 84,43 and 44 months of life, respectively. Consequently, the survival rate among these patients is 4 out of 6, or 66.7%. Of the 12 patients who did not adhere to the diet, only one reached 36 months of survival, while the rest have died in an average time of 15.7 ± 6.7 months, with a 3-year survival rate of 8.3%. Comparing the survival rates of the two groups, we see that the difference is 58.3% (66.7% versus 8.3%) and is statistically significant with p < 0.05 (0.0114) and X2 = 6.409.
Discussion: The outcomes observed in these patients offer promising insights into the potential benefits of the ketogenic diet on the progression of glioblastoma multiforme when compared to those who did not follow the diet consistently.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze the association between constipation and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2010.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 4,282 adults aged 20 and older was selected from the NHANES 2009-2010. Constipation was defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week. The average of the two ACR measurements was used as the outcome variable. Logistic regression models (non-adjusted and multivariate adjusted models) were used to examine the relationship between constipation and ACR. Subgroup and interaction analyses related to gender, age, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and diabetes were also conducted to assess the stability of the association between constipation and ACR.
Results: In this study population of 4,282 individuals, 352 individuals with an ACR of 30 mg/g or higher were considered to have albuminuria. The prevalence of constipation was higher in the albuminuria group compared to the non-albuminuric group (6.4% vs. 3.5%, p = 0.002). The unadjusted model (Model I) showed an increased risk of ACR associated with constipation (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.13-2.91, p = 0.014). After controlling for gender, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, and education level in Model II, the association between constipation and ACR remained significant (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.34-3.60, p = 0.002). Upon further adjustment for BMI, smoking status, alcohol consumption, diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, asthma, coronary heart disease, liver disease, cancer, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), uric acid (UA) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Model III, the positive association between constipation and ACR was still significant (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.09-3.23, p = 0.023). Subgroup analyses, stratified by gender, age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, BMI, hypertension, and diabetes, showed no statistically significant interactions (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: In summary, this study found a positive association between constipation and urinary albumin excretion rate. The significant association between constipation and ACR highlights the need for clinicians to monitor urinary albumin levels in patients with constipation.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1424972.].
Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a global public health issue. Life's Crucial 9 (LC9) is recognized as a powerful tool for assessing cardiovascular health. Although the etiology of OSA remains unclear, saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and cardiovascular health are increasingly regarded as a non-negligible element. This study aims to assess the association between dietary intake of SFAs and the risk of OSA, and the mediating effect of LC9.
Methods: Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), dietary questionnaires of participant were collected, and the average values of 24-h dietary recall data over 2 days were obtained. A continuous cross-sectional analysis with dietary energy adjustment was employed. Weighted multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the weighted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for SFAs and OSA. Evaluate the mediating role of LC9 in the relationship between SFAs and OSA.
Results: A total of 13,563 participants aged 20 years and above were included in this study. The intakes of Sfa 4.0 and LC9 among participants with OSA were significantly lower than those in the normal population. After adjusting for confounding factors, total SFAs could increase the risk of OSA [Model 1, Q3, 0.03, 1.49 (1.03, 2.15); Model 2, Q3, 0.04, 1.47 (1.01, 2.13)]. It was emphasized that dietary intake of Sfa 12.0, Sfa 14.0, and Sfa 16.0 were protective factors for OSA, especially among participants aged 45-64 years and white individuals. Moreover, Sfa 12.0 exhibited a better protective effect in female participants [Q3, 0.04, 0.66 (0.45, 0.99)]. In addition, the cardiovascular health score - LC9 had a mediating effect in Sfa4.0 on OSA [Proportion of mediation: -0.035, 95% CI: (-0.058, -0.01); p= 0.002]. There was a nonlinear relationship between dietary intake of Sfa 12.0, Sfa 16.0, and Sfa 18.0 and OSA (P-Nonlinear = 0.013).
Discussion: These findings suggest that dietary mixtures of saturated fatty acids increase the risk of OSA. Among them, SFA 4:0 can increase the risk of OSA through the level of cardiovascular health. However, contrary to traditional beliefs, long-chain saturated fatty acids can reduce the risk of OSA.
Objectives: The International Lipids in Parenteral Nutrition (PN) Summit was convened to offer practical guidance and expert consensus opinion regarding the use of intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs) in various clinical settings. Herein, we briefly review aspects from this summit that are of particular importance for surgical/hospitalized patients.
Methods: Summit participants identified and discussed new evidence, data, and analyses, that potentially influence the benefits and risks of ILEs in PN or their use in clinical practice. The summit meeting consisted of expert presentations that assessed recent clinical data and best practice, followed by periodic panel discussions to formulate consensus statements. Consensus statements were voted on, anonymously, by the meeting attendees.
Results: This review briefly summarizes the rationale for considering ILE choice as a central component of any PN strategy for surgical/hospitalized patients. Thereafter, special patient populations are considered, such as surgery-related intestinal failure, major trauma, and those with chronic critical illnesses. Expert consensus statements are also provided to help bridge the gaps between evidence and clinical practice, hence complementing formal PN societal guideline recommendations.
Conclusion: The choice of ILE in PN, particularly those containing fish oil, can play a vital role in improving outcomes for surgical patients.
Objective: Food allergies are common in the food industry. The knowledge and attitude of catering staff are crucial in preventing food allergy (FA)-related reactions. The study aimed to determine the knowledge of FA and evaluate the effectiveness of video-based allergy training for catering personnel in three sectors: restaurants, schools, and hospitals.
Methods: Research has been conducted on workers in three different catering industries: (i) restaurant chains, (ii) school kitchens, and (iii) hospital kitchens. The study involved administering surveys to the staff to measure their demographic data (11 questions), attitude (12 questions), and knowledge level (24 questions) about FA. After taking the pre-test, the participants who watched a 32-min video on FA were asked to fill out post-test questionnaires measuring their knowledge and attitudes.
Results: At the beginning, 619 participants took the pre-test. 45.7 and 40.9% (n = 253) had a previous food Safety Certificate and food allergy training, respectively. Sixty-four percent (n = 397) received our video-based FA training. Among the participants who completed video-based training and the post-test, some knowledge and attitude items improved, but some did not, compared to the pre-test results. Knowledge levels were similar between the previously FA-trained and those untrained individuals.
Conclusion: Our results show that the participants' baseline level of knowledge and attitude for FA needs improvement. After the video training, the level of improvement in some items of knowledge and attitude was significant, but it was lower than expected. It is essential for training to not only provide accurate information but also aim to correct any known misconceptions.
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1466781.].