Trapping mechanism by di-d-psicose anhydride with methylglyoxal for prevention of diabetic nephropathy

Di-d-psicose anhydride (DPA), derived from functional rare saccharide as d-psicose, is investigated for its strong chelating ability. Methylglyoxal (MGO), an important precursor of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), promotes obesity, and causes complications such as diabetic nephropathy. On mesangial cells, DPA can substantially reduce the negative effects of MGO. DPA effectively trapping MGO in mesangial cells. The bonding properties of the DPA-MGO adduct were discussed by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The NMR spectra of the DPA-MGO adduct provide evidence for chelation bonding. The inhibition of AGE formation and the mass spectrometry results of the DPA-MGO adduct indicate that DPA can scavenge MGO at a molar ratio of 1:1. DPA suppressed 330 % of the up-regulated receptor for an AGEs protein expression to a normal level and restored the suppressed glyoxalase 1 level to 86 % of the normal group. This research provides important evidence and theoretical basis for the development of AGE inhibitors derived from rare saccharide.

Analysis of Vaccenic and Elaidic acid in foods using a silver ion cartridge applied to GC × GC-TOFMS

Background

Trans fatty acids (TFAs) are unsaturated fatty acids, with vaccenic acid (VA) and elaidic acid (EA) being the major constituents. While VA has been associated with beneficial effects on health and anti-cancer properties, EA is found in hardened vegetable oils and is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a novel method for the quantitative measurement of VA and EA, aiming to accurately analyze individual TFA and apply it for the assessment of products containing TFAs.

Methods

The ratio of VA to EA (V/E ratio) was evaluated using a silver ion cartridge (SIC) solid phase extraction method removing cis-fatty acids (cis-FAs). Additionally, comparative analysis of the V/E ratio was conducted by the two methods (SIC treatment and untreated) using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography combined with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS).

Results

The removal efficiency of cis-FAs was greater than 97.8%. However, the total TFA contents were not so different from SIC treatment. Moreover, this approach not only allowed for a more precise determination of the V/E ratio but also revealed a significant distinction between natural trans fatty acids (N-TFAs) and hydrogenated trans fatty acids (H-TFAs).

Conclusion

Therefore, the SIC coupled to the GC × GC-TOFMS presented in this study could be applied to discriminate N-TFA and H-TFA contents in dairy and fatty foods.

Effects of Plasma-Activated Water Treatment on the Inactivation of Microorganisms Present on Cherry Tomatoes and in Used Wash Solution

Herein, we investigated the potential of plasma-activated water (PAW) as a wash solution for the microbial decontamination of cherry tomatoes. We analyzed the efficacy of PAW as a bactericidal agent based on reactive species and pH. Immersion for 5 min in PAW15 (generated via plasma activation for 15 min) was determined as optimal for microbial decontamination of fresh produce. The decontamination efficacy of PAW15 exceeded those of mimic solutions with equivalent reactive species concentrations and pH (3.0 vs. 1.7 log reduction), suggesting that the entire range of plasma-derived reactive species participates in decontamination rather than a few reactive species. PAW15-washing treatment achieved reductions of 6.89 ± 0.36, 7.49 ± 0.40, and 5.60 ± 0.05 log₁₀ CFU/g in the counts of Bacillus cereus, Salmonella sp., and Escherichia coli O157:H7, respectively, inoculated on the surface of cherry tomatoes, with none of these strains detected in the wash solution. During 6 days of 25 °C storage post-washing, the counts of aerobic bacteria, yeasts, and molds were below the detection limit. However, PAW15 did not significantly affect the viability of RAW264.7 cells. These results demonstrate that PAW effectively inactivates microbes and foodborne pathogens on the surface of cherry tomatoes and in the wash solution. Thus, PAW could be used as an alternative wash solution in the fresh produce industry without cross-contamination during washing and environmental contamination by foodborne pathogens or potential risks to human health.

Optimization and validation for quantification for allulose of jelly candies using response surface methodology

A simple, rapid and reliable extraction method for allulose content in jelly were optimized using response surface methodology. The extraction method was selected based on preliminary experiments, with a three-factor, three-level central complex design including 20 experimental runs to optimize the extraction parameters. The optimum extraction factors predicted were temperature of 66 °C, solvent of 74% (v/v) ethanol, and extraction time of 24 min under shaking water bath extraction. The measured parameters were in accordance with the predicted values. The developed analytical method was validated with regard to linearity, accuracy and precision presenting recovery level from 90.79 to 95.18% and detection limits varying from 0.53 to 1.62 mg/mL. Finally, the method will be potentially applicable to a commercial jelly food using optimum extraction.

Falling short of a culture of health: Planning alcohol-permitted events at a U.S. university

The Healthy Campus movement in the United States aims to infuse health promotion into higher education operations. We examined the extent to which event planners employ a culture-of-health approach related to alcohol consumption when planning alcohol-permitted events in a large, public university in California. We interviewed 31 event planners to assess their strategies for ensuring health and safety at the events and accommodating people in recovery from substance use disorders. We focused on events that involved faculty, staff, and graduate students. Event planners were most concerned about avoiding legal liabilities at the events, were less concerned about promoting responsible drinking among drinkers, and often failed to consider the needs of non-drinkers at the events. Their actions were informed by problematic beliefs about alcohol (e.g., people need alcohol to relax), drinkers (e.g., only undergraduate students engage in risky consumption), and people in recovery (e.g., they lack self-control). Planners over-relied on informal control to shape attendees' behavior, failing to acknowledge how contextual factors can shape individual behavior. Planners need to be educated about how to shape the event context to promote healthy behaviors, avoid exclusively focusing on preventing unhealthy behaviors and informal control, and promote better inclusion of people who don't drink.

Key messages

There is fertile ground for infusing a culture of health into events in higher education. Event planners need expanded perspectives that consider context, inclusivity, and health promotion.

Regional assessment of trace element concentrations in arrow squids (Nototodarus gouldi, N. sloanii) from New Zealand waters: Bioaccessibility and impact on food web and human consumers

The New Zealand arrow squids, Nototodarus gouldi and N. sloanii, play an important role in the marine food web, and are both economically important fishery species. This study compares trace element concentrations (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Mn, Pb, U, and Zn) in these animals from different fishing locations within New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (Auckland Islands, Chatham Rise, Dunedin, Golden Bay, Taranaki, and West Coast of the South Island). Muscular mantle (the tissue usually consumed by humans) and digestive gland tissue (the primary organ for trace element accumulation) concentrations were compared among regions, revealing size, species, and sampling location effects. Overall, N. gouldi had higher concentrations of As and Zn. The Taranaki region had the highest concentrations for Cd, Co, Cu, and Zn in both tissues analysed. To assess the bioaccessibility of these trace elements to humans, an in-vitro digestion simulation experiment was conducted, revealing bioavailable concentrations overall below the maximum levels presently considered tolerable for human consumption. However, the in-vitro digestion had no observable effect upon Cd concentrations in arrow squid mantle tissue (implying that the measured concentrations are bioaccessible to humans), and revealed that Cd had the highest potential impact on marine food webs and human health. Digestive gland concentrations in particular indicate that arrow squids can be considered important vectors for trace element transfer to top predators (mean concentration for Cd: 123 ± 148 μg g^-1 dw), with region-specific differences.

Benzoic and propionic acids in fishery products on the Korean market

A new pretreatment technique for the sensitive and accurate determination of benzoic and propionic acids in fishery products by HPLC-DAD and GC-MS was established to address the regulatory problem posed by the natural metabolic production of preservatives during food processing. A total of 786 samples (332 raw fish and 454 processed fish products) were investigated. Benzoic acid was detected in 2.4% of raw fish samples, 9.7% of processed product samples, while the corresponding numbers for propionic acid equalled 88.3% and 94.7% respectively. As are result of monitoring the samples obtained from the Korean market, propionic acid was detected in most samples, but benzoic acid was detected in some fish. These results provide fundamental data regarding naturally occurring preservatives in fishery. As a result of these databases in fishery could be used as important data for the judgement that they are naturally originated preservatives.

Dispersive Solid-Liquid Extraction Coupled with LC-MS/MS for the Determination of Sulfonylurea Herbicides in Strawberries

The monitoring of food quality and safety requires a suitable analytical method with simultaneous detection in order to control pesticide and herbicide residues. In this study, a novel analytical method, referred to as “dispersive solid–liquid extraction”, was applied to monitor seven sulfonylurea herbicides in strawberries. This method was optimized in terms of the amount of C₁₈ and the volume of added water, and it was validated through satisfactory linearities (R² > 0.99), recoveries of 70% to 84% with acceptable precisions, and limits of quantification lower than the maximum residue limits for the seven sulfonylurea herbicides in strawberries. The cleanup efficiency of the dispersive solid–liquid extraction technique was compared to that of the QuEChERS- (“quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe”) based method with dispersive solid phase extraction. The recoveries of the former were found to be comparable to those involving QuEChERS C₁₈ cleanup (recoveries of 74%–87%). The method was used to determine sulfonylurea herbicide residues in ten strawberry samples. None of the samples had herbicide residues higher than that of limit of quantifications (LOQs) or maximum residue limits (MRLs). The results suggest that the dispersive solid–liquid extraction method combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is effective for the analysis of sulfonylurea herbicide residues in strawberries.

Determining pesticide residues in wheat flour by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry with QuEChERS extraction

Pesticides are used to increase crop yields and preserve quality by protecting crops against pests; however, their overuse can adversely affect human health and the environment. Herein, we report the development of a multi-pesticide screening method using optimized QuEChERS coupled with liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry for the analysis of 13 pesticides in wheat flour. Mass accuracies with errors of less than 2.4 ppm were obtained for all analysed pesticides, and the method provided satisfactory recovery and linearity. Repeatabilities of 0.3-12.7% and reproducibilities of 2.5-15.2% were observed in full-scan TOF mode. The performance of the developed full-scan TOF method was compared to that obtained in high-resolution multiple reaction monitoring (MRM-HR) mode. The limits of quantification for the full-scan TOF and MRM-HR modes ranged from 2 to 10, and 3 to 9 μg kg^-1, respectively. The two quantification methods exhibited high sensitivities (limit of detections: 1-3 μg kg^-1 in full-scan TOF, and 1-3 μg kg^-1 for MRM-HR mode). No pesticide residues were detected when the developed method was applied to 22 real wheat flour samples.

Leaf extracts from Dendropanax morbifera Léveille mitigate mercury-induced reduction of spatial memory, as well as cell proliferation, and neuroblast differentiation in rat dentate gyrus

Background

The brain is susceptible to methylmercury toxicity, which causes irreversible damage to neurons and glia and the leaf extract Dendropanax morbifera Léveille (DML) has various biological functions in the nervous system. In this study, we examined the effects of DML on mercury-induced proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts.

Methods

Dimethylmercury (5 μg/kg) and galantamine (5 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally and/or DML (100 mg/kg) was orally to 7-week-old rats every day for 36 days. One hour after the treatment, novel object recognition test was examined. In addition, spatial probe tests were conducted on the 6th day after 5 days of continuous training in the Morris swim maze. Thereafter, the rats were euthanized for immunohistochemical staining analysis with Ki67 and doublecortin and measurement for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity.

Results

Dimethylmercury-treated rats showed reduced discrimination index in novel object recognition test and took longer to find the platform than did control group. Compared with dimethylmercury treatment alone, supplementation with DML or galatamine significantly ameliorated the reduction of discrimination index and reduced the time spent to find the platform. In addition, the number of platform crossings was lower in the dimethylmercury-treated group than in controls, while the administration of DML or galantamine significantly increased the number of crossings than did dimethylmercury treatment alone. Proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts, assessed by Ki67 and doublecortin immunohistochemical staining was significantly decreased in the dimethylmercury treated group versus controls. Supplementation with DML or galantamine significantly increased the number of proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus. In addition, treatment with dimethylmercury significantly increased AChE activity in hippocampal homogenates, while treatment with dimethylmercury+DML or dimethylmercury+galantamine significantly ameliorated this increase.

Conclusions

These results suggest that DML may be a functional food that improves dimethylmercury-induced memory impairment and ameliorates dimethylmercury-induced reduction in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts, and demonstrates corresponding activation of AChE activity in the dentate gyrus.

Moderate hearing loss is related with social frailty in a community-dwelling older adults: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS)

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether hearing loss is associated with social frailty in older adults.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis of cohort study data. Hearing was measured using of Pure-tone audiometry. Hearing loss was determined based on the average of hearing thresholds at 0.5, 1, and 2 kHz in the ear that had better hearing. Social frailty was defined based on the summation of the following 5 social components (1. Neighborhood meeting attendance 2. Talking to friend(s) sometimes 3.Someone gives you love and affection 4. Living alone 5. Meeting someone every day). Participants who had no correspondence to the components were considered non-social frailty; those with 1-2 components were considered social prefrailty; and those having 3 or more components were considered social frailty.

RESULTS

The prevalence of non-social frailty, social prefrailty, social frailty was 27.6%, 60.7% and 11.7% respectively. Of the five questions, two components (Neighborhood meeting attendance and Presence of someone who shows love and affection to the participants) were associated with hearing loss (p < 0.001). Compared to non-social frailty, the odds ratio of social frailty for hearing loss was 2.24 (95% CI 1.48-3.38) after adjusting for age, residential area, economic status, smoking, depressive disorder and MMSE, and 2.17 (95% CI 1.43-3.30) after further adjustments with physical frailty.

CONCLUSION

Hearing loss was associated with social frailty even after controlling confounding factors even including physical frailty.

Recruiting Adolescents from Medicaid Enrollment Files into a Neighborhood Oral Health Study

INTRODUCTION

Strategies are needed to improve recruitment of low-income adolescents into oral health studies.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we assessed the feasibility of recruiting Medicaid-enrolled adolescents into a neighborhood-level oral health study using Medicaid enrollment files and to evaluate the degree of bias in the final recruited study population.

METHODS

We obtained Medicaid enrollment files from the Oregon Health Authority for 15,440 Medicaid enrollees aged 12 to 17 y from Multnomah, Hood River, and Tillamook counties. We attempted to contact the primary caregiver of each adolescent by telephone, and we tracked contact, recruitment, enrollment, and study completion rates. We further assessed if these rates were different across county-level rurality, neighborhood-level income, and caregiver-level language preference (Spanish vs. English). The Pearson chi-square test was used to compare rates (α = 0.05). We contacted 6,202 caregivers (40.2%), recruited 738 adolescents (11.9%), enrolled 335 (45.4%), and had complete data for 284 (84.8%). The overall enrollment yield from contacted caregivers was 5.4%. Contact rates did not differ significantly by rurality (P = 0.897), but they were significantly lower in the lowest-income neighborhoods (P = 0.023). Recruitment rates were significantly higher for adolescents from rural counties (P = 0.001), but they did not differ by income or language preference. Enrollment rates were significantly higher among adolescents from rural counties (P < 0.001) and were significantly associated with income (P = 0.041), but they were not different by language preference (P = 0.083). Among participants with complete data, there were no differences by rurality or income, but a significantly larger proportion of adolescents with complete data had caregivers with a language preference for Spanish (P = 0.043).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

It is feasible to recruit Medicaid-enrolled adolescents into a neighborhood oral health study through the use of Medicaid files. County-, neighborhood-, and caregiver-level factors may influence characteristics of the final study population. Additional research is needed to improve recruitment of Medicaid enrollees into neighborhood oral health studies.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

Researchers can use the results of this study to plan neighborhood-level oral health studies involving recruitment of low-income adolescents. Findings further underscore the importance of assessing factors related to recruitment to evaluate participant bias and the generalizability of study findings.

Occurrence of emerging mycotoxins in cereals and cereal-based products from the Korean market using LC-MS/MS

The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of emerging mycotoxins in cereals (n = 61) and cereal-based products (n = 36) collected from Korean market. First of all, using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) extraction method, and ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography (UPLC) with triple quadruple tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), we developed a simple and fast method for quantitative determination of eight emerging mycotoxins including alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TEN), beauvericin (BEA) and enniatins (ENs; ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1). The developed analytical method was validated in parameters of linearity, precision and accuracy. For UPLC-MS/MS analysis, the recoveries of emerging mycotoxins from spiked samples at three concentration levels ranged from 82.7% to 108.8% with RSDs between 0.4% and 14.7%. Analytical methods were applied to determine the contamination of mycotoxins in cereal and cereal-based product samples. Sixty-three of the total 97 samples were contaminated with at least one emerging mycotoxin. The maximum number of emerging mycotoxins observed in a single sample was six out of eight analytes. The highest level of contamination was detected in cereal at 70.9 μg/kg for alternariol monomethyl ether (AME). However, currently there is no international standard for emerging mycotoxins in food. Accordingly, it is necessary to establish a database of emerging mycotoxins contamination through continuous monitoring.

An Optimal Questionnaire Representing Slow Gait Speed(<1m/s) in Community-dwelling Older Adults: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS)

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to find an optimal questionnaire to evaluate the slow gait speed seen in community dwelling elderly.

DESIGN

Four questions asking about difficulty in walking were compared against the measured usual gait speed. The questions were: 1) Is it difficult to walk 100 m without help? 2) Is it difficult to walk 300 m without help? 3) Is it difficult to walk around one lap of a 400-meter track without help? 4) Can you cross a crosswalk before the green on the crosswalk light turns red?

PARTICIPANTS

The subjects were 1479 older adults aged 70 to 84 years who had responded to the four questions and completed gait speed measuring in the first baseline year (2016) of the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study.

RESULTS

Of the four questions, "Is it difficult to walk around one lap of track (400 m) without help?" showed the highest kappa coefficient (0.357), sensitivity (0.61), and negative predictive value (0.82).

CONCLUSION

Based on the results of this study, the authors suggest that "Difficulty in walking around one lap of a 400-m track without help" may be the best question to use when evaluating slow gait speed.

Analysis of Arsenic Species in Processed Rice Bran Products Using HPLC-ICP-MS

The purpose of this study was to compare the content of arsenic species (As(V), monomethylarsonic acid [MMA], As(III), and dimethylarsinic acid [DMA]) in products, such as bran powder and tablets, using high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and to determine the risk of human exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs). The products presented As(III) > As(V) > DMA > MMA, at 241.03 to 579.35, 43.41 to 271.91, 15.16 to 30.43, and limit of quantification to 14.31 μg/kg, respectively. The contents of arsenic species tended to differ among the products (P < 0.05). When the maximum level (0.2 mg/kg) of iAs in white rice was applied to products, it exceeded 1.4 to 3.3 times as 284.43 to 767.10 μg/kg. Also, if more than 109.42 g/day of rice bran powder product containing 767.10 μg/kg as iAs was ingested, the provisional tolerable weekly intake (9.0 μg/kg body weight/wk) was exceeded.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

This study could provide analysis necessary of As for defining an accurate risk assessment of products and tablets containing rice bran powder. In addition with this study, the regulations for As contents in rice bran power products would be set.

Development and Method Validation of Analysis of Urushiol in Sumac and Food Ingredients in Korea

This study developed an analytical method to determine the urushiol content in sap and several foods. The full process for urushiol analysis consists of extraction, trimethylsilyl silylation, analysis, and identification via GC-MS, with each step optimized to attain the required accuracy and precision. Urushiol was separated from sap via liquid-liquid extraction and was derivatized via silylation. The components were analyzed using a polar capillary column and identified using GC-MS. The deviations of relative retention times and retention time windows were within 0.001 and 0.02 min, which satisfied the criteria of 0.06 and 0.03 min, respectively. The response of the urushiol standards tested was found to be linear in the investigated concentration range, with a correlation coefficient of 0.998. The LODs were between 1.74 and 2.67 μg/mL.

Comparison of a Newly Developed Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method and Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Detection of Multiple Mycotoxins in Red Pepper Powder

In this study, we aimed to establish a method for determination of multiple mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and zearalenone in red pepper powder samples based on the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) approach for extraction and cleanup, with detection and quantification by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in both positive- and negative-ion modes. The developed LC-MS/MS analytical method was compared with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to improve the reliability of our developed method. The linearity, precision, and accuracy were validated for the LC-MS/MS methods. The results obtained with the LC-MS/MS were linear, with a correlation coefficient (R²) of >0.998. The limits of detection and quantification for mycotoxins were 0.07 to 0.71 μg/kg and 0.20 to 1.81 μg/kg, respectively. Intra- and interday precision tests (expressed as the relative standard deviation) for each analyte were 1.58 to 5.97% and 0.97 to 9.01%, respectively. Average recoveries were 85.70 to 94.99%. The validation results for the ELISA were linear (R² > 0.995), and recoveries were 77.13 to 93.93%. Both analytical methods were applied to determine the presence of mycotoxins in commercial red pepper powder samples from South Korea. Four of the total 56 samples were contaminated with aflatoxins, and 6 samples were contaminated with ochratoxin A; these results were consistent for the two methods (P > 0.05). Therefore, our developed LC-MS/MS with QuEChERS approach for determination of multiple mycotoxins may be useful for controlling the quality and safety of red pepper powder.

Abstract P3-12-03: Evaluation of women with BRCA mutations and breast cancer tested at an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center: A cost of illness estimation

Objectives: Little is known regarding the impact of mutation status on the costs of breast cancer care. This study sought to estimate health care charges (all-cause, BC related, other cancer related and non-cancer related) among women with breast cancer (BC) and BRCA mutations (BRCAm) in terms of BRCA status, HER2 expression status, ER/PR status, treatment patterns, serious adverse events related to the cancer or its treatment, and cancer treatment period.

Methods: Adult women with invasive BC diagnosed from 1995-2014 and tested for a BRCAm were identified from the Huntsman Cancer Institute tumor registry (Salt Lake City, Utah) and via chart review. Patients with available charge data were included in the study. Patients were categorized by mutation status, receptor status and initial treatment setting. Charges were categorized as inpatient, outpatient and pharmacy (both anticancer and other medication) related charges as well as by type of service (diagnosis, surgery, reconstruction, radiation, office visit, and medication). Descriptive statistics were used to describe mean (SD) charges. Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test was used to compare health care charges.

Results: There were 816 women with BC who underwent BRCA testing and had available charge data. There were 134 women with a BRCAm vs 682 with BRCA wild type (wt). Age at diagnosis was similar between the two groups, however, BRCAm patients had more triple negative BC and higher histologic grade. Total breast cancer related mean (SD) charges were similar between BRCAm vs BRCAwt ($86,689 (75,937) vs $85,843 (97,304), p=0.19). Of this a similar amount was due to facilities/ technical and pharmacy (41% each), while the remainder was physician/professional costs. Within pharmacy costs, similar amounts were due to chemotherapy (23%) and biologics (21%). However, while 58% received chemotherapy, only 8% received biologics. Patients seen initially in the neoadjuvant treatment setting (N=148) had higher breast cancer related mean charges than those in the adjuvant setting (N=553; $117,922 (102,108) vs $80,061 (90,010), p&lt;.0001), while those seen initially in metastatic setting had a mean charge of $103,525 (135,029).There were 142 HER2+ (ER+/PR+/HER2+ or ER-/PR-/HER2+) and 521 HER2- (TNBC or ER-/PR+/HER2-) breast cancer patients (receptor status unknown in 153 patients). HER2+ patients had higher breast cancer related mean charges than HER2- patients ($155,858 (122,227) vs $69,883 (67,642), p&lt;.0001). Further, anticancer treatment charges accounted for 53% ($82,890 (81,269)) of HER2+ costs and 11% ($7,929 (21,782)), p&lt;.0001 of HER2- costs. Biologics accounted for 87% of the former and chemotherapy accounted for 78% of the latter charge.

Conclusions: Mutation status was not associated with higher breast cancer charges. Patients initially seen in the neoadjuvant setting had higher breast cancer charges than those seen in the adjuvant setting. Receptor status (being HER2+) was associated with higher breast cancer charges and this was driven by expenditure on biologics.

Citation Format: Biskupiak JE, Telford C, Yoo M, Unni SK, Ye X, Deka R, Brixner DI, Stenehjem DD. Evaluation of women with BRCA mutations and breast cancer tested at an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center: A cost of illness estimation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-12-03.

Essential oils from two Allium species exert effects on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the mouse dentate gyrus by modulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor and acetylcholinesterase

Background

In the present study, we investigated the effects of oil products from two Allium species: Allium sativum (garlic) and Allium hookeri (Chinese chives) on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the mouse dentate gyrus.

Methods

Using corn oil as a vehicle, the essential oil from garlic (10 ml/kg), or Chinese chives (10 ml/kg) was administered orally to 9-week-old mice once a day for 3 weeks. One hour following the last treatment, a novel object recognition test was conducted and the animals were killed 2 h after the test.

Results

In comparison to the vehicle-treated group, garlic essential oil (GO) treatment resulted in significantly increased exploration time and discrimination index during the novel object recognition test, while Chinese chives essential oil (CO) reduced the exploration time and discrimination index in the same test. In addition, the number of Ki67-immunoreactive proliferating cells and doublecortin-immunoreactive neuroblasts significantly increased in the dentate gyrus of GO-treated animals. However, administration of CO significantly decreased cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation. Administration of GO significantly increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the hippocampal homogenates. In contrast, administration of CO decreased BDNF protein levels and had no significant effect on AChE activity, compared to that in the vehicle-treated group.

Conclusions

These results suggest that GO significantly improves novel object recognition as well as increases cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, by modulating hippocampal BDNF protein levels and AChE activity, while CO impairs novel object recognition and decreases cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, by reducing BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus.

UPLC/ESI-MS/MS analysis of compositional changes for organosulfur compounds in garlic (Allium sativum L.) during fermentation

In this study, we used liquid chromatography coupled to ion trap mass spectrometry (MS) for the quantification of 11 organosulfur compounds and analysis of their compositional changes in garlic during fermentation using 3 different microbe strains. The calibration curves of all 11 analytes exhibited good linearity (R⩾0.995), and the mean recoveries measured at three concentrations were greater than 81.63% with relative standard deviations of less than 12.79%. Investigation of the compositional changes revealed that the γ-glutamyl peptides content in fermented blanched garlic reduced, whereas the content of the compounds in biosynthesis of S-allyl-l-cysteines from γ-glutamyl peptides increased significantly. Our results also indicated that starter cultures can be used selectively in the production of fermented garlic to increase the amounts of the desired organosulfur compounds.

Change in organosulfur compounds in onion (Allium cepa L.) during heat treatment

Changes in contents of the S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxides (ACSOs) methiin, isoalliin, propiin, and cycloalliin in onions after boiling, frying, steaming, and microwaving were investigated using Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Ionization-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS). ACSOs contents increased by 34.2-568.0% during frying, steaming and microwaving, whereas ACSOs contents decreased by 32.6-69.4% during boiling. The methiin level in heat-treated onions ranged from 0.18 to 0.47 g/100 g of dry weight (DW), and the cycloalliin concentration in heat-treated onions ranged from 0.31 to 3.50 g/100 g of DW. The amount of isoalliin in processed onions was 0.34-3.32 g/100 g of DW, and propiin was 0.15-1.67 g/100 g of DW. Changes in the ACSO concentrations were dependent on the cooking method. The quality of heat processed onions was evaluated.

Valerenic Acid Protects Against Physical and Psychological Stress by Reducing the Turnover of Serotonin and Norepinephrine in Mouse Hippocampus-Amygdala Region

In a previous study, we demonstrated that a Valeriana officinalis extract could attenuate increases in serum corticosterone levels in a mouse model of physical and psychological stress. In addition, our results showed that the extract could modulate serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) turnover in the hippocampus and amygdala region. In this study, we intended to investigate the effects of valerenic acid (VA), the main component of V. officinalis extract, on corticosterone levels in serum in normal mice and monoamine turnover in hippocampus-amygdala homogenates in a mouse model of physical and psychological stress. To determine the minimum dose of VA for antianxiety effect, eight-week-old ICR mice were orally administered VA (0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg/0.3 mL) once daily for 3 weeks to probe for immobility time and serum corticosterone levels. At a VA dose of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg, animals showed a decrease in the duration of immobility time and serum corticosterone levels. To confirm the antianxiety effect of VA, eight-week-old ICR mice received VA at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg, orally, once daily for 3 weeks, before being subjected to physical or psychological stress for 3 days, in a specially designed communication box, followed by estimation of levels of monoamines and their metabolites in the hippocampus-amygdala region. In conclusion, VA administration at 0.5 mg/kg can mitigate the physical and psychological stress response by decreasing the turnover of 5-HT to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and NE to 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol sulfate in the hippocampus and amygdala.

Valeriana officinalis Extracts Ameliorate Neuronal Damage by Suppressing Lipid Peroxidation in the Gerbil Hippocampus Following Transient Cerebral Ischemia

As a medicinal plant, the roots of Valeriana officinalis have been used as a sedative and tranquilizer. In the present study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of valerian root extracts (VE) on the hippocampal CA1 region of gerbils after 5 min of transient cerebral ischemia. Gerbils were administered VE orally once a day for 3 weeks, subjected to ischemia/reperfusion injury, and continued on VE for 3 weeks. The administration of 100 mg/kg VE (VE100 group) significantly reduced the ischemia-induced spontaneous motor hyperactivity 1 day after ischemia/reperfusion. Four days after ischemia/reperfusion, animals treated with VE showed abundant cresyl violet-positive neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region when compared to the vehicle or 25 mg/kg VE-treated groups. In addition, the VE treatment markedly decreased microglial activation in the hippocampal CA1 region 4 days after ischemia. Compared to the other groups, the VE100 group showed the lowest level of lipid peroxidation during the first 24 h after ischemia/reperfusion. In summary, the findings in this study suggest that pretreatment with VE has protective effects against ischemic injury in the hippocampal pyramidal neurons by decreasing microglial activation and lipid peroxidation.

Optimizing conditions for E-and Z-ajoene formation from garlic juice using response surface methodology

The optimum conditions for the formation of E- and Z-ajoene from garlic juice mixed with soybean oil were determined using response surface methodology. A central composite design was used to investigate the effects of three independent variables temperature (°C, X₁), reaction time (hours, X₂), and oil volume (multiplied by weight, X₃). The dependent variables were Z-ajoene (Y₁) and E-ajoene (Y₂) in oil-macerated garlic. The optimal conditions for E- and Z-ajoene using ridge analysis were 98.80°C, 6.87 h, and weight multiplied by weight 2.57, and 42.24°C, 9.71 h, and weight multiplied by weight 3.08, respectively. These conditions resulted in E- and Z-ajoene compound predicted values of 234.17 and 752.62 μg/g from garlic juice, respectively. The experimental values of E- and Z-ajoene were 222.75 and 833.59 μg/g, respectively. The estimated maximum values at the predicted optimum conditions were in good agreement with experimental values.

Effects of curcumin (Curcuma longa) on learning and spatial memory as well as cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in adult and aged mice by upregulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor and CREB signaling

Aging is a progressive process, and it may lead to the initiation of neurological diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of wild Indian Curcuma longa using a Morris water maze paradigm on learning and spatial memory in adult and D-galactose-induced aged mice. In addition, the effects on cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation were assessed by immunohistochemistry for Ki67 and doublecortin (DCX) respectively. The aging model in mice was induced through the subcutaneous administration of D-galactose (100 mg/kg) for 10 weeks. C. longa (300 mg/kg) or its vehicle (physiological saline) was administered orally to adult and D-galactose-treated mice for the last three weeks before sacrifice. The administration of C. longa significantly shortened the escape latency in both adult and D-galactose-induced aged mice and significantly ameliorated D-galactose-induced reduction of cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation in the subgranular zone of hippocampal dentate gyrus. In addition, the administration of C. longa significantly increased the levels of phosphorylated CREB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the subgranular zone of dentate gyrus. These results indicate that C. longa mitigates D-galactose-induced cognitive impairment, associated with decreased cell proliferation and neuroblast differentiation, by activating CREB signaling in the hippocampal dentate gyrus.

Validated HPLC method and temperature stabilities for oil-soluble organosulfur compounds in garlic macerated oil

To enhance the utilization of garlic macerated oil as functional foods, oil-soluble organosulfur compounds were investigated using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method. For analysis of compounds, it was simply extracted with 98% n-hexane in 2-propanol followed by sensitive and selective determination of all compounds. These method exhibited excellent linearity for oil-soluble organosulfur compounds with good coefficient (r > 0.999). Average recoveries were in the range of 80.23-106.18%. The limits of quantitation of oil-soluble organosulfur compounds ranged from 0.32 to 9.56 μg mL(-1) and the limits of detection were from 0.11 to 3.16 μg mL(-1). Overall, the precision of the results, expressed as relative standard deviation, ranged from 0.55 to 11.67%. The proposed method was applied to determining the contents of oil-soluble organosulfur compounds in commercial garlic macerated oils. Also, the stability of oil-soluble organosulfur compounds in garlic macerated oil were evaluated during 3 months of storage at four difference temperatures (4, 10, 25 and 35°C). The results showed the studied oil-soluble compounds in garlic macerated oil were stable at 4°C and relatively unstable at 35°C with varied extents degradation. Therefore, these validation data and temperature stability may be useful for quality evaluation of garlic macerated oils.