Development of curcumin-loaded nanoemulsion stabilized with texturized whey protein concentrate: Characterization, stability and in vitro digestibility

The impacts of pH (2.8, 4.5, and 7.2) and extrusion cooking temperature (60°C, 85°C, and 110°C) on properties of native whey protein concentrate (NWPC) were evaluated, followed by delivering of curcumin through a nanoemulsion system stabilized with extruded WPC (EWPC). Protein solubility, surface hydrophobicity, and emulsion properties such as emulsion activity index (at 1% [w/w] protein concentration), stability index (at 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4% [w/w] protein concentration) and creaming index (evaluated at different protein concentrations [0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4% w/w] and oil levels [20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%]) were improved as a function of the extrusion process. It was found that both covalent and non-covalent interactions contributed to the stabilization of the extrudates. The rheological investigation of the emulsions stabilized with EWPC (at different oil levels [20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%]) revealed high viscosity and shear thinning behavior as well as much higher G' and G″ values. Encapsulation efficiency was increased from 90.8% to 95.7% when NWPC and EWPC were used, respectively. The curcumin-loaded nanoemulsion containing EWPC presented high stability in confronting with ionic strength (NaCl salt with a concentration of 0.1-1 M), pH (3, 5, and 7), thermal treatments (pasteurization at 63°C for 30 min and sterilization at 95°C for 10 min) and storage time (1 month at 4°C and 25°C). In vitro release behavior revealed that samples stabilized with EWPC showed burst release in simulated intestine conditions. However, it was more stable in stomach conditions.

Health Risk Assessment of Lead, Cadmium, and Arsenic in Leafy Vegetables in Tehran, Iran: the Concentration Data Study

Absorption of heavy and toxic metals causes their accumulation in the edible parts of vegetables. Pollutants such as heavy metals have directly affected the health of society and contributed to emerging diseases in recent years. The current study aimed to detect heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As) in highly consumed leafy vegetables provided from the Tehran market. Four types of vegetables, including dill, parsley, cress, and coriander were selected and 64 samples were randomly collected from fruit and vegetable markets in different regions of Tehran in August and September 2022. Then, samples were analyzed by the ICP-OES system, and health risk assessment was conducted using non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic approach. The range of Pb concentration was 54-314, < LOQ-289, < LOQ-230, and < LOQ-183 μg/kg for dill, cress, parsley, and coriander, respectively. The high mean concentrations of Pb belong to the dill (161.43 ± 77.3 μg/kg) and cress (154.75 ± 72.9 μg/kg). In some samples of dill (37.5% of samples), cress (18.75% of samples), and parsley (12.5% of samples), the Pb content was above the national allowable limit (200 μg/kg). The range of Cd concentration was < LOQ-42, < LOQ-41, < LOQ-30, and < LOQ-38 μg/kg for dill, cress, parsley, and coriander, respectively. In none of the samples, the concentration of Cd was higher than the Iranian national limit (50 μg/kg). The As occurrence was observed in all cress samples with a mean of 165.19 ± 64.83 μg/kg. The range of As concentration was < LOQ-71, < LOQ-256, 58-273, and < LOQ-75 μg/kg for parsley, dill, cress, and coriander, respectively. The THQ and HI values were higher than 1, and either ILCR value was higher than 10-4 for all tested heavy metals, it can be concluded that higher levels of heavy metals than the standard limits in some samples may raise the warning alarm and should come to the attention of the authorities.

Relationship between diet quality and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease predictor indices in Iranian patients with metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study

The present study aimed to assess the association between diet quality and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) predictor indices in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). This cross-sectional study was carried out among 344 adult patients with MetS. The diet quality of patients was calculated by Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015). NAFLD predictor indices (Hepatic Steatosis Index [HSI], Triglyceride-Glucose Index [TyG], and Fatty Liver Index [FLI]) were calculated and compared according to the HEI-2015 quartiles. The relationship between the HEI-2015 score and HSI, FLI, and TyG Index was estimated using multiple linear regression analysis. The findings of the present study revealed that patients with the highest HEI score had the lowest FLI score (p = .003) and HSI score (p = .05). There was an inverse relationship between the HEI-2015 score and FLI (β = -0.49; p < .001), HSI (β = -0.05; p = .25), and TyG Index (β = -0.002; p = .34). According to our result, after adjusting for possible confounding factors, there was a statistically significant inverse association between HEI-2015 and FLI.

Modulation of toxicity effects of CuSO4 by sulfated polysaccharides extracted from brown algae (Sargassum tenerrimum) in Danio rerio as a model

Copper is widely used in agriculture and aquaculture due to its high disinfection properties and relatively low cost. However, the increase in copper concentration due to evaporation can lead to water reservoir pollution, which can harm the health of consumers. The present study aimed to determine the role of sulfated polysaccharides (SPs) extracted from Sargassum tenerimum algae in reducing lesions caused by the heavy metal copper. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) were used as a human model in five treatments. The negative and positive control groups were fed a diet containing zero percent of SPs, while the experimental groups were fed 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% of SPs in three treatments for 56 days, finally CuSO4 was exposed only to the positive control group and the groups fed with SPs. Results showed a significant decrease in the activity level of ALT enzymes (39-16 U/mL), AST (67-46 U/mL), and ALP (485-237 U/mL), confirming the results obtained from histopathological studies in CuSO4 exposed groups. The addition of SPs to the diet resulted in a significant reduction (sig < 0.05) of mortalities due to the decrease of tissue damage. Additionally, due to the anti-inflammatory properties and the protective effect of SPs, a significant decrease (sig < 0.05) was observed in the relative expression of Il-1β and Tnf-α genes.

Potential roles of ellagic acid on metabolic variables in diabetes mellitus: A systematic review

Diabetes mellitus is a widespread endocrine disorder globally. Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, ellagic acid has the potential to improve the metabolic effects of chronic non-communicable diseases. This systematic review summarizes current evidence about the potential effects of ellagic acid on metabolic variables in diabetes mellitus. A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, ProQuest and Google Scholar from inception until March 2022. All animal studies and clinical trials were eligible for inclusion. Studies using in vitro models or published in a non-English language were excluded. Of 1320 articles, 23 were selected for assessment, including 21 animal studies and two randomized controlled trial studies. Following ellagic acid administration, findings reported improvement in FBS, HbA1c, insulin (20, 8 and 12 studies, respectively), TG, TC, HDL-C (13, 10 and 5 studies, respectively), MDA, GSH, CAT, SOD (11, 6, 3 and 4 studies, respectively), and TNF-α and IL-6 (6 and 3 studies, respectively). In conclusion, ellagic acid may improve glycaemic indicators, dyslipidaemia, oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes mellitus. However, further clinical trials are needed to explore the mechanisms more precisely and to observe the applied consequences.

Dietary Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus casei on Some Immunity Indices of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Exposed to Cadmium

The present study investigated the effect of feeding common carp with Lactobacillus probiotic supplement on growth, blood indices, and immunity of serum and mucus exposed to cadmium. A total of 250 common carp with an average weight of 15 ± 0.62 were divided into three groups: fish without probiotics, and fish with two levels of probiotic. At the end of a 42-day feeding period, 50% of the lethal concentrations of cadmium were exposed for 14 days and blood and immune indices of serum and mucus were measured. The results showed that growth indices, blood indices, and serum and mucus immunity were significantly different from the control group (P < 0.05). Finally, this study showed probiotics could improve the decreasing effect of cadmium in BWI and PBWI indices and the additive effect of cadmium in FCR and ALT. Probiotic was also able to completely improve the decreasing effect of cadmium on lymphocyte indices and the additive effect of cadmium on ALP and AST and monocyte.

Adherence to Healthy Eating Index-2015 and severity of disease in hospitalised military patients with COVID-19: a cross sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Proper nutrition can play an important role in preventing and improving disease progression in patients with COVID-19. The Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) is one of the most common measures used to assess overall nutritional quality. This research aimed to identify the relationship between the HEI-2015 score and disease severity in hospitalised military patients with COVID-19.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 295 hospitalised military patients (retired military and military reserve) with COVID-19. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess food intake. To evaluate the quality of the diet, the HEI-2015 score was calculated. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to measure the association between HEI-2015 scores and disease severity (intensive care unit (ICU) admission and length of hospital stay greater than 4 days) in hospitalised military patients with COVID-19.

RESULTS

The mean HEI-2015 score was significantly higher in non-ICU patients than in ICU patients (58.39±15.02 vs 53.54±15.65, p=0.01). After adjusting for possible confounding factors including age, sex, comorbidities, calorie intake, body mass index and physical activity, adherence to HEI-2015 inversely related to ICU admission (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.95 to 1.00) and length of hospital stay of more than 4 days (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.97 to 1.00) in hospitalised military patients with COVID-19, although statistically not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the results of the study, adherence to HEI-2015 inversely related to both ICU admission and length of hospital stay in hospitalised military patients with COVID-19, although it was not statistically significant.

Nanotechnology for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis

As the first cause of death in the last three years, SARS-CoV-2 infection gained lots of interest. In light of this, several studies have been done to fabricate novel, high-speed detection methods for different virus variants. Indeed, the high mortality rate that could result from the late detection and the probable false results of conventional tests used to detect infection led to the introduction. Among the most interesting of them are -based biosensors fabricated from inorganic-based nanomaterials to diagnose SARS-CoV-2. Accordingly, this review paper presents an overview of recent nanotechnology advances in fabricating biosensors for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infections.            

Toxicity and Anti-feeding effect of Aesculushippocastanum, Thymus daenensis, Artemisia abrotanum, and Chrozophora tinctoria on Sitophillus oryzae

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The approach of food storage, especially cereals and basic human food sources, has long been considered as a problem to combat storage pests. the use of plant compounds has been suggested by researchers as an alternative to phosphine in the fight against pests.In this study, four plants such as Aesculushippocastanum, Thymus daenensis, Artemisia abrotanum and Chrozophoratinctoria were evaluated based on their deadly and repellent properties of pests and insectsconsidering Iranian medicine sources.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, plant extracts were prepared by ethanol solvent method and then, their lethal and Anti-feeding experiments were performed on rice insects (Sitophylusoryzae) in standard laboratory conditions.

RESULTS

Extracts of Thymus daenensis, Aesculushippocastanum, Artemisia abrotanum and Chrozophoratinctoria were estimated to be 553.2, 753.6, 878.3 and 987.3 mg / ml effective dose, respectively.The results showed that Thymus daenensis extract with 90.33% with lower concentration compared to Aesculushippocastanum, Artemisia abrotanum and Chrozophoratinctoria extracts has the highest lethal effect against S. oryzae. Also in Anti-feedingtest, Thymus daenensis extract showed the highest Anti-feedingeffect in comparison with Aesculushippocastanum, Artemisia abrotanum and Chrozophoratinctoria extracts, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of plants in the control against storage pests such as rice weevils will have favorable environmental results, human health and less storage is dangerous.

Efficacy of Syzygium aromaticum essential oil on the growth and enzymatic activity of pathogenic Candida albicans strains

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the most common human pathogen owing to the most virulence factors. It seems that extracellular hydrolytic enzymes play a key role in C. albicans pathogenicity. The present study aimed to assess the susceptibility and enzymatic activity of pathogenic C. albicans isolates exposed to the Syzygium aromaticum (S. aromaticum) essential oil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

S. aromaticum oil was characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The broth microdilution technique (CLSI, M27-A3) was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of test compounds. Furthermore, before and after treatment with S. aromaticum essential oil, the yeasts were analyzed regarding the proteinase (Prz), hemolysin (Hz), and phospholipase (Phz) production/activity.

RESULTS

β-caryophyllene (12.76%) was found to be the major constituent in the essential oil after eugenol (84.64%). Only one isolate of C. albicans showed the antifungal resistance to fluconazole. All isolates were susceptible to S. aromaticum essential oil with MIC of 625-1250 μg/ml. S. aromaticum oil represented the best antifungal effect against C. albicans at MIC 1000 μg/ml. The mean±SD enzyme activity of C. albicans not exposed to S. aromaticum essential oil was obtained at 0.55±0.03, 0.73±0.04, and 0.61±0.05 for proteinase, hemolysin, and phospholipase, respectively. The activities of these enzymes were reduced significantly (P<0.05) to 0.33±0.06, 0.40±0.04, and 0.16±0.03 for phospholipase, proteinase, and hemolysin, respectively, after the yeasts were subjected to S. aromaticum essential oil.

CONCLUSION

The present study aimed to determine the ability of S. aromaticum essential oil to prevent the growth of C. albicans and decrease their enzymatic activity. As a natural antifungal agent, S. aromaticum can be utilized in pharmaceutical systems.

LncRNAs roles in Chemoresistance of Cancer cells

Cancer is an important health issue worldwide. Cancer therapy is multifaceted, and drug resistance is still the major limiting factor in treatment of patients with this disease. Although the mechanisms of anticancer drug resistance have been broadly investigated, a massive biological signal pathway of Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) involved in this process has not been completely understood. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a kind of transcripts with a minimum length of 200 nucleotides in size which have a limited potential for coding proteins. The roles of these RNA molecules have been evaluated in relation to several pathological processes including tumor formation and progression. Increasing evidence haverecently reported that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly long non-coding RNAs have significant roles in many cellular and genomic processes, and because of their potential in regulation specific genes, they are also involved in drug resistance. In this review, we review the literature on the features oflncRNA, their regulation roles in the gene expression related to chemoresistance and the potential of these RNAs as targeted therapies for personalized treatment in cancers.

Vitamin D3 protects against lead-induced testicular toxicity by modulating Nrf2 and NF-κB genes expression in rat

Lead (Pb) is an environmental toxin that has the ability to alter biological processes by inducing oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) are two transcriptional factors that participate in the regulation of cellular responses against OS and inflammation. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin D3 (VD) on the prevention of testicular damages of Pb and its association with Nrf2 and NF-κB gene expression levels and their downstream molecules. Forty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups and treatments were performed as following for four weeks: control group received no treatment, VD group were injected intramuscularly with 1000 IU of VD/Kg every other day, Pb group received 1000 mg of Pb/L of drinking water, and Pb + VD group were exposed to Pb and VD simultaneously. The results demonstrated significant decrease in the levels of tissue antioxidants, and increase in inflammatory cytokines in the Pb-intoxicated group, with increased Nrf2 and NF-κB mRNA levels. A remarkable reduction in sperm criteria and a significant disruption in serum hormones were also observed. Anyhow, VD supplementation during exposure to Pb showed a significant protective effect against all pathophysiologic alterations caused by Pb. Furthermore, VD affected the expression of Nrf2 and NF-κB and mitigated the harsh effects of Pb. In conclusion, our findings indicate that VD attenuated the toxic impacts of Pb on testis through modulation of Nrf2 and NF-κB gene expression levels which further regulated the OS and inflammatory responses.

The efficacy of probiotics in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (an animal model for MS): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Probiotics immunomodulatory properties and their beneficial effects for diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) are reported by several studies. The current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the favourable effects of probiotics in improving experimental autoimmune/allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) as an animal model of MS. We systematically searched Scopus, Web of Sciences (ISI), and PubMed databases to identify relevant studies from the inception of these databases to December 2019. A total of 15 animal studies met the inclusion criteria, while no human study met the inclusion criteria. The association between consumption of probiotics and each sign was calculated using the producing pooled odd ratios (95% confidence interval [95% CI]) in a random effect model. The meta-analysis revealed the significant effect of probiotics on the incidence of EAE, weight gain, and clinical symptoms. However, the effects of probiotics on the duration of the disease varied by probiotic strain. The administration of probiotics was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of mortality only in female animals. Moreover, the meta-analysis revealed the promising effects of probiotics on the prevention and management of EAE.

Risk assessment of probable human errors in the scaffold erection and dismantling procedure: a fuzzy approach

Objectives. Despite widespread use of scaffolds on construction sites, they are the most common causes of accidents, injuries and fatalities in this sector. About 80-90% of all occupational accidents occur as a result of human factors. On construction sites, proper erection/dismantling of scaffold is possibly the most essential factor in preventing accidents as it is one of the factors reported to be highly statistically significant in correlation to a high overall scaffold safety rating. Therefore, analysis of human errors (HEs) caused by scaffolders is important to be implemented. The main objective of this study was to evaluate possible HEs during scaffold erection and dismantling (SE&D). Methods. Stages involved were identified using hierarchical task analysis (HTA). Risk values of HEs were then evaluated using the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). Results. Our findings indicate that the highest and lowest risk values were related to the errors of 'failure to reattach braces and connections prior to dismantling scaffolds' and 'insufficient preparation of the firm foundation', respectively. Conclusion. This study formulates a method to estimate the risk of potential HEs in SE&D.

In-syringe ionic liquid-dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with HPLC for the determination of trans,trans-muconic acid in human urine sample

trans,trans-Muconic acid has been widely used as a biomarker in biological monitoring of benzene-exposed workers during routine occupational health services. In the present study, a novel microextraction technique, in-syringe ionic liquid-dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, was implemented for preconcentration of trans,trans-muconic acid followed by analytical determination by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Moreover, the important variables affecting the performance of applied microextraction technique including needle diameter, volume of the spiked sample, volume of the ionic liquid, salt addition, rotation speed of centrifugation, centrifuge time, and ultrasonic time were optimized by experimental design. A good linear relationship was observed at the range of 0.032-10 μg/mL between the peak area and the concentration levels (R²  = 0.9997). The limit of detection and extraction recovery for trans,trans-muconic acid were 0.011 μg/mL and >96.2%, respectively. This method provided easy and rapid analysis of low amounts of trans,trans-muconic acid in human urine with simple equipment.

In vitro activity of encapsulated lactic acid bacteria on aflatoxin production and growth of Aspergillus Spp

This study aimed to investigate the potential ability of simultaneously used L. acidophilus(LA-5), L.rhamnosus(LGG), and L.casei(LC-01) in encapsulated (E) and nonencapsulated (NE) forms in mycelial growth of Aspergillus spp and aflatoxin production by A. flavus. In order to assess the zone of fungal growth inhibition by E and NE lactic acid bacteria, the agar well diffusion method was applied. Quantification of aflatoxin was performed using a high-performance liquid chromatography technique. Lactic acid bacteria exhibited high antifungal activity and significantly reduced AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 production in both E and NE forms compared to the control group. The percentage of reduction in total AFs production in treated samples with E and NE lactic acid bacteria was 94.1% and 95.5%, respectively. These results suggested that simultaneously used lactic acid bacteria in E and NE forms can prevent growth and decrease aflatoxin production of toxigenic aspergilla.

Effects of synbiotic supplementation on the components of metabolic syndrome in military personnel: a double-blind randomised controlled trial

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome comprises a set of risk factors for chronic diseases including abdominal obesity, increased fasting blood glucose (FBG), altered lipid profile and elevated blood pressure (BP). Due to high prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its complications in the military personnel, the relevant problems should be identified and controlled. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of synbiotic supplements on the components of metabolic syndrome in the military personnel with metabolic syndrome.

Methodology

Sixty military personnel with metabolic syndrome were included in this double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial. During the intervention, they were asked to consume one capsule of synbiotic supplement or placebo per day for 8 weeks. Body Mass Index (BMI), waist circumference, BP, FBG and lipid profile were measured before and after the intervention.

Results

The results of the study showed that the synbiotic supplementation had a large significant adjusted effect on the BMI (Cohen’s d=0.82 (95% CI 0.29 to 1.34)). It also had a medium significant adjusted effect on the FBG (Cohen’s d=0.52 (95% CI 0.004 to 1.03)) as well as triglyceride (Cohen’s d=0.65 (95% CI 0.13 to 1.17)).

Conclusion

Findings of the study revealed that synbiotic supplementation may lead to a significant improvement in the BMI, triglyceride and FBG levels in the military personnel. Thus, consumption of synbiotic supplements is recommended as an adjuvant therapy in the military personnel with metabolic syndrome.

Determine the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity and Effective Factors in Iranian Females: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associated factors in the female population of Shiraz, South of Iran. This population-based cross-sectional study is based on a screening program on 11850 women referring to a gynecological clinic between 2004 and 2012. Overweight and obesity were defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9 kg/m2 and a BMI ≥30 kg/m2, respectively. The mean age of participants was 41.1±10.6 yrs. Mean BMI were 27 kg/m2 (95% CI: 26.90-27.10). The total prevalence of overweight and obesity was 41.4% (95% CI: 40.5-42.3) and 24.10% (95% CI: 23.3-24.9), respectively. In addition, 50-54-year-old women were more likely to have a BMI ≥25 than Youngers. The high prevalence of obesity and overweight in the present study indicates the need for planning preventive programs for the health system in this population.

Application of nanomaterials in treatment, anti-infection and detection of coronaviruses

Nanotechnology and nanomedicine have excellent potential in dealing with a range of different health problems, including viruses, which are considered to be a serious challenge in the medical field. Application of nanobiotechnology could represent a new avenue for the treatment or disinfection of viruses. There is increasing concern regarding the control of coronaviruses, among these, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 are well known and dangerous examples. This article aims to provide an overview of recent studies on the effectiveness of nanoparticles as diagnostic or antiviral tools against coronaviruses. The possibilities of effectively using nanomaterials as vaccines and nanosensors in this field are also presented.

Epidemiological characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in IRAN: A single center study

BACKGROUND

An outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran has spread throughout the country. Identifying the epidemiological characteristics of this disease will help to make appropriate decisions and thus control the epidemic. The aim of this study was characterization of the epidemiological features of COVID-19 in Iran.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, data related to the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 19 February 2020 to 15 April 2020 have been analyzed and reported. Patient characteristics including age, gender and underlying diseases were investigated. Data were collected through patient records. Sex ratio, Case Fatality Rate (CFR) and daily trend of cases were also determined. A multiple logistic regression analysis was also performed to assess affecting factors on mortality.

RESULTS

From February 19, 2020 to April 15, 2020, 12870 patients referred to the hospital emergency department, of which 2968 were hospitalized with COVID-19 diagnosis. The majority of cases were in the age group of 50 to 60 years of old. The male-to-female ratio was 1.93:1. A total of 239 deaths occurred among all cases for an overall CFR of 1.85% based on the total number of patients (both outpatient and inpatient) and 8.06% among hospitalized patients. Out of all patients 10.89% had comorbidity. Diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, chronic Kidney diseases and cancer were the most common comorbidities with 3.81, 2.02 , 1.99 , 1.25, 0.60 and 0.57 %, respectively. Male gender (OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.08-1.96), older age (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.04-1.06) and having underlying diseases (OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.04-2.24) were significantly associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study showed that Male gender, older age and having comorbidities were significantly associated with the risk of death among COVID-19 patients. It is important to pay special attention to male elderly patients with underlying diseases.

The effect of gelatin and thymol-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier on physicochemical, rheological, and sensory properties of sesame paste/date syrup blends as a snack bar

The development of a novel snack bar based on sesame paste (SP) and date syrup (DS) was investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluation the effects of SP/DS ratio and encapsulated thymol (thymol-loaded nanostructured lipid carrier [TNLC]) on physicochemical, textural, rheological, and sensorial properties of snack bars. The effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), thymol, and TNLC showed that the addition of 100 ppm TNLC could improve the oxidative stability of SP/DS mixtures even better than BHT, while a higher concentration of TNLC had a negative effect. The unpleasant taste and odor of thymol could be overcome by its encapsulation in nanostructured lipid carriers. The textural properties of the formulations with different SP/DS ratios (1:2, 1:1, 2:1) and an overall concentration of 7 g of gelatin/kg of mixtures were evaluated. The texture profile analysis showed that the sample with an SP/DS ratio of 1:1 had higher hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness, and gumminess in comparison with the other ratios. From the sensory evaluation data, the bar prepared with an SP/DS ratio of 1:1 had the most acceptable texture. According to the results, the SP/DS ratio of 1:1 with gelatin and 100 ppm TNLC can be used in developing SP/DS blends as a highly acceptable functional food.

Using the mixture design approach to predict the rheological properties of low-calorie dairy desserts containing gum tragacanth exuded by three Iranian Astragalus species

In this study, the flow behavior and creep parameters of saffron desserts containing gum tragacanth combinations of three species were modeled by the mixture design approach. Flow behavior and creep-recovery experiments were performed and models were predicted for apparent viscosity, consistency index, flow index, instantaneous compliance, and viscoelastic compliance. Five representative samples regarding the range of apparent viscosity at the shear rate of 50 s^-1 were subjected to sensory evaluation. According to rheological measurements, the addition of GT species of A. gossypinus led to the production of a dessert with a strong structure. Then, two samples with the highest consistency index and the lowest creep parameters were compared with two commercial saffron desserts. The results revealed that the overall acceptance of the two selected samples [containing 4% (w/w) A. gossypinus or 2.66% (w/w) A. gossypinus and 1.33% (w/w) A. fluccosus] was similar to those of the two commercial samples.

Combined effects of lactoperoxidase system-whey protein coating and modified atmosphere packaging on the microbiological, chemical and sensory attributes of Pike-Perch fillets

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of lactoperoxidase system-whey protein coating and modified atmosphere packaging (60% CO2, 30% N2, 10% O2) combination (LPOS + WPS + MAP) on the microbiological, chemical and sensory specifications of Pike-Perch (Sander Lucioperca, Linnaeus 1758) fillets. The highest bacterial count was observed in the fish fillets packaged with whey protein coating solutions (WPS) in compare with the other groups. Combination of WPS + LPOS and MAP packaging could significantly inhibit bacterial growth. Total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), as a quality index of flesh, had strong correlation (r = 0.98-0.99) with microbial load, so that the highest and the lowest TVB-N values were observed in WPS and WPS + LPOS + MAP batches, respectively. Assessments of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances index showed that incorporation of LPOS with WPS or MAP did not have remarkable effect on lipid oxidation, but combined effect of MAP and WPS + LPOS on reducing fat oxidation was significant. The pH values in WPS + LPOS, WPS + MAP and WPS + LPOS + MAP were significantly lower than WPS. Sensory evaluations indicated that LPOS + WPS + MAP kept Pike-Perch fillets at high sensory acceptability for at least 16 days in refrigerated temperature. In conclusion, combination of MAP and WPS + LPOS showed synergistic effects on shelf-life extension of Pike-Perch fillets under refrigerated storage.

Evaluation of antioxidant and antifungal properties of the traditional plants against foodborne fungal pathogens

OBJECTIVE

To determine the antioxidant and antifungal activities of the essential oils from five aromatic herbs, including Thymus vulgaris, Chamaemelum nobile, Ziziphora clinopodioides, Zingiber officinale and Cuminum cyminum, against different Aspergillus and Penicillium species.

METHODS

The oils were subjected to screening for their possible antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The susceptibility test for the oils was carried out in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) using microdilution method.

RESULTS

The values of the essential oils in DPPH assay were as follows: T. vulgaris (450.11±5.23 μg/mL), Ch. nobile (602.73±4.8 μg/mL), Ziz. clinopodioides (1238.82±9.3 μg/mL), Cu. cyminum (1255.52±8.92 μg/mL) and Zin. officinale (5595.06±8.24 μg/mL). Our findings also indicated a strong activity against tested fungi for the oil of T. vulgaris (1250 μg/mL), followed by Cu. cyminum (1416 μg/mL), Zin. officinale (1833 μg/mL), Ziz. clinopodioides (2166 μg/mL) and Ch. nobile (3750 μg/mL). This study confirmed the excellent antifungal and antioxidant properties of the essential oils, especially T. vulgaris, against foodborne pathogenic fungi.

CONCLUSION

Owing to their strong protective features, these oils could be used in ethno-medicine as preventers of lipid peroxidation and cellular damage, and in food industries as preservers of foodstuffs against spoilage fungi. Also, they could be the candidates to develop new antibiotics and disinfectants to control infective agents.

Lactic acid bacteria as functional probiotic isolates for inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus flavus, A. parasiticus, A. niger and Penicillium chrysogenum

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. casei, L. paracasei and Bifidobacterium bifidum to inhibit the outgrowth of some common food-spoiling fungi including Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. parasiticus and Penicillium chrysogenum.

METHODS

Bacterial isolates were cultured on Mann Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth and liquid cultures and supernatants were prepared. The antifungal activity was tested using the agar well diffusion method.

RESULTS

Both liquid culture and supernatant of L. casei isolate exhibited high antifungal activity, followed by L. acidophilus and L. paracasei isolates. The least activity was recorded for the isolates B. bifidum, while the isolate L. rhamnosus was moderately active against tested fungi. The antifungal activity of the supernatants obtained from all probiotic isolates against fungi was significantly less than that of liquid cultures (P<0.05). Antifungal activity evaluation showed that A. flavus was the most inhibited fungus by probiotic bacteria, followed by P. chrysogenum, A. niger and A. parasiticus.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that probiotic bacteria strains have the ability to prevent the growth of pathogenic and mycotoxigenic fungi as antifungal agents for various biomedical applications.

The effect of alginate and chitosan concentrations on some properties of chitosan-coated alginate beads and survivability of encapsulated Lactobacillus rhamnosus in simulated gastrointestinal conditions and during heat processing

BACKGROUND

In this study, chitosan-coated alginate beads were produced with different concentrations of chitosan and alginate to evaluate the survival of encapsulated Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG during exposure to adverse conditions in gastrointestinal simulated juice and heat processing.

RESULTS

The encapsulation yield of different encapsulation treatments was between 25 and 53.2%. Although there was a drastic decrease in pH within 48 h of incubation in MRS medium inoculated with free and encapsulated bacteria, no significant changes (P > 0.05) in bacterial count were observed among different encapsulation treatments. Moreover, the survival rate after gastrointestinal juice exposure of all prepared beads was 10-87 times greater than that of free cells and was significantly enhanced by increasing chitosan and alginate concentrations. The encapsulated bacteria survived significantly (P < 0.05) better than the free cells during heat exposure at 55, 60 and 65 °C: free cells experienced about 5 log cycles reduction after heat treatment at 65 °C for 30 min, whereas 40 g L(-1) alginate/10 g L(-1) chitosan-encapsulated L. rhamnosus was reduced by only 2.55 log cycles.

CONCLUSION

Encapsulation effectively protected L. rhamnosus against heat treatment and gastrointestinal conditions, and this effect is important in delivering sufficient numbers of viable probiotic bacteria to the gastrointestinal tract.

Antifungal efficacy of thymol, carvacrol, eugenol and menthol as alternative agents to control the growth of food-relevant fungi

OBJECTIVE

This work is an attempt to examine the antifungal activity of thymol, carvacrol, eugenol and menthol against 11 food-decaying fungi.

METHODS

The susceptibility test for the compounds was carried out in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) using microdilution method in 96 multi-well microtiter plates.

RESULTS

Results indicated that all compounds were effective to varying extents against various fungal isolates, with the highest efficacy displayed by carvacrol (mean MIC value: 154.5 μg/mL) (P<0.05). The incorporation of increased concentrations of all compounds to the media led to progressive and significant reduction in growth for all fungi. The most potent inhibitory activity of thymol, carvacrol, eugenol and menthol was found for Cladosporium spp. (MIC: 100 μg/mL), Aspergillus spp. (MIC: 100 μg/mL), Cladosporium spp. (MIC: 350 μg/mL), and Aspergillus spp. and Cladosporium spp. (MIC: 125 μg/mL), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the application of these herbal components could be considered as a good alternatives to inhibit fungal growth and to reduce the use of synthetic fungicides.

Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism and total serum cholesterol level in Iranian population

BACKGROUND

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is known as a major regulator of blood lipid levels in humans. A number of APOE gene allelic variants have been reported including E2, E3 and E4. Recent studies suggested a role for APOE in obesity and increased Body Mass Index (BMI) and plasma lipid levels in obese children.

AIM

The aim of this study was to examine the association between APOE genetic variants and the BMI and lipid profile in an Iranian cohort.

SETTING AND DESIGN

Samples were obtained from subjects who participated in a study based on the WHO-designed MONICA (multinational monitoring of trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease) study for coronary artery disease risk assessment in Zone 17 of Tehran. The study was approved by the local ethical committee. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects included in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects (n=320) were recruited. The level of triglyceride (TG) and total serum cholesterol was tested for all subjects in this study. Genotyping for APOE was carried using polymerase chain reaction-Restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)technique.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Levels of significance were determined using contingency tables by either Chi-square or Fisher exact analysis using the STATA (v8) software. The analysis of regression and significance of differences for level of cholesterol and TG was established by one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett post hoc multiple comparison tests using SPSS software Version 11.5.

RESULTS

The frequency of allele E2 was significantly higher in patients with total serum cholesterol level <200 mg/dl (P 0.01 OR 2.1 95% CI 1.1-4.2).

CONCLUSION

The association found in this study between allele E2 and lower total cholesterol level had been reported in previous studies. We have also observed that the frequency of genotype E2/E3 and E2/E4 was significantly higher in patients with normal total serum cholesterol level compared to patients with abnormal cholesterol (P=0.003 OR 2.4 95% CI; 1.3-4.6). Our data needs to be repeated in a larger population with more information for serum LDL and HDL levels and their subgroups.