Biological Characterization and Metabolic Variations among Cell-Free Supernatants Produced by Selected Plant-Based Lactic Acid Bacteria

The aim of this research was to assess the antibacterial and antioxidant properties as well as the variation in metabolites of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from local plants: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ngue16, L. plantarum ng10, Enterococcus durans w3, and Levilactobacillus brevis w6. The tested strains exhibited inhibitory effects against pathogens, including Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Cronobacter sakazakii, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus using the agar spot assay and well diffusion method. The CFS from all four strains displayed antibacterial activity against these pathogens with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 3.12 to 12.5 mg/mL and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values ranging from 6.25 to 25.0 mg/mL. Moreover, the CFS demonstrated resilience within specific pH (3-8) and temperature (60-100 °C) ranges and lost its activity when treated with enzymes, such as Proteinase K and pepsin. Furthermore, the CFS exhibited antioxidant properties as evidenced by their ability to inhibit the formation of two radicals (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) compared to the negative control, De Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) broth. The use of proton-based nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) spectroscopy revealed the presence and quantification of 48 metabolites in both the CFS and MRS broths. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) effectively differentiated between CFS and MRS broth by identifying the specific metabolites responsible for the observed differences. The partial least squares (PLS) model demonstrated a significant correlation between the metabolites in the LAB supernatant and the tested antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Notably, anserine, GABA, acetic acid, lactic acid, uracil, uridine, propylene glycol, isopropanol, serine, histidine, and indol-3-lactate were identified as the compounds contributing the most to the highest antibacterial and antioxidant activities in the supernatant. These findings suggest that the LAB strains investigated have the potential to be utilized in the production of functional foods and the development of pharmaceutical products.

Effects of Water Addition Level on Physical Properties, Rheological Profile and Sensory Evaluation of Gluten-Free Bread: A Preliminary Approach

The amount of water in gluten-free recipes is very important to the quality of the end product. The research aimed to develop an alternative formula for gluten-free bread using different water levels. This research was conducted to determine the physical properties, rheological profile and sensory evaluation of natural gluten-free bread produced by adding different water levels to the recipe without adding hydrocolloid. Five types of bread with different levels of water at (A) 80%; (B) 90%; (C) 100%; (D) and control dough: 105% (control 1); (E) 60% (wheat bread-control 2) of the flour basis were investigated. Control 1 is the standard level of water for making gluten-free bread, while control 2 is the standard level of water for preparing wheat bread. Sample A has a lighter crust and crumbs, as well as a white index value and lower ΔE values comparable to wheat bread, better volume, increased pore size sharply and shows higher G' and G". G' decreased as the amount of water in the dough increased. All dough formulations had higher gelatinisation enthalpy change (ΔH) values than sample A and sample E. The bakery sector could use the findings to design and reformulate the recipes of diabetic and/or reduced calorie and gluten-free bread recipes to better fulfill consumers' expectations.

Study of Selected Beverages with Β-Glucan from Oats and Barley on Physical Properties, Sensory Perception, Glycemic Index and Satiety

Over recent years, more and more products with β-glucan have appeared in the market. This study was conducted to determine the physical, sensory evaluation and glycemic index (GI) of selected popular beverages with β-glucan in the Malaysian market, which were Biogrow Oat BG22 (from oats) and Biolife Barley BG25 (from barley). The physical parameters measured were colour, viscosity, and total suspended solid. Sensory analysis was conducted on 30 subjects using the 7-point hedonic scale. Attributes assessed were colour, aroma, viscosity, sweetness and overall acceptance. A total of 10 subjects were involved in the determination of GI value of these beverages. A total of 25 g glucose was used as the reference. Test meals also contained 25 g available carbohydrate and all beverages were mixed with 250 mL water. Blood samples (finger prick) were taken every 15 minutes (first hour) and 30 minutes (second hour) for the duration of 120 minutes after the food sample consumption. Test protocol was based on ISO26642:2010. Blood glucose values were determined using glucometer. A total of 30 subjects were chosen for the determination of satiety scores. Labelled magnitude satiety scale was used to measure satiety scores before and after test beverage consumption. Subjects were required to assess their perception of fullness or hunger by marking on the labelled magnitude satiety scale every 15 minutes for the first hour and 30 minutes for subsequent 2 hour for a total of 180 minutes. The colour analysis showed that BG25 and BG22 were slightly yellow due to positive b* value. The BG22 was more viscous and do not contain any sugar compared to BG25. Blood glucose level after glucose intake reached optimum level (9.9 mmol/L) at 30 minutes while BG25 and BG22 reached optimum level at 45 minutes with the value 7.9 mmol/L and 6.4 mmol/L respectively. Significant difference was found for attributes aroma, viscosity and overall acceptance of the two products. Our study found, BG22 from oats were has better physical attributes and is better accepted by the panelists. However, it is suggested that both products be taken together with milk or soy to improve the taste. The GI for BG25 was 79 (high GI) while BG22 was 32 (low GI). The BG22 with lower GI is significantly more satiating than BG25 and perhaps can be a choice of beverage for people who are managing diabetes and obesity.

Pleurotus ostreatus Cultivation: Physico-Chemical Characteristics of a Robust Pre-Blocks Oyster Mushroom Substrate with Absorptive Starch Binders

An alternative way of preparing a newly robust and low fragility of the Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) cultivation media is needed as this major problem occurred during harvesting and recyclability. Thus, the cultivation of P. ostreatus mushroom in the form of robust blocks bound together with starch using different tapioca flour binder concentration of 5%, 10% and 25% (w/v) was evaluated for cultivation method development. How mushroom block binder material affects the biological efficiency (BE) and its vegetative growth on newly robust media were identified. The optimized composition of the conventional mushroom substrate has been prepared as a benchmark with the ratio of 100: 10: 1 to residual sawdust, agricultural rice bran and agricultural lime prior to binder mixing. Mushroom BE from bag cultivation methods had been used as a control, which produced lower BE (13%, w/w) than the blocks with a binder (ranging from 18 to 29%, w/w) (p<0.05). The mushroom block with a concentration of 25% (w/v) tapioca flour was found to have a higher bulk density with an average value of 0.87 g/cm3 as compared to the mushroom blocks of 10% (w/v) and 5% (w/v) tapioca flour (p<0.05). The highest water absorption was obtained in the block with 5% (w/v) tapioca flour with a value of 300.18% (w/w) on a dry basis. In terms of compressive strength, the substrate of the mushroom block from 25% (w/v) tapioca flour had the highest value with 0.022 N/mm2. The pH value of the substrate before seeding was between 8 and 9 whereas post-seeding value was measured at 4 to 6. The physico-chemical analysis of density, water absorption, compressive strength test, pH and colour values exhibited a good and ideal micro-environment growth of the mushroom. Some nutritional deficiencies in the pre-blocks were observed through imperatively acceptable as compared to the compressed substrate in polypropylene bags (PP). The pre-block formulations with 5% (w/v) and 25% (w/v) tapioca flour conceive good potential and potency in producing high BE of P. ostreatus without compromising its nutritional health benefits.

Effects of Different Drying Methods on the Functional Properties and Physicochemical Characteristics of Chia Mucilage Powder (Salvia hispanica L.)

Chia seeds are a healthy source of omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fibre. The effects of different drying methods (freeze-drying and oven-drying) on the functional properties (water holding capacity, oil holding capacity and colour analysis) and physicochemical characteristics (scanning electron microscopy) of chia mucilage powder (Salvia hispanica L.) including comparison with xanthan gum, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and arabic gum were investigated. Chia mucilage dried in a freeze dryer (FD) showed significantly higher (p<0.05) values of water holding and oil holding capacities compared to chia mucilage dried in air convection heat oven (ACHO), xanthan gum, HPMC and arabic gum. It also showed a higher L* value (lightness) than ACHO, HPMC, and xanthan gum but lower values of a*, b*, c*, BI, and ΔE than ACHO and xanthan gum. The morphology of FD is smaller, more uniform in size, with a fine fibrous relative structure compared to ACHO. FD is a novel mucilage that could potentially be used as a functional and environmentally friendly hydrocolloid for human consumption and significantly better than commercial hydrocolloids. These results can also help to select successful drying methods for food products based on their functional and physicochemical characteristics.

Management of T1DM in children and adolescents in primary care

The Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Children &amp; Adolescents was developed by a multidisciplinary development group and approved by the Ministry of Health Malaysia in 2015. A systematic review of 15 clinical questions was conducted using the evidence retrieved mainly from MEDLINE and Cochrane databases. Critical appraisal was done using the Critical Appraisal Skills. Recommendations were formulated on the accepted 136 evidences using the principles of Grading Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation tailored to the local setting. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease, which usually occurs at an early age, and is associated with various complications including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy and cardiovascular morbidity. Good glycaemic control early in the disease results in lower frequency of chronic diabetes complications, which in turn reduces the healthcare cost. Accurate classification of diabetes and optimum management with the aim to achieve glycaemic targets is of utmost importance.

Effect of four different vegetable oils (red palm olein, palm olein, corn oil, coconut oil) on antioxidant enzymes activity of rat liver

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of four different vegetable oils [red palm olein (RPO), palm olein (PO), corn oil (CO), coconut oil (COC)] on antioxidant enzymes activity of rat liver. Sixty six Sprague Dawley male rats which were randomly divided into eleven groups of 6 rats per group and were treated with 15% of RPO, PO, CO and COC for 4 and 8 weeks. Rats in the control group were given normal rat pellet only while in treated groups, 15% of additional different vegetable oils were given. After 4 weeks of treatment the catalase (CAT) activity results showed that there was no significance difference (p > or = 0.05) between the control group and treated groups while after 8 weeks of treatment showed that there was no significant different (p > or = 0.05) between control group and RPO group but the treated rat liver with PO, CO and COC groups were the lowest and it were significantly lower (> or = 0.05) than control group. For superoxide dismutase (SOD) there was no significance difference (p > or = 0.05) between the control group and treated groups of vegetable oils after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Thus the study indicated that there was no significant (p > or = 0.05) effect on antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase) but there was significant effect (p > or = 0.05) on catalase in rat liver.

Tuberous sclerosis complex: a review with a study of eight cases

This paper reviews the subject of tuberous sclerosis complex and presents data in eight cases of this condition, admitted to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia over a period of 8.5 years. The average age at presentation was 53 months. Seizures were the most common presenting feature. Male to female ratio was 3:1. Family history was present in four patients. All of the patients had one or more skin lesions. Six of them had retinal in six patients. Two patients had renal angiomyolipomas. A high index of hamartomas. Cardiac tumours were found in two patients. Multiple subependymal hamartomas were detected in six patients. Two patients had renal angiomyolipomas. A high index of suspicion and a detailed physical examination is required to diagnose this rare disorder.