Search Results (62)

Background: Plant-based meat analogs (PBMAs) have attracted attention as alternatives to traditional meat. Methods: In this study, three beef products (BPs; BP-1, BP-2, BP-3) and three PBMA products (PPs; PP-1, PP-2, PP-3) purchased from a Korean market were evaluated for nutritional profile-based nutritional facts, such as proximate composition, total calories, and levels of mineral, cholesterol, sugar, fatty acids, and amino acids, and for sensory characteristics. Results: Cholesterol and vaccenic acid were detected only in the BP samples. The levels of crude lipids, zinc, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, threonine, and lysine, and the score for taste and flavor were higher for the BPs than for the PPs (p < 0.05). By contrast, the levels of carbohydrates, calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, glucose, sucrose, total sugar, isoleucine, phenylalanine, and glutamic acid were higher for the PPs than for the BPs. The levels of protein, potassium, phosphorus, copper, aluminum, valine, leucine, histidine, and arginine did not differ significantly between the BPs and the PPs. Multivariate analysis indicated that palmitic acid influenced the differences in nutritional profiles between the BPs and the PPs. Additionally, discrepancies were observed between the measured and labeled values for total sugar in PP-1 and PP-3. Conclusions: These findings offer valuable insights for the development of processed meat products using beef and PBMAs and may help consumers make informed purchasing decisions through the provision of accurate and reliable nutritional information. Full article

The implementation of sodium-ion batteries for renewable energy storage requires the development of sustainable electrode materials. Usually, these materials are produced through complex energy-intensive processes that are challenging to scale and involve expensive and/or toxic reagents. In this study, sustainable hard carbon materials, some doped with iron, synthesized from sucrose using a simple, fast, and cost-effective two-step eco-friendly process, are investigated as anodes for sodium-ion batteries. The influence of physicochemical and structural material properties on electrode reversible capacity, cycling stability, and efficiency is analyzed. The SC900 material, which exhibits a certain development of graphite-like structure, though not strictly graphitic, showed the best electrochemical performance, providing discharge capacities exceeding 100 mAh g⁻¹ after 400 cycles with excellent cycling stability and high coulombic efficiency. The capacity of the materials increases as d₀₀₂ decreases, (i.e., as the degree of structural order increases), to the optimum value of ~0.3700 nm. However, a further decrease in d₀₀₂ to values characteristic of quasi-graphitic materials, as a consequence of the catalytic effect of iron, hinders Na⁺-ion storage, which, in addition to the low electrochemical activity of the iron oxides present, leads to much lower capacities. Full article

White lupin (Lupinus albus) has become a model plant for understanding plant adaptations to phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) deficiency, two major limiting factors for plant productivity. In response to both nutrient deficiencies, white lupin forms cluster roots, bottle-brush-like root structures that aid in P and Fe acquisition from soil. While the cluster root function is well-studied, not much is known about the signaling pathways involved in sensing and responding to a P and Fe deficiency. Sucrose has been identified as a long-distance signal sent in increased concentrations from shoot to root in response to both a P and Fe deficiency. Thus, sucrose plays a dual role both as a signal and as a major source of energy for the root. To unravel the responses to sucrose as a signal, we performed an Illumina paired-end cDNA sequencing of white lupin roots treated with sucrose for 20, 40 or 80 min, compared to untreated controls (0 min). We identified 634 up-regulated and 956 down-regulated genes in response to sucrose. Twenty minutes of sucrose treatment showed the most responses, with the ethylene-activated signaling pathway as the most enriched Gene Ontology (GO) category. The number of up-regulated genes decreased at 40 min and 80 min, and protein dephosphorylation became the most enriched category. Taken together, our findings indicate active responses to sucrose as a signal at 20 min after a sucrose addition, but fewer responses and a potential resetting of signal transduction pathways by the dephosphorylation of proteins at 40 and 80 min. Full article

As one of the most important trace elements required by sows, especially in the late gestation period, iron plays a crucial role in the growth and development of a fetus. To explore the effects of dietary supplementation with ferrous sucrose on the reproductive performance of sows and the hepatic iron stores in offspring, sixty primiparous Landrace × Yorkshire sows on day 95 of gestation with an average body weight of 174.1 ± 7.7 kg were randomly assigned to two groups of a basic diet (control) and a basic diet supplemented with 109 mg/kg ferrous sucrose (FS) in a fully randomized block design. The trial lasted for 20 days. The results showed that maternal supplementation with ferrous sucrose significantly increased litter weight (p = 0.002) in neonatal piglets. Compared with the control group, the serum iron and serum transferrin saturation of farrowing sows increased by 45.67% (p = 0.002) and 37.01% (p = 0.033), respectively, and umbilical cord serum iron (p = 0.012) also increased in the FS group. Finally, the serum iron (p < 0.001) and hepatic iron stores (p = 0.071) of neonatal piglets were both increased to varying degrees. Taken together, supplementation of pregnant sows with ferrous sucrose has positive effects on the growth and hepatic iron stores of their offspring. Full article

This study comprehensively analyzes the mineral and heavy metal profiles of seven honey types, focusing on the contents of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), with particular emphasis on honey produced in eastern Morocco. Multifloral honey was found to have the highest total mineral content (661 mg/kg), while rosemary honey had the lowest (201.31 mg/kg), revealing the strong influence of floral and botanical origin. Darker honey, such as multifloral and jujube, were richer in minerals, with potassium consistently being the most abundant, followed by calcium, magnesium, and iron, while cadmium and lead remained within safe, trace-level concentrations. Additionally, sugar profiling showed that all samples contained fructose, glucose, maltose, turanose, erlose, sucrose, and palatinose, with particularly high fructose and glucose contents in multifloral honey. Principal component analysis (PCA) accounted for 75% of the variation and identified three distinct groups of honey based on mineral content multifloral, eucalyptus, and rosemary. Multifloral and eucalyptus honey had higher concentrations of iron, magnesium, and calcium, whereas rosemary honey was richer in zinc and copper. The findings underscore the potential of honey as a marker of environmental quality and suggest that eastern Morocco honey possesses favorable characteristics for national and international commercialization. Full article

Background: Intravenous (IV) iron administration is used widely for treating anemia in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, we investigated the safety of IV iron therapy in this population. Methods: This study analyzed claims data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and included patients with end-stage renal disease who were receiving HD for more than 3 months as of 1 January 2019. Monthly doses of IV iron were measured for these patients from 1 January to 30 June 2019. Patients were classified into a high- or low-dose group based on the cutoff of a monthly dose of 300 mg of iron sucrose. Study outcomes were infection-related hospitalization, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality and hospitalization that occurred from 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2020. Results: Among 33,527 HD patients, 13,609 (40.6%) and 363 (1.1%) patients were administered IV iron at doses of 1–299 mg/month and ≥300 mg/month, respectively. The mean age was 63 years, and 60.4% were men. Compared with the low-dose group, the high-dose group was younger, had higher percentages of men and medical aid recipients from the NHIS, and had higher prevalence rates of diabetes and hypertension. The rates of infection-related hospitalization, cardiovascular events, and all-cause hospitalization and mortality were not significantly higher in the high-dose than in the low-dose group. Compared with the 1–100 mg IV iron sucrose dose, higher doses were not associated with an increased risk of outcome events. Conclusions: High-dose IV iron administration did not increase rates of mortality or morbidity in HD patients. Full article

Meta-analysis is a beneficial approach to reevaluating the outcomes of independent previous studies in the same scope. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or the baker’s yeast, is a commonly used unicellular and eukaryotic model organism. In this study, 12 evolved S. cerevisiae strains that became resistant to diverse stress conditions (boron, caffeine, caloric restriction, cobalt, coniferyl aldehyde, ethanol, iron, nickel, oxidative stress, 2-phenylethanol, and silver stress) by adaptive laboratory evolution were reassessed to reveal the correlated stress/stressor clusters based on their transcriptomic and stress–cross-resistance data. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with k-means clustering was performed. Five clusters for the transcriptomic data of strains and six clusters for cross-resistance stressors were identified. Through statistical evaluations, critical genes pertinent to each cluster were elucidated. The pathways associated with these genes were investigated using the KEGG database. The findings demonstrated that caffeine and coniferyl aldehyde stressors exhibit clear distinctions from other stressors in terms of both physiological stress-cross-resistance responses and transcriptomic profiles. Pathway analysis showed that ribosome biogenesis was downregulated, and starch and sucrose metabolism was upregulated across all clusters. Gene and pathway analyses have shown that stressors lead to distinct changes in yeast gene expression, and these alterations have been systematically documented for each cluster. Several of the highlighted genes are pivotal for further exploration and could potentially clarify new aspects of stress response mechanisms and multiple stress resistance in yeast. Full article

Iron (Fe) deficiency is one of the most common micronutrient imbalances limiting plant growth globally, especially in arid and saline alkali regions due to the decreased availability of Fe in alkaline soils. Malus halliana grows well in arid regions and is tolerant of Fe deficiency. Here, a physiological and metabolomic approach was used to analyze the short-term molecular response of M. halliana roots to Fe deficiency. On the one hand, physiological data show that the root activity first increased and then decreased with the prolongation of the stress time, but the change trend of root pH was just the opposite. The total Fe content decreased gradually, while the effective Fe decreased at 12 h and increased at 3 d. The activity of iron reductase (FCR) increased with the prolongation of stress. On the other hand, a total of 61, 73, and 45 metabolites were identified by GC–MS in three pairs: R12h (Fe deficiency 12 h) vs. R0h (Fe deficiency 0 h), R3d (Fe deficiency 3 d) vs. R0h, and R3d vs. R12h, respectively. Sucrose, as a source of energy, produces monosaccharides such as glucose by hydrolysis, while glucose accumulates significantly at the first (R12h vs. R0h) and third time points (R3d vs. R0h). Carbohydrates (digalacturonate, L-xylitol, ribitol, D-xylulose, glucose, and glycerol) are degraded into pyruvate through glycolysis and pentose phosphate, which participate in the TCA. Glutathione metabolism and the TCA cycle coordinate with each other, actively respond to Fe deficiency stress, and synthesize secondary metabolites at the same time. This study thoroughly examines the metabolite response to plant iron deficiency, highlighting the crucial roles of sugar metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle regulation, and glutathione metabolism in the short-term iron deficiency response of apples. It also lays the groundwork for future research on analyzing iron deficiency tolerance. Full article

Phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) deficiency are major limiting factors for plant productivity worldwide. White lupin (Lupinus albus L.) has become a model plant for understanding plant adaptations to P and Fe deficiency, because of its ability to form cluster roots, bottle-brush-like root structures play an important role in the uptake of P and Fe from soil. However, little is known about the signaling pathways involved in sensing and responding to P and Fe deficiency. Sucrose, sent in increased concentrations from the shoot to the root, has been identified as a long-distance signal of both P and Fe deficiency. To unravel the responses to sucrose as a signal, we performed Oxford Nanopore cDNA sequencing of white lupin roots treated with sucrose for 10, 15, or 20 min compared to untreated controls. We identified a set of 17 genes, including 2 bHLH transcription factors, that were up-regulated at all three time points of sucrose treatment. GO (gene ontology) analysis revealed enrichment of auxin and gibberellin responses as early as 10 min after sucrose addition, as well as the emerging of ethylene responses at 20 min of sucrose treatment, indicating a sequential involvement of these hormones in plant responses to sucrose. Full article

Royal jelly is a substance secreted by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse honey bees, serving as crucial nutritional source for young larvae, queen honey bees, and also valuable product for humans. In this study, the effect of the feed supplements on the nutritional composition and qualities of royal jelly was investigated. Two types of royal jelly samples were acquired: one from honey bees fed with sugar syrup as a feed supplement and the other from honey bees fed with honey. The production, harvesting, and storage of all royal jelly samples followed standard procedures. Parameters for quality assessment and nutritional value, including stable carbon isotopic ratio, moisture content, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) level, carbohydrate composition, amino acid composition, and mineral contents, were analyzed. The results revealed that despite variability in moisture content and carbohydrate composition, fructose was lower (2.6 and 4.1 g/100 g as is for sugar-fed and honey-fed royal jelly, respectively) and sucrose was higher (7.5 and 2.7 g/100 g as is for sugar-fed and honey-fed royal jelly, respectively) in the sugar-fed group. The stable isotope ratio (−16.4608‰ for sugar-fed and −21.9304‰ for honey-fed royal jelly) clearly distinguished the two groups. 10-HDA, amino acid composition, and total protein levels were not significantly different. Certain minerals, such as potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus were higher in the honey-fed group. Hierarchical analysis based on moisture, sugar composition, 10-HDA, and stable carbon isotopes categorized the samples into two distinct groups. This study demonstrated that the feed source could affect the nutritional quality of royal jelly. Full article

Unraveling the intricate physiological and biochemical intricacies associated with female dominance in grape berries across diverse developmental stages is imperative for optimizing grape production and ensuring the attainment of high-quality yields. This study conducted a thorough analysis of grape berries across phenological stages (BBCH-79, BBCH-81, BBCH-89) and cultivars. At BBCH-89, Bozcaada Çavuşu*Vasilâki demonstrated the highest berry weight and total soluble solids (TSS) levels, emphasizing its enological potential. Acidity peaked at BBCH-79 (28.16) and declined at BBCH-89 (6.11), signaling a shift towards lower acidity in later stages. Bozcaada Çavuşu*Vasilâki consistently showed the highest maturity index (MI). Mineral content variations were observed across nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), with Bozcaada Çavuşu*Vasilâki often having the highest concentrations, particularly in potassium, calcium, and boron. Hormonal analysis revealed a significant surge in concentrations at BBCH-89, with Bozcaada Çavuşu*Vasilâki standing out. Notably, Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations increased by 106%, and abscisic acid (ABA) levels peaked at BBCH-79 with a 38% increase in Bozcaada Çavuşu*Kuntra. Sugar content analysis showed variations in fructose, glucose, sucrose, rhamnose, xylose, galactose, and arabinose levels across sampling times and cultivars. Bozcaada Çavuşu*Vasilâki consistently exhibited higher sugar levels, especially at BBCH-81 and BBCH-89. Vitamin concentrations varied temporally and among cultivars, with BBCH-89 displaying the highest vitamin A concentration (6.24 mg/100 g FW), and Bozcaada Çavuşu*Vasilâki often exhibiting maximum values for vitamin B1, B2, B6, and C. Further research and targeted cultivation practices focusing on the unique attributes of Bozcaada Çavuşu*Vasilâki could enhance grape production efficiency, emphasizing its potential contribution to achieving consistently high-quality yields across various phenological stages. Full article

Penicillium italicum, a major postharvest pathogen, causes blue mold rot in citrus fruits through the deployment of various virulence factors. Recent studies highlight the role of the epigenetic reader, SntB, in modulating the pathogenicity of phytopathogenic fungi. Our research revealed that the deletion of the SntB gene in P. italicum led to significant phenotypic alterations, including delayed mycelial growth, reduced spore production, and decreased utilization of sucrose. Additionally, the mutant strain exhibited increased sensitivity to pH fluctuations and elevated iron and calcium ion stress, culminating in reduced virulence on Gannan Novel oranges. Ultrastructural analyses disclosed notable disruptions in cell membrane integrity, disorganization within the cellular matrix, and signs of autophagy. Transcriptomic data further indicated a pronounced upregulation of hydrolytic enzymes, oxidoreductases, and transport proteins, suggesting a heightened energy demand. The observed phenomena were consistent with a carbon starvation response potentially triggering apoptotic pathways, including iron-dependent cell death. These findings collectively underscored the pivotal role of SntB in maintaining the pathogenic traits of P. italicum, proposing that targeting PiSntB could offer a new avenue for controlling citrus fungal infections and subsequent fruit decay. Full article

A growing interest in the recovery and enhancement of crops, particularly local varieties such as ‘Caaveiro’ wheat, has been observed. This study aims to investigate the impact of cultivation systems (organic versus conventional) on the nutritional quality of ‘Caaveiro’ flour and breads protected by the PGI “Pan Galego,” employing two fermentation methods (sourdough versus sourdough and biological yeast). Organic flour exhibited significantly higher levels of moisture, fat, sucrose, phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), and copper (Cu) while also exhibiting a lower total starch and zinc (Zn) content. Organic bread, produced using both fermentation methods, demonstrated significantly higher protein, carbohydrate, total, resistant, and rapidly digestible starch, ash, Na, P, iron (Fe), and Cu content. Additionally, they contained less moisture compared to conventional bread. Despite variations in nutritional characteristics based on the cultivation system, the organic approach proved effective at producing high-quality products with a positive environmental impact, which is highly appreciated by consumers. Full article

Several studies have highlighted the beneficial effects of consuming red raspberries on human health thanks to their high content of phytochemicals. However, the products used in these studies, both in the raw or freeze-dried form, were not fully characterized for nutrient and phytochemical composition. In this study, we aimed to determine the nutrient and non-nutrient compounds present in a freeze-dried red raspberry powder widely used by the food industry and consumers. The main sugars identified were fructose (12%), glucose (11%), and sucrose (11%). Twelve fatty acids were detected, with linoleic acid (46%), α-linolenic acid (20%), and oleic acid (15%) being the most abundant. Regarding micronutrients, vitamin C was the main hydro-soluble vitamin, while minerals, potassium, phosphorous, copper and magnesium were the most abundant, with concentrations ranging from 9 up to 96 mg/100 g, followed by manganese, iron and zinc, detected in the range 0.1–0.9 mg/100 g. Phytochemical analysis using UHPLC-DAD-HR-MS detection revealed the presence of Sanguiin H6 (0.4%), Lambertianin C (0.05%), and Sanguiin H-10 isomers (0.9%) as the main compounds. Among anthocyanins, the most representative compounds were cyanidin-3-sophoroside, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-sambubioside. Our findings can serve as a reliable resource for the food industry, nutraceutical applications and for future investigations in the context of human health. Full article

In this work, a novel sustainable approach was proposed for the integral valorisation of Arctium lappa (burdock) seeds and roots. Firstly, a preliminary recovery of bioactive compounds, including unsaturated fatty acids, was performed. Then, simple sugars (i.e., fructose and sucrose) and phenolic compounds were extracted by using compressed fluids (supercritical CO₂ and propane). Consequently, a complete characterisation of raw biomass and extraction residues was carried out to determine the starting chemical composition in terms of residual lipids, proteins, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and ash content. Subsequently, three alternative ways to utilise extraction residues were proposed and successfully tested: (i) enzymatic hydrolysis operated by Cellulases (Thricoderma resei) of raw and residual biomass to glucose, (ii) direct ethanolysis to produce ethyl levulinate; and (iii) pyrolysis to obtain biochar to be used as supports for the synthesis of sulfonated magnetic iron-carbon catalysts (Fe-SMCC) to be applied in the dehydration of fructose for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). The development of these advanced approaches enabled the full utilisation of this resource through the production of fine chemicals and value-added compounds in line with the principles of the circular economy. Full article