Advances in Understanding the Antioxidant and Antigenic Properties of Egg-Derived Peptides.

Pepsin, trypsin and proteinase K were used in the present study to hydrolyse the proteins from whole eggs, yolks or whites, and the resulting hydrolysates were characterised in terms of antioxidant and IgE-binding properties, using a combination of in vitro and in silico methods. Based on the degree of hydrolysis (DH) results, the egg yolk proteins are better substrates for all the tested enzymes (DH of 6.2-20.

Insulin analogs as an add-on to metformin after failure to oral treatment in type 2 diabetic patients increase diastole duration. The INSUlin Regimens and VASCular Functions (INSUVASC) study.

Background: Fast acting insulin analogues are known to improve arterial stiffness. The combination of metformin with insulin represents a widely used therapeutic strategy in diabetes. We hypothesized that insulin treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with long-acting, fast-acting or basal bolus insulin as an add-on to metformin would provide additional improvement of arterial stiffness.

Investigations on Functional and Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Gluten Free Cereal and Pseudocereal Flours.

Seven commercial gluten-free (rice, oat, sorghum, foxtail millet, amaranth, quinoa, and buckwheat) flours were investigated in this study from the point of view of thermo-mechanical properties and solvent retention capacity (SRC). Each flour was used to prepare doughs with specific water absorption (WA) to get a consistency of 1.1 Nm (WA1) and doughs with WA2 levels higher than 85% to ensure a sufficient amount of water in the system for allowing the hydration of all components of the flours.

The Active Compound Thymoquinone Alters Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Modulation of Intracellular Signaling.

Objective: The regenerative potential of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like cells in the cartilage is relatively low because of the lack of innervation and vascularization. The increase in proinflammatory cytokines in cartilage damage can increase the expression of apoptotic and proinflammatory genes and the matrix degradation enzymes via nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Previous evidence suggested that thymoquinone (TQ) suppresses tumor necrosis factor-α-mediated NF-κB activation in different cancer cell lines.

Mutual inhibition effect of sulfur compounds in the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene, 2-ethylthiophene and benzothiophene ternary mixture.

The hydrodesulphurization of a model component and equimolar ternary mixture of thiophene, 2-ethylthiophene and benzothiophene over sulphided CoMo/γ-AlO and CoMo/γ-AlO-NbO catalysts were investigated in a fixed bed flow reactor. The catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation method and characterized by textural characteristics, total acidity and chemical species present on the catalysts surface. The characterization results showed that both CoMo/γ-AlO-NbO and sulphided CoMo/γ-AlO catalysts exhibit a mesoporous structure with cylindrical pores open at both ends, evidenced by the IV type adsorption-desorption isotherm with a H1 hysteresis loop and have an average pore diameter between 3 and 4 nm.

Asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes free of cardiovascular disease and its relationship with clinical characteristics: The DIACAR cohort study.

Aims: To assess the prevalence, type and clinical factors associated with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by performing a comprehensive echocardiographic Doppler assessment including speckle tracking.

Methods: Two hundred T2DM patients without overt cardiovascular disease were prospectively enrolled in a single-centre cohort study between 2018 and 2019.

Results: Left ventricular mass was increased in 24 patients (12%) and relative wall thickness (h/r) was increased in 46 patients (23%).

Clinical Features and CD4+ T Cells Count in AIDS Patients with CMV Retinitis: Correlation with Mortality.

Purpose: To explore the all-cause mortality in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients with CMV retinitis (CMVR) presented to a tertiary referral center in Singapore from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2015.

Results: A total of 144 patients were studied (87 survived, 11 lost to follow up, 46 died).

Early screening for gestational diabetes mellitus is not associated with improved pregnancy outcomes: an observational study including 9795 women.

Aims: In addition to screening for hyperglycaemia during pregnancy after 24 weeks of gestation (WG), the current guidelines also suggest screening in early pregnancy and referring women with early gestational diabetes mellitus (eGDM) or overt diabetes (OD) for immediate care. Our aim was to evaluate this strategy.

Methods: This study evaluated, at our hospital (2012-2016), whether the incidence of a predefined composite outcome (preeclampsia, large-for-gestational-age infant, shoulder dystocia) and secondary outcomes was different when women were screened only after 22WG ('late screening only') or before 22WG and treated for eGDM or OD if present, with repeat screening after 22WG if absent ('early ± late screening').

Structural and antigenic properties of thermally treated gluten proteins.

The present study is focused on heat-induced changes in the structure and antigenic properties of gluten proteins. The thermal dependent behavior of glutenins and gliadins was analyzed through intrinsic fluorescence parameters, phase diagram method, and quenching experiments using acrylamide and iodide. Unfolding events were registered in the phase diagram of glutenins up to 80°C, followed by partial refolding and aggregation at even higher temperatures.

Advances on the impact of thermal processing on structure and antigenicity of chicken ovomucoid.

Background: Ovomucoid (OVM) is the dominant allergen found in egg white. The heat-induced changes on chicken OVM structure and antigenic properties were assessed at acidic, neutral and alkaline pH values.

Results: The fluorescence spectroscopy measurements indicated changes in the conformation of OVM caused by both pH and thermal treatment.

Effects of insulin analogs as an add-on to metformin on cutaneous microcirculation in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background: A single insulin injection was shown to improve microcirculatory blood flow. Our aim was to examine the effects of 4weeks of insulin therapy by three randomly assigned insulin analog regimens (Detemir, Aspart, and their combination) on cutaneous blood flow (CBF) and microcirculatory endothelial function as an add-on to metformin in type 2 diabetic patients poorly controlled on oral antidiabetic treatment.

Methods: Fourty-two type 2 diabetic patients with no history of cardiovascular disease in secondary failure to oral antidiabetic agents had CBF measurements before and after acetylcholine (Ach) iontophoretic administration.

Poor Reliability and Poor Adherence to Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Are Common in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and May Be Associated With Poor Pregnancy Outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the compliance with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and the reliability of diabetes logbooks in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), as well as the associated determinants and outcomes.

Research Design And Methods: We prospectively selected French-speaking women with newly diagnosed GDM who had been referred to our diabetes management program and understood SMBG principles. At the next follow-up visit, we collected SMBG results from glucose meters and logbooks.

pH and heat induced structural changes of chicken ovalbumin in relation with antigenic properties.

Ovalbumin is the major egg white protein known to induce allergic reactions in humans. A comprehensive evaluation of the structural and antigenicity features of ovalbumin subjected to different pH and heat treatments was performed by combining fluorescence spectroscopic measurements, ELISA and in silico prediction. The intrinsic fluorescence spectra indicated modification of the ovalbumin tertiary structure depending on pH and applied temperature.

Effect of gluten, egg and soy proteins on the rheological and thermo-mechanical properties of wholegrain rice flour.

The effect of protein addition on the rheological, thermo-mechanical and baking properties of wholegrain rice flour was investigated. Gluten, powdered eggs and soy protein concentrate were first analyzed in terms of rheological properties, alone and in admixture with rice flour. The temperature ramp tests showed clear differences in the rheological behavior of the batters supplemented with different proteins.

Are Obese Individuals with no Feature of Metabolic Syndrome but Increased Waist Circumference Really Healthy? A Cross Sectional Study.

Aim: Patients displaying the metabolically healthy but obese phenotype have an intermediate cardiometabolic prognosis compared to normal weight healthy and metabolically unhealthy obese subjects. We aimed to evaluate the proportion of patients with a definite metabolically healthy obese phenotype and better characterize them.

Methods: Definite metabolically healthy obese phenotype was defined as having none of the International Diabetes Federation metabolic syndrome criteria, excluding waist circumference.

Fetal gender is not associated with either gestational diabetes mellitus or placental weight: A cohort study.

Aim: This study assessed whether male fetal gender increases the risk of maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and investigated the association with placental weight.

Methods: The study included 20,149 women without pregestational diabetes who delivered singletons at our hospital between January 2002 and December 2010. There was universal screening for GDM, and all placentas were weighed at delivery.

Evidence for a Specific Diabetic Cardiomyopathy: An Observational Retrospective Echocardiographic Study in 656 Asymptomatic Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Aim. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of subclinical diabetic cardiomyopathy, occurring among diabetic patients without hypertension or coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods.

[Relationship between blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac autonomic dysfunction in non-diabetic obese patients].

Rationale: Some studies suggest that a high heart rate (HR) would be predictive of the incidence of an elevated blood pressure (BP). Cardiac autonomic dysfunction (CAD) affects a high proportion of obese patients. CAD could be involved in BP increase.

Increased glycemic variability and decrease of the postprandial glucose contribution to HbA1c in obese subjects across the glycemic continuum from normal glycemia to first time diagnosed diabetes.

Objective: The contribution of postprandial glycemia (PPG) to hyperglycemia has been shown to decrease as HbA1c increased in type 2 diabetic patients. This study aimed at examining, in a series of overweight/obese patients without known glycemic disorder, the contribution of PPG to a "relative" hyperglycemia (glucose values≥5.5 mmol/L) and the presence of glycemic variability according to HbA1c levels.

Rheological, thermo-mechanical, and baking properties of wheat-millet flour blends.

Millet has long been known as a good source of fiber and antioxidants, but only lately started to be exploited by food scientists and food industry as a consequence of increased consumer awareness. In this study, doughs and breads were produced using millet flour in different ratios (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%) to white, dark, and whole wheat flour. The flour blends were evaluated in terms of rheological and thermo-mechanical properties.