Reviving grain quality in wheat through non-destructive phenotyping techniques like hyperspectral imaging.

A long-term goal of breeders and researchers is to develop crop varieties that can resist environmental stressors and produce high yields. However, prioritising yield often compromises improvement of other key traits, including grain quality, which is tedious and time-consuming to measure because of the frequent involvement of destructive phenotyping methods. Recently, non-destructive methods such as hyperspectral imaging (HSI) have gained attention in the food industry for studying wheat grain quality.

Effect of Salt Addition and Fermentation Time on Phenolics, Microbial Dynamics, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Sensory Properties of the PDO Table Olives of Gaeta (Italy).

'Oliva di Gaeta' is almost certainly the most important and well-known PDO denomination for table olives in Italy. Their production is based on a specific two-stage trade preparation called the 'Itrana' method. In this work, we investigated how variations in the duration of the initial water fermentation (i.

Prediction of coffee aroma from single roasted coffee beans by hyperspectral imaging.

Coffee aroma is critical for consumer liking and enables price differentiation of coffee. This study applied hyperspectral imaging (1000-2500 nm) to predict volatile compounds in single roasted coffee beans, as measured by Solid Phase Micro Extraction-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry. Partial least square (PLS) regression models were built for individual volatile compounds and chemical classes.

Use of Meat-Bone Paste to Develop Calcium-Enriched Liver Pâté.

The production technology of meat-bone paste and its effect on chemical, mineral and amino acid compositions of liver pâté were studied. The liver was replaced by meat-bone paste in the concentration of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% for the production of experimental samples. The compositional analysis of pâté manufactured with meat-bone paste showed that the reformulation did not influence the content of moisture (~56%), fat (~28%), or protein (~11%) while producing a significant increase of ash and a decrease of carbohydrates in comparison with control pâtés.

Performance of the model for end-stage liver disease score for mortality prediction and the potential role of etiology.

Background & Aims: Although the discriminative ability of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score is generally considered acceptable, its calibration is still unclear. In a validation study, we assessed the discriminative performance and calibration of 3 versions of the model: original MELD-TIPS, used to predict survival after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS); classic MELD-Mayo; and MELD-UNOS, used by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). We also explored recalibrating and updating the model.

The Combination of Berberine, Tocotrienols and Coffee Extracts Improves Metabolic Profile and Liver Steatosis by the Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Hepatic miR-122 and miR-34a Expression in Mice.

Non-alcoholic-fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is spreading worldwide. Specific drugs for NAFLD are not yet available, even if some plant extracts show beneficial properties. We evaluated the effects of a combination, composed by and , on the development of obesity, hepatic steatosis, insulin-resistance and on the modulation of hepatic microRNAs (miRNA) levels and microbiota composition in a mouse model of liver damage.

Procedure-related bleeding risk in patients with cirrhosis and severe thrombocytopenia.

Background: Gaps of knowledge still exist about the potential association between severe thrombocytopenia and increased risk of procedure-associated bleeding in patients with liver disease.

Methods: In this narrative review, we aimed at examining the association between procedure-related bleeding risk and platelet count in patients with cirrhosis and severe thrombocytopenia in various settings. We updated to 2020 a previously conducted literature search using MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE.

Total lipid prediction in single intact cocoa beans by hyperspectral chemical imaging.

This work aimed to explore the possibility of predicting total fat content in whole dried cocoa beans at a single bean level using hyperspectral imaging (HSI). 170 beans randomly selected from 17 batches were individually analysed by HSI and by reference methodology for fat quantification. Both whole (i.

Pomegranate as a source of bioactive constituents: a review on their characterization, properties and applications.

Increasing awareness about the use of compounds obtained from natural sources exerting health-beneficial properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, led to increased number of research papers focusing on the study of functional properties of target compounds to be used as functional foods or in preventive medicine. Pomegranate has shown positive health properties due to the presence of bioactive constituents such as polyphenols, tannins, and anthocyanins. Punicalagin is the major antioxidant, abundantly found in pomegranate's peel.

, and Extracts Modulate the Insulin Receptor Expression and Improve Hepatic Steatosis in NAFLD Patients: A Pilot Clinical Trial.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. A reduction in insulin receptor (IR) expression has been reported in these patients. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of a mixture of plant extracts consisting of , and decaffeinated green coffee by on the improvement of glycaemic profile, through the modulation of IR levels, and of hepatic steatosis in NAFLD patients.

Effect of olive oil phenolic compounds on the aroma release and persistence from O/W emulsion analysed in vivo by APCI-MS.

The effect of the presence of virgin olive oil (VOO) phenolic compounds was studied during the in-vivo consumption of an olive oil-in-water (O/W) food emulsion, assessed by APCI-MS. VOO phenolic compounds were present at 593 mg kg. Four volatile compounds, i.

Coffee prevents fatty liver disease induced by a high-fat diet by modulating pathways of the gut-liver axis.

Coffee consumption is inversely associated with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A gap in the literature still exists concerning the intestinal mechanisms that are involved in the protective effect of coffee consumption towards NAFLD. In this study, twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups each receiving a standard diet, a high-fat diet (HFD) or an HFD plus decaffeinated coffee (HFD+COFFEE) for 12 weeks.

One-year clinical outcomes with biologics in Crohn's disease: transmural healing compared with mucosal or no healing.

Background: While mucosal healing has been proved to predict relevant clinical outcomes in Crohn's disease (CD), little is known about the long-term significance of transmural healing.

Aims: To prospectively assess the 1-year clinical outcomes in CD patients achieving transmural healing following treatment with biologics, and to compare them with those in patients reaching only mucosal healing or no healing.

Methods: Observational longitudinal study, evaluating 1-year outcomes in terms of steroid-free clinical remission, rate of hospitalisation and need for surgery in a group of CD patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha for 2 years.

HepaDisk - A new quality of life questionnaire for HCV patients.

Background: Since most patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection now receive treatment irrespective of liver disease severity, special attention to patient quality of life (QoL), including psycho-social aspects, is required. No QoL questionnaire is specific for patients with HCV.

Aims: To develop and validate a short Italian questionnaire (HepaDisk) assessing the QoL of patients affected by HCV with intuitive graphic results that is understandable by patients and physicians.

Augmented Endoscopy for Surveillance of Colonic Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Review With Network Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Considering the high risk of dysplasia and cancer in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], surveillance is advocated. However, international guidelines do not reach a uniform recommendation on the way to perform surveillance. We performed a systematic review with a meta-analysis to assess the best endoscopic surveillance strategy in colonic IBD.

Real life experiences in HCV management in 2018.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease, with approximately 71 million chronically infected individuals worldwide. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C has considerably improved in the last few years thanks to the introduction of direct-acting antivirals able to achieve sustained virological response in more than 95% of patients. Successful anti-HCV treatment can halt liver disease progression and solve the HCV-related extra-hepatic manifestations, eventually reducing liver-related and overall mortality.

Eradication of HCV in Renal Transplant Recipients and Its Effects on Quality of Life.

Background: The use of direct antiviral agents (DAA) has radically modified the course of HCV hepatitis in renal patients. Aim of this study was to assess the effects of HCV eradication on quality of life (QOL) in renal transplant recipients (RTR), measured by CLDQ and SF-36.

Methods: Sixteen RTR with well preserved GFR (mean: 60.

Dietary supplementation of vitamin D prevents the development of western diet-induced metabolic, hepatic and cardiovascular abnormalities in rats.

Background: The western diet high in fat and fructose may cause metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: To evaluate whether long-term daily vitamin D supplementation prevents hepatic steatosis and cardiovascular abnormalities and restores insulin sensitivity caused by fat diet in rats without vitamin D deficiency.

Methods: Three groups of rats were fed for 6 months with standard diet (SD), western diet (WD) or WD containing 23 IU/day/rat vitamin D, respectively.

PNPLA3 rs738409 Polymorphism Predicts Development and Severity of Hepatic Steatosis but Not Metabolic Syndrome in Celiac Disease.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) and hepatic steatosis (HS) have been described in patients with celiac disease (CD) after starting a gluten-free diet (GFD), but data on predictive factors for these conditions are scarce. Recently, the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 has been identified as a key factor for HS development in the general population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of PNPLA3 rs738409 in the development of MS and HS in CD patients after starting GFD.

Use of odorant series for extra virgin olive oil aroma characterisation.

Background: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) volatile composition is mainly used as a means of characterisation and authentication, especially for protected denomination of origin (PDO) products. This work investigated the volatile compounds from 25 EVOOs from four Spanish (Cornicabra, Manzanilla Castellana, Picual and Manzanilla Cacereña) and four Italian (Ortice, Ravece, Nocellara del Belice and Itrana) cultivars in terms of odour activity value (OAV). Forty-seven volatile compounds were analysed by solid phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS).

Direct-acting antivirals and hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis C: A few lights and many shadows.

With the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA), the rate of sustained virological response (SVR) in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) has radically improved to over 95%. Robust scientific evidence supports a beneficial role of SVR after interferon therapy in the progression of cirrhosis, resulting in a decreased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a debate on the impact of DAAs on the development of HCC is ongoing.

Forecasting Hepatitis C liver disease burden on real-life data. Does the hidden iceberg matter to reach the elimination goals?

Background & Aims: Advances in direct-acting antiviral treatment of HCV have reinvigorated public health initiatives aimed at identifying affected individuals. We evaluated the possible impact of only diagnosed and linked-to-care individuals on overall HCV burden estimates and identified a possible strategy to achieve the WHO targets by 2030.

Methods: Using a modelling approach grounded in Italian real-life data of diagnosed and treated patients, different linkage-to-care scenarios were built to evaluate potential strategies in achieving the HCV elimination goals.

Rapid prediction of single green coffee bean moisture and lipid content by hyperspectral imaging.

Hyperspectral imaging (1000-2500 nm) was used for rapid prediction of moisture and total lipid content in intact green coffee beans on a single bean basis. Arabica and Robusta samples from several growing locations were scanned using a "push-broom" system. Hypercubes were segmented to select single beans, and average spectra were measured for each bean.