Influence and mechanism of food matrices onto the TBBQ-eliminated performance during in-vitro digestion

Food matrices greatly impact TBBQ content during digestion, while lacking sufficient research and understanding. This study investigated the influence and mechanism of fried foods on the TBBQ-eliminated performance during in-vitro digestion. The results indicated that TBBQ content varied significantly among food matrices after in-vitro digestion, with the highest in peanuts (38.3%). The correlation analysis revealed that proteins remarkably facilitated TBBQ-eliminations while fats decreased the TBBQ-eliminated rate. The TBBQ-eliminated performance of proteins, protein digestive mixtures, and amino acids uncovered that sulfhydryl groups were crucial reactive groups to eliminate TBBQ, and TBBQ-eliminated rates under intestinal pH (8.0) were faster than gastric pH (1.5). Additionally, fats significantly reduced the protein-triggered TBBQ-eliminations, originating that the oil-water interface increased the interaction difficulty between lipophilic TBBQ and proteins. Thus, this work provided an in-depth understanding of food matrices (especially proteins and fats) in TBBQ eliminations to enlighten the promising TBBQ-risk-reduced strategies with high-protein and low-fat foods.

Graphene oxide as inhibitor on the hydrolysis of fats under simulated in vitro duodenal conditions

Obesity is a global pandemic, thus novel developments that reduce the absorption of fats is of interest. We have evaluated the effect of graphene oxide (GO) on the lipase catalyzed hydrolysis of fats (tributyrin, sunflower and olive oil) under simulated duodenal conditions. Results indicate that the presence of GO in the digestion mixture can inhibit lipase activity up to a 90% of the initial reaction rate, and this inhibition lasts even during 2 h of digestion. The inhibition mechanism seems non competitive and could be opposite to the effect of bile salts, although the direct interaction between GO and the enzyme cannot be discarded. The inhibition is found also in alimentary fats suggesting that GO could be a strong inhibitor for fat hydrolysis.

Image analysis traits of multiple muscles and intermuscular/subcutaneous fat influence on Japanese Black beef carcass price and genetic parameters

Objective

The purposes of this study were to investigate the relationship between carcass unit price per 1 kg (UP) and multiple muscles and intermuscular fat (IF)/subcutaneous fat (SF) of beef carcasses using image analysis of cross-section images for Wagyu beef cattle in Japan, and to estimate their genetic parameters.

Methods

The carcasses used in this study were 1,807 Japanese Black (Wagyu) cattle (1,216 steers and 591 heifers). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted with UP as the dependent variable and market date, age in months, sex, and image analysis traits (IAT) as fixed effects, and standard partial regression coefficients were calculated for each IAT on UP. Also, the heritability of each IAT that affected UP and genetic correlation among IAT vs. carcass grading traits were estimated.

Results

Not only IAT related to carcass grading traits, M. trapezius dorsi, M. latissimus dorsi, and IF traits were significant differences in UP (p < 0.05). The heritability of IAT associated with UP was estimated at 0.38~0.85. The genetic correlations between the area and thickness of M. trapezius dorsi and M. latissimus dorsi vs. rib eye area (REA) were estimated to be moderately positive (0.53~0.66), while the genetic correlations between the IF area percentage vs. carcass weight (CWT), REA and yield score (YS) were estimated to be negative (-0.40, -0.56 and -0.34).

Conclusion

UP was influenced by various traits, including M. trapezius dorsi, M. latissimus dorsi, and IF traits, as well as image analysis associated with carcass grading traits. Since these IAT associated with UP had hereditary and desirable genetic correlations with carcass grading traits, these traits were also important for genetic improvement.

Treatment of effluents from Food Services Establishment (FSEs) by physico-chemical processes: a case study for Trinidad & Tobago

BACKGROUND

Effluents from Food Services Establishments (FSEs) contain primarily Fats, Oil and Grease (FOG) which severely impact on sewers and the environment when released in high concentrations. In Trinidad & Tobago, it is estimated that approximately 231,304 kg/day of unaccounted for FOG bearing wastewaters from FSEs, are released into the environment with no viable treatment in the country. This research explored the optimization of physico-chemical processes for the treatment of FOGs for subsequent release into sewers.

RESULTS

Bench-scale studies analysed the characteristics of FSE's effluents from three popular sources, conducted the treatment of these effluents using Jar Tests, and subsequently confirm results via a pilot plant study. Characterization showed the mean concentration of the parameters examined to be; FOG (511 mg/l ± 116 mg/l), Suspended Solids (446 mg/l ± 146 mg/l), Chemical Oxygen Demand (2229 mg/l ± 963 mg/l) and pH (6 ± 0.3). Jar Tests were conducted using Poly-aluminium Chloride (PACl) as coagulant, anionic and cationic polyelectrolytes as flocculant aids with suitable pH adjustments of samples to determine the isoelectric point for the coagulant. Effluent results showed FOG removal levels of 99.9% and final effluent concentration of 0.17 mg/l. This was attained using PACl concentration of 250 mg/l, a 0.1% low cationic polyelectrolyte (CP 1154) at 4 mg/l with the pH of sample adjusted to 8. The pilot plant achieved a 97.4% removal of FOG (residual of 16.8 mg/l) using the same coagulant dosing, and pH value, but increasing the strength of the flocculant aid to 0.1% medium cationic (CP1156) at 5 mg/l.

CONCLUSION

Experimentation showed high concentrations of emulsified FOG can be efficiently removed to levels below the permissible requirements (20 mg/l) for entry into sewer systems in Trinidad and Tobago using coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation techniques. Pilot scale study also revealed that a higher strength and/or dose of the cationic polyelectrolyte and increased times in primary and final tanks were required to attain the desired results as in the bench level study, where equipment limitations in the flocculation tank were faced. This is in alignment with theory where factors critical for agglomeration is equipment type and density charge. It is, concluded that the optimum combination of chemicals and the respective dosages attained at the bench level study should prove effective should the right equipment be made available.

Characterization of sargassum accumulated on Dominican beaches in 2021: Analysis of heavy, alkaline and alkaline-earth metals, proteins and fats

This paper presents the characterization of sargassum that reached the shores of eight Dominican beaches in 2021. The analysis of heavy, alkaline and alkaline-earth metals was performed by ICP-OES. Twelve heavy metals were studied, with the highest concentrations corresponding to Fe, As, and Zn. Regarding the alkaline and alkaline-earth metals, the highest concentrations were detected for Ca, K, Na and Mg. The high values of arsenic and alkali and alkaline-earth metal salts do not suggest using these algae in agriculture. It is recommended to carry out arsenic speciation studies to assess whether the form in which it is found is bioavailable for plants and animals. The heavy metal contamination index was determined, which ranged between 0.318 and 3.279. Finally, for the first time in the country, the organic fraction of sargassum was analyzed.

Pancreatic fat fraction in dual-energy computed tomography as a potential quantitative parameter in the detection of type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

To investigate the clinical value of measuring pancreatic fat fraction using dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included patients who underwent abdominal DECT between September 2021 and July 2022. The fat fractions in the head, body, and tail of the pancreas were calculated using fat maps generated from unenhanced DECT images, and CT values were measured at the same locations. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to analyze the reproducibility of measurements from two observers. Diagnostic performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight patients, including 45 T2DM patients and 33 controls, were enrolled. The fat fractions of the pancreas were significantly higher in the T2DM group than in the control group (pancreatic head: 8.4 ± 6.3 % vs 5.1 ± 3.9 %; pancreatic body: 4.8 ± 4.0 % vs 2.7 ± 3.9 %; and pancreatic tail: 5.3 ± 3.2 % vs 2.7 ± 2.9 %, all p < 0.05). And the CT values of the pancreas were significantly lower in the T2DM group than in the control group (pancreatic head: 41.1 ± 8.5 HU vs 45.7 ± 4.6 HU; pancreatic body: 44.4 ± 5.0 HU vs 47.4 ± 3.7 HU; and pancreatic tail: 44.5 ± 5.0 HU vs 47.6 ± 3.2 HU, all p < 0.05). The fat fraction of the pancreatic tail was the best indicator for distinguishing T2DM patients from the controls (area under the curve: 0.716 (95 % CI: 0.601, 0.832), sensitivity: 64.4 % (95 % CI: 48.7 %, 77.7 %), and specificity: 78.8 % (95 % CI: 60.6 %, 90.4 %)).

CONCLUSION

The DECT fat fractions of the pancreas could be a valuable additional parameter in the detection of T2DM.

Effects of Dietary Fats on Immune System Response in Covid-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is affecting people around the globe, is a respiratory disease that is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and that has reached the pandemic state. It is known that people who are vulnerable but who are not immunocompromised can still suffer from serious complications of COVID-19. The general nutritional status and food consumption patterns of each individual affect the functioning of his or her immune system. The effects of these patterns can occur at the level of physical barriers, the microbiome, the innate immune system, and the adaptive immune system. Immune system cells and mediators, which are essential to the inflammatory response, are in the structures of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates and act through vitamins and minerals. The combination of chronic infection and malnutrition disrupts the immune response, affects the amount of immune cells, and increases inflammatory mediators. Dietary fat (in terms of both amount and type) affects cytokine biology, making the former a key player in inflammatory disease; also having an important role as macronutrients, because of how they affect immune cells and function. This review explores the role of dietary fat in the immune response, highlighting the role in protecting the individual from COVID-19 and mitigating the cytokine storm in the infection phase.

A Fat-Promoting Botanical Extract From Artemisia scoparia Exerts Geroprotective Effects on Caenorhabditis elegans Life Span and Stress Resistance

Like other biological processes, aging is not random but subject to molecular control. Natural products that modify core metabolic parameters, including fat content, may provide entry points to extend animal life span and promote healthy aging. Here, we show that a botanical extract from Artemisia scoparia (SCO), which promotes fat storage and metabolic resiliency in mice, extends the life span of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by up to 40%. Notably, this life-span extension depends significantly on SCO's effects on fat; SCO-treated worms exhibit heightened levels of unsaturated fat, and inhibition of Δ9 desaturases, which oversee biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids, prevents SCO-dependent fat accumulation and life-span extension. At an upstream signaling level, SCO prompts changes to C. elegans fat regulation by stimulating nuclear translocation of transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO, an event that requires AMP-activated protein kinase under this condition. Importantly, animals treated with SCO are not only long-lived but also show improved stress resistance in late adulthood, suggesting that this fat-promoting intervention may enhance some aspects of physiological health in older age. These findings identify SCO as a natural product that can modify fat regulation for longevity benefit and add to growing evidence indicating that elevated fat can be prolongevity in some circumstances.

Determination of the lipid content of organic waste using time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance

Time-Domain Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (TD-NMR) was used to quantify the lipid contents of 48 different organic waste substrates. Results obtained from TD-NMR were compared to those from Soxhlet extraction, currently the prevalent method for organic waste characterization, especially in the field of anaerobic digestion. Two calibration methods were tested. The first was a self-calibration process using pure oils (NMR1) which showed good repeatability compared to Soxhlet extraction with a better coefficient of variation (5%). Analyses of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) by chromatography were carried out to understand why the NMR1 method produced underestimations for some samples. Statistical analysis showed that the presence of saturated fatty acids had a significant effect on differences between the Soxhlet and NMR1 methods. The second calibration method applied chemometrics to TD-NMR raw data (NMR2), taking Soxhlet extraction values as references. It provided a good prediction of lipid content and avoided the lengthy calibration procedure usually required for this type of study. Last, the NMR2 method was shown to be highly suited to the quantification of lipids in organic waste, demonstrating better repeatability than the classic Soxhlet method.

Growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics of pigs fed diets containing amarula (Sclerocarya birrea A. Rich) nut cake as replacement to soybean meal

This experiment evaluated varying levels of Amarula (Sclerocarya birrea A. Rich) nut cake (ANC) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics in pigs. Thirty Large White × Landrace (LW × LR) pigs were stratified by weight (average live weight of 20 ± 5 kg) and randomly allocated to the five experimental diets that contained 0 (control), 50, 100, 150 and 200 g ANC/kg DM. Each pig served as a replicate unit, housed individually. The pigs were fed the experimental diets ad-lib once in the morning, allowing a 10% of feed refusal, and had free access to water. Bodyweight, feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded weekly throughout the 56-day trial period. On completion of the growth trial, following a 3-day adaptation, a nutrient digestibility study was conducted over 5 days. Thereafter, pigs were fasted for 12 h, weighed, slaughtered, and carcass samples were collected for analysis. Data on the effects of treatments on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics were analysed using a two-way ANOVA in randomised blocks and were compared using Student's t-LSD. Feed intake was not affected by dietary treatment, but ADGs were reduced at ANC levels > 150 g/kg, resulting in poor FCR. Protein digestibility was reduced at ANC levels > 150 g/kg, while ether extract and fibre levels increased. Warm and cold carcass weights were lower at ANC levels > 150 g/kg, with improved meat redness and lightness. It was concluded that ANC could replace SBM in the diet of growing pigs at less than 150 g/kg inclusion level.

Automated image analysis method for oil-release test of lipid-based materials

We present an automated method to determine oil release from lipid-based materials. Oil-release tests can provide information regarding the ability to retain oil within the structuring network of lipid-based materials. This test provides a first insight into the stability of these materials and their possible applications in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products. The method presented features a simple setup comprising a camera that automatically captures images of the evolution of the oil stain released from lipid-based materials placed on a filter paper. Image postprocessing is performed with two custom-made scripts developed for the freeware application ImageJ. The scripts allow direct calculation of the oil-stain area from all images stored in a folder returning as output numerical values in a table. This method was shown to be:•

inexpensive, as the employed tools and equipment are available in most laboratories both in academia and industry,

•

self-running, as the method automatically captures images at predefined time intervals for a certain time span,

•

practical, as manual-image analysis is unnecessary (200 images can be automatically analyzed in 3 min).

Aging Influences the Metabolic and Inflammatory Phenotype in an Experimental Mouse Model of Acute Lung Injury

Increased age is a risk factor for poor outcomes from respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study, we sought to define age-related differences in lung inflammation, muscle injury, and metabolism after intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (IT-LPS) acute lung injury (ALI) in adult (6 months) and aged (18-20 months) male C57BL/6 mice. We also investigated age-related changes in muscle fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and the consequences of systemic FAO inhibition with the drug etomoxir. Aged mice had a distinct lung injury course characterized by prolonged alveolar neutrophilia and lack of response to therapeutic exercise. To assess the metabolic consequences of ALI, aged and adult mice underwent whole body metabolic phenotyping before and after IT-LPS. Aged mice had prolonged anorexia and decreased respiratory exchange ratio, indicating increased reliance on FAO. Etomoxir increased mortality in aged but not adult ALI mice, confirming the importance of FAO on survival from acute severe stress and suggesting that adult mice have increased resilience to FAO inhibition. Skeletal muscles from aged ALI mice had increased transcription of key fatty acid metabolizing enzymes, CPT-1b, LCAD, MCAD, FATP1 and UCP3. Additionally, aged mice had increased protein levels of CPT-1b at baseline and after lung injury. Surprisingly, CPT-1b in isolated skeletal muscle mitochondria had decreased activity in aged mice compared to adults. The distinct phenotype of aged ALI mice has similar characteristics to the adverse age-related outcomes of ARDS. This model may be useful to examine and augment immunologic and metabolic abnormalities unique to the critically ill aged population.

The Tailgate Study: Differing metabolic effects of a bout of excessive eating and drinking

INTRODUCTION

Excess energy intake by spectators at a sporting event (i.e., a tailgate) might cause acute negative health effects. However, limited data exist regarding the effects of overeating and alcohol consumption on lipid metabolism and the potential to gain intrahepatic triacylglycerols (IHTG). We tested the hypothesis that overconsumption of food and alcohol would significantly increase both hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) and IHTG.

METHODS

Eighteen males (mean ± SD, age: 31.4 ± 7.3 years, BMI: 32.1 ± 5.9 kg/m²) were given alcoholic drinks to elevate blood alcohol for 5 h, while highly palatable food was presented. Blood samples were collected and DNL in TG-rich lipoproteins (TRL) was measured by GC/MS, IHTG was measured via MRS (n = 15), and substrate oxidation was measured via indirect calorimetry.

RESULTS

Subjects consumed 5087 ± 149 kcal (191 ± 25% excess of total daily energy needs including 171 ± 24 g alcohol), which increased plasma insulin, glucose, TG, and decreased NEFA (ANOVA p ≤ 0.003 for all). Both DNL and TRL-TG increased (p < 0.001), while IHTG did not change in the group as a whole (p = 0.229). Individual subject data revealed remarkably differing responses for IHTG (nine increased, five decreased, one did not change). Despite maintaining equal breath alcohol levels, subjects with IHTG elevations exhibited higher DNL, consumed 90% less alcohol (p = 0.048), tended to consume more carbohydrates, and exhibited lower whole-body fat oxidation (not significant) compared to those whose IHTG was reduced.

DISCUSSION

This study demonstrates that acute excess energy intake may have differing effects on an individual's DNL and IHTG, and dietary carbohydrate may influence DNL more than alcohol.

Plasma high-resolution metabolomics identifies linoleic acid and linked metabolic pathways associated with bone mineral density

BACKGROUND & AIMS

There is a considerable degree of variation in bone mineral density (BMD) within populations. Use of plasma metabolomics may provide insight into established and novel determinants of BMD variance, such as nutrition and gut microbiome composition, to inform future prevention and treatment strategies for loss of BMD. Using high-resolution metabolomics (HRM), we examined low-molecular weight plasma metabolites and nutrition-related metabolic pathways associated with BMD.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 179 adults (mean age 49.5 ± 10.3 yr, 64% female). Fasting plasma was analyzed using ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry with liquid chromatography. Whole body and spine BMD were assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and expressed as BMD (g/cm2) or Z-scores. Multiple linear regression, pathway enrichment, and module analyses were used to determine key plasma metabolic features associated with bone density.

RESULTS

Of 10,210 total detected metabolic features, whole body BMD Z-score was associated with 710 metabolites, which were significantly enriched in seven metabolic pathways, including linoleic acid, fatty acid activation and biosynthesis, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Spine BMD was associated with 970 metabolites, significantly enriched in pro-inflammatory pathways involved in prostaglandin formation and linoleic acid metabolism. In module analyses, tryptophan- and polyamine-derived metabolites formed a network that was significantly associated with spine BMD, supporting a link with the gut microbiome.

CONCLUSIONS

Plasma HRM provides comprehensive information relevant to nutrition and components of the microbiome that influence bone health. This data supports pro-inflammatory fatty acids and the gut microbiome as novel regulators of postnatal bone remodeling.

[A prospective randomized controlled clinical study on the treatment of hypertrophic scar after burn by fractional carbon dioxide laser combined with autologous fat injection]

Objective: To explore the clinical effects of fractional carbon dioxide laser combined with autologous fat injection in the treatment of hypertrophic scar after burn. Methods: From April 2018 to April 2019, 12 patients with hypertrophic scar after burn who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns of Xuzhou Renci Hospital, and were included in this prospective randomized controlled clinical study. There were 7 males and 5 females with age of (32±11) years and scar area of (612±195) cm(2). One scar was selected from each patient and divided into two equal area scars, and they were divided into combined treatment group and laser alone group with 12 scars in each group according to the random number table. The scar in laser alone group was only treated with fractional carbon dioxide laser, while the scar in combined treatment group was injected with autologous granular fat and then treated with fractional carbon dioxide laser. Scars in the two groups were treated once every 2 months, totally 3 times. Before the first treatment and 6 months after the last treatment, the scars in the two groups were evaluated by modified Vancouver Scar Scale (mVSS), hematoxylin-eosin staining and color Doppler ultrasound. Six months after the last treatment, the curative effect of scars in the two groups was evaluated, and the effective number of scar treatment was calculated. The adverse reactions during the whole treatment were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test, paired sample t test, and McNemar exact probability method test. Results: Six months after the last treatment, the mVSS score of scars in combined treatment group was (4.5±0.4) points, which was significantly lower than (7.8±0.6) points in laser alone group (t=10.000, P<0.01). Six months after the last treatment, the mVSS scores of scars in combined treatment group and laser alone group were significantly lower than those before the first treatment ((13.5±0.7) and (13.8±0.6) points, t=8.805, 9.010, P<0.01). The effective number of scar treatment in combined treatment group was significantly more than that in laser alone group (P<0.05). There was no scar aggravation, infection, or other adverse reactions during the treatment of scars in both groups. Before the first treatment, the scars in both groups had large collagen, disordered arrangement, proliferation of capillaries, infiltration of some inflammatory cells, and disappearance of skin appendages. Six months after the last treatment, the scar collagen in both groups was sparse and orderly arranged, and the vascular density was reduced. The improvement of scars in combined treatment group was more obvious than that of laser alone group. Six months after the last treatment, the scar thickness in combined treatment group was significantly smaller than that in laser alone group (t=2.657, P<0.05). Before the first treatment, the blood flow of scars in both groups was abundant; 6 months after the last treatment, the blood flow of scars in combined treatment group was significantly less than that in laser alone group. Conclusions: Fractional carbon dioxide laser combined with autologous fat injection in the treatment of hypertrophic scar after burn can significantly reduce the pain and itching symptoms of scar, and improve the thickness, texture, and congestion of scar. The combined treatment has synergistic effect and less adverse reactions, providing a more effective treatment for patients with hypertrophic scar.

[Diagnostic value of non-invasive model for hepatic steatosis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus]

Objective: Hepatic steatosis has a high incidence in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected people, and there is no effective non-invasive method to evaluate it. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic value of non-invasive models for hepatic steatosis in this population. Methods: A single-center retrospective study was applied to evaluate: (1) the diagnostic value of controlled attenuation parameters (CAP) and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) in HIV-infected patients with hepatic steatosis; (2) the ability of the non-invasive model to distinguish hepatic steatosis caused by abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis caused by hepatitis C virus infection; (3) the diagnostic value of the above models for hepatic steatosis in patients co-infected with HIV/hepatitis C virus. The diagnostic value of the model was analyzed and evaluated by diagnostic test and receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: (1) the diagnostic value of hepatic steatosis for HIV-infected patients: when CAP = 232 dB/m, the sensitivity and specificity were 89.2% and 78.1%, respectively; when HSI = 34, the sensitivity and specificity were 79.1% and 83.2%, respectively. (2) The ability to identify the causes of hepatic steatosis in HIV-infected patients: when CAP = 258dB/m, the sensitivity and specificity were 81.5% and 88.2%, respectively; when HSI = 37, the sensitivity and specificity were 70.7% and 92.4%, respectively. (3) The diagnostic value of hepatic steatosis in patients co-infected with HIV/hepatitis C virus: when CAP = 241 dB/m, the sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 71.4%, respectively; when HSI = 32, the sensitivity and specificity were 73% and 68.9%, respectively. Conclusion: CAP and HSI have superior diagnostic value for hepatic steatosis in patients infected with HIV.

First approaches to valorizate fat, oil and grease (FOG) as anaerobic co-substrate with slaughterhouse wastewater: Biomethane potential, settling capacity and microbial dynamics

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the biological preferred treatment applied to Slaughterhouse wastewaters (SWW) due to its effectiveness. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of different percentages of fats, oil and grease (FOG) on biomethane production in anaerobic co-digestion with slaughterhouse wastewater using BMP tests under mesophilic conditions (35 °C). For this purpose, three percentages of FOG from 1% to 10% were tested. Biodegradability, biomethane production and the microbial population were studied. In addition, settling capacity has been evaluated at different conditions: i) before and after anaerobic co-digestion; ii) at different temperature 25 °C and 35 °C. The settling rates as well as the characterization of the digestate were recorded. Experimental results showed that all the co-digestion mixtures (FOG percentages = 1-10%) enhanced biomethane production and biodegradability compared to AD of sole SWW. The best conditions were achieved at 5-10% of FOG, showing biodegradability of 66-70% CODt_removal and specific biomethane productions of 562 and 777 mL_CH4·g^-1_CODsremoved, respectively. Regarding microbial dynamics, Eubacteria was reduced with the increase in %FOG but Acetate utilizing methanogens was increased. Regarding settling capacity, mesophilic temperatures (35 °C) increased the settling rate of digestate in 1.76 times and reduced the lag-phase to 0.92 min; obtaining a more concentrated sludge and leaving a clarified whose TSS represent only 8% of TS.

Quantification of pancreas fat on dual-energy computed tomography: comparison with six-point Dixon magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVES

Although it is important to quantify the degree of fatty degeneration of the pancreas, it is difficult to make such a quantification using conventional computed tomography (CT). The present study evaluated the feasibility of pancreatic fat quantification by dual-energy CT (DECT) compared with T2*-corrected six-point Dixon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight patients who underwent both DECT (100 and 150 kVp) and Dixon MRI without the use of contrast agents were analyzed. The region of interest (ROI) was placed at the head and body/tail of the pancreas on fat volume fraction (FVF) maps generated using the multi-material decomposition (MMD) algorithm on DECT. The FVF (%) of pancreatic parenchyma measured by DECT (CT-FVF) was compared with that measured on FVF maps calculated using Dixon MRI (MR-FVF) using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

The median CT-FVF (%) values of the head and body/tail of the pancreas on DECT were 14.2% (range 0.1-81.2%) and 9.4% (range 0-40.8%), respectively. The median MR-FVF (%) values of the head and body/tail of the pancreas on Dixon MRI were 12.2% (range 1.2-80.9%) and 8.1% (range 0.3-43.7%), respectively. CT-FVF (%) measured by DECT showed a significant correlation with the MR-FVF (%) measured by Dixon MRI in the head of the pancreas (ρ = 0.631, P < 0.001) as well as the body/tail of the pancreas (ρ = 0.526, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

DECT may be useful for quantifying the degree of fatty degeneration of the pancreas.

Associations Between Dietary Patterns and Subclinical Cardiac Injury: An Observational Analysis From the DASH Trial

BACKGROUND

The DASH diet has been found to lower blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

OBJECTIVE

To compare diets rich in fruits and vegetables with a typical American diet in their effects on cardiovascular injury in middle-aged adults without known preexisting cardiovascular disease (CVD).

DESIGN

Observational study based on a 3-group, parallel-design, randomized trial conducted in the United States from 1994 to 1996. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00000544).

SETTING

3 of the 4 original clinical trial centers.

PARTICIPANTS

326 of the original 459 trial participants with available stored specimens.

INTERVENTION

Participants were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of monitored feeding with a control diet typical of what many Americans eat; a diet rich in fruits and vegetables but otherwise similar to the control diet; or the DASH diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and fiber and has low levels of saturated fat and cholesterol. Weight was kept constant throughout feeding.

MEASUREMENTS

Biomarkers collected at baseline and 8 weeks: high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 45.2 years, 48% were women, 49% were black, and mean baseline BP was 131/85 mm Hg. Compared with the control diet, the fruit-and-vegetable diet reduced hs-cTnI levels by 0.5 ng/L (95% CI, -0.9 to -0.2 ng/L) and NT-proBNP levels by 0.3 pg/mL (CI, -0.5 to -0.1 pg/mL). Compared with the control diet, the DASH diet reduced hs-cTnI levels by 0.5 ng/L (CI, -0.9 to -0.1 ng/L) and NT-proBNP levels by 0.3 pg/mL (CI, -0.5 to -0.04 pg/mL). Levels of hs-CRP did not differ among diets. None of the markers differed between the fruit-and-vegetable and DASH diets.

LIMITATION

Short duration, missing specimens, and an inability to isolate the effects of specific foods or micronutrients.

CONCLUSION

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables given over 8 weeks were associated with lower levels of markers for subclinical cardiac damage and strain in adults without preexisting CVD.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Comparisons between fresh and cryopreserved fat injections in facial lipofilling

Background

Autologous fat is considered an ideal filler material, and the use of cryopreserved fat grafts is promising in terms of flexibility and efficiency. Therefore, cryopreserved fat grafts have become more common in recent years; however, their complications require further consideration.

Methods

We evaluated 53 patients who underwent facial lipofilling at our institution to confirm the clinical usefulness and safety of cryopreserved fat. Fresh fat injections with or without cryopreserved fat were administered. At one or more sites, 22 patients had a single fresh fat injection, four patients had two or more fresh fat injections, 16 patients had one fresh fat injection followed by one cryopreserved fat injection, six patients had one fresh fat injection followed by two cryopreserved fat injections, and five patients had two fresh fat injections and one or more cryopreserved fat injections.

Results

In total, 281 sets of injection procedures were performed at various sites, of which 170 involved one fresh fat injection, 89 involved one fresh fat injection and one cryopreserved fat injection, and 11 involved one fresh fat injection and two cryopreserved fat injections. One patient experienced self-resolving inflammation as a complication after the second injection in the right cheek. No statistically significant differences were found between the fresh and cryopreserved fat injections.

Conclusion

We suggest that cryopreserved fat is a useful and safe resource for multiple fat injections, with advantages including aseptic fat handling and the delicacy of the technique.

[Application of adipose stem cells in tissue repair and reconstruction]

Adipose stem cells (ASCs) are mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue, and they have potentials of self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation. Compared with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, ASCs have many advantages, such as easy access, easy cultivation, and abundant content, which are valuable seed cells in the field of repair and reconstruction. In recent years, with the deepening of the researches on differentiation, regulation, and function of ASCs, the clinical application of ASCs has gradually increased with good therapeutic effects.

Metabolomics analysis of lipid metabolizing enzyme activity

Lipids exert key structural, metabolic, and signaling functions in cells. Lipid diversity found in cells and tissues is regulated principally by metabolic enzymes whose activity is modulated posttranslationally to shape head group and fatty acyl composition of membrane lipids. Methodologies capable of monitoring in vivo changes in the lipidome are needed to assign substrate specificity of metabolic enzymes, which represents a key step toward understanding structure-function of lipids in living systems. The resulting lipid annotations also serve as important biomarkers for understanding mode of action for pharmacological agents targeting metabolic enzymes in cells and animal models. In this chapter, we describe a general metabolomics workflow to complement (chemo)proteomic efforts to modulate lipid pathways for basic science and translational applications.

[Advances in the research of autologous fat grafting in the prevention and treatment of scar]

Scars formed by various injuries can affect the appearance and psychology of patients. Therefore, more and more people pay attention to the prevention and treatment of scar. With the development of the autologous fat grafting, it has been gradually applied to the prevention and treatment of scar. At present, it has been confirmed by scholars that the autologous fat grafting could be an effective method to prevent and treat scar from basic research and clinical practice. At the same time, the deficiency of autologous fat grafting in the prevention and treatment of scar was also pointed out. This paper reviews the application, mechanism, and deficiency of autologous fat grafting in scar prevention and treatment.

The Association between Pancreatic Steatosis and Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

BACKGROUND

Whether pancreatic steatosis has a local or systemic effect, like ectopic fat of other major organs, remains unknown. Data on the influence of pancreatic steatosis on microvascular complication are rare. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between pancreatic steatosis and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

The attenuation of three pancreatic regions (head, body, and tail) and the spleen (S) in 186 patients with T2DM was measured using non-enhanced computed tomography imaging. We used three parameters for the assessment of pancreatic steatosis ('P' mean: mean attenuation of three pancreatic regions; P-S: difference between 'P' mean and 'S'; P/S: the 'P' mean to 'S' ratio). The presence of DR was assessed by an expert ophthalmologist using dilated fundoscopy.

RESULTS

The average P mean was 29.02 Hounsfield units (HU), P-S was -18.20 HU, and P/S was 0.61. The three pancreatic steatosis parameters were significantly associated with the prevalence of DR in non-obese T2DM patients. In the non-obese group, the odds ratios of P mean, P-S, and P/S for the prevalence of DR, after adjustment for age, sex, and glycosylated hemoglobin level, were 2.449 (P=0.07), 2.639 (P=0.04), and 2.043 (P=0.02), respectively.

CONCLUSION

In this study, pancreatic steatosis was significantly associated with DR in non-obese patients with T2DM. Further studies are necessary to clarify the causal relationship between pancreatic steatosis and the development of DR.

Removal of Fat Components in High TDS Leather Wastewater by Saline-Tolerant Lipase-Assisted Nanoporous-Activated Carbon

The present investigation was carried out for the degradation of fatty components in high TDS containing wastewater (soak liquor) discharged from leather industry, and the degradation was achieved by saline-tolerant lipase-immobilized functionalized nanoporous-activated carbon (STLNPAC). The lipase was extracted from the halophilic organism, Bacillus cereus. The optimum conditions for lipase production such as time, 60 h; temperature, 50 °C; pH, 10; and substrate concentration, 2.5% (w/v) were determined through response surface methodology (RSM). The functionalization of NPAC was done by ethylenediamine/glutaraldehyde covalent interaction technique followed by the immobilization of saline-tolerant lipase onto FNPAC. The functional properties of STLNPAC were analyzed through instrumentation techniques such as TGA-DSC, FT-IR, XRD, and SEM images. The lipid content of soak liquor was removed by > 99% at HRT of 60 min using STLNPAC-packed bed reactor. The efficiency was evaluated by using UV-visible and FT-IR spectroscopic analyses. The degradation of lipids was best obeyed by pseudo first-order rate kinetics, and the rate constant was found to be 1.6 × 10^-3 min^-1. The biodegradability index of soak liquor was increased from 0.322 to 0.426, highly favorable for the complete removal of organic components in subsequent operations.

Dietary intake of fat and fibre according to reference values relates to higher gut microbiota richness in overweight pregnant women

The diet-microbiota-metabolism relationships during pregnancy are mostly unknown. We explored the effect of the habitual diet and adherence to the dietary reference values on gut microbiota composition and diversity. Further, the association of gut microbiota with serum lipidomics and low-grade inflammation was evaluated. Overweight and obese women (BMI 30·7 (sd 4·4) kg/m2, n 100) were studied at early pregnancy (≤17 weeks). Intakes of nutrients were calculated from 3-d food diaries. Faecal microbiota composition was analysed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Fasting serum lipidomic profiles were determined by NMR. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein, glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA) and lipopolysaccharide activity were used as markers for low-grade inflammation. The recommended dietary intake of fibre and fat was related to higher gut microbiota richness and lower abundance of Bacteroidaceae. Correlations were observed between gut microbiota richness and GlycA and between a few microbiota genera and serum lipoprotein particles. As a conclusion, adherence to the dietary reference intake of fat and fibre was associated with beneficial gut microbiota composition, which again contributed to lipidomic profile. Higher gut microbiota richness and nutrient intakes were linked to a lower level of low-grade inflammation marker GlycA. This finding offers novel insights and opportunities for dietary modification during pregnancy with potential of improving the health of the mother and the child.

Addictive salt may not be solely responsible for causing hypertension: A sweet and fatty hypothesis

In literature, since many decades, it is often believed and condoned that excessive common salt (Nacl) ingestion can lead to hypertension. Hence, every health organisation, agencies and physicians have been advising salt restriction to hypertensive patients. However, there is no concrete evidence suggesting that salt restriction can reduce the risk of hypertension (HTN). The present article is based on the current literature search which was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar and PubMed. The meta-analysis, randomised control trials, clinical trials and review articles were chosen. The present review article suggests that consumption of high salt diet does not lead to hypertension and there are other factors which can lead to hypertension, sugar and fats being the main reasons. Salt can however lead to addiction and generally, these salty food items have a larger proportion of sugar and fats, which if over-consumed has a potential to cause obesity, hyperlipidaemia and subsequently, hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders. Hence, through the present review, I would like to suggest all the physicians to ask the hypertensive patients to cut down the intake of sugar and fat containing food items and keep a check on addiction of salty food items.

[Association between food intake and the serum total cholesterol level among adults in 9 regions of China]

Objective: To analyze the association between food intake and the serum total cholesterol(TC) level in adult Chinese population. Methods: This study included apparent healthy residents aged between 20 and 70 years who participated in the eighth round of China Health and Nutrition Study (CHNS) in 9 regions of China including Liaoning, Helongjiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 2009. The association between the serum TC level and the diet and other related factors were analyzed. Results: (1) Linear trend test showed that age, body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were positively related with serum TC level in 20-45 and 46-70 years old male and female (all P<0.01), while physical activity level was negatively related with serum TC level in 20-45 and 46-70 years old male and 46-70 years old female (all P<0.01). (2) Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that livestock meat intake was positively related with serum TC level in following populations: 20-45 years old male, β=0.133, P<0.001; 46-70 years old male, β=0.102, P=0.001; 20-45 years old male, β=0.065, P=0.041; years old female, β=0.059, P=0.045. Vegetable oil intake was negatively related with serum TC level in 20-45 years old male (β=-0.071, P=0.021). Saturated fat intake was positively related with serum TC level in 46-70 years old female (β=0.084, P=0.019). Total dietary cholesterol intake was positively related with serum TC level in male (20-45 years old, β=0.067, P=0.021; 46-70 years old, β=0.070, P=0.012), but not in female (20-45 years old, β=0.007, P=0.809; 46-70 years old, β=0.038, P=0.144). Cholesterol intake from livestock meat was positively related with serum TC level in male (20-45 years old, β=0.156, P<0.001; 46-70 years old, β=0.099, P=0.001), and positively related with serum TC level in 46-70 years old female (β=0.063, P=0.028). Cholesterol intake from egg was positively related with serum TC level in 46-70 years old male (β=0.056, P=0.032). Conclusions: Age, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood pressure, and physical activity level are related with serum TC level. Cholesterol intake from livestock meat was the main food source that related with serum TC level, and the serum TC increases at a relatively small level after intake of total dietary cholesterol.

Conditioned flavor preferences in animals: Merging pharmacology, brain sites and genetic variance

The elucidation of the behavioral, neurochemical, neuroanatomical and genetic substrates mediating the development of conditioned flavor preferences (CFP) is one of the multi-faceted scientific contributions that Dr. Anthony Sclafani has made to the study of food intake. This review summarizes the results of thirty-five publications over nearly twenty years of collaborations between the Sclafani and Bodnar laboratories. This includes the different approaches employed to study the orosensory (flavor-flavor) and post-ingestive (flavor-nutrient) processes underlying CFP including its acquisition (learning) and expression. It describes how CFP is elicited by different sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose) and fats (corn oil) in rats, and how strain-specific CFP effects can be observed through the use of inbred mouse strains to evaluate genetic variance. The roles of pharmacological substrates (dopamine, glutamate, opioids, acetylcholine, GABA, cannabinoids) mediating sugar- and fat-CFP acquisition and expression are elucidated. Finally, neuroanatomical sites of action (nucleus accumbens, amygdala, medial prefrontal and orbital frontal cortices, lateral hypothalamus) are evaluated at which dopamine signaling mediates acquisition and expression of different forms of CFP.

Microbial community adaptation influences long-chain fatty acid conversion during anaerobic codigestion of fats, oils, and grease with municipal sludge

Codigesting fats, oils, and greases with municipal wastewater sludge can greatly improve biomethane recovery at wastewater treatment facilities. Process loading rates of fats, oils, and greases have been previously tested with little knowledge of the digester microbial community structure, and high transient fat loadings have led to long chain fatty acid (LCFA) accumulation and digester upsets. This study utilized recently-developed quantitative PCR assays for syntrophic LCFA-degrading bacteria along with 16S amplicon sequencing to relate changes in microbial community structure to LCFA accumulation during transient loading increases to an anaerobic codigester receiving waste restaurant oil and municipal wastewater sludge. The 16S rRNA gene concentration of the syntrophic β-oxidizing genus Syntrophomonas increased to ∼15% of the Bacteria community in the codigester, but stayed below 3% in the control digester that was fed only wastewater sludge. Methanosaeta and Methanospirillum were the dominant methanogenic genera enriched in the codigester, and together comprised over 80% of the Archaea community by the end of the experimental period. Constrained ordination showed that changes in the codigester Bacteria and Archaea community structures were related to measures of digester performance. Notably, the effluent LCFA concentration in the codigester was positively correlated to the specific loading rate of waste oil normalized to the Syntrophomonas 16S rRNA concentration. Specific loading rates of 0-1.5 × 10(-12) g VS oil/16S gene copies-day resulted in LCFA concentrations below 30 mg/g TS, whereas LCFA accumulated up to 104 mg/g TS at higher transient loading rates. Based on the community-dependent loading limitations found, enhanced biomethane production from high loadings of fats, oils and greases can be achieved by promoting a higher biomass of slow-growing syntrophic consortia, such as with longer digester solids retention times. This work also demonstrates the potential for controlling the loading rate of fats, oils, and greases based on the analysis of the codigester community structure, such as with quantitative PCR measurements of syntrophic LCFA-degrading bacteria abundance.

Effect of heating/reheating of fats/oils, as used by Asian Indians, on trans fatty acid formation

Heating/frying and reuse of edible fats/oils induces chemical changes such as formation of trans fatty acids (TFAs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of heating/frying on formation of TFAs in fats/oils. Using gas chromatography with flame ionisation detector, TFA was estimated in six commonly used fat/oils in India (refined soybean oil, groundnut oil, olive oil, rapeseed oil, clarified butter, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil), before and after subjecting them to heating/frying at 180°C and 220°C. All six fats/oils subjected to heating/frying demonstrated an increase in TFAs (p<0.001), saturated fatty acids (p<0.001) and decrease in cis-unsaturated fatty acids (p<0.001). The absolute increase in TFA content of edible oils (after subjecting to heating/reheating) ranged between 2.30±0.89g/100g and 4.5±1.43g/100g; amongst edible fats it ranged between 2.60±0.38g/100g and 5.96±1.94g/100g. There were no significant differences between the two treatment groups (heating and frying; p=0.892). Considering the undesirable health effects of TFA, appropriate guidelines for heating/re-frying of edible fats/oils by Asian Indians should be devised.

Association between the gut microbiota and diet: Fetal life, early childhood, and further life

Gut microbiota establishment and further microbiota shifts are very important for maintaining host health throughout life. There are some factors, including genetics, the mother's health and diet, delivery mode, breast or formula feeding, that may influence the gut microbiota. By the end of approximately the first 3 y of life, the gut microbiota becomes an adult-like stable system. Once established, 60 to 70% of the microbiota composition remains stable throughout life, but 30 to 40% can be altered by changes in the diet and other factors such as physical activity, lifestyle, bacterial infections, and antibiotic or surgical treatment. Diet-related factors that influence the gut microbiota in people of all ages are of great interest. Nutrition may have therapeutic success in gut microbiota correction. This review describes current evidence concerning the links between gut microbiota composition and dietary patterns throughout life.

Using the Scanning Fluid Dynamic Gauging Device to Understand the Cleaning of Baked Lard Soiling Layers

Extended or repeated heating of food fats promotes polymerisation reactions that produce difficult-to-remove soil layers. Cleaning of these baked-on/burnt-on fat deposits was investigated using model layers generated by baking lard on 316 stainless steel discs. Rigorous characterisation of the layer material was difficult, as it was insoluble in most solvents. Cleaning was studied using the scanning fluid dynamic gauging technique developed by Gordon et al. (Meas Sci Technol 21:85-103, 2010), which provides non-contact in situ measurement of layer thickness at several sites on a sample in real time. Tests at 50 [Formula: see text]C with alkali (sodium hydroxide, pH 10.4-11) and three surfactant solutions indicated two removal mechanisms, related to the (1) roll-up and (2) dispersion mechanisms reported for oily oils, namely (1) penetration of solvent at the soil-liquid interface, resulting in detachment of the soil layer as a coherent film, observed with linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid (LAS) and Triton X-100 and aqueous sodium hydroxide at pH 10.4-11; and (2) the breakdown promoted by the agent penetrating through the layer, observed with cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), in which CTAB antagonised the cleaning action of LAS.

Frequency of Dietary Recalls, Nutritional Assessment, and Body Composition Assessment in Men With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury

OBJECTIVES

To assess different frequencies of dietary recalls while evaluating caloric intake and the percentage of macronutrients in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to examine the relations between caloric intake or percentage of macronutrients and assessment of whole and regional body composition using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional and longitudinal.

SETTING

Laboratory and hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

Men with chronic (>1 y postinjury) motor complete SCI (N=16).

INTERVENTIONS

Participants were asked to turn in a 5-day dietary recall on a weekly basis for 4 weeks. The averages of 5-, 3-, and 1-day dietary recalls for caloric intake and percentage of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, protein) were calculated. Body composition was evaluated using whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. After overnight fast, basal metabolic rate (BMR) was evaluated using indirect calorimetry and total energy expenditure (TEE) was estimated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Caloric intake, percentage of macronutrients, BMR, and body composition.

RESULTS

Caloric intake and percentage of macronutrients were not different after using 5-, 3-, and 1-day dietary recalls (P>.05). Caloric intake was significantly lower than TEE (P<.05). The percentage of fat accounted for 29% to 34% of the whole and regional body fat mass (P=.037 and P=.022). The percentage of carbohydrates was positively related to the percentage of whole-body lean mass (r=.54; P=.037) and negatively related to the percentage of fat mass.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of dietary recalls does not vary while evaluating caloric intake and macronutrients. Total caloric intake was significantly lower than the measured BMR and TEE. Percentages of dietary fat and carbohydrates are related to changes in body composition after SCI.

Comparison of the viability of cryopreserved fat tissue in accordance with the thawing temperature

Background

Adipose tissue damage of cryopreserved fat after autologous fat transfer is inevitable in several processes of re-transplantation. This study aims to compare and analyze the survivability of adipocytes after thawing fat cryopreserved at -20℃ by using thawing methods used in clinics.

Methods

The survival rates of adipocytes in the following thawing groups were measured: natural thawing at 25℃ for 15 minutes; natural thawing at 25℃ for 5 minutes, followed by rapid thawing at 37℃ in a water bath for 5 minutes; and rapid thawing at 37℃ for 10 minutes in a water bath. The survival rates of adipocytes were assessed by measuring the volume of the fat layer in the top layers separated after centrifugation, counting the number of live adipocytes after staining with trypan blue, and measuring the activity of mitochondria in the adipocytes.

Results

In the group with rapid thawing for 10 minutes in a water bath, it was observed that the cell count of live adipocytes and the activity of the adipocyte mitochondria were significantly higher than in the other two groups (P<0.05). The volume of the fat layer separated by centrifugation was also measured to be higher, which was, however, not statistically significant.

Conclusions

It was shown that the survival rate of adipocytes was higher when the frozen fat tissue was thawed rapidly at 37℃. It can thus be concluded that if fats thawed with this method are re-transplanted, the survival rate of cryopreserved fats in transplantation will be improved, and thus, the effect of autologous fat transfer will increase.

Feed analyses and their interpretation

Compositional analysis is central to determining the nutritional value of feedstuffs for use in ration formulation. The utility of the values and how they should be used depends on how representative the feed subsample is, the nutritional relevance and analytical variability of the assays, and whether an analysis is suitable to be applied to a particular feedstuff. Commercial analyses presently available for carbohydrates, protein, and fats have improved nutritionally pertinent description of feed fractions. Factors affecting interpretation of feed analyses and the nutritional relevance and application of currently available analyses are discussed.

Crystallization modifiers in lipid systems

Crystallization of fats is a determinant physical event affecting the structure and properties of fat-based products. The stability of these processed foods is regulated by changes in the physical state of fats and alterations in their crystallization behavior. Problems like polymorphic transitions, oil migration, fat bloom development, slow crystallization and formation of crystalline aggregates stand out. The change of the crystallization behavior of lipid systems has been a strategic issue for the processing of foods, aiming at taylor made products, reducing costs, improving quality, and increasing the applicability and stability of different industrial fats. In this connection, advances in understanding the complex mechanisms that govern fat crystallization led to the development of strategies in order to modulate the conventional processes of fat structuration, based on the use of crystallization modifiers. Different components have been evaluated, such as specific triacyglycerols, partial glycerides (monoacylglycerols and diacylglycerols), free fatty acids, phospholipids and emulsifiers. The knowledge and expertise on the influence of these specific additives or minor lipids on the crystallization behavior of fat systems represents a focus of current interest for the industrial processing of oils and fats. This article presents a comprehensive review on the use of crystallization modifiers in lipid systems, especially for palm oil, cocoa butter and general purpose fats, highlighting: i) the removal, addition or fractionation of minor lipids in fat bases; ii) the use of nucleating agents to modify the crystallization process; iii) control of crystallization in lipid bases by using emulsifiers. The addition of these components into lipid systems is discussed in relation to the phenomena of nucleation, crystal growth, morphology, thermal behavior and polymorphism, with the intention of providing the reader with a complete panorama of the associated mechanisms with crystallization of fats and oils.

Influence of dietary fat source on growth performance responses and carcass traits of broiler chicks

This study was conducted to determine the effects of three different fat sources and their combination on growth performance, carcass traits and intestinal measurements of broiler chickens reared to 42 d of age. Two hundred day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to one of five treatments with four replicates of 10 chicks based on a completely randomized design. The dietary treatments consisted of 4% added fat from three different sources and their combination as follows: T, diet containing 4% tallow; CO, diet containing 4% canola oil; SFO, diet containing 4% sunflower oil; TCO, diet containing 2% tallow+2% canola oil; TSFO, diet containing 2% tallow+2% sunflower oil. Dietary fat type affected significantly BW and gain as well as feed efficiency in birds fed the TCO diets compared with those fed the other diets. Dietary fat type also modified meat yield, resulting in a higher breast and drumstick yields in the birds fed TCO and TSFO diets, respectively. Most of internal organ relative weights and small intestine measurements were not influenced by dietary treatments, except for the abdominal fat pad weight that was lower in birds fed SFO and for small intestinal length that was influenced by fat source. Results from the current study suggested that the supplementation with a combination of vegetable and animal fat sources in broiler diet supported positively growth performance and carcass parameters.

Transposition of intravascular lipid in experimentally induced fat embolism: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND

Liposuction is a procedure to reduce the volume of subcutaneous fat by physical force. Intracellular storage fat is composed of triglyceride, whereas circulating fat particles exist as cholesterol or triglycerol bound to carrier proteins. It is unavoidable that the storage form of fat particles enters the circulation system after these particles are physiologically destroyed. To date, however, no studies have clarified the fatal characteristics of fat embolism that occurs after the subclinical phase of free fat particles.

METHODS

A mixture of human lipoaspirate and normal saline (1:100, 0.2 mL) was injected into the external jugular vein of rats, weighing 200 g on average. Biopsy specimens of the lung and kidney were examined at 12-hour intervals until postoperative 72 hours. The deposit location and transport of the injected free fat particles were confirmed histologically by an Oil Red O stain.

RESULTS

Inconsistent with previous reports, free fat particles were transported from the intravascular space to the parenchyma. At 24 hours after infusion, free fat particles deposited in the vascular lumen were confirmed on the Oil Red O stain. At 72 hours after infusion, free fat particles were accumulated compactly within the parenchymal space near the perivascular area.

CONCLUSIONS

Many surgeons are aware of the fatal results and undiscovered pathophysiologic mechanisms of free fat particles. Our results indicate that free fat particles, the storage form of fat that has been degraded through a physiological process, might be removed through a direct transport mechanism and phagocytotic uptake.

Nutritional contributions of insects to primate diets: implications for primate evolution

Insects and other invertebrates form a portion of many living and extinct primate diets. We review the nutritional profiles of insects in comparison with other dietary items, and discuss insect nutrients in relation to the nutritional needs of living primates. We find that insects are incorporated into some primate diets as staple foods whereby they are the majority of food intake. They can also be incorporated as complements to other foods in the diet, providing protein in a diet otherwise dominated by gums and/or fruits, or be incorporated as supplements to likely provide an essential nutrient that is not available in the typical diet. During times when they are very abundant, such as in insect outbreaks, insects can serve as replacements to the usual foods eaten by primates. Nutritionally, insects are high in protein and fat compared with typical dietary items like fruit and vegetation. However, insects are small in size and for larger primates (>1 kg) it is usually nutritionally profitable only to consume insects when they are available in large quantities. In small quantities, they may serve to provide important vitamins and fatty acids typically unavailable in primate diets. In a brief analysis, we found that soft-bodied insects are higher in fat though similar in chitin and protein than hard-bodied insects. In the fossil record, primates can be defined as soft- or hard-bodied insect feeders based on dental morphology. The differences in the nutritional composition of insects may have implications for understanding early primate evolution and ecology.