Attractiveness and consumption of finger foods in elderly Alzheimer’s disease patients

Finger foods are helpful for patients with Alzheimer’s disease because they enable them to eat alone with their fingers rather than with cutlery, once this has become too difficult to use. By applying this solution, patients with Alzheimer’s disease can gain in autonomy and rediscover the pleasure of eating on their own. However, the provision of attractive finger foods is essential to ensuring that these patients will be willing to choose and consume them. In this context, the aim of our study was to investigate the attractiveness factors of finger foods to Alzheimer’s disease patients. Three parameters for the formulation of finger foods (the addition of a sauce, changes to shape and contrast) were thus studied as a result of interviews with 19 professionals in nursing homes. They were then tested separately using paired comparison tests in real-life mealtime situations. 114 Alzheimer’s patients living in nursing homes participated in this study. The results showed that the finger foods with a sauce (vs. no sauce) and with two layers (vs. one layer where all ingredients were mixed) were more frequently chosen first and then consumed. By contrast, the shape (moulded vs. squared) of the finger foods had no significant impact on first choice and food consumption. These findings support the view that Alzheimer’s patients are able to make food choices when offered alternatives; choosing first and consuming more of the alternatives most attractive to them. Future research efforts will focus on a more detailed investigation of food attractiveness related to the food perceptions of AD patients.     

A role of sea buckthorn on Alzheimer’s disease

Evidence suggests that diets rich in antioxidants reduce the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Hippophae rhamnoides, commonly known as sea buckthorn (SB), is rich in antioxidants which could have direct effects on amyloid-beta (Aβ) levels and consequently influence AD pathogenesis. In this study, sea buckthorn powder (SBP) was administered at varying concentrations (0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5 and 1.8 µg mL⁻¹) to cell cultures (BE(2)-M17) with 20 mm Aβ for 72 h. MTS test indicated that SB significantly increased cell viability in Aβ-induced cells up to 95%. Results of Western blot showed maximum 38% inhibition of Aβ compared to the control (Aβ only). ELISA demonstrated significantly lower amyloid-β level (6672 pg mL⁻¹) than the control (10189 pg mL⁻¹). Images of AFM further confirmed the presence of low quantity of amyloid beta in SBP-treated cells. These findings suggest that SB warrants further investigation as potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of AD.     

Protective role of Cordyceps militaris in Aβ1–42-induced Alzheimer’s disease in vivo

Food Science and Biotechnology - According to the “amyloid cascade hypothesis”, amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein occupied one of the risk factors of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)....     

Impact of coffee preparation on total phenolic content in brewed coffee extracts and their contribution to the body’s antioxidant status

Food Science and Biotechnology - Although coffee has been reported as a major contributor to antioxidants in the diet, there are limited studies assessing how brewing methods and types of coffee...     

Influence of processing on the generation of γ-aminobutyric acid in green coffee beans

A determination of the concentrations of free amino acids in differently processed green coffees indicated the nonprotein amino acid -aminobutyric acid (GABA), a well-known plant stress metabolite, to be present in raw coffee beans (Coffea arabica L.) in significantly varying amounts. The GABA content of unwashed Arabica beans (green coffee produced by the dry processing method) was always markedly higher than that of washed Arabicas (wet processing method) as well as that of untreated seeds. This result underlined the assumption that during postharvest treatment a significant metabolism occurs within coffee seeds. A putative relation between drought stress of the coffee seeds and postharvest treatment methods is discussed. The GABA content of green coffee beans may serve as a potent tool to characterize the type of postharvest treatment applied in coffee processing.     

Protection of curcumin against fructose-induced hyperuricaemia and renal endothelial dysfunction involves NO-mediated JAK–STAT signalling in rats

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that excess fructose consumption as a risk factor for metabolic syndrome causes hyperuricaemia and renal injury. Curcumin, a natural plant phenolic food additive, lowered serum urate, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, and increased urinary urate and nitrate/nitrites levels, as well as renal nitric oxide (NO) production in fructose-fed rats. Moreover, curcumin regulated urate transport-related proteins and inhibited activation of the JAK2–STAT3 cascade and overexpression of SOCS3 and TGF-β1 in the kidneys of fructose-fed rats. These results suggested that the anti-hyperuricaemic and renal protective actions of curcumin might be the result of renal NO-mediated JAK2–STAT3 signalling and TGF-β1 normality, which ameliorated renal endothelial dysfunction to improve renal urate transporter system in this model. The present study may provide the evidence for the potential use of a functional food ingredient curcumin because of its action against hyperuricaemia and renal injury induced by high fructose intake.     

Blended extract of oat,sorghum, adzuki bean,finger millet,and proso millet improved hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in the streptozotocin–nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats

Food Science and Biotechnology - Grains contain bioactive components that potentially have protective effects on chronic diseases such as diabetes. The anti-diabetic effects of blended grain...     

Comparative study of the essential oil composition of Salvia urmiensis and its enzyme inhibitory activities linked to diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease

The genus Salvia has economic importance due to its broad uses in traditional medicine, perfume, food, and pharmaceutical industries. In the present work, various extracts and essential oils of Salvia urmiensis Bunge., were screened for their inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, the enzymes linked to neurodegeneration, and against α-amylase and α-glucosidase (involved in diabetes mellitus; DM). Chemical compositions of the essential oils of leaves and flowers of the plant were also determined. The tested samples exhibited moderate to high anti-diabetic potential (IC₅₀ = 8–145 µg/mL) and moderate anticholinesterase activity (IC₅₀ = 44–892 µg/mL). Essential oil of leaves was rich in ester compounds such as ethyl linoleate (19%), methyl hexadecanoate (17%), and methyl linoleate (7.5%). The major compound of essential oil of flowers was 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone (55.7%). This is the first report on the enzyme inhibitory activity of S. urmiensis and also the chemical composition of its leaves and flowers in essential oils. The results indicated that S. urmiensis could be considered a valuable source for functional foods and pharmaceuticals.     

Bioconversion of brewer’s spent grains by reactive extrusion and their application in bread-making

A characteristic of industrial brewing is the production of large quantities of spent grains resulting from the mashing process. This residue is used mainly as animal feed. This study aimed to enzymatically modify the mashing residue by associating an innovative extrusion bioconversion process and compare the effects of the treatments on bread-making. Modification of spent grains with two types of commercial enzymes was evaluated. Bread was made with treated spent grains (TSG) and untreated spent grains (USG), which were later directly added with enzymes in the same concentrations during dough preparation. The bioconversion process modified the structure of arabinoxylans and allowed the formation of water-soluble arabinoxylans. The production of reducing sugars increased, indicating the increase in the production of residual xylose and in the water solubility index. Bread prepared with USG together with the enzymes directly added to the dough had larger specific volume and was softer than that made with TSG. The sensorial preference of the panel did not vary for the different treatments used.     

Administration of a β-glucan-enriched extract activates beneficial hepatic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The beneficial effect of a commercially available β-glucan-enriched extract (BGEE) from cereal grain, against a diabetes-induced hepatic redox imbalance and inflammatory response in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was evaluated. Diabetic rats that were treated with BGEE exhibited lower hyperglycaemia and improved biochemical parameters of liver damage. BGEE attenuated hepatic oxidative stress, revealed by a decreased concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and a restored GSH/GSSG ratio. BGEE also exerted an anti-inflammatory effect on the liver, evidenced by the normalization of the serum concentrations of the “positive” and “negative” acute-phase proteins, α₂-macroglobulin and albumin, respectively, as well as by upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and IL-4 mRNA expression, and inhibition of RAGE/NF-κB signaling. These findings suggest that BGEE application exerts a beneficial effect in the liver of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and that it therefore possesses an important potential in diabetes management.     

Effect of long term administration of resveratrol on lipid concentration in selected organs and liver’s histology in rats fed high fructose diet

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of long term administration (4 months) of resveratrol (RSV) with high fructose (HF) diet (63%) on selected biochemical parameters and lipids content in different tissues of rats. Lipid profile in serum of rats was not affected by the addition of resveratrol to the experimental diets. The concentration of tiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; expressed as the melanodialdehyde – MDA equivalents) was significantly lower in the serum of rats fed HF diet with the addition of 0.04% and 0.06% of resveratrol. Crude lipids content in hearts was lower in rats fed with HF diet with the addition of 0.06% RSV. The concentration of lipids was also significantly lower in the liver of animals fed with HF diet with the addition of 0.04% or 0.06%. These results indicated that resveratrol significantly decreased fat accumulation and oxidative stress in rats fed with a high fructose diet.     

Release of active compounds from agar and agar–gelatin films with green tea extract

Active biodegradable films based on agar and agar–fish gelatin were developed by the incorporation of green tea aqueous extract to the film forming solution. The effect of the partial replacement of agar by fish skin gelatin as well as the addition of the green tea extract on the physical properties of the resultant films was evaluated. Special attention was given to the release of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds from the agar film matrices with and without gelatin. Agar–gelatin films were less resistant and more deformable than agar films. The inclusion of green tea extract decreased tensile strength and elongation at break in both agar and agar–gelatin films. Water vapour permeability and water resistance was not affected either by the replacement of agar by gelatin or the addition of green tea extract, but the water solubility noticeably increased in the films containing green tea extract. The presence of gelatin in the agar–green tea matrix film hindered the release of total phenolic compounds, catechins and flavonols in water. As a consequence, the antioxidant power released by the films was lower in the case of films containing gelatin. However, the antimicrobial activity of the films was not affected by the presence of gelatin.     

Phenotypic effects of subclinical paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease) in dairy cattle

The effect of subclinical paratuberculosis (or Johne’s disease) risk status on performance, health, and fertility was studied in 58,096 UK Holstein-Friesian cows with 156,837 lactations across lactations 1 to 3. Low-, medium-, and high-risk group categories were allocated to cows determined by a minimum of 4 ELISA milk tests taken at any time during their lactating life. Lactation curves of daily milk, protein, and fat yields and protein and fat percentage, together with log_e-transformed somatic cell count, were estimated using a random regression model to quantify differences between risk groups. The effect of subclinical paratuberculosis risk groups on fertility, lactation-average somatic cell count, and mastitis were analyzed using linear regression fitting risk group as a fixed effect. Milk yield losses associated with high-risk cows compared with low-risk cows in lactations 1, 2, and 3 for mean daily yield were 0.34, 1.05, and 1.61 kg; likewise, accumulated 305-d yields were 103, 316, and 485 kg, respectively. The total loss was 904 kg over the first 3 lactations. Protein and fat yield losses associated with high-risk cows were significant, but primarily a feature of decreasing milk yield. Similar trends were observed for both test-day and lactation-average somatic cell count measures with higher somatic cell counts from medium- and high-risk cows compared with low-risk cows, and differences were in almost all cases significant. Likewise, mastitis incidence was significantly higher in high-risk cows compared with low-risk cows in lactations 2 and 3. Whereas the few significant differences between risk groups among fertility traits were inconsistent with no clear trend. These results are expected to be conservative, as some animals that were considered negative may become positive after the timeframe of this study, particularly if the animal was tested when relatively young. However, the magnitude of milk yield losses together with higher somatic cell counts and an increase in mastitis incidence should motivate farmers to implement the appropriate control measures to reduce the spread of the disease.     

Tyrosine-fortified silk amino acids improve physical function of Parkinson��s disease rats

Physical function-improving effects of a silk amino acid preparation (SAA) in Parkinson??s disease (PD) model rats were investigated. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 8 ??g)+ascorbic acid (0.6 ??g) was injected into right medial forebrain bundle of 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats to induce PD, and SAA (50, 160, or 500 mg/kg) was orally administered for 30 days. On day 15 and 30, behavioral abnormalities, neuronal loss, and dopamine and its metabolites were analyzed. Injection of 6-OHDA impaired pole test performances, which were markedly improved by treatment with SAA. Increased using rate of ipsilateral (normal) forelimb in cyclinder test and apomorphine (0.05 mg/kg)-induced circling behavior of PD rats were remarkably corrected by the compounds. In addition, 6-OHDA-induced loss of neurons as well as decreases in dopamine and its metabolites were significantly attenuated by SAA. The results indicate that SAA preserves movement function of PD model animals by protecting dopamine neurons against 6-OHDA neurotoxicity.     

Enhancement of antimicrobial activity of a lactoperoxidase system by carrot extract and β-carotene

Effect of carrot extract (CE) on the bactericidal activity of a bovine lactoperoxidase system (LPOS) was evaluated using Salmonella enteritidis (10⁶ cfu/ml). LPOS antimicrobial activity increased from 1.4 to 3.8 log units by addition of 20-fold diluted CE. β-Carotene, a major pigment of carrot, also induced the increase in the activity, indicating that β-carotene is one of the major enhancers of LPOS antimicrobial activity. Discolouration of β-carotene was observed by the co-localisation of LPOS with β-carotene. The discolouration was mainly caused by the oxidation of β-carotene through hypothiocyanate ion (OSCN^?), which is produced by LPOS. The storage test of LPOS in the presence of β-carotene indicated that oxidised β-carotene leads to the sustainable OSCN^? generation through an oxidised β-carotene/SCN^? redox cycling reaction. Concomitant use of LPOS and β-carotene or β-carotene-rich food components raises the possibility of development of an effective disinfectant.