High Protein Research Articles

The Allergen Profile of Two Edible Insect Species-Acheta domesticus and Hermetia illucens.

Edible insect proteins are increasingly introduced as an alternative sustainable food source to address the world's need to feed the growing population. Tropomyosin is the main insect allergen; however, additional potential allergens are not well characterized and the impact of extraction procedures on immunological reactivity is unknown. Proteins from different commercial food products derived from cricket (Acheta domesticus) and black soldier fly (BSF) (Hermetia illucens) are extracted using five different extraction buffers. The proteins are analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting using allergen-specific antibodies and crustacean allergic patient sera. IgE binding bands are analyzed by mass spectrometry as well as the complete allergen profile of all 30 extracts. Urea-based buffers are most efficient in extracting insect allergens. Shrimp-specific antibody cross-reactivity to tropomyosin from cricket and BSF indicates high sequence and structural similarity between shrimp and insects. Additional unique allergens are identified in both species, including hemocyanin, vitellogenin, HSP20, apolipophorin-III, and chitin-binding protein. Identifying potential allergenic proteins and their isoforms in cricket and BSF requires specific extraction approaches using urea-based methods. While tropomyosin is the most abundant and immunoreactive allergen, seven unique allergens are identified, highlighting the need for insect species-specific allergen detection in food products.

Enriching the formulation of low-fat mozzarella cheese using micro-coated vitamin D3

Purpose The use of polysaccharides increases solubility and consistency and causes functions such as viscosity? Moisture and food emulsifier stabilizer. This study aims to enrich the formulation of low-fat mozzarella cheese using microcoated vitamin D3 (VD3). Design/methodology/approach This study investigates the addition of hydrocolloids to low-fat mozzarella cheese to enhance its properties and nutritional value. Tests were conducted on cheese samples with 0.05% and 0.25% hydrocolloid concentrations at various stages: before production and at three and six months’ postproduction. The samples were evaluated for elasticity, pH and solubility to select the best one, which was then fortified with VD3. The vitamin was microencapsulated using alginate and whey protein to shield it from light and oxygen, optimizing the formula using the response surface method. The fortified cheese was tested for VD3 content over its shelf life. Findings Results indicated that all hydrocolloids tested improved moisture and meltability of the cheese while higher protein levels increased stretchability two to threefold. Rice starch hydrocolloid at 0.05% concentration was chosen due to superior sensory scores and minimal oil separation. This study concluded that VD3 levels remained stable during the cheese’s shelf life, suggesting that this approach could enhance the nutritional value of low-fat cheese without compromising its quality. Therefore, after examining the obtained results and comparing the regression models, the results indicated that the Quadratic model was chosen to investigate the effect of independent variables on the response rate, which had a statistically significant difference with other models (p = 0.0019). Also the results of the area under the curve and using the encapsulation efficiency equation, the percentage of microencapsulated vitamin was obtained, and according to the simulation results, the encapsulation efficiency was reported as 89.02%. Originality/value Developing innovative functional dairy products fortified with VD3 could improve the vitamin D status in deficient populations. Therefore, these designs can be applied at industrial scales for functional cheese production.

Effect of Lipid Bilayer Anchoring on the Conformational Properties of the Cytochrome P450 2D6 Binding Site.

Human cytochrome P450 (CYP) proteins metabolize 75% of small-molecule pharmaceuticals, which makes structure-based modeling of CYP metabolism and inhibition, bolstered by the current availability of X-ray crystal structures of CYP globular catalytic domains, an attractive prospect. Accounting for this broad metabolic capacity is a combination of the existence of multiple different CYP proteins and the capacity of a single CYP protein to metabolize multiple different small molecules. It is thought that structural plasticity and flexibility contribute to this latter property; therefore, incorporating diverse conformational states of a particular CYP is likely an important consideration in structure-based CYP metabolism and inhibition modeling. While all-atom explicit-solvent molecular dynamics simulations can be used to generate conformational ensembles under biologically relevant conditions, existing CYP crystal structures are of the globular domain only, whereas human CYPs contain N-terminal transmembrane and linker peptides that anchor the globular catalytic domain to the endoplasmic reticulum. To determine whether this can cause significant differences in the sampled binding site conformations, microsecond scale all-atom explicit-solvent molecular dynamics simulations of the CYP2D6 globular domain in an aqueous environment were compared with those of the full-length protein anchored in a POPC lipid bilayer. While bilayer-anchoring damped some structural fluctuations in the globular domain relative to the aqueous simulations, none of the affected residues included binding site pocket residues. Furthermore, clustering of molecular dynamics snapshots based on either pairwise binding site pocket RMSD or volume differences demonstrated a lack of separation of snapshots from the two simulation conditions into different clusters. These results suggest the substantially simpler and computationally cheaper aqueous simulation approach can be used to generate a relevant conformational ensemble of the CYP2D6 binding site for structure-based metabolism and inhibition modeling.

Nitrogen deficiency tolerance conferred by introgression of a QTL derived from wild emmer into bread wheat

Key messageGenetic dissection of a QTL from wild emmer wheat, QGpc.huj.uh-5B.2, introgressed into bread wheat, identified candidate genes associated with tolerance to nitrogen deficiency, and potentially useful for improving nitrogen-use efficiency.Nitrogen (N) is an important macronutrient critical to wheat growth and development; its deficiency is one of the main factors causing reductions in grain yield and quality. N availability is significantly affected by drought or flooding, that are dependent on additional factors including soil type or duration and severity of stress. In a previous study, we identified a high grain protein content QTL (QGpc.huj.uh-5B.2) derived from the 5B chromosome of wild emmer wheat, that showed a higher proportion of explained variation under water-stress conditions. We hypothesized that this QTL is associated with tolerance to N deficiency as a possible mechanism underlying the higher effect under stress. To validate this hypothesis, we introgressed the QTL into the elite bread wheat var. Ruta, and showed that under N-deficient field conditions the introgression IL99 had a 33% increase in GPC (p < 0.05) compared to the recipient parent. Furthermore, evaluation of IL99 response to severe N deficiency (10% N) for 14 days, applied using a semi-hydroponic system under controlled conditions, confirmed its tolerance to N deficiency. Fine-mapping of the QTL resulted in 26 homozygous near-isogenic lines (BC4F5) segregating to N-deficiency tolerance. The QTL was delimited from − 28.28 to − 1.29 Mb and included 13 candidate genes, most associated with N-stress response, N transport, and abiotic stress responses. These genes may improve N-use efficiency under severely N-deficient environments. Our study demonstrates the importance of WEW as a source of novel candidate genes for sustainable improvement in tolerance to N deficiency in wheat.

Intron Retention of DDX39A Driven by SNRPD2 is a Crucial Splicing Axis for Oncogenic MYC/Spliceosome Program in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

RNA splicing is a dynamic molecular process in response to environmental stimuli and is strictly regulated by the spliceosome. Sm proteins, constituents of the spliceosome, are key components that mediate splicing reactions; however, their potential role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poorly understood. In the study, SNRPD2 (PD2) is found to be the most highly upregulated Sm protein in HCC and to act as an oncogene. PD2 modulates DDX39A intron retention together with HNRNPL to sustain the DDX39A short variant (39A_S) expression. Mechanistically, 39A_S can mediate MYC mRNA nuclear export to maintain high MYC protein expression, while MYC in turn potentiates PD2 transcription. Importantly, digitoxin can directly interact with PD2 and has a notable cancer-suppressive effect on HCC. The study reveals a novel mechanism by which DDX39A senses oncogenic MYC signaling and undergoes splicing via PD2 to form a positive feedback loop in HCC, which can be targeted by digitoxin.

“Iliacus muscle abscess as an unexpected cause of posterior hip pain in a healthy young adult female”: a case report

BackgroundIliacus muscle abscess is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening condition that can present with nonspecific symptoms, posing diagnostic challenges. This case report highlights the importance of considering iliopsoas abscess in patients presenting with fever and hip pain, especially in the absence of obvious risk factors or penetrating trauma. The novelty of this case lies in its atypical presentation mimicking a respiratory viral infection and musculoskeletal injury, impeding accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.Case PresentationA previously healthy 21-year-old female who had a mechanical fall 3 weeks prior presented with fever, right hip pain, and respiratory symptoms, initially suggestive of a respiratory infection and musculoskeletal injury. However, initial investigations revealing a markedly high C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration prompted further computed tomography (CT) imaging of her abdomen and pelvis, which uncovered an iliopsoas abscess presumably stemming from antecedent trauma. Subsequent CT guided aspiration along with culture-sensitive antibiotics led to successful treatment and resolution of her symptoms.ConclusionsThis case emphasizes the importance of considering iliopsoas abscess as a possible differential, even in young patients without typical risk factors. Markedly elevated inflammatory markers such as CRP concentrations can serve as a vital indicator, directing attention towards the possibility of septicemia or the presence of an occult abscess, facilitating prompt imaging and accurate diagnosis.

Brucella NpeA is a secreted Type IV effector containing an N-WASP-binding short linear motif that promotes niche formation.

The modulation of actin polymerization is a common theme among microbial pathogens. Even though microorganisms show a wide repertoire of strategies to subvert the activity of actin, most of them converge in the ones that activate nucleating factors, such as the Arp2/3 complex. Brucella spp. are intracellular pathogens capable of establishing chronic infections in their hosts. The ability to subvert the host cell response is dependent on the capacity of the bacterium to attach, invade, avoid degradation in the phagocytic compartment, replicate in an endoplasmic reticulum-derived compartment and egress. Even though a significant number of mechanisms deployed by Brucella in these different phases have been identified and characterized, none of them have been described to target actin as a cellular component. In this manuscript, we describe the identification of a novel virulence factor (NpeA) that promotes niche formation. NpeA harbors a short linear motif (SLiM) present within an amphipathic alpha helix that has been described to bind the GTPase-binding domain (GBD) of N-WASP and stabilizes the autoinhibited state. Our results show that NpeA is secreted in a Type IV secretion system-dependent manner and that deletion of the gene diminishes the intracellular replication capacity of the bacterium. In vitro and ex vivo experiments demonstrate that NpeA binds N-WASP and that the short linear motif is required for the biological activity of the protein.IMPORTANCEThe modulation of actin-binding effectors that regulate the activity of this fundamental cellular protein is a common theme among bacterial pathogens. The neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) is a protein that several pathogens target to hijack actin dynamics. The highly adapted intracellular bacterium Brucella has evolved a wide repertoire of virulence factors that modulate many activities of the host cell to establish successful intracellular replication niches, but, to date, no effector proteins have been implicated in the modulation of actin dynamics. We present here the identification of a virulence factor that harbors a short linear motif (SLiM) present within an amphipathic alpha helix that has been described to bind the GTPase-binding domain (GBD) of N-WASP stabilizing its autoinhibited state. We demonstrate that this protein is a Type IV secretion effector that targets N-WASP-promoting intracellular survival and niche formation.

Engineering a Self-Assembled Protein Cage for Targeted Dual Functionalization.

Self-assembled protein cages are attractive scaffolds for organizing various proteins of interest (POIs) toward applications in synthetic biology and medical science. However, specifically attaching multiple POIs to a single protein cage remains challenging, resulting in diversity among the functionalized particles. Here, we present the engineering of a self-assembled protein cage, DTMi3ST, capable of independently recruiting two different POIs using SpyCatcher (SC)/SpyTag (ST) and DogCatcher (DC)/DogTag (DT) chemistries, thereby reducing variability between assemblies. Using fluorescent proteins as models, we demonstrate controlled targeting of two different POIs onto DTMi3ST protein cages both in vitro and inside living cells. Furthermore, dual functionalization of the DTMi3ST protein cage with a membrane-targeting peptide and β-galactosidase resulted in the construction of membrane-bound enzyme assemblies in Escherichia coli, leading to a 69.6% enhancement in substrate utilization across the membrane. This versatile protein cage platform provides dual functional nanotools for biological and biomedical applications.

Availability, distribution and quality of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds in Ethiopia

Livestock production is a major contributor to the national economy in Ethiopia, of which ruminants, particularly cattle, are the dominant and most important livestock species. Limited supply of quality feeds is a major constraint to the improvement of livestock production in Ethiopia. The expansion of agro-industries in Ethiopia, over the last three decades, has created an opportunity for an increased supply of agro-industrial byproducts as a source of feed for livestock. This study was conducted to assess the availability, distribution, and quality of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds in Ethiopia. About 310 flour mill factories, 194 oil factories, 13 brewery factories, 7 sugar factories, 4 malt factories, 2 meat and bone meal processing plants, 8 limestone factories, and 112 feed processing plants were surveyed to assess the availability and distributions of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds. A total of 757 feed samples were collected for evaluating nutritional values. The annual production of agro-industrial byproducts ranges from 18,065 tons DM/year (abattoir byproducts) to 3,092,035 tons DM/year (malt byproducts) and the total annual production of the different agro-industrial by-products amounts to 5,245,854 tons DM. The annual production of compound feeds was reported to be 5,812,608 tons DM. All agro-industries are processing under their capacity, ranging from 11.7% in sugar factories to 93% in breweries. Shortage and seasonal fluctuation of supply of raw materials (34.8%), high price and price fluctuations of raw materials (17.5%) and electric power interruptions (17.5%) were the major challenges faced by different agro-industries. The crude protein (CP) concentrations of agro-industrial byproducts ranges from 6.2% in maize grain screening to 15.9% in wheat bran for flour mill byproducts; 28% in cotton seed cake to 49.7% in groundnut cake for oilseed cakes and 14.8% in areqe atela to 24.8% in brewery spent grains for brewery and local distillery byproducts. High protein or energy contents of agro-industrial byproducts indicated their potential to be utilized in intensive livestock rations. Thus, it is necessary to create enabling conditions to allow the existing agro-industries to operate at full capacity and to attract new ones into the business to boost the production and availability of agro-industrial byproducts needed as main inputs to manufacture compound feeds.

Association of Symptoms and Collaborative Care Intervention (TĀCcare) with Systemic Inflammation Biomarkers in End-Stage Kidney Disease.

Patient-reported symptoms are associated with inflammation biomarkers in many chronic diseases. We examined associations of inflammation biomarkers with pain, fatigue, and depression in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and the effects of a Technology Assisted stepped Collaborative Care (TĀCcare) intervention on these biomarkers. In the TĀCcare multi-site randomized control trial, data on patient-reported symptoms were collected at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Anti-inflammatory [interleukin 1 receptor agonist (IL-1RA), IL-10], pro-inflammatory [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-6] and regulatory [IL-2] biomarkers were assayed. Linear mixed-effects modeling was used to examine within- and between-group differences after adjusting for age, sex, race, and comorbidities. Among the 160 patients (mean age 58±14 years, 55% men, 52% white), there were no significant associations between inflammation biomarkers and pain, fatigue or depression at baseline. Both intervention and control group demonstrated reductions in IL-10 and IL-1RA over 6 months (β range=-1.22 to -0.40, p range=<0.001 to 0.02) At 3 months, the treatment group exhibited decreases in TNF-α (β=-0.22, p<0.001) and IL-2 (β=-0.71, p<0.001), whereas the control group showed increases in IL-6/IL-10 ratio (β=0.33, p=0.03). At 6 months, both groups exhibited decreases in IL-2 (β range=-0.66 to -0.57,p<0.001); the control group showed significant increases in the ratio of IL-6/IL-10 (β=0.75,p<0.001) and decrease in TNF-α (β=-0.16, p=0.02). Compared to controls, the treatment group demonstrated significantly decreased IL-2 at 3 months (β=-0.53, p<0.001). Significant interaction effects of treatment were observed on the association between changes in pro-inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α and hs-CRP) levels and changes in symptom scores from baseline to 6 months. The TĀCcare intervention had a short-term impact on reducing inflammatory burden in patients with ESKD. More studies are needed to confirm our findings and to determine if these biomarkers mediate the link between symptoms and disease progression.

Nutritional guide to feeding wheat and wheat co-products to swine: a review

Abstract Inclusion of wheat grain can offer feeding opportunities in swine diets because of its high starch, crude protein (CP), amino acid (AA), and phosphorus (P) content. High concentrations of starch within wheat grain makes it a good energy source for swine. Mean energy content of wheat was 4,900 and 3,785 kcal/kg DM for digestible energy and metabolizable energy, respectively. Crude protein concentration can vary based on the class of wheat which include hard red winter, hard red spring, soft red winter, hard white, soft white, and durum. The average CP of all wheat data collected in this review was 12.6% with a range of 8.5 to 17.6%. The AA concentration of wheat increases with increasing CP with the mean Lys content of 0.38% with a standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of 76.8%. As CP of wheat increases, the SID of AA in wheat also increases. Mean P of wheat was 0.27% and median P was 0.30%. Off-quality wheat is often associated with sprouts, low-test weight, or mycotoxin-contamination. Sprouted and low-test weight wheat are physical abnormalities associated with decreased starch within wheat kernel that leads to reductions in energy. The assumed energy value of wheat grain may need to be reduced by up to 10% when the proportion of sprouted to non-sprouted wheat is up to 40% whereas above 40%, wheat’s energy may need to be reduced by 15 to 20%. Low-test weight wheat appears to not influence pig performance unless it falls below 644 kg/m3 and then energy value should be decreased by 5% compared to normal wheat. Deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination is most common with wheat grain. When content is above the guidance level of 1 mg/kg of DON in the complete diet, each 1 mg/kg increase in a DON contaminated wheat-based diet will result in a 11 and 6% reduction in ADG and ADFI for nursery pigs, and a 2.7 and 2.6% reduction in ADG and ADFI, in finishing pigs, respectively. Wheat co-products are produced from the flour milling industry. Wheat co-products include wheat bran middlings, millrun, shorts, and red dog. Wheat co-products can be used in swine diets, but application may change because of differences in the final diet energy concentration due to changes in the starch and fiber levels of each wheat co-product. However, feeding wheat co-products are being evaluated to improve digestive health. Overall, wheat and wheat co-products can be fed in all stages of production if energy and other nutrient characteristics are considered.

Evolutional heterochromatin condensation delineates chromocenter formation and retrotransposon silencing in plants.

Heterochromatic condensates (chromocenters) are critical for maintaining the silencing of heterochromatin. It is therefore puzzling that the presence of chromocenters is variable across plant species. Here we reveal that variations in the plant heterochromatin protein ADCP1 confer a diversity in chromocenter formation via phase separation. ADCP1 physically interacts with the high mobility group protein HMGA to form a complex and mediates heterochromatin condensation by multivalent interactions. The loss of intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in ADCP1 homologues during evolution has led to the absence of prominent chromocenter formation in various plant species, and introduction of IDR-containing ADCP1 with HMGA promotes heterochromatin condensation and retrotransposon silencing. Moreover, plants in the Cucurbitaceae group have evolved an IDR-containing chimaera of ADCP1 and HMGA, which remarkably enables formation of chromocenters. Together, our work uncovers a coevolved mechanism of phase separation in packing heterochromatin and silencing retrotransposons.

Effects of nursing team communication and collaboration on treatment outcomes in intensive care unit patients with severe pneumonia.

Severe pneumonia is a common severe respiratory infection worldwide, and its treatment is challenging, especially for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). To explore the effect of communication and collaboration between nursing teams on the treatment outcomes of patients with severe pneumonia in ICU. We retrospectively analyzed 60 patients with severe pneumonia who were treated at the ICU of the hospital between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2023. We compared and analyzed the respiratory mechanical indexes [airway resistance (Raw), mean airway pressure (mPaw), peak pressure (PIP)], blood gas analysis indexes (arterial oxygen saturation, arterial oxygen partial pressure, and oxygenation index), and serum inflammatory factor levels [C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), cortisol (COR), and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1)] of all patients before and after treatment. Before treatment, there was no significant difference in respiratory mechanics index and blood gas analysis index between 2 groups (P > 0.05). However, after treatment, the respiratory mechanical indexes of patients in both groups were significantly improved, and the improvement of Raw, mPaw, plateau pressure, PIP and other indexes in the combined group after communication and collaboration with the nursing team was significantly better than that in the single care group (P < 0.05). The serum CRP and PCT levels of patients were significantly decreased, and the difference was statistically significant compared with that of nursing group alone (P < 0.05). The levels of serum COR and HMGB1 before and after treatment were also significantly decreased between the two groups. The communication and collaboration of the nursing team have a significant positive impact on respiratory mechanics indicators, blood gas analysis indicators and serum inflammatory factor levels in the treatment of severe pneumonia patients in ICU.

Antibacterial potential of Propolis: molecular docking, simulation and toxicity analysis

The issue of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic microbes is a global concern. This study was aimed to explore in silico and in vitro analysis of the antibacterial efficacy of different natural ligands against bacterial activity. The ligands included in the study were Propolis Neoflavanoide 1, Carvacrol, Cinnamaldehyde, Thymol, p-benzoquinone, and Ciprofloxacin (standard drug S*). The outcomes of molecular docking revealed that Propolis Neoflavaniode-1 showed a highly significant binding energy of − 7.1 and − 7.2 kcal/mol for the two gram-positive bacteria, as compared to the gram-negative bacteria. All ligands demonstrated acute toxicity (oral, dermal), except for Propolis Neoflavanoide 1 and S* drugs, with a confidence score range of 50–60%. Using a molecular dynamic simulation approach, we investigated Propolis Neoflavaniode-1’s potential for therapeutic use in more detail. An MD simulation lasting 100 ns was performed using the Desmond Simulation software to examine the conformational stability and steady state of Propolis Neoflavaniode-1 in protein molecule complexes. Additionally, in vitro studies confirmed the antimicrobial activity of Propolis Neoflavaniode 1 by increasing the zone of inhibition against Gram-positive bacteria, p < 0.005 as compared to gram-negative bacteria. This study revealed the promising antibacterial efficacy of Propolis Neoflavaniode 1, demonstrated through robust in silico analyses, minimal toxicity, and confirmed in vitro antimicrobial activity, suggesting its potential as a viable alternative to combat antibiotic resistance.

Organoleptic profile of high protein and dietary fibre biscuits based on soybean flour, tempeh flour, and Moringa leaf powder

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the major cause of mortality globally. Malnutrition and inadequate or excessive intake were associated with increased risk factors for NCD development. This study aimed to determine the organoleptic profile and nutritional value of biscuit food formula from local food based on soybean (Glycine max) flour, tempeh flour, and Moringa leaf powder. This study was conducted in Yogyakarta, a city located in Indonesia in Southeast Asia. The organoleptic test involved 36 semi-trained panellists who fulfilled the established standards. The organoleptic profile was evaluated for colour, taste, aroma, texture, aftertaste, and overall acceptability. Five biscuit formulas, including the control (F0) and four sample treatments with the addition of 0 g (F1), 2.5 g (F2), 5 g (F3), and 7.5 g of Moringa leaf powder, were tested. The ratio of soybean flour to tempeh flour was 5:2 without F0. Organoleptic properties were analysed using the Friedman test and the Wilcoxon test. The highest scores for organoleptic profile, including colour, taste, aroma, texture, aftertaste, and overall acceptability parameters, were observed in F2, which was added with 2.5 of g Moringa leaf powder, and scored 3.61 ±0.599, 3.47 ±0.654, 3.67 ±0.793, 4.06 ±0.475, 3.22 ±0.898, and 3.53 ±0.654 respectively. Selected biscuit formulation (F2) per 100 g contains 534.8 kcal of energy, 18.8 g of protein, 33.0 g of fat, 40.49 g of carbohydrate, and 18.08 g of dietary fibre.

Tradition and Innovation in Yoghurt from a Functional Perspective—A Review

Yoghurt is one of the most consumed and studied dairy products, with proven functional effects on the human body. This review discusses the functional properties of traditional yoghurt products in comparison with different other yoghurts enriched with natural bioactive compounds like bee products, aromatic plants, fruit, vegetables, extracts, edible flowers, mushrooms, and high protein ingredients. The food industry aims to enhance the nutritional profile of final products, recognising the potential value they bring. Yoghurt, acknowledged as a functional food, has garnered significant attention globally in terms of production and consumption. Incorporating flavours through essences, fruit, fruit extracts, and honey is considered a preferable alternative to artificial flavours for innovating new dairy products. While the review underscores the positive properties of natural additives, it also addresses the possible changes in physicochemical properties and storage stability when yoghurt is enriched beyond the basic elements. A compelling synthesis of the data reveals the remarkable finding that the majority of functional yoghurts incorporate bee products. In recent years, the dairy industry has seen a rise in combining probiotics and functional foods, especially with the development of probiotic functional yoghurts.

SORGHUM AND ECO-FRIENDLY AGRICULTURE IN INDONESIA

Purpose: This paper reviews the research results on sorghum plants that use organic fertilizer to increase production. Theoretical reference: Sorghum plants also need to be fertilized to increase productivity. The use of chemical fertilizers in plants will have a broad impact on the environment and human health, so it is necessary to have an alternative organic fertilizer that is safe and leads to environmentally friendly agriculture, in addition to being a source of nutrients and to improve the properties of infertile soil. Methods: This research is supported and studied with a descriptive qualitative method. All information is collected through document analysis. The literature taken is the most recent year (the last 10 years). The productivity resulting from applying organic fertilizers is compared to the productivity without applying organic fertilizers. Then see the increase in results. In addition to productivity, the results of research on the quality of sorghum seeds are also seen. Results: According to various research results, applying organic fertilizers increases productivity ranging from 5.66% to 71.28% with an average of 20.96% compared to without organic fertilizers. Conclusions: Indonesia is one of the countries with the potential for the development of sorghum which can be done by environmentally friendly cultivation and the use of organic fertilizers because it is proven to increase productivity and improve the quality of sorghum seeds. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) planting can sustainably meet more food needs because sorghum plants have a higher protein content than corn and rice plants.

Impact of Quantity and Type of Dietary Protein on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Using Standard and Network Meta-analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Higher protein diets (HPDs) have shown favorable outcomes on weight maintenance and body-composition management; however, their protective effects against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain uncertain and contentious. Furthermore, it is important to consider the influence of other macronutrients in the diet and type of dietary protein when studying HPDs, because this aspect has been overlooked in previous studies. We assessed the impacts of quantity and type of dietary protein on CVD risk factors. A database search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library and a total of 100 articles met the eligibility criteria. Extracted data from 100 articles were analyzed using standard meta-analysis, and 41 articles were also analyzed using network meta-analysis. In the standard meta-analysis, an HPD had significant favorable effects on systolic blood pressure (SBP) (mean difference [MD] = -1.51 mmHg; 95% CI: -2.77, -0.25), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MD = -1.08 mmHg; 95% CI: -1.81, -0.35), and flow-mediated dilation (MD = 0.78%; 95% CI: 0.09, 1.47) compared with lower protein diets. The further network meta-analysis supported that the high-protein, high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet was the most recommended diet to ensure a maximum decrease in SBP, DBP, total cholesterol (TC), and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In comparison to animal-protein-rich diets, plant-protein-rich diets (PPRs) exhibited a significant favorable effects on improving TC (MD = -0.12 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.19, -0.05), triglyceride (MD = -0.05 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.09, -0.01), LDL-C (MD = -0.11 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.18, -0.04), and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (MD = 0.03 mmol/L; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.04) levels. Consumption of HPDs and PPRs supports improvements in vascular health and lipid-lipoprotein profiles, respectively. Furthermore, macronutrient composition should be carefully designed in the dietary approach to maximize the effectiveness of HPDs in improving CVD risk factors. PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022369931.

Inter-Relations between Dietary Patterns and Glycemic Control-Related Biomarkers on Risk of Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), which can cause vision loss, may progress faster with poor glycemic control and oxidative stress. This study aims to examine how dietary patterns and glycemic control biomarkers relate to retinopathy risk in type 2 diabetes patients. In this study, we enrolled diabetic patients with retinopathy (DR) (n = 136) and without retinopathy (no DR) (n = 466) from a cohort of participants in the “Blood Pressure Control to Reduce the Risk of Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy Study”. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and malondialdehyde were defined as elevated when their levels reached ≥8.5% and ≥2/3 (16.2 μm), respectively. Dietary data were collected by a food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis. Elevated HbA1c was significantly correlated with increased risk of DR (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.14–3.93, p = 0.017). In subjects with a high animal protein and processed food dietary pattern (≥highest tertile score) or a low vegetable intake pattern (&lt;highest tertile score), elevated HbA1c was significantly associated with a 4.44-fold (95% CI: 1.34–14.68, p = 0.015), 3.96-fold (95% CI: 1.12–14.04, p = 0.033), and 2.57-fold (95% CI: 1.16–5.67, p = 0.020) increase in the risk of DR, respectively, compared to subjects with HbA1c levels &lt; 8.5%. When stratifying subjects with a high animal protein pattern, higher MDA levels were significantly correlated with an increased risk of DR (OR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.33–6.48, p = 0.008). Poor glycemic control increases the risk of retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, and combined with diets low in vegetables and high in animal protein or processed food may exacerbate the risk of DR. The findings of this study should be further investigated in prospective studies.

Intake of Artificial Sweeteners through Soft Drinks in the Preschool- and School-Aged Population

One of the main public health issues that has recently been observed in a greater number of children is being overweight. The cause certainly lies in the decreasing physical activity of children, but mostly in their eating habits. Soft drinks are recognized as the most significant contributor to body overweight due to high sugar content; thus, as a result of numerous campaigns, part of the sugar is replaced by artificial sweeteners (ASs). Despite their advantage due to their low caloric value, WHO recommends that they should not be used to achieve weight control or as prevention for reducing the risk of non-communicable diseases, as there is no evidence of their effectiveness. Apart from beverages, artificial sweetener combinations are also added to a variety of “low fat” and “high protein” food products, which are highly favored especially among the young population. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of the cumulative intake. The conducted study included a survey of 323 parents of children aged 1–14 years, as well as an analysis of the AS content in the products most often consumed by the respondents. The results of the survey show that a large part of children (40%) aged 3–14 often consume soft drinks. Different products (soft drinks, juices/nectars, syrups) were sampled based on the respondents’ responses, and an analysis showed that 54% of them contained one or more ASs. In addition, the survey indicated parents’ lack of information about the presence of AS in products, as 51% of parents declared that they do not read the declarations of the products they buy. It is necessary to persist in consumer education and changes in dietary preferences and habits, especially among children.