Sugar Density Research Articles

Effect of Dendrimer Generation and Aglyconic Linkers on the Binding Properties of Mannosylated Dendrimers Prepared by a Combined Convergent and Onion Peel Approach.

An efficient study of carbohydrate-protein interactions was achieved using multivalent glycodendrimer library. Different dendrimers with varied peripheral sugar densities and linkers provided an arsenal of potential novel therapeutic agents that could be useful for better specific action and greater binding affinities against their cognate protein receptors. Highly effective click chemistry represents the basic method used for the synthesis of mannosylated dendrimers. To this end, we used propargylated scaffolds of varying sugar densities ranging from 2 to 18 for the attachment of azido mannopyranoside derivatives using copper catalyzed click cycloaddition. Mannopyranosides with short and pegylated aglycones were used to evaluate their effects on the kinetics of binding. The mannosylated dendrons were built using varied scaffolds toward the accelerated and combined “onion peel” strategy These carbohydrates have been designed to fight E. coli urinary infections, by inhibiting the formation of bacterial biofilms, thus neutralizing the adhesion of FimH type 1 lectin present at the tip of their fimbriae against the natural multiantennary oligomannosides of uroplakin 1a receptors expressed on uroepithelial tissues. Preliminary DLS studies of the mannosylated dendrimers to cross- link the leguminous lectin Con A used as a model showed their high potency as candidates to fight the E. coli adhesion and biofilm formation.

Single-Chain Glycopolymer Folding via Host-Guest Interactions and Its Unprecedented Effect on DC-SIGN Binding.

Reversible self-folding actions of natural biomacromolecules play crucial roles for specific and unique biological functions in Nature. Hence, controlled folding of single polymer chains has attracted significant attention in recent years. Herein, reversible single-chain folded glycopolymer structures in α-shape with different density of sugar moieties in the knot were created. The influence of folding as well as the sugar density in the knot was investigated on the binding capability with lectins, such as ConA, DC-SIGN, and DC-SIGNR. The synthesis of triblock glycocopolymers bearing β-CD and adamantane for the host-guest interaction and also mannose residues for the lectin interaction was achieved using the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization technique. The reversible single-chain folding of glycopolymers was achieved under a high dilution of an aqueous solution and the self-assembled folding was monitored by 2D nuclear overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY) NMR and dynamic light scattering. The lectin binding profiles consistently provided an unprecedented effect of single chain folding as the single-chain folded structures enhanced greatly the binding ability in comparison to the unfolded linear structures.

Abstract MP34: Tai Chi Exercise is More Effective Than Brisk Walking in Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Background: Physical inactivity is one of the major modifiable lifestyle risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Tai Chi (TC) is safe and popular among older adults; yet direct comparisons between TC and brisk walking (BW) on reducing CVD risk factors are lacking. Methods: A total of 246 adults (mean age=64.4±9.8 years, 45.5% men) with hypertension and two other CVD risk factors (i.e., smoker, diabetic, dyslipidemia, or overweight) were randomly assigned to either TC (n=82), BW (n=82), or control (C, n=82) groups. The TC and BW groups had 150 minutes/week, moderate-intensity physical activity for three months; with home-based practice encouraged for another six months. The primary outcome was blood pressure (BP). Secondary outcomes were: fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high and low density lipoprotein, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and perceived stress. Data were collected at baseline, post-intervention at 3-month, 6-month and 9-month follow-up assessments. Generalized estimating equations models compared changes in the outcomes over time between groups. Results: At baseline, average BP=141/81, smokers=11%, diabetics=58%, dyslipidemia=61%, average BMI=26; with no significant differences between groups. TC significantly lowered BP (systolic -13.33 mmHg; diastolic -6.45 mmHg), FBS (-0.72 mmol/L), HbA1c (-0.39%), and perceived stress (-3.22 score) at 9-months, compared to C group. Pairwise comparisons indicated significantly greater reductions in SBP (p<0.001), DBP (p=0.049), FBS (p=0.001), HbA1c (p=0.002), and perceived stress (p=0.027) in TC group, compared to BW group. No significant changes in other CVD risk indicators over time between groups were observed. Conclusion: TC was better than BW in reducing several CVD risk factors, and can be recommended as a viable exercise to build a healthier life free of CVD.

Urinary sucrose and fructose to validate self-reported sugar intake in children and adolescents: results from the I.Family study.

Excessive consumption of free sugar increases the risk for non-communicable diseases where a proper assessment of this intake is necessary to correctly estimate its association with certain diseases. Urinary sugars have been suggested as objective biomarkers for total and free sugar intake in adults but less is known about this marker in children and adolescents. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory study is to evaluate the relative validity of self-reported intake using urinary sugars in children and adolescents. The study was conducted in a convenience subsample of 228 participants aged 5-18years of the I.Family study that investigates the determinants of food choices, lifestyle and health in European families. Total, free and intrinsic sugar intake (g/day) and sugar density (g/1000kcal) were assessed using 24-h dietary recalls (24HDRs). Urinary sucrose (USUC) and urinary fructose (UFRU) were measured in morning urine samples and corrected for creatinine excretion (USUC/Cr, UFRU/Cr). Correlation coefficients, the method of triads and linear regression models were used to investigate the relationship between intake of different types of sugar and urinary sugars. The correlation between usual sugar density calculated from multiple 24HDRs and the sum of USUC/Cr and UFRU/Cr (USUC/Cr + UFRU/Cr) was 0.38 (p < 0.001). The method of triads revealed validity coefficients for the 24HDR from 0.64 to 0.87. Linear regression models showed statistically significant positive associations between USUC/Cr + UFRU/Cr and the intake of total and free sugar. These findings support the relative validity of total and free sugar intake assessed by self-reported 24HDRs in children and adolescents.

Non-Nutritive Sweeteners in the Packaged Food Supply-An Assessment across 4 Countries.

Increased interest among consumers in the reduction of dietary sugar intake has led to the wider availability of food products containing non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS). However, the extent to which NNS are currently being used by manufacturers to sweeten processed food and beverage products, and how NNS may be displacing added sugars as a sweetener is unknown. The current study utilized branded food composition databases from Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and the US to determine the percentage of processed food and beverage products for which there are nutrition data containing NNS and to compare total sugar density (g per 100 mL for beverages and g per 100 g for foods) between products with and without NNS. Ordinary least squares regression at the country-product level was performed to examine associations between presence of NNS and total sugar. Across all countries, 5% of products contained at least one NNS, with the highest prevalence among beverages (22%). Mexico had the highest percentage of products with NNS (11%), as compared to the United States (US) (4%), New Zealand (1%), and Australia (<1%). The presence of NNS was associated with lower mean total sugar density among beverages (range across countries: 7.5 to 8.7 g per 100 mL) and among foods (23.2 to 25.5 g per 100 g). Products with both added sugar ingredients and NNS had a lower overall mean total sugar density when compared to products containing only added sugar ingredients. Due to paucity of data on sales and market shares across these countries, our results do not reflect the extent to which consumers purchase NNS containing products. Continued monitoring of NNS in the food supply, extension of work from these data, and inclusion of market shares of products will be important as more countries introduce policies to reduce sugar.

English

The aim of the study was to investigate the bioethanol production potentials by indigenous bacterial isolates screened for amylolytic and cellulolytic activities. Cassava peels were obtained from local ‘garri’ producers, while corn grains and corn cobs were gotten from retailers within the Erinfun farm settlement along Afe Babalola University Road, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria on June 4, 2015. The substrates (corn flour, corn cob and cassava peels) were sundried for 5 days and ground into fine powder using a hammer mill and analyzed for proximate nutrient composition and reconstituted to a 5% concentration in water before fermentation. The fermentation was set up for 20 days using single cultures of bacteria and co-cultures of bacteria and yeast selectively isolated and screened for amylolytic and cellulolytic activities. Parameters such as pH, total titratable acidity, reducing sugar and optical density were taken at intervals of 5 days and ethanol production was analyzed at the end of fermentation. Three bacterial isolates (Bacillus macerans, Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus varians) yielded ethanol in all the feed stocks. The highest percentage ethanol yield was observed in the fermentation of corn flour and corn cobs with B. macerans which were 3.6 ± 0.009 and 3.5 ± 0.009, respectively. There was reduction in the pH and total titratable acidity and increase in the reducing sugar content and optical density. B. macerans exhibited the highest average ethanol production (3.5±0.07%). A proximate analysis of the feed stocks showed presence of nitrogen, protein, fat, carbohydrate and ash. This study investigated the potentials of wastes (cassava peels and corn cob) used as feed stocks for bio-ethanol production, in substantially replacing major food crops (corn) as a case study. Key words: Fermentation, amylolytic activity, cellulolytic activity, corn flour, corn cob, cassava peels, feed stocks.

Synthesis of S-sialyl polymers as efficient polyvalent influenza inhibitors and capturers

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Controlling the lectin recognition of glycopolymers via distance arrangement of sugar blocks.

The arrangement of sugars in glycopolymers contributes to their recognition. The molecular recognition of proteins was controlled by the living radical polymerization of glycopolymers. The glycopolymers were prepared by the copolymerization of propargyl methacrylate (Pr-MA) and triethyleneglycol methacrylate (TEG-MA) via living radical polymerization with a reversible addition-fragmentation glycopolymer chain transfer (RAFT) reagent and by subsequent sugar conjugation by click chemistry. The block copolymers were prepared by the polymerization of Pr-MA and TEG-MA. The molecular recognition of glycopolymers was analyzed using the fluorescence quenching of lectin and found to be dependent on the glycopolymer structures. Two-site binding of glycopolymers to concanavalin A (ConA) was attained by both the glycopolymer with a 105-mer and the tri-block glycopolymer with a 103-mer. Glycopolymers with either a 27- or 54-mer showed much weaker interaction because of one-site binding. The molecular recognition of the glycopolymer was controlled by the arrangement and size of the sugar cluster and not by the sugar density.

Design of Glycopolymers Carrying Sialyl Oligosaccharides for Controlling the Interaction with the Influenza Virus.

We designed glycopolymers carrying sialyl oligosaccharides by "post-click" chemistry and evaluated the interaction with the influenza virus. The glycopolymer structures were synthesized in a well-controlled manner by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and the Huisgen reaction. Acrylamide-type monomers were copolymerized to give hydrophilicity to the polymer backbones, and the hydrophilicity enabled the successful introduction of the oligosaccharides into the polymer backbones. The glycopolymers with different sugar densities and polymer lengths were designed for the interaction with hemagglutinin on the virus surface. The synthesized glycopolymers showed the specific molecular recognition against different types of influenza viruses depending on the sugar units (6'- or 3'-sialyllactose). The sugar density and the polymer length of the glycopolymers affected the interaction with the influenza virus. Inhibitory activity of the glycopolymer against virus infection was demonstrated.

Combined Effect of Vitamin C and E Dose on Type 2 Diabetes Patients

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that causes vascular complications. As vitamin C and E is known for its beneficial effects on blood sugar, serum lipids and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). In the present study, we assess the combined effect of vitamin C and E on blood sugar (FBS), serum creatinine (SC), total cholesterol (TC), low and high density lipoprotein (LDL, HDL), and glycated haemoglobin (HbAIc) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. A total of 50 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to Rama Hospital (NCR), India, were included in the study. They received 500 mg daily twice of both vitamin C and E for 4 months. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum creatinine (SC), total cholesterol (TC), low and high density lipoprotein (LDL, HDL), and HbAIc were measured before and after vitamin C and E consumption and the results were analyzed. A significant decrease in FBS, TC level and non-significant decrease in SC, LDL, and HbA1c level was seen in the patients supplemented with 500 mg of both vitamin C and E twice in a day for 4 months. Results indicate that daily consumption of 500 mg of vitamin C and E for 4 months may be beneficial for decreasing the FBS, TC, SC, LDL, and HbA1c and slight raise in HDL and calcium level in patients with type II diabetes and thus reducing the risk of complications.

Foundation of technology for obtaining encapsulated oils and prescription development of shells on their basis

The use of sodium alginate and implementation of its chemical potential in the oil encapsulation technology provides thermostable properties of the product shell, which expands the range of new types of oil and fat products with the given geometrical shape, improved consumer properties and extended shelf life. Stable production process of encapsulated oils is ensured by involving a third substance − white sugar into the prescription of an aqueous solution of sodium alginate. Scientific and technological substantiation of structured edible shells of dosed encapsulated oils is provided by the parameters of such systems, which determine the technological cycle of production and operation of special equipment for industrial production. The technology of shells of encapsulated oils, rational concentrations of prescription components are developed. Introduction of white sugar density regulator − at a concentration of 23.0 % into the shell-former solution is substantiated. This helped to determine the organoleptic and structural and mechanical properties E el =(10.0...21.5)×10 3 Pa. Determination of the technological properties of shells of encapsulated oils lays the basis for industrial production, allowing to extend the range of oil and fat raw materials, encapsulated fillers and expand the use of industrial encapsulated products in the catering industry.

Nutrition Quality of US School Snack Foods: A First Look at 2011‐2014 Bid Records in 8 School Districts

As part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, snacks, and desserts sold in K-12 schools as of the 2014-2015 school year are required to meet the "Smart Snacks" nutritional guidelines. Although studies exist in tracking progress in local and national efforts, the proportion of snack food procured by school districts compliant with the Smart Snacks standard prior to its full implementation is unknown. We repurposed a previously untapped database, Interflex, of public bid records to examine the nutritional quality of snacks and desserts procured by school districts. We selected 8 school districts with at least 90% complete data each year during 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014 school years and at locations across different regions of the United States. We quantified the amount of calories and sugar of each product contained in the won bids based on available online sources and determined whether the produce complied with Smart Snack guidelines. In all 8 districts (snack expenditure analyzed ranging from $152,000 to $4.4 million), at least 50% of snack bids were compliant with the US Department of Agriculture Smart Snacks standard during the 2013-2014 school year. Across sampled districts, we observed a general trend in lower caloric density (kcal per product) and sugar density (grams of sugar per product) over a 3-year period. Many districts across the country have made headway in complying with the Smart Snack guidelines, though gaps remain.

Synthetic, pH-responsive glycopolypeptides and their interactions with lectins

Event Abstract Back to Event Synthetic, pH-responsive glycopolypeptides and their interactions with lectins Katharina Haak1*, Robert Mildner1* and Henning Menzel1* 1 Braunschweig University of Technology, Institute of Technical Chemistry, Germany Introduction: Many biological processes depend on specific interactions between glycoproteins and lectins, including cell-cell communication and pathogenic infection. Synthetic glycopolypeptides are a useful tool to investigate those processes, since they can mimic properties of glycoproteins (e.g. form secondary structures) and are relatively easy of access compared to natural glycoproteins. Glycopolypeptides can be prepared by the polymerization of glycosylated monomers or by post-polymerization glycosylation in organic solvents[1],[2]. These methods are often restricted to monosaccharides but in most biological interactions more complex sugars are involved. DMT-MM is a suitable coupling agent for monosaccharides with mild reaction conditions in aqueous environment[3]. Using this approach glucose containing oligosaccharides were coupled to poly-(α,L-glutamic acid) scaffolds and compared with the corresponding monosaccharide. Since aromatic spacers can enhance the helicity of glycopolypeptides[4], the influence of spacers on the lectin interaction was also tested. Materials and Methods: Poly-(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG) was prepared by ring-opening polymerization of benzyl-L-glutamate N-carboxyanhydride. Poly-(α,L-glutamic acid) precursors (PGA) were obtained by acidic hydrolysis of PBLG. 1-deoxy-1-amino saccharides were synthesized by Kochetkov-amination and coupled to the PGA-scaffold via amide coupling with DMT-MM. Secondary structures were determined via CD-spectroscopy. Biological activity was tested via isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) as well as via quantitative precipitation assays with the lectin ConA. The amount of precipitated lectin per glycopolypeptide was determined via UV/Vis spectroscopy. Results and Discussion: Figure 1 Aqueous amide coupling of 1-amino-1-deoxymaltobiose to PGA-Na The sugar density on the PGA-scaffold is adjustable via the amount of DMT-MM used. For glucose-based sugars DS values up to 80 % are possible. CD-spectroscopy revealed that the PGA scaffold shows a pH-dependent helix-coil transition close to pH 5 with a maximum helicity of 80 % at pH 3. The glycosylated PGAs also show helix-coil transitions up to sugar densities of approximately 65 %. However, the transition points shift with increasing amount of sugar to more acidic pH values along with a decrease in helicity. Aromatic spacers can enhance the helicity of glycopolypeptides. Quantitative precipitation assays with the lectin ConA indicate, that glycopolypeptides exhibit stronger interaction with the lectin with increasing degree of substitution as well as with increasing size of the saccharide (Figure 2). ITC measurements yield equilibrium binding constants in nanomolar range, indicating affinity enhancement due to glycoside clustering. Figure 2 Quantitative Precipitation Assay of PGA-Maltotriose (DS 0.8) and PGA-Glucose (DS 0.8) with the lectin ConA Conclusion: Well-defined glycopolypeptides were prepared by post-polymerization glycosylation of poly-(α,L-glutamic acid) with 1-deoxy-1-amino sugars using the amide coupling agent DMT-MM. The glycopolypeptides showed pH-dependent helix-coil transitions. Precipitation assays as well as ITC measurements demonstrate specific interactions with the lectin ConA. This work was supported by the IUPAC Transnational Call in Polymer Chemistry and the German Research Foundation (DFG) (Grant: Me1057/17-1)

Menu‐Labeling Formats and Their Impact on Dietary Quality

ABSTRACTThe impact of three menu‐labeling formats on changes in dietary quality of an away‐from‐home meal is measured. The analysis is based on a lunchtime experiment using 232 student participants, with a control group and three treatments: (1) a calorie‐content posting, (2) a complete nutrition‐facts panel, and (3) health‐related claims. We find that the calorie content posting lead to the highest calorie reduction, but it was also the only treatment associated with a significant reduction in the fiber content of the meal. The complete nutrition‐facts panel treatment resulted in most sizable decreases in problematic nutrient content such as empty calories and calories from fat and added sugar. The health‐related claims treatment led to a reduction in carbohydrates and calories from fat. The nutrient density of selected meals remained mostly unchanged across all treatments, but the empty calories proportion of total calories was reduced in the nutrition‐facts and health‐related claims treatments, with the latter also leading to some reduction in added sugar density. [EconLit citations: I12, I18, Q18].

Obesogenic Environments: Access to and Advertising of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in Soweto, South Africa, 2013.

IntroductionRates of obesity and overweight among South Africans are increasing. Food marketing has a profound impact on children and affects their lifelong eating patterns; in urban areas of South Africa, disposable incomes are growing and ultra-processed food is increasingly available at low cost. The combination of these factors will strain an already fragile health system. Our aim was to investigate the density of outdoor sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) advertising and the number of formal and informal vendors selling SSBs in a transforming, historically disadvantaged urban setting of South Africa.MethodsA digital camera and global positioning system navigation system were used to record the location of SSB advertisements and food vendors in a demarcated area in Soweto. Data were collected by walking or driving through each street; a food inventory was completed for every food vendor. Spatial analyses were conducted using a geographic information system.ResultsA total of 145 advertisements for SSBs were found over a driven or walked distance of 111.9 km. The density of advertisements was 3.6 per km2 in relation to schools, and 50% of schools had branded advertising of SSBs on their school property. Most (n = 104; 58%) of the 180 vendors in the study sold SSBs.ConclusionThis is the first study in South Africa to document the location of billboard advertisements and vendors in relation to schools. Marketing of products that contribute to obesity is common in urban Soweto. Our findings have implications for policies that regulate SSB advertising, especially in the proximity of schools.

Responses of nectar‐feeding birds to floral resources at multiple spatial scales

The responses of animal pollinators to the spatially heterogeneous distribution of floral resources are important for plant reproduction, especially in species‐rich plant communities. We explore how responses of pollinators to floral resources varied across multiple spatial scales and studied the responses of two nectarivorous bird species (Cape sugarbird Promerops cafer, orange‐breasted sunbird Anthobaphes violacea) to resource distributions provided by communities of co‐flowering Protea species (Proteaceae) in South African fynbos. We used highly resolved maps of about 125 000 Protea plants at 27 sites and estimated the seasonal dynamics of standing crop of nectar sugar for each plant to describe the spatiotemporal distribution of floral resources. We recorded avian population sizes and the rates of bird visits to &gt; 1300 focal plants to assess the responses of nectarivorous birds to floral resources at different spatial scales. The population sizes of the two bird species responded positively to the amount of sugar resources at the site scale. Within sites, the effects of floral resources on pollinator visits to plants varied across scales and depended on the resources provided by individual plants. At large scales (radii &gt; 25 m around focal plants), high sugar density decreased per‐plant visitation rates, i.e. plants competed for animal pollinators. At small scales (radii &lt; 5 m around focal plants), we observed either competition or facilitation for pollinators between plants, depending on the sugar amount offered by individual focal plants. In plants with copious sugar, per‐plant visitation rates increased with increasing local sugar density, but visitation rates decreased in plants with little sugar. Our study underlines the importance of scale‐dependent responses of pollinators to floral resources and reveals that pollinators’ responses depend on the interplay between individual floral resources and local resource neighbourhood.

Examining the impact of Walmart's healthier foods initiative on the nutrient profile of US packaged food purchases

The goal of this study is evaluate whether a healthy foods initiative (HFI) at a major national US food retailer (Walmart) improved the nutrient profile of packaged food and beverage purchases (PFPs). We used a longitudinal, commercial dataset of US household PFPs from Walmart and other chain retailers (OCR) to compare trends in the overall nutrient density and percent volume of key food group in the post-HFI period (2011-2013) to expected trajectories of nutrient profiles based on the pre-HFI (2000-2010) trends (n= 164,315). We controlled for concurrent changes in the social, economic, and food retail environment, and used inverse probability weights to account for potential selectivity of customers into Walmart and OCR stores. While Walmart PFPs showed major declines in energy, sodium, and sugar density from 2000 to 2013, as well as declines in the percent volume of sugary beverages, grain-based desserts, snacks, and candy, these declines were steepest between 2000 to 2007 before the HFI. For most nutrient densities and food groups, and across all race and income subgroups, post-HFI declines were similar to what would be expected based on pre-HFI trends, indicating that the HFI did not have a major impact. Nutrient densities of PFPs from OCR showed only minor declines across the time period. While the nutrient profile of Walmart PFPs improved over time, these trends were already well underway by the time the HFI was initiated, suggesting that the HFI itself did not improve nutrient profile or reducing diet disparities. This work is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Grant 67506, 68793,70017,71837), NIH (R01DK098072) and the Carolina Population Center (R24 HD050924, T32 HD007168).

Simple Method Provides Resolution of Albumin, Lipoprotein, Free Fraction, and Chylomicron to Enhance the Utility of Protein Binding Assays

Medicinal chemists have been encouraged in recent years to embrace high speed protein binding assays. These methods employ dialysis membranes in 96 well format or in spin filters. Membrane‐based methods do not separate lipoprotein binding from albumin binding. While controls can account for membrane binding to an extent, membrane methods still introduce interference into the experiment. Ultracentrifugation methods, in contrast, do not introduce interference if density gradients can be avoided and they resolve lipoprotein from albumin. A new generation of compact, fast ultracentrifuges facilitate the rapid and fully‐informative separation of plasma into albumin, albumin/fatty‐acid complex, lipoprotein, protein‐free, and chylomicron fractions with no need of a salt or sugar density gradients. We present a simple and fast ultracentrifuge method here for two platinum compounds and a taxane that otherwise bound irreversibly to dialysis membranes and which exhibited distinctive lipoprotein binding behaviors. This new generation of ultracentrifugation methods underscores a need to further discuss protein binding assessments as they relate to medicinal chemistry efforts.

Simple method provides resolution of albumin, lipoprotein, free fraction, and chylomicron to enhance the utility of protein binding assays.

Medicinal chemists have been encouraged in recent years to embrace high speed protein binding assays. These methods employ dialysis membranes in 96-well format or spin filters. Membrane-based methods do not separate lipoprotein binding from albumin binding and introduce interference despite membrane binding controls. Ultracentrifugation methods, in contrast, do not introduce interference if density gradients can be avoided and they resolve lipoprotein from albumin. A new generation of compact, fast ultracentrifuges facilitates the rapid and fully informative separation of plasma into albumin, albumin/fatty acid complex, lipoprotein, protein-free, and chylomicron fractions with no need of salt or sugar density gradients. We present a simple and fast ultracentrifuge method here for two platinum compounds and a taxane that otherwise bound irreversibly to dialysis membranes and which exhibited distinctive lipoprotein binding behaviors. This new generation of ultracentrifugation methods underscores a need to further discuss protein binding assessments as they relate to medicinal chemistry efforts.

Monitoring Changes in the Nutritional Content of Ready-To-Eat Grain-Based Dessert Products Manufactured and Purchased between 2005 and 2012

BackgroundMonitoring changes in the nutritional content of food/beverage products and shifts in consumer purchasing behaviors is needed to measure the effectiveness of efforts by both food manufacturers and policy makers to improve dietary quality in the United States. ObjectiveTo examine changes in the nutritional content (eg, energy, saturated fat, and sugar density) of ready-to-eat (RTE) grain-based dessert (GBD) products manufactured and purchased between 2005 and 2012. DesignNutrition Facts panel information from commercial databases was linked to RTE GBD products purchased by households (N=134,128) in the Nielsen Homescan longitudinal dataset 2005-2012. Statistical analysisLinear regression models were used to examine changes in the energy, saturated fat, and sugar density of RTE GBD products manufactured in each year between 2005 and 2012. Random effects models controlling for demographics, household composition/size, and geographic location were used to examine changes in household purchases of RTE GBD products (in grams) and the average energy, saturated fat, and sugar density of RTE GBD products purchased. ResultsThe saturated fat density (grams/100 g) of RTE GBD products increased significantly from 6.5±0.2 in 2005 to 7.3±0.2 and 7.9±0.2 for pre-existing and newly introduced products in 2012, respectively. Between 2005 and 2012, the energy density (kilocalories/100 g) of RTE GBD products purchased decreased significantly from 433±0.2 to 422±0.2, the saturated fat density (grams/100 g) of products purchased increased significantly from 6.3±0.01 to 6.6±0.01, the sugar density (grams/100 g) of products purchased decreased significantly from 32.4±0.03 to 31.3±0.02, and household purchases of RTE GBD products (in grams) decreased by 24.1%±0.4%. ConclusionsThese results highlight an opportunity for both food manufacturers and public health officials to develop new strategies to shift consumer purchases toward products with lower energy, saturated fat, and sugar densities in addition to decreasing overall purchases of RTE GBDs.