Assessment of weed control via foliar application of quinate

En estudios previos se detectó una importante acumulación de quinato en la parte aérea de las plantas tratadas con herbicidas inhibidores de la biosíntesis de aminoácidos, lo que podría explicar su capacidad de inducir la respuesta tóxica. También se evaluó el potencial efecto fitotóxico en función del modo de aplicación exógena, que fue superior tras aplicaciones radicales que foliares. En este trabajo se planteó valorar la utilización del quinato, pulverizado exógenamente, para el control del crecimiento de ciertas malas hierbas. Se realizaron aplicaciones foliares de quinato mediante pulverización en post-emergencia sobre plantas en diferentes estados fenológicos de “Sinapis alba”, “Papaver rhoeas”, “Lolium rigidum”, “Bromus diandrus” y “Cynodon dactylon”. Los resultados muestran que dicho compuesto presentó un mayor control y un efecto fitotóxico más evidente en las especies dicotiledóneas que en las monocotiledóneas, siendo “P. rhoeas” la única especie susceptible de ser controlada en sus estadios iniciales con este compuesto. En “S. alba” únicamente se produjo una reducción temporal del crecimiento sin llegar a ser letal.In previous studies quinate was accumulated in leaves of plants treated with amino acid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicides, which begged the question of whether quinate have the capacity of inducing the toxic effects of the herbicides. The phytotoxic effects of exogenous application were more evident when quinate was applied to the nutrient solution than when it was sprayed onto the foliage. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether sprayed quinate could control the growth of some weed species. This was evaluated by spraying quinate to the leaves of plants of “Sinapis alba”, “Papaver rhoeas”, “Lolium rigidum”, “Bromus diandrus” and “Cynodon dactylon” at different phenological states in postemergence. Exogenous application of quinate was more phytotoxic on dicotyledonous species than monocotyledonous species. “Papaver rhoeas” was the only species tested that would be potentially affected and controlled with the application of quinate, specifically in the initial states of plant development. Growth of “S. alba” was only temporally arrested after quinate application, but the treatment was not lethal

Yellow pea flour and protein isolate as sources of antioxidant peptides after simulated gastrointestinal digestion

Although peas are widely consumed legumes throughout the world, the bioactivity ofthe peptides released by the gastrointestinal digestion has not been sufficiently studiedso far. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the potential of floursand protein isolates obtained from two varieties of yellow peas as sources of antioxidantpeptides. Flours and protein isolates were prepared and submitted to a simulatedgastrointestinal digestion. Protein hydrolysis degree (TNBS method) andprotein solubility (in phosphate buffer saline, pH = 7.4) values were independent onthe starting material. Antioxidant activity measured by oxygen radical absorbancecapacity (ORAC) and hydroxyl radical averting capacity (HORAC) showed no differencesbetween varieties. A lower activity was registered for protein isolates withrespect to flours in the case of HORAC, which could be associated with a loss of moleculeswith molecular masses lower than 43 kDa in the protein isolates. A significantincrease in activities was evidenced by both methods after gastrointestinal digestion,except in the case of HORAC activity of flours. Digested from protein isolates presenteda greater ratio of molecules smaller than 1.4 kDa and a lower ratio of thoselarger than 6.5 kDa with respect to digested flours, according to electrophoresis andgel filtration chromatography studies. Results suggested that the presence of othercomponents or/and the initial state of proteins would affect proteolytic attack ofdigestive enzymes. Both, pea flours and protein isolates, present interesting potentialas antioxidants food ingredients.Fil: Cipollone, María Agustina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Tironi, Valeria Anahi. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentin

Nutritional status and nutritional treatment are related to outcomes and mortality in older adults with hip fracture

Malnutrition is very prevalent in geriatric patients with hip fracture. Nevertheless, its importance is not fully recognized. The objective of this paper is to review the impact of malnutrition and of nutritional treatment upon outcomes and mortality in older people with hip fracture. We searched the PubMed database for studies evaluating nutritional aspects in people aged 70 years and over with hip fracture. The total number of studies included in the review was 44, which analyzed 26,281 subjects (73.5% women, 83.6 ± 7.2 years old). Older people with hip fracture presented an inadequate nutrient intake for their requirements, which caused deterioration in their already compromised nutritional status. The prevalence of malnutrition was approximately 18.7% using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) (large or short form) as a diagnostic tool, but the prevalence was greater (45.7%) if different criteria were used (such as Body Mass Index (BMI), weight loss, or albumin concentration). Low scores in anthropometric indices were associated with a higher prevalence of complications during hospitalization and with a worse functional recovery. Despite improvements in the treatment of geriatric patients with hip fracture, mortality was still unacceptably high (30% within 1 year and up to 40% within 3 years). Malnutrition was associated with an increase in mortality. Nutritional intervention was cost effective and was associated with an improvement in nutritional status and a greater functional recovery. To conclude, in older people, the prevention of malnutrition and an early nutritional intervention can improve recovery following a hip fracture

Avances en nutrición molecular: nutrigenómica y/o nutrigenética

La aplicación de las técnicas de la biología molecular y el éxito del Proyecto Genoma Humano ha abierto una nueva era tanto en Medicina como en Nutrición. Hasta la fecha, al menos, 1.000 genes humanos causantes de enfermedades han sido identificados y parcialmente caracterizados, el 97% de los cuales sabemos ahora que son causantes de enfermedades monogénicas. Sin embargo, otras patologías como la obesidad, enfermedad cardiovascular, diabetes, cáncer se deben a complejas interacciones entre diversos genes y factores ambientales. A pesar de los numerosos estudios de asociación, más de 600 publicados desde 2002, la base molecular de las enfermedades crónicas es todavía incierta. La información sobre polimorfismos de nucleótidos y mapas de haplotipos son recursos adicionales para identificar genes involucrados en enfermedades. El desarrollo genómico se aproxima, sin embargo, no se conocen con precisión algunos componentes de la dieta y sus mecanismos, que influyen de forma importante en la expresión de la información genética y en las alteraciones patológicas. La industria alimentaria tiene la oportunidad de utilizar los componentes bioactivos de los alimentos para mejorar la salud y evitar las enfermedades teniendo en cuenta la constitución genética de los consumidores. Esta nueva era de la nutrición molecular —interacciones genes-nutrientes— puede crecer en diversas direcciones, aunque hay dos esenciales. De una parte, el estudio de la influencia de los nutrientes sobre la expresión de genes (nutrigenómica) y de otra conocer la influencia de las variaciones genéticas en la respuesta del organismo a los nutrientes (nutrigenética)

Down-regulation of heart HFABP and UCP2 gene expression in diet-induced (cafeteria) obese rats.

Long-term exposure to hypercaloric high fat diet induced marked tissue fatty acid accumulation and may influence cell function. Previous results in our laboratory showed that uncoupling proteins (UCPs) and fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) gene expression are changed in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle tissue in diet-induced (cafeteria) obese animals. The aim of this study was to examine heart FABP (HFABP) and UCP2 gene expressions in dietary obese rats. Rats fed on a high-fat diet for 65 days had significantly higher fat stores and body weight than control rats. Interestingly, we found that both HFABP and UCP2 mRNA levels were significantly reduced in cafeteria-obese rats when compared to control animals. Moreover, a statistically significant correlation was observed between the two gene expression levels. The down-regulation of heart HFABP and UCP2 parallels the lower lipid utilization which may account for an enhanced fat deposition. It is plausible that these two genes are regulated by the same family of transcription factors

Higher baseline irisin concentrations are associated with greater reductions in glycemia and insulinemia after weight loss in obese subjects

Irisin is assumed to be a relevant link between muscle and weight maintenance as well as to mediate exercise benefits on health. The aim of this study was to assess the possible associations between irisin levels and glucose homeostasis in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS) following an energy-restricted treatment. Ninety-six adults with excessive body weight and MetS features underwent a hypocaloric dietary pattern for 8 weeks, within the RESMENA randomized controlled trial (www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01087086). After the intervention, dietary restriction significantly reduced body weight and evidenced a dietary-induced decrease in circulating levels of irisin in parallel with improvements on glucose homeostasis markers. Interestingly, participants with higher irisin values at baseline (above the median) showed a greater reduction on glucose (P=0.022) and insulin (P=0.021) concentrations as well as on the homeostasis model assessment index (P=0.008) and triglycerides (P=0.006) after the dietary intervention, compared with those presenting low-irisin baseline values (below the median). Interestingly, a positive correlation between irisin and carbohydrate intake was found at the end of the experimental period. In conclusion, irisin appears to be involved in glucose metabolism regulation after a dietary-induced weight loss

Effect of a Very-Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet on Circulating Myokine Levels Compared with the Effect of Bariatric Surgery or a Low-Calorie Diet in Patients with Obesity

: The preservation of muscle mass and muscle function after weight loss therapy is currently a considerable challenge in the fight against obesity. Muscle mass secretes proteins called myokines that have relevant functions in the regulation of metabolism and health. This study was aimed to evaluate whether a very low-calorie ketogenic (VLCK) diet may modulate myokine levels, in addition to changes in body composition, compared to a standard, balanced low-calorie (LC) diet or bariatric surgery in patients with obesity. Body composition, ketosis, insulin sensitivity and myokines were evaluated in 79 patients with overweight/obesity after a therapy to lose weight with a VLCK diet, a LC diet or bariatric surgery. The follow-up was 6 months. The weight loss therapies induced changes in myokine levels in association with changes in body composition and biochemical parameters. The effects on circulating myokine levels compared to those at baseline were stronger after the VLCK diet than LC diet or bariatric surgery. Differences reached statistical significance for IL-8, MMP2 and irisin. In conclusion, nutritional interventions or bariatric surgery to lose weight induces changes in circulating myokine levels, being this effect potentially most notable after following a VLCK diet

DNA microarray analysis of genes differentially expressed in diet-induced (cafeteria) obese rats.

Objective: To better understand the molecular basis of dietary obesity, we examined adipose tissue genes differentially expressed in an obesity model using DNA microarray analysis. Research Methods and Procedures: We assessed the expression level of over 12,500 transcripts in epididymal fat pads from (cafeteria) obese and control rats with the aid of the array technology. Results: Cafeteria (obese) rats weighed 50% more and had 2.5-fold higher levels of epididymal fat and elevated levels of circulating leptin. Adipose genes differentially expressed in obese and control rats were categorized into five groups: macronutrient metabolism, transcription factors, hormone receptor and signal transduction, redox and stress proteins, and cellular cytoskeleton. Interestingly, the expression levels of a number of genes involved in lipid metabolism such as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase, together with the transcription factors implicated in adipocyte differentiation (CAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma), were significantly increased in obese animals compared with control. The most up-regulated transcripts were the ob (49.2-fold change) and the fatty acid-binding protein genes (15.7- fold change). In contrast, genes related to redox and stress protein were generally down-regulated in obese animals compared with the control. Discussion: Our study showed that in diet-induced obesity, the expression levels of some important genes implicated in lipid metabolism were up-regulated, whereas those related to redox and stress protein were down-regulated in obese animals compared with control. This pattern of gene expression may occur in human obesity cases after high-fat intake

Association between Different Animal Protein Sources and Liver Status in Obese Subjects with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Fatty Liver in Obesity (FLiO) Study

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Obesity and unhealthy dietary habits are described as risk factors for NAFLD. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the consumption of different animal protein sources and hepatic status in NAFLD adults. A total of 112 overweight/obese participants with NAFLD from Fatty Liver in Obesity (FLiO) study were evaluated at baseline. Diet, body composition, and biochemical variables were evaluated. Hepatic status was also assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging, ultrasonography, and elastography. Red meat consumption showed a positive relationship with liver iron content (r = 0.224; p = 0.021) and ferritin concentration (r = 0.196; p = 0.037). Processed meat consumption exhibited a positive association with liver iron content (r = 0.308; p = 0.001), which was also found in the quantile regression (β = 0.079; p = 0.028). Fish consumption was related with lower concentration of ferritin (r = -0.200; p = 0.034). This association was further evidenced in the regression model (β = -0.720; p = 0.033). These findings suggest that the consumption of different animal protein sources differentially impact on liver status in obese subjects with NAFLD, showing fish consumption as a healthier alternative for towards NAFLD features

Dietary total antioxidant capacity and obesity in children and adolescents

Dietary antioxidant intake has been suggested to protect against oxidative damage and related clinical complications. The aim of this study was to assess the potential relationships between the dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and obesity-related features in children and adolescents. Anthropometric variables from 369 children and adolescents were measured (184 obese and 185 control). A validated food-frequency questionnaire was used to calculate the TAC and the daily nutrient and energy intake. Dietary TAC showed positive associations with fiber, folic acid, magnesium, and vitamins A, C and E. BMI, SDS-BMI and total body fat were inversely associated with dietary TAC only in obese subjects. These data suggest that dietary TAC may be a potential indicator of the risk to develop obesity-related features and could be considered as a useful method in assessing antioxidant intake