Consequences of Exchanging Carbohydrates for Proteins in the Cholesterol Metabolism of Mice Fed a High-fat Diet

Consumption of low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diets lead to rapid weight loss but the cardioprotective effects of these diets have been questioned. We examined the impact of high-protein and high-fat diets on cholesterol metabolism by comparing the plasma cholesterol and the expression of cholesterol biosynthesis genes in the liver of mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet that has a high (H) or a low (L) protein-to-carbohydrate (P/C) ratio. H-P/C-HF feeding, compared with L-P/C-HF feeding, decreased plasma total cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol concentrations at 4-wk. Interestingly, the expression of genes involved in hepatic steroid biosynthesis responded to an increased dietary P/C ratio by first down-regulation (2-d) followed by later up-regulation at 4-wk, and the temporal gene expression patterns were connected to the putative activity of SREBF1 and 2. In contrast, Cyp7a1, the gene responsible for the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids, was consistently up-regulated in the H-P/C-HF liver regardless of feeding duration. Over expression of Cyp7a1 after 2-d and 4-wk H-P/C-HF feeding was connected to two unique sets of transcription regulators. At both time points, up-regulation of the Cyp7a1 gene could be explained by enhanced activations and reduced suppressions of multiple transcription regulators. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the hypocholesterolemic effect of H-P/C-HF feeding coincided with orchestrated changes of gene expressions in lipid metabolic pathways in the liver of mice. Based on these results, we hypothesize that the cholesterol lowering effect of high-protein feeding is associated with enhanced bile acid production but clinical validation is warranted. (246 words

Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Extract Alleviates Symptoms of Allergic Diarrhea in Mice, Involving Opioid Receptors

The incidence of food hypersensitivity and food allergies is on the rise and new treatment approaches are needed. We investigated whether N. sativa, one of its components, thymoquinone, or synthetic opioid receptor (OR)-agonists can alleviate food allergy. Hence, ovalbumin (OVA) -sensitized BALB/c-mice were pre-treated either with a hexanic N. sativa seed extract, thymoquinone, kappa- (U50'4889) or mu-OR-agonists (DAMGO) and subsequently challenged intra-gastrically with OVA. All 4 treatments significantly decreased clinical scores of OVA-induced diarrhea. N. sativa seed extract, thymoquinone, and U50'488 also decreased intestinal mast cell numbers and plasma mouse mast cell protease-1 (MMCP-1). DAMGO, in contrast, had no effect on mast cell parameters but decreased IFNγ, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10 concentration after ex vivo re-stimulation of mesenteric lymphocytes. The effects on allergy symptoms were reversible by OR-antagonist pre-treatment, whereas most of the effects on immunological parameter were not. We demonstrate that N. sativa seed extract significantly improves symptoms and immune parameters in murine OVA-induced allergic diarrhea; this effect is at least partially mediated by thymoquinone. ORs may also be involved and could be a new target for intestinal allergy symptom alleviation. N. sativa seed extract seems to be a promising candidate for nutritional interventions in humans with food allergy

Welfare Assessment in Calves Fattened According to the "Outdoor Veal Calf" Concept and in Conventional Veal Fattening Operations in Switzerland.

The "outdoor veal calf" system was developed to encounter the demand for a veal fattening system that allows for reducing antimicrobial use without impairing animal welfare. Management improvements including direct purchase, short transportation, vaccination, three-week quarantine in individual hutches, and open-air housing in small groups in a roofed, straw-bedded paddock with a group hutch were implemented in a prospective intervention study (1905 calves, 19 intervention and 19 control farms, over one year): antimicrobial use was five times lower in "outdoor veal" farms compared to control farms (p < 0.001), but it was crucial to ensure that antimicrobial treatment reduction was not associated with decreased animal welfare, i.e., that sick animals were not left untreated. Welfare was assessed monthly on the farms, and organs of 339 calves were examined after slaughter. Cough and nasal discharge were observed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) less often in intervention than in control farms, mortality (3.1% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.020) and lung lesion prevalence (26% vs. 46%, p < 0.001) were lower; no group difference was seen in abomasal lesion prevalence (65% vs. 72%). Thus, besides reduced antimicrobial use, calf health and welfare were improved in "outdoor veal calf" farms in comparison to traditional operations

Decontamination effect of hot-air drying against bacterial pathogen and surrogate strains on basil leaves, from laboratory to pilot scale settings

Drying technologies are often evaluated on their efficiency to remove moisture and impact on sensory quality of products. The decontamination effect against foodborne pathogens, however, is rarely investigated. This study investigated the inactivation of foodborne pathogens and surrogates on basil leaves during drying, from characterizing thermal resistance of strains in a(w) adjusted basil to collecting decontamination data under various drying processes. Salmonella Senftenberg was the most resistant pathogenic strain tested during heating on basil leaves. A treatment of 20 min at 60 degrees C reduced S. Senftenberg by 4.7 and 3.7-log on basil leaves at water activity of 0.99 and 0.95, respectively. The pronounced increase in strains' thermal resistance at reduced water activity was also observed during dynamic hot-air drying. Overall, more than 4-log reduction of S. Senftenberg was achieved after 90 min, 40 min and 20 min drying in a laboratory oven at 60 degrees C, 80 degrees C and 100 degrees C, respectively. Upscaling experiments in a pilot dryer using surrogate strains provided additional confirmation on the decontamination efficiency and effect of product moisture content during drying. Results from surrogate strains suggested that Escherichia coli P1 showed to be a more suitable surrogate for hot-air drying processes of basil leaves than Enterococcus faecium

Primary Care and Physical Literacy: A Non-Randomized Controlled Pilot Study to Combat the High Prevalence of Physically Inactive Adults in Austria

The multidimensional concept of physical literacy is fundamental for lifelong physical activity engagement. However, physical literacy-based interventions are in their infancy, especially among adults. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to assess the association of a physical literacy-based intervention with changes in self-reported physical literacy among inactive adults. A non-randomized controlled study (2 × 2 design) was conducted, comparing pre- vs. postintervention. Twenty-eight inactive healthy participants in the intervention group (89% female, 53 ± 10 years) entered a physical literacy-based intervention once weekly for 14 weeks. The non-treated control group consisted of 22 inactive adults (96% female, 50 ± 11 years). Physical literacy was evaluated with a questionnaire encompassing five domains: physical activity behavior, attitude/understanding, motivation, knowledge, and self-efficacy/confidence. ANOVA models were applied to evaluate changes by time and condition. Following the intervention, significant improvements were seen for overall physical literacy and in four out of five physical literacy domains, including physical activity behavior, attitude/understanding, knowledge, and self-efficacy/confidence (all p &lt; 0.01, Cohen’s d = 0.38–0.83). No changes by time x condition were found for motivation. The physical literacy-based intervention applied in this study may be a promising approach to help inactive adults to adopt an active lifestyle

KOR-agonist (U50'488) and MOR-agonist (DAMGO) alleviate allergy related immune markers in OVA-allergic mice.

<p>OVA-sensitized mice were challenged with saline (Saline) or OVA (OVA) with or without pre-treatment. The graph shows the concentration of total plasma MMCP-1 (<b>A</b>) at sacrifice after subcutaneous treatment with 5 mg/kgBW KOR-agonist U50'488 (U50'488), with 20 mg/kgBW NorBNI (U50'488+NorBNI), or with NorBNI alone (NorBNI), and the concentration of plasma IL-4 (<b>B</b>) and IFN-gamma (<b>C</b>) after subcutaneous treatment with 5 mg/kgBW MOR-agonist (DAMGO) and naloxone-methiodide (DAMGO+N-M 1 mg), or naloxone-methiodide alone (N-M 1 mg). MMCP-1 levels were unchanged with MOR-agonist and IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels were unchanged with KOR-agonist respectively (data not shown). Each dot represents the corresponding value for one animal and the bars represent the median and interquartile range, * <i>p</i><0.05; n = 5–10.</p

<i>In vitro</i> opioid receptor-displacement assay.

<p>(Abbr.: CHO = Chinese hamster Ovary, HEK = Human embryonic kidney, DOP = delta opioid; KOP = kappa opioid, MOP = mu opioid, recomb. = recombinant).</p

<i>N. sativa</i> seed extract decreases clinical macroscopic scores and immune parameters in OVA-allergic mice.

<p>OVA-sensitized mice were challenged with saline (Saline), OVA (OVA), or with OVA after intragastric administration of <i>N. sativa</i> seed extract (Ns) with the OR antagonist naloxone-methiodide pre-treatment at the dose indicated (Ns N-M), or with naloxone-methiodide alone (N-M). Panels <b>A</b> and <b>B</b> represent the median of clinical macroscopic scores at sacrifice. Panels <b>C</b> and <b>D</b> show the plasma concentration of MMCP-1 (<b>C</b>) and the numbers of mast cells per intestinal villus (<b>D</b>) at sacrifice. Each dot represents the corresponding value for one animal and the bars represent the median with interquartile range, * = <i>p</i><0.05; n = 5–19.</p

Experimental set up for OVA-induced allergic diarrhea.

<p>Intervention corresponds to either intragastric <i>N. sativa</i> or thymoquinone (with or without sub-cutaneous OR-antagonist pre-treatment) or subcutaneous OR-agonists (with or without sub-cutaneous OR-antagonist pre-treatment). (Abbreviations: i.p. = intraperitoneal, OR = opioid receptor, OVA = ovalbumin, BW = body weight, † = sacrifice).</p