Authentication of butter from lard adulteration using high-resolution of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography

Food authentication is an interesting issue for all parties in the food industry, including the fats and oils industry. Some unethical players try to blend high-quality foods, such as butter, with lower ones like lard, therefore, the analytical methods capable of analyzing the adulteration practices must be developed. This study used proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography for the authentication of butter from lard adulteration. The identification of triacylglycerol composition of lard as a chemical marker for halal authentication is analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography and high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The suitability of proton nuclear magnetic resonance provides a high-performance approach for determination butter adulterated with lard in their entirety of all proton bearing components. Peaks in the region of 2.60–2.84 ppm show special characteristics only present in lard. Only lard has its own unique characteristics which only polyunsaturated fatty acids would give signals 7 at δ 2.63, that corresponded to the chemical shift of the double-allylic methylene protons. In the same way, the intensity of signal at 2.63 ppm, due to methylenic protons in a position α to two double bonds, that is to say, due to the linoleic group. Furthermore, we also correlate some signals between 1H and 13C-NMR spectra for the confirmation of signals

PPAR-α genetic variants influence on-treatment platelet reactivity in patients treated with clopidogrel and lipid-lowering drugs and undergoing non-urgent percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation

Background: Response to clopidogrel varies between patients, due to many factors, like polymorphisms in genes encoding for metabolizing enzymes. The CYP3A4∗22 polymorphism has been proven to decrease the expression of CYP3A4, while the PPAR-α genetic variants G209A and A208G have been identified as determinants that affect CYP3A4. Statins and fibrates, which are the ligands of PPAR-α as well as being metabolized by CYP3A4, might also affect the response of clopidogrel through these two proteins. Objectives: To investigate the association between on-treatment platelet reactivity and the CYP3A4∗22 allele and genetic variations of the PPAR-α genes in clopidogrel-treated patients undergoing non-urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting and to evaluate the influence of statin/fibrate co-medication on these associations. Methods: A total of 1126 patients with non-urgent PCI and stenting pre-treated with clopidogrel and aspirin were genotyped for CYP3A4∗22 and PPAR-α (G209A and A208G). Platelet reactivity was measured using the VerifyNow® P2Y12-assay, expressed in PRU. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between the genetic variants and platelet reactivity, adjusted for confounders, including the CYP2C19 metabolizer status. A stratified analysis was conducted for patients with statin/fibrate co-medication. A recessive model was used for all associations. Results: The CYP3A4∗22/∗22 genotype was present in 0.4% of patients, 6.8% had the PPAR-α G209A AA genotype, and 7.0% had the PPAR-α A208G GG genotype. CYP3A4∗22 was not associated with platelet reactivity. PPAR-α genetic variants were significantly associated with platelet reactivity (PPAR-α G209A AA: -23.87 PRU [-43.54, -4.19]; PPAR-α A208G GG: -23.70 PRU [-43.13, -4.27]). In patients who were on statin/fibrate co-medication, these PPAR-α genetic variants were associated with an even lower platelet reactivity (-29.74 PRU [-50.94, -8.54], and -29.38 PRU [-50.26, -8.49], respectively), while those without statin/fibrate co-medication did not show a significant change in platelet reactivity (13.00 PRU [-39.79, 65.80]). Conclusions: Two genetic variants in PPAR-α (G209A and A208G) were associated with lower platelet reactivity in patients with non-urgent PCI and stenting co-treated with clopidogrel and lipid-lowering drugs

Heterozygous Mutations of FREM1 Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Isolated Metopic Craniosynostosis in Humans and Mice

The premature fusion of the paired frontal bones results in metopic craniosynostosis (MC) and gives rise to the clinical phenotype of trigonocephaly. Deletions of chromosome 9p22.3 are well described as a cause of MC with variably penetrant midface hypoplasia. In order to identify the gene responsible for the trigonocephaly component of the 9p22.3 syndrome, a cohort of 109 patients were assessed by high-resolution arrays and MLPA for copy number variations (CNVs) involving 9p22. Five CNVs involving FREM1, all of which were de novo variants, were identified by array-based analyses. The remaining 104 patients with MC were then subjected to targeted FREM1 gene re-sequencing, which identified 3 further mutant alleles, one of which was de novo. Consistent with a pathogenic role, mouse Frem1 mRNA and protein expression was demonstrated in the metopic suture as well as in the pericranium and dura mater. Micro-computed tomography based analyses of the mouse posterior frontal (PF) suture, the human metopic suture equivalent, revealed advanced fusion in all mice homozygous for either of two different Frem1 mutant alleles, while heterozygotes exhibited variably penetrant PF suture anomalies. Gene dosage-related penetrance of midfacial hypoplasia was also evident in the Frem1 mutants. These data suggest that CNVs and mutations involving FREM1 can be identified in a significant percentage of people with MC with or without midface hypoplasia. Furthermore, we present Frem1 mutant mice as the first bona fide mouse model of human metopic craniosynostosis and a new model for midfacial hypoplasia

Consanguinity and reproductive health among Arabs

Consanguineous marriages have been practiced since the early existence of modern humans. Until now consanguinity is widely practiced in several global communities with variable rates depending on religion, culture, and geography. Arab populations have a long tradition of consanguinity due to socio-cultural factors. Many Arab countries display some of the highest rates of consanguineous marriages in the world, and specifically first cousin marriages which may reach 25-30% of all marriages. In some countries like Qatar, Yemen, and UAE, consanguinity rates are increasing in the current generation. Research among Arabs and worldwide has indicated that consanguinity could have an effect on some reproductive health parameters such as postnatal mortality and rates of congenital malformations. The association of consanguinity with other reproductive health parameters, such as fertility and fetal wastage, is controversial. The main impact of consanguinity, however, is an increase in the rate of homozygotes for autosomal recessive genetic disorders. Worldwide, known dominant disorders are more numerous than known recessive disorders. However, data on genetic disorders in Arab populations as extracted from the Catalogue of Transmission Genetics in Arabs (CTGA) database indicate a relative abundance of recessive disorders in the region that is clearly associated with the practice of consanguinity

Metopic synostosis

Premature closure of the metopic suture results in a growth restriction of the frontal bones, which leads to a skull malformation known as trigonocephaly. Over the course of recent decades, its incidence has been rising, currently making it the second most common type of craniosynostosis. Treatment consists of a cranioplasty, usually preformed before the age of 1 year. Metopic synostosis is linked with an increased level of neurodevelopmental delays. Theories on the etiology of these delays range from a reduced volume of the anterior cranial fossa to intrinsic malformations of the brain. This paper aims to provide an overview of this entity by giving an update on the epidemiology, etiology, evolution of treatment, follow-up, and neurodevelopment of metopic synostosis