Descriptive sensory quality of Kenya’s indigenous chicken meat from different ecotype- clusters reared under an intensive system

Indigenous chicken (IC) in Kenya performs a major food security and socio-economic function for most households, especially of the rural poor. The trend has been to move from rearing IC on free-range systems to more intensive and semi intensive systems. This study was conducted by use of Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) and the Just About Right (JAR) scale scores to quantify the appeal of the IC meat reared under intensive systems. The IC used in the study had been obtained from Taita,  Kakamega and Narok ecotype clusters kept under the intensive system at Indigenous Chicken Improvement Programme (INCIP) unit at Egerton University. During the intensive rearing, the chickens were given the same treatment in terms of feed, disease control at all the stages and water was given ad-libitum. The chickens were slaughtered at the same age and only cocks were used as control for sensorial differences accruing due to sex. Five cocks from each ecotype cluster were slaughtered after a feed  withdrawal period of 8-10 hours and their meat prepared by boiling for sensory evaluation after ageing on ice for 3-6 hours. A trained panel of tasters (13-15) was used to evaluate the descriptive and JAR sensorial quality of indigenous chickens’ meat from the breast and thighs. One commercial broiler (Kenbro) was used as a control. Results showed that there was significant effect at P<0.05 of the ecotype of the IC on its meat aroma, flavour and brown colour intensity. The JAR scale showed that the consumers’ scores for the colour, flavour, juiciness, tenderness of indigenous chicken was ‘just about right’ compared to broiler which was described by colour as too light, flavour too strong, too juicy in terms of expression of juiciness and too tender with regard to texture. The Principal Component Analysis results showed that there were two principal components (colour and texture) that accounted for 55.4 % and 11.6% and 53.9 and 19% for both descriptive scores and JAR scores for IC meat, respectively. This study indicates sensorial differences among the Kenyan Indigenous chicken ecotypes (of different genetic characteristics) under intensive systems and demonstrates significant difference among various attributes from the commercial broiler.Key words: Descriptive, sensory evaluation, Kenyan Indigenous chicken, ecotype cluster, intensive system

Quantity and Functionality of Protein Fractions Isolated from 3 Ecotypes of Indigenous Chicken in Kenya

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the cluster ecotype and the part of chicken on nutritional composition, and functionality of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins that are most relevant to the technological features of chicken meat. Over 50 chickens from each ecotype cluster purchased, slaughtered and the meat stored under refrigeration at -20oC and later on transferred in cooler box on ice and flown to South Africa, at the Durban University of Technology. Protein fractions were extracted with a cocktail of Sodium Chloride buffer (50mM NaCl, 50mM Tris HCl; 75mM DTT and 1mM EDTA at pH 7) and quantified by Bradford method. One dimensional Sodium Dodecyl Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) was applied to separate protein fractions. Emulsifying capacity, emulsifying stability, solubility, and in vitro digestibility were determined on the total protein isolates. Significant differences in band expressions were recorded for the myofibrillar and the sarcoplasmic proteins. The three ecotypes had high quality proteins with all the limiting and essential amino acids at concentrations higher than FAO/WHO recommended daily allowance for adults and children. Distinct protein bands at larger molecular weight proteins >100 kDa, corresponding to Myosin Heavy Chain, medium fractions 75 kDa and 45 kDa and even lower molecular weight fraction <25 kDa were present in the chicken breast and the thighs. It concludes that Indigenous chicken protein isolates’ nutritional and functional properties are affected by part of chicken and ecotype clusters

Association between body-mass index and quality of split bowel preparation

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Little is known about the association between obesity and bowel preparation. We investigated whether body mass index (BMI) is an independent risk factor for inadequate bowel preparation in patients who receive split preparation regimens. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of data from 2163 consecutive patients (mean age, 60.6 ± 10.5 y; 93.8% male) who received outpatient colonoscopies in 2009 at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. All patients received a split preparation, categorized as adequate (excellent or good, based on the Aronchick scale) or inadequate. We performed a multivariable analysis to identify factors independently associated with inadequate preparation. RESULTS: Bowel preparation quality was inadequate for 44.2% of patients; these patients had significantly higher mean BMIs than patients with adequate preparation (31.2 ± 6.5 vs 29.8 ± 5.9, respectively; P < .0001) and Charlson comorbidity scores (1.5 ± 1.6 vs 1.1 ± 1.4; P < .0001). Independent risk factors for inadequate preparation were a BMI of 30 kg/m(2) or greater (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-1.75; P < .0001), use of tobacco (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.07-1.54; P = .0084) or narcotics (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.04-1.57; P = .0179), hypertension (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.07-1.57; P = .0085), diabetes (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.12-1.69; P = .0021), and dementia (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.22-7.49; P = .0169). CONCLUSIONS: BMI is an independent factor associated with inadequate split bowel preparation for colonoscopy. Additional factors associated with quality of bowel preparation include diabetes, hypertension, dementia, and use of tobacco and narcotics. Patients with BMIs of 30 kg/m(2) or greater should be considered for more intensive preparation regimens

Untargeted LC-HRMS-based metabolomics to identify novel biomarkers of metastatic colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the main causes of cancer death worldwide, and novel biomarkers are urgently needed for its early diagnosis and treatment. The utilization of metabolomics to identify and quantify metabolites in body fluids may allow the detection of changes in their concentrations that could serve as diagnostic markers for colorectal cancer and may also represent new therapeutic targets. Metabolomics generates a pathophysiological ‘fingerprint’ that is unique to each individual. The purpose of our study was to identify a differential metabolomic signature for metastatic colorectal cancer. Serum samples from 60 healthy controls and 65 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were studied by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry in an untargeted metabolomic approach. Multivariate analysis revealed a separation between patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and healthy controls, who significantly differed in serum concentrations of one endocannabinoid, two glycerophospholipids, and two sphingolipids. These findings demonstrate that metabolomics using liquid-chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry offers a potent diagnostic tool for metastatic colorectal cancer.This study was supported by a grant (n° 15CC056/DTS17/00081- ISCIII-FEDER) from the Fundación para la Investigación Biosanitaria de Andalucía Oriental (FIBAO) and Roche Pharma S.L. Authors from the Fundación MEDINA acknowledge the receipt of financial support from this public-private partnership of Merck Sharp & Dohme de España S.A. with the University of Granada and Andalusian Regional Government (PIN-0474-2016)

Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Specific Th1, Th17 and Th22 Cells Using the Expression of CD40L in Tuberculous Pleurisy

Important advances have been made in the immunodiagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) based on the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-specific T cells. However, the sensitivity and specificity of the immunological approach are relatively low because there are no specific markers for antigen-specific Th cells, and some of the Th cells that do not produce cytokines can be overlooked using this approach. In this study, we found that MTB-specific peptides of ESAT-6/CFP-10 can stimulate the expression of CD40L specifically in CD4+ T cells but not other cells from pleural fluid cells (PFCs) in patients with tuberculous pleurisy (TBP). CD4+CD40L+ but not CD4+CD40L− T cells express IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, IL-17 or IL-22 after stimulation with MTB-specific peptides. In addition, CD4+CD40L+ T cells were found to be mostly polyfunctional T cells that simultaneously produce IFN-γ, IL-2 and TNF-α and display an effector or effector memory phenotype (CD45RA−CD45RO+CCR7−CD62L−ICOS−). To determine the specificity of CD4+CD40L+ T cells, we incubated PFCs with ESTA-6/CFP-10 peptides and sorted live CD4+CD40L+ and CD4+CD40L− T cells by flow cytometry. We further demonstrated that sorted CD4+CD40L+, but not CD4+CD40L− fractions, principally produced IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, IL-17 and IL-22 following restimulation with ESTA-6/CFP-10 peptides. Taken together, our data indicate that the expression of CD40L on MTB-specific CD4+ T cells could be a good marker for the evaluation and isolation of MTB-specific Th cells and might also be useful in the diagnosis of TB

Immunochemical faecal occult blood test: number of samples and positivity cutoff. What is the best strategy for colorectal cancer screening?

Immunochemical faecal occult blood tests have shown a greater sensitivity than guaiac test in colorectal cancer screening, but optimal number of samples and cutoff have still to be defined. The aim of this multicentric study was to evaluate the performance of immunochemical-based screening strategies according to different positivity thresholds (80, 100, 120 ng ml−1) and single vs double sampling (one, at least one, or both positive samples) using 1-day sample with cutoff at 100 ng ml−1 as the reference strategy. A total of 20 596 subjects aged 50–69 years were enrolled from Italian population-based screening programmes. Positivity rate was 4.5% for reference strategy and 8.0 and 2.0% for the most sensitive and the most specific strategy, respectively. Cancer detection rate of reference strategy was 2.8‰, and ranged between 2.1 and 3.4‰ in other strategies; reference strategy detected 15.6‰ advanced adenomas (range=10.0–22.5‰). The number needed to scope to find a cancer or an advanced adenoma was lower than 2 (1.5–1.7) for the most specific strategies, whereas it was 2.4–2.7, according to different thresholds, for the most sensitive ones. Different strategies seem to have a greater impact on adenomas rather than on cancer detection rate. The study provides information when deciding screening protocols and to adapt them to local resources

Delphi initiative for early-onset colorectal cancer (DIRECt). International Management Guidelines.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with early-onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC) are managed according to guidelines that are not age-specific. A multidisciplinary international group (DIRECt), comprised of 69 experts, was convened to develop the first evidence-based consensus recommendations for eoCRC. METHODS: After reviewing the published literature, a Delphi methodology was employed to draft and respond to clinically relevant questions. Each statement underwent 3 rounds of voting and reached a consensus level of agreement of ≥80%. RESULTS: The DIRECt group produced 31 statements in 7 areas of interest: diagnosis, risk factors, genetics, pathology-oncology, endoscopy, therapy, and supportive care. There was strong consensus that all individuals younger than 50 should undergo CRC risk stratification and prompt symptom assessment. All newly diagnosed eoCRC patients should receive germline genetic testing, ideally before surgery. Based on current evidence, endoscopic, surgical, and oncologic treatment of eoCRC should not differ from later onset CRC, except for individuals with pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants. The evidence on chemotherapy is not sufficient to recommend changes to established therapeutic protocols. Fertility preservation and sexual health are important to address in eoCRC survivors.The DIRECt group highlighted areas with knowledge gaps that should be prioritized in future research efforts, including age at first screening for the general population, use of fecal immunochemical tests, chemotherapy, endoscopic therapy, and post-treatment surveillance for eoCRC patients. CONCLUSIONS: The DIRECt group produced the first consensus recommendations on eoCRC. All statements should be considered together with the accompanying comments and literature reviews. We highlighted areas where research should be prioritized. These guidelines represent a useful tool for clinicians caring for patients with eoCRC

Delphi Initiative for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer (DIRECt) International Management Guidelines

Background & aims: Patients with early-onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC) are managed according to guidelines that are not age-specific. A multidisciplinary international group (DIRECt), composed of 69 experts, was convened to develop the first evidence-based consensus recommendations for eoCRC. Methods: After reviewing the published literature, a Delphi methodology was used to draft and respond to clinically relevant questions. Each statement underwent 3 rounds of voting and reached a consensus level of agreement of ≥80%. Results: The DIRECt group produced 31 statements in 7 areas of interest: diagnosis, risk factors, genetics, pathology-oncology, endoscopy, therapy, and supportive care. There was strong consensus that all individuals younger than 50 should undergo CRC risk stratification and prompt symptom assessment. All newly diagnosed eoCRC patients should receive germline genetic testing, ideally before surgery. On the basis of current evidence, endoscopic, surgical, and oncologic treatment of eoCRC should not differ from later-onset CRC, except for individuals with pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants. The evidence on chemotherapy is not sufficient to recommend changes to established therapeutic protocols. Fertility preservation and sexual health are important to address in eoCRC survivors. The DIRECt group highlighted areas with knowledge gaps that should be prioritized in future research efforts, including age at first screening for the general population, use of fecal immunochemical tests, chemotherapy, endoscopic therapy, and post-treatment surveillance for eoCRC patients. Conclusions: The DIRECt group produced the first consensus recommendations on eoCRC. All statements should be considered together with the accompanying comments and literature reviews. We highlighted areas where research should be prioritized. These guidelines represent a useful tool for clinicians caring for patients with eoCRC