Oleogelation: From Scientific Feasibility to Applicability in Food Products

Oleogels offer the possibility to replace conventional saturated fatty acid (SAFA)‐based lipids with a healthier alternative by immobilizing liquid edible oils in a 3D‐network which is provided by an oleogelator. Numerous molecules which can structure oils rich in (poly)unsaturated fatty acids have been identified. These differ greatly in their chemical composition, network formation, and interactions and thus macroscopic properties of the respective oleogels. Oleogels have been a focal point of food research for over 20 years, yet product applications are lacking. Hence, the question arises whether the application of oleogels is unfeasible or if science lost sight of its objective. This review aims to assess different structuring systems concerning their availability, their potential for the utilization in food products and, if possible, their prices. Moreover, recent studies comprising the application of oleogels in food products are reviewed with special emphasis on the state and the function of the lipid phase during processing and in the final product. Therefore, the physical properties and preparation methods of different oleogels need to be considered in connection with the respective food application. Finally, it is discussed whether the application of oleogels is justified in these products and advantageous in comparison to liquid oil. Practical Applications: A diet rich in mono‐and polyunsaturated fatty acids which make up the majority of liquid edible oils lowers the risk to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. Unfortunately, these oils cannot provide texture to food products in their native state. Oleogelation has the potential to deliver the solid structure necessary for numerous food products by transferring an oil rich in essential fatty acids into a solid‐like structure. Besides, the nutritional value of these oils remains practically unchanged. Although oleogelation has been the objective of various research groups for more than 20 years, product applications are scarce. This review aims to stimulate the mindfulness of research concerning the successful application of oleogels in food products. This hopefully enables a better connection between science and industry.TU Berlin, Open-Access-Mittel – 202

Cancer Predisposition Cascade Screening for Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer and Lynch Syndromes in Switzerland: Study Protocol

Background : Breast, colorectal, ovarian, and endometrial cancers constitute approximately 30% of newly diagnosed cancer cases in Switzerland, affecting more than 12,000 individuals annually. Hundreds of these patients are likely to carry germline pathogenic variants associated with hereditary breast ovarian cancer (HBOC) or Lynch syndrome (LS). Genetic services (counseling and testing) for hereditary susceptibility to cancer can prevent many cancer diagnoses and deaths through early identification and risk management. Objective : Cascade screening is the systematic identification and testing of relatives of a known mutation carrier. It determines whether asymptomatic relatives also carry the known variant, needing management options to reduce future harmful outcomes. Specific aims of the CASCADE study are to (1) survey index cases with HBOC or LS from clinic-based genetic testing records and determine their current cancer status and surveillance practices, needs for coordination of medical care, psychosocial needs, patient-provider and patient-family communication, quality of life, and willingness to serve as advocates for cancer genetic services to blood relatives, (2) survey first- and second-degree relatives and first-cousins identified from pedigrees or family history records of HBOC and LS index cases and determine their current cancer and mutation status, cancer surveillance practices, needs for coordination of medical care, barriers and facilitators to using cancer genetic services, psychosocial needs, patient-provider and patient-family communication, quality of life, and willingness to participate in a study designed to increase use of cancer genetic services, and (3) explore the influence of patient-provider communication about genetic cancer risk on patient-family communication and the acceptability of a family-based communication, coping, and decision support intervention with focus group(s) of mutation carriers and relatives. Methods: CASCADE is a longitudinal study using surveys (online or paper/pencil) and focus groups, designed to elicit factors that enhance cascade genetic testing for HBOC and LS in Switzerland. Repeated observations are the optimal way for assessing these outcomes. Focus groups will examine barriers in patient-provider and patient-family communication, and the acceptability of a family-based communication, coping, and decision-support intervention. The survey will be developed in English, translated into three languages (German, French, and Italian), and back-translated into English, except for scales with validated versions in these languages. Results: Descriptive analyses will include calculating means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages of variables and participant descriptors. Bivariate analyses (Pearson correlations, chi-square test for differences in proportions, and t test for differences in means) will assess associations between demographics and clinical characteristics. Regression analyses will incorporate generalized estimating equations for pairing index cases with their relatives and explore whether predictors are in direct, mediating, or moderating relationship to an outcome. Focus group data will be transcribed verbatim and analyzed for common themes. Conclusions: Robust evidence from basic science and descriptive population-based studies in Switzerland support the necessity of cascade screening for genetic predisposition to HBOC and LS. CASCADE is designed to address translation of this knowledge into public health interventions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03124212; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03124212 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6tKZnNDBt

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Der Einfluss sekundärer Ölkomponenten auf Oleogeleigenschaften

This thesis addressed the role of solvent (edible oil) composition on oleogel properties. Oleogels are solid-like structures in which the oil is immobilized by a gelator, having limited solubility in the continuous phase. They could be utilized to reduce or substitute saturated fats in food products, thus delivering more healthier mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs). Although oleogels have become a popular topic in fat research, product applications are lacking, partially due to insufficient and understanding of the underlying structures and how they can be modified. In this work, the role of solvent (edible oil) composition, especially minor oil components, was addressed. Therefore, the impact of the FA composition of triglycerides (TAGs) and the contribution of minor oil components had to be studied separately by developing a reliable method to remove minor polar components from different edible oils (canola, sunflower and flaxseed). It was shown that the effect of FA composition is negligible when compared to that of polar components. However, the latter can substantially modify the interactions of the oleogels’ network building blocks, translating into modified macroscopic properties such as hardness and disintegration behaviour. Moreover, it was shown by adding selected minor oil components to different oils that induced changes in network interactions depend on their concentration and functional chemical groups such as hydroxyl- or carbonyl-groups. The data presented in this thesis is vital for scientific progress in the field of oleogelation and provides valuable tools for successful food product application.In der vorliegenden Arbeite wurde der Einfluss der Ölzusammensetzung auf sogenannte Oleogele untersucht. Oleogele sind halbfeste Strukturen in denen flüssiges Öl durch geeignete Strukturanten immobilisiert ist, welche eine limitierte Löslichkeit in der kontinuierlichen Phase besitzen. Daher könnten Oleogele zur Reduktion oder vollständigen Substitution von gesättigten, festen Fetten in Lebensmitteln eingesetzt werden. Obwohl bereits seit zwei Dekaden auf dem Gebiet geforscht wird, gibt es bislang keine kommerziellen Produktapplikationen. Das liegt zum Teil an einem unzureichenden Verständnis über die detaillierten Gelstrukturen und deren Interaktionen, sowie Modifikationsmöglichkeiten. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde daher der Einfluss der Komposition des essbaren Öls auf Oleogele untersucht. Dabei muss zwischen dem Einfluss der Fettsäurezusammensetzung der Triacylglycerole und dem der minoren Ölkompenten unterschieden werden. Dazu war es essentiell, eine verlässliche Methode zur Entfernung dieser polaren Minorkomponenten aus verschiedenen Ölen (Raps-, Sonnenblumen- und Leinöl) zu entwickeln. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass der Einfluss der Triglyceridzusammensetzung vernächlässigbar ist. Im Gegenteil zeigt sich, dass die minoren Komponenten signifikant die Netzwerkinteraktionen der Strukturanten beeinflussen und damit auch makroskopische Eigenschaften wie zB. die Gelfestigkeit oder Desintegrationsverhalten modfifizieren. Weiterhin konnte durch die Zugabe ausgewählter polarer Komponenten gezeigt werden, dass die Veränderungen konzentrationsabhängig sind und auch von der chemischen Struktur der Additive, speziell ihren funktionellen Gruppen wie zB. Hydroxyl- oder Carbonylgruppen beeinflusst werden. Die Daten sind von Bedeutung für die weitere Forschung im Bereich der Oleogele und liefern nützliche Informationen für Lebensmittelanwendungen

Oleogels—Their Applicability and Methods of Characterization

Oleogels or, more precisely, non-triglyceride structured lipid phases have been researched excessively in the last decade. Yet, no comprehensive knowledge base has emerged, allowing technology elevation from the laboratory bench into the industrial food application. That is partly due to insufficient characterization of the structuring systems studied. Examining a single composition decided upon by arbitrary methods does not stimulate progress in the research and technology area. A framework that gives much better guidance to product applications can easily be derived. For example, the incremental structure contribution concept is advocated as a parameter to compare the potency of structuring systems. These can straightforwardly be determined by combining solubility data and structural measurements in the recommended manner. The current method to determine the oil-binding capacity suffers from reproducibility and relevance. A newly developed method is suggested to overcome these shortcomings. The recommended new characterization of oleogels should contribute to a more comprehensive knowledge base necessary for product innovations

Oleogels—Their Applicability and Methods of Characterization

Oleogels or, more precisely, non-triglyceride structured lipid phases have been researched excessively in the last decade. Yet, no comprehensive knowledge base has emerged, allowing technology elevation from the laboratory bench into the industrial food application. That is partly due to insufficient characterization of the structuring systems studied. Examining a single composition decided upon by arbitrary methods does not stimulate progress in the research and technology area. A framework that gives much better guidance to product applications can easily be derived. For example, the incremental structure contribution concept is advocated as a parameter to compare the potency of structuring systems. These can straightforwardly be determined by combining solubility data and structural measurements in the recommended manner. The current method to determine the oil-binding capacity suffers from reproducibility and relevance. A newly developed method is suggested to overcome these shortcomings. The recommended new characterization of oleogels should contribute to a more comprehensive knowledge base necessary for product innovations

Characterization of the p53 Cistrome - DNA Binding Cooperativity Dissects p53's Tumor Suppressor Functions

p53 protects us from cancer by transcriptionally regulating tumor suppressive programs designed to either prevent the development or clonal expansion of malignant cells. How p53 selects target genes in the genome in a context-and tissue-specific manner remains largely obscure. There is growing evidence that the ability of p53 to bind DNA in a cooperative manner prominently influences target gene selection with activation of the apoptosis program being completely dependent on DNA binding cooperativity. Here, we used ChIP-seq to comprehensively profile the cistrome of p53 mutants with reduced or increased cooperativity. The analysis highlighted a particular relevance of cooperativity for extending the p53 cistrome to non-canonical binding sequences characterized by deletions, spacer insertions and base mismatches. Furthermore, it revealed a striking functional separation of the cistrome on the basis of cooperativity; with low cooperativity genes being significantly enriched for cell cycle and high cooperativity genes for apoptotic functions. Importantly, expression of high but not low cooperativity genes was correlated with superior survival in breast cancer patients. Interestingly, in contrast to most p53-activated genes, p53-repressed genes did not commonly contain p53 binding elements. Nevertheless, both the degree of gene activation and repression were cooperativity-dependent, suggesting that p53-mediated gene repression is largely indirect and mediated by cooperativity-dependently transactivated gene products such as CDKN1A, E2F7 and non-coding RNAs. Since both activation of apoptosis genes with non-canonical response elements and repression of pro-survival genes are crucial for p53's apoptotic activity, the cistrome analysis comprehensively explains why p53-induced apoptosis, but not cell cycle arrest, strongly depends on the intermolecular cooperation of p53 molecules as a possible safeguard mechanism protecting from accidental cell killing

Influence of the Kinaesthetics care conception during patient handling on the development of musculoskeletal complaints and diseases - A scoping review

The Kinaesthetics care conception is a nursing approach for patient handling which aims to prevent work-related complaints and diseases. The evidence about the influence of Kinaesthetics on musculoskeletal disorders among persons who handle patients is unclear to date. The purposes of the scoping review are to gain insight into the current state of research regarding the clinical effectiveness of Kinaesthetics (in terms of perceived exertion and musculoskeletal complaints) among persons who handle patients and to identify potential research gaps. A scoping review was conducted. The search strategy comprised a systematic search in electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, AMED, CINAHL), a hand search, a fast forward search (Web of Science) and a Google scholar-search. The review process was carried out independently by two reviewers. Methodological quality was assessed for all studies using three methodological main categories (reporting quality, internal validity, external validity). Thirteen studies with different study designs were included. Seven studies investigated musculoskeletal complaints and nine studies the perceived exertion of nursing staff. Most studies were of very low methodology. Most studies reported a decrease of musculoskeletal complaints and perceived exertion due to Kinaesthetics. In conclusion, there is only little evidence of very low quality about the effectiveness of Kinaesthetics. Out of the studies it could be assumed that Kinaesthetics may decrease the patient handling related perceived exertion and musculoskeletal pain of persons who handle patients. But an overestimation of these results is likely, due to inadequate methodology of included studies. As a result, no clear recommendations about the effectiveness of the Kinaesthetics care conception can be made yet. Since a research gap was shown, further high quality intervention studies are necessary for clarifying the effectiveness of Kinaesthetics

Do Technical Aids for Patient Handling Prevent Musculoskeletal Complaints in Health Care Workers?—A Systematic Review of Intervention Studies

The physical load ensuing from the repositioning and moving of patients puts health care workers at risk of musculoskeletal complaints. Technical equipment developed to aid with patient handling should reduce physical strain and workload; however, the efficacy of these aids in preventing musculoskeletal disorders and complaints is still unclear. A systematic review of controlled intervention studies was conducted to examine if the risk of musculoskeletal complaints and disorders is reduced by technical patient handling equipment. MEDLINE®/PubMed®, EMBASE®, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL®) were searched using terms for nursing, caregiving, technical aids, musculoskeletal injuries, and complaints. Randomized controlled trials and controlled before-after studies of interventions including technical patient handling equipment were included. The titles and abstracts of 9554 publications and 97 full-texts were screened by two reviewers. The qualitative synthesis included one randomized controlled trial (RCT) and ten controlled before-after studies. A meta-analysis of four studies resulted in a pooled risk ratio for musculoskeletal injury claims (post-intervention) of 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.68–0.90). Overall, the methodological quality of the studies was poor and the results often based on administrative injury claim data, introducing potential selection bias. Interventions with technical patient handling aids appear to prevent musculoskeletal complaints, but the certainty of the evidence according to GRADE approach ranged from low to very low

Gene regulation by p53 is cooperativity-dependent.

<p>(<i>A</i>) Correlation of the ChIP-seq data with the corresponding expression profiles revealed 351 differentially expressed genes with 489 distinct binding sites. Expression levels of these genes are depicted in a heat map ranked by decreasing EE/RR binding strength. The cooperativity classification of genes according to ChIP-seq is shown on the left as in <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1003726#pgen-1003726-g001" target="_blank">Fig. 1D</a>. Gene regulation by p53 increases with DNA binding cooperativity and correlates with DNA binding strength as shown in the walking average plot of expression for each p53 cooperativity mutant. (<i>B</i>) Expression of p53-bound and -regulated genes according to cooperativity. Shown is the log2-fold expression change. The black horizontal bar indicates the mean. (<i>C</i>) DNA binding strength (in reads/peak) of wild-type p53 to low or high cooperativity sites in differentially regulated genes. Depicted is a box-and-whiskers blot with 10/90 percentiles and the median; outliers are plotted as dots. *, p<0.001. (<i>D</i>) Validation of microarray results by RTqPCR analysis. Shown is the mean (±SD, n = 3) log2-fold expression change. (<i>E</i>) Motif search (MEME), spacer analysis (p53MH) and genomic classification of p53 binding sites in differentially regulated genes followed by functional annotation with GO terms as in <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1003726#pgen-1003726-g002" target="_blank">Fig. 2</a> and <a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1003726#pgen-1003726-g003" target="_blank">3</a>.</p