ObjectiveTo clarify the impact of maternal nutrition and breastfeeding on infant gut microbiota development.MethodsIn a cohort of 67 mother-infant dyads, maternal diet and milk composition were analyzed alongside longitudinal infant fecal 16S rRNA profiling at 42 days, 6 months, and 12 months.ResultsThe infant gut microbiota underwent marked shifts over the first year, with increases in Firmicutes and Bacteroidota, decreases in Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria, and increasing alpha diversity. Feeding mode was the strongest predictor of infant gut microbiota. Feeding mode, delivery mode, maternal dietary deficiency, complementary feeding timing, and breast-milk density were each associated with distinct microbial taxa, with 14 genus-/phylum-level associations identified.ConclusionSignificant phylum-level shifts occurred over the first year, specifically increases in Firmicutes and Bacteroidota. Feeding mode was the dominant predictor of microbiota composition at 12 months, with additional associations for delivery mode, complementary feeding timing, maternal dietary deficiency, and breast-milk density.
BackgroundPostprandial glycaemic response (PPGR) is an important determinant of cardiometabolic risk; however, the association of habitual dietary nutrient intakes with PPGR across ethnically diverse populations remains poorly understood.ObjectivesTo compare differences in nutrient intakes among White Caucasian, Black African-Caribbean, and South Asian (SA) adults living in London, and to examine associations between habitual nutrient intakes and PPGRs to a standardized glucose drink and orange juice (OJ).MethodsEighty-six healthy adults (White: n = 35, Black: n = 17, SA: n = 34) completed a 4-day estimated food diary and two postprandial glycaemic challenges following an overnight fast. Capillary blood glucose was measured at baseline (fasting) and every 30 min for 2 h. PPGR outcomes included total area under the curve (AUC) (0–120 min) and observed peak values (PVs) for each drink.ResultsWhite participants reported significantly higher intakes of total energy, dietary fiber, calcium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin A, thiamine (B1), vitamin E, and folate than Black and/or SA participants. After adjusting for total energy intake, only dietary fiber, magnesium and folate intakes remained significantly different. SA participants exhibited significantly higher AUCs and PVs following consumption of both beverages than White participants or Black participants. In unadjusted regression analyses, nutrient intakes of dietary fiber, percentage energy from fat (fat %), and several micronutrients were associated with at least one PPGR outcome. After adjustment for age, body fat percentage, ethnicity, and total energy intake, dietary fiber, magnesium, thiamine (B1), and folate intakes were inversely associated with OJ-PV, whereas fat intake as a percentage of total energy was positively associated with OJ-AUC.ConclusionThese findings indicate that habitual dietary nutrient intakes were associated with PPGRs. Whether these dietary differences contribute to ethnic variation in PPGR requires further investigation.
Microbial exopolysaccharides (EPS) are secondary metabolites produced and secreted by microorganisms during fermentation. Their structure and physicochemical properties depend on the microbial strain and growth conditions, making them highly versatile for application in the food industry. Current investigations have expanded to include their use as a bioactive compound, providing health benefits to the host without the introduction of live microorganisms, as in the case with probiotics. This systematic review analyzed 28 in vivo studies to assess the effects of EPS on intestinal health. Evidence suggests that EPS modulates the gut microbiome, enhances intestinal epithelium integrity, alters inflammatory biomarkers, affects colonic morphology, and increases short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. Overall, this systematic review primarily focuses on colonic health, with limited consideration of the role of EPS during small intestinal digestion. The findings support the potential of microbial exopolysaccharides as bioactive macromolecules that may improve intestinal health. This systematic review has been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (PROSPERO) (ID: CRD420261292367).
The gut microbiota has emerged as a significant regulator of exercise adaptation, recovery, and skeletal-muscle function, giving rise to the idea of the gut–muscle axis as a potential target in sports nutrition. This review summarizes current data on how microbiome-targeted nutritional approaches, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, post-biotics, and polyphenol-rich dietary interventions, effect physiological processes related to athletic performance. Human research suggests that certain therapies may enhance endurance capacity, recuperation, gastrointestinal health, immunological function, and body composition, however, these advantages are typically strain-, formulation-, and population-specific. Further experimental evidence indicates that microbial metabolites, especially urolithins and short-chain fatty acids, may control anabolic signaling, inflammatory responses, mitochondrial function, and redox balance via pathways involving AMPK, PGC-1α, and associated molecular networks. However, there is still no direct validation of these pathways in human athletes, and the majority of mechanistic information comes from cellular and animal models. The translation of existing findings into evidence-based sports nutrition recommendations is further constrained by significant variation in study design, intervention characteristics, participant populations, and outcome measures. More robust longitudinal human investigations incorporating strain-resolved microbiome profiling, microbial metabolomics, and standardized physiological and performance outcomes are needed in order to identify effective intervention strategies and establish causal mechanisms.
Pearl millet serves as a vital cereal crop for ensuring food and nutritional security, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions known as “Grains of God,” due to its remarkable tolerance to drought and other adverse environmental conditions. In addition to its climate resilience, pearl millet possesses superior nutritional quality, being enriched with essential amino acids, dietary fiber, iron, zinc, and several health-promoting bioactive compounds, thereby making it an important component of sustainable and nutritious food systems. However, a major limitation associated with the commercial utilization of pearl millet is its susceptibility to rancidity during storage. Rancidity primarily results from the oxidative degradation of lipids, leading to the formation of free fatty acids, hydroperoxides, aldehydes, and other volatile compounds responsible for undesirable off-flavors and reduced sensory acceptability. This deterioration is largely attributed to enzymatic reactions involving polyunsaturated fatty acids, which adversely affect the shelf life and consumer preference of pearl millet-based products. In addition to the limited long-term efficacy of conventional stabilization approaches, these strategies are often associated with nutrient loss, deterioration of quality attributes, reduced scalability, and increased processing costs. Recent advances in “Omics” approaches, such as genomics, transcriptomics, lipidomic, and metabolomics, have substantially enhanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying rancidity development in pearl millet. Several candidate genes, including PgTAGLip1, PgTAGLip2, LOX, phospholipases, and lipid metabolism regulators, have been implicated in flour stabilization and lipid degradation pathways. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain, including the effective integration of multi-omics datasets, the lack of standardized phenotyping protocols for storage-related traits, and difficulties in temporal transcriptomic analyses due to RNA degradation during flour storage. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the current biochemical, nutritional, molecular, and omics-based insights into pearl millet rancidity, with particular emphasis on future breeding strategies aimed at developing varieties with enhanced storage stability and improved end-use quality.
BackgroundDay-care (DC) centers are relevant nutritional environments for young children in Germany. Yet, little is known about food consumption and nutrient intake at DC centers.ObjectivesTo characterize meal consumption at DC centers, compare food consumption and nutrient intake on DC days versus non-DC days, and explore the contribution of foods consumed at DC centers to the total daily food consumption (TFC) and nutrient intake.MethodsThe analysis is based on questionnaire and food record data (3 + 1 day) collected within the representative KiESEL study. The present subsample includes 1–5-year-old children with at least one DC day and one non-DC day (n = 570). DC days and non-DC days were compared using a mixed linear model.Results93.7% of the children ate at least one breakfast and 45.5% ate three meals a day at DC centers regularly. On DC days, more beverages, vegetables, and less meat/sausages and unfavorable foods (e.g., sweets, soft drinks) (as %TFC) were consumed, and intakes of protein (% of energy intake, E%), fiber, calcium (mg/MJ) were higher, while fat intake (E%) was lower than on non-DC days. The diet at DC centers was higher in some favorable foods (e.g., vegetables, fruit, starchy side dishes), but lower in milk/milk products and unfavorable foods, resulting in higher intakes of fiber and lower intakes of mono-/disaccharides and calcium compared to the reference shares (i.e., share of TFC or energy intake at DC centers).ConclusionDC days showed more characteristics of a healthy diet than did non-DC days, considerably owing to foods eaten at DC centers. The role of DC centers in Germany as important nutritional environments should be strengthened further by public health measures, e.g., obligatory quality standards for meals at DC centers, targeted support for health-minded public procurement, or increased access to meals at DC centers.
Malnutrition, sarcopenia and frailty are common in advanced liver disease and predict poorer survival, encouraging simple blood-based indices when formal assessment is impractical. The most widely used, the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI), combines serum albumin and the peripheral lymphocyte count; yet both have been reported to be strongly influenced by systemic inflammation as well as by nutrition, and the index is seldom benchmarked against a disease-specific reference or against albumin alone. We evaluated whether the PNI provides clinically useful prognostic information for short-term mortality in critically ill patients with liver disease, using three independent cohorts: a North American intensive-care primary cohort (n = 3,653), a multicentre external-validation cohort (n = 922) and a single-center Chinese cohort in which hepatitis B was the leading cause of liver disease (n = 453). In each cohort we quantified discrimination of 28-day or in-hospital mortality, compared the PNI with serum albumin alone and with the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD), and tested whether it improved discrimination or reclassification beyond MELD. The PNI discriminated death only marginally better than chance (area under the curve 0.52–0.56) and no better than albumin alone, so its lymphocyte component added no independent signal; the weak per-standard-deviation association seen in the primary cohort was not significant in either validation cohort. MELD discriminated substantially better everywhere (0.67–0.70). The conventional PNI threshold classified 89–97% of patients as abnormal and was uninformative. Across three case-mixes the PNI behaved as a weak, non-specific prognostic discriminator, adding nothing to MELD, MELD-Na or MELD 3.0; in an exploratory paired subgroup, re-measurement on days 3–7 did not improve discrimination. This is consistent with its components tracking systemic inflammation and chronic physiologic reserve—an axis largely orthogonal to the acute organ failure that drives short-term mortality. Separating the index into its components and testing incremental value provides the comparative evidence this literature has lacked. The PNI was assessed as a discriminator of short-term mortality, not as a measure of nutritional status: nutritional risk is better identified with instruments validated for that purpose, and mortality risk with MELD.
In this study, a taurine-loaded nanoemulsion was prepared using low-frequency ultrasound at 20 kHz for 20 min, and its preservative effects on fresh-cut pitaya was evaluated. The optimal preparation conditions were 400 W ultrasonic power and 1.0% taurine, which produced a nanoemulsion with a mean particle size of 112.58 nm, a polydispesity index of 0.17, a zeta potential of −35.84 mV, an encapsulation efficiency of 85.27%, and good stability for 28 days at 4 °C. Compared with control, free taurine, and blank nanoemulsion treatments, the taurine-loaded nanoemulsion (T-NE) significantly delayed quality deterioration during 8 days of storage at 4 °C. On day 8, the treated fruit showed a weight loss of 8.24%, a firmness loss of 5.18 N, maintained higher soluble solids (10.62 °Brix), a total phenolic content of 65.43 mg/100 g, and DPPH radical scavenging activity of 75.38%. The treatment also enhanced superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, inhibited polyphenol oxidase activity, lowered malondialdehyde accumulation (4.68 nmol/g), and reduced the total viable count and mold and yeast count to 4.73 log CFU/g and 3.65 log CFU/g, respectively. These findings indicate that the taurine-loaded nanoemulsion can prolong the refrigerated shelf life of fresh-cut pitaya and may have broader applications in fruit and vegetable preservation.
BackgroundMost digital nutrition tools rely on retrospective meal logging and generic reminders. AbSound adds abdominal acoustic cues intended to support meal-timing reflection and dietary self-regulation. These cues were treated as meal-relevant behavioral proxies, not physiological markers of hunger, satiety, or gastrointestinal motility. We evaluated the platform among Taiwanese university students.Materials and methodsPhase 1 was a 12-week single-arm field intervention with 200 participants completing follow-up. Outcomes included engagement, meal-logging completeness, fruit and vegetable intake, dietary self-regulation, daily steps, WHOQOL-BREF, and BMI. Phase 2 was a separate 4-week open-label randomized feasibility pilot (N = 32; 16 per group) comparing AbSound with standard tracking. Analyses emphasized within-participant trajectories, feasibility estimates, exploratory between-group changes, and agreement with composite meal-state/acoustic-event labels.ResultsIn Phase 1, fruit and vegetable intake, dietary self-regulation, daily steps, and quality of life improved over time, whereas BMI remained stable. Because Phase 1 had no control group, these findings represent temporal associations. Active-day engagement was 78%, meal-logging completeness was 48.5%, and both declined across the semester. In Phase 2, participants used AbSound for 9.35 hours/day across 25.81 of 28 days and acknowledged 78.54% of alerts. Exploratory between-group change estimates directionally favored AbSound for late-night snacking, eating speed, diet quality, and eating self-regulation, but the pilot was not powered for efficacy. The acoustic model achieved 87.2% accuracy and a macro-F1 of 82.8% across 1,207 labeled events; these metrics reflect agreement with composite event labels rather than construct validation of hunger, satiety, or gut motility.ConclusionsThe findings support the short-term feasibility of context-aware digital nutrition and abdominal acoustic feedback as behavioral self-regulation supports. Larger randomized trials should evaluate efficacy, time-lock acoustic events to validated appetite ratings, use participant-disjoint acoustic validation, and assess longer-term behavioral and clinical outcomes.
BackgroundDietary carotenoids and vitamin A may contribute to gastric cancer (GC) prevention through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms; however, epidemiological evidence remains limited. We investigated the associations of total and individual carotenoid and vitamin A intakes with GC and their relationships with inflammatory/oxidative stress biomarkers.MethodsThe case–control study included 177 adults (82 GC incidence cases/95 controls). A validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire assessed dietary intakes of individual carotenoids and preformed vitamin A. Metabolic biomarkers, lipid profile, inflammatory/oxidative stress markers [e.g., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukins (6/1β/10/4), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA)] were measured. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) for GC risk; linear regression models examined associations between carotenoid intakes and biomarkers.ResultsTotal carotenoid (mg/d; OR: 0.86, 95%CI: 0.81–0.98), β-carotene (mg/d; OR: 0.77, 95%CI: 0.65–0.90) and vitamin A (mg RAE/d; OR: 0.29, 95%CI: 0.09–0.95) intakes, as continuous variables, and also as binary variables (based on the median cut-offs), in all models (also adjusted for age, sex, smoking, education, marital status, physical activity, cancer history, H. pylori, NSAIDs intake, body mass index, total energy intake), were inversely associated with GC odds. In fully adjusted models, higher total carotenoid intake (mg/d) was associated with lower LDL-c (β: −1.60, 95%CI: −2.91, −0.25) and IL-6 (β: −7.92, 95%CI: −14.00, −2.00); lycopene (mg/d) with higher LDL-c (β: 2.030, 95%CI: 0.27, 4.31) and vitamin A intake (mg RAE/d) with lower TNF-α (β: −12.12, 95%CI: −24.71, −0.47) and higher TAC (β: 0.64, 95%CI: 0.001, 1.27).ConclusionHigher intakes of total carotenoids and vitamin A were associated with lower odds of GC and more favorable profiles of inflammatory/oxidative stress biomarkers. These findings support an inverse association between carotenoid-rich dietary patterns and gastric carcinogenesis.
BackgroundRice, wheat, and maize are China’s three main staple crops and key sources of dietary energy and essential nutrients. Decades of cultivar improvement and changes in field management have been accompanied by substantial increases in grain yield, while the nutrient composition of these crops may also have changed over. However, the long-term trends of these alterations are poorly understood. Characterizing these trends is crucial for safeguarding national food security and ensuring an adequate dietary nutrient supply for the Chinese population.ObjectiveTo systematically characterize long-term trends in the grain yield and major nutrient contents of rice, wheat, and maize in China between 1980 and 2024. Methods: Data on rice, wheat, and maize from 1980 to 2024 were collected from publicly available food composition databases and published literature databases. Linear regression models were fitted for each crop and nutrient variable to characterize temporal trends in grain yield and nutrient concentrations.ResultsFrom 1980 to 2024, grain yield overall increased in all three crops. Grain protein concentration declined significantly in rice, wheat, and maize. Fat content decreased significantly in wheat and maize, whereas no clear trend was detected for rice. Carbohydrate content decreased significantly in wheat and increased in maize; no clear trend was detected in rice. Dietary fiber content increased significantly in rice and wheat; no clear trend was detected in maize. Furthermore, grain yield was negatively associated with protein concentration across all three crops, and with fat concentration in wheat and maize, whereas yield was positively associated with dietary fiber concentration in rice and wheat.ConclusionGrain yields of rice, wheat, and maize substantially increased in China from 1980 to 2024; however, long-term trends in nutrient composition differed among the three crops. These findings highlight the need to consider nutritional quality alongside yield in crop improvement and food security strategies, and provide important empirical evidence to inform food security policy and crop breeding programs.Systematic review registrationhttps://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/G3CFH, Registration identifier: 10.17605/OSF.IO/G3CFH.
BackgroundProbiotics and prebiotics are increasingly promoted as functional food components. This growing visibility has not been matched by consistent public understanding of their definitions, dietary sources, and scientifically supported health claims. Against this background, this study assessed perceived awareness, objective knowledge, information sources, and health beliefs related to probiotics and prebiotics among adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It also examined factors associated with adequate objective knowledge.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 744 adult UAE residents between April and May 2026. Perceived awareness was measured using a 10-point scale. Objective knowledge was assessed using four items on definitions and natural dietary sources, and adequate knowledge was defined as at least three correct answers. In addition, information sources and health beliefs were assessed, and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with adequate objective knowledge.ResultsMean perceived awareness was 4.6 ± 2.8, and 18.0% of participants reported high awareness. Mean objective knowledge was 1.9 ± 1.6, with 39.9% demonstrating adequate knowledge. Correct responses were highest for the probiotic definition (55.8%) and lowest for natural prebiotic sources (37.0%). High perceived awareness and high objective knowledge overlapped in only 10.1% of participants. In the multivariable model, internet/websites (90.3%) and social media (84.9%) were the most frequently reported information sources, but neither was independently associated with adequate knowledge. By contrast, receiving information from healthcare professionals was positively associated with adequate knowledge [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.83, p = 0.009]. Health beliefs were strongest for gut health and immunity and less certain for detoxification, obesity, stress, and mental health.ConclusionPerceived awareness did not consistently correspond to objective knowledge. These findings indicate a nutrition-related knowledge gap, particularly for prebiotics and their natural dietary sources. Digital nutrition communication should be strengthened by professional guidance and clearer messages that distinguish probiotic and prebiotic concepts, dietary sources, and scientifically supported health claims.
Dasispermum suffruticosum (P. J. Bergius) B. L. Burtt is an aromatic halophyte recognized for its diverse phytochemistry and medicinal plant potential. Despite its potential value, limited scientific information is available regarding its agronomic performance and phytochemical responses. This study investigated the morphological, mineral, and phytochemical responses of D. suffruticosum to gradient dosages of StimBlue+, a seaweed-derived biostimulant, applied via foliar spray (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mL/L) and growing-medium drenching (5.0, 7.0, and 9.0 mL/L), alongside an NPK fertiliser control. Two sequential trials were conducted under semi-controlled glasshouse conditions using a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD). Morphological parameters and mineral uptake were assessed over 12 weeks, while phytochemical analyses, including (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH) were conducted for 10 weeks on the three best-performing treatments following the first trial. Growing medium drench at 7.0 mL/L (T5) produced significantly higher stem diameter (1.24 mm), plant height (7.29 cm), number of leaves (8.87), and chlorophyll content (1.30 mg/ m2) than the control (p ≤ 0.05), while foliar spray at 2.5 mL/L (T1) recorded the highest root development. StimBlue+ treatments showed descriptively higher concentrations of several minerals including leaf K, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe and Zn compared with the control. T1 also recorded the highest TPC (20.25 and 8.71 mg GAE/g DW) and ABTS (171.32 and 122.90 μmol TE/g DW), FRAP (110.86 and 63.62 μmol AAE/g DW), DPPH (68.14 and 43.77 μmol TE/g DW), in leaves and roots, respectively. These findings provide preliminary baseline phytochemical and mineral data for D. suffruticosum and indicate its potential as a candidate functional food, with low-dose foliar StimBlue+ application emerging as a promising treatment warranting further investigation, including replicated trials and targeted bioactive compound characterisation, before nutraceutical application can be confirmed.
BackgroundSarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity have been increasingly investigated in relation to hypertension, but observational findings remain inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively synthesize the associations of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity with hypertension in adults.MethodsPubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched from inception to July 20, 2026. Observational studies reporting associations of sarcopenia or sarcopenic obesity with hypertension were included. Effect estimates were pooled using random-effects restricted maximum likelihood models. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to study design, age, sarcopenia diagnostic criteria, and hypertension definition. Exploratory stratified analyses were additionally performed according to effect measure type [odds ratio (OR) versus hazard ratio (HR)]. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261393787).ResultsNine studies involving 346,748 participants were included. Sarcopenia was significantly associated with hypertension (pooled relative effect estimate: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.08–1.94; p = 0.01; I2 = 95.51%). Sarcopenic obesity was also significantly associated with hypertension (pooled relative effect estimate: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.75–3.56; p < 0.001; I2 = 86.85%). Subgroup analyses generally showed associations in the same direction, although most tests for subgroup differences were not statistically significant. Exploratory analyses stratified by effect measure type did not identify statistically significant subgroup differences for sarcopenia (p = 0.10) or sarcopenic obesity (p = 0.26), although the HR strata were based on a limited number of studies. Leave-one-out sensitivity analyses retained the direction and statistical significance of the pooled associations. Because of the limited number of studies, publication bias assessments were considered exploratory.ConclusionSarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity were both significantly associated with hypertension. However, substantial heterogeneity and the observational nature of the evidence warrant cautious interpretation and preclude causal inference. Further prospective studies using harmonized definitions and diverse populations are needed to clarify temporality, sources of heterogeneity, and potential clinical implications.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261393787, identifier CRD420261393787.
BackgroundAcute kidney injury (AKI) frequently complicates sepsis in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), yet no validated predictive tool integrates the inflammatory and nutritional disturbances specific to this dual-disease population. We aimed to develop and externally validate an interpretable machine learning (ML) model—based on composite inflammatory-nutritional indices—to predict in-hospital AKI in septic patients with MM, and to deploy it as a web-based point-of-care tool.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, 362 septic MM patients (development cohort: 253 training, 109 internal test) and 71 temporal validation patients were enrolled from Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital (2020–2025). Moreover, an independent external validation cohort from a separate tertiary hospital (n = 118, Xi’an No. 3 Hospital). Candidate predictors included 8 composite indices (e.g., NLR, SII, LAR, AAPR) alongside routine clinical and laboratory variables. Boruta and recursive feature elimination (RFE) identified a parsimonious predictor set. Six ML algorithms (logistic regression, SVM, MLP, LightGBM, XGBoost, Random Forest) were compared using AUC, calibration, and decision curve analysis. The final model was interpreted with SHAP and implemented as a public Streamlit application.ResultsAKI occurred in 206/362 (56.9%) patients. Eight predictors were selected: NLR, LAR, creatinine, SII, PTA, cystatin C, CRP, and AAPR. Random Forest demonstrated the most robust and generalizable performance, achieving a temporal validation AUC of 0.8574 (accuracy 0.7465, sensitivity 0.8205, specificity 0.6562). Moreover, Random Forest also achieved an external validation AUC of 0.9650 (accuracy 0.8983, sensitivity 0.9000, specificity 0.8971), with favorable calibration and consistent net clinical benefit. SHAP analysis identified higher NLR, LAR, SII, cystatin C, creatinine, and CRP, together with lower PTA and AAPR, as the most influential predictors in the model. The model is freely available at (https://gftcs94ast7omb44cg2izq.streamlit.app/).ConclusionAn interpretable Random Forest model employing eight routinely available indicators accurately predicts AKI in septic MM patients, bridging algorithmic complexity and bedside applicability. This tool may facilitate early risk stratification and personalized renal protection in this high-risk group.
IntroductionParkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons, for which effective disease-modifying strategies remain limited. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are central drivers of PD pathogenesis, highlighting the importance of cellular defense mechanisms targeting these processes.MethodsIn the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of strawberry leaf extract (SLE), an agricultural by-product rich in polyphenols, using both in vitro and in vivo models of PD.ResultsIn SH-SY5Y cells, SLE significantly attenuated rotenone-induced loss of cell viability and suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Mechanistically, SLE promoted nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and increased the expression of antioxidant genes, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and p62. Pharmacological inhibition experiments further indicated that activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) contributes to SLE-induced Nrf2 activation. In addition to redox regulation, SLE modulated mitochondrial quality control pathways. Time-dependent alterations in mitophagy-related markers, including PINK1, Parkin, LC3, and p62, were observed, accompanied by recovery of mitochondrial membrane potential. These findings suggest that SLE influences mitochondrial homeostasis under oxidative stress conditions. In a rotenone-induced PD mouse model, SLE administration ameliorated motor dysfunction and attenuated the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.DiscussionCollectively, these results demonstrate that SLE exerts neuroprotective effects through coordinated regulation of the AMPK -Nrf2 signaling axis and mitochondrial quality control pathways. This study provides mechanistic insight into the potential of food-derived bioactive compounds as modulators of neurodegenerative processes and highlights SLE as a promising candidate for PD prevention or intervention.
As diets shift globally toward plant-based foods, objective tools are needed to monitor intake and evaluate the resulting health outcomes. Biomarkers of dietary exposure offer complementary objective measurements for self-reported dietary assessment methods. Recent developments of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics have enabled the discovery of many emerging biomarkers for plant-based foods; yet a substantial gap remains between discovery and clinical application. This narrative review addresses the question: which plant-based food biomarkers are sufficiently validated for use in dietary exposure assessments, and which analytical and biological obstacles currently limit their application in population studies? Biomarkers reported in the literature were categorized as validated, emerging, or discovery-stage candidates. Analytical methodologies for biomarker quantification are also discussed, including high-resolution mass spectrometry platforms, and emerging techniques. Challenges identified in biomarker validation involve inter-individual metabolic variability, inadequate food specificity, and matrix effects in biological samples. Integration of foodomics databases with targeted validation studies potentially offers an efficient approach to speed up biomarker discovery. Multi-marker panels combining structurally different metabolites are promising for assessing complex plant-based dietary patterns.
IntroductionSouth Africa’s food system is struggling to deliver nutritious, affordable diets, leaving many people unable to access healthy food. Furthermore, the country lacks a comprehensive food system policy, relying instead on policies that address specific components of food security. This study investigated cost-effective, feasible, and adaptable policy options to transform South Africa’s food system towards affordable, healthy diets.MethodsA systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and other sources were searched for English-language publications from 2013 to 2023. Of the 340 records identified, 20 food systems transformation reports met the eligibility criteria, with 70% focusing on global contexts and 30% on Africa. The identified prioritised policy options were subsequently validated through an online survey of food system stakeholders.ResultsAgricultural policy options were prioritised most frequently (25%), followed by supply chain and governance interventions (20% each), regulatory measures (15%), and education and awareness interventions (10%). Financial, research, technology, and innovation policy options were least prioritised (5% each). Overall, 20 prioritised policy options were identified. The findings indicate that no single policy option is sufficient to improve the affordability of nutritious diets in South Africa. Instead, a coordinated package of complementary interventions across agriculture, governance, supply chains, regulation, finance, education, and research and innovation is required.ConclusionThese prioritised policy options provide policymakers with an evidence-informed framework for identifying and prioritising interventions that can support healthier diets and contribute to the transformation of South Africa’s food systems.
BackgroundSleep loss is common in military operations and degrades vigilance, higher cognitive function, and operational performance. Whether acute caffeine meaningfully attenuates these decrements in military settings has not been quantitatively synthesized.MethodsThis study systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Embase, and SPORTDiscus from database inception to the search cutoff date. Eligible studies were randomized controlled or crossover trials that included military personnel or military-related populations, administered caffeine under conditions of sleep deprivation, sleep restriction, or sustained wakefulness, and compared caffeine with placebo or a non-caffeinated control. The primary outcomes were categorized as vigilance and response performance, complex cognitive performance, and military task performance. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool, and meta-analyses were conducted using StataMP 17.0.ResultsSeven randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were included. The meta-analysis showed that, compared with placebo, caffeine significantly improved vigilance and response performance under conditions of sleep deprivation or sleep restriction (SMD = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.50–0.96, I2 = 0.0%), complex cognitive performance (SMD = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.16–0.93, I2 = 0.0%), and military task performance (SMD = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.19–0.71, I2 = 29.2%). Overall, the ergogenic effects of caffeine were most consistent for vigilance and response performance, showed stable beneficial effects on complex cognitive performance, and were primarily reflected in improved task-execution speed and operational efficiency for military task performance.ConclusionThe available evidence suggests that acute caffeine supplementation improves vigilance and response performance during sleep loss in military personnel, with additional benefits for complex cognitive and military task performance. Effects were most consistent for vigilance and response speed, whereas benefits for complex cognition and military task performance were more task-dependent. These findings support caffeine as a practical short-term adjunct to fatigue management during military operations involving sleep loss, although further studies are needed to refine dose, timing, and task-specific use.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261375742, identifier CRD420261375742.
