Search results for " NUTRITION"

Preliminary evidence of the horizontal transmission of Wolbachia between Crioceris leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and their Asparagus host …

2017

Intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia (alpha-Proteobacteria) are the most widespread endosymbionts of insects. Host infection is usually associated with alterations in reproduction, such as cytoplasmic incompatibility, the induction of parthenogenesis and offspring sex ratio bias: all phenomena that may influence host speciation. In the present study, by using well-established molecular tools, we investigated the presence of Wolbachia in leaf beetles of the genus Crioceris and their host plants, which are various species of Asparagus. Multilocus sequence typing of bacterial genes showed that despite their occurrence in the same habitat and feeding on the same plant, two species of C…

Pasta experience: Eating with the five senses - a pilot study

2018

Dried pasta is the Italian food “par excellence”. Traditional foods have characteristics that can stimulate or evoke in the consumer sensorial stimuli and experiences, especially when these foods are consumed in a typical-traditional restaurant. Traditional restaurants can use sensory marketing as a promotional advantage, creating a unique and original atmosphere that can represent their main way of differentiation. The aims of this paper are to know consumer liking with regard to two high quality types of Sicilian pasta, common dried pasta, and whole-wheat pasta, consumed in three different venues of a typical-traditional Italian franchised restaurant, and to measure the influence of envir…

2020

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Individuals suffering from overweight or obesity frequently experience weight-based stigmatization. The widespread belief that weight is a matter of personal will and self-control results in various weight-based stereotypes (e.g., laziness, lack of self-discipline, or neglect). <b><i>Objective:</i></b> Based on the modified version of the Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M), a short form for the economic assessment of weight bias internalization in the general population was compiled and validated. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A three-item short form (WBIS-3) was derived based on data from a…

Biological activity and toxicity of plant nutraceuticals: an overview

2021

Plant nutraceuticals have currently been receiving international attention due to their potentially health-promoting effects when consumed as part of a varied diet, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative properties. These beneficial effects have been attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds naturally occurring in food or produced de novo through metabolic pathways. However, taken into account that nutraceuticals could be concentrated forms of the food or plants, it is probable to find undesirable substances utilized in crop protection, such as pesticides, and other contaminants (e.g. mycotoxins), which could be concentrated during the extraction process. H…

Seasonal Changes in the Endosymbiotic Consortia of Aphids from the Genus <i>Cinara</i>

2016

Buchnera aphidicola is the primary endosymbiont of aphids with which it maintains an obligate mutualistic symbiotic relationship. Insects also maintain facultative symbiotic relationships with secondary symbionts, and Serratia symbiotica is the most common in aphids. The presence of both symbionts in aphids of the subfamily Lachninae has been widely studied by our group. We examined two closely related aphids, Cinara tujafilina and C. cedri in the present study. Even though both B. aphidicola strains have similar genome sizes and gene contents, the genomes of the two S. symbiotica strains were markedly different. The SCc strain has the smallest genome known for this species, while SCt posse…

Regulatory identification of BPA as an endocrine disruptor : Context and methodology

2018

International audience; BPA is one of the most investigated substances for its endocrine disruptor (ED) properties and it is at the same time in the center of many ED-related controversies, the analysis on how BPA fits to the regulatory identification as an ED is a challenge in terms of methodology. It is also a great opportunity to test the regulatory framework with a uniquely data-rich substance and learn valuable lessons for future cases. From this extensive database, it was considered important to engage in a detailed analysis so as to provide specific and strong evidences of ED while reflecting accurately the complexity of the response as well the multiplicity of adverse effects. An ap…

Immune-Endocrine Interactions in the Fish Gonad during Infection: An Open Door to Vertical Transmission

2018

The interaction between the immune and endocrine systems has long been recognized in vertebrates. In fish, it is known that the prevalence and intensity of such infections are higher in males than in females and probably related to sex steroid hormone levels. In addition, the immune response in the fish gonad tissues is specifically regulated to prevent infertility. This condition is used by some pathogens to colonize the fish gonad, evade the systemic immune response, and so spread to the progeny. This review brings up to date our knowledge concerning fish gonad immunity and its regulation, immune-endocrine interactions, and how some pathogens use this tissue to spread to the progeny throu…

Prevalence of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase Producing Bacteria in Two Surgical Wards of a General Hospital

2019

Abstract Colonisation of gastrointestinal tract by extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-producing Gram-negative bacteria is a source for infections. The present work is a prospective study in Latvia aimed to determine the role of two surgical profile wards in transmission of ESBL-producing bacteria. Differences between hospital wards were not analysed due to low number of patients. We have also determined a correlation between the duration of hospitalisation and risk of ESBL colonisation. Tests for ESBL-producing bacteria were made twice for 136 patients — upon admission and upon discharge from the hospital. Of them, 21 (15.4%) patients already were ESBL-positive at the time of admission…

The impact of galactooligosaccharides on the bioaccessibility of sterols in a plant sterol-enriched beverage: adaptation of the harmonized INFOGEST d…

2018

The effect of the addition of galactooligosaccharides (GOS) on sterol bioaccessibility in three plant sterol (PS)-enriched milk-based fruit beverages (without GOS addition (MfB) and with 2.5 g (MfB-G2) and 5.0 g (MfB-G5) GOS per 250 mL) was evaluated after micellar gastrointestinal digestion. Cholesterol bioaccessibility was very similar among beverages, though a slight significant increase (from 80% to 85%) was observed by the addition of 5.0 g GOS. The addition of GOS did not affect total PS bioaccessibility (≈37%). Based on the results obtained after micellar digestion, it has been demonstrated that these beverages could be a suitable food matrix for simultaneous enrichment with PS and G…

Berries extracts as natural antioxidants in meat products: A review.

2018

The aim was to evaluate antioxidants from berries as replacement food additives for inhibition of lipid and protein oxidation in meat and meat products, since meats are highly susceptible to oxidation. Oxidation can be delayed/retarded by synthetic antioxidants with phenolic structures (e.g. butylated hydroxytoluene). However, new natural alternatives are needed for synthetic antioxidants due to the controversy regarding their possible negative health effects and consumers' demand for more ‘natural’ food additives. Berries are a good source of phenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins, which can be used as the potential alternative. Reviewed berries included bearberry (Arctostaphylos sp.)…