Protein Quality in Perspective: A Review of Protein Quality Metrics and Their Applications

For design of healthy and sustainable diets and food systems, it is important to consider not only the quantity but also the quality of nutrients. This is particularly important for proteins, given the large variability in amino acid composition and digestibility between dietary proteins. This article reviews measurements and metrics in relation to protein quality, but also their application. Protein quality methods based on concentrations and digestibility of individual amino acids are preferred, because they do not only allow ranking of proteins, but also assessment of complementarity of protein sources, although this should be considered only at a meal level and not a diet level. Measurements based on ileal digestibility are preferred over those on faecal digestibility to overcome the risk of overestimation of protein quality. Integration of protein quality on a dietary level should also be done based on measurements on an individual amino acid basis. Effects of processing, which is applied to all foods, should be considered as it can also affect protein quality through effects on digestibility and amino acid modification. Overall, protein quality data are crucial for integration into healthy and sustainable diets, but care is needed in data selection, interpretation and integration.     

Efficient nickel or copper oxides decorated graphene–polyaniline interface for application in selective methanol sensing

Graphene sheets decorated with nickel or copper oxides that were anchored on polyaniline (denoted as PANI-graphene/NiO and PANI-graphene/CuO) were prepared by a simple, easy to-control electrochemical method and applied as novel materials for sensitive and selective methanol sensing. The fabricated sensors exhibited good electrocatalytic activity, appropriate dynamic linear range (20–1300 mM), sensitivity (0.2–1.5 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻²) and excellent selectivity towards methanol. It should be highlighted from the selectivity tests that no significant interference was observed from ethanol and other alcohols. To our best knowledge, using inexpensive but efficient transition metals like Ni, Cu instead of Pt, Pd and their composites with PANI, graphene would be scientifically novel and practically feasible approach for sensor fabrication that could be potentially used to identify methanol adulteration in counterfeit alcoholic beverages.

PANI/graphene/NiO or PANI/graphene/CuO were prepared by a simple, easy to-control electrochemical method and applied as novel materials for sensitive and selective methanol sensing.     

Proliferative responses in the placenta after endotoxin exposure in preterm fetal sheep

OBJECTIVES: Antenatal infections are associated with an increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Systemic application of endotoxins to the fetus results in an increase in placental vascular resistance and chronic reduction in umbilical blood flow. We studied morphological alterations of the placenta in response to fetal inflammation in the preterm sheep. STUDY DESIGN: Therefore, 14 fetal sheep were chronically instrumented at a mean gestational age of 107+/-1 days (term is 147 days). Four days after surgery fetuses received 100 ng lipopolysaccharide (LPS; n=8) or saline (control; n=6) intravenously. Fetal heart rate and arterial blood pressure were monitored continuously while blood gases and acid-base balance were measured at time points 0, +1, +3, +6, +12, +24, +48 and +72 h. Three days after LPS application placental cotyledons were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and morphometry. Different primary antibodies like AE 1 and AE 3 against cytokeratins were used. Secondary antibodies were visualized with 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AEC) or using the Vectastain kit (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA). Double staining was carried out first by utilizing Vectastain kit (black), followed by AEC staining (red). Counterstaining was performed with haematoxylin. RESULTS: Fetal tachycardia and hypertension were induced transiently during the first 12h after LPS application. Fetuses suffered from mild hypoxaemia while acidemia was absent. Morphometry revealed a non-significant shift in the relation of maternal and fetal placental compartments towards the maternal parts in response to LPS treatment. Endotoxin induced an increased proliferation in both compartments of the placenta with a 3.2-fold increase on the maternal and a 1.8-fold increase on the fetal side. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic endotoxin exposure of the preterm fetal sheep leads to a change in the gross organization of the placenta and changes in the proliferation patterns in both placental compartments. These rearrangements inside the placenta may disturb its organ function and subsequently lead to fetal morbidity associated with the fetal inflammatory response syndrome and chronic placental dysfunction, respectively.     

Cylindrotaenium cholerae asiaticae,ein neuer,in den Cholera-Ausleerungen gefundener Pilz

Ohne ZusammenfassungHierzu Taf. VII–VIII.     

Results of the national pilot screening program for venous disease by the American Venous Forum

OBJECTIVE: This report describes the pilot of a free comprehensive national screening program for venous disease. METHODS: The screening process consisted of a venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment, abbreviated duplex examination for venous obstruction and reflux, inspection for signs of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), and an exit interview. Physicians coordinating the screenings were members of the American Venous Forum. RESULTS: Seventeen institutions screened 476 people (mean, 28 per site; range, 6 to 71). Mean age was 60 years (range, 40 to 91 years), with 78% women and 68% with a body mass index of > or =25. If placed in a situation conducive for VTE, 22 participants (5%) were low risk, 87 (18%) were moderate risk, 186 (39%) were high risk, and 179 (38%) were at very high risk. In 26 people (6%), one or more segments had venous obstruction, and 190 (40%) had one or more segments of venous reflux in the lower extremities. Varicose veins were present in 32%, edema without skin changes in 11%, skin changes attributable to venous disease in 8%, and healed or active venous stasis ulcer in 1.3% (CEAP classification 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively). Increasing age and increasing deep venous thrombosis risk score significantly correlated with increasing clinical classification, r = 0.09, P = .04, and r = 0.16, P = .0004, respectively. Those participants with reflux in one or more segments were significantly more likely to have a higher clinical classification compared with those with no reflux (P = .0001). CONCLUSION: The first comprehensive national screening for venous disease was performed. Participants were informed of their risk for VTE if placed in a situation conducive to VTE, screened for evidence of obstruction, reflux, and CVI, and empowered to share their results with their primary care provider.