ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Nutrition therapy for stone prevention is indicated if risks are diet-related. Dietary recommendations (DRs) include higher fluid intake, lower salt intake, lower dietary acid load, and normal calcium (neither excessive nor insufficient). Adherence is challenging to assess and optimally includes multiple measures including patient-reported outcomes. We assessed adherence to individualized targeted DRs issued in our multidisciplinary stone prevention clinic. METHOD(S): From 1/2020-1/2021 we invited patients to complete a questionnaire 1 month after their appointment. They were to estimate the number of days within the last week they followed specific DRs prescribed them and number of days they followed all DRs. Questionnaires were sent by mail with postage-paid return envelopes. This was a quality improvement project;patients were offered to respond anonymously. RESULT(S): Respondents (n=132) represented 29% of patients who were sent questionnaires and were 50% female (61+/-13 y). Of those providing clinical details, 77% were recurrent stone formers;46% were on stone medication(s). There were no adherence differences for men vs. women, recurrent vs. one-time stone formers, nor for those on stone-related medications vs. not. Overall, adherence to eating more F/ V was lower (4.7 vs. 5.5 d/week for all other DRs, p<0.004). We separated responses by receipt: summer/fall (April to mid-November) and winter/spring (mid-November to April), and by pre- vs. post- COVID (before/after March 2020). F/V intake was significantly lower during winter/spring than summer/fall (4.4 vs. 5.5 d/week, p=0.009). Related to the COVID pandemic, patients reported lower adherence to all DRs after the pandemic start (5.0 vs. 5.9 d/week, P=0.009 for difference from before). CONCLUSION(S): Overall, adherence to eating more F/V was significantly lower than for other DRs and was lower yet during winter/ spring. The COVID pandemic did not affect F/V intake specifically but did reduce adherence to all DRs. F/V are important in stone prevention because they provide HCO3 precursors that increase urine citrate and pH. F/V also provide other stone inhibitors, including phytate (which in urine inhibits calcium stone formation) and prebiotics, some of which enhance oxalate-degrading gut bacteria. Moreover, F/V intake can account for up to 30% of urine output and thus may help meet fluid recommendations. Barriers to F/V intake, which may include seasonal variations in cost and availability, should be addressed .
ABSTRACT
Micronutrient deficiencies caused by malnutrition and hidden hunger are a growing concern worldwide, exacerbated by climate change, COVID-19, and conflicts. A potentially sustainable way to mitigate such challenges is the production of nutrient-dense crops through agronomic biofortification techniques. Among several potential target crops, microgreens are considered suitable for mineral biofortification because of their short growth cycle, high content of nutrients, and low level of anti-nutritional factors. A study was conducted to evaluate the potential of zinc (Zn) biofortification of pea and sunflower microgreens via seed nutri-priming, examining the effect of different Zn sources (Zn sulfate, Zn-EDTA, and Zn oxide nanoparticles) and concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 ppm) on microgreen yield components; mineral content; phytochemical constituents such as total chlorophyll, carotenoids, flavonoids, anthocyanin, and total phenolic compounds; antioxidant activity; and antinutrient factors like phytic acid. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized factorial block design with three replications. Seed soaked in a 200 ppm ZnSO4 solution resulted in higher Zn accumulation in both peas (126.1%) and sunflower microgreens (229.8%). However, an antagonistic effect on the accumulation of other micronutrients (Fe, Mn, and Cu) was seen only in pea microgreens. Even at high concentrations, seed soaking in Zn-EDTA did not effectively accumulate Zn in both microgreens' species. ZnO increased the chlorophyll, total phenols, and antioxidant activities compared to Zn-EDTA. Seed soaking in ZnSO4 and ZnO solutions at higher concentrations resulted in a lower phytic acid/Zn molar ratio, suggesting the higher bioaccessibility of the biofortified Zn in both pea and sunflower microgreens. These results suggest that seed nutrient priming is feasible for enriching pea and sunflower microgreens with Zn. The most effective Zn source was ZnSO4, followed by ZnO. The optimal concentration of Zn fertilizer solution should be selected based on fertilizer source, target species, and desired Zn-enrichment level.
ABSTRACT
In this work, we report an impedimetric system for the detection of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike protein. The sensing platform is based on recombinant Spike protein (SCoV2-rS) immobilized on the phytic acid doped polyaniline films (PANI-PA). The affinity interaction between immobilized SCoV2-rS protein and antibodies in the physiological range of concentrations was registered by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Analytical parameters of the sensing platform were tuned by the variation of electropolymerization times during the synthesis of PANI-PA films. The lowest limit of detection and quantification were obtained for electropolymerization time of 20 min and equalled 8.00 ± 0.20 nM and 23.93 ± 0.60 nM with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 3 nM. The presented sensing system is label-free and suitable for the direct detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in real patient serum samples after coronavirus disease 2019 and/or vaccination.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques , COVID-19 , Humans , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 , Biosensing Techniques/methods , Immunoassay/methods , Antibodies , Electrochemical Techniques , ElectrodesABSTRACT
Introduction & Objective: Nutrition therapy for stone prevention is indicated if risks are nutrition-related. Common dietary recommendations (DRs) include higher fluid intake, lower salt intake, lower dietary acid load (e.g., more fruits/vegetables, F/V), and normal calcium intake (neither excessive nor insufficient). Adherence is challenging to assess and optimally includes multiple measures including patient-reported outcomes. We assessed adherence to individualized, targeted DRs issued in our multidisciplinary stone prevention clinic. Methods: From 1/2020-1/2021 we invited patients to complete a questionnaire approximately 1 month after their appointment. We asked patients to estimate the number of days within the last week they followed the most common DRs and, in a separate question, days they followed all DRs. Questionnaires were sent by mail with postage-paid envelopes for return. This was a quality improvement project;patients were thus offered to respond anonymously. Results: Respondents (n = 132) represented 29% of patients who were sent questionnaires and were 50% female (61 ± 13 y). Of those providing clinical details, 77% were recurrent stone formers and 46% were on stone medication(s). There were no differences in adherence for men vs. women, recurrent vs. one-time stone formers, nor for those on stone-related medications vs. not. Overall, adherence to eating more F/V was lower (4.7 vs. nearly 5.5 d/week for all other DRs, P < 0.004). We separated responses by their receipt: summer/fall (April to mid-November) and winter/ spring (mid-November to April), and by pre- vs. post-COVID (before/after March 2020). F/V intake was significantly lower during winter/spring than summer/fall (4.4 vs. 5.5 d/week, P = 0.009). For the pre-post COVID pandemic comparison, patients reported lower adherence to all DRs after the start of the pandemic (5.0 vs. 5.9 d/week, P = 0.009 for difference from before). Conclusions: Overall, adherence to eating more F/V was significantly lower than for other DRs and was lower yet during winter/spring. The COVID pandemic did not affect F/V intake specifically but did reduce adherence to all DRs. F/V are important in stone prevention because they provide bicarbonate precursors that increase urine citrate and pH. F/V also provide other stone inhibitors, including phytate, which in urine inhibits calcium stone formation, and prebiotics, some of which selectively enhance oxalate-degrading gut bacteria. Moreover, F/V intake can account for up to 30% of urine output and thus may help to meet fluid recommendations. Barriers to F/V intake, which may include seasonal variations in cost and availability, should be addressed.
ABSTRACT
The illegal trade of wildlife in SE Asia has been identified as the likely cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. We reviewed 198 papers on the current COVID pandemic in Cambodia, diseases such as avian influenza and Nipah virus, most likely to develop into a new pandemic in Cambodia, and common features of disease that require mitigation. Artisanal goldmining uses pure mercury in the areas where wildlife is smuggled to China. Moreover, 30-40% of Cambodians are zinc deficient. High levels of arsenic in irrigation water (>1000 µg/L) are associated with very low levels of zinc in rice (5 µg/g) and rice is the primary staple food for the region. Brown rice from nine of 15 paddy fields in the arsenic zone of Cambodia had double the new guidelines of 100 µg/kg inorganic arsenic for children's food in the EU and USA. The combination of deficiencies of essential micronutrients like zinc and pervasive presence of arsenic and mercury has the potential to compromise the immunity of many Cambodians. Innovative solutions are suggested to improve micronutrient nutrition. Toxins that suppress the immune system must be better managed to reduce the virulence of pathogens. Cambodia was not likely the source of the COVID-19 but does have problems that could result in a new pandemic.