Investigation of Health Effects of Major Phenolic Compounds in Foods: Extraction Processes, Analytical Approaches and Applications.

The escalating costs of healthcare services and a growing awareness of personal health responsibilities have led individuals to explore natural methods alongside conventional medicines for health improvement and disease prevention. The aging global population is experiencing increased health needs, notably related to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Lifestyle-related diseases, poor dietary habits, and sedentary lifestyles underscore the importance of foods containing nutrients that can aid in preventing and managing these diseases. Phenolic compounds, a fundamental group of phytochemicals, are prominent in the chemical diversity of the natural world and are abundant in functional foods. Widely distributed in various plant parts, these compounds exhibit important functional and sensory properties, including color, taste, and aroma. Their diverse functionalities, particularly antioxidant activity, play a crucial role in mitigating cellular oxidative stress, potentially reducing damage associated with serious health issues such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disea23ses, and cancer. Phenolic compounds exist in different forms, some combined with glycosides, impacting their biological effects and absorption. Approximately 8000 polyphenols isolated from plants offer significant potential for natural medicines and nutritional supplements. Therefore, their extraction process and selective and sensitive food determination are very important. This review focuses on the extraction processes, analytical methods, and health effects of major phenolic compounds in foods. The examination encompasses a comprehensive analysis of analytical approaches and their applications in elucidating the presence and impact of these compounds on human health.

What Are We Eating? Surveying the Presence of Toxic Molecules in the Food Supply Chain Using Chromatographic Approaches.

Consumers in developed and Western European countries are becoming more aware of the impact of food on their health, and they demand clear, transparent, and reliable information from the food industry about the products they consume. They recognise that food safety risks are often due to the unexpected presence of contaminants throughout the food supply chain. Among these, mycotoxins produced by food-infecting fungi, endogenous toxins from certain plants and organisms, pesticides, and other drugs used excessively during farming and food production, which lead to their contamination and accumulation in foodstuffs, are the main causes of concern. In this context, the goals of this review are to provide a comprehensive overview of the presence of toxic molecules reported in foodstuffs since 2020 through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal and use chromatography to address this challenge. Overall, natural toxins, environmental pollutants, and food-processing contaminants are the most frequently reported toxic molecules, and liquid chromatography and gas chromatography are the most reliable approaches for their control. However, faster, simpler, and more powerful analytical procedures are necessary to cope with the growing pressures on the food chain supply.

Artificial Intelligence in Heart Failure and Acute Kidney Injury: Emerging Concepts and Controversial Dimensions.

BACKGROUND: The growing complexity of patient data and the intricate relationship between heart failure (HF) and acute kidney injury (AKI) underscore the potential benefits of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into healthcare. These advanced analytical tools aim to improve the understanding of the pathophysiological relationship between kidney and heart, provide optimized, individualized, and timely care, and improve outcomes of HF with AKI patients. SUMMARY: This comprehensive review article examines the transformative potential of AI and machine-learning solutions in addressing the challenges within this domain. The article explores a range of methodologies, including supervised and unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, and AI-driven tools like chatbots and large language models. We highlight how these technologies can be tailored to tackle the complex issues prevalent among HF patients with AKI. The potential applications identified span predictive modeling, personalized interventions, real-time monitoring, and collaborative treatment planning. Additionally, we emphasize the necessity of thorough validation, the importance of collaborative efforts between cardiologists and nephrologists, and the consideration of ethical aspects. These factors are critical for the effective application of AI in this area. KEY MESSAGES: As the healthcare field evolves, the synergy of advanced analytical tools and clinical expertise holds significant promise to enhance the care and outcomes of individuals who deal with the combined challenges of HF and AKI.

Are Microplastics a Macro Issue? A Review on the Sources of Contamination, Analytical Challenges and Impact on Human Health of Microplastics in Food.

In recent years, human populations' exposure to microplastics via foods is becoming a topic of concern. Although microplastics have been defined as "emerging contaminants", their occurrence in the environment and food is quite dated. This systematic review aims to investigate the discrepancies which are characterizing the research in the microplastics field in foods, with particular regard to sample preparations, microplastics' concentrations and their effect on humans. For the selection of papers, the PRISMA methodology was followed. Discrepancies in the methodological approaches emerged and in the expression of the results as well, underlying the urgency in the harmonization of the methodological approaches. Uncertainties are still present regarding the adverse effects of microplastics on the human body. The scientific evidence obtained thus far is, in fact, not sufficient to demonstrate a concrete negative effect. This review has clearly underlined the need to standardise laboratory approaches to obtain useful results for better food safety management.

Phospholipidomics in Clinical Trials for Brain Disorders: Advancing our Understanding and Therapeutic Potentials.

Phospholipidomics is a specialized branch of lipidomics that focuses on the characterization and quantification of phospholipids. By using sensitive analytical techniques, phospholipidomics enables researchers to better understand the metabolism and activities of phospholipids in brain disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In the brain, identifying specific phospholipid biomarkers can offer valuable insights into the underlying molecular features and biochemistry of these diseases through a variety of sensitive analytical techniques. Phospholipidomics has emerged as a promising tool in clinical studies, with immense potential to advance our knowledge of neurological diseases and enhance diagnosis and treatment options for patients. In the present review paper, we discussed numerous applications of phospholipidomics tools in clinical studies, with a particular focus on the neurological field. By exploring phospholipids' functions in neurological diseases and the potential of phospholipidomics in clinical research, we provided valuable insights that could aid researchers and clinicians in harnessing the full prospective of this innovative practice and improve patient outcomes by providing more potent treatments for neurological diseases.

Analytical approaches for antimalarial antibody responses to confirm historical and recent malaria transmission: an example from the Philippines.

Background: Assessing the status of malaria transmission in endemic areas becomes increasingly challenging as countries approach elimination. Serology can provide robust estimates of malaria transmission intensities, and multiplex serological assays allow for simultaneous assessment of markers of recent and historical malaria exposure. Methods: Here, we evaluated different statistical and machine learning methods for analyzing multiplex malaria-specific antibody response data to classify recent and historical exposure to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. To assess these methods, we utilized samples from a health-facility based survey (n = 9132) in the Philippines, where we quantified antibody responses against 8 P. falciparum and 6 P. vivax-specific antigens from 3 sites with varying transmission intensity. Findings: Measurements of antibody responses and seroprevalence were consistent with the 3 sites' known endemicity status. Among the models tested, a machine learning (ML) approach (Random Forest model) using 4 serological markers (PfGLURP R2, Etramp5.Ag1, GEXP18, and PfMSP119) gave better predictions for P. falciparum recent infection in Palawan (AUC: 0.9591, CI 0.9497-0.9684) than individual antigen seropositivity. Although the ML approach did not improve P. vivax infection predictions, ML classifications confirmed the absence of recent exposure to P. falciparum and P. vivax in both Occidental Mindoro and Bataan. For predicting historical P. falciparum and P. vivax transmission, seroprevalence and seroconversion rates based on cumulative exposure markers AMA1 and MSP119 showed reliable trends in the 3 sites. Interpretation: Our study emphasizes the utility of serological markers in predicting recent and historical exposure in a sub-national elimination setting, and also highlights the potential use of machine learning models using multiplex antibody responses to improve assessment of the malaria transmission status of countries aiming for elimination. This work also provides baseline antibody data for monitoring risk in malaria-endemic areas in the Philippines. Funding: Newton Fund, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, UK Medical Research Council.

Detecting and Profiling of Milk Thistle Metabolites in Food Supplements: A Safety-Oriented Approach by Advanced Analytics.

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.) is among the top-selling botanicals used as a supportive treatment for liver diseases. Silymarin, a mixture of unique flavonolignan metabolites, is the main bioactive component of milk thistle. The biological activities of silymarin have been well described in the literature, and its use is considered safe and well-tolerated in appropriate doses. However, commercial preparations do not always contain the recommended concentrations of silymarin, failing to provide the expected therapeutic effect. While the poor quality of raw material may explain the low concentrations of silymarin, its deliberate removal is suspected to be an adulteration. Toxic contaminants and foreign matters were also detected in milk thistle preparations, raising serious health concerns. Standard methods for determination of silymarin components include thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with various detectors, but nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) have also been applied. This review surveys the extraction techniques of main milk thistle metabolites and the quality, efficacy, and safety of the derived food supplements. Advanced analytical authentication approaches are discussed with a focus on DNA barcoding and metabarcoding to complement orthogonal chemical characterization and fingerprinting of herbal products.

State-of-the-Art Analytical Approaches for Illicit Drug Profiling in Forensic Investigations.

In forensic chemistry, when investigating seized illicit drugs, the profiling or chemical fingerprinting of drugs is considered fundamental. This involves the identification, quantitation and categorization of drug samples into groups, providing investigative leads such as a common or different origin of seized samples. Further goals of drug profiling include the elucidation of synthetic pathways, identification of adulterants and impurities, as well as identification of a drug's geographic origin, specifically for plant-derived exhibits. The aim of this state-of-art-review is to present the traditional and advanced analytical approaches commonly followed by forensic chemists worldwide for illicit drug profiling. We discussed numerous methodologies for the physical and chemical profiling of organic and inorganic impurities found in illicit drug. Applications of powerful spectroscopic and chromatographic tools for illicit drug profiling including isotope-Ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS), ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were discussed. Altogether, the techniques covered in this paper to profile seized illicit drugs could aid forensic chemists in selecting and applying a suitable method to extract valuable profiling data.

Multilateral Assessment of Anchorage Bond Characteristics in Steel Fibre Reinforced Concrete.

Anchorage to concrete is a recurring application in construction. For such applications, bonded anchors, formed by means of a polymer adhesive injection into a borehole, are a widely used product due to their flexibility in regards to the construction logistics and positioning of the attached element as well as high load capacities. At the same time, fibre-reinforced concrete is the material of choice for many engineering applications where anchors have to be installed. Moreover, the use of steel fibre-reinforced concrete is likely to increase, since it now falls in the scope of the second-generation Eurocode 2 (exp. 2023). Therefore, the condition of the anchor installation borehole-mainly the roughness and grip of its internal surface-is known to play a critical role in the stress transfer from the attached component, through the fastening and into the concrete, and, hence, to the load-bearing performance. At the same time, drilling through the steel fibre reinforcement, along with the accelerated wear of the drilling tools, can in turn influence the borehole's roughness and the overall installation quality. Furthermore, steel fibre may lead to an additional local stiffening of the concrete where the anchor is installed. These complex elements are discussed herein on the basis of multiple tests on anchors in plain and steel fibre concrete, as well as numerical analyses. The results indicate particular aspects of bonded anchor design and product certification for different polymer-based construction adhesives.

Comprehensive Insight from Phthalates Occurrence: From Health Outcomes to Emerging Analytical Approaches.

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in a multitude of important industrial products (e.g., medical devices, children's toys, and food packages), mainly as plasticizers to improve mechanical properties such as flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The wide occurrence of phthalates in many consumer products, including foods (e.g., bottled water, soft drinks, wine, milk, and meat) brings that most people are exposed to phthalates every day, which raises some concerns. Adverse health outcomes from phthalates exposure have been associated with endocrine disruption, deformities in the human reproductive system, increased risk of preterm birth, carcinogen exposure, among others. Apprehension related to the health risks and ubiquitous incidence of phthalates in foods inspires the development of reliable analytical approaches that allow their detection and quantification at trace levels. The purpose of the current review is to provide information related to the presence of phthalates in the food chain, highlighting the health risks associated with their exposure. Moreover, an overview of emerging extraction procedures and high-resolution analytical approaches for a comprehensive quantification of phthalates is presented.

State-of-the-Art of Analytical Techniques to Determine Food Fraud in Olive Oils.

The benefits of the food industry compared to other sectors are much lower, which is why producers are tempted to commit fraud. Although it is a bad practice committed with a wide variety of foods, it is worth noting the case of olive oil because it is a product of great value and with a high percentage of fraud. It is for all these reasons that the authenticity of olive oil has become a major problem for producers, consumers, and legislators. To avoid such fraud, it is necessary to develop analytical techniques to detect them. In this review, we performed a complete analysis about the available instrumentation used in olive fraud which comprised spectroscopic and spectrometric methodology and analyte separation techniques such as liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. Additionally, other methodology including protein-based biomolecular techniques and analytical approaches like metabolomic, hhyperspectral imaging and chemometrics are discussed.

Aroma release during wine consumption: Factors and analytical approaches.

During wine consumption, aroma compounds are released from the wine matrix and are transported to the olfactory receptor in vivo, leading to retronasal perception which can affect consumer acceptance. During this process, in addition to the influence of the wine matrix compositions, some physiological factors can significantly influence aroma release leading to altered concentrations of the aroma compounds that reach the receptors. Therefore, this review is focused on the impact of multiple factors, including the physiology and wine matrix, on the aroma released during wine tasting. Moreover, to reflect the pattern of volatiles that reach the olfactory receptors during wine consumption, some analytical approaches have been described for in vitro and in vivo conditions.

Leachables from plastic materials in contact with drugs. State of the art and review of current analytical approaches.

The plastics used in drug packaging systems and medical devices are composed of homologous polymers and generally contain additives such as antioxidants, plasticizers and others, to improve their physicochemical properties. However, these additives have potential drawbacks due to possible migration or leaching towards the drug product. Leaching can cause a change in the chemical composition of the drug which, in turn, could modify its therapeutic action and, in some cases, its organoleptic properties. Leachables may also be considered a health hazard due to their inherent toxicological properties. The analytical characterization (detection, identification, typification/qualification and quantification) of leachable substances is mandatory and this information must be included in the application dossier for the drug before it can receive regulatory approval. The main aim of this paper is to collect and contextualise the reported analytical approaches for characterising and/or controlling organic leachables from plastic materials in contact with drugs. We also describe the state of the art of leachables in conjunction with a valuable, broad-based compilation of directives and guidelines. We end by presenting an updated collection of leachables both gas and liquid chromatography studies as separation techniques over the last eight years. We decided to focus our review exclusively on organic leachables as there is already a wide body of research on inorganic impurities.

Advancements in the Analytical Quantification of Nitroxidative Stress Biomarker 3-Nitrotyrosine in Biological Matrices.

Dysfunction of the antioxidant system or mutations in the gene may result in the elevated production of certain biomarkers. 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) is one such promising biomarker of oxidative stress formed due to nitration of protein bound and free tyrosine residues. It has a significant potential to be exploited for the early diagnosis of diseases. There are a plethora of studies in which 3-NT has been utilized from the pharmacological perspective. However, there is a lack of studies in which the absolute concentration of 3-NT has been reported. Recent breakthrough technologies and modified analytical techniques have been reported to improve the selectivity and sensitivity of 3-NT detection. In this review, we have summarized the modifications to current analytical strategies and advancements in different approaches for 3-NT analysis. For the first time, pre-fabricated biosensors available for 3-NT have been reviewed in this article. A complete discussion on other advanced approaches such as capillary electrophoresis, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and electron-vibration-vibration two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy for 3-NT analysis has been made. We have summarized the widest array of conventional and modern analytical techniques reported till date including the recent advancement in the field for the quantification of 3-NT in various types of biological samples.

Analytics for Bioactivity Profiling of Complex Mixtures with a Focus on Venoms.

This chapter introduces bioactivity and bioaffinity terms in relation to mixture profiling and gives the significance of bioactivity and/or bioaffinity profiling of biologically active mixtures in general, and for bioactive mixtures in drug discovery research in particular. Further, the chapter gives an overview of the common and less common analytical approaches for bioactivity profiling of bioactive mixtures. Special focus is put on bioassay-guided fractionation as the standard technique employed (in identification and purification of bioactive molecules from a bioactive mixture), and on state-of-the-art post-column bioactivity profiling approaches, also providing examples and limitations of these analytical methods. On-column and pre-column bioactivity profiling analytics is also discussed. Examples of bioactive molecules identified and purified from different natural products are given with emphasis on molecules isolated from animal venoms. Finally, this chapter briefly discusses the importance of bioactivity profiling of metabolic mixtures in drug discovery.

Staring at protein-surfactant interactions: Fundamental approaches and comparative evaluation of their combinations - A review.

Protein-surfactant interactions have been explored for decades owing to their widespread application in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics industries and their importance to biochemical systems. However, they require further study owing to their compositional complexity and the innate limitations of current analytical approaches. In this review, we briefly introduce a series of individual approaches used for the qualitative and quantitative investigation of protein-surfactant interactions, including absorbance- or emission-based spectroscopy, scattering-based spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, calorimetry, computation and microscopy. More importantly, we then compare and evaluate various combinations of these approaches and provide comprehensive critical assessments and comments regarding their application to the advanced study of protein-surfactant interactions at the molecular level.

A Guide to Multisite Qualitative Analysis.

The aims of multisite qualitative research, originally developed within the case study tradition, are to produce findings that are reflective of context, while also holding broader applicability across settings. Such knowledge is ideal for informing health and social interventions by overcoming the limitations of research developed through methodological approaches that either "strip" context, or that hold relevance for a site-specific group or population. Yet, despite the potential benefits of multisite qualitative research, there is a paucity of analytical guidance to support researchers in achieving these yields. In this article, we present an analytical approach for conducting multisite qualitative analysis (MSQA) across various methodologies to maximize the potential of qualitative research, enhance rigor, and support the development of interventions that are tailored to the populations that they are intended to serve.

Plant Aquaporins: Genome-Wide Identification, Transcriptomics, Proteomics, and Advanced Analytical Tools.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are channel-forming integral membrane proteins that facilitate the movement of water and many other small molecules. Compared to animals, plants contain a much higher number of AQPs in their genome. Homology-based identification of AQPs in sequenced species is feasible because of the high level of conservation of protein sequences across plant species. Genome-wide characterization of AQPs has highlighted several important aspects such as distribution, genetic organization, evolution and conserved features governing solute specificity. From a functional point of view, the understanding of AQP transport system has expanded rapidly with the help of transcriptomics and proteomics data. The efficient analysis of enormous amounts of data generated through omic scale studies has been facilitated through computational advancements. Prediction of protein tertiary structures, pore architecture, cavities, phosphorylation sites, heterodimerization, and co-expression networks has become more sophisticated and accurate with increasing computational tools and pipelines. However, the effectiveness of computational approaches is based on the understanding of physiological and biochemical properties, transport kinetics, solute specificity, molecular interactions, sequence variations, phylogeny and evolution of aquaporins. For this purpose, tools like Xenopus oocyte assays, yeast expression systems, artificial proteoliposomes, and lipid membranes have been efficiently exploited to study the many facets that influence solute transport by AQPs. In the present review, we discuss genome-wide identification of AQPs in plants in relation with recent advancements in analytical tools, and their availability and technological challenges as they apply to AQPs. An exhaustive review of omics resources available for AQP research is also provided in order to optimize their efficient utilization. Finally, a detailed catalog of computational tools and analytical pipelines is offered as a resource for AQP research.