Characterization of Khorasan wheat (Kamut) and impact of a replacement diet on cardiovascular risk factors: cross-over dietary intervention study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Khorasan wheat (Kamut) is an ancient grain with widely acclaimed beneficial effects on human health. The objective was to characterise Kamut and to examine the effect of a replacement diet with their products on cardiovascular risk parameters. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a randomized, single-blinded cross-over trial with two intervention phases on 22 healthy subjects (14 females; 8 males). The participants were assigned to consume products (bread, pasta and crackers) made either from Kamut or control semi-whole-grain wheat for 8 weeks in a random order. An 8-week washout period was implemented between the interventions. Laboratory analyses were performed both at the beginning and at the end of each intervention phase. RESULTS: At a general linear model for repeated measurements adjusted for several confounders, consumption of Kamut products showed a significant reduction of metabolic risk factors such as total cholesterol (mean reduction: -8.46 mg/dl; -4%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-9.82 mg/dl; -7.8%) and blood glucose. Similarly, redox status was significantly improved only after the Kamut intervention phase, as measured by a reduction in both thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (-0.17 nmol/ml; -21.5%;) and carbonyl levels (-0.16 nmol/ml; -17.6%). The replacement diet with Kamut products also resulted in a significant increase of serum potassium and magnesium. Circulating levels of key pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-12, tumour necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor) were significantly reduced after the consumption of Kamut products. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that a replacement diet with Kamut products could be effective in reducing metabolic risk factors, markers of both oxidative stress and inflammatory status.

Bt-toxin uptake by the non-target herbivore, Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), feeding on transgenic oilseed rape in laboratory conditions.

The potential non-target effects of genetically modified crops are some of the more debated topics within applied biotechnologies in agriculture and environmental risk assessment. The objective of the present research was to study the potential Bt-toxin uptake by the non-target herbivore Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae) feeding on transgenic oilseed rape plants (Brassica napus cv. 'Westar' lines GT 2-4) expressing the Cry1Ac endotoxin. A specific aim was to replicate our previous experiment in controlled laboratory conditions to avoid or minimize the risk of contamination leading to potential false positive results. The toxin levels in vernalized (V) and not-vernalized (not-V) transgenic oilseed rape plants was also monitored to better clarify the role of physiological processes on Bt-toxin expression. Cry1Ac expression in not-V plants (mean concentration±SE=167.8±5.7 µg kg-1 FW) showed a pattern of large variability, in comparison with V plants whose expression (mean concentration±SE=227.7±1.9 µg kg-1 FW) was significantly more stable. Cry1Ac toxin was detected in three aphid samples reared on V plants with a mean toxin concentration±SE of 4.8±0.6 µg Kg-1 FW and in three out of six samples of aphids reared on not-V plants (mean toxin concentration±SE=7.1±1.2 µg kg-1 FW). The mean Bt-toxin concentration of all the positive aphid samples was 5.9±1.0 µg kg-1 FW. Our results confirmed the findings of our previous experiment and highlighted the potential for Cry1Ac toxin uptake by aphids feeding on transgenic oilseed rape plants.

Urinary excretion of kaempferol from common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in humans.

The aim of this study was to assess kaempferol bioavailability in healthy humans, after bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) consumption through the monitoring of the excretion in relation to intake. In seven healthy subjects receiving kaempferol from cooked bean, maximum excretion of hydrolysed flavonol was obtained after 2-8 h. Intersexual variations in urinary excretion were found to be 6.10+/-5.50% and 5.40+/-5.40% of the kaempferol dose for male and female subjects, respectively. Although a 6.72-fold inter-individual variation between the highest and lowest excretion concentrations was found, all individuals exhibited similar excretion profiles. Moreover, a direct correlation between the percentage of kaempferol excreted and the body mass index of volunteers was observed with a correlation index equal to 0.80. All except two individuals exhibited a first peak of kaempferol excretion 2 h after ingestion. The study reveals information about inter-individual excretion capacity after kaempferol intake and that kaempferol can be used as a biomarker for flavonol consumption.

Evaluation of Bt-toxin uptake by the non-target herbivore, Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), feeding on transgenic oilseed rape.

As consequence of the concern about the biosafety of genetically modified plants, biological and ecological studies are considered crucial for environmental risk assessment. Laboratory experiments were carried out in order to evaluate the transfer of the Cry1Ac Bt-toxin from a transgenic Bt-oilseed rape to a non-target pest, Myzus persicae Sulzer. Cry1Ac protein levels in plants and aphids were determined using a double sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Phloem sap from (Bt+) and (Bt-) oilseed rape plants was collected from leaves using a standard method of extraction in an EDTA buffer. Bt-toxin was present in phloem sap, with a mean concentration of 2.7 +/- 1.46 ppb, corresponding to a 24-fold lower level than in oilseed rape leaves. Toxin was also detected in aphid samples, with a mean concentration in the positive samples of 2.0 +/- 0.8 ppb. The evidence that Bt-toxin remains in herbivores, in this case an aphid, could be useful to clarify functional aspects linked to possible consequences of Bt-crops on food chains involving herbivore-natural enemy trophic systems. Further studies are needed in order to improve the knowledge on the functional aspects linked to the transfer of the Cry1Ac Bt-toxin from GM-oilseed rape to aphids and their possible consequence.

Possible anatomical base of snoring.

Variations of the medial and inferior choanal limits may facilitate snoring. These are: 1) short vomer without crista choanalis vomeris and adaptational formations, 2) extremely concave posterior margin of the hard palate leading to disproportion between the muscular and aponeurotic part of m. tensor veli palatini and hence to a flabby soft palate especially during sleep, and 3) neonatal relation of the height and width of the choane resulting in a very large choanal region instead of relative reduction of choanal width compared to its increasing height. All these variations result in a flabby soft palate especially during sleep and may lead to formation of whirles of inspired air and snoring.