Examining the consumer view of refreshing perception, relevant fruits, vegetables, soft drinks, and beers, and consumer age and gender segmentations.

Consumer perspective of refreshing perception is underexplored, despite it being an emotional attribute to describe foods, beverages, hygiene products, and household items. An online survey (N = 1518) was designed to collect consumer insight into the importance of refreshing, the definition and factors related to it, and the identification of refreshing fruits, vegetables, and drinks. Nearly all participants (99.8%) cited that they have had the need to consume a food or beverage to feel refreshed, and 76.3% cited that they need this at least once per day. The factors most associated with refreshing were thirst-quenching (84.1%), temperature (86.2%), and cooling taste (86.0%). Water (86.6%), watermelons (80.8%), and cucumbers (83.5%) were the beverages/foods most frequently specified as refreshing. A second survey (N = 1050) examined refreshing perception specifically related to beer consumption and associated flavor. Beer was rated highly refreshing by 75.5% of participants, affirming its refreshing reputation. Refreshing perceived from beer was most associated with cool temperature (95.4%), flavor of the beer (88.6%), lightened mood (87.1%), and thirst-quenching (49.0%). Beers with crisp/clean flavors (87.3%) and citrus flavors (35.7%-51.7%) were most frequently specified as refreshing. There were no gender differences in the definition of refreshing and associated thirst-quenching and cold, although age differences in defining beer refreshing were significant (p ≤ .05). There were significant gender and age differences in types of refreshing vegetables, soft drinks, beer flavors, and varieties. The study provided consumer insight into refreshing perception and the gained knowledge could be used in new product design.

Investigating sensory properties of seven watermelon varieties and factors impacting refreshing perception using quantitative descriptive analysis.

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is known for its refreshing quality, though its sensory attributes have never been related to its perceived refreshment. Modified quantitative descriptive analysis by a trained panel was used to examine the sensory profile of seven watermelon varieties. Eleven attributes including perceived refreshing intensity were measured on a 0-10 line scale using chemical references. Watermelon samples were evaluated with and without nose clips to control orthonasal and retronasal aroma and temperature was included as a variable to observe their effects on perceived refreshment. The dominant watermelon attributes were wateriness, refreshing, crispness, sweet, mealiness, fresh, ripe, and melon. The varieties were best differentiated by refreshing (p < 0.001), crispness (p = 0.002), sweet (p < 0.001), mealiness (p = 0.016), green (p = 0.007), and sour perception (p < 0.001). Captivation and Excursion were the most refreshing varieties. Captivation, Excursion, and Seedless varieties were less refreshing when flavor perception was inhibited; ratings ranged from 6.8 to 7.2 without nose clips and 5.9-6.0 with nose clips (p = 0.002). Refreshing was most positively driven by wateriness, followed by crispness, fresh, melon, and sweet, and negatively driven by mealiness, as indicated by partial least square regression. Samples served cold were more refreshing (ratings of 7.1 without and 6.0 with nose clips) than those served at room temperature (ratings of 4.9 without and 3.5 with nose clips), p < 0.001. This study defined the sensory profile of seven watermelon varieties and showed that flavor, texture, and temperature were responsible for the refreshing perception of watermelon for the first time.

Acute Rejection in Kidney Transplantation and Early Beginning of Tacrolimus.

BACKGROUND: Although tacrolimus is an effective immunosuppressive drug used for preventing biopsy proven acute rejection (BPAR) in kidney transplanted patients, its nephrotoxicity may compromise renal function and lead to delayed initiation because of its side effects. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of early initiation of tacrolimus in the occurrence of BPAR during the first 90 days post transplant. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 315 patients who underwent kidney transplantation from 2015 to 2017. Comparisons were performed between 2 groups according to whether the start time of tacrolimus therapy was delayed or not delayed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between variables and the occurrence of BPAR. RESULTS: The incidence of BPAR was 14.9% (n = 47) and it was significantly higher in the delayed group (19.4% vs 6.4%; P = .002). Delayed initiation tacrolimus group was significantly associated with the risk of BPAR (hazard ratio: 2.95; P < .036). The overall mortality rate was 2.5% (n = 8) and there was no association between delayed initiation therapy and death (P = .56). CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed that delayed initiation of tacrolimus in patients with delayed graft function is associated with a high risk of BPAR.

Alcohol consumption, new onset of diabetes after transplantation, and all-cause mortality in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Renal transplant recipients (RTR) are often advised to refrain from alcohol because of possible interaction with their immunosuppressive medication. Although moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced risk of diabetes and mortality in the general population, this is unknown for RTR. Therefore, we investigated the association of alcohol consumption with new onset of diabetes after transplantation (NODAT), mortality, and graft failure in RTR. METHOD: RTR were investigated between 2001 and 2003. Alcohol consumption was assessed by self-report. Mortality and graft failure was recorded until May 2009. RESULTS: Six hundred RTR were studied (age 51 ± 12 years, 55% men). Of these RTR, 48% were abstainers, 38% had light alcohol intake, 13% had moderate intake, and 1% were heavy consumers. Moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk of developing NODAT over the follow-up period than was abstention (OR = 0.36 [0.2-0.6], P = <0.001). During follow-up for 7.0 years [6.2-7.5 years], 133 recipients died. In Cox regression analyses, moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower mortality period than was abstention (hazard ratio = 0.40 [0.2-0.8], P = 0.009). Adjustment for confounders, including age and smoking, did not materially change this association. No association was found between alcohol consumption and graft failure. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with low prevalence of NODAT and reduced risk for mortality in RTR, in line with findings in the general population. These findings refute the common advice to refrain from alcohol in RTR.