Background: Gold nanoparticles have been studied extensively for their potential application in the detection of important analytes. Their relative ease of synthesis through numerous procedures makes possible their implementation in a variety of assays. Cysteine (cys), a thiol-containing amino acid implicated in numerous pathologies such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), has been routinely detected through expensive fluorometric assay kits. Objectives: As such, this study aimed to develop a carbohydrate-based gold nanoparticle colorimetric assay for the convenient and straightforward detection of cys. Methodology: Carbohydrate-based gold nanoparticles (c-AuNPs) were synthesized following a microwaveassisted procedure. The as-prepared c-AuNPs were used to detect cys by plotting the ratio of the absorbances of the aggregated and dispersed gold nanoparticles against the concentration of cys. Results: The c-AuNP solutions were able to detect cys in the micromolar range, with the glucose-based AuNPs (glc-AuNPs) showing the widest linear range (16.7 μm to 167 μm), and the fructose-based gold nanoparticles (frc-AuNPs) exhibiting the lowest detection limit (9.0 μm) for cys. Aside from being able to detect cys, the c-AuNPs were also responsive to tyr and lys. Conclusion This study demonstrates that carbohydrate-based gold nanoparticles prepared following a microwave-assisted procedure using sugars as reducing agents and capping agents can be used successfully in the detection of cysteine.
Cysteine ; Carbohydrates ; Starch

No abstract available.
Carbohydrates* ; Classification* ; Female ; Humans* ; Ovary*

PURPOSE: This study examined the status and needs of school-based nutritional education programs for reducing sugars intake in elementary schools. METHODS: A total of 230 elementary nutrition teachers participated in this study through an online survey in July 2017. RESULTS: Approximately one-third of the schools conducted nutrition education on reducing sugars intake as a main topic. The most frequent educated grade and education period were 4th and 3rd grade, and once a year. Most of the nutrition teachers answered that nutrition education related to reducing sugars intake for children was necessary. The nutrition teachers answered that first graders were the recipients in most need of nutrition education for reducing sugars but, realistically, third graders were the most suitable for nutrition education. The appropriate education topics were limited to the lower grades, such as sugars consumption related health problems, foods containing high sugars, and behaviors to reduce sugars intake; however, a wider variety of topics were selected for the upper grades. The experiment was considered to be an effective educational method for both the lower and upper grades. The most appropriate nutrition education media appeared to be a mock-up in the lower grades, and an experiment kit in the upper grades. Games and videos were highly considered to be effective media to educate students in reducing sugars consumption by voluntary participation in free time in the classroom in both the lower and upper grades. CONCLUSION: Nutrition education programs focusing on sugars intake reduction were conducted in some elementary schools, but the training time was short and the types of activities were limited. The perception and demand for nutrition education was very high. Therefore, the development and dissemination of elementary school-based nutritional education programs for sugars intake reduction is urgently needed. Moreover, to develop an effective nutrition education program, the education environment and demand in the field should be fully considered.
Carbohydrates* ; Child ; Education* ; Humans ; Methods

This study investigated the biochemical changes of abnormal fruiting bodies grown under artificial environmental conditions in P. ostreatus. Abnormal mushroom growth during cultivation damages the production of good quality mushroom. This study showed that different environmental conditions produced morphological changes in the fruiting bodies of P. ostreatus. The fruiting bodies with morphological changes were collected and examined for differences in biochemical properties, enzyme activities, and carbohydrates composition. The enzyme activities assay showed that glucanase and chitinase activities decreased when the temperature was below or above the optimum cultivation temperature for P. ostreatus. The biochemical compositions of the abnormal mushroom were significantly different from the normal fruiting bodies. It was suggested that the changes in the biochemical composition of abnormal mushroom were caused by the unfavorable environmental conditions during mushroom cultivation.
Agaricales ; Carbohydrates ; Chitinase ; Fruit* ; Pleurotus*

A massive variety of microorganisms live in and on the human body, especially at oral, skin, vaginal, gastroin-testinal, and respiratory sites. The complicated metabolic activities of microorganisms assist human digestive function and participate in a series of physiological and pathogenetic processes. Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) are a series of enzymes that function in degradation, modification, and formation of glycoside bonds. Microbes regulate the physiological and pathogenetic processes of human body by producing various CAZymes to degrade and modify complex carbohydrates and generate signal molecules for further utilization in human cells. Here, we reviewed the mechanisms of complex carbohy-drate metabolism and related microbial CAZymes, especially in digestive tract and oral cavity. We also summarized the rela-tionship between microbial CAZymes and human health, and proposed potential applications.
Carbohydrates ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Microbiota

This study was designed to investigate the amount of free sugar according to each beverage category in coffee and beverage stores. The groups were categorized as 15 groups based on the kind of beverage material. The beverage groups contributing to total sugar per 100 mL were milk + syrup or powder, hot (12.9 g), ade (12.6 g), milk + syrup or powder + crushed ice (11.9 g), and espresso shot + milk + syrup + crushed ice (11.4 g). The beverage groups contributing to free sugar per 100 mL were ade (12.6 g), milk + syrup or powder + crushed ice (10.8 g), espresso shot + milk + syrup + crushed ice (10.3 g), and milk + syrup or powder, hot (9.7 g). The beverage groups contributing to total sugar (energy) per portion size were milk + syrup or powder + crushed ice 56.6 g (332.3 kcal), espresso shot + milk + syrup + crushed ice 49.3 g (333.4 kcal), milk + syrup or powder, hot 46.3 g (372.1 kcal), and milk + syrup or powder, ice 38.1 g (325.9 kcal). The beverage groups contributing to free sugar per portion size were milk + syrup or powder + crushed ice 51.2 g, espresso shot + milk + syrup + crushed ice 44.9 g, ade 37.1 g, milk + syrup or powder, hot 34.6 g, and milk + syrup or powder, ice 30.1 g. The percent of average free sugar per portion size of the WHO recommendation (free sugars <10% of total energy; <50 g/2,000 kcal) was milk + syrup or powder + crushed ice 102.4%, espresso shot + milk + syrup + crushed ice 89.8%, ade 74.1%, and milk + syrup or powder, hot 69.2%. The proportion of beverage in excess of WHO recommendation per portion size was 14.6% in espresso shot + milk + syrup + crushed ice, 22.7% in ade, and 10.9% in milk + syrup or powder, hot. Therefore, in coffee and beverage stores, menu development with reduced sugar content is needed, and nutrition information should be provided through sugar nutrition labeling.
Beverages ; Carbohydrates ; Coffee ; Food Labeling ; Ice ; Milk

In the flowers of Sambicus nigra, flavonoids, amino acids and sugars were determined. Among them the main components were flavonoids, which accounted for 7,19±0,10%. From total flavonoid extracts, ,2 compounds were isolated by column chromatography and identified by UV,MS,and NMR spectroscope as quercetin-3-α rhamnopyranosyl- β -glucopyranose and quercetin
Chemistry ; Flowers ; Flavonoids ; Amino Acids ; Carbohydrates

Fresh,directly roasted and sand-roasted samples of the radix of ophlogogon contain also saponosids, flavonoids, aminoacides, carotenoids, sugars, fats. They are no significant differences. In decoction 1:1 form, ophlogogon with the dose of 2,5gr/kg of body weight manifests the inhibition of cough reflexe similar to terpine-codeine preparation;with the dose of 10mg /kg bd, no effect of phlegm clearing is manifested
Chemistry ; Biology ; Flavonoids ; Carotenoids ; Carbohydrates ; fats

OBJECTIVETo establish the method of promoting human peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation by polysaccharide of snakegourd root and identify the effects of polysaccharide of snakegourd root on lymphocyte proliferation, T lymphocyte subsets and the different levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6.

METHODThe polysaccharide of snakegourd root preparations were purified with dialysis and ethanol precipitation. The healthy human PBMC were used as the target cells for screening potency of the drugs. MTT colorimetry was established to examine the levels of lymphocyte proliferation on human PBMC by polysaccharide of snakegourd root in vitro. The percents of lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocyte) and the different levels of TNF-a and IL-6 in PBMC were analysed by FCM and ELISA, respectively.

RESULT1.0-50.0 mmol x L(-1) of polysaccharides of snakegourd root showed the significant effects of promoting proliferation of human PBMC (P < 0.05). The percents of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes in PBMC treated with 5.0 and 10.0 mmol x L(-1) of polysaccharides of snakegourd root were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were significantly higher than those of the control group after 1.0, 5.0, 10.0 mmol x L(-1) of polysaccharides of snakegourd root stimulation on the human PBMC at 8 hours (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe significant effects on promoting lymphocyte proliferation and activation of the polysaccharide of snakegourd root are confirmed in this study. The percents of lymphocyte subsets are increased in different degrees by the polysaccharide of snakegourd root. The high levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 are secreted after the polysaccharides of snakegourd root stimulation on the human PBMC, which lays a foundation for further elucidating the immunocompetence effects and mechanism of the polysaccharide of snakegourd root.

Four pathogenic fungal isolates belonging to different genera including Alternaria, Fusarium and Curvularia were isolated from selected diseased weeds growing in the fields in Dakahalia district. The inoculum of these pathogenic fungi specific to weeds were cultured, standardized and formulated as alginate pellets containing mycelium plus culture filtrate. These mycoherbicides were evaluated for disease severity (DS). Maximum DS was obtained with the alginate pellets of mycelium filtrate Fusarium solani. Physiological changes of the treated weed were determined 5 and 10 days after treatments. As compared to the healthy weeds, all mycoherbicide formulations significantly decreased the amount of photosynthetic pigments and subsequently soluble and insoluble sugars in the infected weeds. The mycoherbicide formulation of F. solani had the greatest effect on lowering to the abovementioned amount in the leaves of Chenopodium murale. Generally, treatment of weed leaves with the specific mycoherbicide led to a highly significant increase in total phenol content when compared to the healthy control weed. C. murale infected with the mycoherbicide formulation of F. solani had higher levels of phenolic compounds than those other treated weeds particularly after 10 days of inoculation.
Alternaria ; Carbohydrates ; Chenopodium ; Fungi ; Fusarium ; Mycelium ; Phenol