hydroquinone (pigmentasa / pigmentasa)

Four-week supplementation with a blackcurrant formulation enhances cognitive performance, reduces mental fatigue and modulates peripheral monoamine metabolism in older adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.

Lomiwes Dominic D, Günther Catrin S CS, Kanon Alexander P AP, Lo Kim K et al.

Age-related cognitive decline is an increasing concern in older adults. While blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum) have shown promise in improving cognitive outcomes in younger adults, their efficacy in supporting cognitive function in older adults is largely unexplored. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded crossover study of healthy older adults (62 ± 1 years), 26 of the 30 participants enrolled completed the study per protocol. Participants consumed either a placebo or a flavonoid-rich blackcurrant formula (BCF, 7.8 mg anthocyanins/kg body weight freeze-dried blackcurrant, 200 mg L-theanine, and 100 mg pine bark extract) in a beverage format daily for 4 weeks, with interventions separated by a two-week washout period. For each intervention, cognitive and mood outcomes were assessed following a single dose (acute) and after 4 weeks' supplementation. Platelet MAO-B activity, circulating neurotransmitter concentrations, and anthocyanin, L-theanine and sarmentosin bioavailability were measured from venous blood samples drawn at baseline, 1 h, 2.4 h and 4 wk after intervention supplementation. A significant reduction in Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) false alarms (p = 0.022) and a strong trend in reduced mental fatigue (p = 0.046, q = 0.067) were measured following 4 weeks of BCF supplementation. Reduction in biomarkers of MAO activity were measured following acute supplementation with BCF, but not placebo, with significant treatment × time interactions (q < 0.01) for platelet MAO-B activity, plasma 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine concentrations. These changes corresponded with significant reductions (q < 0.05) in circulating neurotransmitter metabolites xanthurenic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol and vanillylmandelic acid. Findings from this study indicate that 4 weeks of BCF supplementation sustained attention in healthy older adults, extending evidence for BCF-related cognitive benefits across both younger and older populations. https://anzctr.org.au/, identifier: ACTRN12621001590853.

Mapping fermented food prevalence and intake across European regions: results from the Promoting Innovation of Fermented Foods (PIMENTO) study.

Syrpas Michail M, Smiliotopoulos Theodoros T, Adamberg Signe S, Adamberg Kaarel K et al.

Fermented foods are integral to European diets, yet their consumption patterns remain poorly characterised. We analysed cross-sectional data from 12 646 adults across fifty-three countries in four EuroVoc regions (Northern, Southern, Western and Central-Eastern Europe; 2023-2024) collected with the validated Fermented Food Frequency Questionnaire (3FQ) within the Promoting Innovation of Fermented Foods COST Action (CA20128). Weighted analyses accounted for regional population distributions, sex and age. Intake across fifteen fermented food categories was estimated from frequency and portion-size data to derive consumer prevalence and quantities. Fermented dairy products showed near-universal prevalence (94·1-95·6 %) with median intake among consumers of 66·7-80·1 g/day. Coffee and fermented cereals were also highly prevalent (78·4-84·1 % and 89·9-95·9 %, respectively), with median intakes of 60·0-73·1 ml/day for coffee and 44·0-77·1 g/day for cereals. Chocolate was consumed weekly (76·0-138·8 ml/week) by >90 % of participants. In contrast, fermented vegetables and legumes exhibited low intakes (4·4-8·4 g/day and 4·5-9·0 ml/week, respectively). Plant-based alternatives were consumed by up to 72·8 % in Western Europe, but intake was negligible (median 25·5 ml/week). Alcoholic beverages varied regionally: wine 12·5-25·0 ml/day; beer/cider 25·0-50·0 ml/day. Fermented non-alcoholic beverages had low prevalence (18·3-49·3 %) but relatively high weekly intake among consumers (18·7-49·8 ml/week). Consumer prevalence and intake varied independently across categories. This Europe-wide mapping reveals substantial regional heterogeneity in both prevalence and intake. Findings highlight the need for harmonised and standardised dietary monitoring protocols to address current data gaps in fermented food consumption, characterise exposure profiles across populations and support future research on their associations with health outcomes.

[Two cases of type 4 severe congenital neutropenia combined with inflammatory bowel disease caused by compound heterozygous variants in G6PC3 gene].

Zhang Y M YM, Wei X X XX, Shi M M, Xu J J JJ et al.

DNA injection through coleoptile; a choice to overcome species barrier and bring about rapid expansion of gene pool in rice.

Ho Un-Hyang UH, Choe Yong-Il YI, Song Sam-Rang SR, Kim Kang K et al.

Selection and breeding of rice varieties depend on genetic diversity contained in the primary and secondary gene pools. So far, researches on introduction of total DNA by means of pollen tube pathway method, ovary injection, seed sink method, ion beam mediated transformation method so as to contribute to expansion of gene pool have been reported in rice. In this study, we injected millet DNA into primary leaf-drawn coleoptile surrounding shoot apical meristem so that we could introduce foreign DNA more easily and not to disturb growth of rice. In the following generations, we selected strain MR-4 exhibiting shortened growth period and more tillers. Although MR-4 exhibited short growth period than DNA recipient, Sohaechal 16, its yield was not significantly different from DNA recipient apparently due to more tillers. RM marker analysis indicates apparently homozygous integration of donor millet DNA in MR-4 genome. Total DNA introduction through rice coleoptile could overcome species barrier and expand gene pool rapidly, thus contributing to the development of rice germplasms with increased abiotic stress tolerance and higher yield.