Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain is rich in fiber and antioxidant phytochemicals, including fatty acids, proteins, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and minerals, that offer various health benefits. Research on identifying different barley genotypes based on their health attributes is very limited. In this study, we performed an analysis of fatty acids, proteins, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of several Canadian barley cultivars and elite breeding lines. Linoleic acid (C18:2) was the predominant fatty acid present in the tested barley cultivars. The cultivar CDC Bold contained the highest amount of ascorbic acid, while the highest protein content was in CDC Mindon. An assessment of the free and bound phenolic compounds of barley grains showed quantitative changes among different genotypes of Canadian barley. Catechin is the most abundant molecule in free phenolics, while ferulic acid and para-coumeric acid are the most abundant in bound phenolics. Ferulic acid and vanillic acid were molecules detected in the soluble free fraction of all genotypes. Para-coumeric acid was detected only in genotypes such as CDC Copeland, CDC Bold, Lowe, and elite breeding Line 5 of both free and bound fractions of barley. Breeding Line 5 had the lowest antioxidant activity. An analysis of the above molecules and parameters of Canadian barley would help to uncover potential biomarkers in order to distinguish individual barley genotypes.
SummaryRecently, traditional rice cultivars have become more popular than new, enhanced rice varieties, with the main focus being on their health benefits. Few rice cultivars have been thoroughly studied to understand their nutritional and health benefits. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission/mass spectroscopy methods were used to determine the concentrations of 24 key nutrients and trace elements in 104 traditional rice types (Oryza sativa L.) grown in Sri Lanka. When compared to the Codex Alimentarius provisional tolerable daily intake for 24 different elements, the concentrations of toxic elements such as As, Cd, Pb, and Cr were significantly lower (p<0.05), and most of the nutritional elemental concentrations were substantially higher (p<0.05) in evaluated traditional rice varieties. Furthermore, Pb, Bi, B, K, Mg, S, Zn, and Fe concentrations among traditional rice varieties were not substantially different (p>0.05). Notably, several traditional rice varieties (i.e. Rathu Heenati, Pragathi Wee, Weda Heenati, etc.) contained significantly high levels of selenium (≈250 μg L‐1 DM, p<0.05), an important trace element that is deficient in the diets of one billion people globally.
Objective
To evaluate the association between maternal body mass index (BMI) and plasma oxytocin (OT) levels at different OT infusion rates in labor.
Methods
A prospective observational study analyzing serial plasma samples in laboring women with OT infusion. The women were categorized into three groups, women with non-obesity (BMI 18.5–29.9, n = 12), obesity (BMI 30.0–34.9, n = 13), and morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 35.0, n = 15). Plasma OT was analyzed using tandem mass spectrometry.
Results
Except for a low positive correlation between OT levels and BMI and significantly increased plasma OT levels in women with morbid obesity at the OT infusion rate of 3.3 mU/min, no significant differences in OT levels between the BMI groups were found. Further, the inter-individual differences in OT levels were large and no dose-dependent increase of OT levels was seen.
Conclusions
Other factors than plasma OT levels may be more likely to determine the clinical response of OT infusion in women with obesity. Perhaps the observed clinical need and individual response would be a better predictor of plasma OT levels than a pre-determined OT infusion rate. The OT dosage guidelines for labor augmentation should be individualized according to clinical response rather than generalized.
Trial registration
Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04093479.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.