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Myocardial damage significantly impacts the prognosis of patients with cancer; however, the mechanisms of myocardial damage induced by cancer and its treatment remain unknown. We previously reported that medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) improve cancer-induced myocardial damage but did not evaluate the differences in effect according to MCFA type. Therefore, this study investigated the role of inflammatory cytokines in cancer-induced myocardial damage and the effects of three types of MCFAs (caprylic acid [C8], capric acid [C10], and lauric acid [C12]). In a mouse model, the C8 diet showed a greater effect on improving myocardial damage compared with C10 and C12 diets. Myocardial tubes differentiated from H9C2 cardiomyoblasts demonstrated increased mitochondrial oxidative stress, decreased membrane potential and mitochondrial volume, and inhibited myocardial tube differentiation following treatment with high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) but not interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α cytokines. However, HMGB1 treatment combined with C8 improved HMGB1-induced mitochondrial damage, enhanced autophagy, and increased mitochondrial biogenesis and maturation. However, these effects were only partial when combined with beta-hydroxybutyrate, a C8 metabolite. Thus, HMGB1 may play an important role in cancer-related myocardial damage. C8 counteracts HMGB1's effects and improves cancer-related myocardial damage. Further clinical studies are required to investigate the effects of C8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camelina neglecta is a new diploid Brassicaceae species, which has great research value because of its close relationship with the hexaploid oilseed crop Camelina sativa. Here, we report a chromosome-level assembly of C. neglecta with a total length of 210 Mb. By adopting PacBio sequencing and Hi-C technology, the C. neglecta genome was assembled into 6 chromosomes with scaffold N50 of 29.62 Mb. C. neglecta has undergone the whole-genome triplication (γ) shared among eudicots and two whole-genome duplications (α and β) shared by crucifers, but it has not undergone a specific whole-genome duplication event. By synteny analysis between C. neglecta and C. sativa, we successfully used the method of calculating Ks to distinguish the three subgenomes of C. sativa and determined that C. neglecta was closest to the first subgenome (SG1) of C. sativa. Further, transcriptomic analysis revealed the key genes associated with seed oil biosynthesis and its transcriptional regulation, including SAD, FAD2, FAD3, FAE1, ABI3, WRI1 and FUS3 displaying high expression levels in C. neglecta seeds. The high representability of C. neglecta as a model species for Camelina-based biotechnology research has been demonstrated for the first time. In particular, floral Agrobacterium tumefaciens infiltration-based transformation of C. neglecta, leading to overexpression of CvLPAT2, CpDGAT1 and CvFatB1 transgenes, was demonstrated for medium-chain fatty acid accumulation in C. neglecta seed oil. This study provides an important genomic resource and establishes C. neglecta as a new model for oilseed biotechnology research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crypthecodinium cohnii strains can accumulate significant amounts of lipids with a high fraction of docosahexaenoic acid that is used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. In this study, macroalgal hydrolysate was used as a low-cost carbon source for the growth of the oleaginous strain Crypthecodinium sp. AL–05 to reduce the cost of its growth and lipid production. The Saudi strain was placed in the genus Crypthecodinium with high statistical support based on the sequences of three concatenated genes (SSU, ITS, and LSU rDNA). Crypthecodinium sp. AL-05 was grown on four different glucose concentrations and three different macroalgal hydrolysate concentrations: 20, 40, and 80 g l−1. We also used the same concentrations of macroalgal hydrolysate with 10 g l−1 of four carbon sources: acetic acid, glycerol, glucose, and sugarcane molasses. Glucose (40 g l−1) gave the best results, followed by 80 g l−1 macroalgae alone and with glucose or molasses. One-way ANOVA followed by a Bonferroni correction post-hoc test showed that the dry weight of Crypthecodinium sp. AL–05 produced using the following carbon sources: the four concentrations of the pure glucose, 80 g l−1 macroalgae alone, 40 and 80 g l−1 macroalgae + glucose, 40 and 80 g l1 macroalgae + molasses were significantly higher than the other 10 carbon sources tested. Three carbon sources (20 g l−1 macroalgae with glucose, molasses and acetic acid) produced percentages of lipids that were significantly lower than the other 16 carbon sources. For the first time, our research shows that the dinoflagellate Crypthecodinium AL–05 can be successfully grown on macroalgal hydrolysate, which can be used in industrial processes. Importantly, Crypthecodinium sp. AL–05 grown on 80 g l−1 macroalgae produced only saturated fatty acids, of which caprylic acid represented 43.45 % of the total fatty acids. Caprylic acid is widely used in industry and pharmaceuticals and the Saudi isolate can be used for its commercial production using macroalgae as a carbon source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic growth promoters have been utilized in broiler nutrition to alleviate the negative effects of the pathogenic microbes to promote performance. However, after the prohibition of antibiotics because of the increasing disclosure related to public health issues, various products have been developed as alternatives. This study was carried out to determine the effects of medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFAs) or phytobiotics (essential oils [EOs] and alkaloids [ALKs]), blended feed additives on the growth performance, jejunum histomorphology, and cecal microbiota of broiler chickens. A total of 765 male Ross 308 chicks were randomly distributed into 5 experimental groups, each having 9 replicates with 17 chicks. The experimental procedures were as follows: a control group without supplementation (T1); control group+ MCFAs and EOs blend (T2); control group+ different EOs blend (T3); control group+ ALK sanguinarine (T4); and control group+ EOs and ALK piperine mixture (T5). The results showed that, broilers fed with MCFAs blended with EOs had significantly greater body weight gain during overall period in comparision to the control and T3 groups. Further, only MCFAs blended with EOs group significantly improved jejnum morphology in comparison with the control group (p ≤ 0.05). Besides, the MCFAs blended with EOs group significantly elevated propionate, acetate and butyrate concentration, and decreased the concentration of branch chain fatty acids in caecum (p ≤ 0.05). The results indicated that, the combination of MCFAs and EOs seems to have improvement effects and could be preferred as an efficient feed additive in broiler production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: GPR84 is a G protein-coupled receptor expressed in immune cells. In mammals and amphibians, it is activated by medium-chain fatty acids and plays critical roles in inflammation and eye development. However, our understanding of GPR84 in fish remains limited. In this study, we successfully cloned the coding sequence of grass carp GPR84, revealing its high expression in the liver and spleen. In cells transfected with ciGPR84, we observed its responsiveness to medium-chain fatty acids such as capric acid, undecanoic acid, and lauric acid. Surprisingly, ciGPR84 did not respond to a synthetic activator called diindolylmethane. Notably, we found that lauric acid and capric acid exhibited the strongest activation and inhibition of ERK and cAMP signaling, respectively, suggesting their potential as immune modulators. These findings provide valuable insights for mitigating chronic inflammation in farmed fish, especially grass carp. The G-protein-coupled receptor GPR84, activated by medium-chain fatty acids, primarily expressed in macrophages and microglia, is involved in inflammatory responses and retinal development in mammals and amphibians. However, our understanding of its structure, function, tissue expression, and signaling pathways in fish is limited. In this study, we cloned and characterized the coding sequence of GPR84 (ciGPR84) in grass carp. A phylogenetic analysis revealed its close relationship with bony fishes. High expression levels of GPR84 were observed in the liver and spleen. The transfection of HEK293T cells with ciGPR84 demonstrated its responsiveness to medium-chain fatty acids and diindolylmethane (DIM). Capric acid, undecanoic acid, and lauric acid activated ERK and inhibited cAMP signaling. Lauric acid showed the highest efficiency in activating the ERK pathway, while capric acid was the most effective in inhibiting cAMP signaling. Notably, DIM did not activate GPR84 in grass carp, unlike in mammals. These findings provide valuable insights for mitigating chronic inflammation in grass carp farming and warrant further exploration of the role of medium-chain fatty acids in inflammation regulation in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of triglycerides containing medium-chain fatty acids (MCT) and tributyrin (TB) supplementation in a milk replacer (MR) on growth performance, plasma metabolites, and hormone concentrations in dairy calves. Sixty-three Holstein heifer calves (body weight at 8 d of age, 41.1 ± 2.91 kg; mean ± SD) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 experimental MR (28% crude protein and 18% fat): (1) containing 3.2% C8:0 and 2.8% C10:0 (in fat basis) without TB supplementation (CONT; n = 15), (2) containing 6.7% C8:0 and 6.4% C10:0 without TB supplementation (MCT; n = 16), (3) containing 3.2% C8:0 and 2.8% C10:0 with 0.6% (dry matter basis) TB supplementation (CONT+TB; n = 16), (4) containing 6.7% C8:0 and 6.4% C10:0 with 0.6% TB supplementation (MCT+TB; n = 16). The MR were offered at 600 g/d (powder basis) from 8 to 14 d, up to 1,300 g/d from 15 to 21 d, 1,400 g/d from 22 to 49 d, down to 700 g/d from 50 to 56 d, 600 g/d from 57 to 63 d, and weaned at 64 d of age. All calves were fed calf starter, chopped hay, and water ad libitum. The data were analyzed using a 2-way ANOVA via the fit model procedure of JMP Pro 16 (SAS Institute Inc.). Medium-chain fatty acid supplementation did not affect the total dry matter intake. However, calves that were fed MCT had greater feed efficiency (gain/feed) before weaning (0.74 ± 0.098 vs. 0.71 ± 0.010 kg/kg) compared with non-MCT calves. The MCT calves also had a lower incidence of diarrhea compared with non-MCT calves during 23 to 49 d of age and the weaning period (50 to 63 d of age; 9.2% vs. 18.5% and 10.5% vs. 17.2%, respectively). Calves fed with TB had a greater total dry matter intake during postweaning (3,465 vs. 3,232 g/d). Calves fed TB also had greater body weight during the weaning (90.7 ± 0.97 vs. 87.9 ± 1.01 kg) and postweaning period (116.5 ± 1.47 vs. 112.1 ± 1.50 kg) compared with that of non-TB calves. The plasma metabolites and hormone concentrations were not affected by MCT or TB. These results suggest that MCT and TB supplementation in the MR may improve the growth performance and gut health of dairy calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the methane-reducing potential of individual and combined treatments of low levels of nitrate (NIT) and a mixture of capric/lauric acid (CL) in dairy cows. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted. In the in vitro experiment, the anti-methanogenic effects of NIT (1.825 mmol/l) and CL (250 mg/l; capric acid, 125 mg/l + lauric acid, 125 mg/l) were evaluated in a 2 × 2 factorial design using consecutive batch incubations with rumen fluid. The NIT and CL reduced (P<0.05) methane production by 9.2% and by 21.3%, respectively. However, combining NIT with CL did not show (P>0.05) any benefit in methane reduction compared to the use of CL alone. In the in vivo experiment, eight multiparous dry Holstein cows were fed two diets in a crossover design for two 21-day periods (14 days of adaptation and 7 days of sampling). The treatments were: 1) silage-based basal diet + 100 g stearic acid per cow/d (CON) and 2) silage-based basal diet + 50 g capric acid + 50 g lauric acid per cow/d (CL). Gas emissions were measured using open-circuit respiration chambers. Methane production (g/d) was reduced (by 11.5%; P = 0.012) when the diet was supplemented with CL. However, supplementation with CL increased ruminal ammonia-N concentration (by 28.5%; P = 0.015) and gas ammonia production (g/d; by 37.2%; P = 0.005). Ruminal pH, protozoa count, and total and individual volatile fatty acid concentrations (VFA) did not differ (P>0.05) between the treatments. Treatment did not affect the intake and apparent total tract digestibility (P>0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that low CL levels have anti-methanogenic potential. However, low levels of CL may compromise nitrogen use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monolaurin (ML) is a monoacylglycerol (MAG) with important industrial and biomedical properties. It is commonly prepared in large quantities from the direct esterification of lauric acid (LA) and glycerol with chemical catalysts. However, this method also generates other glyceride by-products whose properties are inferior to ML. Enzymes have also been used to optimize selectivity, but enhancing scalability and throughput is always challenging. Successful selective convergent chemical synthesis of ML involving activated derivatives of LA and glycerol is demonstrated in this study. The present yield of 3.41% can be improved with careful process control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) in carnitine status and intestinal fatty acid oxidation in neonates, a total of 72 suckled newborn piglets were assigned into 8 dietary treatments following a 2 (±0.35% clofibrate) × 4 (diets with: succinate+glycerol (Succ), tri-valerate (TC5), tri-hexanoate (TC6), or tri-2-methylpentanoate (TMPA)) factorial design. All pigs received experimental milk diets with isocaloric energy for 5 days. Carnitine statuses were evaluated, and fatty acid oxidation was measured in vitro using [1-14C]-palmitic acid (1 mM) as a substrate in absence or presence of L659699 (1.6 µM), iodoacetamide (50 µM), and carnitine (1 mM). Clofibrate increased concentrations of free (41%) and/or acyl-carnitine (44% and 15%) in liver and plasma but had no effects in the intestine. The effects on carnitine status were associated with the expression of genes involved in carnitine biosynthesis, absorption, and transportation. TC5 and TMPA stimulated the increased fatty acid oxidation rate induced by clofibrate, while TC6 had no effect on the increased fatty acid oxidation induced by clofibrate (p > 0.05). These results suggest that dietary clofibrate improved carnitine status and increased fatty acid oxidation. Propionyl-CoA, generated from TC5 and TMPA, could stimulate the increased fatty acid oxidation rate induced by clofibrate as anaplerotic carbon sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the effects of dietary medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) and Bacillus on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant capacity, colonic fermentation, and microbiota of weaning piglets. A total of 400 weaned piglets were randomly divided into 4 treatments, with 10 replicates per treatment and 10 pigs per replicate. The treatment included: basal diet (control, CON), basal diet with 0.588 g/kg MCFA (MCF), basal diet with 1.3 × 109 CFU/kg Bacillus (BAC), and basal diet with 0.588 g/kg MCFA and 1.3 × 109 CFU/kg Bacillus (SYN). Compared with CON group, the average daily gain of MCF and SYN in the early (1 to 9 d) and whole stage (1 to 36 d) of trail were improved (P < 0.05), the feed to gain ratio of MCF in later (10 to 36 d) and whole stage of trial were decreased (P < 0.05), and the diarrhea rate of SYN in the early stage (1 to 9 d) of trial decreased (P < 0.05). The digestibility of dry matter, ether extract, acid detergent fiber digestibility of MCF were decreased (P < 0.05) compared with CON. The serum d -lactic acid in MCF, BAC, and SYN were lower (P < 0.05) compared with CON group. Compared with CON group, the contents of total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase were greater (P < 0.05), whereas the content of malondialdehyde and the contents of colonic isobutyrate and isovalerate were lower (P < 0.05) in MCF. The microbial Shannon and Simpson diversity was lower in MCF (P < 0.05) than that in BAC and SYN. The relative abundance of Prevotella was greater (P < 0.05), whereas the Treponema and Oscillibacter were lower (P < 0.05) in MCF than that in BAC and SYN. In addition, the metabolic pathways of bacteria such as pentose phosphate pathway, adenosine nucleotides degradation II were enhanced (P < 0.05), whereas the pathways such as incomplete reductive TCA cycle, and TCA cycle IV (2-oxoglutarate decarboxylase) were decreased (P < 0.05) in MCF compared with BAC. The results indicated that dietary MCFA and Bacillus in combination improved the intestinal barrier function of piglets by changing the intestinal microbiota and its metabolic function, and finally alleviated the diarrhea rate in early weaning stage and improved growth performance in whole trial period. In addition, MCFA was effective in improving feed efficiency and antioxidant capacity of piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes a novel sequential fermentation method for the production of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) from corn stover, without adding exogenous electron donors/acceptors. The effects of the carbon substrate concentration, ethanol-to-acetate ratio (ED/EA), and initial pH on carbon chain elongation (CCE) by Clostridium kluyveri to produce MCFAs are investigated using ethanol and acetate as the electron donor and acceptor, respectively. A carbon substrate concentration of 300 mM C is sufficient for CCE. An initial weakly alkaline environment significantly enhances the production of caproate through buffering effects and by reducing inhibition of product formation. The maximum caproate production reached 4.41 g/L (initial pH 8.5; 300 mm C; ED/EA = 1:1). The ability of corn stover to generate a suitable ED/EA via two-step fermentation to synthesize MCFAs is also explored. Ultimately, 5.53 g/L butyrate and caproate can be obtained from corn stover, where caproate accounts for 2.79 g/L. This study offers innovative ideas for the sustainable production of bio-based chemicals. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonellosis is still one of the most reported zoonoses worldwide and poultry meat is a major source, as chickens are often persistent carriers of Salmonella. Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) are known for their strong antimicrobial activity. MCFAs used today in the animal feed industry, however, mainly originate from the palm oil industry, which is notorious for its negative impact on the climate. We investigated the effect of a specific blend of palm-free MCFAs (ranging from C6 to C9) on Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) colonization in broiler chickens and in vitro SE characteristics. Fifty Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly divided in 2 treatment groups. Chickens received either un-supplemented feed or feed supplemented with 300 ppm MCFAs from D0 onwards. On D7, all chickens were orally inoculated with 1600 CFU of SE. Cloacal swabs (D11) and samples of liver and caeca (D12) of all animals were collected and SE was enumerated. Percentage of SE-positive caecum samples was significantly (P = 0.044) reduced in birds receiving MCFAs compared to those receiving unsupplemented feed (36% vs. 64%). In vitro work performed with the same SE strain showed that preincubating the Salmonella bacteria with MCFAs at a sub-minimal inhibitory concentration significantly (p < 0.05) reduced bacterial adhesion to and invasion in Caco-2 cells, which may explain the observed reduction in intestinal SE colonization in the in vivo trial. Together, these results show that the tested eco-friendly MCFA blend could be a promising tool in the control of Salmonella in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Butyric acid is under investigation as a dietary supplement to improve gut health of broiler chickens. In fact, many studies have focused on the protection of butyric acid and its release throughout the intestine, promoting its beneficial effects in the entire gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, this study evaluated the intestinal release of butyric acid in broiler chickens by performing an in vivo approach. Broilers fed a diet supplemented with sodium butyrate protected by salts of medium-chain fatty acid containing a dye, brilliant blue. The blue color was then observed from jejunum and backward. Indeed, the released brilliant blue, and consequently, butyric acid, was quantified by intestinal sections observing that the major amount of butyric acid was delivered in the distal ileum. These results suggest that this in vivo approach enables the evaluation of the intestinal release of butyric acid from fat-protected sodium butyrate, showing a slow intestinal release of butyric acid in broiler chickens. Butyric acid has received great attention as a feed additive to maintain or increase the gut integrity and health of broiler chickens. Particularly, the protection of butyrate is under research to allow slow intestinal release of butyric acid and to promote its beneficial effects throughout the intestine. This study evaluated in vivo the intestinal release of butyric acid from sodium butyrate protected by salts of medium-chain fatty acid in broilers. Brilliant blue was used as an inert marker, so it was included in the feed additive that broilers ingested for two days. The gastrointestinal tract was then colored in blue from jejunum and backward. Considering the digesta color of the broilers non-supplemented as blank, it allowed quantification of the amount of brilliant blue, and consequently, butyric acid delivered in the intestine from the protected feed additive. Few traces of butyric acid were released in the duodenum and proximal jejunum, whereas the major amount (45.9%) was delivered in the distal ileum (p < 0.001). These results suggest that this in vivo approach allows for evaluation of the intestinal delivery of butyric acid supplemented as protected sodium butyrate by medium-chain fatty acids, showing a gradual intestinal release of butyric acid in broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Nutritional strategies to improve gut health are under research to reduce antibiotic use in poultry production. This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with sodium butyrate protected by sodium salts of medium-chain fatty acids as a feed additive on broiler gut health. A first trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of this feed additive supplemented at a dose range of 0.5, 1, and 2 kg/t to promote a good health status on broilers raised under optimal conditions. Supplementation at 0.5 and 1 kg/t maintained the number of mucin-secretory cells contained in the gut barrier of young chickens, and the use of 1 kg/t improved the intestinal immune system of aged broilers. However, the beneficial effects of some feed additives are not detected under non-challenged conditions. Therefore, the second experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of the feed additive at 1 kg/t in coccidiosis-challenged broilers. In this context, sodium butyrate protected by sodium salts of medium-chain fatty acids restored the number of mucin-secretory cells as well as impacted on the intestinal morphometry and microbiota. The results of the present study suggest that this feed additive could be a useful strategy to reinforce the gut barrier, especially for birds with coccidiosis. Nutritional strategies to improve gut health of broilers are under research. This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with sodium butyrate protected by sodium salts of medium-chain fatty acids as a feed additive on broiler gut health. The first experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing at 0.5, 1, and 2 kg/t in broilers housed under optimal conditions. Supplementation at 0.5 and 1 kg/t maintained goblet cell counts at 10 days of age (p ≤ 0.05), and supplementation at 1 kg/t decreased intraepithelial lymphocyte counts compared to 2 kg/t at 39 days (p ≤ 0.10). Abdominal fat pad levels of lauric and myristic acids were gradually increased by supplement dose (p ≤ 0.05). In the second experiment, the feed additive at 1 kg/t was evaluated in coccidiosis-challenged broilers. Experimental treatments were as follows: non-challenged, control-challenged, and supplemented-challenged treatments. Coccidiosis negatively impact performance and modify histomorphometry and microbiota (p ≤ 0.05). The feed additive increased crypt depth at 7 days post-inoculation and goblet cell count at 14 days post-inoculation (p ≤ 0.05). Further, supplementation interacted with the microbiota modification led by the coccidiosis (p ≤ 0.05). These results suggest that this feed additive could be a useful strategy to reinforce the gut barrier, especially for birds under coccidiosis-challenge treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E. coli thioesterase 'TesA is an important enzyme in fatty acid production. Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs, C6-C10) are of great interest due to their similar physicochemical properties to petroleum-based oleo-chemicals. It has been shown that wild-type 'TesA had better selectivity for long-chain acyl substrates (≥C16), while the two mutants 'TesAE142D/Y145G and 'TesAM141L/E142D/Y145G had better selectivity for medium-chain acyl substrates. However, it is difficult to obtain the selectivity mechanism of substrates for proteins by traditional experimental methods. In this study, in order to obtain more MCFAs, we analyzed the binding mode of proteins ('TesA, 'TesAE142D/Y145G and 'TesAM141L/E142D/Y145G) and substrates (C16/C8-N-acetylcysteamine analogs, C16/C8-SNAC), the key residues and catalytic mechanisms through molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and the molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA). The results showed that several main residues related to catalysis, including Ser10, Asn73 and His157, had a strong hydrogen bond interaction with the substrates. The mutant region (Met141-Tyr146) and loop107–113 were mainly dominated by Van der Waals contributions to the substrates. For C16-SNAC, except for 'TesAM141L/E142D/Y145G with large conformational changes, there were strong interactions at both head and tail ends that distorted the substrate into a more favorable high-energy conformation for the catalytic reaction. For C8-SNAC, the head and tail found it difficult to bind to the enzyme at the same time due to insufficient chain length, which made the substrate binding sites more variable, so 'TesAM141L/E142D/Y145G with better binding sites had the strongest activity, and 'TesA had the weakest activity, conversely. In short, the matching substrate chain and binding pocket length are the key factors affecting selectivity. This will be helpful for the further improvement of thioesterases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Efficient and sustainable production of structured phospholipids (SPLs) enriched in medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in a heterogeneous manner is crucial for their potential applications in functional foods and drugs. Herein, for the first time, Zn‐ and Al‐incorporated SBA‐15 silicas were prepared by the coprecipitation method and further researched for catalytic synthesis of MCFA‐enriched SPLs through acidolysis reaction of natural phospholipids with capric or caprylic acid. RESULTS: The as‐prepared Zn‐ and Al‐incorporated SBA‐15 samples exhibited superior catalytic activities under mild experimental conditions (50 °C, 6 h) to commercial homogeneous Lewis acids and benchmark enzymes. Correspondingly, the capric acid and caprylic acid incorporations were respectively achieved up to ~40.25 ± 0.40% (or 35.08 ± 0.09%) and 37.26 ± 0.38% (or 33.02 ± 0.13%) for Zn‐ (or Al‐) incorporated SBA‐15 catalyst. Moreover, various methods such as scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and pyridine–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the two catalysts in order to elucidate the possible structure–performance relationship. Accordingly, the above‐mentioned satisfactory results are most probably due to the well‐ordered mesostructures and large amounts of active Lewis acid sites existing in the investigated materials. Noticeably, the two catalysts featured good separation and excellent recyclability as well. CONCLUSION: The Zn‐ and Al‐incorporated SBA‐15 catalysts studied in this work might shed light on novel, sustainable and economic alternatives for effective SPL production to diminish the applications of conventional homogeneous catalysts and biocatalysts in food industries. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structured triacylglycerols (STAGs) with medium-chain fatty acids (FAs) at sn -1,3 positions and long-chain FAs at the sn -2 position are known as medium-long-medium (MLM) type STAGs. They can not only provide energy immediately and control weight effectively, but may also provide essential or beneficial FAs to meet the human needs. In this study, MLM type STAGs were synthesized from lipase-catalyzed acidolysis of peony seed oil (PSO) with octanoic acid (OcA) and decanoic acid (DA) as medium-chain FAs in solvent-free systems. Optimal reaction conditions were 1:8 (PSO to OcA/DA), 40 °C and 24 h. The OcA content and DA content at sn -1,3 of two STAGs were 81.1% and 82.5%. The total essential FA (α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid) contents at sn -2 reached 61.5% and 57.2%, and long-chain unsaturated FA contents reached 93.3% and 87.4%. Infrared absorptions of two STAGs were weaker than those of PSO at 723 cm−1 [-(CH 2) n -rocking] and 3011 cm−1 [ = CH (cis) stretching]. The end melting temperature and maximum weight loss temperature of STAG rich in DA were higher than those of STAG rich in OcA. This study is conducive to the deep processing of PSO and provides a new and promising substrate for MLM type STAG synthesis. • Two MLM type structured triacylglycerols were synthesized from peony seed oil. • Total α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid contents at sn -2 position were about 60%. • Total long-chain unsaturated fatty acid contents at sn -2 position reached about 90%. • Medium-chain fatty acid contents at sn -1(3) position were more than 80%. • Thermal behaviors of products with octanoic acid and decanoic acid were different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • MCFA was performed by combination of electro-fermentation and anaerobic fermentation. • The effect of EF on both acidification and chain elongation processes was studied. • Microbial analysis revealed that EF enriching electrochemically active bacteria. • EF-AF promoted MCFA by strengthening FAB pathway. Electro-fermentation (EF) was combined with anaerobic fermentation (AF) to promote medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) from sewage sludge. Results showed that EF at acidification process significantly increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production of by 0.5 times (82.4 mmol C/L). AF facilitated the chain elongation (CE) process by enhancing the SCFA conversion. Combined EF at acidification and AF at CE (EF-AF) achieved the highest MCFA production of 27.9 mmol C/L, which was 20 %-866 % higher than the other groups. Electrochemical analyses showed that enhanced SCFA and MCFA production was accompanied with good electrochemical performance at acidification and CE. Microbial analyses showed that EF-AF promoted MCFA production by enriching electrochemically active bacteria (EAB, Bacillus sp.). Enzyme analyses indicated that EF-AF promoted MCFA production by enriching the functional enzymes involved in Acetyl-CoA formation and the fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB) pathway. This study provided new insights into the production of MCFA from enhanced sewage sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Capric acid (also known as decanoic acid or C10) is one of the fatty acids in the medium‐chain triglycerides (MCTs) commonly found in dietary fats. Although dietary treatment with MCTs is recently of great interest for the potential therapeutic effects on neuropsychiatric disorders, the effects of oral administration of C10 on behavior remain to be examined. This study investigated acute and chronic effects of oral administration of C10 on locomotor activity and anxiety‐like and depression‐related behaviors in adult male C57BL/6J mice. Methods: To explore the acute effects of C10 administration, mice were subjected to a series of behavioral tests in the following order: light/dark transition, open field, elevated plus maze, Porsolt forced swim, and tail suspension tests, 30 minutes after oral gavage of either vehicle or C10 solution (30 mmol/kg dose in Experiment 1; 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0 mmol/kg doses in Experiment 2). Next, to examine chronic effects of C10, mice repeatedly administered with either vehicle or C10 solution (0.3, 3.0 mmol/kg doses per day, for 21 days, in Experiment 3) were subjected to behavioral tests without oral administration immediately before each test. Results: The mice administrated with the high dose of C10 (30 mmol/kg) showed lower body weights, shorter distance traveled, and more anxiety‐like behavior than vehicle‐treated mice, and the results reached study‐wide statistical significance. The C10 administration at a lower dose of 0.3 mmol/kg had no significant effects on body weights and induced nominally significantly longer distance traveled than vehicle administration. Repeated administration of C10 at a dose of 3.0 mmol/kg for more than 21 days caused lower body weights and decreased depression‐related behavior, although the behavioral differences did not reach study‐wide significance. Conclusions: Although these results suggest dose‐dependent effects of oral administration of capric acid on locomotor activity and anxiety‐like and depression‐related behaviors, further study will be needed to replicate the findings and explore the underlying brain mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are unique hypothalamic fatty acid (FA) sensing systems in fish that are different from those in mammals. In order to explore the effect of medium-chain FA (MCFA) on the FA sensing systems and appetite regulation, Chinese perch Siniperca chuatsi were subjected to intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection with saline solution alone or saline containing octanoic acid. Food intake of these fish was computed at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 h post-treatment, respectively. The transcript levels of genes related to the FA sensing mechanism (cpt1c, cd36, pparα and srebp1c) and hypothalamic neuropeptide (agrp, npy, pomc and cart) in the hypothalamus were estimated at 4 h post-treatment. Results showed that at 4 h post-ICV injection with octanoic acid, the food intake of Chinese perch was significantly reduced with the decreasing mRNA level of agrp and the increasing mRNA levels of cd36 and pparα in the hypothalamus. The data indicated that the hypothalamic FA sensing systems of Chinese perch could be activated by octanoic acid, and the underlying mechanism might be that the enhancement of binding ability of FAT/CD36 upregulates the mRNA level of pparα. In addition, with the decrease in the gene expression of agrp, the food intake of Chinese perch was significantly reduced as a result of ICV injection with octanoic acid. These results demonstrated that MCFA might play a key role in central FA sensing and appetite regulation of Chinese perch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This research tested the anti‐Campylobacter properties of organic acids (OA), medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) and essential oils (EO) in vitro and commenced in vivo suitability testing focused on broiler performance. Methods and Results: Nine active compounds were tested at different concentrations and times against Campylobacter jejuni in sterile distilled water, Mueller Hinton broth and grower feed digestate (GFD). Sodium caprate (1.5%, v/v), thymol (0.25% and 2.5%, v/v), carvacrol (1.25%, v/v) and potassium sorbate (1.5%, v/v) each achieved C. jejuni reductions of ≥4.5 log10 CFU per ml in GFD, the matrix most representative of the broiler gut, after 60 s. Similar reductions were achieved after 60 min with lactic acid (1.25%, v/v), formic acid (3.1%, v/v), sodium caprylate (1.5%, v/v) and carvacrol (1.25%, v/v). However, in vivo these compounds adversely affected broiler performance, resulting in dimished water intake and reduced weight. Conclusions: OA, MFCA and EO based compounds are effective anti‐Campylobacter treatments in laboratory model studies but cannot be applied in vivo. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study illustrates that OAs, MCFAs and EOs can achieve significant reductions in Campylobacter in vitro but identifies a major issue, inhibition of broiler performance, preventing their use in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant fatty acids are used for food, feed, fuel, and industrial materials. Structurally and chemically diverse fatty acids, referred to as unusual or specialized fatty acids, are found in the seed oils of diverse plant species. Many unusual fatty acids have potential use as alternative and renewable sources of biofuels and bio‐based industrial feedstocks due to their variant structures' physical or functional properties. Oils enriched in these fatty acids can increase the value of oilseed crops and provide co‐products that can be readily extracted from lignocellulosic materials in biomass crops. Here, we describe recent progress in strategies for enhancement of oil production and quality in oilseed crops and the extension of this knowledge for metabolic engineering of biomass crops. Successful implementation of these strategies, in part, through the use of emerging synthetic biology tools, will provide added product value for the economic sustainability of biomass crops as bioenergy feedstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of methane (CH4) suppression using medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFA) remains inconclusive, despite a number of studies on this topic are available. We thus carried out a meta‐analysis to integrate the published data on different concentrations and types of MCFA such as lauric acid and myristic acid, which investigated ruminal methanogenesis and fermentation in in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro MCFA sources were classified either as pure MCFA (lauric acid, myristic acid and their combinations) or as natural MCFA‐rich oils (canola oil enriched with lauric acids, coconut oil, krabok oil and palm kernel oil). The MCFA sources used in the in vivo studies were coconut oil, lauric acid, myristic acid and the combination of lauric and myristic acids. A total of 41 studies (20 in vitro and 21 in vivo studies) were compiled in our database, which included the data on CH4 emission, digestibility, ruminal fermentation products and microbial populations. The results showed that the amount of CH4 production per unit of digested organic matter decreased linearly under in vitro conditions (p <.01) and tended to decrease quadratically under in vivo conditions (p <.07) with increasing doses of MCFA. Populations of protozoa (p <.01) in both in vitro and in vivo responded negatively in a linear manner, whereas Archaea population diminished quadratically (p =.04) only in the in vitro conditions with increasing doses of MCFA. Increasing dietary MCFA concentrations also reduced the fibre digestibility linearly (p <.05) in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. CH4 production for different sources of MCFA decreased in following order: coconut oil > lauric acid > myristic acid > mixed lauric and myristic acids > palm kernel oil > canola oil enriched with lauric acids > krabok oil. It can be concluded that the effect of MCFA on ruminal methanogenesis depends on the amount and type of MCFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Chain elongation (CE) microbiome was shaped within 18 days by fungi-bacteria synergy. • Repeated food waste (FW) feeding accumulated the caproate titration to 5.76 g COD/L. • Fungi yeast could supply endogenous ethanol to chain elongators. • The production of caproate increased linearly with the rising D-lactate content. • Repeated FW feeding alters the electron donor preference from ethanol to lactate. The upgrading of organic waste such as food waste (FW) into medium-chain carboxylates (MCC) is within a bio-based circular economy concept. An efficient chain elongation (CE) microbiome is difficult to obtain, which normally requires long-term acclimatization and an exogenous supplement of electron donor (ED, especially ethanol). In this study, the CE microbiome was rapidly shaped within 18 days and an efficient endogenous ethanol-based CE was achieved through the amendment of distiller yeast (DY) during FW fermentation. Multiple FW feeding accumulated the caproate concentration to 5.76 ± 0.33 g COD/L, which also regulated the CE process from ethanol-dependent to lactate-dependent metabolism. During the lactate-based CE process, the caproate production increased linearly (R2 = 0.82) with the rising D-lactate content. Ethanol-producing fungi yeast mainly consisted of Wickerhamomyces (66.54 %), Saccharomycopsis (5.37 %), Issatchenkia (2.21 %), unclassified_f_Metschnikowiaceae (1.73 %), and Saccharomyces (1.33 %). These yeasts were eliminated by FW feeding, which was in line with the alteration of ED preference from ethanol to lactate. Metagenome analysis indicated that the total relative abundance of lactate-based chain elongators including Ruminococcaceae bacterium CPB6 , Clostridium luticellarii , Caproiciproducens galactitolivorans , and Megasphaera elsdenii was increased by 28.6 %, while the ethanol-based chain elongator Clostridium kluyveri kept stable after FW feeding. In addition, the functional genes related to the oxidation of lactate to acetyl-CoA were enriched after FW feeding, which further enhanced the subsequent CE pathway of acetyl-CoA-based reverse β oxidation rather than the fatty acids synthesis. This study provides a new insight into upgrading FW into valuable MCC without exogenous ED addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method based on the solidification of floating organic droplets, combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (DLLME-SFOD-HPLC), was developed for the detection of strobilurin fungicides (azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin) in cereals. Natural fatty acids were used as an extractant and have low toxicity, density, and freezing point. The extractant nonanoic acid was evenly dispersed as droplets in sample solution and was then solidified in the upper layer of sample solution after centrifugation and ice bath, which improved the extraction and collection efficiency. The dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure was optimised by univariate analysis and the Box-Behnken response surface methodology. Optimum conditions were as follows: the volume of nonanoic acid was 82 μL, the volume of acetonitrile was 620 μL, and the amount of salt was 256 mg. Under optimised conditions, the method had good linearity with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.997, and the limit of detection was 2.57–4.87 μg kg−1. The recoveries of azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, and trifloxystrobin in rice, corn, and wheat were 82.0%-93.2%, and the relative standard deviations were 1.6%-7.4%. Therefore, the method was successfully applied to detect target fungicides in cereals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different chain lengths diacylglycerols (DAG) (long‐ and medium‐chain) were synthesized from peanut and coconut oils. The effects of DAG with different chain lengths on body fat, blood lipids, and lipid metabolism‐related enzymes in the liver and adipose tissue of C57BL/6J mice were investigated. Compared to peanut and coconut oils containing triacylglycerol (TAG), DAG‐rich oils can significantly reduce the body weight, kidney weight, serum triglyceride (TG) content, hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS), and Acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) enzyme levels (p < 0.05) in C57BL/6J mice. Therefore, the effect of coconut oil DAG on improving body fat metabolism was probably due to the impact of DAG. Meanwhile, the body weight and serum TG content in coconut oil DAG group were lower than those in peanut oil DAG group. In addition, the spleen weight, hepatic ACC, and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) enzymes in coconut oil DAG group (0.07 ± 0.01 g, 2.08 ± 0.42 ng/mg pro, and 18.44 ± 5.23 ng/mg pro, respectively) were significantly lower than those in peanut oil DAG group. Although coconut oil DAG and peanut oil DAG have different fatty acid compositions, their effects on lipid metabolism showed no significant changes. Coconut oil DAG (peanut oil DAG) showed the improved lipid metabolism than that of coconut oil (peanut oil), which was probably due to the effect of DAG. Practical Application: Peanut and coconut oils are common edible oils. The oil containing DAG synthesized decreased the body weight and lipid accumulation in mice. Coconut oil is rich in medium‐chain fatty acids, while peanut oil mainly consists of long‐chain fatty acids. Due to the different contents of fatty acids, the synthesized structural lipids have different effects on lipid metabolism. Medium‐chain triglycerides were considered as agents to alleviate obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and their derivatives are important chemicals that can be used in lubricants, detergents, and cosmetics. MCFAs can be produced in several microbes, although production is not high. Dynamic regulation by synthetic biology is a good method of improving production of chemicals that avoids toxic intermediates, but chemical‐responsive promoters are required. Several MCFA sensors or promoters have been reported in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this study, by using transcriptomic analysis of S. cerevisiae exposed to fatty acids with 6‐, 12‐, and 16‐carbon chains, we identified 58 candidate genes that may be responsive to MCFAs. Using a fluorescence‐based screening method, we identified MCFA‐responsive promoters, four that upregulated gene expression, and three that downregulated gene expression. Dose–response analysis revealed that some of the promoters were sensitive to fatty acid concentrations as low as 0.02–0.06 mM. The MCFA‐responsive promoters reported in this study could be used in dynamic regulation of fatty acids and fatty acid‐derived products in S. cerevisiae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) addition on nursery pig growth performance, fecal microbial composition, and mitigation of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) following storage. A total of 360 pigs (DNA 400 × 200, Columbus, NE; initially 6.7 ± 0.07 kg) were randomized to pens (5 pigs per pen) on the day of weaning (approximately 20 d of age), allowed a 6-d acclimation, blocked by BW, and randomized to dietary treatment (9 pens per treatment). All MCFA (Sigma–Aldrich, St. Louis, MO) were guaranteed ≥98% purity, including hexanoic (C6:0), octanoic (C8:0), and decanoic (C10:0) acids. Treatment diets were formulated in 2 phases (7 to 11 and 11 to 23 kg BW) and formulated to meet or exceed NRC requirement estimates. Treatments (n = 8) were a dose response including 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% added MCFA blend (1:1:1 ratio C6:0, C8:0, and C10:0), as well as treatments with individual additions of 0.5% C6:0, C8:0, or C10:0. Fecal samples were collected from pigs fed control and 1.5% MCFA blend diets on days 0 and 14 and analyzed using 16s rDNA sequencing. Following feed manufacture, feed was stored in bags at barn temperature and humidity for 40 d before laboratory inoculation with PEDV. Subsamples of retained feed were inoculated with PEDV to achieve a titer of 104 TCID50/g and separate sample bottles were analyzed on 0 and 3 d post-inoculation (dpi). Overall, ADG and ADFI were increased (linear, P ≤ 0.010) and feed efficiency (G:F) improved (linear, P = 0.004) with increasing MCFA blend. Pigs fed 0.5% C8:0 had greater (P = 0.038) ADG compared with pigs fed the control diet, and G:F was improved (P ≤ 0.024) when pigs were fed 0.5% C6:0, 0.5% C8:0, or 0.5% C10:0 compared with control. An inclusion level × day interaction was observed (quadratic, P = 0.023), where PEDV Ct values increased (quadratic, P = 0.001) on 0 dpi with increasing levels of MCFA blend inclusion and also increased on 3 dpi (linear, P < 0.001). Fecal microbial diversity and composition were similar between control and 1.5% MCFA blend. In summary, the use of MCFA in nursery pig diets improves growth performance, provides residual mitigation activity against PEDV, and does not significantly alter fecal microbial composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work provided a novel anaerobic fermentation paradigm of inoculating yeast to internally generate ethanol from FW as ED for subsequent MCFAs production. [Display omitted] • High MCFAs production from FW was achieved with self-produced ethanol instead of external electron donor. • Ethanol was on-site generated from FW by the inoculation of yeast. • A coordinated metabolic route related to MCFAs production from FW was established. • This novel biotechnology does not require major changes to existing anaerobic fermentation infrastructure but reduce the cost. As food waste (FW) is a largely available and carbon-rich feedstock, bulk production of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) via chain elongation (CE) from FW is of great interest to biotechnology. However, the development of this emerging biotechnology is limited by the high cost from external electron donor (ED) input. To solve this bottleneck, replacing external ED input with self-produced ED in the system is a key. Therefore, this study provided a novel anaerobic fermentation paradigm of inoculating yeast to internally generate ethanol from FW as ED for subsequent MCFAs production. Batch experimental results demonstrated that cumulative 1540 mg COD/L of MCFAs was produced from FW with endogenous ethanol when inoculating 4.50 × 107 cells/ml-FW Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the fermenter over 20 days. In contrast, only a very small amount of MCFAs were detected in the control (58.98 mg COD/L). In continuous operation over 61 days, around 1300 mg COD/L of MCFAs was steadily obtained in the long-term fermenter with yeast assisted, which was almost 1.49 times higher than that from the control. The enriching S. cerevisiae responsible for on-site ethanol generation and chain-elongating bacteria including Caproiciproducens and Oscillibacter jointly promoted FW-derived MCFAs productions. Higher abundance of genes encoding substrate degradation, ethanol biosynthesis and CE further ensured the higher MCFAs production in the yeast-assisted system. This biotechnology does not require major changes to the design and operation of existing anaerobic fermentation infrastructure. Instead, the utilization of FW was enlarged through producing high-value MCFAs while waiving the cost of external ED by using inexpensive cheap yeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simultaneous biogas upgrading and MCFAs production achieved for the first time. • Optimal initial H 2 , CH 4 , CO 2 ratio and ethanol level proved critical for efficiency. • Clostridium dominate the promotion of H 2 /CO 2 assimilation and MCFAs production. • 96.9 % CH 4 purity and 29.2 mmol L−1d−1 MCFAs production rate were achieved by a dMBfR. Utilizing H 2 -assisted ex-situ biogas upgrading and acetate recovery holds great promise for achieving high value utilization of biogas. However, it faces a significant challenge due to acetate's high solubility and limited economic value. To address this challenge, we propose an innovative strategy for simultaneous upgrading of biogas and the production of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). A series of batch tests evaluated the strategy's efficiency under varying initial gas ratios (v/v) of H 2 , CH 4 , CO 2 , along with varying ethanol concentrations. The results identified the optimal conditions as initial gas ratios of 3H 2 :3CH 4 :2CO 2 and an ethanol concentration of 241.2 mmol L−1, leading to maximum CH 4 purity (97.2 %), MCFAs yield (54.2 ± 2.1 mmol L−1), and MCFAs carbon-flow distribution (62.3 %). Additionally, an analysis of the microbial community's response to varying conditions highlighted the crucial roles played by microorganisms such as Clostridium, Proteiniphilum, Sporanaerobacter , and Bacteroides in synergistically assimilating H 2 and CO 2 for MCFAs production. Furthermore, a 160-day continuous operation using a dual-membrane aerated biofilm reactor (dMBfR) was conducted. Remarkable achievements were made at a hydraulic retention time of 2 days, including an upgraded CH 4 content of 96.4 ± 0.3 %, ethanol utilization ratio (URethanol) of 95.7 %, MCFAs production rate of 28.8 ± 0.3 mmol L−1 d−1, and MCFAs carbon-flow distribution of 70 ± 0.8 %. This enhancement is proved to be an efficient in biogas upgrading and MCFAs production. These results lay the foundation for maximizing the value of biogas, reducing CO 2 emissions, and providing valuable insights into resource recovery. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work highlights a promising approach for green, economic, and highly effective synthesis of novel dual-function medium-chain structured phospholipid emulsifiers in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. [Display omitted] • Novel dual-function MCSPL emulsifiers were developed for food engineering. • MCSPLs were highly efficiently synthesized in a magnetically recyclable manner. • MCSPL products were certified to possess more superior emulsifying properties. • MCSPL products have potential for use as oil–in–water emulsifiers. It is of great importance to develop a most efficient, recyclable, and ecofriendly process to produce novel structured phospholipid emulsifiers. Herein, innovative medium-chain structured phospholipid (MCSPL) emulsifiers were synthesized through transesterification of soybean lecithins with medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) promoted by Zn- or Al-incorporated Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 , denoted by Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /M (M = Zn or Al). Resultingly, Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /M (M = Zn or Al) exhibited the most superior reactivity with 97.1% or 88.7% MCFA incorporation to other benchmark catalysts and also had excellent magnetic separability and recyclability. Noticeably, targeted MCSPLs possessed almost more superior emulsifying properties to other phospholipid emulsifiers, and had potential for use as oil–in–water emulsifiers. Conclusively, the present findings demonstrate that transesterification promoted by Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /M (M = Zn or Al) can be a promising approach for green, economic, and highly effective synthesis of novel dual-function phospholipid emulsifiers with bioactive and emulsifying properties in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to compare the effects of adding sodium butyrate (SB), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), or n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) to the diet of sows during late gestation and lactation on the reproductive performance of sows and the growth performance and intestinal health of suckling piglets. Twenty-four sows (Landrace × Large-White hybrid; third parity; 200 ± 15 kg) were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 diets: basal diet (control group), basal diet + 1 g SB/kg (SB group), basal diet + 7.75 g MCFA/kg (MCFA group), or basal diet + 68.2 g n-3 PUFA/kg (n-3 PUFA group). The experiment began on day 85 of gestation and ended day 22 of lactation. Colostrum samples were collected from each sow. After the experiment, blood and tissue samples were collected from 1 randomly selected piglet. The results showed that the weaning-to-estrus interval of sows in the SB, MCFA, and n-3 PUFA groups was shorter than that of sows in the control group (P < 0.05). The incidence of diarrhea in suckling piglets in the SB, MCFA, and n-3 PUFA groups was lower than that of piglets in the control group (P < 0.05). The fat, protein, IgA, IgG, and IgM concentration in colostrum from sows increased following dietary supplementation with SB, MCFA, or n-3 PUFA (P < 0.05). Comparison with the control group, the mRNA expression of claudin-1, zona occludens 1, and interleukin-10 increased in the jejunum mucosa of suckling piglets in the SB, MCFA, and n-3 PUFA groups, while that of TLR4 decreased (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the Chao1 and ACE indexes of microbial flora in the colon contents of piglets in the SB, MCFA, and MCFA groups increased (P < 0.05), while the relative abundance of Firmicutes , Actinobacteria , and Synergistetes decreased at the phylum level (P < 0.05). In conclusion, during late pregnancy and lactation, dietary SB supplementation had a greater effect on intestinal health and caused a greater decrease in preweaning mortality of suckling piglets than did dietary MCFA or n-3 PUFA supplementation; dietary MCFA supplementation shortened the weaning-to-estrus interval of sows to a greater extent than did dietary SB or n-3 PUFA supplementation; and dietary n-3 PUFA supplementation increased the fat and protein content in the colostrum to the greatest extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy conversion of waste activated sludge alkaline fermentation liquor (WASAFL) to medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) is promising for sludge treatment and carbon recovery. However, the single electron donor (ED) fermentation for MCFAs production has irreparable defects. To resolve the respective shortcomings of single electron donor (ED) and improve the MCFAs production efficiency from WASAFL, a novel biotechnical process utilizing ethanol and lactate as co-EDs within different combination ratios were investigated. The results verified that MCFAs production was highest with ethanol to lactate ratio of 1:3 (6988.54 ± 208.18 mg COD/L), being 1.46 and 1.87 times of that with ethanol and lactate as single ED. The kinetic analysis results confirmed that ethanol to lactate ratio of 1:3 resulted in the highest MCFAs yield and formation rate. The microbial taxa results uncovered that the relative abundance of Sphaerochaeta and Haloimpatiens showed positive correlation with MCFAs production. The metabolic pathway analysis indicated that the ethanol oxidization, lactate oxidization, acrylate pathway, reverse β oxidization and fatty acid biosynthesis pathway might take place in the WASAFL fermentation system, contributing to the WASAFL-to-MCFAs conversion. [Display omitted] • Lower ratio of ethanol: lactate promoted MCFAs production from WASAFL. • Higher or equal ratio of ethanol: lactate reduced MCFA production and selectivity. • Under sole ED condition, ethanol is more efficient for MCFA production than lactate with WASAFL as substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract An easy performed surfactant-mediated microextraction approach using switchable hydrophilicity solvent was proposed for the sample pretreatment of solid food samples. The procedure included mixing of solid food sample and aqueous solution of sodium hexanoate provided a micellar solution formation. By this sample pretreatment step, the hydrophobic analytes were extracted into the micellar solution. The injection of sulfuric acid solution into the sample suspension decreased the pH value of the aqueous phase and as a result promoted the hexanoic acid phase formation and final phase separation from the sample suspension. The performance of the suggested approach was demonstrated by the HPLC-UV determination of Sudan dyes (Sudan I, Sudan II and Sudan III) in spiked salted salmon and spices powder samples. This analytical task was used as a proof-of-concept example. The LOD values, calculated from the blank tests based on 3σ, were 0.15 μmol L−1 (0.19 mg kg−1), 0.02 μmol L−1 (0.028 mg kg−1) and 0.10 μmol L−1 (0.18 mg kg−1) for Sudan I, Sudan II and Sudan III, respectively. The sample pretreatment time was 25 min. The proposed method has advantages in comparison with previous developed methods for Sudan dyes determination due to the low consumption of extraction solvent and simplicity of sample pretreatment steps. The developed method can be applied for hydrophobic analytes microextraction from various solid samples (pharmaceutical, food, soil samples, etc.). Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Surfactant-mediated microextraction approach using switchable hydrophilicity solvent • Medium chain fatty acid as switchable hydrophilicity solvent for solid food sample analysis • Surfactant-mediated microextraction approach coupled with HPLC-UV • Determination of Sudan dyes in food samples using switchable hydrophilicity solvent [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various strategies have been proposed to mitigate potential risk of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) transmission via feed and feed ingredients. Wet disinfection has been found to be the most effective decontamination of feed mill surfaces; however, this is not practical on a commercial feed production scale. Another potential mitigation strategy would be using chemically treated rice hulls flushed through the feed manufacturing equipment. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) or formaldehyde-treated rice hull flush batches as potential chemical mitigation strategies for PEDV during feed manufacturing. Feed without evidence of PEDV RNA contamination was inoculated with PEDV. Based on polymerase chain reaction analysis, this feed had a cycle threshold (Ct) = 30.2 and was confirmed infective in bioassay. After manufacturing the PEDV-positive feed, untreated rice hulls, formaldehyde-treated rice hulls, 2% MCFA- (a 1:1:1 blend of hexanoic, octanoic, and decanoic acid) treated rice hulls, or 10% MCFA-treated rice hulls were flushed through laboratory scale mixers. For the untreated rice hulls, 3 of 6 samples had detectable PEDV RNA, whereas 1 of 6 formaldehyde-treated rice hull flush samples and 2 of 6 of the 2% MCFA rice hull flush samples had detectable PEDV RNA. However, PEDV RNA was not detected in any of the 10% MCFA rice hull flush samples. Then, rice hulls treated with 10% MCFA were mixed and discharged through a production scale mixer and bucket elevator following PEDV-positive feed. No rice hull flush or feed samples from the mixer following chemically treated rice hull flush had detectible PEDV RNA. However, one 10% MCFA rice hull sample collected from the bucket elevator discharge spout had detectible PEDV RNA. Dust collected following mixing of PEDV contaminated feed had detectable PEDV RNA (Ct = 29.4) and was infectious. However, dust collected immediately after the 10% MCFA rice hull flush batch had a reduced quantity of PEDV RNA (Ct = 33.7) and did not cause infection. Overall, the use of rice hull flushes effectively reduced the quantity of detectible RNA present after mixing a batch of PEDV-positive feed. Chemical treatment of rice hulls with formaldehyde or 10% MCFA provided additional reduction in detectible RNA. Finally, dust collected after manufacturing PEDV-inoculated feed has the potential to serve as a vector for PEDV transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A switchable hydrophilicity solvent membrane-based microextraction (SHS-MME) strategy for simple and highly-available sample pretreatment of complex matrices has been proposed. The SHS-MME procedure based on extraction of target analytes from an aqueous sample into a porous hydrophobic membrane impregnated with a switchable hydrophilicity solvent (SHS) followed by SHS ionization and back-extraction of the analytes in alkaline acceptor solution. The medium-chain fatty acids were investigated as SHS for the SHS-MME of fluoroquinolones (fleroxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin). The SHS-MME was successfully coupled with a HPLC-FLD for the determination of fluoroquinolones in shrimp samples with no further sample pretreatment. The calibration graphs were linear over the concentration ranges of 3–1500 μg L −1 for ofloxacin, 10–1000 μg L −1 for norfloxacin, 15–1500 μg L −1 for lomefloxacin and fleroxacin. The limits of detection, calculated from a blank test based on 3σ, were 1 μg L −1 for ofloxacin, 3 μg L −1 for norfloxacin and 5 μg L −1 for lomefloxacin and fleroxacin. The SHS ionization can be considered as new potential fields in analytical application of membrane-based liquid phase microextraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • High concentration and specificity of medium-chain fatty acids were achieved. • n -Caproate was the dominant product with the highest proportion of 48.02%. • Fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB) pathway was the main chain elongation pathway. • Unclassified_Ruminococcaceae and Limosilactobacillus mainly involved in FAB pathway. This study performed a long-term operation to achieve efficient medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) production by anaerobic fermentation of food waste without external electron donors. The results show that total MCFAs reached the highest concentration of 29,886.10 mg COD/L, and n -caproate was the primary product, reaching the current maximum concentration of 28,191.66 mg COD/L. Microbial composition analysis demonstrated Lactobacillus , Bifidobacterium , Sporanaerobacter , and Caproiciproducens constituted the core community throughout the process. Metagenomic analysis suggested that two pathways, reverse β-oxidization (RBO) and fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB), were observed, and the FAB pathway was the main CE pathway. Unclassified_f_Ruminococcaceae and Limosilactobacillus were the main participants in the FAB pathway. This study is expected to provide new insights into MCFAs production from organic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) has been used in animal production, not only as an energy substance, but also as a kind of functional material, especially in pig production. At present, however, the action mechanism of MCFAs on ingestion and growth is not fully clear. In addition, there is no consensus for effect of MCFAs on feed intake and weight gain in animals. In this review, we summarized the information from comprehensive and rational arguments for the role of MCFAs on feed intake and weight gain in monogastric animal studies(mainly in rats and pigs). As a result, the supplementation level of MCFAs in diet is a key influence factor on animal ingestion, of which underlying action mechanism may be attributed to influence of MCFAs on appetite hormones (mainly, insulin and Acyl ghrelin) and fluctuation of energy balance. Additionally, the influence of MCFAs on growth performance is related to addition level of MCFAs, the types of MCFAs, characteristics of based diet, as well as the physiological status of animal. The effectiveness of MCFAs on ingestion and weight gain depend on the balance of the various influence factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of lipids in the liver can lead to cell dysfunction and steatosis, an important factor in pathogenesis causing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The mechanisms related to lipid deposition in the liver, however, remain poorly understood. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) on the lipolysis and expression of lipid-sensing genes in human liver cells with steatosis. A cellular steatosis model, which is suitable to experimentally investigate the impact of fat accumulation in the liver, was established in human normal liver cells (LO2 cells) with a mixture of free fatty acids (oleate/palmitate, 2:1) at 200 μm for 24 h incubation. MCFA was found to down-regulate expression of liver X receptor-α, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, CD 36 and lipoprotein lipase in this cellular model, and have positive effects on adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase. These results suggest that MCFA may reduce lipid accumulation by regulating key lipid-sensing genes in human liver cells with steatosis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with obesity-related metabolic complications, which caused by excess energy intake and physical inactivity apart from genetic defects. The mechanisms that promote disease progression from NAFLD to further liver injury are still unclear. We hypothesize that the progression involved '2nd hit' is strongly influenced by the type of fatty acids in diets. Flow cytometric analysis showed that medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) markedly decreased the percentage of late apoptotic and necrotic cells compared with long-chain fatty acid (LCFA), and MCFA inhibited the activities of caspase-3 and -9 in human liver cells with steatosis. Western blot analysis found that the levels of inflammatory markers (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1-β, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were substantially reduced by MCFA compared with LCFA. Proteomic analysis further showed that LCFA inhibited the expression of antioxidant enzymes, and increased the expression of proteins associated with oxidative stress. It was found that LCFA (palmitate), not MCFA induced apoptosis, oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory responses in the hepatic cells with steatosis. In conclusion, reasonable selection of dietary fats has potential to translate therapeutically by ameliorating disease progression in patients with NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effect of 5 saturated fatty acids and their related alcohols on the growth of Candida albicans. The inhibitory effects of these compounds against the yeast and hyphal growth forms of C. albicans were examined using the modified NCCLS method and crystal violet staining, respectively. Among these compounds, capric acid inhibited both types of growth at the lowest concentration. The IC80, i.e., the concentration at which the compounds reduced the growth of C. albicans by 80% in comparison with the growth of control cells, of capric acid for the hyphal growth of this fungus, which is indispensable for its mucosal invasion, was 16.7 μM. These fatty acids, including capric acid, have an unpleasant smell, which may limit their therapeutic use. To test them at reduced concentrations, the combined effect of these fatty acids and oligonol, a depolymerized polyphenol, was evaluated in vitro. These combinations showed potent synergistic inhibition of hyphal growth [fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index = 0.319]. Our results demonstrated that capric acid combined with oligonol could be used as an effective anti-Candida compound. It may be a candidate prophylactic or therapeutic tool against mucosal Candida infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An even medium-chain triglyceride ( MCT)-based diet is the mainstay of treatment in very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase ( VLCAD) deficiency ( VLCADD). Previous studies with magnetic resonance spectroscopy have shown an impact of MCT on the average fatty acid chain length in abdominal fat. We therefore assume that medium-chain fatty acids ( MCFAs) are elongated and accumulate in tissue as long-chain fatty acids. In this study, we explored the hepatic effects of long-term supplementation with MCT or triheptanoin, an odd-chain C7-based triglyceride, in wild-type and VLCAD-deficient ( VLCAD−/−) mice after 1 year of supplementation as compared with a control diet. The de novo biosynthesis and elongation of fatty acids, and peroxisomal β-oxidation, were quantified by RT- PCR. This was followed by a comprehensive analysis of hepatic and cardiac fatty acid profiles by GC- MS. Long-term application of even and odd MCFAs strongly induced de novo biosynthesis and elongation of fatty acids in both wild-type and VLCAD−/− mice, leading to an alteration of the hepatic fatty acid profiles. We detected de novo-synthesized and elongated fatty acids, such as heptadecenoic acid (C17:1n9), eicosanoic acid (C20:1n9), erucic acid (C22:1n9), and mead acid (C20:3n9), that were otherwise completely absent in mice under control conditions. In parallel, the content of monounsaturated fatty acids was massively increased. Furthermore, we observed strong upregulation of peroxisomal β-oxidation in VLCAD−/− mice, especially when they were fed an MCT diet. Our data raise the question of whether long-term MCFA supplementation represents the most efficient treatment in the long term. Studies on the hepatic toxicity of triheptanoin are still ongoing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to improve the absorption behavior of N-251, a novel antimalarial drug, by preparing an appropriate self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS). Methods: Two different types of SNEDDS formulations, medium-chain fatty acid-based SNEDDS (MC-SNEDDS) and long-chain fatty acid-based SNEDDS (LC-SNEDDS), were prepared based on pseudo-ternary phase diagram, and examined for their in vivo oral absorption behavior in rats. Results: Oral dosing of MC-SNEDDS formulations significantly improved the bioavailability (BA) of N-251 compared with N-251 powders. However, its high hepatic extraction limited the BA of N-251 to only 0.49 for MC-SNEDDS B, the best formulation of MC-SNEDDS. LC-SNEDDS formulations, especially LC-SNEDDS F provided the highest BA, 0.65, and successfully attenuated the inter-individual difference in the absorption behavior. Furthermore, it was confirmed that lymphatic transport of N-251 for LC-SNEDDS F was significantly increased up to around 3.19 times larger than that for MC-SNEDDS B. Simulation study suggested that 20 to 39% of N-251 uptaken by the small intestine would be delivered to lymphatic system after oral administration of LC-SNEDDS F. Conclusions: SNEDDS formulations significantly improved the absorption behavior of N-251 and long-chain fatty acid-based lipid further improved it by avoiding the hepatic first-pass elimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeds of members of the genus Cuphea accumulate medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs; 8:0-14:0). MCFA- and palmitic acid- (16:0) rich vegetable oils have received attention for jet fuel production, given their similarity in chain length to Jet A fuel hydrocarbons. Studies were conducted to test genes, including those from Cuphea, for their ability to confer jet fuel-type fatty acid accumulation in seed oil of the emerging biofuel crop Camelina sativa. Transcriptomes from Cuphea viscosissima and Cuphea pulcherrima developing seeds that accumulate >90% of C8 and C10 fatty acids revealed three FatB cDNAs (CpuFatB3, CvFatB1, and CpuFatB4) expressed predominantly in seeds and structurally divergent from typical FatB thioesterases that release 16:0 from acyl carrier protein (ACP). Expression of CpuFatB3 and CvFatB1 resulted in Camelina oil with capric acid (10:0), and CpuFatB4 expression conferred myristic acid (14:0) production and increased 16:0. Co-expression of combinations of previously characterized Cuphea and California bay FatBs produced Camelina oils with mixtures of C8-C16 fatty acids, but amounts of each fatty acid were less than obtained by expression of individual FatB cDNAs. Increases in lauric acid (12:0) and 14:0, but not 10:0, in Camelina oil and at the sn-2 position of triacylglycerols resulted from inclusion of a coconut lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase specialized for MCFAs. RNA interference (RNAi) suppression of Camelina p-ketoacyl-ACP synthase II, however, reduced 12:0 in seeds expressing a 12:0-ACP-specific FatB. Camelina lines presented here provide platforms for additional metabolic engineering targeting fatty acid synthase and specialized acyltransferases for achieving oils with high levels of jet fuel-type fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Sugar medium-chain fatty acid esters are a new type of biodegradable, non-toxic, non-irritant and non-ionic surfactant with proven antimicrobial activity. Various sugar medium-chain fatty monoesters were prepared enzymatically using Lipozyme TLIM in organic solvent. Properties such as surface tension, antimicrobial activity, and ability to foam, emulsify and stabilize emulsions at room temperature were evaluated to conduct systematic studies on the structure-function relationships of these compounds. RESULTS Results showed that all monoesters displayed good surface activity properties. In particular, sucrose monolaurate was the most excellent surfactant among 12 monoesters. Sugar monoesters containing C8 to C12 alkyl chains showed a broad spectrum of increasing antimicrobial activity. All tested monoesters were more effective against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacterium) than Escherichia coli O157:H7 (Gram-negative bacterium). Methyl α- d-glycoside monoesters were the most effective, whereas raffinose monoesters possessed poor antimicrobial activity. CONCLUSIONS Generally, the length of fatty acid chain (hydrophobic group) and sugar groups (hydrophilic group) for sugar medium-chain fatty acid monoesters both affected the surface properties and antimicrobial activities. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Sugar medium-chain fatty acid esters are a new type of biodegradable, non-toxic, non-irritant and non-ionic surfactant with proven antimicrobial activity. Various sugar medium-chain fatty monoesters were prepared enzymatically using Lipozyme TLIM in organic solvent. Properties such as surface tension, antimicrobial activity, and ability to foam, emulsify and stabilize emulsions at room temperature were evaluated to conduct systematic studies on the structure–function relationships of these compounds. RESULTS: Results showed that all monoesters displayed good surface activity properties. In particular, sucrose monolaurate was the most excellent surfactant among 12 monoesters. Sugar monoesters containing C8 to C12 alkyl chains showed a broad spectrum of increasing antimicrobial activity. All tested monoesters were more effective against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacterium) than Escherichia coli O157:H7 (Gram-negative bacterium). Methyl α-d-glycoside monoesters were the most effective, whereas raffinose monoesters possessed poor antimicrobial activity. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, the length of fatty acid chain (hydrophobic group) and sugar groups (hydrophilic group) for sugar medium-chain fatty acid monoesters both affected the surface properties and antimicrobial activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary coconut oil as a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) source on performance, carcass composition and serum lipids in male broilers. A total of 540, one-day-old, male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 treatments with each treatment being applied to 6 replicates of 18 chicks. The basal diet (i.e., R0) was based on corn and soybean meal and was supplemented with 1.5% soybean oil during the starter phase (d 0 to 21) and 3.0% soybean oil during the grower phase (d 22 to 42). Four experimental diets were formulated by replacing 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the soybean oil with coconut oil (i.e., R25, R50, R75, and R100). Soybean oil and coconut oil were used as sources of long-chain fatty acid and MCFA, respectively. The feeding trial showed that dietary coconut oil had no effect on weight gain, feed intake or feed conversion. On d 42, serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were linearly decreased as the coconut oil level increased (p<0.01). Lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, and total lipase activities were linearly increased as the coconut oil level increased (p<0.01). Abdominal fat weight/eviscerated weight (p = 0.05), intermuscular fat width (p<0.01) and subcutaneous fat thickness (p<0.01) showed a significant quadratic relationship, with the lowest value at R75. These results indicated that replacement of 75% of the soybean oil in diets with coconut oil is the optimum level to reduce fat deposition and favorably affect lipid profiles without impairing performance in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fatty acids are classified as short-chain (SCFA), medium-chain (MCFA) or long-chain and hold promise as adjunctive chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of colorectal cancer. The antineoplastic potential of MCFA remains underexplored; accordingly, we compared the MCFA lauric acid (C12:0) to the SCFA butyrate (C4:0) in terms of their capacity to induce apoptosis, modify glutathione (GSH) levels, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), and modify phases of the cell cycle in Caco-2 and IEC-6 intestinal cell lines. Methods: Caco-2 and IEC-6 cells were treated with lauric acid, butyrate, or vehicle controls. Apoptosis, ROS, and cell cycle analysis were determined by flow cytometry. GSH availability was assessed by enzymology. Results: Lauric acid induced apoptosis in Caco-2 (p < 0.05) and IEC-6 cells (p < 0.05) compared to butyrate. In Caco-2 cells, lauric acid reduced GSH availability and generated ROS compared to butyrate (p < 0.05). Lauric acid reduced Caco-2 and IEC-6 cells in G0/G1and arrested cells in the S and G2/M phases. Lauric acid induced apoptosis in IEC-6 cells compared to butyrate (p < 0.05). Butyrate protected IEC-6 cells from ROS-induced damage, whereas lauric acid induced high levels of ROS compared to butyrate. Conclusion: Compared to butyrate, lauric acid displayed preferential antineoplastic properties, including induction of apoptosis in a CRC cell line. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An in-situ-CO 2 -SFA-ME-SFO was evaluated to quantify quercetin and morin. • A medium chain fatty acid was investigated as a switchable hydrophilicity solvent. • An In situ acid–based reaction generated carbon dioxide bubbles. • Solidification of the fatty acid provided separation without the specific equipment. • Morin and quercetin were determined in tea and fruit juice samples with good recovery. An in-situ produced CO 2 switchable fatty acid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic droplet (In-situ-CO 2 -SFA-ME-SFO) was evaluated for microextraction of two antioxidant flavonoids (morin and quercetin) in tea, fruit juice and vegetable samples prior to HPLC-UV. Medium-chain fatty acids (e.g. nonanoic acid) were investigated as switchable hydrophilicity solvents via pH adjustment. Sodium carbonate (Na 2 CO 3) was used to solubilize immiscible fatty acid in water as well as, to provide effervescence. The addition of H 2 SO 4 into the solution led to the in-situ chemical reaction with excess Na 2 CO 3 which resulted in effective dispersion of fatty acid through generated CO 2 and separation of phases. Subsequently, solidification of the fatty acid enabled facile separation without the need for sophisticated equipment. To optimize extraction process, the effects of some important parameters on the extraction recovery were investigated. At the optimum conditions, the limits of detection (LODs) and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were found 0.5 and 1.3 µg L−1 and 1.6 and 4.3 µg L−1 for morin and quercetin respectively. The preconcentration factors were 105 while, the relative standard deviations (RSDs %) of the method were < 3.5 % for both flavonoids. The recoveries of the analytes in tea, vegetable and fruit juice samples were in the range of 95.5 and 98.2% [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine whether altering the fatty acid (FA) profile of milk replacer (MR) with coconut oil, which contains a high concentration of medium-chain FA, to more closely match the FA profile typically found in whole milk from Jersey cows, would improve Jersey calf performance. Male (n = 18) and female (n = 32) Jersey calves were assigned at birth to 1 of 4 liquid diets: (1) pasteurized Jersey saleable whole milk [pSWM; 27.9% crude protein (CP) and 33.5% fat]; (2) 29.3% CP and 29.1% fat MR, containing 100% of fat as edible lard (100:00); (3) 28.2% CP and 28.0% fat MR, containing 80% of fat as lard and 20% as coconut oil (80:20); and (4) 28.2% CP and 28.3% fat MR, containing 60% of the fat as lard and 40% as coconut oil (60:40). Calves were fed their respective liquid diet twice daily during wk 1 through 7 and once daily until weaning (approximately wk 8). Calves had ad libitum access to grain and water, and calves were monitored 1 wk postweaning. Average daily gain and body weight did not differ by treatment. Calves fed pSWM tended to have greater hip height (HH) than calves fed 80:20 (80.5 vs. 79.7 cm). Coconut oil tended to have a quadratic effect on HH, with calves fed 100:00, 80:20, and 60:40 at 79.2, 79.7, and 78.5 cm, respectively. No difference was observed in withers height between pSWM and 80:20. Coconut oil had a quadratic effect on withers height, with calves fed 100:00, 80:20, and 60:40 at 76.6, 77.5, and 76.5 cm, respectively. Change in HH from birth to 9 wk tended to be greater for calves fed pSWM than calves fed 80:20 (0.218 vs. 0.194 cm/d). Calves fed pSWM had higher milk dry matter intake (DMI) than calves fed 80:20 (0.580 vs. 0.518 kg/d). No effect of coconut oil was observed on milk DMI. Grain DMI and total DMI did not differ among treatments. Calves fed pSWM had an increase in days with a fecal score >2 compared with calves fed 80:20 (4.24 vs. 2.00 d). Coconut oil had a quadratic effect on fecal score, with calves fed 100:00, 80:20, and 60:40 scoring 4.00, 2.00, and 3.63 d, respectively. Respiratory score did not differ among treatments. In conclusion, DMI and average daily gain were similar among treatments. However, differences among treatments in skeletal growth and fecal scores are indicative of some possible benefits of medium-chain FA on calf health and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]