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There is currently no comprehensive feed consumption database using a harmonised feed classification system. This means there is a lack of accurate information on the individual amount of feed consumed daily by farmed and companion animals. Such a database would support exposure assessments of feed. This report provides a complete overview of the main feed databases, their structure, and how feed materials are classified. It highlights their limits and potential and reports any differences from FoodEx2. A proposal for future updates of FoodEx2 and the development of a comprehensive feed consumption model database is provided. The proposed model database is based on three information areas represented by three Excel sheets. These represent Animal, Feed, and Consumption, allowing the determination of animal dietary exposure. A proof of concept of the developed model database was carried out by performing two case studies focused on genetically modified feed and feed contaminants. For genetically modified feed, a reduced animal dietary exposure was obtained compared to estimations reported in the scientific opinions and obtained using Excel calculators proposed by EFSA. For the contaminants in feed, differences were limited, resulting in slightly higher or lower exposure values. Weaknesses and possible mitigations are also addressed, and recommendations are made for a comprehensive feed consumption database. These include recommendations establishing an EU classification system in which the main features and items reported in the European Catalogue of Feed Materials are harmonised with FoodEx2. It is also recommended that real‐life animal consumption data are collected by the feed industry, animal nutritionists, breeders, and farmers, along with the collaboration of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high number of varieties from corn (Zea mays L.) have been consumed for long time all over the world, however pigmented varieties are recently gaining renewed attention due to their beneficial effects and polyphenolic content. The natural lack of gluten makes corn suitable for consumption by celiac population, who need to control their inflammatory state through an appropriate gluten-free diet. The biological effects of polyphenols from pigmented corn are poorly investigated in the context of celiac disease. In this work, we analyzed through HPLC-DAD the phenolic composition of two Italian purple and red varieties ("Scagliolo Rosso" and "Rostrato di Rovetta", respectively) comparing their effects in human intestinal epithelial cells (CaCo-2 cells). The possible impact of gastro-intestinal digestion following oral consumption was assessed as well. The phenolic profile showed the presence of phenolic acids in both varieties, while anthocyanins were identified in Scagliolo Rosso only. After simulated digestion, the level of polyphenols did not significantly change and paralleled with an increased scavenging activity. In CaCo-2 cells, stimulated by a proinflammatory cocktail containing gliadin-derived peptides (IL-1β, IFN-γ, digested gliadin), pigmented corn extracts inhibited the release of CXCL-10 and sICAM-1, with mechanisms partially ascribed to NF-κB impairment. At the same concentration (200 μg/mL), ROS production and catalase depletion were reverted through Nrf-2-independent mechanisms. Our data suggest that polyphenols from pigmented corns might help in controlling the inflammatory and oxidative state of people with celiac disease at intestinal level, at concentrations potentially achievable through a gluten-free diet., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Pituitary cells that express the transcription factor SOX2 are stem cells because they can self-renew and differentiate into multiple pituitary hormone-producing cell types as organoids. Wounding and physiological challenges can activate pituitary stem cells, but cell numbers are not fully restored, and the ability to mobilize stem cells decreases with increasing age. The basis of these limitations is still unknown. The regulation of stem cell quiescence and activation involves many different signalling pathways, including those mediated by WNT, Hippo and several cytokines; more research is needed to understand the interactions between these pathways. Pituitary organoids can be formed from human or mouse embryonic stem cells, or from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Human pituitary organoid transplantation is sufficient to induce corticosterone release in hypophysectomized mice, raising the possibility of therapeutic applications. Today, pituitary organoids have the potential to assess the role of individual genes and genetic variants on hormone production ex vivo, providing an important tool for the advancement of exciting frontiers in pituitary stem cell biology and pituitary organogenesis. In this article, we provide an overview of notable discoveries in pituitary stem cell function and highlight important areas for future research., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disease. To date, the only universally recognized treatment for CD is the gluten-free diet (GFD). Despite the GFD, a state of inflammation and oxidative stress could remain at the intestinal level of celiac patients. Several components of the diet, such as phenolic compounds with known antioxidant properties, could play a protective role in the inflammatory state of patients with CD. The objective of this study was the characterization of the phenolic profile and the antioxidant capacity of pigmented cereals (rice and corn) from the Italian market and farms. Different in vitro methods were applied: Folin-Ciocalteu assay, pH differential method, DPPH assay, TEAC assay, and High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography technique. According to the results, pigmented varieties are possible valuable sources of phenolic compounds and anthocyanins with high antioxidant activity. They could be used as alternative ingredients for the formulation of gluten-free products., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.