The digestive characteristics of plant proteins are crucial for their nutritional value and utilization efficiency. In this study, an in vitro semi-dynamic digestion model was employed to investigate the gastric digestion process of soybean protein after treatment with phytase. The results found that phytase treatment reduced the phytate content in soybean proteins (22.83 ± 0.09 to 8.72 ± 0.07 mg/g), shifted its isoelectric point towards the alkaline range by 1 pH unit, and significantly improved its solubility at pH 4.0. Particularly for protein sample treated with phytase after acid precipitation, the formation of aggregates during digestion was weakened, resulting in a significantly higher digestion rate compared to untreated SPI, with digestion being at least 15 min faster than SPI. This study provides a strategy for preparing soybean protein with faster digestion and weaker clot-forming ability during digestion, which offers insights for the application of soybean protein in clinical nutrition products and specialized medical foods.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus has a worldwide prevalence of 10.5% in the adult population (20-79 years), and by 2045, the prevalence is expected to keep rising to one in eight adults living with diabetes. Mild cognitive impairment has a global prevalence of 19.7% in adults aged 50 years. Both conditions have shown a concerning increase in prevalence rates over the past 10 years, highlighting a growing public health challenge. Future forecasts indicate that the prevalence of dementia (no estimations done for individuals with mild cognitive impairment) is expected to nearly triple by 2050. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment, and such impairment increase the likelihood of poor glycemic/metabolic control. High phytate intake has been shown to be a protective factor against the development of cognitive impairment in observational studies. Diary phytate intake might reduce the micro- and macrovascular complications of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus through different mechanisms. We describe the protocol of the first trial (the PHYND trial) that evaluate the effect of daily phytate supplementation over 56 weeks with a two-arm double-blind placebo-controlled study on the progression of mild cognitive impairment, cerebral iron deposition, and retinal involvement in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our hypothesis proposes that phytate, by inhibiting advanced glycation end product formation and chelating transition metals, will improve cognitive function and attenuate the progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment to dementia in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and mild cognitive impairment. Additionally, we predict that phytate will reduce iron accumulation in the central nervous system, mitigate neurodegenerative changes in both the central nervous system and retina, and induce alterations in biochemical markers associated with neurodegeneration.

This study investigated the effect of low-intensity pulsed electric field (PEF) (0.3-0.7 kV/cm) and/or germination (0-72 h, 20 °C) on faba beans prior to flour- and breadmaking. PEF (0.5 and 0.7 kV/cm) had no significant effect on the germination performance of faba bean but had a positive effect on in vitro starch and protein hydrolysis of PEF-treated beans germinated for 72 h. The incorporation of flour from soaked, germinated, PEF-treated, and PEF-treated+germinated faba beans into wheat bread, at 30% mass level, improved the nutritional composition (total starch and protein contents) and protein digestibility but it reduced the specific volume and increased the density, brownness, and hardness of the bread. This finding shows for the first time that PEF-treatment (<0.7 kV/cm) of faba beans followed by germination (72 h) improved in vitro starch and protein hydrolysis of its flour and the protein digestibility at gastric phase of its enriched wheat bread.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has been associated with olfactory disturbances in many infected patients. The increase in calcium levels in nasal secretions plays an essential role in the olfactory process with a desensitizing effect on olfactory receptor neurons and negative effects on odor transmission. Calcium chelating agents have the ability to bind calcium in nasal mucus and prevent the negative effects associated with calcium increase.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work is to demonstrate the intra-nasal topical application of sodium phytate, an environmentally friendly, non-harmful calcium chelating agent, to reduce the adverse effects of calcium on olfactory function and improve olfactory dysfunction according to COVID-19.
METHODS: Fifty-two patients with a previous COVID-19 and olfactory dysfunction lasting longer than 90 days were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial. Patients were divided into two equal groups: 26 patients received nasal spray containing 0.9% sodium chloride and 26 patients received nasal spray containing 1% sodium phytate. Olfactory function was measured before treatment and 1 month later using the Sniffin\' Sticks test. Calcium content of nasal secretions was determined before and after treatment with an ion-selective electrode.
RESULTS: A significant improvement from anosmia to hyposmia was demonstrated after the use of sodium phytate compared with no improvement after the use of sodium chloride. In addition, a decrease in the level of calcium in nasal secretions was observed after the use of sodium phytate.
CONCLUSIONS: Sodium phytate has benefit role on improving the olfactory function after COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated phytic acid (IP6) effect on the viability, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and calcium release of human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells in optimal (OGL) and elevated glucose level (EGL) in cell culture media.
METHODS: Cells were seeded in OGL (1000mg/L) or EGL (4500 mg/L) media. IP6 was added at 0.005%, 0.01% or 0.02% concentrations for 24 or 48h, and XTT assay was performed. Cell differentiation and calcium release in presence of 0.02% IP6 in OGL or EGL in non-osteogenic or osteogenic media were analyzed using ALP assay and alizarin red staining, respectively.
RESULTS: In OGL, IP6 enhanced the viability of the cells at both exposure times (P<0.05). However, IP6 lowered the viability of the cells with the presence of EGL compared to the control at both exposure times, except for 0.02% IP6 which showed comparable viability to the control at 48 h. In OGL and EGL, ALP activity of the cells was not affected by the presence of IP6 in non-osteogenic media; however, in osteogenic media IP6 lowered the ALP activity. Meanwhile, calcium release was the highest with IP6 within osteogenic media of EGL.
CONCLUSIONS: IP6 effects on the HPDL cells were dependent on IP6 concentration, time of exposure, glucose levels and the osteogenic condition of the media.
CONCLUSIONS: This study gives insights on the potential therapeutic effect of IP6 as adjunctive periodontal therapy in patients with diabetes.

A rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) composite was prepared by compounding phytic acid (PA)-functionalized Graphite oxide (PA-GO) with flame-retardant poly (Ammonium phosphate) (APP) and expandable graphite (EG). The effects of PA-GO on the thermal, flame-retardant, and mechanical properties of RPUF were studied using a thermogravimetric analyzer, a limiting oxygen index (LOI) tester, a UL-94 vertical combustion tester, a cone calorimeter, scanning electron microscopy, and a universal tensile testing machine. The results indicated that there was a significant synergistic flame-retardant effect between PA-GO and the intumescent flame retardants (IFR) in the RPUF matrix. Compared with RPUF-1, the addition of 0.3 wt% PA-GO could increase LOI from 25.7% to 26.5%, increase UL-94 rating from V-2 to V-0, and reduce the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and total heat release rate (THR) by 28.5% and 22.2%, respectively. Moreover, the amount of residual char increased from 22.2 wt% to 24.6 wt%, and the char layer was continuous and dense, with almost no holes. Meanwhile, the loss of mechanical properties was apparently lightened.

UNASSIGNED: Various dentin conditioners have been recommended to enhance the bond strength of glass ionomer cement (GIC) to dentin. The purpose of the in vitro study was to determine the efficacy of three dentin conditioners on the microshear bond strength of GIC and the failure patterns of the restoration, as well as the efficacy of removing the smear layer using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
UNASSIGNED: Eighty healthy mandibular premolars were cleaned, isolated, and divided into four groups (n = 20). Flat coronal dentinal surfaces were accomplished by removing the occlusal surface of the crowns. Each group received the following treatment: group 1 with 10% polyacrylic acid; group 2 with 10% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); group 3 with 1% phytic acid; and group 4 with no conditioning (control). High-strength Fuji IX GIC was applied to the dentin, and samples were thermocycled and de-bonded with a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min employing a shear force. A stereomicroscope and a SEM were used to examine the dentin surface at magnifications of 2000× and 5000×. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey\'s post hoc test, and Chi-squared test were used to assess data on microshear bond strength, smear layer removal, and failure modes.
UNASSIGNED: The bond strength of group 4 was statistically highly significant (P ≤ 0.001) compared to the other groups. However, the differences between groups 2 and 3 were insignificant. Mixed pattern of failure was the least in group 3 (IP6). In group 3, the SEM photomicrograph revealed open dentinal tubules with complete removal of the smear layer.
UNASSIGNED: The results of the present study affirm that phytic acid enhances the bond strength of GIC restorations and removal of smear layer to a level comparable to EDTA as a dentin conditioner.

The use of in vivo models to assess nephrotoxicity has faced ethical limitations. A viable alternative is the ex vivo model that combines the 3 R principles with the preservation of tissue histology. Here, we established a gentamicin nephrotoxicity model using pigs` kidney explants and investigated the effect of phytic acid (IP6) against gentamicin- induced nephrotoxicity. A total of 360 kidney explants were divided into control, gentamicin (10 mM), IP6 (5 mM), and gentamicin+IP6 groups. The activity of gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT), creatinine levels, histological assessment, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokine expression were analyzed. Exposure to gentamicin induced an increase in GGT activity, creatinine levels, lesion score, lipoperoxidation and IL-8 expression. Explants exposed to IP6 remained like the control. The addition of IP6 to gentamicin prevented tissue damage, increasing the antioxidant status and gene expression of IL-10. This model proved to be an adequate experimental approach for identifying nephrotoxins and potential products to modulate the toxicity.

Adiponectin, a major adipokine secreted by adipose tissue, has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity. Myo-inositol hexaphosphate (phytate; InsP6) is a natural compound that is abundant in cereals, legumes, and nuts that has demonstrated to have different beneficial properties in patients with diabetes type 2.
We performed a randomized crossover trial to investigate the impact of daily consumption of InsP6 on serum levels of adiponectin, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM; n = 39). Thus, we measure serum levels of these inflammatory markers, classic vascular risk factors, and urinary InsP6 at baseline and at the end of the intervention period.
Patients who consumed InsP6 supplements for 3 months had higher levels of adiponectin and lower HbA1c than those who did not consume InsP6. No differences were found in TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta.
This is the first report to show that consumption of InsP6 increases plasma adiponectin concentration in patients with T2DM. Consequently, our findings indicate that following a phytate-rich diet has beneficial effects on adiponectin and HbA1c concentrations and it could help to prevent or minimize diabetic-related complications.

BACKGROUND: Endodontic failure is due to the persistence of microorganisms, especially Enterococcus faecalis, which have become resistant to disinfection measures. Sodium hypochlorite has been traditionally used, whereas phytic acid, a natural irrigant, needs to be further investigated.
METHODS: This ex-vivo study compared the antibacterial effectiveness of 0.9% saline solution, 5% sodium hypochlorite and 5% phytic acid against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 into the apical root canal third of 96 single-rooted extracted teeth, after 1-minute push-and-pull irrigation - a basic irrigation technique. Survived microorganisms were evaluated both through a traditional colony-forming-unit count and introducing the viability PCR, which precisely detects only DNA from intact cells: dead and damaged cells were excluded thanks to a propidium monoazide dye.
RESULTS: The culture methods showed that 5% sodium hypochlorite (median: 0 CFU/mL) has a significant greater antibacterial effectiveness (P<0.001) compared both to 0.9% saline solution (median: 4.76 CFU/mL) and 5% phytic acid (median: 0.25 CFU/mL). However, 5% phytic acid proved to be significantly more effective (P<0.001) than 0.9% saline solution. The viability PCR did not reveal a significant difference between 5% sodium hypochlorite (median: 4.12×104 survived bacteria) and 0.9% saline solution (median: 8.45×104 survived bacteria). Five percent phytic acid (median: 0.83×104 survived bacteria) was significantly more effective than both 0.9% saline solution (P<0.001) and 5% sodium hypochlorite (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that 5% phytic acid works against root canal bacteria even with a basic irrigation technique and viability PCR seems to lead to more reliable and sensitive data rather than the culture methods.