The waters of Greenland harbour a high species richness and biomass of gelatinous zooplankton (GZP); however, their role in the diet of the many fish species, including commercially exploited species, has not yet been verified. Traditionally, GZP was considered to be a trophic dead end, i.e. with a limited contribution as prey for higher trophic levels. We applied DNA metabarcoding of two gene fragments (COI, 18S V1-V2) to the stomach contents of seven pelagic and demersal fish species in Greenland waters, to identify their prey composition as well as the occurrence of GZP predation. We detected GZP DNA reads in the stomachs of all investigated fish species, with frequency of occurrences ranging from 12.5% (for Melanogrammus aeglefinus) to 50% (for Argentina silus). GZP predation had not yet been reported for several of these species. GZP were found to majorly contribute to the diet of A. silus and Anarhichas denticulatus, particularly, the siphonophore Nanomia cara and the scyphozoan Atolla were of a high importance as prey, respectively. The use of multiple genetic markers enabled us to detect a total of 59 GZP taxa in the fish stomachs with several GZP species being detected only by one of the markers.

This study thoroughly examines three cetacean monitoring methods and assessing their advantages and limitations, establishing a foundational basis for comprehensive information on composition, distribution, and behavior. While real-time and non-invasive, visual surveys favor surface-active cetaceans and are weather-dependent. Local ecological knowledge supplements insights into group behavior. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis efficiently detects species like the narrow-ridged finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis) and common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), offering non-invasive, and spatially adept monitoring. Furthermore, eDNA provides prey species information, revealing the narrow-ridged finless porpoise\'s winter migration to deeper waters due to prey distribution. The study identifies prevalent prey species, like the Japanese Anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) and Osbeck\'s grenadier anchovy (Coilia mystus), offering insights into the porpoise\'s feeding ecology and adaptation to changing prey availability in winter. This study systematically compares diverse methodologies employed in cetacean surveys, thereby yielding a comprehensive understanding of cetacean distribution, behavior, and feeding ecology.

Elasmobranchs play crucial roles as predators in marine ecosystems. Understanding their trophic strategies and interactions is necessary for comprehending food web dynamics and developing ecosystem-based management strategies. Although, feeding strategies can change depending on several factors, including fluctuations in prey availability throughout the year. In this study, we investigated the trophic ecology of the pelagic stingray, Pteroplatytrygon violacea, the only stingray inhabiting the pelagic environment in the western Mediterranean Sea. We found significant temporal differences in diet composition, mostly consuming pelagic zooplankton in spring, whereas benthopelagic teleosts in autumn. After contrasting different studies, P. violacea appears to have a generalist and opportunistic diet consisting of a broad spectrum of pelagic and benthopelagic species, and trophic plasticity in response to environmental fluctuations. Our findings suggest that P. violacea can present different feeding strategies, mainly pelagic, with a relatively low trophic position for a mesopredator compared to other batoids.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a disorder between gynecology and psychiatry which includes cognitive, affective, and somatic symptoms from mild to severe. The most severe form of PMS is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and it is considered a form of depressive disorder. An association between diet composition and the occurrence of PMS and its severity have been suggested. As such, this manuscript discusses the relationships between diet composition, dietary patterns and eating behaviors, and PMS. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were searched for related studies up to 18 January 2024. A text search with the following keywords singly or in combination was conducted: \"Premenstrual syndrome\", \"Nutrition\", \"Diet composition\", \"Dietary patterns\", and \"Eating behaviors\". Studies published so far showed that low intake of simple carbohydrates, fats, salt, and alcohol, and high of fresh, unprocessed foods rich in B vitamins, vitamin D, zinc, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent the onset of PMS and reduce the severity of its symptoms. However, further studies are needed to formulate definitive recommendations for the use of vitamins, micronutrients and other dietary ingredients supplementation in women with PMS to improve functioning, overall well-being, and physical health. Large, randomized, double-blind clinical trials across diverse populations are necessary to formulate clear recommendations for supplementation in women with PMS.

Modern broiler breeds allow for high feed efficiency and rapid growth, which come at a cost of increased susceptibility to pathogens and disease. Broiler growth rate, feed efficiency, and health are affected by the composition of the gut microbiota, which in turn is influenced by diet. In this study, we therefore assessed how diet composition can affect the broiler jejunal gut microbiota. A total of 96 broiler chickens were divided into four diet groups: control, coated butyrate supplementation, medium-chain fatty acid supplementation, or a high-fibre low-protein content. Diet groups were sub-divided into age groups (4, 12 and 33 days of age) resulting in groups of 8 broilers per diet per age. The jejunum content was used for metagenomic shotgun sequencing to determine the microbiota taxonomic composition at species level. The composed diets resulted in a total of 104 differentially abundant bacterial species. Most notably were the butyrate-induced changes in the jejunal microbiota of broilers 4 days post-hatch, resulting in the reduced relative abundance of mainly Enterococcus faecium (-1.8 l2fc, Padj = 9.9E-05) and the opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus hirae (-2.9 l2fc, Padj = 2.7E-08), when compared to the control diet. This effect takes place during early broiler development, which is critical for broiler health, thus exemplifying the importance of how diet can influence the microbiota composition in relation to broiler health. Future studies should therefore elucidate how diet can be used to promote a beneficial microbiota in the early stages of broiler development.

Blooms of the Rhizostomeae Nemopilema nomurai and the Semaeostomeae Cyanea nozakii have become more prominent in the coastal waters of China since the end of the 20th century. However, the trophic ecology of these jellyfish species remain incompletely understood. In this study, the trophic characterizations of N. nomurai and C. nozakii populations were assessed using stable isotope analysis (SIA), with a focus on the important bloom area offshore of the Yangtze Estuary. Our results indicated obvious trophic differences between two scyphomedusae. The higher trophic position of the C. nozakii population in the coastal planktonic food web was reflected by its relatively large δ15N value compared to that of N. nomurai. The MixSIAR model indicated that small copepods (<1000 μm) and seston were important food sources for N. nomurai, and showed a stable dietary, irrespective of N. nomurai size. Conversely, C. nozakii exhibited a more diverse diet composition, and gelatinous organisms also were an important part of the diet of C. nozakii. Moreover, a pronounced ontogenetic shift in the diet of C. nozakii was observed, consisting of an increase in the proportion of zooplanktonic prey (excluding seston) in the C. nozakii diet with diameter. This study provides isotopic evidence of the substantial difference in trophic ecology between N. nomurai and C. nozakii, which resulted from the variations in SI values and diet compositions. Inconsistent size-based variation patterns were observed in trophic ontogenetic shifts within the N. nomurai and C. nozakii groups, highlighting a need for further investigation. These results will give insights into the characteristics of trophic ecology and functional roles of Rhizostomeae and Semaeostomeae, and indicate the need for a more careful consideration of the representations of Rhizostomeae and Semaeostomeae in coastal ecosystems, so as not to underestimate the knowledge of taxon-specific ecological effects on energy flow.

This observational pilot study examined the association between diet, meal pattern and glucose over a 2-week period under free-living conditions in 26 adults with dysglycemia (D-GLYC) and 14 with normoglycemia (N-GLYC). We hypothesized that a prolonged eating window and late eating occasions (EOs), along with a higher dietary carbohydrate intake, would result in higher glucose levels and glucose variability (GV). General linear models were run with meal timing with time-stamped photographs in real time, and diet composition by dietary recalls, and their variability (SD), as predictors and glucose variables (mean glucose, mean amplitude of glucose excursions [MAGE], largest amplitude of glucose excursions [LAGE] and GV) as dependent variables. After adjusting for calories and nutrients, a later eating midpoint predicted a lower GV (β = -2.3, SE = 1.0, p = 0.03) in D-GLYC, while a later last EO predicted a higher GV (β = 1.5, SE = 0.6, p = 0.04) in N-GLYC. A higher carbohydrate intake predicted a higher MAGE (β = 0.9, SE = 0.4, p = 0.02) and GV (β = 0.4, SE = 0.2, p = 0.04) in N-GLYC, but not D-GLYC. In summary, our data suggest that meal patterns interact with dietary composition and should be evaluated as potential modifiable determinants of glucose in adults with and without dysglycemia. Future research should evaluate causality with controlled diets.

The white-bellied pangolin Phataginus tricuspis (Rafinesque 1821) is a semiarboreal species occurring in tropical sub-Saharan Africa. It is the world\'s most trafficked African pangolin species based on volumes recorded in seizures. Reintroduction of confiscated live pangolins and ex-situ rearing are being explored worldwide as a conservation action. However, the husbandry of seized animals is challenging as the diet of the white-bellied pangolin is poorly known and little studied. We analyzed the stomach contents of dead white-bellied pangolins from two forest-savanna protected areas. Stomach content samples from 13 white-bellied pangolin specimens contained ~165,000 Arthropoda, mostly Hymenoptera (60.34%) and Blattodea (39.66%). Overall, we identified 39 termite and 105 ant species consumed as prey by pangolins. Individual pangolins examined had fed on a maximum of 31 ant species and 13 termite species. The termite and ant species richness varied significantly across the pangolins\' last consumed meal. We recorded 24 ant genera dominated by Crematogaster (relative importance [RI] = 17.28). Out of 18 termite genera recorded, the genus Pseudacanthotermes (RI = 17.21) was the most important prey. Ten ant species were preferentially eaten by white-bellied pangolin, with Crematogaster acis being the most common prey species. Four species of termite were most frequently eaten with Pseudacanthotermes militaris being the most abundant. The mean abundance of ants and termites varied among pangolin individuals. The season did not influence the mean abundance of termites eaten by pangolin individuals. However, ant abundance in stomach contents was significantly higher in the dry season. An improved understanding of pangolin feeding behavior and prey selection may help inform conservation husbandry efforts. For example, nutritional analysis of the food eaten by wild pangolins can guide the development of nutritional diets for captive pangolins.

OBJECTIVE: Recent evidence suggests that plant-based diets may reduce the risk of breast cancer (BC). However, the macronutrient composition of plant-based diets and its potential impact on BC risk has not been well explored. This analysis investigated the association of macronutrient composition with BC risk across a spectrum of plant-based diet indexes using a multidimensional approach.
METHODS: This study followed 64,655 participants from the Etude Epidémiologique auprès de femmes de la Mutuelle Générale de l\'Education Nationale (E3N) cohort from 1993 to 2014. Diets were evaluated using validated 208-item diet history questionnaires at baseline (1993) and follow-up (2005), to calculate adherence to the overall plant-based diet (PDI), healthful plant-based diet (hPDI), and unhealthful plant-based diet (uPDI). The association of macronutrient composition with BC risk was assessed via generalized additive time-dependent Cox models across different levels of these indexes. Response surfaces were generated to visualize compositional associations at the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of each index (low, moderate, and high).
RESULTS: A total of 3,932 incident BC cases were identified during the 21-year follow-up. There was a significant association between macronutrient composition and BC risk for hPDI, uPDI, and PDI (all P < 0.001). Akaike information criterion favored the hPDI model for characterizing the association between macronutrients and BC. BC risk was highest for individuals with a lower hPDI score who also consumed a diet containing lower protein (10%), lower carbohydrate (35%), and higher fat (55%). The lowest risk of BC was observed in those with higher hPDI scores with the lowest intake of protein (10%). At higher PDI and uPDI, diets containing higher protein (30%) and fat (45%) had the highest BC risk.
CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate a complex relationship between macronutrient composition, plant-based diet quality, and BC risk. Further research is needed to examine specific foods that may be driving these associations.
UNASSIGNED: The protocol is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03285230.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the association between macronutrient composition of a diet with Time in Range (TIR), Time above Range (TAR) and Time below Range (TBR) derived using a Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) device for 14 days.
METHODS: An exploratory analysis on the baseline data of 50 Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus participants with age 25-55 years, HbA1c upto 8% and on Metformin only) enrolled for an interventional clinical trial was performed.
RESULTS: Participants consuming adequate carbohydrates (CHO) of 55 to 60% of total calories had better Average Blood Glucose of 142.0 ± 24.0 mg/dL with a significance of p = 0.03 and Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) of 6.6 ± 0.7% significant at p = 0.01, than those with high CHO intake >60% of the total calories, with Average Blood Glucose - 155.0 ± 13.4 mg/dL and GMI - 7.06 ± 0.4%. Similarly, TIR - 68.2 ± 5.1% and TAR - 23.0 ± 10.8% was significantly better (p = 0.00) among those consuming adequate protein (12-15%) as compared to low protein (≤ 10%) with TIR- 61.0 ± 5.1% & TAR- 32.9 ± 10.3%. A correlation (r = -0.482 & p = 0.00) and simple linear regression analysis (R² = 0.33, F = 7.72, p = 0.000) revealed that when CHO intake increases the TIR decreases whereas TAR increases (r = 0.380 & p = 0.006). We did not find any significant relation between fat intake and TIR, TAR or TBR.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that lowering CHO, while increasing protein in the diet may help improve TIR. Further in-depth studies are needed to confirm these findings.