Prognostic nutritional index in predicting survival of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer is the third most common cause of cancer related death worldwide.Surgery with or without chemotherapy is the most common approach with curative intent;however,the prognosis is poor as mortality rates remain high.Several indexes have been proposed in the past few years in order to estimate the survival of patients undergoing gastrectomy.The preoperative nutritional status of gastric cancer patients has recently gained attention as a factor that could affect the postoperative course and various indexes have been developed.The aim of this systematic review was to assess the role of the prognostic nutritional index(PNI)in predicting the survival of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent.AIM To investigate the role of PNI in predicting the survival of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.METHODS A thorough literature search of PubMed and the Cochrane library was performed for studies comparing the overall survival(OS)of patients with gastric or gastroesophageal cancer after surgical resection depending on the preoperative PNI value.The PRISMA algorithm was used in the screening process and finally 16 studies were included in this systematic review.The review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews(PRO) RESULTS Sixteen studies involving 14551 patients with gastric or esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma undergoing open or laparoscopic or robotic gastrectomy with or without adjuvant chemotherapy were included in this systematic review.The patients were divided into high-and low-PNI groups according to cut-off values that were set according to previous reports or by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis in each individual study.The 5-year OS of patients in the low-PNI groups ranged between 39%and 70.6%,while in the high-PNI groups,it ranged between 54.9%and 95.8%.In most of the included studies,patients with high preoperative PNI showed statistically significant better OS than the low PNI groups.In multivariate analyses,low PNI was repeatedly recognised as an independent prognostic factor for poor survival.CONCLUSION According to the present study,low preoperative PNI seems to be an indicator of poor OS of patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric or gastroesophageal cancer.

Actuality and underlying mechanisms of systemic immuneinflammation index and geriatric nutritional risk index prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma

This editorial contains comments on the article“Correlation between preoperative systemic immune inflammation index,nutritional risk index,and prognosis of radical resection of liver cancer”in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.It pointed out the actuality and importance of the article and focused primarily on the underlying mechanisms making the systemic immuneinflammation index(SII)and geriatric nutritional risk index(GNRI)prediction features valuable.There are few publications on both SII and GNRI together in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and patient prognosis after radical surgery.Neutrophils release cytokines,chemokines,and enzymes,degrade extracellular matrix,reduce cell adhesion,and create conditions for tumor cell invasion.Neutrophils promote the adhesion of tumor cells to endothelial cells,through physical anchoring.That results in the migration of tumor cells.Pro-angiogenic factors from platelets enhance tumor angiogenesis to meet tumor cell supply needs.Platelets can form a protective film on the surface of tumor cells.This allows avoiding blood flow damage as well as immune system attack.It also induces the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of tumor cells that is critical for invasiveness.High SII is also associated with macro-and microvascular invasion and increased numbers of circulating tumor cells.A high GNRI was associated with significantly better progression-free and overall survival.HCC patients are a very special population that requires increased attention.SII and GNRI have significant survival prediction value in both palliative treatment and radical surgery settings.The underlying mechanisms of their possible predictive properties lie in the field of essential cancer features.Those features provide tumor nutrition,growth,and distribution throughout the body,such as vascular invasion.On the other hand,they are tied to the possibility of patients to resist tumor progression and development of complications in both postoperative and cancer-related settings.The article is of considerable interest.It would be helpful to continue the study follow-up to 2 years and longer.External validation of the data is needed.

Improvement of the nutritional support management system for patients in intensive care units

BACKGROUND Nutritional support for patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit(ICU)is an important part of clinical treatment and care,but there are significant implementation difficulties.AIM To introduce a modified nutritional support management system for ICU patients based on closed-loop information management and psychological counseling.METHODS The division of functions,personnel training,system construction,development of an intelligent decision-making software system,quality control,and improvement of the whole process were carried out to systematically manage nutritional support for ICU patients.RESULTS Following the implementation of the whole process management system,the scores of ICU medical staff’s knowledge,attitudes/beliefs,and practices regarding nutritional support were comprehensively enhanced.The proportion of hospital bed-days of total enteral nutrition(EN)in ICU patients increased from 5.58%to 11.46%,and the proportion of EN plus parenteral nutrition increased from 42.71%to 47.07%.The rate of EN initiation within 48 h of ICU admission increased from 37.50%to 48.28%,and the EN compliance rate within 72 h elevated from 20.59%to 31.72%.After the implementation of the project,the Self-rating Anxiety Scale score decreased from 61.07±9.91 points to 52.03±9.02 points,the Self-rating Depression Scale score reduced from 62.47±10.50 points to 56.34±9.83 points,and the ICU stay decreased from 5.76±2.77 d to 5.10±2.12 d.CONCLUSION The nutritional support management system based on closed-loop information management and psychological counseling achieved remarkable results in clinical applications in ICU patients.

Nutritional Support under the Neuman Systems Model for Stroke Patients

Objective: To explore nutritional support under the Neuman systems model in treating dysphagia in stroke patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled 97 patients with dysphagia after stroke admitted to our hospital, and randomly divided them into the Neuman group (n = 51) given nursing intervention based on Neuman systems model and a control group (n = 46) given routine nursing intervention. Both groups received nutritional support for 3 months. Nutritional indexes (serum total protein, plasma albumin, serum albumin, hemoglobin and transferrin levels) and immune indexes (immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG, IgM and total lymphocyte count (TLC) in both groups were recorded and compared. Pulmonary function recovery, video fluoroscopic swallowing study score, water swallowing test score, complication rate, and health knowledge mastery level were also compared between the two groups. Results: After the intervention, the Neuman group showed less decrease in the nutritional and immune index scores (serum total protein, plasma albumin, hemoglobin, serum albumin;IgA, IgG, IgM, and TLC;all P Conclusion: For patients with stroke and dysphagia, comprehensive nursing intervention (e.g., nutritional support) under theNeuman systems model can promote the recovery of immune, swallowing, and pulmonary function, reduce complication incidence and facilitate comprehensive rehabilitation, ensuring adequate nutritional intake.

Correlation between preoperative systemic immune inflammation index, nutritional risk index, and prognosis of radical resection of liver cancer

BACKGROUND Radical surgery is the most commonly used treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,the surgical effect remains not ideal,and prognostic evaluation is insufficient.Furthermore,clinical intervention is rife with uncertainty and not conducive to prolonging patient survival.AIM To explore correlations between the systemic immune inflammatory index(SII)and geriatric nutritional risk index(GNRI)and HCC operation prognosis.METHODS This retrospective study included and collected follow up data from 100 HCC.Kaplan–Meier survival curves were used to analyze the correlation between SII and GNRI scores and survival.SII and GNRI were calculated as follows:SII=neutrophil count×platelet count/lymphocyte count;GNRI=[1.489×albumin(g/L)+41.7×actual weight/ideal weight].We analyzed the predictive efficacy of the SII and GNRI in HCC patients using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,and the relationships between the SII,GNRI,and survival rate using Kaplan–Meier survival curves.Cox regression analysis was utilized to analyze independent risk factors influencing prognosis.RESULTS After 1 year of follow-up,24 patients died and 76 survived.The area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,specificity,and the optimal cutoff value of SII were 0.728(95%confidence interval:0.600-0.856),79.2%,63.2%,and 309.14,respectively.According to ROC curve analysis results for predicting postoperative death in HCC patients,the AUC of SII and GNRI combination was higher than that of SII or GNRI alone,and SII was higher than that of GNRI(P<0.05).The proportion of advanced differentiated tumors,tumor maximum diameter(5–10 cm,>10 cm),lymph node metastasis,and TNM stage III-IV in patients with SII>309.14 was higher than that in patients with SII≤309.14(P<0.05).The proportion of patients aged>70 years was higher in patients with GNRI≤98 than that in patients with GNRI>98(P<0.05).The 1-year survival rate of the SII>309.14 group(compared with the SII≤309.14 group)and GNRI≤98 group(compared with the GNRI>98 group)was lower(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The prognosis after radical resection of HCC is related to the SII and GNRI and poor in high SII or low GNRI patients.

Prognostic value of preoperative immune-nutritional scoring systems in remnant gastric cancer patients undergoing surgery

BACKGROUND Remnant gastric cancer(GC)is defined as GC that occurs five years or more after gastrectomy.Systematically evaluating the preoperative immune and nutritional status of patients and analyzing its prognostic impact on postoperative remnant gastric cancer(RGC)patients are crucial.A simple scoring system that combines multiple immune or nutritional indicators to identify nutritional or immune status before surgery is necessary.AIM To evaluate the value of preoperative immune-nutritional scoring systems in predicting the prognosis of patients with RGC.METHODS The clinical data of 54 patients with RGC were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Prognostic nutritional index(PNI),controlled nutritional status(CONUT),and Naples prognostic score(NPS)were calculated by preoperative blood indicators,including absolute lymphocyte count,lymphocyte to monocyte ratio,neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio,serum albumin,and serum total cholesterol.Patients with RGC were divided into groups according to the immune-nutritional risk.The relationship between the three preoperative immune-nutritional scores and clinical characteristics was analyzed.Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to analyze the difference in overall survival(OS)rate between various immune-nutritional score groups.RESULTS The median age of this cohort was 70.5 years(ranging from 39 to 87 years).No significant correlation was found between most pathological features and immune-nutritional status(P>0.05).Patients with a PNI score<45,CONUT score or NPS score≥3 were considered to be at high immune-nutritional risk.The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of PNI,CONUT,and NPS systems for predicting postoperative survival were 0.611[95%confidence interval(CI):0.460–0.763;P=0.161],0.635(95%CI:0.485–0.784;P=0.090),and 0.707(95%CI:0.566–0.848;P=0.009),respectively.Cox regression analysis showed that the three immunenutritional scoring systems were significantly correlated with OS(PNI:P=0.002;CONUT:P=0.039;NPS:P<0.001).Survival analysis revealed a significant difference in OS between different immune-nutritional groups(PNI:75 mo vs 42 mo,P=0.001;CONUT:69 mo vs 48 mo,P=0.033;NPS:77 mo vs 40 mo,P<0.001).CONCLUSION These preoperative immune-nutritional scores are reliable multidimensional prognostic scoring systems for predicting the prognosis of patients with RGC,in which the NPS system has relatively effective predictive performance.

Improving the nutritional values of yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae as an animal feed ingredient: a review

Yellow mealworm larvae(YML;Tenebrio molitor) are considered as a valuable insect species for animal feed due to their high nutritional values and ability to grow under different substrates and rearing conditions. Advances in the understanding of entomophagy and animal nutrition over the past decades have propelled research areas toward testing multiple aspects of YML to exploit them better as animal feed sources. This review aims to summarize various approaches that could be exploited to maximize the nutritional values of YML as an animal feed ingredient. In addition, YML has the potential to be used as an antimicrobial or bioactive agent to improve animal health and immune function in production animals. The dynamics of the nutritional profile of YML can be influenced by multiple factors and should be taken into account when attempting to optimize the nutrient contents of YML as an animal feed ingredient. Specifically, the use of novel land-based and aquatic feeding resources, probiotics, and the exploitation of larval gut microbiomes as novel strategies can assist to maximize the nutritional potential of YML. Selection of relevant feed supplies, optimization of ambient conditions, the introduction of novel genetic selection procedures, and implementation of effective post-harvest processing may be required in the future to commercialize mealworm production. Furthermore, the use of appropriate agricultural practices and technological improvements within the mealworm production sector should be aimed at achieving both economic and environmental sustainability. The issues highlighted in this review could pave the way for future approaches to improve the nutritional value of YML.

Hydrothermal treatment of pearl millet grains:Effects on nutritional composition,antinutrients and flour properties

Pearl millet(Pennisetum glaucum)is one of the major millets with high nutritional properties.This crop exhibits exceptional resilience to drought and high temperatures.However,the processing of pearl millet poses a significant challenge due to its high lipid content,enzyme activity,and presence of antinutrients.Consequently,it becomes imperative to enhance the quality and prolong the shelf life of pearl millet flour by employing suitable technologies.Hydrothermal treatment in the food industry has long been seen as promising due to its potential to reduce microbial load,inactivate enzymes,and improve nutrient retention.This study aims to investigate the effects of hydrothermal treatment on the quality characteristics of pearl millet.The independent variables of the study were soaking temperature(35,45,55℃),soaking time(2,3,4 h),and steaming time(5,10,15 min).Treatment conditions had a statistically significant effect on nutrient retention.Major antinutrients like tannins and phytates were reduced by 0.99% to 5.94% and 0.36% to 6.00%,respectively,after the treatment.Lipase activity decreased significantly up to 10% with the treatment conditions.The findings of this study could potentially encourage the use of pearl millet flour in the production of various food items and promote the application of hydrothermal treatment in the field of food processing.

Comparison of different preoperative objective nutritional indices for evaluating 30-d mortality and complications after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND The nutritional status is closely related to the prognosis of liver transplant re-cipients,but few studies have reported the role of preoperative objective nutri-tional indices in predicting liver transplant outcomes.AIM To compare the predictive value of various preoperative objective nutritional indicators for determining 30-d mortality and complications following liver transplantation(LT).METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 162 recipients who underwent LT at our institution from December 2019 to June 2022.RESULTS This study identified several independent risk factors associated with 30-d mor-tality,including blood loss,the prognostic nutritional index(PNI),the nutritional risk index(NRI),and the control nutritional status.The 30-d mortality rate was 8.6%.Blood loss,the NRI,and the PNI were found to be independent risk factors for the occurrence of severe postoperative complications.The NRI achieved the highest prediction values for 30-d mortality[area under the curve(AUC)=0.861,P<0.001]and severe complications(AUC=0.643,P=0.011).Compared to those in the high NRI group,the low patients in the NRI group had lower preoperative body mass index and prealbumin and albumin levels,as well as higher alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels,Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores and prothrombin time(P<0.05).Furthermore,the group with a low NRI exhibited significantly greater incidences of intraabdominal bleeding,primary graft nonfunction,and mortality.CONCLUSION The NRI has good predictive value for 30-d mortality and severe complications following LT.The NRI could be an effective tool for transplant surgeons to evaluate perioperative nutritional risk and develop relevant nutritional therapy.

Nutritional status efficacy of early nutritional support in gastrointestinal care: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal surgery is a complicated process used to treat many gastrointestinal diseases,and it is associated with a large trauma:Most patients often have different degrees of malnutrition and immune dysfunction before surgery and are prone to various infectious complications during postoperative recovery,thus affecting the efficacy of surgical treatment.Therefore,early postoperative nutritional support can provide essential nutritional supply,restore the intestinal barrier and reduce complication occurrence.However,different studies have shown different conclusions.AIM To assess whether early postoperative nutritional support can improve the nutritional status of patients based on literature search and meta-analysis.METHODS Articles comparing the effect of early nutritional support and delayed nutritional support were retrieved from PubMed,EMBASE,Springer Link,Ovid,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,China Biology Medicine databases.Notably,only randomized controlled trial articles were retrieved from the databases(from establishment date to October 2022).The risk of bias of the included articles was determined using Cochrane Risk of Bias V2.0.The outcome indicators,such as albumin,prealbumin,and total protein,after statistical intervention were combined.RESULTS Fourteen literatures with 2145 adult patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery(1138 patients(53.1%)receiving early postoperative nutritional support and 1007 patients(46.9%)receiving traditional nutritional support or delayed nutritional support)were included in this study.Seven of the 14 studies assessed early enteral nutrition while the other seven studies assessed early oral feeding.Furthermore,six literatures had"some risk of bias,"and eight literatures had"low risk".The overall quality of the included studies was good.Meta-analysis showed that patients receiving early nutritional support had slightly higher serum albumin levels,than patients receiving delayed nutritional support[MD(mean difference)=3.51,95%CI:-0.05 to 7.07,Z=1.93,P=0.05].Also,patients receiving early nutritional support had shorter hospital stay(MD=-2.29,95%CI:-2.89 to-1.69),Z=-7.46,P<0.0001)shorter first defecation time(MD=-1.00,95%CI:-1.37 to-0.64),Z=-5.42,P<0.0001),and fewer complications(Odd ratio=0.61,95%CI:0.50 to 0.76,Z=-4.52,P<0.0001)than patients receiving delayed nutritional support.CONCLUSION Early enteral nutritional support can slightly shorten the defecation time and overall hospital stay,reduce complication incidence,and accelerate the rehabilitation process of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.

Nutritional Assessment Tools for Patients with Cancer:A Narrative Review

Cancer patients are at high risk of malnutrition,which can lead to adverse health outcomes such as prolonged hospitalization,increased complications,and increased mortality.Accurate and timely nutritional assessment plays a critical role in effectively managing malnutrition in these patients.However,while many tools exist to assess malnutrition,there is no universally accepted standard.Although different tools have their own strengths and limitations,there is a lack of narrative reviews on nutritional assessment tools for cancer patients.To address this knowledge gap,we conducted a non-systematic literature search using PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,and the Cochrane Library from their inception until May 2023.A total of 90 studies met our selection criteria and were included in our narrative review.We evaluated the applications,strengths,and limitations of 4 commonly used nutritional assessment tools for cancer patients:the Subjective Global Assessment(SGA),Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment(PG-SGA),Mini Nutritional Assessment(MNA),and Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition(GLIM).Our findings revealed that malnutrition was associated with adverse health outcomes.Each of these 4 tools has its applications,strengths,and limitations.Our findings provide medical staff with a foundation for choosing the optimal tool to rapidly and accurately assess malnutrition in cancer patients.It is essential for medical staff to be familiar with these common tools to ensure effective nutritional management of cancer patients.

Accurate models and nutritional strategies for specific oxidative stress factors: Does the dose matter in swine production?

Oxidative stress has been associated with a number of physiological problems in swine,including reduced production efficiency.Recently,although there has been increased research into regulatory mechanisms and antioxidant strategies in relation to oxidative stress-induced pig production,it remains so far largely unsuccessful to develop accurate models and nutritional strategies for specific oxidative stress factors.Here,we discuss the dose and dose intensity of the causes of oxidative stress involving physiological,environmental and dietary factors,recent research models and the antioxidant strategies to provide theoretical guidance for future oxidative stress research in swine.

Efficacy of a Nutritional Cream Intervention to Treat Depression in Rescuers:A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective To explore the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention in rescuers who screened positive for depression.Methods A randomized controlled trial design was employed.From June to August,2022,4,460 rescuers were screened using the Self-Rating Depression Scale(SDS),and 1,615 positive cases were identified.Thirty-one volunteers were recruited and randomly divided into a nutritional intervention group and a control group.The intervention group received health education and nutritional intervention(a compound paste therapy primarily composed of red roses and Seville orange flowers),while the control group received psychological education.SDS scores were assessed before and after the intervention.Results There was a statistically significant decline in SDS scores in the nutritional intervention group after the intervention(P<0.05).Furthermore,the SDS scores of the intervention group were significantly lower than those of the control group,both before and after the intervention(P<0.05).No severe adverse reactions were observed during safety evaluation.Conclusion The nutritional intervention effectively reduced the depression scores in rescuers.Early nutritional intervention is recommended for rescuers who initially screen positive for depression.

Exploring Nutritional Compositions,Volatile Compounds,Health Benefits,Emerging Processing Technologies,and Potential Food Products of Glutinous Rice:A Review

Glutinous rice(Oryza sativa var.glutinosa)stands out as one of the most popular rice varieties globally,amidst thousands of rice cultivars.Its increasing popularity is attributed to its rich nutritional compositions and health benefits.This review aims to summarize the nutritional compositions,volatile compounds,and health benefits of glutinous rice.Further,in-depth studies are necessary to explore the utilization of glutinous rice in enhancing processing technologies and developing new food products.Glutinous rice has been shown to possess numerous health benefits,including antioxidant activity,bioactive compounds,anti-cancer properties,anti-inflammatory effects,anti-diabetic potential,and cholesterol-lowering effects.Besides its nutritional compositions,the major volatile compounds identified in glutinous rice could serve as a functional food for human consumption.Emerging processing technologies related to glutinous rice are elaborated to improve the latest developments for incorporating them into various food products.

Is nutritional status a new indicator to use in clinical practice for colorectal cancer patients?

In this editorial we comment on the interesting article by Liu et al.The topic of discussion is the need for a cost-effective and easy-to-use scoring system for predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.In this context,nutritional assessment plays a crucial role in the multimodal evaluation of patients.In particular,the controlling nutritional status score was found to be an effective tool in the clinical decision-making process,in order to customize treatment strategies and to improve patient outcomes.

Nutritional values,bioactive compounds and health benefits of purslane(Portulaca oleracea L.):a comprehensive review

Portulaca oleracea L.,commonly known as purslane,is a worldwide weed species belonging to the family Portulacaceae and has been known as“Global Panacea”.As one of the most widely consumed green vegetables and medicinal plants around the world,it has recently been re-evaluated as a potential“new crop”due to the properties that differentiate it as one of the best vegetable sources of omega-3 fatty acid(α-linolenic acid),as well as a variety of nutrients and phytochemicals.Accordingly,emerging research has found that purslane exhibits health-promoting properties like anti-inflammatory,anti-hyperglycemic,antioxidant,neuroprotective,and immunomodulatory.These findings suggest that this species possesses a potential using as a dietary supplement beyond potherb and traditional medicine.This review systematically summarizes the up-to-date research carried out on purslane,including the nutritional compositions,bioactive compounds,and health benefits it exerts as well as limitations,challenges,and future directions of research.Finally,we hope that this review would provide purslane with a comprehensive reference and future scope as functional and health-promoting food for disease prevention and treatment.

The meat of the matter: plant-based meat analogue versus traditional meat product nutritional quality

Plant-based meat analogues(PBMA)are formulated to mimic the sensory characteristics of traditional meat products(TMP)using vegetarian ingredients and are increasingly popular with the trend towards plantbased diets,even among meat-eating consumers.This narrative review compared the nutritional quality of PBMA and TMP to broaden the discussion on the suitability of simulated meat products to substitute TMP,while exploring other attributes for their comparison.The complexity of PBMA and TMP means they are not entirely interchangeable.Importantly,PBMA health effects extend beyond their basic nutrient content and quality.Postprandial metabolism and satiety,for example,can be affected by product formulation,ingredient interactions,and thermomechanical processing involved in producing organoleptically acceptable PBMA.There are specific opportunities for low-sodium PBMA products to contribute to a healthy shift toward plantbased diets.In conclusion,PBMA cannot be assumed to be healthier than TMP.They should be designed with comprehensive consideration of composition and processing to ensure they support consumers who are adopting plant-based diets in realizing the theoretical health benefits.

Transforming agri-food systems for multiple wins in nutrition,inclusion and environment

The call for agri-food system transformation is urgent in many global development agendas(UN 2023).Food systems have contributed to economic prosperity and feeding the world,but they are also associated with numerous challenges,including climate change,continued hunger,poor diets and malnutrition,and increasing disparities(Webb et al.2020;Fanzo et al.2021).

Estimation of the water productivity of different varieties of wheat and rice in the context of agronomic, physiological and nutritional attributes

Water shortage is a global concern, and it poses a particularly severe threat in Pakistan. It is estimated that over 60% of irrigation water is not efficiently applied or not efficiently utilized by crop depending upon genetic variability. The pot study was conducted to evaluate the water efficiency of various wheat varieties (Millat 2011, Galaxy 2013, Faisalabad 2008, and Gandum-1) and rice varieties (Punjab Basmati, Chenab Basmati, B-515, and PS-2) based on their photosynthetic efficiency and nutritional quality by measuring their protein and chlorophyll contents. The highest concentrations of protein and chlorophyll were observed in plants of both crops that were watered and cultivated with 50 mL of water. For wheat, the greatest leaf length (cm), net assimilation rate [g/(d∙m2)], and photosynthetic efficiency were achieved when 80 mL of water was applied. Similarly, rice varieties (Punjab Basmati, Chenab Basmati, B-515, and PS-2) exhibited the highest photosynthetic efficiency, leaf length, net assimilation rate, and chlorophyll content when grown with 80 mL of water. Therefore, a conservative cultivation of wheat and rice is possible by selecting efficient varieties and by improving the technological approach of water saving through irrigation level and wise scheduling. The judicious use of water not only limits losses but also improves productivity, particularly in scenarios of water scarcity.

Effect of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) on Growth, Mineral Composition, and Nutritional Value of Wheat & Lentil Sprouts

Sprouts are ready-to-eat and are recognized worldwide as functional components of the human diet.Recent advances in innovative agricultural techniques could enable an increase in the production of healthy food.The use of light-emitting diode(LED)in indoor agricultural production could alter the biological feedback loop,increasing the functional benefits of plant foods such as wheat and lentil sprouts and promoting the bioavailability of nutrients.The effects of white(W),red(R),and blue(B)light were investigated on the growth parameters and nutritional value of wheat and lentil sprouts.In the laboratory,seeds were sown under three different LED treat-ments:white,red,and blue light,while normal incandescent light served as a control.Percentage seed germina-tion improved by 18.34%and 12.67%for wheat and 18.34%and 12.67%for lentil sprouts under LED treatments R and B,respectively.An increase in total soluble protein and sugar by 33.4%and 9.23%in wheat and by 31.5%and 5.87%in lentils was observed under the R LED treatment.Vitamin C concentrations in wheat and lentils were significantly increased by R LED compared to all other treatments.Other parameters,including potassium and sodium concentrations,were significantly increased under red and blue light compared to the control;white light,on the other hand,significantly decreased all these parameters.According to the experimental data,red and blue LED light could be beneficial in the production of functional wheat and lentil sprouts with high nutrient concentrations.