Nanolignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNF)-enabled multifunctional ratiometric fluorescent bio-nanocomposite films for food freshness monitoring.

Herein, the nanolignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNF)-enabled ratiometric fluorescent bio-nanocomposite film is developed. Interestingly, the inclusion of LCNF in the cellulose-based film enhances the detecting performance of food freshness, such as high sensitivity to biogenic amines (BAs) (limit of detection (LOD) of up to 1.83 ppm) and ultrahigh discernible fluorescence color difference (ΔE = 113.11). The underlying mechanisms are the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), π - π interaction, and cation - π interaction between LCNF and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), as well as the increased hydrophobicity due to lignin, which increases the interactions of amines with FITC. Its color stability (up to 28 days) and mechanical property (49.4 Mpa) are simultaneously improved. Furthermore, a smartphone based detecting platform is developed to achieve access to food safety. This work presents a novel technology, which can have a great potential in the field of food packaging and safety.

Towards Post-Meiotic Sperm Production: Genetic Insight into Human Infertility from Mouse Models.

Declined quality and quantity of sperm is currently the major cause of patients suffering from infertility. Male germ cell development is spatiotemporally regulated throughout the whole developmental process. While it has been known that exogenous factors, such as environmental exposure, diet and lifestyle, et al, play causative roles in male infertility, recent progress has revealed abundant genetic mutations tightly associated with defective male germline development. In mammals, male germ cells undergo dramatic morphological change (i.e., nuclear condensation) and chromatin remodeling during post-meiotic haploid germline development, a process termed spermiogenesis; However, the molecular machinery players and functional mechanisms have yet to be identified. To date, accumulated evidence suggests that disruption in any step of haploid germline development is likely manifested as fertility issues with low sperm count, poor sperm motility, aberrant sperm morphology or combined. With the continually declined cost of next-generation sequencing and recent progress of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, growing studies have revealed a vast number of disease-causing genetic variants associated with spermiogenic defects in both mice and humans, along with mechanistic insights partially attained and validated through genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs). In this review, we mainly summarize genes that are functional at post-meiotic stage. Identification and characterization of deleterious genetic variants should aid in our understanding of germline development, and thereby further improve the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

[L-carnitine combined with coenzyme Q10 for idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia: A double-blind randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of L-carnitine (LC) in combination with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia (iOAT). METHODS: Using the computer-generated random number sequence, we randomly assigned 262 infertile men with iOAT to four groups to receive oral administration of LC at 10 mL bid (n = 62), CoQ10 (n = 63) at 20 mg tid, LC combined with CoQ10 at the above dose (n = 63), and vitamin B1 as the placebo control (n = 74). After 3 months of treatment, we obtained sperm concentration, sperm motility, the percentage of progressively motile sperm, sperm DNA fragmentation index, the rate of sperm acrosome reaction, and the outcomes of clinical pregnancy and compared them among the four groups of patients. RESULTS: After treatment, the combination group, as compared with the LC, CoQ10 and control groups, showed significantly higher sperm motility and percentage of progressively motile sperm (P <0.05). The percentage of sperm DNA fragments was markedly lower in the combination group than in the control (P <0.05), while the rate of clinical pregnancy remarkably higher in the former than in the latter group (30.0% vs 6.8%, P <0.008). There were no statistically significant differences among the four groups in the rates of sperm acrosome reaction and abortion (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of LC and CoQ10 can improve the semen parameters and outcome of clinical pregnancy in the iOAT patient.