Manufacturing processes, additional nutritional value and versatile food applications of fresh microalgae Spirulina.

Spirulina is capable of using light energy and fixing carbon dioxide to synthesize a spectrum of organic substances, including proteins, polysaccharides, and unsaturated fatty acids, making it one of the most coveted food resources for humanity. Conventionally, Spirulina products are formulated into algal powder tablets or capsules. However, the processing and preparation of these products, involving screw pump feeding, extrusion, high-speed automation, and high-temperature dewatering, often result in the rupture of cell filaments, cell fragmentation, and the unfortunate loss of vital nutrients. In contrast, fresh Spirulina, cultivated within a closed photobioreactor and transformed into an edible delight through harvesting, washing, filtering, and sterilizing, presents a refreshing taste and odor. It is gradually earning acceptance as a novel health food among the general public. This review delves into the manufacturing processes of fresh Spirulina, analyzes its nutritional advantages over conventional algal powder, and ultimately prospects the avenues for fresh Spirulina's application in modern food processing. The aim is to provide valuable references for the research and development of new microalgal products and to propel the food applications of microalgae forward.

Mendelian randomization analysis reveals causal effects of blood lipidome on gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Observational studies have revealed associations between maternal lipid metabolites and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, whether these associations are causal remain uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the causal relationship between lipid metabolites and GDM. METHODS: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed based on summary statistics. Sensitivity analyses, validation analyses and reverse MR analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the MR results. Additionally, a phenome-wide MR (Phe-MR) analysis was performed to evaluate potential side effects of the targeted lipid metabolites. RESULTS: A total of 295 lipid metabolites were included in this study, 29 of them had three or more instrumental variables (IVs) suitable for sensitivity analyses. The ratio of triglycerides to phosphoglycerides (TG_by_PG) was identified as a potential causal biomarker for GDM (inverse variance weighted (IVW) estimate: odds ratio (OR) = 2.147, 95% confidential interval (95% CI) 1.415-3.257, P = 3.26e-4), which was confirmed by validation and reverse MR results. Two other lipid metabolites, palmitoyl sphingomyelin (d18:1/16:0) (PSM(d18:1/16:0)) (IVW estimate: OR = 0.747, 95% CI 0.583-0.956, P = 0.021) and triglycerides in very small very low-density lipoprotein (XS_VLDL_TG) (IVW estimate: OR = 2.948, 95% CI 1.197-5.215, P = 0.015), were identified as suggestive potential biomarkers for GDM using a conventional cut-off P-value of 0.05. Phe-MR results indicated that lowering TG_by_PG had detrimental effects on two diseases but advantageous effects on the other 13 diseases. CONCLUSION: Genetically predicted elevated TG_by_PG are causally associated with an increased risk of GDM. Side-effect profiles indicate that TG_by_PG might be a target for GDM prevention, though caution is advised due to potential adverse effects on other conditions.

Detection of early hidden carcinoma of cardia by reversely entering the esophagus with magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy: A case report.

Magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE) is a non-invasive method for gastropathy examination. However, due to the influence of gravity and lumen structure, the traditional capsule endoscopy rapidly passes through the cardia, leading to insufficient observation of the cardia mucosa. Case Summary. The patient, a 53-year-old male, had a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage for 5 years, and it has been 5 years since the aneurysm embolization.Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) indicated the presence of an anterior cruciate aneurysm. Given the risks associated with traditional intubated gastroscopy, magnetic controlled capsule gastroscopy was chosen for gastric examination. Following the standard operating procedure, routine magnetic controlled capsule endoscopy was performed, and no lesions were detected.We combined magnetic force and patient posture adjustment to guide the capsule to pass through the cardia slowly and return to the esophagus, successfully detecting a concealed cardia lesion.Afterwards, the lesions of the cardia were treated with a magnifying gastroscope and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).Pathological findings showed that adenocarcinoma was confined to the mucosa membrane, and in the postoperative pathological study, no tumor remnants or metastasis were discovered. This paper reports a case of a patient undergoing a physical examination, but no lesion was found during a routine examination using the magnetically controlled capsule gastroscope. However, we discovered a case of hidden early cardia cancer after guiding the capsule gastroscope back into the esophagus under magnetic control.

Internet use, dietary habits and adolescent obesity: evidence from China.

The widespread use of Internet has substantially influenced adolescents' lifestyles. This paper systematically explored the impact of Internet use on adolescent obesity and unveiled the underlying mechanism in China. We discussed the relationship among Internet use, dietary habits and obesity, and estimated the impact using panel data collected by the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Results indicated that increased Internet use significantly raised the risk of obesity among adolescents by changing their dietary habits. With a longer time of Internet use, adolescents would increase more proportion of snacks, and choose food with higher fat and protein. This paper offers a new empirical evidence for understanding the mechanism of Internet use on adolescent obesity, and provides a reference for developing countries to guide adolescents toward moderate Internet use and lower the risk of obesity.

Salvianolic acid B improves diabetic skin wound repair through Pink1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy.

Diabetic skin wound is a disturbing and rapidly evolving clinical issue. Here, we investigated how salvianolic acid B (Sal B) affected the diabetic wound healing process. Following Sal B administration, histopathological damage was investigated by H&E and Masson staining, and CD34, apoptosis and mitophagy markers were measured by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. Migration, proliferation, and mitochondrial function of high glucose (HG) -induced HMEC-1 cells were measured. The effects of si-Parkin on endothelial cell migration, apoptosis and mitochondrial autophagy were examined. Sal B alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and promoted angiogenesis in skin wound tissue. Apoptosis and mitophagy were ameliorated by Sal B in diabetic skin wound tissues and HG-induced HMEC-1 cells. Parkin inhibition impaired the migratorypromoted cell apoptosis and inhibited mitophagy of HMEC-1 cells. This finding demonstrated that Sal B promoted diabetic skin wound repair via Pink1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, improved our understanding of the diabetic wound healing process.

Mortality and disease burden of oral cancer in China: a time-trend analysis on the China Death Surveillance Database from 2006 to 2021.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers in China and seriously threaten life and health of Chinese people. We analysed the trends and disparities of oral cancer mortality rates and the disease burden of oral cancer in China from 2006 to 2021 to provide a reference for its prevention and control. METHODS: Annual death data for oral cancer was gleaned from the China Death Surveillance Database. The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), annual percentage change (APC), and average APC (AAPC) were used to analyze the trend of mortality. Loss of life expectancy (LLE) and years of life lost (YLL) were adopted to assess disease burden. RESULTS: From 2006 to 2021, the overall ASMR of oral cancer lightly declined (AAPC: - 0.97%; 95% CI: - 1.89%, - 0.04%), and the similar trend was observed among females (AAPC: - 1.22%; 95% CI: - 1.89%, - 0.55%). The ASMR of males was 2.31-3.16 times higher than that of females per year. The median of LLE for overall, males and females caused by oral cancer from 2006 to 2021 were 0.05, 0.06 and 0.03 years, respectively. There was a decrease of standardized YLL rate from 2006 to 2021 for overall (AAPC: - 1.31%, 95% CI: - 2.24% ~ - 0.37%) and for female (AAPC: - 1.63%, 95% CI: - 2.30% ~ - 0.95%). ASMR in urban areas was 1.02-1.28 times higher than that in rural areas from 2006 to2011, but 0.85-0.97 times lower in urban areas than that in rural areas from 2018 to 2021. The disease burden was higher in urban areas than in rural areas in 2006, whereas the reverse was observed in 2021. CONCLUSIONS: There are severe health gaps and disparities in trends between sexes and different areas in China. Males and rural populations need to be focused on targeted interventions for the main influencing factors.

Tradeoff between productivity and stability across above- and below-ground communities.

An 11-year nitrogen addition experiment reveals that for both plants and soil microorganisms, the ruderal strategists had higher productivity but lower stability, while the tolerant strategists had higher stability and lower productivity, leading to the tradeoff between productivity and stability within and across above- and below-ground communities.

Tumor Suppressor LINC02487 Inhibits the Progression of Cervical Cancer in Vitro by Regulating the PTEN/Akt/mTOR Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical cancer (CC) ranks among the most prevalent malignant tumors affecting the female reproductive system. Nonetheless, various shortcomings exist within current treatment approaches for CC. Therefore, the quest for new intervention targets holds significant importance. Research has demonstrated that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 2487 (LINC02487) can suppress the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, its function and potential mechanisms in CC remain unclear, therefore, this study aims to investigate the role and potential mechanism of LINC02487 in CC. METHODS: LINC02487 and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression were assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in CC tissue samples and constructed cell models. LINC02487 was either knocked down or overexpressed, and PTEN was knocked down in the CC (SiHa) cell line via transfection technology. The expression levels of LINC02487 and PTEN in SiHa cell lines were examined using RT-qPCR after various treatments. Cell proliferation ability was determined through Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 and colony formation assays, while the ability to invade and migrate was assessed via Transwell experiments. Western blot analysis was employed to measure the levels of key proteins in the PTEN/Akt/mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. RESULTS: A positive correlation was observed between LINC02487 and PTEN, both of which were found to be downregulated in CC cells and tissues (p < 0.05). In vitro experiments demonstrated that overexpression of LINC02487 significantly inhibited colony formation (p < 0.01), invasion (p < 0.01), migration (p < 0.01), and proliferation (p < 0.01) of SiHa cells. Furthermore, LINC02487 overexpression led to upregulation of PTEN expression (p < 0.01) and inhibition of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway (p < 0.01), while knockdown of LINC02487 produced the opposite effect (p < 0.01). Additionally, knocking down PTEN counteracted the inhibitory effects of LINC02487 overexpression on CC progression (p < 0.01) and the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In vitro findings suggest that LINC02487 may impede the progression of CC by suppressing the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway through the upregulation of PTEN expression. Consequently, LINC02487 holds promise as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of CC.

Comparative analysis of dental implant placement accuracy: Semi-active robotic versus free-hand techniques: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Robot-assisted implant surgery has emerged as a novel digital technology, and the accuracy need further assessment. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the accuracy of single dental implant placement between a novel semi-active robot-assisted implant surgery (RAIS) method and the conventional free-hand implant surgery (FHIS) method through a multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients requiring single dental implant placement were recruited and randomized into RAIS and FHIS group. Deviations at the platform, apex, and angle between the planned and final implant positions were assessed in both groups. Additionally, the evaluation of instrument and surgical complications was examined. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients (median age: 35.35 ± 12.55 years; 43 males, 97 females) with 140 implants from four different research centers were included, with 70 patients (70 implants) in the RAIS group and 70 patients (70 implants) in the FHIS group. In the RAIS and FHIS groups, the median platform deviations were 0.76 ± 0.36 mm and 1.48 ± 0.93 mm, respectively (p < 0.001); median apex deviations were 0.85 ± 0.48 mm and 2.14 ± 1.25 mm, respectively (p < 0.001); and median angular deviations were 2.05 ± 1.33° and 7.36 ± 4.67°, respectively (p < 0.001). Similar significant difference also presented between RAIS and FHIS group in platform vertical/horizontal deviation, apex vertical/horizontal deviation. Additionally, implants with self-tapping characteristics exhibited significantly larger deviations compared with those without self-tapping characteristics in the RAIS group. Both RAIS and FHIS methods demonstrated comparable morbidity and safety pre- and post-operation. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the RAIS method demonstrated superior accuracy in single dental implant placement compared with the FHIS method. Specifically, RAIS exhibited significantly smaller deviations in platform, apex, and angular positions, as well as platform and apex vertical/horizontal deviations. This clinical trial was not registered prior to participant recruitment and randomization. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=195045.

Systemic contact dermatitis in a family: Case report.

BACKGROUND: Systemic contact dermatitis (SCD) is an allergic inflammatory skin disease. We report that 3 family members developed SCD after exposing to laundry detergent containing benzalkonium chloride, which is rare. SCD caused by benzalkonium chloride has been reported. However, Similar symptoms in the whole family caused by it have not been reported yet. In our case, a 36-year-old man was diagnosed as SCD, and his symptoms had not controlled after 7 days treatment, until he stopped dressing the clothes washed by the laundry detergent containing benzalkonium chloride. It was interesting that both his wife and the daughter developed SCD successively, and they have not exposed to any haptens besides the benzalkonium chloride in the laundry detergent. METHODS: Dermoscopic examination showed bright-red background, focal branching vessels and white scales. HE staining from the lesion revealed hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis, focal subcorneal microabscess, ocal hyperkeratosis, koilocyte in the epidermis, and erythrocyte extravasation, fibroplasia, hyaline degeneration and scattered aggregates of lymphocytes in the dermis. Then path test was performed 1 month after recovery with benzalkonium chloride 0.05% and 0.1% in petrolatum. RESULTS: Stop the laundry detergent containing benzalkonium chloride. The symptoms had controlled after they stopped the laundry detergent containing benzalkonium chloride. CONCLUSION: The case highlights that benzalkonium chloride with very low concentration and repeated exposure may be an active agent of SCD. It is of the utmost importance to pay close attention to patients presenting with similar symptoms within the family. A thorough examination of the medical history is essential to determine the underlying cause.

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of DNP-Functionalized FGFR1-Binding Peptides as Novel Peptidomimetic Immunotherapeutics for Treating Lung Cancer.

Receptor-binding peptides are promising candidates for tumor target therapy. However, the inability to occupy "hot spots" on the PPI interface and rapid metabolic instability are significant limitations to their clinical application. We investigated a new strategy in which an FGFR1-binding peptide (Pep1) was site-specifically functionalized with the dinitrophenyl (DNP) hapten at the C-terminus. The resulting Pep1-DNP conjugates retained FGFR1 binding affinity and exhibited a similar potency in inhibiting FGF2-dependent cell proliferation, comparable to that of native Pep1 in vitro. In addition, three conjugates could recruit anti-DNP antibodies onto the surface of cancer cells, thereby mediating the CDC efficacy. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies and antitumor studies demonstrated that optimal conjugate 9 exhibited significantly prolonged half-lives and improved antitumor efficacy without prominent toxicity compared to those of native Pep1. This is a general and cost-effective approach for generating peptidomimetic immunotherapeutics with multiple antitumor mechanisms that may have broad applications in cancer therapy.

Tandem Catalysis for Simultaneous Removal of NOx and C3H8 with Inhibition of N2O.

Tandem catalysis is widely adopted for multipollutant control in mobile sources but has rarely been reported in stationary source emission elimination. This work proposed a tandem arrangement way with up-streamed V2O5/TiO2 + down-streamed Cr2O3/TiO2 catalysts, which could achieve the efficient synergistic control of NOx and C3H8 in industrial flue gas. Moreover, this arrangement successfully alleviated the unwanted N2O formation during the NH3 -SCR process. Compared to the conventional impregnation method of the Cr2O3-V2O5/TiO2 catalyst, the tandem catalysts of V2O5/TiO2 + Cr2O3/TiO2 could enhance the NOx and C3H8 conversion by 4.2% and 39.5%, respectively, at 350 °C. It might be attributed to the fact that Cr species was the active site for C3H8 oxidation, and the tandem arrangement of catalysts was beneficial to even dispersion of active components on supports. Furthermore, due to the preferential NOx removal over the up-streamed V2O5/TiO2 catalyst, the tandem catalysts obviously alleviated the N2O formation caused by Cr species during the NH3-SCR process. Herein, it significantly decreased N2O formation by 240.5% at 350 °C compared to the Cr2O3-V2O5/TiO2 catalyst, achieving multipollutant emission control from industrial flue gas with the performance of "one stone three birds".

Ubiquitin-Proteasome System in the Different Stages of Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Disease.

This study explored the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in dominantly inherited Alzheimer's disease (DIAD) by examining changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of UPS proteins along with disease progression, AD imaging biomarkers (PiB PET, tau PET), neurodegeneration imaging measures (MRI, FDG PET), and Clinical Dementia Rating® (CDR®). Using the SOMAscan assay, we detected subtle increases in specific ubiquitin enzymes associated with proteostasis in mutation carriers (MCs) up to two decades before the estimated symptom onset. This was followed by more pronounced elevations of UPS-activating enzymes, including E2 and E3 proteins, and ubiquitin-related modifiers. Our findings also demonstrated consistent correlations between UPS proteins and CSF biomarkers such as Aß42/40 ratio, total tau, various phosphorylated tau species to total tau ratios (ptau181/T181, ptauT205/T205, ptauS202/S202, ptauT217/T217), and MTBR-tau243, alongside Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and the CDR®. Notably, a positive association was observed with imaging markers (PiB PET, tau PET) and a negative correlation with markers of neurodegeneration (FDG PET, MRI), highlighting a significant link between UPS dysregulation and neurodegenerative processes. The correlations suggest that the increase in multiple UPS proteins with rising tau levels and tau-tangle associated markers, indicating a potential role for the UPS in relation to misfolded tau/neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and symptom onset. These findings indicate that elevated CSF UPS proteins in DIAD MCs could serve as early indicators of disease progression and suggest a link between UPS dysregulation and amyloid plaque, tau tangles formation, implicating the UPS as a potential therapeutic target in AD pathogenesis.

Changing Patterns and Driving Factors of Plankton Coupling Relationships in Lakes around the Yangtze River, China.

In recent decades, cyanobacterial blooms have intensified in many lakes in China. Algal blooms are closely linked to the predation pressure on phytoplankton, but the changes in the relationship between phytoplankton and their primary predators, zooplankton, remain unclear. To investigate the changing patterns and driving factors of the relationship between plankton, the historical data of plankton from 14 typical freshwater lakes around the Yangtze River were collected from multiple databases. By comparing the structure of plankton communities in typical lakes between the 1990s and the 2010s, it was found that the phytoplankton density was elevated in 79% of all the lakes; on average, it had increased to 3156 times higher than it had been. In contrast, the zooplankton density was elevated in only 57% of these lakes, and this value was only two times higher than it had been. In 11 out of the 14 lakes, the zooplankton density growth rate was lower than that of the phytoplankton. The percentage of cyanobacteria in these lakes increased from 53% to 62%, and the changes in cyanobacteria were significantly negatively correlated with the changes in zooplankton. Eutrophication caused this significant increase in phytoplankton, especially cyanobacteria. Cyanobacterialization, changes in fish community structures, biological invasion, and river-lake relationships impede zooplankton survival. This combination of factors hinders plankton coupling in many lakes. This study attempts to provide new insights for lake ecological management.

Pharmacological Inhibition of TXNRD1 by a Small Molecule Flavonoid Butein Overcomes Cisplatin Resistance in Lung Cancer Cells.

Mammalian cytosolic selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD1) is crucial for maintaining the reduced state of cellular thioredoxin 1 (TXN1) and is commonly up-regulated in cancer cells. TXNRD1 has been identified as an effective target in cancer chemotherapy. Discovering novel TXNRD1 inhibitors and elucidating the cellular effects of TXNRD1 inhibition are valuable for developing targeted therapies based on redox regulation strategies. In this study, we demonstrated that butein, a plant-derived small molecule flavonoid, is a novel TXNRD1 inhibitor. We found that butein irreversibly inhibited recombinant TXNRD1 activity in a time-dependent manner. Using TXNRD1 mutant variants and LC-MS, we identified that butein modifies the catalytic cysteine (Cys) residues of TXNRD1. In cellular contexts, butein promoted the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exhibited cytotoxic effects in HeLa cells. Notably, we found that pharmacological inhibition of TXNRD1 by butein overcame the cisplatin resistance of A549 cisplatin-resistant cells, accompanied by increased cellular ROS levels and enhanced expression of p53. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that butein is an effective small molecule inhibitor of TXNRD1, highlighting the therapeutic potential of inhibiting TXNRD1 in platinum-resistant cancer cells.

Triphase Enzyme Electrode Based on ZIF-8 with Enhanced Oxidase Catalytic Kinetics and Bioassay Performance.

Oxidase enzyme-based electrochemical bioassays have garnered considerable interest due to their specificity and high efficiency. However, in traditional solid-liquid diphase enzyme electrode systems, the low solubility of oxygen and its slow mass transfer rate limit the oxidase catalytic reaction kinetics, thereby affecting the bioassay performance, including the detection accuracy, sensitivity, and linear dynamic range. ZIF-8 nanoparticles (NPs) possess hydrophobic and high-porosity characteristics, enabling them to serve as oxygen nanocarriers. In this work, we constructed a solid-liquid-air triphase enzyme electrode by encapsulating ZIF-8 NPs within an oxidase network. Hydrophobic ZIF-8 NPs can provide a rapid and sufficient supply of oxygen for the oxidase-catalyzed reactions, which enhances and stabilizes the kinetics of oxidase-catalyzed reactions. This approach eliminates the issue of "oxygen deficiency" at the traditional solid-liquid diphase interface. Consequently, the triphase enzyme electrode exhibits a 12-fold higher linear detection range than the diphase system and possesses good detection accuracy in electrolytes even with fluctuating oxygen levels. This work proposes a novel approach to construct triphase reaction systems for addressing the gas deficiency problem in heterogeneous catalysis.