The association between gout flares and monosodium urate burden assessed using musculoskeletal ultrasound in patients with gout.

Background: Ultrasound (US) has a high sensitivity in detecting monosodium urate (MSU) deposition in gout patients. However, the value of US in predicting gout flares has been reported only in a few monocentric studies. Objective: To investigate the association between gout flares in the previous year and US-detected MSU burden using two different US scores. Design: A retrospective study. Methods: Patients with gout were consecutively recruited to undergo musculoskeletal US examinations of their knees, ankles, and feet. The score derived from Outcome Measure in Rheumatology (hereinafter referred to as MSU score) and musculoskeletal US features-based (hereinafter referred to as MSKF score) were used to quantify the MSU burden of gout. Odds ratios for frequent gout flares were calculated. Results: We enrolled 1894 patients with gout (mean age: 45 years; gout duration: 5 years; males: 96.1%), experiencing a median of three flares over the past year. Of these, 428 (22.6%) patients reported frequent (⩾7) gout flares. The MSU and MSKF median scores were 6 and 9, respectively. For each five-point increase in MSU and MSKF score, the odds ratio of frequent gout flares increased 1.13-fold and 1.24-fold, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) for the MSU and MSKF score was 0.635 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.604-0.665] and 0.688 (95% CI: 0.659-0.718), respectively, (AUC difference 0.054, p value for AUC difference < 0.001). Conclusion: The MSU and MSKF scores were significantly associated with the number of gout flares in the previous year. The MSKF score outperformed the MSU score in terms of frequent gout flare discrimination.

Prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in diabetic foot ulcers: A meta-analysis.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections have become increasingly common in recent years due to the increased prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). We carried out a meta-analysis aimed at investigating the prevalence of MDR bacteria isolated from DFUs and analysing the risk factors for MDR bacterial infection in patients with DFUs. The PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Ovid, Scopus, and ProQuest databases were searched for studies published up to November 2023 on the clinical outcomes of MDR bacteria in DFUs. The main outcome was the prevalence of MDR bacteria in DFUs. A total of 21 studies were included, representing 4885 patients from which 2633 MDR bacterial isolates were obtained. The prevalence of MDR bacteria in DFUs was 50.86% (95% confidence interval (CI): 41.92%-59.78%). The prevalence of MDR gram-positive bacteria (GPB) in DFUs was 19.81% (95% CI: 14.35%-25.91%), and the prevalence of MDR gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in DFUs was 32.84% (95% CI: 26.40%-39.62%). MDR Staphylococcus aureus (12.13% (95% CI: 8.79%-15.91%)) and MDR Enterococcus spp. (3.33% (95% CI: 1.92%-5.07%)) were the main MDR-GPB in DFUs. MDR Escherichia coli, MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MDR Enterobacter spp., MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae, and MDR Proteus mirabilis were the main MDR-GNB in DFUs. The prevalence rates were 6.93% (95% CI: 5.15%-8.95%), 6.01% (95% CI: 4.03%-8.33%), 3.59% (95% CI: 0.42%-9.30%), 3.50% (95% CI: 2.31%-4.91%), and 3.27% (95% CI: 1.74%-5.21%), respectively. The clinical variables of diabetic foot ulcer patients infected with MDR bacteria and non-MDR bacteria in the included studies were analysed. The results showed that peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy, osteomyelitis, Wagner's grade, previous hospitalization and previous use of antibacterial drugs were significantly different between the MDR bacterial group and the non-MDR bacterial group. We concluded that there is a high prevalence of MDR bacterial infections in DFUs. The prevalence of MDR-GNB was greater than that of MDR-GPB in DFUs. MDR S. aureus was the main MDR-GPB in DFUs, and MDR E. coli was the main MDR-GNB in DFUs. Our study also indicated that peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy, osteomyelitis, Wagner's grade, previous hospitalization, and previous use of antibacterial drugs were associated with MDR bacterial infections in patients with DFUs.

Genetically predicted processed meat, red meat intake, and risk of mental disorders: A multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous observational studies have highlighted potential links between the consumption of processed meat and red meat (such as pork, mutton, and beef intake) and the occurrence of mental disorders. However, it is unclear whether a causal association exists. Therefore, we employed the Mendelian randomization (MR) study to investigate the causal effects of genetically predicted processed meat and red meat on mood disorders (MD), anxiety disorders (AD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Genetic instruments for processed and red meat were selected from the Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) of the UK Biobank Study. Their associations with MD (42,746 cases 254,976), AD (35,385 cases and 254,976 controls), and MDD (38,225 cases and 299,886 controls) were obtained from the FinnGen Consortium. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method was the primary method for two-sample MR analysis. Additionally, we employed complementary analysis to assess the robustness of our MR findings (eg, MR Egger and weighted median). We also conducted multiple sensitivity analyses to investigate horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity. Moreover, we performed a univariate and multivariable MR (MVMR) study to evaluate these associations. RESULTS: In our univariate MR analysis, we observed that genetically predicted beef intake was associated with a reduced risk of MD [odds ratio (OR) = 0.403, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.246-0.659; PIVW = 4.428 × 10-5], AD (OR = 0.443, 95 % CI = 0.267-0.734; PIVW = 1.563 × 10-3), and MDD (OR = 0.373, 95 % CI = 0.216-0.643; PIVW = 3.878 × 10-4). After adjusting for processed meat, pork, and mutton intake in the MVMR analysis, the protective association of beef intake against MD and MDD remained. However, there was no substantial evidence indicating a significant causal relationship between processed meat, pork, and mutton intake and the occurrence of mental disorders. Furthermore, our sensitivity analysis revealed no significant evidence of horizontal pleiotropy. CONCLUSION: These findings support a causal relationship between genetically predicted beef intake and reducing the risk of MD and MDD.

Ultrasound-augmented enzyodynamic-Ca2+ overload synergetic tumor nanotherapy.

The excessive intracellular Ca2+ can induce oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage and cell apoptosis, which has been extensively explored for tumor therapy. However, the low Ca2+ accumulation originated from Ca2+-based nanosystems substantially weakens the therapeutic effect. Herein, a functional plant polyphenol-appended enzyodynamic nanozyme system CaFe2O4@BSA-curcumin (abbreviation as CFO-CUR) has been rationally designed and engineered to achieve magnified Ca2+ accumulation process, deleterious reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as mitochondrial dysfunction through enzyodynamic-Ca2+ overload synergistic effect. The exogenous Ca2+ released by CaFe2O4 nanozymes under the weakly acidic tumor microenvironment and Ca2+ efflux inhibition by curcumin boost mitochondria-dominant antineoplastic efficiency. The presence of Fe components with multivalent characteristic depletes endogenous glutathione and outputs the incremental ROS due to the oxidase-, peroxidase-, glutathione peroxidase-mimicking activities. The ROS burst-triggered regulation of Ca2+ channels and pumps strengthens the intracellular Ca2+ accumulation. Especially, the exogenous ultrasound stimulation further amplifies mitochondrial damage. Both in vitro and in vivo experimental results affirm the ultrasound-augmented enzyodynamic-Ca2+ overload synergetic tumor inhibition outcomes. This study highlights the role of ultrasound coupled with functional nanozyme in the homeostasis imbalance and function disorder of mitochondria for highly efficient tumor treatment.

Efficacy and safety of orlistat in male patients with overweight/obesity and hyperuricemia: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels and frequent gout flares. Losing weight can reduce the SUA level and gout flares. The effect of orlistat on SUA levels and gout flares in patients with overweight/obesity and hyperuricemia (HUA) has not been extensively studied. This study investigated the effects of orlistat on SUA levels and gout flares compared to placebo in overweight and obese patients with HUA. METHODS: A total of 72 Chinese patients with overweight/obesity and HUA were randomly divided into a placebo group (35, 48.6%) and an orlistat group (37, 51.4%); the trial lasted 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were the relative changes in body weight, the SUA level, and gout flares in the per-protocol population. RESULTS: Orlistat reduced the proportion of patients with gout flares (log-rank P = 0.023, hazard ratio = 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.11-0.85). There was no significant difference in SUA level between the two groups. The average weight loss of the orlistat group was 2.85 kg, and the average weight loss of the placebo group was 0.76 kg. The weight loss in the orlistat group was significantly greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate that orlistat has no significant effect on SUA levels in patients with overweight/obesity and HUA. The utility of orlistat as an adjunct therapy to prevent gout flares during weight loss in patients with HUA was emphasized. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05496075.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Middle-Aged and Elderly Population Towards Ultrasound Screening for Strokes.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among middle-aged and elderly population towards ultrasound screening for strokes. Patients and Methods: This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted between March, 2023, and May, 2023 at Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital. A self-designed questionnaire was developed to collect demographic information of middle-aged and elderly population and assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices toward ultrasound screening for strokes. Results: A total of 552 participants enrolled in this study, among them 151 (27.36%) aged above 60 years old, 306 (55.43%) resided in rural area, 239 (43.30%) possessed educational attainment at the level of junior college, college or above. The mean knowledge, attitudes and practice scores were 5.53 ± 2.56, 40.22 ± 5.60 and 38.30 ± 7.38, respectively. Pearson's analysis was performed to assess the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and practices. It was shown that knowledge and attitudes were positively correlated (r = 0.544, P < 0.001), and knowledge and practices were also positively correlated (r = 0.404, P < 0.001). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between attitude and practice scores (r = 0.566, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the middle-aged and elderly population exhibited insufficient knowledge, positive attitudes, and moderate practices towards ultrasound screening for strokes. There is a need to improve the understanding of stroke risk factors, symptoms, and emergency measures among this population.

Purine Metabolic Pathway Alterations and Serum Urate Changes after Oral Inosine Loading in Male Chinese Volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Oral inosine loading is a new method to evaluate the effects of purine on urate metabolism. However, individuals respond differently to acute purine intake, and the effects on the metabolism of other purines remain to be explored. METHODS: 35 male participants are recruited. Participants received 500 mg of inosine orally after an overnight fast, and blood and urine samples are collected before and at various time points over 180 min after inosine administration. RESULTS: The serum urate concentration is significantly different between the hyperuricemia (n = 14) and non-hyperuricemia (n = 16) groups before inosine intake, but there is no in urate change after inosine intake. When grouped according to the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the increase in urate level in the high-eGFR group is significantly higher than that in the low-eGFR group (p  =  0.047). The high-eGFR group showed higher levels of serum xanthine and xanthine oxidase (XOD), the key enzyme in urate synthesis, after inosine loading (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in urate level is positively related to eGFR after oral acute inosine administration, which may have been due to a higher level of XOD.

Engineering 2D Multienzyme-Mimicking Pyroptosis Inducers for Ultrasound-Augmented Catalytic Tumor Nanotherapy.

Overcoming apoptosis resistance is necessary to ensure an effective cancer treatment; however, it is currently very difficult to achieve. A desirable alternative for cancer treatment is the targeted activation of pyroptosis, a unique type of programmed cell death. However, the pyroptosis inducers that are efficient for cancer therapy are limited. This work reports the engineering of 2D NiCoOx nanosheets as inducers of the production of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), which promote intense cell pyroptosis, and that can be applied to ultrasound (US)-augmented catalytic tumor nanotherapy. The main therapeutic task is carried out by the 2D NiCoOx nanosheets, which have four multienzyme-mimicking activities: peroxidase- (POD), oxidase- (OXD), glutathione peroxidase- (GPx), and catalase- (CAT) mimicking activities. These activities induce the reversal of the hypoxic microenvironment, endogenous glutathione depletion, and a continuous ROS output. The ROS-induced pyroptosis process is carried out via the ROS-NLRP3-GSDMD pathway, and the exogenous US activation boosts the multienzyme-mimicking activities and favors the incremental ROS generation, thus inducing mitochondrial dysfunction. The anti-cancer experimental results support the dominance of NiCoOx nanosheet-induced pyroptosis. This work expands on the biomedical applications of engineering 2D materials for US-augmented catalytic breast cancer nanotherapy and deepens the understanding of the multienzyme activities of nanomaterials.

The Association of Serum Irisin with Impaired Glucose Before and After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Obesity.

BACKGROUND: To demonstrate the association of irisin levels with impaired glucose before and after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in patients with obesity. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with obesity undergoing LSG were included. We tested the irisin levels before and after LSG and conducted an evaluation of baseline irisin levels with elevated glucose as well as irisin changes with weight loss and its association with glucose control after LSG. RESULTS: Anthropometric measurements, body fat index, and metabolic parameters were significantly improved in 3 months following LSG (all p < 0.05). Baseline irisin levels were significantly higher in obesity with elevated fasting glucose than that with normal glucose (2.98 [2.37, 3.63] vs. 3.72 [3.06, 5.32], p = 0.031). After adjustment for sex, gender, and body mass index (BMI), obesity with higher irisin levels was prone to have impaired fasting glucose (OR = 2.499, 95% CI = 1.047-5.964). According to receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the diagnostic accuracy and sensitivity of baseline irisin levels on impaired fasting glucose were 75% and 77.8%. Irisin levels decreased from 3.29 (2.67, 4.43) to 2.82 (2.41, 3.25) ng/mL (p = 0.009) after LSG. The decreases of weight, BMI, and FFA were more in irisin changes group (△irisin ≥ 0.5) than in no irisin changes group (△irisin < 0.5). And △irisin was negatively associated with postprandial glucose (PG) at 3 months after LSG (0.5 h-PG, r = - 0.478, p = 0.029; 2 h-PG, r = - 0.406, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated baseline irisin levels indicated the impaired glucose in obesity. The decrease of irisin with weight loss provided more evidence for the contribution of serum irisin secretion by fat mass in obesity.

Utility of vector flow mapping technology in quantitative assessment of carotid wall shear stress in hypertensive patients: A preliminary study.

Background: Blood flowing in the arterial lumen acts on the surface of the vessel wall to form wall shear stress (WSS). To date, there has been limited research on the utility of non-invasive technology in the accurate quantification of carotid WSS in patients with hypertension (HP). Objective: The present study aimed to explore the usage of vascular vector flow mapping (VFM) in the quantitative assessment of carotid WSS in hypertensive patients at an early stage and to validate its clinical utility. Methods: A total of 50 individuals confirmed without carotid plaques were grouped into a HP group (n = 25) and a control (CON) group (n = 25) according to blood pressure. An ALOKA LISENDO 880 Color Doppler Ultrasound with a L441 3-15 MHZ probe was used to obtain a longitudinal section scan to determine the regions of interests (ROIs) of the common carotid artery. VFM-based WSS measurements were obtained by selecting the ROI with optimal image quality from three full cardiac cycles. WSS-derived measurements, including WSSmax, WSSmin, and WSSmean, were analyzed and compared between the HP and CON groups. In addition, the correlations between WSS-derived measurements and the carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were also analyzed. Results: There were significant statistical differences in WSSmax and WSSmean between patients in the HP and CON groups. Specifically, the HP group had significantly decreased WSSmax and WSSmean compared to the CON group (WSSmax: 1.781 ± 0.305 Pa vs. 2.286 ± 0.257 Pa; WSSmean: 1.276 ± 0.333 Pa vs. 1.599 ± 0.293 Pa, both p < 0.001). However, there was no statistical difference in WSSmin between the groups (0.79 ± 0.36 vs. 0.99 ± 0.42, p = 0.080). Additionally, Spearman's correlation analysis indicated that the WSS-derived parameters were negatively correlated with the IMT (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Vascular VFM technology shows promising results in the quantitative assessment of difference in hemodynamics of the vascular flow field between patients with HP and normal controls. Difference in WSS may serve as a potential predictor for the development of arteriosclerosis risks.

Formation and inhibition mechanism of novel angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from Chouguiyu.

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides from fermented foods exhibit great potential to alleviate hypertension. In this study, the peptide extract from Chouguiyu exhibited a good inhibition effect on ACE, and the inhibition rate was significantly enhanced after fermentation for 8 days. The ACE inhibitory peptides were further identified, followed by their inhibition and formation mechanisms using microbiome technology and molecular docking. A total of 356 ACE inhibitory peptides were predicted using in silico, and most ACE inhibitory peptides increased after fermentation. These peptides could be hydrolyzed from 94 kinds of precursor proteins, mainly including muscle-type creatine kinase, nebulin, and troponin I. P1 (VEIINARA), P2 (FAVMVKG), P4 (EITWSDDKK), P7 (DFDDIQK), P8 (IGDDPKF), P9 (INDDPKIL), and P10 (GVDNPGHPFI) were selected as the core ACE inhibitory peptides according to their abundance and docking energy. The salt bridge and conventional hydrogen bond connecting unsaturated oxygen atoms in the peptides contributed most to the ACE inhibition. The cleavage proteases from the microbial genera in Chouguiyu for preparing these 7 core ACE inhibitory peptides were further analyzed by hydrolysis prediction and Pearson's correlation. The correlation network showed that P7, P8, and P9 were mainly produced by the proteases from LAB including Lactococcus, Enterococcus, Vagococcus, Peptostreptococcus, and Streptococcus, while P1, P2, P4, and P10 were mainly Produced by Aeromonas, Bacillus, Escherichia, and Psychrobacter. This study is helpful in isolating the proteases and microbial strains to directionally produce the responding ACE inhibitory peptides.

Bioinformatic Prediction and Characterization of Proteins in Porphyra dentata by Shotgun Proteomics.

Porphyra dentata is an edible red seaweed with high nutritional value. It is widely cultivated and consumed in East Asia and has vast economic benefits. Studies have found that P. dentata is rich in bioactive substances and is a potential natural resource. In this study, label-free shotgun proteomics was first applied to identify and characterize different harvest proteins in P. dentata. A total of 13,046 different peptides were identified and 419 co-expression target proteins were characterized. Bioinformatics was used to study protein characteristics, functional expression, and interaction of two important functional annotations, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolism. Potential bioactive peptides, protein structure, and potential ligand conformations were predicted, and the results suggest that bioactive peptides may be utilized as high-quality active fermentation substances and potential targets for drug production. Our research integrated the global protein database, the first time bioinformatic analysis of the P. dentata proteome during different harvest periods, improves the information database construction and provides a framework for future research based on a comprehensive understanding.

Comparison of the Physicochemical Properties of Carboxymethyl Agar Synthesized by Microwave-Assisted and Conventional Methods.

The microwave-assisted carboxymethylation of agar to improve its physicochemical properties was investigated. Microwave power, reaction time, and temperature, ethanol concentration, and amounts of chloroacetic acid and sodium hydroxide were assessed for their effects on synthetic yield and degree of substitution (DS). All factors were positively correlated with DS within a certain range. Using optimized conditions, samples with different DS were prepared, and the physicochemical properties of unmodified and carboxymethyl agars prepared by microwave and conventional methods were compared. Carboxymethylation significantly changed the physicochemical properties of the agar, improving gel transparency and reducing dissolution temperature, gel strength, gel hardness, molecular weight, and molecular size; DS was the key factor. Specifically, higher DS values resulted in greater changes. The microwave-assisted method significantly shortened the reaction time and preserved molecular weight, gel strength, and texture hardness of the agar. Therefore, as an environmentally friendly method, microwave-assisted synthesis shows great promise for producing carboxymethyl agar.

Neuropeptides, Inflammation, Biofilms, and diabetic Foot Ulcers.

A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a serious complication in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). A DFU is the most common cause of non-traumatic limb amputation, and patients with DFUs have increased mortality rates within 5 years after amputation. DFUs also increase the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases; therefore, with the increasing incidence and prevalence of diabetic foot wounds, DFUs are gradually becoming a major public health problem. The pathophysiology of DFUs is complicated and remains unclear. In recent years, many studies have demonstrated that the pathophysiology of DFUs is especially associated with neuropeptides, inflammation, and biofilms. Neuropeptides, especially substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), play an important role in wound healing. SP and CGRP accelerate the healing of cutaneous wounds by promoting neovascularization, inhibiting the release of certain proinflammatory chemokines, regulating macrophage polarization, and so on. However, the expression of SP and CGRP was downregulated in DM and DFUs. DFUs are characterized by a sustained inflammatory phase. Immune cells such as neutrophils and macrophages are involved in the sustained inflammatory phase in DFUs by extracellular traps (NETs) and dysregulated macrophage polarization, which delays wound healing. Furthermore, DFUs are at increased risk of biofilm formation. Biofilms disturb wound healing by inducing a chronic inflammatory response, inhibiting macrophage phagocytosis and keratinocyte proliferation migration, and transferring antimicrobial resistance genes. To understand the relationships among neuropeptides, inflammation, biofilms, and DFUs, this review highlights the recent scientific advances that provide possible pathophysiological insights into the delayed healing of DFUs.

Investigation of fermentation-induced changes in the volatile compounds of Trachinotus ovatus (meixiangyu) based on molecular sensory and interpretable machine-learning techniques: Comparison of different fermentation stages.

Fermented golden pomfret (Trachinotus ovatus) is appreciated by local consumers owing to its distinct flavor. Electronic nose (E-nose) and gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) technologies were used to analyze the changes in volatile compounds responsible for evolution of the golden pomfret odor profile during fermentation. Forty-five ion peaks were detected using GC-IMS. Although aldehydes represented the major initial volatile compound group, their levels decreased as fermentation proceeded. Between 3 and 15 days, increased levels of esters contributed to a stable volatile organic compounds profile. After 18 days, high levels of indole and pyrazines were detected. Eleven key volatile compounds were screened based on partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) predicted the fermentation stage enabling the development of better strategies to regulate golden pomfret fermentation. This study provided a theoretical basis for real-time monitoring and quality control of Chinese fermented golden pomfet.

Molecular imaging diagnosis of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque in rabbit carotid artery using a self-assembled nanoscale ultrasound microbubble contrast agent.

This study aimed to prepare an anti-Vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1) nanoscale ultrasound microbubble contrast agent using the hyperbranched self-assembly method for the molecular imaging diagnosis of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques in rabbits. Twenty-five rabbits with carotid atherosclerosis were randomly divided into 5 groups, and the ear vein was injected with agents as follows: Groups A and B: nanoscale ultrasound microbubble contrast agent with and without anti-VCAM-1 agent; Groups C and D: SonoVue ultrasonic microbubble contrast agent, with and without anti-VCAM-1 agent; Control group: saline. The molecular imaging diagnosis of the atherosclerotic plaque, involved the examination of its vulnerability in the rabbit carotid artery was performed using the contrast ultrasound mode. The arrival and peaking time of the anti-VCAM-1 nanoscale ultrasound microbubble contrast agent (Group A) for plaque occurred earlier than those of the other groups (p < 0.05), and with it, the plaque showed the strongest enhancement (p < 0.05), followed by the SonoVue ultrasound microbubble contrast agent with anti-VCAM-1 group (Group C) and the self-made nanoscale ultrasound microbubble contrast agent group (Group B). No development was observed in the plaques of the SonoVue ultrasound microbubble contrast agent group and the control group. The anti-VCAM-1 nanoscale ultrasonic microbubble contrast agent, prepared using the self-assembly method, can facilitate the development effect of the carotid atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque, providing a basis for the molecular imaging diagnosis of carotid atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques.

Contribution of autochthonous microbiota succession to flavor formation during Chinese fermented mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi).

Complex microbial metabolism is key to the unique flavor formation of Chinese fermented mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). However, the association between microorganisms and production of specific flavor components during fermentation is unclear. In this study, headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography -mass spectrometry was performed to identify flavor components in fermented samples of S. chuatsi, and high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA was conducted to identify the diversity and succession of microbial communities. A correlation network model was adopted to predict the relationship between key microorganisms and flavor formation. The results revealed alcohols, nitrogen compounds, aldehydes, and esters as the main flavor components, and three microbial genera (Psychrilyobacter, Fusobacterium, and Acidaminococcus) were closely associated with the production of these components. These microorganisms contributed to formation of characteristic flavor substances such as linalool, trimethylamine, indole, and Geranyl acetate. This study improves the understanding of different roles of microorganisms in flavor formation during mandarin fish fermentation.

Effect of lipid on surimi gelation properties of the three major Chinese carp.

BACKGROUND: Gel properties are important in determining the quality of surimi. In addition to myofibrillar proteins, lipids play an important role in the formation of surimi gel. Phospholipids (PL) are amphoteric lipids that cannot be removed through rinsing. Paradoxically, the addition of PL increases or decreases gel strength. This research aimed to investigate the effects of specific lipids on the gelation properties of surimi from three different carp. RESULTS: The hardness, chewiness, and gel strength of bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis: BC) surimi were higher, and the total lipid content was lower when compared with grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus: GC) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix: SC) surimi. Bighead carp surimi had lower levels of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositols (PI), and phosphatidylcholine (PC), and higher phosphatidylserine (PS) and sphingomyelin (SM) content. The gelation properties of surimi increased with increasing concentrations of SM and PS. Furthermore, increased levels of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and decreased levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) increased gelation properties. Finally, higher hydrophobic interactions and more disulfide bonds were shown to increase gel network structure stability, resulting in improving gel strength in BC surimi. CONCLUSION: The textural characteristics and gel strength of surimi were dependent on the PL content, including total lipid levels and the types of fatty acids. This may account for previous conflicting reports on PL effects on gel strength. This study provides insight into how the texture of surimi can be improved and provides a starting point for further research. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Novel insight into the formation mechanism of volatile flavor in Chinese fish sauce (Yu-lu) based on molecular sensory and metagenomics analyses.

Complex microbial metabolism is the basis for flavor formation in traditional fish sauce. To guide the targeted regulation of production quality, we used molecular sensory and metagenomics analyses to determine dynamic changes in volatile flavor compounds and microbial communities of fish sauce as fermentation progressed. In total, 56 volatile compounds were identified; of these, 3-methylthiopropanal had the highest average odor activity value. Twelve volatile compounds, key for fish sauce flavor development, were identified. Bidirectional orthogonal partial least squares analysis was applied to investigate the correlation between microorganisms and flavor substances. Five microbial genera including Halanaerobium, Halomonas, Tetragenococcus, Halococcus and Candidatus Frackibacter constituted the core microbial flora responsible for flavor formation. The microbial metabolic pathways degraded raw materials into primary metabolites, such as glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids. This study provides novel insights into the flavor formation mechanism of traditional fish sauce fermentation.