Effects of compound probiotics on intestinal barrier function and caecum microbiota composition of broilers.

Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms existing in nature and animals and can be used in livestock and poultry breeding. Here, 240 1-day-old Arbor Acre (AA) broilers were used to study the effects of compound probiotics (CP) on antioxidant capacity, intestinal barrier function and caecum microorganisms. 2‰, 3‰ or 4‰ CP were added to the basal diet. Blood, jejunum, caecum and caecum contents of broilers were collected on day 60, and the jejunum histopathological observation, oxidative stress state evaluation, intestinal barrier function mRNA level and caecum microflora composition were carried out. The results showed that CP significantly improved the growth performance of broilers in 1-30 days. Moreover, CP supplementation increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contents in serum, and increased the mRNA levels of zona occludens 1 (ZO-1), claudin-1 and occludin in the jejunum of broilers. 3‰ CP observably increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth, and the abundance of the genus Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Phascolarctobacterium, decreased the abundance of the genus Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, together with regulation of several genes that are responsible for signaling pathways involved in carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism and endocrine and metabolic diseases. Taken together, the supplementation of CP could reduce oxidative stress levels, increase the mRNA expression levels of tight junction (TJ)-related genes and the colonization of beneficial bacteria in the caecum, which has a promoting effect on the growth performance in broilers.

Childhood trauma and psychological sub-health among Chinese adolescents: the mediating effect of Internet addiction.

BACKGROUND: The factors related to psychological sub-health (PSH) have been widely described, but the research on the mechanism behind the complex relationship between childhood trauma and PSH is limited. This study investigated the current situation and risk factors of PSH among Chinese adolescents. And further, explore whether Internet addiction (IA) plays a potential mediating effect in childhood trauma and PSH. METHODS: The study was conducted in October 2020 in Anhui Province, China. The PSH state of 866 adolescents was investigated, including demographic information such as gender, age, and grade. Childhood trauma, IA, and PSH were measured by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form (CTQ-SF), Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and the Multidimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescents (MSQA). The mediating effect is further verified by the structural equation model (SEM). RESULTS: In this study, 866 adolescents were selected as subjects, and the proportion of male and female is roughly equal. The prevalence of PSH in adolescents was 25.8%, and left-behind children, boarding, or adolescents who have had non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are more likely to have PSH. Through the mediation test, the direct effect of childhood trauma on PSH was 0.23 (95% CI [4.91,9.00],p <0.001), and the mediating effect of IA on childhood trauma and PSH was 0.07 (95% CI [1.42, 3.32],p <0.001). and the proportion of them is 75.14% and 24.86% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood trauma has direct and indirect effects on PSH, and IA plays a mediating effect in the indirect effect. Therefore, clarifying these relationships helps formulate and implement effective interventions to improve psychological health (PH) in Chinese adolescents.

Predictors of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with depressive disorder: the role of alexithymia, childhood trauma, and body investment.

Purpose: This study analyzes the relationship of alexithymia, childhood trauma, and body investment to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorder and whether they have predictive and diagnostic value for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorder. Patients and methods: A total of 225 patients with a diagnosis of adolescent depressive disorder were included in the study and were divided into two groups according to the DSM-5 criteria: 98 cases without NSSI and 127 cases with NSSI. Compare the demographic data, 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24), 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), and Body Investment Scale (BIS) scores between two groups. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors contributing to NSSI behaviors in adolescents with depression, and establish four predictive models. Based on the models' predictive probability, the ROC curves were plotted to calculate the value of the predictive diagnostic effect. Results: The group without NSSI had lower scores than the group with NSSI on HAMD-24 total score, TAS-20 total score, difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally focused thinking, as well as lower scores on CTQ-SF total score, physical neglect, emotional neglect, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. In contrast, the BIS total score, body image feelings and attitudes, body care, and body protection factor scores were higher for the group without NSSI. The BIS body care factor score and the CTQ-SF emotional abuse factor score were significantly linked with adolescents diagnosed with depressive disorder who exhibited NSSI behaviors. These results provide a good diagnostic model for adolescents with depressive disorder. Conclusion: Low levels of body care and childhood emotional abuse may independently contribute to the implementation of NSSI in adolescents with depressive disorder. Body investment and childhood trauma are valuable in diagnosing and predicting NSSI behaviors and should be considered as potentially important factors in clinical treatment.

Insomnia and aggression in stable schizophrenic patients: The mediating role of quality of life.

Aggression in schizophrenia patients is an issue of concern. Previous studies have shown that aggression in schizophrenia patients may be related to insomnia and quality of life to different extents. This study aimed to explore the potential mediating role of quality of life in the relationship between aggression and insomnia among schizophrenia patients. Demographic factors affecting aggression in schizophrenia patients were also explored. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 781 stable patients aged 18-75 who met the ICD10 diagnosis of "schizophrenia" completed the completed questionnaire. Aggression was assessed using the Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS), sleep was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index Scale (ISI), and quality of life was assessed using the five Likert options. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis examined the correlation between aggression and other variables. The mediating role of quality of life in the association between insomnia and aggression was examined by pathway analysis. RESULTS: A total of 781 patients participated in this study, and approximately 16 % of the schizophrenia patients were aggressive. According to the mediation analysis, the direct effect of insomnia on aggression was 0.147, and the mediating effect of quality of life on insomnia and aggression was 0.021. Specifically, for the four dimensions of the MOAS, the direct effects of insomnia on verbal aggression, aggression toward property, and aggression toward oneself were 0.028, 0.032, and 0.023, respectively, with mediating effects of 0.003, 0.007, and 0.006, respectively, and no mediating effect on physical aggression was found. CONCLUSION: This study showed that insomnia significantly influenced aggression in schizophrenia patients. Quality of life significantly mediated insomnia and aggression and played a vital role in moderating aggression. Therefore, we suggest that in the future, improving aggression in schizophrenia patients, while paying attention to the importance of sleep, could start with improving quality of life to address this problem from multiple perspectives.

Optimal fractionation and timing of weekly cone-beam CT in daily surface-guided radiotherapy for breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT) has been demonstrated to be a promising supplement to cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in adjuvant breast cancer radiotherapy, but a rational combination mode is lacking in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to explore this mode and investigate its impact on the setup and dose accuracy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Daily SGRT and weekly CBCT images were acquired for 23 patients with breast cancer who received conventional fractionated radiotherapy after lumpectomy. Sixteen modes were acquired by randomly selecting one (CBCT1), two (CBCTij), three (CBCTijk), four (CBCTijkl), and five (CBCT12345) images from the CBCT images for fusion with the SGRT. The CTV-PTV margins, OAR doses, and dose coverage (V95%) of PTV and CTV was calculated based on SGRT setup errors with different regions of interest (ROIs). Dose correlations between these modalities were investigated using Pearson and Spearman's methods. Patient-specific parameters were recorded to assess their impact on dose. RESULTS: The CTV-PTV margins decreased with increasing CBCT frequencies and were close to 5 mm for CBCTijkl and CBCT12345. For the ipsilateral breast ROI, SGRT errors were larger in the AP direction, and target doses were higher in all modes than in the whole breast ROI (P < 0.05). In the ipsilateral ROI, the target dose correlations between all modes increased with increasing CBCT time intervals, decreased, and then increased with increasing CBCT frequencies, with the inflection point being CBCT participation at week 5. The dose deviations in CBCT123, CBCT124, CBCT125, CBCTijkl, and CBCT12345 were minimal and did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). There was excellent agreement between CBCT124 and CBCT1234, and between (CBCTijkl, CBCT12345) and CBCT125 in determining the classification for the percentage of PTV deviation (Kappa = 0.704-0.901). In addition, there were weak correlations between the patient's Dips_b (ipsilateral breast diameter with bolus) and CTV doses in modes with CBCT participation at week 4 (R = 0.270 to 0.480). CONCLUSIONS: Based on weekly CBCT, these modes with ipsilateral ROI and a combination of daily SGRT and a CBCT frequency of ≥ 3 were recommended, and CBCT was required at weeks 1 and 2 for CBCTijk.

Detection of myeloma cell-derived microvesicles: a tool to monitor multiple myeloma load.

The persistence of tumor load in multiple myeloma (MM) lead to relapse in patients achieving complete remission (CR). Appropriate and effective methods of myeloma tumor load monitoring are important for guiding clinical management. This study aimed to clarify the value of microvesicles in monitoring MM tumor load. Microvesicles in bone marrow and peripheral blood were isolated by differential ultracentrifugation and detected by flow cytometry. Western blotting was applied to assess myosin light chain phosphorylation levels. Flow cytometry to detect Ps+CD41a-, Ps+CD41a-CD138+, Ps+CD41a-BCMA+ microvesicles from bone marrow can be used to predict myeloma burden, furthermore, Ps+CD41a- microvesicles may as a potential index to MRD test. Mechanistically, the releasing of microvesicles from MM cell was regulated by Pim-2 Kinase via Phosphorylation of MLC-2 protein.

Morphological Structure and Physiological and Biochemical Responses to Drought Stress of Iris japonica.

Drought is among the most important abiotic stresses on plants, so research on the physiological regulation mechanisms of plants under drought stress can critically increase the economic and ecological value of plants in arid regions. In this study, the effects of drought stress on the growth status and biochemical indicators of Iris japonica were explored. Under drought stress, the root system, leaves, rhizomes, and terrestrial stems of plants were sequentially affected; the root system was sparse and slender; and the leaves lost their luster and gradually wilted. Among the physiological changes, the increase in the proline and soluble protein content of Iris japonica enhanced the cellular osmotic pressure and reduced the water loss. In anatomical structures, I. japonica chloroplasts were deformed after drought treatment, whereas the anatomical structures of roots did not substantially change. Plant antioxidant systems play an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis; but, as drought stress intensified, the soluble sugar content of terrestrial stems was reduced by 55%, and the ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) activities of leaves and the MDHAR activity of roots were reduced by 29%, 40%, 22%, and 77%, respectively. Overall, I. japonica was resistant to 63 days of severe drought stress and resisted drought through various physiological responses. These findings provide a basis for the application of I. japonica in water-scarce areas.

Relations between starch fine molecular structures with gelatinization property under different moisture content.

Although gelatinization property has been intensively investigated with its relation to starch structures, how a combination of starch molecular structures and moisture content affect the gelatinization remains unclear. The gelatinization of six rice starches with a wide range of amylose content was investigated under different moisture content in this study. Results showed that starch gelatinization temperatures increased and biphasic endothermic peaks appeared over the decreased moisture content. For the first time, amylose content was shown to have a parabolic relationship with gelatinization temperatures. Distinct linear relations among starch fine molecular structures with gelatinization parameters were observed under different moisture contents, which suggested that amylose short chains were involved in the first endothermic peak, while interactions among amylose intermediate chains and relatively shorter amylopectin trans-lamellar chains dominantly contributed to the second endothermic peak when gelatinized under limited moisture content. These results help in better understanding of starch structure-gelatinization relation.

Tumor-associated macrophages regulate the function of cytotoxic T lymphocyte through PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are originated from circulating mononuclear cells in peripheral blood. They result from the recruitment of tumor cells and are a vital constituent of the tumor microenvironment. TAMs may be involved in the immunological escape of vicious clonal plasma cells (PC) in the bone marrow (BM) of sufferers with myeloma. METHODS: From March 2020 to January 2021, 28 healthy controls (HC) and 86 multiple myeloma (MM) (53 newly diagnosed MM [NDMM] and 33 remissions) patients were enrolled as objects of the study. The expression of TAMs in the BM, CSF1 on CD138 + cells, and CSF1R on macrophages were detected by the method of flow cytometry, and the expression of PD-1 on CD8 + T cells and PD-L1 on TAMs were also done. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) were extracted and cultured into TAMs, CD8 + T cells were sorted by magnetic beads and cultured, a coculture system was established and different inhibitors were added. The expression of the perforin and granzyme B was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentage of TAMs in NDMM group (61.49 ± 2.176%) increased when compared with remission (23.08 ± 1.699%, p < 0.001) and HC group (17.95 ± 1.865%, p < 0.001), and TAMs decreased after adding CSF1R inhibitor. Moreover, the expression of CSF1 on CD138 + cells increased significantly in NDMM group (17.090 ± 0.9156%) than remission (8.214 ± 0.5911% p < 0.001), and HC group (5.257 ± 0.6231%, p < 0.001), and CSF1R on macrophages increased significantly in NDMM group (58.78 ± 2.286%) than remission (20.74 ± 1.376%, p < 0.001) and HC group (17.42 ± 1.081%, p < 0.001). The expression of PD-1 on CD8 + T cells in NDMM group (32.64 ± 2.982%) increased than remission (20.35 ± 2.335% p < 0.01) and HC group (17.53 ± 1.349%, p < 0.001), and PD-L1 on TAMs also increased in NDMM group (50.92 ± 2.554%) than remission (20.02 ± 1.893%, p < 0.001) and HC group (13.08 ± 1.289%, p < 0.001). When CD8 + T cells were cocultured with TAMs, the perforin and granzyme B levels decreased significantly. However, the perforin and granzyme B levels were partly restored after adding CSF1R inhibitor and anti-PD-L1 antibody. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that TAMs were increased in MM patients which can inhibit the function of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) through the PD-1/ PD-L1 signaling pathway and participate in the occurrence of immune escape of myeloma cells.

Roles of LINC01473 and CD74 in osteoblasts in multiple myeloma bone disease.

The suppression of osteoblast (OB) activity is partially responsible for multiple myeloma (MM) bone disease. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a vital role in bone formation and resorption. However, their functions in OBs from patients with MM have rarely been reported. Through high-throughput sequencing of OBs from patients with MM and healthy controls, we identified several lncRNAs and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) with different expression profile and validated them using quantitative real-time PCR. In total, 22 upregulated and 21 downregulated lncRNAs were found in OBs from patients with MM. Moreover, 18 upregulated protein-coding mRNAs were identified. The expression levels of LINC01473 and its associated co-expression mRNA, CD74, were higher in patients with MM than in healthy controls (p=0.047 and p=0.016, respectively). LINC01473 expression demonstrated a negative correlation with serum interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor α levels, whereas the expression of mRNA CD74 was positively associated with serum lactic dehydrogenase in patients with MM. Aberrant expression of lncRNAs and mRNAs was observed in OBs from patients with MM. This study identifies new promising targets for further research on imbalanced bone formation and resorption and MM immune escape.

Cadmium and molybdenum co-induce pyroptosis and apoptosis via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT axis in the livers of Shaoxing ducks (Anas platyrhynchos).

Cadmium (Cd) and excessive molybdenum (Mo) have adverse impacts on animals. However, the hepatotoxicity co-induced by Cd and Mo in ducks has not been fully elucidated. In order to explore the impacts of Cd and Mo co-exposure on pyroptosis and apoptosis by the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway in the livers of ducks, 40 healthy 7-day-old Shaoxing ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) were randomly assigned into 4 groups, and Cd or/and Mo were added to the basic diet per kilogram (kg): control group (0 mg Mo and 0 mg Cd), Mo group (100 mg Mo), Cd group (4 mg Cd), and Mo + Cd group (100 mg Mo and 4 mg Cd), with 16 weeks feed management. Results signified that Cd or/and Mo caused trace element imbalance, liver function and histomorphological abnormalities in the duck liver, and activated the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway through increasing PTEN mRNA and protein levels, reducing PI3K, AKT mRNA and p-AKT/AKT protein levels, which triggered pyroptosis and apoptosis via increasing Caspase-1, NLRP3, NEK7, ASC, GSDME, GSDMA, IL-1ß and IL-18 mRNA levels, Caspase-1 p20, NLRP3, ASC and GSDMD protein levels, and IL-1ß and IL-18 contents, and increasing Bak-1, Bax, Cyt C and Caspase-3 mRNA levels and cleaved Caspase-3/Caspase-3 protein level, and downregulating Bcl-2 mRNA level and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax, respectively. Overall, the results illustrate that pyroptosis and apoptosis induced by Cd or/and Mo may be associated with activating the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway in the livers of ducks. There may be a synergy between these two elements.

Pim-2 Kinase Regulates Energy Metabolism in Multiple Myeloma.

Pim-2 kinase is overexpressed in multiple myeloma (MM) and is associated with poor prognosis in patients with MM. Changes in quantitative metabolism, glycolysis, and oxidative phosphorylation pathways are reportedly markers of all tumor cells. However, the relationship between Pim-2 and glycolysis in MM cells remains unclear. In the present study, we explored the relationship between Pim-2 and glycolysis. We found that Pim-2 inhibitors inhibited glycolysis and energy production in MM cells. Inhibition of Pim-2 decreased the proliferation of MM tumor cells and increased their susceptibility to apoptosis. Our data suggest that reduced Pim-2 expression inhibits the energy metabolism process in MM, thereby inhibiting tumor progression. Hence, Pim-2 is a potential metabolic target for MM treatment.

Left-Behind Experience and Behavior Problems Among Adolescents: Multiple Mediating Effects of Social Support and Sleep Quality.

Purpose: Adolescence has always been a period prone to behavior problems. Some studies have shown that left-behind experience, social support, and sleep quality are all crucial factors influencing behavior problems, but the mechanisms of how they are influenced are unclear. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of behavior problems among school-aged adolescents and explored the mediating role of social support and sleep quality in the association between left-behind experience and behavior problems. Patients and Methods: A total of 738 school adolescent students completed this questionnaire. We collected basic information about the participants using a general demographic scale and assessed their sleep quality, social support, and behavioral problems using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale, Social Support Rating Scale, and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. The multiple mediating effects of sleep quality and social support were examined by path analysis. Results: Among 738 school-aged adolescent students who completed the survey, a total of 198 students had behavior problems, with an overall prevalence of 26.8%. In the multiple mediation model, the mediation effect of social support and sleep quality on left-behind experience to behavior problems was 56.7% (direct effect: standardized estimate=0.946, indirect effect: standardized estimate=1.239). The model was a saturated model, and fit was no longer considered. Conclusion: We found that social support and sleep quality had a series of multiple mediating effects in the pathway from left-behind experience to behavior problems, and both significantly moderated behavior problems. Therefore, we suggest that we should pay more attention to students' psychological status and improve their use of social support for left-behind adolescents, in addition to giving more external social support. And paying attention to their sleep problems to reduce the occurrence of behavior problems, considering that their psychological development is not mature.

Effects of amylose and amylopectin molecular structures on starch electrospinning.

The role of amylose content in electrospinning starch nanofibres is well understood, but that is not the case for the roles of the molecular structures of amylose and amylopectin. Here, correlations between starch molecular-structure parameters and electrospinnability evaluation indices (average droplet number, average bead number, and average fibre diameter) and dope properties (shear viscosity, conductivity, and surface tension) were examined. Starches with lower amounts of short amylopectin chains, higher amounts of either/or long amylopectin chains and/or lower degree of branching showed decreased viscosity of the electrospinning dopes, and resulted in a reduced average droplet number of electrospun fibre mats. The molecular sizes of amylose and whole starch, and the average degree of polymerization for amylose chains, all correlated with the shear viscosity and surface tension of dopes, and thus influenced the average fibre diameter. This expands the current understanding between amylopectin molecular structure and starch electrospinning, thereby assisting a better choice of starches for desired electrospinnability properties.

Childhood Trauma and Non-suicidal Self-Injury Among Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Psychological Sub-health.

The factors associated with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) of adolescents have been widely researched. However, the underlying mechanism of the relationship between childhood trauma and NSSI is limited. This study aimed to explore the risk factors for NSSI among Chinese adolescents. Our hypothesis was that psychological sub-health (PSH) played a mediating role between childhood trauma and NSSI. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Sub-health Questionnaire of Adolescent, and the self-report NSSI were used to measure childhood trauma, PSH, and NSSI. Structural equation model (SEM) was performed to verify our hypothesis. The results showed that 33.9% of the participants in our survey had engaged in NSSI in the past year. Adolescents who were left-behind children or in primary schools were more likely to engage in NSSI. Additionally, 56.2% of the participants had moderate to severe childhood trauma, and 26.1% of the participants had PSH. Furthermore, childhood trauma and PSH would increase the risk of NSSI by 2 times (B = 0.79, p < 0.01) and 5 times (B = 1.64, p < 0.01), respectively. SEM was established (p = 0.512) and the goodness-of-fit indices were examined (CMIN/DF = 0.892; GFI = 0.997; AGFI = 0.992; NFI = 0.991; RFI = 0.980; IFI = 1.00; TLI = 1.00; CFI = 1.00; RMSEA < 0.001). The SEM indicated that childhood trauma positively predicted NSSI both directly and indirectly through PSH. PSH has been confirmed to have partial mediating effects between childhood trauma and NSSI. The assessment of PSH may be an operable and effective method to screen and predict NSSI. Meanwhile, the intervention of childhood trauma and PSH may effectively prevent and reduce the occurrence of NSSI among adolescents.

The relationship between Internet addiction and childhood trauma in adolescents: The mediating role of social support.

Background: Adolescents are at high risk of Internet addiction (IA). Previous studies have shown that the occurrence of IA may be associated with childhood trauma and social support to varying degrees. This study aimed to investigate the pathogenesis of IA in adolescents. Further, to explore the potential mediating role of social support in childhood trauma and IA. This study provides theoretical support for future interventions targeting IA in adolescents. Methods: This study used a descriptive cross-sectional design. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) were used to conduct an anonymous questionnaire survey among randomly selected adolescents aged less than 18 years old in two cities in southern Anhui Province. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were used to test the correlation between IA and other variables. A binary logistic regression model was used to explore the influencing factors of IA. Multiple regression models were examined with process macro and bootstrapping to confirm significant mediating effects. Results: A total of 844 adolescents, equally divided between males and females, participated in this study, and the prevalence of IA in the region was 23.0%. Through the mediation test, the direct effect of childhood trauma on IA was 0.20 (95% CI [0.12, 0.27], p < 0.001), and the mediating effect of social support on childhood trauma and IA was 0.09 (95% CI [0.06, 0.14]). Conclusion: The study showed that childhood trauma significantly affected the incidence of IA in adolescents. Social support had a significant mediating effect on childhood trauma and IA and attenuated its negative effects.

Effects of endogenous proteins on rice digestion during small intestine (in vitro) digestion.

Rices with higher protein contents are nutritionally desirable. This study investigates the effects of endosperm proteins on starch in vitro digestibility in cooked and uncooked rice, and the mechanisms underlying any changes. The composition of rice endosperm proteins and the morphologies of proteins and starch granules were determined by SDS-PAGE and confocal microscopy. Starch molecular fine structure was examined using size-exclusion chromatography. In vitro digestion showed that the digestion rate coefficients (k) of cooked rice flour were significantly lower than those of isolated starch or of a starch-protein mixture. (e.g for samples from SWR4, k is 9.6, 12.9 and 11.6 × 10-2 min-1 for cooked rice flour, isolated starch and starch-protein mixture, respectively). For uncooked samples, digestion rate coefficients were 1.4, 1.5 and 1.8 × 10-2 min-1 for flour, starch-protein mixture and starch, respectively. The digestion rates in cooked samples were higher than those in uncooked samples. This suggests that, in cooked samples, starch digestion rates are more affected by the protein physical barrier than by some chemical effect (e.g. hydrogen bonding between protein and starch), while in uncooked samples, a chemical effect from protein is more pronounced than a physical barrier from protein.