Effects of Grinding Methods of Tartary Buckwheat Leaf Powder on the Characteristics and Micromorphology of Wheat Dough.

The functional components in tartary buckwheat leaf powder can give flour products higher nutritional value. To comprehensively realize the high-value utilization of tartary buckwheat and its by-products, electric stone mill powder (EMP), ultra-fine mill powder (UMP), steel mill powder (SMP), and grain mill powder (GMP) from tartary buckwheat leaves were used in the preparation of wheat dough, and this was used to explore their effects on dough properties and protein microstructure. With an increase in tartary buckwheat leaf powder, the hydration characteristics, protein weakening rate, and starch gelatinization characteristics of the dough changed, and the water holding capacity and swelling capacity decreased. The retrogradation value increased, which could prolong the shelf life of related products. The water solubility of the dough showed an upward trend and was the lowest at 10% UMP. The addition of UMP produced a more uniform dough stability time and the lowest degree of protein weakening, which made the dough more resistant to kneading. An increasing amount of tartary buckwheat leaf powder augmented the free sulfhydryl content of the dough and decreased the disulfide bond content. The disulfide bond content of the dough containing UMP was higher than that of the other doughs, and the stability of the dough was better. The peaks of the infrared spectrum of the dough changed after adding 10% UMP and 20% EMP. The content of α-helical structures was the highest at 10% UMP, and the content of ordered structures was enhanced. The polymerization of low molecular weight proteins to form macromolecular polymers led to a reduction in surface hydrophobic regions and the aggregation of hydrophobic groups. The SEM results also demonstrated that at 10% tartary buckwheat leaf powder, the addition of UMP was significantly different from that of the other three leaf powders, and at 20%, the addition of EMP substantially altered the structure of the dough proteins. Considering the effects of different milling methods and different added amounts of tartary buckwheat leaf powder on various characteristics of dough, 10% UMP is the most suitable amount to add to the dough.

Efficacy of autogenous particulated dentin graft for alveolar ridge preservation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Autogenous particulate dentin (APD) has been used as a bone graft material for bone augmentation, but the specifics of its effect on alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) are uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and histomorphometric performance of APD compared with blood clot healing or other grafted materials in ARP. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and the Cochrane Library and citation databases were searched until August 2, 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials that employed APD for ARP. Two independent meta-analyses were performed based on the different control groups (Group I: blood clot healing; Group II: other grafted materials). Weighted or mean differences (MDs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023409339). RESULTS: A total of 238 records were identified, of which ten studies with 182 participants were included. The meta-analysis indicated that APD resulted in fewer changes in horizontal ridge width (Group I: MD = 1.61, 95% CI 0.76-2.46; Group II: MD = 1.28, 95% CI 1.08-1.48) and labial bone height (Group I: MD = 1.75, 95% CI 0.56-2.94; Group II: P < .05) than the control treatments. Regarding histomorphometry, APD yielded a satisfactory proportion of vital bone area (MD = 10.51, 95% CI 4.70-16.32) and residual material area (MD = -8.76, 95% CI -12.81 to -4.71) in Group II, while there was no significant difference in Group I. Moreover, none of the secondary outcomes were significantly differed between groups. CONCLUSION: Within this study limitations, APD effectively maintained the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the extraction sockets and exhibited favorable osteogenic properties and degradation capacity. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials with larger samples and longer follow-up periods are needed to evaluate whether APD is superior to other substitutes for ARP.

An analysis of silybin meglumine tablets in the treatment of drug-induced liver injury as assessed for causality with the updated Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method using a nationwide database.

AIM: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) poses significant challenges to clinical practice. Currently, there is no recommended therapy to treat DILI; therefore, it is vital to explore new therapeutic agents. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of silybin meglumine tablets in treating DILI. METHODS: This study analysed 34 296 DILI cases assessed by the updated RUCAM from a nationwide database. A total of 301 patients with RUCAM scores ≥6 were directly enrolled in this study, while an additional 340 patients with RUCAM scores <6 who were adjudged as probable DILI by a panel of three hepatologists were also included in the analysis. The enrolled patients were divided into the silybin meglumine group and the control group. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to obtain comparable characteristics between the two groups. RESULTS: There were 129 cases in the silybin meglumine group and 512 cases in the control group. After applying PSM, 129 matched pairs were obtained. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) resumption rates in the silybin meglumine group were significantly higher than the control group (58.91% vs. 20.93%, P ≤ .0001 and 63.49% vs. 37.50%, P ≤ .0001). The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that grouping factor (odds raio [OR], 5.42; 95% confidenxe interval [CI], 3.12-9.39; P < .0001 and OR, 6.10; 95% CI, 2.98-12.48; P < .0001) and ALT levels (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.98; P = .0015 and OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99; P = .0157) were essential influencing factors for ALT normalization. CONCLUSIONS: Silybin meglumine tablets are safe and effective in DILI treatment. Large-scale and randomized controlled trials are required to further confirm their efficacy.

Investigation into Antiepileptic Effect of Ganoderic Acid A and Its Mechanism in Seizure Rats Induced by Pentylenetetrazole.

Ganoderic acid A (GAA) exhibited neuron protection in in vitro epilepsy study, but no study has been done in vivo. Rats were administered (i.p.) pentylenetetrazole daily for 28 days to induce seizure. Rats with grade II or above of epileptic score were divided into three groups and given placebo, sodium valproate, or GAA treatment, respectively, for 7 days. The electrical signals of brain were monitored with electroencephalography (EGG); epileptic behavior was assessed using the Racine scale; morphological changes and apoptosis rate of cortical neurons were assessed with H&E staining and TUNEL staining, respectively. Protein expression of calcium-sensing receptor, p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-p38 in hippocampal tissue and Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax in cortical tissues was observed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry assay, respectively. After GAA treatment, apparent seizure-like EEG with significant arrhythmic disorder and spike waves was reduced or disappeared, and wave amplitude of EEG was reduced significantly. GAA showed similar effect with sodium valproate treatments on epilepsy. There were an apparent improvement of the epileptic behavior and a significant increase in the epileptic latency and shortening of the epileptic duration in the treatment group compared to control. GAA treatment ameliorated the nuclear pyknosis of neurons which appeared seriously in the epilepsy group. GAA treatment significantly reduced the cortical neuron apoptosis of epilepsy and the expression of calcium-sensing receptor, p-P38, p-JNK, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax but increased the expression of both p-ERK and Bcl-2. In conclusion, GAA treatment showed strong antiepileptic effect by decreasing apoptosis in cortical neuron and the expression of calcium-sensing receptor and stimulating the MAPK pathway.

Silicon Alleviates the Disease Severity of Sclerotinia Stem Rot in Rapeseed.

Sclerotinia stem rot, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, is a devastating disease in rapeseed. The objective of this study was to investigate the role and the mechanism of silicon (Si) in alleviating the disease severity of S. sclerotiorum in rapeseed. In the absorption assays, the rapeseed that absorbed 10 mM of K2SiO3 exhibited an 86% decrease in lesion size on infected leaves as compared with controls. In the spray assay, the lesion length on rapeseed stems was reduced by 30.5-32.9% with the use of 100 mM of a foliar Si fertilizer as compared with controls. In the pot assay, the lesion length on rapeseed stems was reduced by 34.9-38.3% when using the Si fertilizer as basal fertilizer. In the field assay, both the disease incidence and disease index of sclerotinia stem rot were significantly reduced with the usage of a solid Si fertilizer, Si foliar fertilizer, and the application of both, without negative affection on the main agronomic traits and seed quality of rapeseed. The transcriptome sequencing, quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), and biochemical assays between K2SO4- and K2SiO3- treated rapeseed leaves revealed that Si promoted the biosynthesis of defense-related substances and enhanced the antioxidation and detoxification abilities of rapeseed after infection. Thus, this study concluded that Si can alleviate the disease severity of S. sclerotiorum in rapeseeds, partially due to the induced defense responses.

Introgression and pyramiding of genetic loci from wild Brassica oleracea into B. napus for improving Sclerotinia resistance of rapeseed.

KEY MESSAGE: Resistant rapeseed lines pyramided with multiple resistant QTLs derived from Brassica oleracea were developed via a hexaploidy strategy. Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) suffers heavily from Sclerotinia stem rot, but the breeding of Sclerotinia-resistant rapeseed cultivar has been unsuccessful. During the study, interspecific hexaploids were generated between rapeseed variety 'Zhongshuang 9' and a wild B. oleracea which was highly resistant to S. sclerotiorum, followed by backcrossing with Zhongshuang 9 and successive selfing. By molecular marker-assisted selection, three major resistant QTLs were transferred and pyramided from B. oleracea into two BC1F8 lines which exhibited ~ 35% higher resistance level than Zhongshuang 9 and produced good seed yield and seed quality. It is the first report on successful development of Sclerotinia-resistant rapeseed lines by introducing multiple resistant loci from wild B. oleracea. This study revealed the effectiveness of pyramiding multiple QTLs in improving Sclerotinia resistance in rapeseed and provided a novel breeding strategy on utilization of B. oleracea in rapeseed improvement.

Understanding the Resistance Mechanism in Brassica napus to Clubroot Caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae.

Exploring the mechanism of plant resistance has become the basis for selection of resistance varieties but reports on revealing resistant mechanism in Brassica napus against Plasmodiophora brassicae are rare. In this study, RNA-seq was conducted in the clubroot-resistant B. napus breeding line ZHE-226 and in the clubroot-susceptible rapeseed cultivar Zhongshuang 11 at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 days after inoculation. Strong alteration was detected specifically in ZHE-226 as soon as the root hair infection happened, and significant promotion was found in ZHE-226 on cell division or cell cycle, DNA repair and synthesis, protein synthesis, signaling, antioxidation, and secondary metabolites. Combining results from physiological, biochemical, and histochemical assays, our study highlights an effective signaling in ZHE-226 in response to P. brassicae. This response consists of a fast initiation of receptor kinases by P. brassicae; the possible activation of host intercellular G proteins which might, together with an enhanced Ca2+ signaling, promote the production of reactive oxygen species; and programmed cell death in the host. Meanwhile, a strong ability to maintain homeostasis of auxin and cytokinin in ZHE-226 might effectively limit the formation of clubs on host roots. Our study provides initial insights into resistance mechanism in rapeseed to P. brassicae.

Edge Dislocations Triggered Surface Instability in Tensile Epitaxial Hexagonal Nitride Semiconductor.

Understanding the semiconductor surface and its properties including surface stability, atomic morphologies, and even electronic states is of great importance not only for understanding surface growth kinetics but also for evaluating the degree to which they affect the devices' performance. Here, we report studies on the nanoscale fissures related surface instability in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures. Experimental results reveal that edge dislocations are actually the root cause of the surface instability. The nanoscale fissures are initially triggered by the edge dislocations, and the subsequent evolution is associated with tensile lattice-mismatch stress and hydrogen etching. Our findings resolve a long-standing problem on the surface instability in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures and will also lead to new understandings of surface growth kinetics in other hexagonal semiconductor systems.

[Three-dimensional Culture of Chondrocyte Using Methacrylic Alginate Gel Beads Cross-linked with Mixed Metal-cation].

This study was to explore a better three-dimensional (3-D) culture method of chondrocyte. The interpenetrating network (IPN) gel beads were developed through a photo-cross linking reaction with mixed barium ions and calcium ions at the ratio of 5:5 with the methacrylic alginate (MA), which was a chemically conjugated alginate with methacrylic groups. The second generation of primary cartilage cells was encapsulated in the MA gel beads for three weeks. In the designated timing, HE stain, Alamar blue method and Scanning electron microscopic were used to determine the cartilage cells growth, proliferation and the cell distribution in the scaffolds, respectively. The expression of type II collagen was investigated by an immunohistochemistry assay and the glycosaminoglycan content was quantitatively evaluated with the spectrophotometry of 1, 9 dimethylene blue assay. Compared to the alginate control group, the deposition of glycosaminoglycan was significantly upregulated in IPN-MA gel beads with higher cell proliferation. The secretion of extracellular matrix and proliferation of chondrocyte in methacrylic alginate gel beads were higher than that in Alginate beads. Cells were able to attach, to grow well on the scaffolds under scanning electron microscopy. The result of immunohistochemistry staining of collagen type II was positive, confirming the maintenance of chondrocyte phenotype in methacrylic alginate gel beads. This study shows a great potential for three-dimensional culture of cartilage.

Competitive growth mechanisms of AlN on Si (111) by MOVPE.

To improve the growth rate and crystal quality of AlN, the competitive growth mechanisms of AlN under different parameters were studied. The mass transport limited mechanism was competed with the gas-phase parasitic reaction and became dominated at low reactor pressure. The mechanism of strain relaxation at the AlN/Si interface was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Improved deposition rate in the mass-transport-limit region and increased adatom mobility were realized under extremely low reactor pressure.

[Fabrication of pre-vascularized cell sheets based on rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore a new method of developing a pre-vascularized cell sheets. METHODS: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from 3-week-old Japanese white rabbits were harvested and cultured. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were added into the culture medium to differentiate into endothelial like cells (ECs) from BMSCs (experimental group), and non-induced cells served as the control group. The cell morphology was observed; and the von Willebrand factor (vWF) and CD31 immunofluorescent staining was used to identify the induced BMSCs. The 2nd generation BMSCs were seeded on a cell culture dish at a cell density of 9 x 10(4) cells/cm2 and cultured for 14 days to form a thick cell sheet, and ECs from BMSCs were then seeded on the BMSCs sheet at a cell density of 5 x 10(4) cells/cm2 to develop pre-vascularized cell sheets and cultured for 3, 7, and 14 days (group A); non-induced BMSCs sheet and only ECs from BMSCs were used as group B and group C, respectively. The CD31 immunofluorescent staining and histological analysis were performed to evaluate the pre-vascularized cell sheet. RESULTS: BMSCs changed from long fusiform to cobblestone-like morphology after induced by VEGF and bFGF. The expressions of CD31 and vWF were positive in experimental group, but were negative in control group, which suggested that BMSCs have the ability to differentiate into ECs under this condition. After the ECs were seeded on the BMSCs sheet, the ECs migrated and rearranged; intracellular vacuoles and networks were observed. Furthermore, immunofluorescent staining for CD31 also revealed a developing process of tube formation after the ECs were seeded on the BMSCs sheet. The histological evaluations indicated the microvessel lumen formed. However, no similar change was observed in groups B and C. CONCLUSION: BMSCs have the ability to differentiate into ECs after induced by VEGF and bFGF. ECs from BMSCs can develop into vascular network constructs when seeded on the BMSCs sheet, which provides a new method for engineering pre-vascularized tissue construction.

[Promotion of Thrombopoiesis by rhIL-11 in Normal and Myelosuppressed Mice]

Hematological effects of rhIL-11 on normal and myelosuppressed male BALB/c mice were observed. Mice were subcutaneously injected with rhIL-11 for 7 consecutive days, at the dose of 200 or 400 micro g/kg per day, peripheral blood platelet counts were moderately elevated on 5 days after administration and returned to base level within 4 days after discontinuation of injection. In myelosuppressed mice, treatment with rhIL-11 significantly ameliorated the degree of thrombocytopenia, the recovery of thrombocytopenia was also significantly accelerated at the dose range of 100 - 400 micro g/kg per day, and blood platelet counts reached pre-irradiated level after 13 - 15 days of treatment. The magnitudes of platelet count elevation were similar among groups of 100, 200 and 400 micro g/kg per day, although recovery appeared earlier in group of 400 micro g/kg per day. Significant increases in CFU-Meg were observed both in normal and myelosuppressed mice. Our results suggest that rhIL-11 promotes the increase of peripheral blood platelets both in normal and myelosuppressed mice, and can be used as a potential therapeutic agent for thrombocytopenia induced by chemotherapy.

[Therapeutic Effects of rhIL-11 on Carboplatin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Monkeys]

A model of myelosuppression with thrombocytopenia was produced in monkey by i.v. administration of carboplatin to the evaluate effects of rhIL-11 treatment in monkeys. Following myelosuppression, rhIL-11 was subcutaneously injected for 19 consecutive days at the dose of 50 or 100 micro g/kg. In myelosuppressed monkeys treated with rhIL-11, peripheral blood platelet started to drop at the day 8 after the administration of carboplatin, and reaching the nadir between the day 12 - 14, the decrease in blood platelet was less severe compared with untreated monkeys; peripheral blood platelet began to recovery on day 11 - 13 (D14 - D16) after rhIL-11 treatment, and reached or surpassed the baseline value before carboplatin administration after 13 - 15 days rhIL-11 treatment. Blood platelet counts remained high level after discontinuation of rhIL-11 administration and returned to baseline after 4 days. The results demonstrated that rhIL-11 has a significant thrombopoietic activity, it can reduce the severity of thrombocytopenia as well as shorten the duration of thrombocytopenia caused by myeloablastive agents, and is likely to become an effective agent against thrombocytopenia induced by chemotherapy.