The deubiquitinase USP5 promotes cholangiocarcinoma progression by stabilizing YBX1.

AIMS: Ubiquitin specific peptidase 5 (USP5), a member of deubiquitinating enzymes, has garnered significant attention for its crucial role in cancer progression. This study aims to explore the role of USP5 and its potential molecular mechanisms in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). MAIN METHODS: To explore the effect of USP5 on CCA, gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays were conducted in human CCA cell lines RBE and HCCC9810. The CCK8, colony-forming assay, EDU, flow cytometry, transwell assay and xenografts were used to assess cell proliferation, migration and tumorigenesis. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were performed to measure the expression of related proteins. Immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence were applied to identify the interaction between USP5 and Y box-binding protein 1 (YBX1). Ubiquitination assays and cycloheximide chase assays were carried out to confirm the effect of USP5 on YBX1. KEY FINDINGS: We found USP5 is highly expressed in CCA tissues, and upregulated USP5 is required for the cancer progression. Knockdown of USP5 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro, along with suppressed xenograft tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, USP5 could interact with YBX1 and stabilize YBX1 by deubiquitination in CCA cells. Additionally, silencing of USP5 hindered the phosphorylation of YBX1 at serine 102 and its subsequent translocation to the nucleus. Notably, the effect induced by USP5 overexpression in CCA cells was reversed by YBX1 silencing. SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings reveal that USP5 is required for cell proliferation, migration and EMT in CCA by stabilizing YBX1, suggesting USP5-YBX1 axis as a promising therapeutic target for CCA.

Energy difference-driven ROS reduction for electrochemical tracking crop growth sensitized with electron-migration nanostructures.

Aiming for sustainable crop productivity under changing climate conditions, it is essential to develop handy models for in-situ monitoring of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, this work reports a simple electrochemical sensing toward hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for tracking crop growth status sensitized with electron-migration nanostructure. To be specific, Cu-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with high HOMO energy level are designed for H2O2 reduction on account of Cu(I)/Cu(II) redox switchability. Importantly, the sensing performance is improved by electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (GO) with ready to use feature. To overcome the shortcomings of traditional liquid electrolytes, conductive hydrogel as semi-solid electrolyte exhibits the adhesive property to the cut plant petiole surface. Benefitting from the preferred composite models and conductive hydrogel, the electrochemical sensing toward H2O2 with high sensitivity and good anti-interference against the coexistent molecules, well qualified for acquiring plant growth status.

Carbon dots and covalent organic frameworks based FRET immunosensor for sensitive detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7.

The combination of carbon dots (CDs) with covalent organic frameworks (COFs) was used to design an innovative sensor based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) in food samples. Carbon dots were used as fluorescence donors, covalent organic frameworks as fluorescence acceptors. The antibody (Ab) specific to E. coli O157:H7 was used to form a CD-Ab-COF immunosensor by linking CDs and COFs. The antibody was specifically bound with E. coli O157:H7, which caused the connection between CDs and COFs to be interrupted, and the carbon dots exhibited fluorescence restoration. The sensor exhibited a linear detection range spanning from 0 to 106 CFU/mL, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 7 CFU/mL. The analytical performance of the developed immunosensor was evaluated using spiked food samples with different concentrations of E. coli O157:H7, validating the capability of assessing risks in food testing.

Preparation of edible antibacterial films based on corn starch /carbon nanodots for bioactive food packaging.

Packaging plays an important role in protecting food from environmental impacts. However, traditional petroleum-based packaging has difficulty in meeting the antimicrobial and antioxidant requirements of prepared foods. This study introduced carbon dots (CDs), prepared by using carrot as a precursor, into corn starch (CS) to construct a bio-friendly composite film with high freshness retention properties. The scavenging of DPPH radicals reached 92.77 % at a CDs concentration of 512 µg/mL, and the antimicrobial activity of CS/5% CDs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was increased to 99.9 %. Notably, the homogeneous doping of CDs creates a dense surface and high carbon content inside the film, which promotes the elasticity and thermal stability of the composite film. Finally, we encapsulated deep-fried meatballs in CS-CDs films. The results showed that the CS-CDs films effectively protected the quality of deep-fried meatballs, and have excellent potential for application in food preservation.

Study on the Diffusion and Optimization of Sucrose in Gaido Seak Based on Finite Element Analysis and Hyperspectral Imaging Technology.

As a traditional Chinese dish cutting technology process, Gaidao artificially create cuts embedded in the food surface by cutting through it with knife, a process that currently plays an important role in the beef marinating process. And different Gaidao processes directly affect the beef marination flavour and marination efficiency. This study is the first to propose the use of Hyperspectral imaging technology (HSI) combined with finite element analysis to investigate the effect of Gaidao process on the quality of marinated beef. The study was carried out by collecting spectral information of beef marinated with different sucrose concentrations and combining various pre-processing methods and algorithms such as PLS, BiPLS, iPLS, and SiPLS to establish a quantitative model of sucrose concentration in beef, and finally optimizing parameters such as the length, position and number of Gaidao by Finite Element Analysis (FEA), which showed that when marinated with 1.0 mol/m³ sucrose solution, the concentration of sucrose in all tissues in the Gaidao steak reached 0.8 mol/m³ and above, which greatly improved the diffusion effect of the marinade. This work provides new ideas and methods to optimize the beef marinade Gaidao process, which has important practical value and research significance.

A DNA tetrahedral scaffolds-based electrochemical biosensor for simultaneous detection of AFB1 and OTA.

Herein, a bifunctional electrochemical biosensor based on the DNA tetrahedral scaffolds (TDNs) was proposed, OTA@TDNs and AFB1@TDNs were adopted for electrochemical signal output in response to OTA and AFB1 concentration, simultaneously. In order to increase the conductivity of the biosensor, highly porous gold (HPG) was loaded on electrode surface by pulse electrodeposition. Under optimal conditions, the PFc displayed a linear range with AFB1 concentration between 0.05 âˆ¼ 360 ng·mL-1 with the LOD of 3.5 pg·mL-1. And the PMB selective and sensitive responses to OTA are achieved with a linear range of 0.05 âˆ¼ 420 ng·mL-1 and a LOD of 2.4 pg·mL-1. This biosensor has high sensitivity, selectivity and stability for OTA and AFB1 detection in peanut samples. The approach streamlines the experimental procedure, leading to significantly improve the detection efficiency of mycotoxins. Collectively, this method suggest a novel approach for the detection and monitoring of OTA and AFB1 in food sample.

A Novel Strategy for Accelerating Pumpable Ice Slurry Production with Ozone Micro-Nano Bubbles and Extending the Shelf Life of Larimichthys polyactis.

In this study, a novel strategy for accelerating the production of pumpable ice slurry (PIS) by using ozone micro-nano bubbles (O3-MNBs) was proposed. The effect of PIS containing sodium alginate (SA) and O3-MNBs on the preservation of small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis) was investigated. The results indicate that using SA solution containing O3-MNBs instead of only SA solution resulted in quicker production of PIS by promoting ice nucleation and eliminating supercooling. The distribution and positive effect of O3-MNBs as a nucleation agent on freezing characteristics were discussed. Microbial concentrations, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance content were also examined. Storage in novel PIS (containing O3-MNBs) had higher performance than storage in flake ice or conventional PIS due to the strong bacteriostatic ability of O3. Therefore, O3-MNBs injection can be used as a novel method for PIS production and the preservation of fresh marine products.

A dual-modal biosensor coupling cooperative catalysis strategy for sensitive detection of AFB1 in agri-products.

Herein, the cooperative catalysis effect between nanocomposite (AgPd NPs/POD-M/PEI-rGO) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was applied for the fast and sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Upon specific and competitive binding of HRP@DNA and AFB1 to cDNA, the working electrode presented different catalytic capacities for supporting electrolytes (TMB and H2O2). In the redox mechanism of TMB and H2O2, HRP and nanocomposite effectively catalyzed the oxidization of TMB to form the one-electron oxidation intermediate TMB+, and contributed the electrical signals and absorbance signals. Electrochemistry and colorimetric analyses were successfully realized for AFB1 detection with 0.2 pg/mL and 8 pg/mL of detection limits, respectively, which is much lower than that of traditional HPLC methods. Overall, this method had significant reliability and sensitivity, offering a promising potential for conveniently evaluating the quality of agri-products polluted with AFB1. Moreover, this approach provides a new idea for fast and accurate detection of mycotoxin.

Olmesartan alleviates SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein induced renal fibrosis by regulating HMGB1 release and autophagic degradation of TGF-ß1.

Background and aims: Renal damage in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is highly associated with mortality. Finding relevant therapeutic candidates that can alleviate it is crucial. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) have been shown to be harmless to COVID-19 patients, but it remains elusive whether ACEIs/ARBs have protective benefits to them. We wished to determine if ACEIs/ARBs had a protective effect on the renal damage associated with COVID-19, and to investigate the mechanism. Methods: We used the envelope (E) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) to induce COVID-19-like multiple organ damage and observed renal fibrosis. We induced the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of HK-2 cells with E protein, and found that olmesartan could alleviate it significantly. The protective effects of olmesartan on E protein-induced renal fibrosis were evaluated by renal-function assessment, pathologic alterations, inflammation, and the TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. The distribution of high-mobility group box (HMGB)1 was examined after stimulation with E protein and olmesartan administration. Results: E protein stimulated HMGB1 release, which triggered the immune response and promoted activation of TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling: both could lead to renal fibrosis. Olmesartan regulated the distribution of HMGB1 under E protein stimulation. Olmesartan inhibited the release of HMGB1, and reduced the inflammatory response and activation of TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling. Olmesartan increased the cytoplasmic level of HMGB1 to promote the autophagic degradation of TGF-ß1, thereby alleviating fibrosis further. Conclusion: Olmesartan alleviates E protein-induced renal fibrosis by regulating the release of HMGB1 and its mediated autophagic degradation of TGF-ß1.

Ratiometric Sensing for Ultratrace Tetracycline Using Electrochemically Active Metal-Organic Frameworks as Response Signals.

A novel ratiometric sensor using an electrochemically active metal-organic framework of Mo@MOF-808 and NH2-UiO-66 as response signals was developed to detect tetracycline (TET) in ultratrace quantities. To achieve the dual-response strategy, Mo@MOF-808, with a reduction peak at -1.06 V, and NH2-UiO-66, with an oxidation peak at 0.724 V, were used as signal probes directly. Concretely, Mo@MOF-808, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), and complex system (Apt@NH2-UiO-66) of aptamer (Apt) and NH2-UiO-66 were sequentially immobilized on the electrode. With the addition of TET, Apt was hybridized with TET and Apt@NH2-UiO-66 was detached from the electrode, resulting in an increase in the current at -1.06 V and a decrease in the current at 0.724 V. Through this strategy, the sensor achieved a wide linear range (0.1-10000 nM) and a low limit of detection (0.009792 nM) for TET. Moreover, the ratiometric sensor exhibited better sensitivity, reproducibility, and stability than a single-signal sensor. Furthermore, the constructed sensor was successfully applied to detect TET in milk samples, suggesting excellent application prospects.

Nondestructive discrimination of analogous density foreign matter inside soy protein meat semi-finished products based on transmission hyperspectral imaging.

Analogous density foreign matter (ADFM) embedded in soy protein meat semi-finished (SFSPM) is hidden by SFSPM and has similar acoustic impedance features to SFSPM, which makes non-destructive testing techniques such as computer vision (CV), reflectance spectroscopy and ultrasound imaging inappropriate for ADFM, which not only seriously affects the quality of soy protein meat (SPM) products but also increases the safety risk to consumers. In this study, to locate and separate ADFM by using transmission hyperspectral imaging (T-HSI) technique which is sensitive to chemical composition and highlight internal contours. The optimal discrimination model SVM + PCA + MSC + SPA was constructed using transmission spectral information with an accuracy of 95.00 %. The visualization results based on the optimal model showed clearer localization results than CV and ultrasound imaging. The study demonstrated that the advantages of T-HSI technology in detecting and locating ADFM inside SFSPM, which provides a basis for improving the production quality and safety of SPM.

A visible colorimetric sensor array based on chemo-responsive dyes and chemometric algorithms for real-time potato quality monitoring systems.

The colorimetric sensor array real-time monitoring system with multivariate analysis was established for discrimination of potato varieties with different types and degrees of corruption. The characteristic volatile compounds of fresh, dry rot and soft rot potatoes was identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and the 3 × 4 array was fabricated to capture the characteristics volatile compounds. The sensor array system produced a visible color difference map upon its exposure to volatile compounds of potato. Discrimination of potatoes with the same types or different degrees of corruption was subsequently achieved using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis dendrogram. The k-nearest neighbor algorithm for potato classification provided the best results with 100 % discrimination on both the calibration and prediction sets. The linear discriminant analysis model achieved a 99.76 % calibration set and a 99.31 % prediction set for potato grading. An online warning device based on array was devised to realize unmanned monitoring for potato quality.

Quantitative characterization of the diffusion behavior of sucrose in marinated beef by HSI and FEA.

The quality of marinated meat could be assessed by the uniformity of marinade distribution within it. In this study, the diffusion behavior of sucrose inside the marinated beef was quantitatively characterized from 2D plane and 3D space using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and finite element analysis (FEA), respectively. Visualization of sucrose content based on HSI showed that the distribution state of sucrose on marinated beef was not uniform. Subsequently, the diffusion behavior of sucrose in the 3D beef geometric model was simulated using FEA. Results revealed that the diffusion rate of sucrose on muscle tissues is significantly higher than other tissues, and the difference in diffusion behavior is the main reason for the inhomogeneous distribution of sucrose. The quantitative characterization of marinade diffusion behavior makes it possible to predict the marinade's transient distribution state, thereby determining the optimal marinade conditions for the meat. Therefore, the method proposed has practical significance for evaluating and regulating the quality of marinated meat products.

Switchable aptamer-fueled colorimetric sensing toward agricultural fipronil exposure sensitized with affiliative metal-organic framework.

Persistent usage of pesticides in agriculture has posed serious damage to overall ecosystem and human health, and thereby it is imperative to develop sensitive and efficient tools to evaluate residual pesticides in food and environmental setting. Herein, we reported a switchable colorimetric probe toward fipronil residue sensitized with aptamer-fueled catalytic activity of affiliative ZIF-8. Innovatively, it was found that the attached aptamer preferred to adsorb 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) rather than 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazo-line-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), greatly promoting catalytic oxidation of ZIF-8 toward TMB for further improving sensitivity. Aiding with smartphone-based image acquisition, fipronil-responsive discoloration degree was converted into the ratio of green and blue (G/B) with limit of detection as low as 0.036 µM (0.016 µg·g-1). Moreover, it allowed for fipronil analysis in water, soil and vegetable samples with good recovery between 87 % and 110 %, verifying extension application prospect of the aptamer-fueled colorimetry for on-field pesticide evaluation in food safety supervision.

Emerging role for branched-chain amino acids metabolism in fibrosis.

Fibrosis is a common pathological feature of organ diseases resulting from excessive production of extracellular matrix, which accounts for significant morbidity and mortality. However, there is currently no effective treatment targeting fibrogenesis. Recently, metabolic alterations are increasingly considered as essential factors underlying fibrogenesis, and especially research on metabolic regulation of amino acids is flourishing. Among them, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are the most abundant essential amino acids, including leucine, isoleucine and valine, which play significant roles in the substance and energy metabolism and their regulation. Dysregulation of BCAAs metabolism has been proven to contribute to numerous diseases. In this review, we summarize the metabolic regulation of fibrosis and the changes in BCAAs metabolism secondary to fibrosis. We also review the effects and mechanisms of the BCAAs intervention, and its therapeutic targeting in hepatic, renal and cardiac fibrosis, with a focus on the fibrosis in liver and associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

An intrinsic dual-emitting fluorescence sensing toward tetracycline with self-calibration model based on luminescent lanthanide-functionalized metal-organic frameworks.

A novel ratiometric fluorescence sensor based on lanthanide-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (Ag+/Eu3+@UiO-66(COOH)2, AEUC) with intrinsic dual-emitting bands was fabricated to determine tetracycline (TC) residues by exploiting (UiO-66-(COOH)2, UC) as reference units, Eu3+as recognition units and Ag+ as fluorescence enhancer. Benefiting from specific binding sites and functional adsorbent channels of AEUC, efficient capture and specific recognize toward TC could be achieved, remarkably enhancing the reliability. The synergistic effect of inner filter effect (IFE) and photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process between TC and AEUC was verified, enabling the detection limit and quantification limit of established strategy reaching as 12.8 nmol/L and 38.6 nmol/L and conspicuous fluorescence color gradation from red to blue. Given its portability, point-of-care sensing platform and nanoprobe-immobilized test-paper-based measurement allowing for on-site qualitative identification and semi-quantitative assay of TC was devised for sensing visualization and has been successfully applied in foodstuff samples, providing prospect in the field of smart devices for visual monitoring of TC.

Simulation of diffusion behavior of NaCl in multi-tissue beef marination process.

To better understand the diffusion behavior of NaCl during beef marinating, energy dispersive spectroscopy combined with scanning electron microscopy were used to acquire NaCl content at successive sampling points in marinated muscle, adipose and connective tissue. The NaCl content at the sampling points was substituted into a mathematical model to calculate accurate diffusion coefficients. Subsequently, geometric models containing all tissues of beef and matching the distribution characteristics of real beef were constructed and brought into COMSOL Multiphysics for simulation. The simulation results were post-processed to visualize the marinade content and its distribution state in beef. The visualization map indicated that the diffusion behavior of NaCl in different beef tissues was transient and irregular. The analysis and validation of the model demonstrated that the proposed method is generally applicable to investigate the diffusion behavior of the marinade in other meats and enables accurate control of the quality of marinated meat products.

Dual modes of fluorescence sensing and smartphone readout for sensitive and visual detection of mercury ions in Porphyra.

A convenient and intuitive method for detecting trace heavy metal ions is vital for food safety and quality monitoring. Herein, a dual-emission ratiometric fluorescence probe based on Zr-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOF) and silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) was assembled to sensitive and visual detect mercury ions (Hg2+). The sensor exhibits good sensitivity from 0.010 to 0.5 µg mL-1 with a low detection limit of 1.8 µg L-1 (corresponding to 0.72 µg kg-1 by weight). The proposed method was finally applied to determine Hg2+ in the Porphyra matrix with satisfactory outcomes, the analytical recoveries were in the range of 94.74%-101.1%, indicating the practicability of the developed method. Meanwhile, the smartphone-based colorimetric method was established by capturing the changes in fluorescence colors of the probes exposed to different Hg2+ concentrations, with a quick sample-to-answer monitoring time of 10 min. The fluorescence probe, with these merits of simplicity, rapid response, and high sensitivity, offered a promising means for evaluating the safety of food polluted with Hg2+.

A Novel Gas Sensor for Detecting Pork Freshness Based on PANI/AgNWs/Silk.

A novel, operational, reliable, flexible gas sensor based on silk fibroin fibers (SFFs) as a substrate was proposed for detecting the freshness of pork. Silk is one of the earliest animal fibers utilized by humans, and SFFs exposed many biological micromolecules on the surface. Thus, the gas sensor was fabricated through polyaniline (PANI) and silver nanowires (AgNWs) and deposited on SFFs by in-suit polymerization. With trimethylamine (TMA) as a model gas, the sensing properties of the PANI/AgNWs/silk composites were examined at room temperature, and the linear correlativity was very prominent between these sensing measures and the TMA measures in the range of 3.33 µg/L-1200 µg/L. When the pork sample is detected by the sensor, it can be classified into fresh or stale pork with the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) as an index. The result indicated that the gas sensor was effective and showed great potential for applications to detect the freshness of pork.

Ratiometric Fluorescent Metal-Organic Framework Biosensor for Ultrasensitive Detection of Acrylamide.

Acrylamide is a neurotoxin and carcinogen that forms during the thermal processing of food, inflicting irreversible harm to human health. Herein, a ratiometric fluorescence biosensor based on a 6-carboxyfluorescein-labeled aptamer (FAM-ssDNA) and porphyrin metal-organic framework (PCN-224) was developed. PCN-224 exhibits strong adsorption capacity for FAM-ssDNA and also quenches the fluorescence of FAM-ssDNA via fluorescence resonance energy transfer and photoinduced electron transfer. FAM-ssDNA hybridizes with complementary DNA to form double-stranded DNA (FAM-dsDNA), which is liberated from the PCN-224 surface, resulting in fluorescence recovery. However, the intrinsic fluorescence of the ligand remains unchanged. Acrylamide can create an adduct with FAM-ssDNA and inhibit the hybridization of FAM-dsDNA, thus realizing ratiometric sensing of acrylamide. The proposed biosensor displays excellent detection performance from 10 nM∼0.5 mM with a limit of detection of 1.9 nM. In conclusion, a fabricated biosensor was successfully applied to detect acrylamide in thermally processed food, and the results were consistent with those of high-performance liquid chromatography.