Epigallocatechin-3-gallate and cancer: focus on the role of microRNAs.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNAs that affect gene expression. The role of miRNAs in different types of cancers has been published and it was shown that several miRNAs are inappropriately expressed in different cancers. Among the mechanisms that can cause this lack of proper expression are epigenetics, chromosomal changes, polymorphisms or defects in processing proteins. Recent research shows that phytochemicals, including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), exert important epigenetic-based anticancer effects such as pro-apoptotic or anti proliferative through miRNA gene silencing. Given that EGCG is able to modulate a variety of cancer-related process i.e., angiogenesis, proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis via targeting various miRNAs such as let-7, miR-16, and miR-210. The discovery of new miRNAs and the differences observed in their expression when exposed to EGCG provides evidence that targeting these miRNAs may be beneficial as a form of treatment. In this review, we aim to provide an overview, based on current knowledge, on how phytochemicals, including epigallocatechin-3-gallate, can be considered as potential miRNAs modulator to improve efficacy of current cancer treatments.

Evaluating the causal effect of circulating proteome on the risk of inflammatory bowel disease-related traits using Mendelian randomization.

Objective: This study sought to identify circulating proteins causally linked to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) traits through a Mendelian Randomization (MR) analytical framework. Methods: Using a large-scale, two-sample MR approach, we estimated the genetic links of numerous plasma proteins with IBD and its subtypes, leveraging information from the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium. To assess the robustness of MR findings, methods like Bayesian colocalization, and Steiger filtering analysis, evaluation of protein-altering variants. Further insights into IBD's underlying mechanisms and therapeutic targets were gleaned from single-cell sequencing analyses, protein-protein interaction assessments, pathway enrichment analyses, and evaluation of drug targets. Results: By cis-only MR analysis, we identified 83 protein-phenotype associations involving 27 different proteins associated with at least one IBD subtype. Among these proteins, DAG1, IL10, IL12B, IL23R, MST1, STAT3 and TNFRSF6B showed overlapping positive or negative associations in all IBD phenotypes. Extending to cis + trans MR analysis, we further identified 117 protein-feature associations, including 44 unique proteins, most of which were not detected in the cis-only analysis. In addition, by performing co-localization analysis and Steiger filtering analysis on the prioritized associations, we further confirmed the causal relationship between these proteins and the IBD phenotype and verified the exact causal direction from the protein to the IBD-related feature. Conclusion: MR analysis facilitated the identification of numerous circulating proteins associated with IBD traits, unveiling protein-mediated mechanisms and promising therapeutic targets.

Lignin-grafted quaternary ammonium phosphate with temperature and pH responsive behavior for improved enzymatic hydrolysis and cellulase recovery.

The cost of lignocellulosic enzymatic hydrolysis was reduced by enhancing enzymatic hydrolysis and recycling cellulase. Lignin-grafted quaternary ammonium phosphate (LQAP) with sensitive temperature and pH response, was obtained by grafting quaternary ammonium phosphate (QAP) onto enzymatic hydrolysis lignin (EHL). LQAP dissolved under the hydrolysis condition (pH 5.0, 50 °C) and enhanced the hydrolysis. After hydrolysis, LQAP and cellulase co-precipitated by the hydrophobic binding and electrostatic attraction, when lowering pH to 3.2, and cooling to 25 °C. LQAP had significant performances of pH-UCST response, enzymatic hydrolysis enhancement and cellulase recovery at the same time. When 3.0 g/L LQAP-100 was added to the system of corncob residue, SED@48 h increased from 62.6 % to 84.4 %, and 50 % of amount of cellulase was saved. Precipitation of LQAP at low temperature was mainly attributed to the salt formation of positive and negative ions in QAP; LQAP enhanced the hydrolysis for its ability to decrease the ineffective adsorption of cellulase by forming a hydration film on lignin and through the electrostatic repulsion. In this work, a lignin amphoteric surfactant with temperature response, was used to enhance hydrolysis and recover cellulase. This work will provide a new idea for reducing the cost of lignocellulose-based sugar platform technology, and high-value utilization of industrial lignin.

Unveiling the role of long-range and short-range forces in the non-productive adsorption between lignin and cellulases at different temperatures.

Quantitatively understanding of interaction mechanism between lignin and cellulases is essential for the efficient improvement of lignocellulose enzymatic hydrolysis. However, the individual contribution of multiple forces between lignin and cellulases to the non-productive adsorption of enzymes still remains deeply ambiguous, especially in situations of near enzymatic hydrolysis temperatures. Herein, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and computational simulations were utilized to quantitatively analyze the intermolecular forces between lignin and enzyme at 25 °C and 40 °C. Our results unveiled that an increase in temperature obviously improved adsorption capacity and total intermolecular forces between lignin and cellulases. This positive relationship mainly comes from the increase in the decay length of hydrophobic forces for lignin-cellulases when temperature increases. Different from the hydrophobic interaction which provides long-range part of attractions, van der Waals forces dominate the intermolecular force only at approaches < 2 nm. On the other hand, electrostatic forces exhibited repulsive effects, and its intensity and distance were limited due to the low surface potential of cellulases. Short-range forces including hydrogen bonding (main) and π-π stacking (minor) stabilize the non-specific binding of enzymes to lignin, but increasing temperature reduces hydrogen bond number. Therefore, the relative contribution of long-range forces increased markedly at higher temperatures, which benefits protein capture and brings lignin and cellulase close together. Finally, the structure-activity relationships between lignin physicochemical properties and its inhibitory effect to enzymes indicated that hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and steric effects drive the final adsorption capacity and glucose yields. This work provides quantitative and basic insights into the mechanism of lignin-cellulase interfacial interactions and guides design of saccharification enhancement approaches.

Gentianella macrosperma, a new species of Gentianella (Gentianaceae) from Xinjiang, China.

Gentianella macrosperma Ma ex H.F. Cao, J.D. Ya & Q.R. Zhang, a new species of Gentianaceae from Xinjiang, Northwest China is described and illustrated. This new species is unique in having equal length of corolla lobe and corolla tube, nectaries located at the throat of the corolla tube and large seeds up to 1.6 mm in diameter. In addition, an updated identification key to the Chinese species of Gentianella is provided.

Improvement of cardiovascular function health level by regular sports / Melhoria do nível de saúde da função cardiovascular por meio de esportes regulares / Mejora del nivel de salud de la función cardiovascular mediante deportes regulares

ABSTRACT Introduction Regular physical activity helps improve cardiovascular and cerebrovascular skills. How to evaluate the nervous tension of the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular vessels through sports is a hot topic. Objective The paper discusses the influence of regular participation in sports on people's cardiovascular function and blood-related indicators. Methods We select 30 healthy older adults who regularly participate in sports, record their ECG changes, blood pressure, heart rate and other related cardiovascular function indicators, and analyze the blood function of the elderly. Detection of blood cell count (RBC), red blood cell volume (MCV) and hemoglobin (Hb), serum creatinine (Cr), blood glucose (BGS), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-Density lipoprotein (HDL) is measured. Results Older adults who persist in exercise for a long time have better indicators than those who do not exercise. Conclusions Appropriate aerobic exercise can reduce the stiffness of blood vessels in the elderly. Exercise can help the elderly increase heart rate variability and improve the heart's autonomic nerve function's blood indicators, and body mass. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

RESUMO Introdução A atividade física regular ajuda a melhorar as habilidades cardiovasculares e cerebrovasculares. Como avaliar a tensão nervosa dos vasos cardiovasculares e cerebrovasculares por meio de esportes é um assunto quente. Objetivo o artigo discute a influência da participação regular em esportes sobre a função cardiovascular das pessoas e indicadores relacionados ao sangue. Métodos Selecionamos 30 idosos saudáveis que participam regularmente de esportes, registramos suas alterações no ECG, pressão arterial, frequência cardíaca e outros indicadores relacionados à função cardiovascular e analisamos a função sanguínea dos idosos. Detecção de contagem de células sanguíneas (RBC), volume de glóbulos vermelhos (MCV) e hemoglobina (Hb), creatinina sérica (Cr), glicose no sangue (BGS), triglicerídeos (TG), colesterol (TC), lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL ) e a lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL) é medida. Resultados Idosos que persistem por muito tempo nos exercícios têm melhores indicadores do que aqueles que não praticam. Conclusão O exercício aeróbio adequado pode reduzir a rigidez dos vasos sanguíneos em idosos. O exercício pode ajudar os idosos a aumentar a variabilidade da frequência cardíaca e melhorar os indicadores sanguíneos da função nervosa autonômica do coração e a massa corporal. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción La actividad física regular ayuda a mejorar las habilidades cardiovasculares y cerebrovasculares. Cómo evaluar la tensión nerviosa de los vasos cardiovasculares y cerebrovasculares a través del deporte es un tema candente. Objetivo El artículo analiza la influencia de la participación regular en deportes sobre la función cardiovascular de las personas y los indicadores relacionados con la sangre. Métodos Seleccionamos a 30 adultos mayores sanos que participan regularmente en deportes, registramos sus cambios en el ECG, presión arterial, frecuencia cardíaca y otros indicadores relacionados con la función cardiovascular, y analizamos la función sanguínea de los ancianos. Detección del recuento de glóbulos rojos (RBC), volumen de glóbulos rojos (MCV) y hemoglobina (Hb), creatinina sérica (Cr), glucosa en sangre (BGS), triglicéridos (TG), colesterol (TC), lipoproteínas de baja densidad (LDL) ) y se mide la lipoproteína de alta densidad (HDL). Resultados Los adultos mayores que persisten en el ejercicio durante mucho tiempo tienen mejores indicadores que los que no lo hacen. Conclusión El ejercicio aeróbico adecuado puede reducir la rigidez de los vasos sanguíneos en los ancianos. El ejercicio puede ayudar a los ancianos a aumentar la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca y mejorar los indicadores sanguíneos y la masa corporal de la función nerviosa autónoma del corazón. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos: investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Effect of expanded cottonseed meal on laying performance, egg quality, concentrations of free gossypol in tissue, serum and egg of laying hens.

Three hundred and sixty Hy-Line Brown hens, 40 week of age, were allocated to five treatments, each of which included four replicates of 18 hens. After an expanded process of cottonseed meal (CSM), free gossypol content in CSM was decreased from 1.24 to 0.40 g/kg. The dietary treatments were corn-soybean meal based diets including 6% CSM and 6%, 8% and 10% expanded cottonseed meal (ECSM). Hens fed 8% ECSM had higher (P<0.05) laying rate and average egg weight than those fed 6% CSM. The albumen height and Haugh unit in the control group, 6% and 8% ECSM groups were superior (P<0.05) to other treatments. Hens fed 6% CSM resulted in severe (P<0.05) egg yolk discoloration. Free gossypol (FG) concentrations in yolk and albumen and tissues of the 6% CSM group were greater (P<0.05) than those in any ECSM treatments. Hens fed 6% CSM and 10% ECSM had the highest (P<0.05) FG concentrations in the liver compared with those in the kidney and muscle, and higher (P<0.05) FG residues in yolk than those in albumen. In conclusion, FG in CSM can be reduced by 68% through an expanded process and ECSM can be available in laying hens at up to 10% of the total diet and an appropriate replacement of soybean meal with ECSM may improve performance in laying hens.