Traditional cooking methods decreased the allergenicity of egg proteins.

Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies globally. This study aimed to assess the impact of four traditional cooking methods on the allergenicity of egg proteins using a comprehensive strategy, including simulated gastrointestinal digestion in vitro, serology experiments, a rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cell degranulation model, and a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) mice model, and the structure changes were detected by circular dichroism (CD) spectra and ultraviolet (UV) spectra. The results showed that the processed egg proteins were more readily digested compared to raw egg proteins. The serological experiments revealed a significant reduction in immunoglobulin E binding of egg proteins after thermal treatments (p < 0.05), particularly after frying. Subsequently, the RBL-2H3 cell degranulation experiment demonstrated a marked decrease in the level of egg allergens-induced ß-hexosaminidase release after cooking (p < 0.05). Moreover, the results from the PCA mice model indicated that the increase in vascular permeability was effectively relieved in the treated groups, especially in frying group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the α-helix and ß-turn contents of processed egg proteins were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) compared with native egg proteins. The UV spectra findings showed that all cooking treatments caused significant alterations in the tertiary structure, and fluorescence analysis indicated that cooking decreased the surface hydrophobicity of egg proteins. In conclusion, four traditional cooking methods reduced the allergenicity of egg proteins, particularly frying, and this reduction was associated with structural changes that could contribute to the destruction or masking of epitopes of egg allergens. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Egg allergy has a serious impact on public health, and there is no ideal treatment method at present. This study demonstrated that four traditional cooking methods (boiling, steaming, baking, and frying) reduced the allergenicity of egg proteins, especially frying, and the results will provide a basis for the development of hypoallergenic egg products.

Anti-allergic effect of vitamin C through inhibiting degranulation and regulating TH 1/TH 2 cell polarization.

BACKGROUND: Food allergy has become a global public health problem. This study aimed to explore the possible anti-allergic effect of vitamin C (VC). A rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cell degranulation model was used to assess the effect of VC on degranulation in vitro, and an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced BALB/c mouse allergy model was used to assess the anti-allergy effect of VC in vivo. RESULTS: In vitro, VC significantly attenuated the release of ß-hexosaminidase, tryptase and histamine, and also reduced cytokine production (interleukins 4 and 6, tumor necrosis factor α) significantly (P < 0.05), with the inhibitory effect demonstrating a positive correlation with VC dose. In vivo, compared with the OVA group, the levels of serum immunoglobulins E and G1 of the VC low-dose (VCL) group (50 mg kg-1 ) and high-dose (VCH) group (200 mg·kg-1 ) were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the plasma histamine level was also significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Moreover, TH 2 cell polarization in mice of the VCL and VCH groups was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05), promoting the TH 1/TH 2 cell polarization balance. Additionally, VC treatment enhanced the expression of CD80 (P < 0.05) in spleen and small intestine tissues, while significantly inhibiting the expression of CD86 (P < 0.05); notably, high-dose VC treatment was more effective. CONCLUSION: VC exerted an anti-allergic effect through inhibiting degranulation and regulating TH 1/TH 2 cell polarization balance. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Analysis of abdominal adhesion using the ileostomy model.

Abdominal adhesion occurs commonly in clinical practice, causing unfavorable symptoms and readmission. The ileostomy operation is a common surgical procedure and we utilized this model to evaluate abdominal adhesion. Adhesion grade score was calculated in 35 patients (Cohort 1) and subjected to correlation and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Then 98 consecutive patients (Cohort 2) who underwent ileostomy and ileostomy closure were included into a retrospective study. Logistic regression analysis was performed, and the risk of small bowel obstruction was also assessed. The time of ileostomy closure correlated with adhesion grade score in Cohort 1, justifying its use as an indicator of abdominal adhesion. All patients in Cohort 2 were then divided into the high- and low-adhesion group. A multi-variable logistic regression analysis indicated that type of surgery and peritoneum suture during ileostomy were significant factors affecting the risk of abdominal adhesion. Abdominal adhesion had the trend to prolong the length of stay postoperatively without increasing the risk of bowel obstruction. Nine patients suffered bowel obstruction, and age older than 65 significantly increased the risk. We proposed the ileostomy procedure to be a model of abdominal adhesion, and the operative time of ileostomy closure could be used as an alternative of adhesion score. Type of surgery and peritoneum suture may be risk factors of abdominal adhesion. Older age increased the risk of small bowel obstruction after ileostomy surgery.

Immunomodulatory Mechanisms of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Potential Clinical Applications.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent stem cells with the capacity of self-renewal, homing, and low immunogenicity. These distinct biological characteristics have already shown immense potential in regenerative medicine. MSCs also possess immunomodulatory properties that can maintain immune homeostasis when the immune response is over-activated or under-activated. The secretome of MSCs consists of cytokines, chemokines, signaling molecules, and growth factors, which effectively contribute to the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. The immunomodulatory effects of MSCs can also be achieved through direct cell contact with microenvironmental factors and immune cells. Furthermore, preconditioned and engineered MSCs can specifically improve the immunomodulation effects in diverse clinical applications. These multifunctional properties of MSCs enable them to be used as a prospective therapeutic strategy to treat immune disorders, including autoimmune diseases and incurable inflammatory diseases. Here we review the recent exploration of immunomodulatory mechanisms of MSCs and briefly discuss the promotion of the genetically engineered MSCs. Additionally, we review the potential clinical applications of MSC-mediated immunomodulation in four types of immune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn's disease, graft-versus-host disease, and COVID-19.

Comparison of Five Expressions of Handgrip Strength for Predicting Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Chinese Middle-Aged Community Residents.

Objective: To compare the predictive performance of five handgrip strengths for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Methods: A total of 804 Chinese middle-aged community residents' health medical examinations were collected. The absolute handgrip strength was denoted as HGS. HGS/body weight (HGS/BW), HGS/body mass index (HGS/BMI), HGS/lean body mass (HGS/LBM), and HGS/muscle mass (HGS/MM) represented relative handgrip strength (RHGS). To assess predictive performance, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were constructed. Results: HGS was not associated with most CVD risk biomarkers; however, RHGS showed a negative correlation trend after controlling for covariates (sex, age, smoking, and exercise). HGS/BMI and HGS/BW had better AUCs for predicting CVD risk factors than HGS/LBM or HGS/MM. HGS/BMI and HGS/BW can successfully predict all CVD risk factors in men with AUCs 0.55-0.65; similarly, women may effectively predict arteriosclerosis, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and metabolic syndrome with AUCs 0.59-0.64, all p < 0.05. The optimal HGS/BW cut-off points for identifying different CVD risk factors were 0.59-0.61 in men and 0.41-0.45 in women, while the HGS/BMI were 1.75-1.79 in men and 1.11-1.15 in women. Conclusions: Almost all CVD risk biomarkers and CVD risk factors were unrelated to HGS. There is, however, a significant inverse relationship between RHGS and CVD risk factors. HGS/BMI or HGS/BW should be recommended to be the best choice for predicting the risk of CVD risk factors in five expressions of handgrip strength. We also acquired the recommended optimal cut-off points of HGS/BMI and HGS/BW for predicting CVD risk factors.

[Clinical analysis of 21 cases of cholesteatoma recidivism after canal-wall-up mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty].

Objective:To discuss the possible reasons for cholesteatoma recidivism after canal-wall-up mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty by analyzing clinical characteristics of patients. Methods:Data of 21 cases who suffered from cholesteatoma recidivism after canal-wall-up surgery were retrospectively reviewed, including preoperative examination, high resolution temporal bone CT, and intraoperative findings. Results:90.5%（19/21） cases had recurrent cholesteatoma with retraction pockets. Among 12 cases with previous operative notes, 66.7%（8/12） had extensive cholesteatoma which was not limited to attic in the original surgery. The intraoperative features of revision surgery in 21 patients including the destruction of reconstructive lateral attic wall and scutumwere found in 19.0%（4/21） cases, the head of malleus left in 19.0%（4/21） cases, the cholesteatoma found in hidden part in 14.3%（3/21） cases, the hadeustachian tube dysfunction in 38.1%（8/21）cases. the sclerotic mastoid in 42.9%（9/21） cases. hadanatomic variations of the temporal bone in 14.3%（3/21） cases and atresia of external auditory canal in 4.8%（1/21） cases. Conclusion:In this group of recidivism cases, most patients had extensive cholesteatoma, which may lead to excessive mucosa loss during lesion clearance, poor ventilation of tympanic isthmus after surgery, and promote the formation of retraction pocket. In addition, some cases had eustachian tube dysfunction, unstable reconstruction of attic lateral wall, and improper selection of the indications, which may also increase the risk of recurrence. Therefore, in order to reduce cholesteatoma recidivism after canal-wall-up surgery, attention should be paid to the striction of surgical indications, comprehensive preoperative evaluation, thorough clearance of lesions and firm reconstruction.

A selective sphingomyelin synthase 2 inhibitor ameliorates diet induced insulin resistance via the IRS-1/Akt/GSK-3ß signaling pathway.

Insulin resistance is a typical precursor and primary feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sphingomyelin (SM) is a kind of sphingolipid located in animal brain, liver, kidney and muscle. Sphingomyelin synthase 2 (SMS2) is the key enzyme in the synthesis of sphingomyelin, inhibition of which shows protective effects on cardiovascular and glucose metabolism. We used Ly93, a selective sphingomyelin synthase 2 inhibitor, to investigate the effect of SMS2 inhibitor on insulin resistance in vitro and in vivo. Our previous studies have shown that Ly93 is able to dose-dependently inhibit the SMS activity and attenuate the atherosclerotic lesions in apoE knock out mice. In this present study, we found that high fat diet (HFD) induced insulin-resistant C57BL/6 mice treated with Ly93 were more sensitive to insulin than untreated mice, and presented lower blood insulin levels and improved insulin tolerance. Furthermore, insulin signal pathway related protein levels were detected by western blot, which indicated that SMS2 inhibitor significantly upregulated the phosphorylation of IRS-1, Akt and GSK-3ß, thus enhanced the insulin signaling. In vitro, Ly93 enhanced the phosphorylation of Akt in HepG2 cells, which was reversed by exogenous sphingomyelin. These results suggest that SMS2 inhibitor could ameliorate insulin resistance via regulating the insulin signaling. Our findings support that SMS2 is a potential target for insulin resistance.

Disruption of Quorum Sensing and Virulence in Burkholderia cenocepacia by a Structural Analogue of the cis-2-Dodecenoic Acid Signal.

Quorum sensing (QS) signals are widely used by bacterial pathogens to control biological functions and virulence in response to changes in cell population densities. Burkholderia cenocepacia employs a molecular mechanism in which the cis-2-dodecenoic acid (named Burkholderiadiffusible signal factor [BDSF]) QS system regulates N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) signal production and virulence by modulating intracellular levels of cyclic diguanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP). Thus, inhibition of BDSF signaling may offer a non-antibiotic-based therapeutic strategy against BDSF-regulated bacterial infections. In this study, we report the synthesis of small-molecule mimics of the BDSF signal and evaluate their ability to inhibit BDSF QS signaling in B. cenocepacia A novel structural analogue of BDSF, 14-Me-C16:Δ2 (cis-14-methylpentadec-2-enoic acid), was observed to inhibit BDSF production and impair BDSF-regulated phenotypes in B. cenocepacia, including motility, biofilm formation, and virulence, while it did not inhibit the growth rate of this pathogen. 14-Me-C16:Δ2 also reduced AHL signal production. Genetic and biochemical analyses showed that 14-Me-C16:Δ2 inhibited the production of the BDSF and AHL signals by decreasing the expression of their synthase-encoding genes. Notably, 14-Me-C16:Δ2 attenuated BDSF-regulated phenotypes in various Burkholderia species. These findings suggest that 14-Me-C16:Δ2 could potentially be developed as a new therapeutic agent against pathogenic Burkholderia species by interfering with their QS signaling.IMPORTANCEBurkholderia cenocepacia is an important opportunistic pathogen which can cause life-threatening infections in susceptible individuals, particularly in cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients. It usually employs two types of quorum sensing (QS) systems, including the cis-2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF) system and N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) system, to regulate virulence. In this study, we have designed and identified an unsaturated fatty acid compound (cis-14-methylpentadec-2-enoic acid [14-Me-C16:Δ2]) that is capable of interfering with B. cenocepacia QS signaling and virulence. We demonstrate that 14-Me-C16:Δ2 reduced BDSF and AHL signal production in B. cenocepacia It also impaired QS-regulated phenotypes in various Burkholderia species. These results suggest that 14-Me-C16:Δ2 could interfere with QS signaling in many Burkholderia species and might be developed as a new antibacterial agent.