Advances in valorization of sweet potato peels: A comprehensive review on the nutritional compositions, phytochemical profiles, nutraceutical properties, and potential industrial applications.

During food production, food processing, and supply chain, large amounts of food byproducts are generated and thrown away as waste, which to a great extent brings about adverse consequences on the environment and economic development. The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is cultivated and consumed in many countries. Sweet potato peels (SPPs) are the main byproducts generated by the tuber processing. These residues contain abundant nutrition elements, bioactive compounds, and other high value-added substances; therefore, the reutilization of SPP holds significance in improving their overall added value. SPPs contain abundant phenolic compounds and carotenoids, which might contribute significantly to their nutraceutical properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, prebiotic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and lipid-lowering effects. It has been demonstrated that SPP could be promisingly revalorized into food industry, including: (1) applications in diverse food products; (2) applications in food packaging; and (3) applications in the recovery of pectin and cellulose nanocrystals. Furthermore, SPP could be used as promising feedstocks for the bioconversion of diverse value-added bioproducts through biological processing.

Identification and functional characterization of Interleukin-11 in goldfish (Carassius auratus L.).

Interleukin-11 (IL-11) is a versatile cytokine that modulates cellular differentiation and proliferation in various cell types and tissues. In this study, IL-11 gene from goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) has been identified and characterized. Goldfish IL-11 (gfIL-11) has an open reading frame (ORF) that spans 591 base pairs (bp). The ORF encodes a precursor protein consisting of 196 amino acids (aa), which includes a 26 aa signal peptide and a conserved domain belonging to the IL-11 superfamily. Based on phylogenetic analysis, gfIL-11 was found to be closely related to other IL-11 homologues identified in various fish species. The gfIL-11 transcript exhibited varied expression levels across all the analyzed tissues, with the highest expression observed in the gill and spleen. Treatment of goldfish head kidney leukocytes (HKLs) with LPS and live Aeromonas hydrophila, increased gfIL-11 mRNA expression level. Recombinant gfIL-11 protein (rgIL-11) induced a dose-dependent production of TNF-α and IFNγ from goldfish HKLs. Furthermore, the administration of rgIL-11 to goldfish HKLs triggered an increase in the expression of various transcription factors such as MafB, cJun, GATA2, and Egr1, which play a vital role in the differentiation of myeloid precursors into macrophages and monocytes. Our findings provide evidence that IL-11 is a crucial cytokine that promotes cell proliferation, immune response, and differentiation across various hematopoietic lineages and stages of goldfish.

Characterization of the pro-inflammatory roles of the goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) M17 protein.

The interleukin-6 family of cytokines possesses a diversity of roles with significant redundancy. The roles of these molecules have been relatively well characterized in mammals, with limited attention in other species. Progress has been made in the discovery of homologous molecules in fish. Here we report the characterization of pro-inflammatory properties of recombinant goldfish M17. Recombinant goldfish M17 enhanced phagocytosis, primed production of reactive oxygen intermediates, and was chemotactic to macrophages. Treatment of goldfish macrophages with LPS, heat-killed and live Aeromonas hydrophila resulted in higher M17 mRNA levels. Recombinant M17 (RgM17) induced dose-dependent production of IFNγ and IL-1ß1 in goldfish macrophages. Furthermore, treatment of macrophages with rgM17 resulted in upregulation of transcription factors that were important in the differentiation of myeloid progenitors into monocytes/macrophages (Runx1 and GATA2). Our results indicate that goldfish M17 is an essential inflammatory cytokine for proliferation and differentiation of goldfish progenitor cells.

Construction of TiO2/starch nanocomposite cryogel for ethylene removal and banana preservation.

Perishability caused by natural plant hormone ethylene has attracted great attention in the field of fruit and vegetable (F&V) preservation. Various physical and chemical methods have been applied to remove ethylene, but the eco-unfriendliness and toxicity of these methods limit their application. Herein, a novel starch-based ethylene scavenger was developed by introducing TiO2 nanoparticles into starch cryogel and applying ultrasonic treatment to further improve ethylene removal efficiency. As a porous carrier, the pore wall of cryogel provided dispersion space, which increased the area of TiO2 exposed to UV light, thereby endowing starch cryogel with ethylene removal capacity. The photocatalytic performance of scavenger reached the maximum ethylene degradation efficiency of 89.60 % when the TiO2 loading was 3 %. Ultrasonic treatment interrupted starch molecular chains and then promoted their rearrangement, increasing the material specific surface area from 54.6 m2/g to 225.15 m2/g and improving the ethylene degradation efficiency by 63.23 % compared with the non-sonicated cryogel. Furthermore, the scavenger exhibits good practicability for removing ethylene as a banana package. This work provides a new carbohydrate-based ethylene scavenger, utilizing as a non-food contact inner filler of F&V packaging in practical applications, which exhibits great potential in F&V preservation and broadens the application fields of starch.

Serum level of calpains product as a novel biomarker of acute lung injury following cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis whether serum level of calpains could become a meaningful biomarker for diagnosis of acute lung injury (ALI) in clinical after cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) technology. Methods and results: Seventy consecutive adults underwent cardiac surgery with CPB were included in this prospective study. Based on the American-European Consensus Criteria (AECC), these patients were divided into ALI (n = 20, 28.57%) and non-ALI (n = 50, 71.43%) groups. Serum level of calpains in terms of calpains' activity which was expressed as relative fluorescence unit (RFU) per microliter and measured at beginning of CPB (baseline), 1 h during CPB, end of CPB as well as 1, 12, and 24 h after CPB. Difference of serum level of calpains between two groups first appeared at the end of CPB and remained different at subsequent test points. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that serum level of calpains 1 h after CPB was an independent predictor for postoperative ALI (OR 1.011, 95% CI 1.001, 1.021, p = 0.033) and correlated with a lower PaO2/FiO2 ratio in the first 2 days (The first day: r = -0.389, p < 0.001 and the second day: r = -0.320, p = 0.007) as well as longer mechanical ventilation time (r = 0.440, p < 0.001), intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) (r = 0.419, p < 0.001) and hospital LOS (r = 0.297, p = 0.013). Conclusion: Elevated serum level of calpains correlate with impaired lung function and poor clinical outcomes, indicating serum level of calpains could act as a potential biomarker for postoperative ALI following CPB in adults. Clinical trial registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT05610475], identifier [NCT05610475].

Morphological Characterization and Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Kudoa iwatai from Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea) as a New Host in China.

Kudoa (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida) parasites are critical pathogens in marine and freshwater fish associated with significant economic losses and reduced market prices caused by post-mortem myoliquefaction or numerous cysts on muscles. In the present study, large yellow croakers infected by Kudoa were found during fish disease surveillance in China in November 2020 and used for morphological observation and characterization using light DIC microscopy and electron microscopy. Numerous creamy-white oval plasmodia were observed in muscles and on the surface of brain cartilage, gill arches, and serosal surfaces. The spores were considerably longer and thicker than previously reported Kudoa, with protruding polar filaments (PFs) in the mature spores, fingertip-shaped apical projections (APs), and polar capsules. Phylogenetic analyses with SSU rDNA, LSU rDNA, and mitochondrial DNA showed that the Kudoa-infected sample (LcK-2020) had the highest similarity to Kudoa iwatai reported in Japan. Based on the morphological characterization and phylogenetic analysis, it could be concluded that the sample LcK-2020 was infected by Kudoa iwatai, which would be the first report of Kudoa iwatai infection in large yellow croaker in China.

Superhydrophobic starch-based nanocomposite cryogel for oil removal underwater and magnetically guided oil slick cleanup.

Low-cost and eco-friendly carbohydrate-based absorbents have attracted great attention for cleaning oil spill that poses a serious threat to the ecosystem. Porous starch-based materials have been proven to have good oil absorption performance, but the hydrophilicity of these materials limits their application in oil spill cleanup. Herein, a novel starch-based superhydrophobic absorbent (HMS-SiO2@MSC) was achieved by introducing nanoparticles into starch cryogel. Fe3O4 and silylated SiO2 nanoparticles endowed the adsorbent with magnetism (saturation magnetization: 4.36 emu/g) and superhydrophobicity (water contact angle: 154.4°), respectively. In addition, the surface chemical composition and microstructure of the adsorbent were investigated in detail. Some crucial properties of HMS-SiO2@MSC were also comprehensively confirmed, including water-repellent, self-cleaning, anti-fouling, and durability. Furthermore, HMS-SiO2@MSC exhibited good practicability of removing oil underwater and magnetically guided cleaning oil slick on the water surface. This work provided a new carbohydrate-based adsorbent, which would broaden the application fields of starch.

Superhydrophobic starch-based adsorbent with honeycomb coral-like surface fabricated via facile immersion process for removing oil from water.

The development of novel superhydrophobic adsorbents is highly demanded for tackling frequent oil spill accidents. Porous starch-based materials have been proven to possess good oil absorption performance, but their superhydrophobicity has not yet been reported, thus limiting their application in oil spill cleanup. Herein, a superhydrophobic starch-based adsorbent (MSC) was fabricated through the facile immersion process of starch cryogel (SC) into toluene solution of methyltrichlorosilane (MTS). Low-surface-energy and honeycomb coral-like micro/nanostructures, which contribute to high water contact angle (>151.0°) and low sliding angle (<15.0°), were provided simultaneously to SC by the hydrolysis-condensation reaction of MTS. MSC exhibited excellent water repellent, self-cleaning, and anti-fouling properties, as well as passable mechanical and chemical durability. The reasonable oil adsorption performance and selective wettability toward oil and water allowed this absorbent to be applied for heavy oil removal underwater and oil slick cleaning from the water surface. It is expected that the facile strategy provided by this work will accelerate the application of superhydrophobic starch-based materials in oil contamination removal and other industrial activities.

Superhydrophobic modular cryogel with variable magnetic-actuated motion direction for discrete small-scale oil spill cleanup.

Smart superhydrophobic sorbents are in high demand for cleaning oil spills that could endanger the aquatic ecosystem. Herein, we demonstrated the fabrication of a superhydrophobic and magnetic modular cryogel (SNS@Fe-PSC) containing three starch-based modules, namely, a superhydrophobic nano-coating, a magnetic nanocomposite insertion, and a high-strength starch/polyvinyl alcohol composite substrate. The surface chemical composition and hierarchical micro/nanostructures of this material were investigated in detail. The modular cryogel had a high water contact angle (>151°) and low sliding angle (<9°), as well as excellent water-repellent, self-cleaning, and anti-fouling properties. This material also exhibited good durability owing to its stable chemical bonding and structural support. SNS@Fe-PSC could be applied to remove oil from water effectively. Moreover, the magnetic module (saturation magnetization, 5.04 emu/g) allowed the as-obtained material to be propelled and controlled by a magnet on the surface of water. Variable magnetic-actuated motion direction could be realized by adjusting the position and amount of magnetic modules inserted to the cryogel.

Eco-friendly and superhydrophobic nano-starch based coatings for self-cleaning application and oil-water separation.

High-performance nano-based superhydrophobic coatings have attracted tremendous attention in a wide range of sectors. As a biodegradable and low-cost natural polymer, starch nanoparticles (SNPs) exhibit significant potential for use in many advanced materials. However, nano-starch based superhydrophobic coatings have not yet been reported. Herein, SNPs/polydimethylsiloxane composites were applied to fabricate these coatings using an environmentally friendly approach. The coating exhibited superhydrophobic (water contact angle >152.0° and sliding angle <9.0°) and self-cleaning properties owing to the hierarchical micro and nanostructures formed by coralloid SNP aggregates combined with the low surface energy of the PDMS covering. Meanwhile, the strong adhesion of PDMS and chemical bonding of SNPs with PDMS endowed the coatings with mechanical and chemical robustness. The excellent oil-water separation abilities of the coating were also comprehensively confirmed. This coating shows the potential application in the development of eco-friendly self-cleaning materials and oily wastewater treatment.

Optimal Dose of Dexmedetomidine for Perioperative Blood Glucose Regulation in Non-Diabetic Patients Undergoing Gastrointestinal Malignant Tumor Resection: A Randomized Double-Blinded Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the optimal dose of dexmedetomidine for perioperative blood glucose regulation in non-diabetic patients with gastrointestinal malignant tumor. METHODS: One hundred patients were randomly divided into four groups: control group (group C), dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg + 0.25 mcg/kg/h (group D1); + 0.5 mcg/kg/h (group D2); and + 1 mcg/kg/h (group D3). Blood glucose concentrations were measured before dexmedetomidine infusion (T1), 1 h after surgery beginning (T2), at the end of surgery (T3), and 1 h in PACU (T4). Duration of surgery, extubation time, anesthetics doses, adverse reactions, postoperative pulmonary infection, total peritoneal drainage 2 days after surgery and hospital stay were recorded. RESULTS: Compared with T1, blood glucose concentrations were higher at T4 in group C and at T2-4 in groups D1, D2, and D3 (p < 0.01). Compared with group C, blood glucose concentrations were higher at T2 and T3 in groups D2 and D3 (p < 0.05), but significantly lower at T4 in groups D1, D2, and D3 (p < 0.01). Propofol and remifentanil consumption in groups D1, D2, and D3 decreased significantly compared with group C (p < 0.01). In group D3, doses of ephedrine (p < 0.05) and atropine (p < 0.01) were higher, and extubation time was prolonged (p < 0.01) compared with the other groups. The incidence of bradycardia was higher in group D3 than that in group C (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine loading dose of 1 mcg/kg followed by maintenance with 0.25 mcg/kg/h can regulate perioperative blood glucose well in non-diabetic patients undergoing gastrointestinal malignant tumor resection and reduce doses of anesthetics without extending extubation time.

Selective separation and inexpensive purification of paclitaxel based on molecularly imprinted polymers modified with ternary deep eutectic solvents.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a powerful anticancer natural product, with its separation and purification having been widely studied. In this work, new molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) using deep eutectic solvents (DESs) with different molar ratios were prepared as functional monomers. These were then used as adsorbents in solid phase extraction (SPE) for the separation of PTX from its structural analogs. The polymers were characterized by energy disperive X-rays (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results suggested that the formative regular DES-MIPs had an even pore-size distribution and a large specific surface area. The dynamic adsorption and static adsorption showed that the DES-MIPs had excellent adsorption performance, with a maximum adsorption capacity and optimum adsorption time of 87.08 mg/g and 180 min, respectively. The selective adsorption experiments showed that the material had outstanding selectivity, and the maximum selectivity factor was 6.20. For stability, after six consecutive adsorption and desorption cycles, the DES-MIPs maintained the perfect stability and reusability. Furthermore, the fabricated SPE column was successfully utilized for extracting and eluting PTX. This study provides a reliable protocol for the separation and purification PTX from its structural analogs and the DES-MIPs materials have excellent potential application value in pharmaceutical industry.

Median Effective Dose of Lidocaine for the Prevention of Pain Caused by the Injection of Propofol Formulated with Medium- and Long-Chain Triglycerides Based on Lean Body Weight.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the median effective dose (ED50) of prophylactic intravenous lidocaine for the prevention of propofol medium-chain triglyceride/long-chain triglyceride (MCT/LCT) emulsion injection pain. DESIGN: Prospective trial, Dixon up-and-down sequential method. SETTING: Operating room of a single hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty patients aged 18-65 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status I or II who were scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia (GA) were included. INTERVENTIONS: The initial dose of prophylactic lidocaine before propofol MCT/LCT emulsion injection was set at 0.5 mg/kg lean body weight (LBW). The lidocaine dose was adjusted according to the degree of patients' injection pain using the Dixon up-and-down sequential method. MEASUREMENTS: The ED50 and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of lidocaine were calculated using the Dixon-Massey formula. Vital signs and adverse effects were recorded. In the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), patients were asked if they recalled feeling any injection pain with visual analog scale (VAS) evaluation. RESULTS: The ED50 of lidocaine for the prevention of propofol MCT/LCT emulsion injection pain was 0.306 mg/kg LBW (95% CI, 0.262-0.357 mg/kg LBW). No adverse reactions to lidocaine occurred. In the PACU, 90.9% of patients who experienced injection pain recalled this pain (VAS score, 2.8±1.8). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic intravenous lidocaine (0.306 mg/kg LBW) effectively prevented propofol MCT/LCT emulsion injection pain in 50% of patients scheduled for elective surgery under GA with no adverse reaction occurring.

Transcriptomic analysis of Nibea albiflora skin in response to infection by Cryptocaryon irritans.

Massive infection caused by Cryptocaryon irritans is detrimental to the development of marine aquaculture. Recently, our lab found that Nibea albiflora has low sensitivity and low mortality to C. irritans infection. The present study was designed to investigate the mechanisms of the N. albiflora response to C. irritans infection by analyzing transcriptome changes in the skin. Skin samples of control and experimental groups with C. irritans infection were collected at 24 and 72 h (24 h control, 24 h post-infection, 72 h control, and 72 h post-infection). Three parallels were set for each group and sample time, and a total of 12 skin samples were collected for sequencing. Overall, 297,489,843 valid paired-end reads and 48,817 unigenes were obtained with an overall length of 59,010,494 nt. In pairwise comparisons, changes in expression occurred in 1621 (764 upregulated and 857 downregulated), 285 (180 upregulated and 105 downregulated), 993 (489 upregulated and 504 downregulated), and 37 (8 upregulated and 29 downregulated) genes at 24 h control vs 24 h post-infection, 72 h control vs 72 h post-infection, 24 h post-infection vs 72 h post-infection, and 24 h control vs 72 h control, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) indicated that the number of genes enriched in GO sub-categories were ordered 24 h control vs 24 h post-infection > 24 h post-infection vs 72 h post-infection >72 h control vs 72 h post-infection > 24 h control vs 72 h control. Further analysis showed that immune-related GO terms (including immune system process, complement activation, and humoral immunity) were significantly enriched at both 72 h control vs 72 h post-infection and 24 h post-infection vs 72 h post-infection, but no immune-related GO terms were significantly enriched in the 24 h control vs 72 h control and at 24 h control vs 24 h post-infection, indicating that C. irritans infection mainly affected the physiological metabolism of N. albiflora at an early stage (24 h), and immune-related genes play an important role at a later stage (72 h) of infection. In KEGG pathway analysis, the complement and coagulation cascade pathway are involved in early infection. Hematopoietic cell lineage, natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and the intestinal immune network for IgA production are involved in later infection. Further analysis showed that the alternative pathway of complement and coagulation cascades plays an important role in the resistance of N. albiflora to early C. irritans infection. During late infection, CD34, IgM, and IgD were significantly upregulated in the hematopoietic cell lineage pathway. CCR9 was significantly downregulated, and IGH and PIGR were significantly upregulated in the intestinal immune network for IgA production. GZMB and IGH were significantly downregulated in NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. These findings indicate that acquired immunity at the mRNA level was initiated during later infection. In addition, the IL-17 signaling pathway was enriched by downregulated DEGs at 24 h post-infection vs 72 h post-infection, suggesting the inflammatory response at 24 h was stronger than at 72 h and the invasion of the parasite has a greater impact on the host.

Optimal dose of pretreated-dexmedetomidine in fentanyl-induced cough suppression: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the optimal dose of pretreated-dexmedetomidine in fentanyl-induced cough (FIC) suppression. METHODS: Patients of 180 undergoing elective surgery with general anesthesia, aged 18-65 years, BMI 18.5-30 kg/m2, ASA I or II, were equally randomized into four groups (n = 45) to receive intravenous pretreatment of dexmedetomidine with 0 (group 1), 0.3 (group 2), 0.6 (group 3) and 0.9 (group 4) mcg/kg over 10 mins, respectively. After the pretreatment, all patients were given a 5-s intravenous injection of fentanyl 4 mcg/kg. The symptoms of irritating cough including the severity and onset time were recorded for 1 min after fentanyl injection. General anesthesia induction was completed with midazolam, propofol and cisatracurium, then endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask was inserted and connected to an anesthesia machine. MAP, HR and SpO2 at the beginning of pretreatment (T0), 3 min (T1), 6 min (T2), 9 min (T3) and 12 min (T4) after the beginning of pretreatment were recorded. Side effects of dexmedetomidine, such as bradycardia, hypertension, hypotension, and respiratory depression were also recorded during the course. RESULTS: Totally 168 patients completed the study. The incidences of cough were 52.4, 42.9, 11.9, and 14.3% in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, with no significant differences between groups 1 and 2 (P > 0.05) and between groups 3 and 4 (P > 0.05). The incidence and severity of cough in groups 3 and 4 were significantly lower than those in groups 1 and 2 (P < 0.05). Compared to T0, HR at T2 (P < 0.05), T3 (P < 0.01), and T4 (P < 0.01) decreased significantly and MAP at T4 decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in group 4. Bradycardia occurred in 1 case and respiratory depression occurred in 1 case in group 4. Compared to group 1, the onset time of cough in the other 3 groups were delayed significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Pretreated dexmedetomidine 0.6 mcg/kg blous intravenous infusion over 10 mins could reduce FIC effectively without side effects. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03126422), April 13, 2017.

Utility of cystatin C-based equations in patients undergoing dialysis.

Serum cystatin C (CysC) measurement is regarded as a simple and practical alternative to measure residual renal function for dialysis patients. Recent studies have shown that CysC has better diagnostic accuracy or at least equivalence to creatinine in predicting the early stages of renal damage, and is closely related to clinical outcomes of dialysis patients. Thus, the applicability of CysC-derived equations in patients undergoing dialysis should be paid attention. Here, we review the role of CysC in diagnosis, renal function evaluation, and prognosis outcomes for dialysis patients, so as to provide them with useful suggestions on evaluating renal function and predicting adverse outcomes in clinical practice.

Measurement and characterization of external oil in the fried waxy maize starch granules using ATR-FTIR and XRD.

Concerns regarding increased dietary oil uptake have prompted efforts to investigate the oil absorption and distribution in fried starchy foods. In the present study, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, together with a chloroform-methanol method, was used to analyze the external and internal oil contents in fried starchy samples. The micromorphology of fried starchy samples was further investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), polarized light microscope (PLM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The results indicated that large amounts of oil were absorbed in or within waxy maize starch, but the majority of oil was located near the surface layer of the starch granules. After defatting, the internal oil was thoroughly removed, while a small amount of external oil remained. As evidenced by the changes of the crystalline characteristics with the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD), the interaction between starch and lipids on the surface was confirmed to form V-type complex compounds during frying at high moisture.