The effect of ultrasonic power on the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of frosted figs pectin.

Ultrasound has been widely used in industry due to its high energy and efficiency. This study optimized the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) process of frosted figs pectin (FFP) using response surface methodology (RSM), and further investigated the effect of ultrasonic power on the structural characteristics and antioxidant activities of FFPs. The UAE method of FFP through RSM was optimized, and the optimal extraction process conditions, particle size of 100 mesh, pH value of 1.95, liquid-solid ratio of 47:1 (mL/g), extraction temperature of 50 °C and extraction time of 65 min, were obtained. The extraction rate of FFP under this condition was 37.97 ± 2.56 %. Then, the four FFPs modified by ultrasound were obtained by changing the ultrasonic power. Research had found that ultrasonic power had little effect on the monosaccharide composition, Zeta potential, as well as the thermal stability and appearance structure of the four FFPs. However, ultrasonic power had a significant impact on other properties of FFP: as the ultrasonic power increased, the DM% and particle size decreased continuously, while the total carbohydrate content increased. Meanwhile, ultrasonic power also had a significant impact on antioxidant activities of FFPs. From the research results, it could be seen that different ultrasonic power had certain changes in its spatial structure and properties, and the structural changes also affected the biological activity of FFP. The study of the effects of ultrasonic power on the physicochemical properties and biological activity of FFP lays the foundation for the development and application of FFP in food additives and natural drug carriers.

The value of urinary exosomal microRNA-21 in the early diagnosis and prognosis of bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer (BC) poses high morbidity and mortality, with urinary exosomal microRNA (miR)-21 showing potential value in its diagnosis and prognosis, and we probed its specific role. We prospectively selected 116 BC patients and 116 healthy volunteers as the BC and control groups, respectively. BC urinary exosomal miR-146a-5p, miR-93-5p, miR-663b, miR-21, and miR-4454 relative expression levels were assessed. The correlations between clinical indexes and urinary exosomal miR-21, prognostic value of miR-21, and diagnostic value of the five candidate miRNAs, urine cytology, and miRNA joint diagnostic panel for BC and urinary exosomal miR-21, miR-4454, and urine cytology for Ta-T1 and T2-T4 stage BC were analyzed. Urinary exosomal miR-146a-5p, miR-93-5p, miR-663b, miR-21, and miR-4454 were highly expressed in BC patients. miR-146a-5p, miR-93-5p, miR-663b, miR-21, miR-4454, miRNA combined diagnostic panel, and urine cytology had certain diagnostic value for BC, with miR-21, miR-4454, and miRNA co-diagnostic panel showing the highest diagnostic value. Collectively, urinary exosomal miR-21 was closely related to Tumor-Node-Metastasis staging and grading in BC patients. Urinary exosomal miR-21 had high diagnostic value for BC and Ta-T1 and T2-T4 stage BC, and had high predictive value for BC poor prognosis, providing an effective indicator for the occurrence, development, and prognostic assessment of BC.