Conductive phthalocyanine-based porous organic polymer as sensing platform for rapid determination of vanillin.

Vanillin (Van) is widely utilized in processed foods and medicines for its appealing scent and multiple therapeutic benefits. However, its overconsumption poses a risk to public health, making its quantification essential for ensuring food and medicine safety and quality. This study introduces a stable and conductive phthalocyanine-based porous organic polymer (NiPc-CC POP), synthesized through a straightforward electrophilic substitution of nickel tetra-amine phthalocyanine (NiTAPc) with cyanuric chloride (CC). Appropriate characterization techniques were employed to determine the morphologies and structures of the synthesized materials. Furthermore, the NiPc-CC POP was applied to devise a sensitive Van detection method. Leveraging the high electrocatalytic activity of NiPc-CC POP toward Van oxidation, a linear response of 0.15-32 µmol L-1 was achieved, along with an exceptional detection limit of 0.10 µmol L-1. The sensor demonstrated high selectivity and stability. Samples of human serum and tablets spiked with Van were analyzed, yielding satisfactory recoveries. Consequently, this work contributes to the advancement of sensitive detection platforms for Van at minimal concentrations.

A multidrug resistance-associated protein inhibitor is a potential enhancer of the benzyl isothiocyanate-induced apoptosis induction in human colorectal cancer cells.

The increasing drug efflux through the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters is the most plausible mechanism that mediates resistance to the anticancer phytochemicals, such as benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), as well as chemotherapy drugs. To identify a potential component to overcome this resistance by combinatory utilization, we focused on multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) pumping various drug metabolites with glutathione as well as the organic anions. The pharmacological treatment of an MRP inhibitor, MK571, significantly potentiated the BITC-induced antiproliferation, coincided with the enhanced accumulation of BITC and glutathione in human colorectal cancer HCT-116 cells. MK571 also enhanced the apoptosis induction as well as activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases and caspase-3, whereas it did not affect their basal levels. These results suggested that, since MRPs might play a pivotal role in the BITC efflux, MK571 potentiates the BITC-induced antiproliferation in human colorectal cancer cells through inhibition of the glutathione-dependent BITC efflux.

Lycii fructus extract ameliorates hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity through indirect antioxidant action.

Lycii Fructus is the dried ripe fruits of Lycium chinense and L. barbarum, which has long been used as a traditional food material in East Asia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the indirect antioxidative action in the Lycii fructus extract (LFE)-induced cytoprotective effect in vitro. LFE significantly enhanced the expression of the drug-metabolizing enzyme genes and intracellular glutathione level in mouse hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cells. LFE stimulated the nuclear translocation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor as well as nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2. The pretreatment of LFE for 24 h, but not for 30 min, completely inhibited the cytotoxic effect of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, chlorogenic acid, one of the main constituents of LFE, showed cytoprotection against hydrogen peroxide with the enhanced phase 2 enzyme gene expression. These results suggested that LFE exhibits a cytoprotective effect, possibly through the enhancement of the antioxidant gene expression. ABBREVIATIONS: LFE: Lycii Fructus extract; GSH: glutathione; NQO1: NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1; HO-1: heme oxygenase-1; GCLC: glutamate-cysteine ligase, catalytic subunit; xCT: a component of cysteine/glutamate antiporter (cystine/glutamate exchanger); CYP1A1: cytochrome P450 1A1; GSH: glutathione; AhR: aryl hydrocarbon receptor; Nrf2: nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2; CGA: chlorogenic acid; RT-PCR: reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; DTT: dithiothreitol; PMSF: phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride; ARE: antioxidant response element; XRE: xenobiotic responsive element.

Clinical efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy combined with endoscopic papillary balloon dilation in treatment of gallbladder stones with common bile duct stones: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cholelithiasis has been on the rise in recent years, but the choice of procedure is controversial. AIM: To investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) combined with endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) in patients with gallbladder stones (GS) with common bile duct stones (CBDS). METHODS: The clinical data of 102 patients with GS combined with CBDS were selected for retrospective analysis and divided into either an LC + EPBD group (n = 50) or an LC + endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) group (n = 52) according to surgical methods. Surgery-related indexes, postoperative recovery, postoperative complications, and expression levels of inflammatory response indexes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Total surgical time, stone free rate, rate of conversion to laparotomy, and successful stone extraction rate did not differ significantly between the LC + EPBD group and LC + EST group. Intraoperative hemorrhage, time to ambulation, and length of hospitalization in the LC + EPBD group were lower than those of the LC + EST group (P < 0.05). The rate of total complications of the two groups was 9.80% and 17.65%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant. No serious complications occurred in either group. At 48 h postoperatively, the expression levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin were lower in the LC + EPBD group than in the LC + EST group (P < 0.05). At 3 d postoperatively, the expression levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and total bilirubin were lower in the LC + EPBD group than in the LC + EST group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: LC combined with EPBD and LC combined with EST are both effective procedures for the treatment of GS with CBDS, in which LC combined with EPBD is beneficial to shorten the patient's hospitalization time, reduce the magnitude of elevated inflammatory response indexes, and promote postoperative recovery.

A Tröger's base-linked aluminium phthalocyanine polymer for discriminative electrochemical sensing of the antibiotic isoniazid.

Isoniazid is a first-line drug used to treat tuberculosis. However, its excessive use can lead to serious adverse effects. Thus, strict monitoring of the isoniazid levels in medications and human systems is required. In this study, a new polymer (AlPc-TB POP) containing a metal phthalocyanine and Tröger's base was synthesized and explored as an electrocatalyst for the oxidation of isoniazid. The results indicated that the polymer is an excellent electron-transfer medium for isoniazid oxidation. The AlPc-TB POP-based sensor quantified isoniazid in the linear range of 0.1-130 µM, with a detection limit of 0.0185 µM. The response of the developed sensor to isoniazid was reproducible and stable. Furthermore, this method can accurately determine isoniazid levels by ignoring the influence of common interfering species in tablets and biological samples. This study contributes to the development of nitrogen-rich porous organic polymers and offers a novel strategy for addressing challenges in disease therapeutic efficacy and public safety monitoring.

Effects of ultrahigh pressure heat-assisted technology on the physicochemical and gelling properties of myofibrillar protein from Penaeus vannamei.

This study investigated the changes in conformation and gelling properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) from Penaeus vannamei under various ultrahigh pressure (UHP)-heat assisted technologies. The results indicated that UHP heat-assisted technology enhanced the cross-linking of the gel network by causing a rearrangement of the secondary structure of MP. Microstructural analysis revealed that MP gels treated with UHP heat-assisted technology exhibited a more uniform gel network structure. Additionally, UHP heat-assisted technology improved the binding capacity of water molecules within the gel network, particularly in the two-stage UHP heat-assisted (PBH) condition at 400 MPa. Gels prepared under this condition demonstrated the highest gel strength, measuring 386.4 g·mm. Furthermore, in vitro simulated digestion showed that PBH method significantly improved the digestibility of MP gels, suggesting that the UHP heat-assisted technology had the potential to produce easily digestible MP gel-based aquatic foods.

Elucidating the effects of precooked treatments on the quality attributes of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia): Insights from water boiling vs. microwaving.

Precooked treatments are essential in food processing, extending beyond mere sterilization to include the enhancement of nutritional value, flavor profile, and digestibility. This research scrutinizes the effects of water boiling and microwaving on red swamp crayfish, two distinct precooked methodologies. A comparative analytical framework has been employed to assess the efficacy of two precooked methods across a spectrum of quality indicators, including aerobic plate counts, texture, nutrient composition, volatile compound characterization, protein oxidation, and digestive properties. The findings revealed that both water boiling and microwaving effectively reduced bacterial counts to a safe level of 500 CFU/g. Microwave precooking facilitated a moderate oxidation of lipids in crayfish, preferentially liberating flavor compounds, thereby enhancing their sensory attributes. The boiling process imparted a pronounced denaturation to proteins, consequently augmenting the hardness of the crayfish. Notably, the enhanced digestibility of boiled crayfish proteins results from the denaturing action of boiling, promoting efficient protein digestion.

Investigation of isomerization and oxidation of astaxanthin in ready-to-eat Litopenaeus vannamei during accelerated storage.

Astaxanthin (AST), the natural pigment in Litopenaeus vannamei, is susceptible to oxidation and isomerization, leading to the fading of the orange-red color in ready-to-eat (RTE) shrimps. This study specifically investigated the changes mechanism in AST content, including geometric and stereoisomers, as well as oxidation degradation, throughout the storage process of RTE shrimps. The results showed that the total amount of AST decreased by 46.76 % after 45 days of storage at 40 °C. The levels of geometric isomers (all-E, 9-Z, 13-Z) and stereoisomers (3S,3'S, 3S,3'R, 3R,3'R) gradually decreased over time. Notably, 9-Z and 3S,3'S isomers, known for their strong antioxidant activity, were reduced by 83.57 % and 61.64 % respectively. Additionally, AST underwent oxidative degradation, forming short-chain compounds (astaxanthinal or astaxanthinone), with the main products being Apo-14'-astaxanthinal and Apo-7-astaxanthinone DHA ester. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further research on the degradation mechanism of AST, and offer valuable insights into the color protection of RTE shrimps.

Efficacy and safety of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: With advancements in the development of endoscopic technologies, the endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been one of the gold-standard therapies for early gastric cancer. AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety ESD in the treatment of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions in the elderly patients. METHODS: Seventy-eight elderly patients with early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University were selected and classified into two groups according to the different surgical therapies they received between January 2021 and June 2022. Among them, 39 patients treated with ESD were included in an experimental group, and 39 patients treated with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) were included in a control group. We compared the basic intraoperative conditions, postoperative short-term recovery, long-term recovery effects and functional status of gastric mucosa between the two groups; the basic intraoperative conditions included lesion resection, intraoperative bleeding and operation time; the postoperative short-term recovery assessment indexes were length of hospital stay and incidence of surgical complications; and the long-term recovery assessment indexes were the recurrence rate at 1 year postoperatively and the survival situation at 1 year and 3 years postoperatively; and we compared the preoperative and predischarge serum pepsinogen I (PG I) and PG II levels and PG I/PG II ratio in the two groups before surgery and discharge. RESULTS: The curative resection rate and the rate of en bloc resection were higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The intraoperative bleeding volume was higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The operation time was longer in the experimental group than that in the control group, and the rate for base residual focus was lower in the experimental group than that of the control group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The length of hospital stay was longer in the experimental group than in the control group, and the incidence of surgical complications, 1-year postoperative recurrence rate and 3-year postoperative survival rate were lower in the experimental group than in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). However, the difference in the 1-year postoperative survival rate was not statistically significant between the two groups (P > 0.05). Before discharge, PG I and PG I/PG II ratio were elevated in both groups compared with the preoperative period, and the above indexes were higher in the experimental group than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). Moreover, before discharge, PG II level was lower in both groups compared with the preoperative period, and the level was lower in the experimental group than in the control group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with EMR, ESD surgery is more thorough. It reduces the rate of base residual focus, recurrence rate, surgical complications, and promotes the recovery of gastric cells and glandular function. It is safe and suitable for clinical application.

Modulating effects of oral administration of Lycii Fructus extracts on UVB-induced skin erythema: A Randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Severe UV exposure induces skin inflammation, causing erythema. Lycii Fructus (Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense) is a potential antioxidant agent with a high content of polyphenols, including rutin and chlorogenic acid. This study examined the effects of Lycii Fructus extract (LFE) on UVB-induced skin erythema in humans. Healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to one of two groups and received UVB irradiation at 1.5 minimal erythemal dose (MED) on day 0 at three designated sites on their backs, and the skin color was measured until day 7. After an 8-week treatment with LFE (900 mg/day) or placebo, UVB irradiation (l.5 MED) was applied again at different sites on day 63. Skin color was continuously measured in each group until day 69. LFE tablet administration for 8 weeks significantly inhibited UVB-induced erythema formation and increased the MED by 13%. Erythema formation peaked on the first day after UVB irradiation, but gradually dissipated over the next several days. LFE tended to accelerate erythema disappearance. To determine the polyphenol responsible for the protection against UVB-induced skin damage, the effects of LFE-derived polyphenols and their metabolites on UVB-induced cytotoxicity were examined in vitro. The major intestinal metabolite of rutin and LFE significantly attenuated phototoxicity and in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Quercetin enhanced intracellular glutathione levels in HaCaT cells, even though LFE did not increase it. Together, the results showed that LFE inhibited erythema formation and accelerated erythema dissipation, possibly through its direct antioxidative action.

Degradation of dichloroacetonitrile by a UV/peroxymonosulfate process: modeling and optimization based on response surface methodology (RSM).

Response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to model and optimize the dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) degradation process by UV/PMS. A quadratic function between DCAN degradation efficiency and three factors including dosage of PMS, UV power and retention time was obtained. The model fitted very well according to high the value of R 2 (0.9919) and Adj-R 2 (0.9814). Additionally, the analysis of variance showed the influence of factors on degradation efficiency followed: retention time > UV power > dosage of PMS. Finally, the optimum conditions were suggested under this model. The degradation efficiency reached the maximum value of 96.2% with the optimum conditions: dosage of PMS = 0.2 mM, UV power = 7.95 W, retention time = 80 min.

Effects of interactions of auxin-producing bacteria and bacterial-feeding nematodes on regulation of peanut growths.

The influences of an IAA (indole-3-acetic acid)-producing bacterium (Bacillus megaterium) and two bacterial-feeding nematodes (Cephalobus sp. or Mesorhabditis sp.) on the growth of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. Haihua 1) after various durations of time were investigated in natural soils. The addition of bacteria and nematodes and incubation time all significantly affected plant growth, plant root growth, plant nutrient concentrations, soil nutrient concentrations, soil microorganisms and soil auxin concentration. The addition of nematodes caused greater increases in these indices than those of bacteria, while the addition of the combination of bacteria and nematodes caused further increases. After 42-day growth, the increases in soil respiration differed between the additions of two kinds of nematodes because of differences in their life strategies. The effects of the bacteria and nematodes on the nutrient and hormone concentrations were responsible for the increases in plant growth. These results indicate the potential for promoting plant growth via the addition of nematodes and bacteria to soil.