Influence of Local Vibration Therapy on the Mental State, Neurological Function, and Quality of Life of Convalescing Patients With Spinal Cord Injury.

Context: The clinical postoperative recovery of patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) is relatively long. Good self-efficacy can help patients actively cooperate with treatment and rehabilitation and improve their functional recovery and QoL. Local vibration stimulation has emerged as a potential nondrug therapy for SCI patients. However, the use of local vibration therapy for SCI patients is still rare, and its efficacy isn't clear yet. Objective: The study intended to analyze the combined effects of local vibration therapy and self-efficacy training on the psychological state and neurological function of SCI patients during rehabilitation as well as the therapy's correlation with quality of life (QoL). Design: The research team conducted a retrospective study. Setting: The study took place at Zhejiang Hospital in Hangzhou, China. Participants: Participants were 82 SCI patients who received surgery and postoperative interventions in the rehabilitation department at the hospital between March and September 2021 for surgery and postoperative intervention. Interventions: Based on the use of different interventions, the research team divided participants into two groups, with 41 participants in each group: (1) the local vibration group and (2) a control group. Patients in both groups received spinal cord reduction and internal fixation surgery and self-efficacy training after surgery. The local vibration group also received local vibration therapy. Outcome Measures: At baseline and postintervention, the research team measured: (1) neurological function, using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS); (2) daily living ability, using the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale; (3) psychological state, using the self-rating anxiety (SAS) and self-rating depression (SDS) scales; and (4) QoL, using the Generic Quality of Life Inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) questionnaire. The team used the Pearson correlation coefficient to analyze the relationship between patients' neurological function, psychological state, and QoL. Results: Between baseline and postintervention, the local vibration group's: (1) mean NIHSS score decreased significantly (P < .001), (2) mean ADL score increased significantly(P < .001), (3) mean SAS (P < .001) and SDS (P < .001) scores decreased significantly; and (4) mean total GQOLI-74 score (P < .001) and scores for the dimensions physical function (P < .001), social function (P < .001), psychological function (P < .001), and material function (P < .001) increased significantly. Between baseline and postintervention, the control group's: (1) mean NIHSS score decreased significantly (P < .001), (2) mean ADL score increased significantly (P < .001), (3) mean SAS (P < .001) and SDS (P < .001) scores decreased significantly; and (4) mean total GQOLI-74 score (P < .001) and scores for the dimensions physical function (P < .001), social function (P < .001), psychological function (P < .001), and material function (P < .001) increased significantly. Compared to the control group postintervention, the local vibration group's: (1) mean NIHSS score was significantly lower (P < .001), (2) mean ADL score was significantly higher (P < .001), (3) mean SAS (P < .001) and SDS scores (P < .001) were significantly lower, and (4) mean total GQOLI-74 score (P < .001) and scores for the dimensions physical function (P < .001), social function (P < .001), psychological function (P < .001), and material function (P < .001) were significantly higher. The Pearson correlation coefficient analysis showed that the NIHSS, SAS, and SDS scores were significantly negatively correlated with the GQOLI-74 score (all P < .05). Conclusion: Local vibration therapy combined with self-efficacy training positively influenced the rapid recovery of neurological function and daily-living ability postoperatively for SCI patients. It also effectively improved patients' psychological states and overall QoL. These findings suggest the potential for further clinical use. Additionally, the close relationship between neurological function, psychological state, and QoL underscores the importance of incorporating interventions that target these areas in clinical nursing management for SCI patients.

Reverse charge transfer and decomposition in Ca-Te compounds under high pressure.

Pressure alters the nature of chemical bonds and triggers novel reactions. Here, we employed first-principles calculations combined with the CALYPSO structural search technique to reveal the charge transfer reversal between Ca and Te under high pressure in the calcium-tellurium compound (CaxTe1-x, x = 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3). We predict several new phases with conventional and unconventional compounds and found an unfamiliar phenomenon: the Ca-Te compounds will reverse charge transfer between Ca and Te atoms and decompose into elemental solids under pressure. The Bader charge analyses indicate that the Ca2+ ion gains electrons and becomes an anion under high pressure. This leads to a weakened electrostatic interaction between Ca and Te and ultimately results in decomposition. The calculated band occupation number suggests that the occupation of Ca 3d orbitals under high pressure corresponds to this atypical phenomenon. Our results demonstrated the reverse charge transfer between Ca and Te and, in addition, clarified the mechanism of CaxTe1-x decomposition into solid Ca and Te elements under high pressure, providing important insights into the evolution of the properties of alkaline-earth chalcogenide compounds under high pressure.

Oil candidate genes in seeds of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and functional validation of GhPXN1.

BACKGROUND: Cottonseed oil is a promising edible plant oil with abundant unsaturated fatty acids. However, few studies have been conducted to explore the characteristics of cottonseed oil. The molecular mechanism of cottonseed oil accumulation remains unclear. RESULTS: In the present study, we conducted comparative transcriptome and weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) analysis for two G. hirsutum materials with significant difference in cottonseed oil content. Results showed that, between the high oil genotype 6053 (H6053) and the low oil genotype 2052 (L2052), a total of 412, 507, 1,121, 1,953, and 2,019 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 DPA, respectively. Remarkably, a large number of the down-regulated DEGs were enriched in the phenylalanine metabolic processes. Investigation into the dynamic changes of expression profiling of genes associated with both phenylalanine metabolism and oil biosynthesis has shed light on a significant competitive relationship in substrate allocation during cottonseed development. Additionally, the WGCNA analysis of all DEGs identified eight distinct modules, one of which includes GhPXN1, a gene closely associated with oil accumulation. Through phylogenetic analysis, we hypothesized that GhPXN1 in G. hirsutum might have been introgressed from G. arboreum. Overexpression of the GhPXN1 gene in tobacco leaf suggested a significant reduction in oil content compared to the empty-vector transformants. Furthermore, ten other crucial oil candidate genes identified in this study were also validated using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study enhances our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying cottonseed oil accumulation.

Integration of Untargeted Metabolomics and Object-Oriented Data-Processing Protocols to Characterize Acerola Powder Composition as Functional Food Ingredient.

Acerola powder has been experiencing a surge in demand as a functional food ingredient, particularly due to its usage in vitamin C supplements. However, limited research has been conducted on its other bioactive compounds. In this study, we employed metabolomics and object-oriented data-processing protocols to comprehensively characterize acerola powder. To ensure maximum coverage of metabolomics, we selected a 50% methanol aqueous solution as the extraction solvent and utilized the HSS T3 column for chromatography analysis. Through this approach, we successfully identified a total of 175 compounds in acerola powder, encompassing amino acids and peptides, polyphenols, organic acids, and various other compounds. Additionally, we measured the total phenolic content (TPC) and assessed the antioxidant activity of acerola powder. Furthermore, we analyzed the differential composition of acerola fruit and juice powder, identifying polyphenols and lipids as primary markers in fruit powder, while peptides emerged as key markers in juice powder. Notably, two specific peptides, Thr-Trp and Val-Tyr, were identified as antioxidant peptides. Overall, our study provides novel composition data for acerola powder, shedding light on its potential as a functional food ingredient. These findings contribute to the development and utilization of acerola powder in the formulation of functional food products.

Strategy for anthocyanins production: From efficient green extraction to novel microbial biosynthesis.

Anthocyanins are widely distributed in nature and exhibit brilliant colors and multiple health-promoting effects; therefore, they are extensively incorporated into foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic industries. Anthocyanins have been traditionally produced by plant extraction, which is characterized by high expenditure, low production rates, and rather complex processes, and hence cannot meet the increasing market demand. In addition, the emerging environmental issues resulting from traditional solvent extraction technologies necessitate a more efficient and eco-friendly alternative strategy for producing anthocyanins. This review summarizes the efficient approach for green extraction and introduces a novel strategy for microbial biosynthesis of anthocyanins, emphasizing the technological changes in production.

Pathway elucidation of bioactive rhamnosylated ginsenosides in Panax ginseng and their de novo high-level production by engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Rg2 and Re are both rhamnose-containing ginsenosides isolated exclusively from Panax plants, which exhibit broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. However, limitations of current plant-relied manufacturing methods have largely hampered their medical applications. Here, we report elucidation of the complete biosynthetic pathway of these two ginsenosides by the identification of a rhamnosyltransferase PgURT94 from Panax ginseng. We then achieve de novo bio-production of Rg2 and Re from glucose by reconstituting their biosynthetic pathways in yeast. Through stepwise strain engineering and fed-batch fermentation, the maximum yield of Rg2 and Re reach 1.3 and 3.6 g/L, respectively. Our work completes the identification of the last missing enzyme for Rg2 and Re biosynthesis and achieves their high-level production by engineered yeasts. Once scaled, this microbial biosynthesis platform will enable a robust and stable supply of Rg2 and Re and facilitate their food and medical applications.

Dual-spectrum online monitoring of puerarin and total flavonoids contents during the extraction process of Pueraria lobata.

In the extraction process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the rapid detection of the active components of TCM plays a vital role. We pioneered the choice of dual-spectrum technology based on near-infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra and applied it to the quantitative monitoring of online extraction of puerarin and total flavonoids from Pueraria lobata. An online monitoring system was constructed to fulfill the dual-spectrum online monitoring. The extraction solution flows from a flask into a pipeline under the control of a peristaltic pump, removing the solid residues contained in the solution with filters. When the extraction solution flows into the cuvette, it will be measured with NIR and UV-Vis portable spectrometers. After finishing the spectra collection, the peristaltic pump will reverse to push the extraction solution back to the flask. The partial least squares (PLS) models were established to quantitatively analyze puerarin and total flavonoids by NIR, UV-Vis, and dual-spectrum data. As for NIR, UV-Vis and dual-spectrum, the RMSEP (mg/mL) of the puerarin models were 0.0803, 0.0500, and 0.0351, and those of the total flavonoids models were 0.4373, 0.2402, and 0.1795, respectively. The results show that the dual-spectrum online monitoring system is simple, stable and fast (a few seconds) in operation, and accurate in prediction. Compared with individual NIR or UV-Vis spectra, the dual-spectra contains more comprehensive information, and the prediction ability is stronger. This method is expected to become a promising tool for the quantitative analysis of other traditional Chinese medicines.

Therapeutic and Prebiotic Effects of Five Different Native Starches on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Mice Model of Colonic Colitis.

SCOPE: The availability of studies related to the effects of natural macronutrients on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remain relatively limited. This study investigates whether and to what extent the consumption of five different native starches alleviate the clinical symptoms and dysbiosis of gut microbiota associated with colitis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse model of colitis, the potential effects of native potato starch (PS), pea starch (PEAS), corn starch (CS), Chinese yam starch (CYS), and red sorghum starch (RSS) on the clinical manifestations and dysbiosis of gut microbiota are studied. Compared to CS and RSS, the consumption of PEAS, PS, and CYS significantly diminishes clinical enteritis symptoms, including reduced disease activity index, and the alleviated degree of colonic histological damage. Furthermore, the analysis of gut microbiota reveals the significant prebiotic characteristics of PEAS, PS and CYS, as indicated by the maintenance of gut microbiota hemostasis and the inhibition of typically pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Helicobacter hepaticus. CONCLUSION: Starches from potato, pea, and Chinese yam alleviate colitis symptoms in a mouse model, and also show significant prebiotic characteristics. These findings suggest a cost-effective and convenient dietary strategy for the management of IBD.

Research on the mechanism of microwave-toughened starch on glucolipid metabolism in mice.

Potato resistant starch (RS) was prepared by microwave-toughening treatment (MTT). This study investigated the beneficial effects of RS on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemia in C57BL/6J mice by evaluating changes in the gut microbiota. The mice were fed low-fat diet with corn starch, HFD with corn starch, HFD with potato starch (HFP), or HFD with RS (HFR) for 6 weeks. The results showed that the HFR group had lower body weight and total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with the HFP group. Moreover, the brown adipose tissue levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1), ß3-adrenoceptor (ß3-AR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), and PPAR-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) were increased. Our results showed that RS supplementation increased the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and the abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing Allobaculum, Ruminococcus, and Blautia. Our data suggest that RS prepared by MTT may be used as a prebiotic agent to prevent gut dysbiosis and obesity-related chronic diseases, such as hyperlipidemia, and obesity.

The formation process of green substances in Chrysanthemum morifolium tea.

One interesting phenomenon of Chrysanthemum morifolium tea is its formation of a green or dark green color after hours of brewing, and it is important to study the compounds that form this color and whether they might be involved in health benefits. Non-targeted metabolomics could clearly distinguish between green and non-green species by sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA) and heat-mapping. We found that the pH was the primary factor in the formation of the green color. Two green precursors (GP1 and GP2) were separated and purified with preparative HPLC. FT-IR analysis and the saccharide content analysis showed that GP1 had the typical characteristics of saccharides. GP2 was identified as chlorogenic acid by ESI-Q-TOF/MS and NMR. We raised the formation process of green substances was caused by the hydrolysates of chlorogenic acid reacting with glycosides or groups attached to the saccharides, which suggests a new mechanism for color-forming reactions.

Use of liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and metabolomic approach to discriminate coffee brewed by different methods.

An untargeted metabolomic method based on UPLC-QTOF were used to investigate the differences in coffee brewed by boiled, pour-over and cold-brew methods here. Distinctive separation among the three groups could be seen from principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis. Analysis of variance, fold change and orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant mode were conducted to find the characteristic potential markers, subsequently, nine potential markers were putatively identified using general chemical databases, and five of them were further confirmed by acquisition of reference standards. This work provides an efficient way for discrimination of coffee brewed by different methods. Interestingly, the result of this work also suggested that the contents of two selected markers, norharman and harman, were higher in the pour-over and boiled methods, compared to the cold-brew method. This content difference were further verified by the quantitative analysis data of commercial coffee samples.

The formation and bioactivities of green substances in Chrysanthemum morifolium tea.

One interesting phenomenon of Chrysanthemum morifolium tea is its formation of green or dark green color after hours of brewing. We investigated the greening reaction and its bioactivities, including an analysis of the green compounds. Results showed that the green color was due to a decrease in the L* (lightness), b* (yellowness/blueness), chroma values and an increase in hue angle. The green substances were found to be substances with similar polarities and unstable in acidic conditions. There was no significant difference (p < 0.01) in antioxidant activity between non-green and green samples. The green substances did not lead to cytotoxicity in PC12 cells at low concentrations, but at high concentrations, they caused a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in cell viability. The saccharide percentage and FT-IR results showed that the greening reaction was affected by the glycosides or groups attached to the saccharides, which might suggest a new mechanism for color-forming reactions.

Effect of Weakly Basic Conditions on the Separation and Purification of Flavonoids and Glycosides from Chrysanthemum morifolium Tea.

Tea brewed from chrysanthemum flowers has been widely used in Chinese medicine. The possibly medicinal compounds in Chrysanthemum morifolium tea can be purified by preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), but this is usually done with acidic conditions, which leads to the hydrolysis of glycosides. In hopes of avoiding this hydrolysis, we explored the effect of weakly basic conditions on the separation and purification of flavonoids and glycosides from Chrysanthemum morifolium. We also explored the effects of weakly basic conditions on chlorogenic acid (3-CQA) and apigenin-7-O-glucoside (A7G). Our results show that the concentration of the weakly basic ammonium hydrogen carbonate and time had no significant effect on A7G, p < 0.01, but it had a significant effect on 3-CQA, p < 0.01. HPLC and ultraviolet (UV) analysis showed that the structure of 3-CQA is destroyed in weakly basic conditions. Caffeic acid, quinic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid, which is a hydrolysate of 3-CQA, were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The results showed that weakly basic conditions could be used for the purification of flavonoids and glycosides but not for caffeoylquinic acids. Moreover, our work clarified the hydrolysis behaviour of caffeoylquinic acids, which can be helpful for research into their functional aspects.

Extraction, Purification, and Hydrolysis Behavior of Apigenin-7-O-Glucoside from Chrysanthemum Morifolium Tea.

Apigenin-7-O-glucoside is an active phenolic compound in Asteraceae flowers and possesses remarkable therapeutic applications. However, its high price and low abundance in plants limit its use, meanwhile it would hydrolyze in the purification process. In this study, apigenin-7-O-glucoside extracted with ultrasound and purified with preparative HPLC from Chrysanthemum morifolium 'Huangju' was investigated, as well as its hydrolysis behavior and bioactivities. The optimized extraction conditions were: solid/liquid ratio: 1:20, extraction time: 35 min, temperature: 50 °C, and ultrasound power: 350 W. The content of apigenin-7-O-glucoside was up to 16.04 mg/g. Apigenin-7-O-glucoside was then purified with preparative HPLC from the extract, and confirmed by Q-TOF/MS. Apigenin-7-O-glucoside was partially hydrolyzed in acidic condition, and the hydrolysis rate depended on the pH value and temperature. The antioxidant activity increased as a result of the hydrolysis process. This study provided a green and effective way to obtain apigenin-7-O-glucoside and would be beneficial for further investigations into nutritional and functional aspects apigenin-7-O-glucoside and other glycosides.

Extraction of anthocyanins from red cabbage using high pressure CO2.

The extraction kinetics of anthocyanins from red cabbage using high pressure CO(2) (HPCD) against conventional acidified water (CAW) was investigated. The HPCD time, temperature, pressure and volume ratio of solid-liquid mixture vs. pressurized CO(2) (R((S+L)/G)) exhibited important roles on the extraction kinetics of anthocyanins. The extraction kinetics showed two phases, the yield increased with increasing the time in the first phase, the yield defined as steady-state yield (y(*)) was constant in the second phase. The y(*) of anthocyanins using HPCD increased with higher temperature, higher pressure and lower R((S+L)/G). The general mass transfer model with higher regression coefficients (R(2)>0.97) fitted the kinetic data better than the Fick's second law diffusion model. As compared with CAW, the time (t(*)) to reach the y(*) of anthocyanins using HPCD was reduced by half while its corresponding overall volumetric mass transfer coefficients k(L)xa from the general mass transfer model increased by two folds.

Adsorption and desorption behavior of herbicide diuron on various Chinese cultivated soils.

The adsorption-desorption behaviors of diuron were investigated in six cultivated soils of China. The effect of system pH and temperature were also studied. The data fitted the Freundlich equation very well. The adsorption K(F) values indicated the adsorption of diuron in the six soils was in the sequence of black soil (D)>yellow earth (F)>paddy soil (B)>yellow-brown soil (C)>yellow-cinnamon soil (A)>lateritic red earth (E). The adsorption K(F) and Freundlich exponents n were decreased when temperature was increased from 298 K to 318 K. However, the Gibb's free energy values were found less negative with the increasing temperature. Meanwhile, the extent of diuron adsorption on soil was at rather high level under low pH value conditions and decreased with increasing pH value. In addition, the desorption behavior of diuron in the six soils was in the sequence of lateritic red earth (E)>yellow-cinnamon soil (A)>paddy soil (B)>yellow earth (F)>yellow-brown soil (C)>black soil (D). At the same time, desorption hysteresis of diuron were observed in all of the tested soils. And the soil organic matter content may play an important role in the adsorption-desorption behavior.

[Effect of pomegranate peel extracts on experimental prostatitis rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effects of Pomegranate peel extracts (PPE) on experimental prostatitis rats. METHODS: The Prostatitis model was established by injection of carrageenan and Staphylococcus aureus in rat prostate. After 9 days' treatments of PPE, the rats were sacrificed for measurement of the number of white blood cell (WBC), the density of lecithin, the levels of Zn and malondialdehyde (MDA) of prostate. The antioxidant capacity was measured by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The levels of NO and the activity of acid phosphatase (ACP) of plasma were also measured. RESULTS: PPE increased the levels of ORAC in plasma and the density of lecithin and the levels of Zn, decreased the levels of MDA of prostate and the activity of ACP and the number of WBC and adjusted the levels of NO in plasma compared with the prostatitis model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: PPE can markedly improve the protective function of oxidation resistance, it may involve its regulatory action on anti-oxidation.

[Effect of pomegranate peel extracts on oxidative stress in restrained mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effects of pomegranate peel extracts on oxidative stress in restrained mice. METHODS: The liver injury model was established under 18 h restraint stress in mice. The protective effects were evaluated by assessing alanine aminotransferase (ALT) GSH and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in plasma and antioxidant capacities of liver were measured by using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. RESULTS: Activities of ALT and levels of MDA were observed to decrease on pomegranate peel extracts treated mice as compared with restraint stress control group and antioxidant capacity in liver homogenization and the levels of GSH in plasma significantly increased as compared with restraint stress. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that pomegranate peel extracts exert protective effects on oxidative stress in mice loaded with restraint stress, which may be related to its free radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibitory effect.

[Content determination of epigoitrin in Radix Isatidis and its preparation by RP-HPLC].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an HPLC method for the content determination of epigoitrin in Radix Isatidis and its preparation, and to provide valuable data for quality control of Radix Isatidis and its preparation. METHOD: The samples were separated on a ZORBAX SB-C18 (4. 6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-phosphoric acid-triethylamine (8.50 : 90.72 : 0.73 : 0.05) in the flow rate of 0.7 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was set at 245 nm. Column temperature was 30 degrees C. RESULT: The linear range of epigoitrin was 0.0204-0.3060 microg (r = 0.9998), and the average recovery was 98.99% with the RSD was 1.31% (n = 9). CONCLUSION: The method for quantitation of epigoitrin in Radix Isatidis and its preparation was accurate and reliable, which can be used to evaluate the quality of Radix Isatidis and its preparation.