Probiotic Potential and Cholesterol-Lowering Capabilities of Bacterial Strains Isolated from Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 'Chachiensis'.

Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 'Chachiensis' (PCR-Chachiensis), the pericarps of Citri Reticulatae Blanco cv. Chachiensis, is a food condiment and traditional medicine in southeast and eastern Asia. Its rich and various bacterial community awaits exploration. The present study is the first report on probiotic screening and characterization of bacteria from PCR-Chachiensis. Based on 64 culturable bacterial isolates, 8 strains were screened out to have great survival in the simulated gastrointestinal stressful condition, being nonhemolytic and without biogenic amine formation. They were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as two Bacillus, three Lactobacillus, and three strains from Bacillales. Their probiotic properties, cholesterol-lowering potential and carbohydrate utilization capability were further investigated. Though these eight strains all displayed distinct cholesterol removal potential, Bacillus licheniformis N17-02 showed both remarkable cholesterol removal capability and presence of bile salt hydrolase gene, as well as possessing most of the desirable probiotic attributes. Thus, it could be a good probiotic candidate with hypocholesterolemic potential. Bacillus megaterium N17-12 displayed the widest carbohydrate utilization profile and the strongest antimicrobial activity. Hence, it was promising to be used as a probiotic in a host and as a fermentation starter in fermented food or feed.

The central bacterial community in Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 'Chachiensis'.

The dried and aged pericarps of Citri Reticulatae are condiments and medicinal products in southeast and eastern Asia for hundreds of years, among which Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae 'Chachiensis' (PCR-C) is the premium one with obvious health benefits. In order to explore the microbiota in PCR-C and their relationship with the chemical components during aging, culture-independent methods were applied to investigate PCR-C microbiota for the first time. Here in different PCR-C samples, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed common central bacterial community, which were absent or only accounted for small proportion in fresh pericarps or jute bag controls. Bacillus and Lactococcus were the top two dominant genera in PCR-C with acidic pH (4.06-4.51) and low moisture (11.48%-19.13%). Several OTUs were found to closely relate with specific compositions in essential oils and phenolics, such as d-limonene and nobiletin, which contributed to PCR-C flavor and quality. As the first study to reveal the central bacterial communities in PCR-C, it provides new insights to improve the quality and aging process of traditional Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, and lays foundation for functional characterization of the microbes within.

Application value of ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion in the parenteral nutritional support treatment following radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective@#To investigate the application value of ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion in the parenteral nutritional support treatment following radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.@*Methods@#The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 60 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer in Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi Second Hospital between January 2018 and December 2018 were collected. There were 37 males and 23 females, aged from 28 to 78 years, with an average age of 64 years. Thirty patients who received parenteral nutrition containing 100 mL of ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion after radical gastrectomy and 30 patients who received parenteral nutrition containing routine fat emulsion after radical gastrectomy were allocated into experimental group and control group, respectively. Observation indicators: (1) nutritional indicators in the perioperative period; (2) inflammatory indicators in the perioperative period; (3) immune indicators in the perioperative period; (4) postoperative complications. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD, and comparison between groups was evaluated using the independent-sample t test. Count data were described as absolute numbers and percentages, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test. Repeated measurement data were analyzed by the repeated measures ANOVA.@*Results@#(1) Nutritional indicators in the perioperative period: the levels of total protein, albumin, prealbumin, and transferrin from preoperative day 1 to preoperative day 6 were respectively changed from (60.2±3.0)g/L to (57.2±3.1)g/L, from (35.3±3.1)g/L to (37.0±1.8)g/L, from (186±24)mg/L to (172±17)mg/L, from (3.0±0.7)g/L to (2.4±0.4)g/L in the experimental group and from (60.6±2.4)g/L to (55.7±4.2)g/L, from (35.0±3.8)g/L to (36.0±3.8)g/L, from (184±18)mg/L to (173±25)mg/L, from (3.1±0.6)g/L to (2.2±0.8)g/L in the control group, with no significant difference in the changing trends between the two groups (F=0.79, 2.14, 0.03, 0.36, P>0.05). (2) Inflammatory indicators in the perioperative period: the levels of white blood cells, C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor-α from preoperative day 1 to preoperative day 6 were respectively from (7.2±1.1)×109/L to (10.2±0.9)×109/L, from (7.2±2.3)mg/L to (25.5±6.3)mg/L, from (16±3)ng/L to (24±4)ng/L, from (17±4)ng/L to (22±5)ng/L in the experimental group and from (7.4±0.8)×109/L to (13.0±1.3)×109/L, from (6.9±2.4)mg/L to (41.6±18.9)mg/L, from (17±4)ng/L to (45±8)ng/L, from (16±4)ng/L to (43±7)ng/L in the control group, respectively, with significant differences in the changing trends between the two groups (F=63.05, 51.65, 127.82, 104.91, P<0.05). (3) Immune indicators in the perioperative period: the levels of immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, CD4+, CD8+, and ratio of CD4+ /CD8+ from preoperative day 1 to preoperative day 6 were respectively from (1.5±0.4)g/L to (2.8±0.5)g/L, from (11.1±1.7)g/L to (14.0±1.2)g/L, from (0.77±0.28)g/L to (1.61±0.31)g/L, from 42%±6% to 46%±5%, from 23%±4% to 24%±3%, from 1.82±0.42 to 2.11±0.24 in the experimental group and from (1.4±0.4)g/L to (2.3±0.6)g/L, from (10.7±1.8)g/L to (11.9±1.4)g/L, from (0.69±0.23)g/L to (1.19±0.33)g/L, from 40%±5% to 39%±4%, from 24%±3% to 23%±3%, from 1.75±0.34 to 1.81±0.35 in the control group, respectively, showing significant differences in the changing trends of the levels of immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, CD4+, and ratio of CD4+ /CD8+ between the two groups (F=18.39, 15.20, 38.42, 9.55, 5.50, P<0.05), showing no significant difference in the changing trend of the levels of CD8+ between the two groups (F=0.89, P>0.05). (4) Postoperative complications: 5 patients had postoperative complications, with a incidence rate of 16.7%(5/30), including 1 of abdominal infection, 1 of incisional infection, and 3 of pulmonary infection, and all the 5 patients were cured after symptomatic treatment. Nine patients had postoperative complications, with a incidence rate of 30.0%(9/30), including 2 of abdominal infection, 2 of incisional infection, and 5 of pulmonary infection, and all the 9 patients were cured after symptomatic treatment. There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (χ2=1.491, P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#For patients who receive gastric cancer surgery, ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion can reduce the inflammatory response, improve their immune function and not increase postoperative complications.

Application value of ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion in the parenteral nutritional support treatment following radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective To investigate the application value of ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion in the parenteral nutritional support treatment following radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Methods The retrospective cohort study was conducted.The clinical data of 60 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer in Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Wuxi Second Hospital between January 2018 and December 2018 were collected.There were 37 males and 23 females,aged from 28 to 78 years,with an average age of 64 years.Thirty patients who received parenteral nutrition containing 100 mL of ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion after radical gastrectomy and 30 patients who received parenteral nutrition containing routine fat emulsion after radical gastrectomy were allocated into experimental group and control group,respectively.Observation indicators:(1) nutritional indicators in the perioperative period;(2) inflammatory indicators in the perioperative period;(3) immune indicators in the perioperative period;(4) postoperative complications.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD,and comparison between groups was evaluated using the independent-sample t test.Count data were described as absolute numbers and percentages,and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test.Repeated measurement data were analyzed by the repeated measures ANOVA.Results (1) Nutritional indicators in the perioperative period:the levels of total protein,albumin,prealbumin,and transferrin from preoperative day 1 to preoperative day 6 were respectively changed from (60.2±3.0)g/L to (57.2± 3.1)g/L,from (35.3±3.1)g/L to (37.0±1.8)g/L,from (186±24)mg/L to (172±17)mg/L,from (3.0± 0.7) g/L to (2.4 ± 0.4) g/L in the experimental group and from (60.6± 2.4) g/L to (55.7 ± 4.2) g/L,from (35.0±3.8)g/L to (36.0±3.8) g/L,from (184±18)mg/L to (173±25)mg/L,from (3.1±0.6)g/L to (2.2± 0.8)g/L in the control group,with no significant difference in the changing trends between the two groups (F=0.79,2.14,0.03,0.36,P＞0.05).(2) Inflammatory indicators in the perioperative period:the levels of white blood cells,C-reactive protein,interleukin 6,and tumor necrosis factor-α from preoperative day 1 to preoperative day 6 were respectively from (7.2±1.1) ×109/L to (10.2±0.9) ×109/L,from (7.2±2.3) mg/L to (25.5±6.3) mg/L,from (16± 3) ng/L to (24± 4) ng/L,from (17± 4) ng/L to (22± 5) ng/L in the experimental group and from (7.4±0.8) × 109/L to (13.0±1.3) × 109/L,from (6.9±2.4) mg/L to (41.6± 18.9) mg/L,from (17±4) ng/L to (45±8)ng/L,from (16±4)ng/L to (43±7)ng/L in the control group,respectively,with significant differences in the changing trends between the two groups (F=63.05,51.65,127.82,104.91,P＜0.05).(3) Immune indicators in the perioperative period:the levels of immunoglobulin A,immunoglobulin G,immunoglobulin M,CD4+,CD8+,and ratio of CD4+/CD8+ from preoperative day 1 to preoperative day 6 were respectively from (1.5±0.4)g/L to (2.8±0.5)g/L,from (11.1±1.7)g/L to (14.0±1.2)g/L,from (0.77± 0.28)g/L to (1.61±0.31)g/L,from 42％±6％ to 46％±5％,from 23％±4％ to 24％±3％,from 1.82±0.42 to 2.11±0.24 in the experimental group and from (1.4±0.4) g/L to (2.3±0.6) g/L,from (10.7± 1.8) g/L to (11.9± 1.4)g/L,from (0.69±0.23)g/L to (1.19±0.33)g/L,from 40％±5％ to 39％±4％,from 24％±3％ to 23％±3％,from 1.75±0.34 to 1.81±0.35 in the control group,respectively,showing significant differences in the changing trends of the levels of immunoglobulin A,immunoglobulin G,immunoglobulin M,CD4+,and ratio of CD4+/CD8+ between the two groups (F=18.39,15.20,38.42,9.55,5.50,P＜0.05),showing no significant difference in the changing trend of the levels of CD8+ between the two groups (F =0.89,P ＞ 0.05).(4)Postoperative complications:5 patients had postoperative complications,with a incidence rate of 16.7％ (5/30),including 1 of abdominal infection,1 of incisional infection,and 3 of pulmonary infection,and all the 5 patients were cured after symptomatic treatment.Nine patients had postoperative complications,with a incidence rate of 30.0％(9/30),including 2 of abdominal infection,2 of incisional infection,and 5 of pulmonary infection,and all the 9 patients were cured after symptomatic treatment.There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (x2 =1.491,P＞0.05).Conclusion For patients who receive gastric cancer surgery,ω-3 fish oil fat emulsion can reduce the inflammatory response,improve their immune function and not increase postoperative complications.

Current applications and new opportunities for the thermal and non-thermal processing technologies to generate berry product or extracts with high nutraceutical contents.

The demand from consumer for safe and nutritious berry and berry products has promoted the rapid development of non-conventional processing technologies. This review summarizes the recent advances of thermal and non-thermal processing technologies in berry and berry products, including microwave, ohmic heating, high pressure processing, irradiation, dense phase carbon dioxide, ultrasonic processing, pulsed electric field, ozone, membrane processing technologies, cold plasma, and hydrothermodynamic cavitation. These technologies individually or in combination have shown great potential for extraction, sterilization, drying, concentration and deacidfication. They could decrease processing time and temperature, improve processing efficiency and minimize nutritional losses, as well as reduce energy consumption. Given the nutritional benefits of anthocyanins and other polyphenols in berry, their content and compositional change during processing were highlighted, as well as the primarily studies of the underlying mechanisms. The advantage and limitation of these technologies are also discussed along with the perspective insight of their future development.

The novel contributors of anti-diabetic potential in mulberry polyphenols revealed by UHPLC-HR-ESI-TOF-MS/MS.

To explore the comprehensive phenolic profile of mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruit and reveal the novel anti-diabetic constituents, mulberry polyphenols (MP) were fractionated through gradient ethanol elution and subjected to composition and bioactivity analysis. Forty-seven phenolic compounds were identified and quantified through UHPLC-HR-ESI-TOF-MS/MS, including twenty-one newly identified compounds such as delphinidin 3-rutinoside-5-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside dimer. The antioxidant activity and anti-diabetic potential of fractionated MP were analyzed in vitro and ex vivo with HepG2 and pancreatic ß-cell RIN-m5F. Hierarchical cluster analysis and Pearson correlation coefficients revealed compounds such as syringic acid and galloylcyanidin-glycoside contributed most to inhibit α-glucosidase activity. Quercetin and cyanidin-glycosides were essential for cellular antioxidant activity. Dihydroquercetin and 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were newly identified and validated as the main contributors after rutin to protect RIN-m5F cells against glucotoxicity. Such findings suggest the promising role of MP for type II diabetics and lay the foundation of further utilization and investigation.

Effects of motor imagery on walking function and balance in patients after stroke: A quantitative synthesis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of motor imagery (MI) on walking function and balance in patients after stroke. METHODS: Related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were searched in 12 electronic databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PsycINFO, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, WanFang, and VIP) from inception to November 30, 2016, and Review Manager 5.3 was used for meta-analysis. References listed in included papers and other related systematic reviews on MI were also screened for further consideration. RESULTS: A total of 17 studies were included. When compared with "routine methods of treatment or training", meta-analyses showed that MI was more effective in improving walking abilities (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.69, random effect model, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38 to 1.00, P < 0.0001) and motor function in stroke patients (SMD = 0.84, random effect model, 95% CI = 0.45 to 1.22, P < 0.0001), but no statistical difference was noted in balance (SMD = 0.81, random effect model, 95% CI = -0.03 to 1.65, P = 0.06). Statistically significant improvement in walking abilities was noted at short-term (0 to < six weeks) (SMD = 0.83, fixed effect model, 95% CI = 0.24 to 1.42, P = 0.006) and long-term (≥six weeks) assessments (SMD = 0.45, fixed effect model, 95% CI = 0.25 to 0.64, P < 0.00001). Subgroup analyses suggested that MI had a positive effect on balance with short-term duration (0 to < six weeks) (SMD = 4.67, fixed effect model, 95% CI = 2.89 to 6.46, P < 0.00001), but failed to improve balance (SMD = 0.82, random effect model, 95% CI = -0.27 to 1.90, P = 0.14) with long-term (≥six weeks) duration. CONCLUSION: MI appears to be a beneficial intervention for stroke rehabilitation. Nonetheless, existing evidence regarding the effects of MI in patients after stroke remains inconclusive because of significantly statistical heterogeneity and methodological flaws identified in the included studies. More large-scale and rigorously designed RCTs in future research with sufficient follow-up periods are needed to provide more reliable evidence on the effects of MI in post-stroke patients.

Comparison of phytochemical profiles and health benefits in fiber and oil flaxseeds (Linum usitatissimum L.).

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a rich source of nutritive and bioactive compounds. The research evaluated the disparity in phytochemical profiles along with total and cellular antioxidant activities between oil and fiber flaxseeds. There were significant differences in total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activities among the six cultivars of fiber and oil flaxseed, respectively. Four phytochemical compounds including caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) were identified and quantified in the cultivars of oil and fiber flaxseed by HPLC analysis. Notably, the average of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, along with total antioxidant activities between fiber and oil flaxseeds were not different significantly; even the cellular antioxidant activity of fiber flaxseed was superior to oil flaxseed. These results suggest that fiber flaxseeds would be valuable candidates as functional products and dietary supplements production owing to the higher bioactive values as well as oil flaxseeds.

Phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activity of different varieties of Adinandra Tea (Adinandra Jack).

Consumption of plant foods has been negatively associated with the risk of developing chronic diseases, which is partly attributed to their rich and diverse phytochemicals. To promote the rational and effective application of Adinandra tea (Adinandra Jack), a traditional Chinese tea (Shiyacha) widely consumed as a health beverage, the complete phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of four varieties of Adinandra tea were analyzed. They were rich in phenolics and flavonoids, ranging from 71.29 to 140.54 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g and from 19.13 to 88.72 mg of catechin equivalent/g, respectively. Their antioxidant capacities were high, as revealed by oxygen radical absorbance capacity, peroxyl radical scavenging capacity, and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays. An obvious antiproliferation effect was observed in HepG2 and MCF-7 cells, with EC50 ranging from 1.05 to 6.44 mg/mL and from 2.26 to 8.02 mg/mL, respectively. Among the four varieties compared, Nitida and Millettii had a higher CAA value and antiproliferation activity, while Latifolia contained considerable bound phenolics.

Nutraceuticals and functional foods in the management of hyperlipidemia.

Hyperlipidemia is one of the major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Hypolipidemic nutraceuticals and functional foods help improve serum lipid profiles as reducing total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, while elevating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The effectiveness of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, phytosterols, dietary fiber, and tea catechin in management of hyperlipidemia has been clearly demonstrated in epidemiological and interventional trials. Studies on mechanism reveal that they act as inhibitor or activator of critical enzyme, agonist or inhibitor of transcription factor, competitor of transporter, and sequestrant of bile acid to modulate lipid homeostasis. Hypolipidemic effects are also claimed in dietary proteins, many polyphenols, other phytochemicals, raw extract, or even whole food. This review attempts to give an overview of lipid homeostasis and summarize recent findings of hypolipidemic nutraceuticals and functional foods according to their active ingredients, focusing on the efficacy and underlying mechanisms.

Hypolipidemic activity of okra is mediated through inhibition of lipogenesis and upregulation of cholesterol degradation.

Little is known about the hypolipidemic activity of okra; therefore, we investigated the hypolipidemic activity of okra and its interaction with gene expression of several key components involved in lipid homeostasis. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups and fed with hyperlipidemic diet or two hyperlipidemic diets supplemented with 1% or 2% okra powder for eight weeks. Results demonstrated that okra dose-dependently decreased serum and hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride, and enhanced fecal excretion of bile acids. Gene expression analysis revealed that okra upregulated cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) expression, downregulated expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), with no effect on sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1A (CPT1A). It was suggested that hypolipidemic activity of okra was mediated most likely by upregulation of cholesterol degradation through CYP7A1 and by inhibition of lipogenesis through SREBP1c and FAS. Okra raw and fractionated polysaccharide showed strong bile acid binding capacity in vitro, which may contribute to the hypolipidemic activity observed. In conclusion, okra has potential application in the management of hyperlipidemia and its associated metabolic disorders.

[A multi-pathogen selective enrichment broth for simultaneous growth of Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes].

OBJECTIVE: A selective enrichment broth (SSL) was formulated to allow simultaneous growth of Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogens. METHODS: Suitable additive agents were selected by single factor experiment, the enrichment effect of the broth for the three pathogens were evaluated by conventional detection method and real-time PCR. RESULTS: A selective enrichment broth, SSL, was obtained by adding the selective agents, including nalidixic acid, lithium chloride, and potassium tellurite, in the basic broth, and sodium pyruvate and mannitol as the supplemented elements. Recovery of three target pathogens in SSL was obtained within 24 h of incubation at 37 degrees C, yielding cell dnesities of 10(7) - 10(8) CFU/mL. Meanwhile, SSL broth effectively inhibited the growth of non-target organisms. 710 samples were detected by SSL with real-time PCR, and there is no error report. CONCLUSION: SSL is demonstrated to be a promising new multiplex selective enrichment broth for simultaneous detection of the three most prominent foodborn pathogens by multipathogen detection on a single assay platform.

Algal lectins for potential prevention of HIV transmission.

A number of lectins that bind high-mannose carbohydrates on the surface of the envelopes of virus has been found to have antiviral activity. In particular, some algal lectins such as Cyanovirin-N, Microcystis viridis lectin, Scytovirin, Griffithsin and Oscillatoria agardhii agglutinin, exhibit high anti-HIV activity, and provide an alternative route to prevention of HIV transmission. This review focuses on the structural property, antiviral activity and possible mechanism of these lectins, and future challenges for potential prophylactic or therapeutic applications are also discussed.

Application of 3' untranslated region (UTR) sequence-based amplified polymorphism analysis in the rapid authentication of Radix astragali.

Radix astragali (root of Astragalus membranaceus) is an important traditional Chinese medicine. It has been used as a tonic herb for thousands of years in China. The water extract of the roots has a wide range of immunopotentiating effects and has been proven to be efficacious as an adjunct cancer therapy. Authentication of the herbal plant is routinely required for general practice in the field of herbal medicine. To facilitate rapid identification of numerous varieties of Radix astragali that are circulating on the herb markets, a rapid molecular genetic method, named 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) sequence-based amplified polymorphism (UAP), has been developed. A cDNA library was first built from transcripts of an authentic A. membranaceus species. Several cDNA clones specific to A. membranaceus were identified through subtractive hybridization of the A. membranaceus cDNA library with Arabidopsis total cellular RNA. On the basis of these cDNA sequences of the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of selected cDNA clones, a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed on genomic DNAs of the dry roots of several putative A. membranaceus. PCR fragment length polymorphism was found between A. membranaceus and its relatives. By using this method, it was possible to differentiate the authentic A. membranaceus root from those putative ones obtained from herbal medicine markets. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper applying UAP in the authentication of traditional Chinese medicine plants.