The association between serum selenium levels and pathological features of papillary thyroid cancer in 284 patients.

Objective: The relationship between serum selenium levels and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), especially the pathological features, still remains controversial. We conducted this study to investigate the relationship between serum selenium levels and PTC in a Chinese population. Methods: Cross-sectional data of 284 patients with PTC were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University. The general clinical characteristics, serum selenium levels, and tumor pathological features were described in PTC. The association between serum selenium levels and pathological features in PTC was analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Results: Our results showed that the median serum selenium level was 79.15 µg/L (IQR: 71.00 - 86.98 µg/L) in PTC patients. Serum selenium levels were lower in females than males (p = 0.035). Serum selenium levels were negatively correlated with the number of lymph node metastases (p = 0.048). High serum selenium (OR = 0.397, 95%CI: 0.217 - 0.725) and diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.028, 95%CI: 1.005 - 1.051) were related factors for the incidence of bilateral tumors. High serum selenium (OR = 0.320, 95%CI: 0.166 - 0.617) and diastolic blood pressure (OR = 1.066, 95%CI: 1.031 - 1.103) were related factors for tumor multifocal incidence. Conclusions: The serum selenium levels of PTC patients in females were lower than males. High serum selenium levels might be a protective factor in PTC patients. Further research is necessary to better understand the influence of selenium on PTC progression.

Systematic evaluation of a series of pectic polysaccharides extracted from apple pomace by regulation of subcritical water conditions.

To investigate the influences of different subcritical water conditions on apple pomace pectic polysaccharides (APP) extraction, 20 samples were successfully prepared and systematically analyzed. At low temperature region (100-120 °C), extraction effect was predominant and extracted APP was high molecular weight, esterification degree and galacturonic acid content as well as light color. At middle temperature region (140 °C), the balance of extraction and degradation effects was reached and led to the highest APP yield (14.89%). At high temperature region (160-180 °C), degradation effect was predominant and led to serious degradation of APP and more extraction of co-extracts, which endowed the APP with low viscosity and good antioxidant activities in vitro. Overall, the relationship between different subcritical water conditions and APP properties are preliminarily illuminated, which not only provides a promising way for directed extraction of specific APP, but also promotes the potential application of subcritical water to commercial pectin.

Anti-Adhesion Effects of Lactobacillus Strains on Caco-2 Cells Against Escherichia Coli and Their Application in Ameliorating the Symptoms of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice.

The beneficial effects of probiotics on ameliorating ulcerative colitis (UC) have attracted much attention in recent years. Nevertheless, the number of these identified probiotics is still limited. In addition, the adhesion abilities of probiotics are considered to be a key determinant for probiotic efficacy. However, the relationship between the adhesion abilities of probiotics and their role in ameliorating UC has been poorly studied to date. This study measured the adhesion abilities of four Lactobacillus strains to Caco-2 cells and their anti-adhesion effects on Caco-2 cells against pathogenic bacteria, as well as their application in ameliorating the symptoms of dextran sulfate sodium-induced UC, and further illustrated the relationship between these two potential probiotic properties of probiotics and their beneficial effects on UC. Results suggested that the adhesion abilities of the four tested Lactobacillus strains exists highly strain-specific and the mechanisms of their anti-adhesion effect on Caco-2 cells against Escherichia coli may be different. Moreover, all these strains had promising effects on ameliorating UC by reducing inflammatory response and improving the intestinal mucosal barrier function, as well as promoting the production of SCFAs. In conclusion, the four tested Lactobacillus strains can be considered as alternative dietary supplements in alleviating UC. In addition, it could be concluded that there is no significant correlation between the adhesion abilities of probiotics and their role in ameliorating UC, which further illustrated that the adhesion properties of probiotics in vitro may not be suitable as the key criterion for screening potential strains with UC-alleviating effects.

Characterization and antibacterial action mode of bacteriocin BMP32r and its application as antimicrobial agent for the therapy of multidrug-resistant bacterial infection.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infection still poses a serious threat to public health, therefore, effective and safe antimicrobial agents are urgently needed. In this study, recombinant bacteriocin BMP32 (BMP32r) prepared by the Escherichia coli expression system had a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity even against some MDR bacteria and its minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 9.2 to 36.8 mg/L. Furthermore, BMP32r showed good stable performance in heat, pH and storage. Moreover, the scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope revealed that BMP32r killed indicator strains through cell wall destruction, pore formation, and the membrane permeability increasing which was proved by propidium iodide uptake investigation. The wound healing of an animal MDR S. aureus infected model was promoted by BMP32r, and the safety was verified by the cytotoxicity assay that the viability of HFF cells remained 87.3% in even when the concentration of BMP32r was as high as 147.2 mg/L. In addition, no abnormalities or damages to major organs was found in vivo assessments after treatment with BMP32r. In conclusion, BMP32r has great potential to be developed as a safe antimicrobial agent to treat MDR bacterial infections.