Nutrient Composition and Flavor Profile of Crucian Carp Soup Utilizing Fish Residues through Comminution and Pressure-Conduction Treatment.

In conventional fish soup processing, valuable aquatic resources like fish skins, bones, and scales are often squandered. This study was aimed at investigating if comminution combined with pressure-conduction treatment has the potential to enhance the reutilization of cooking residues. The different blending ratios of original soup (OS), made from the initial cooking of fish, and residue soup (RS), produced from processed leftover fish parts, were alternatively investigated to satisfy the new product development. Comminution combined with pressure-conduction treatment significantly increased the nutrient contents of calcium, soluble proteins and total solids in crucian carp soup (p < 0.05). With the increase in RS ratio, the decomposition of inosine monophosphate (IMP) and free amino acids was accelerated, but the accumulation of aromatic compounds was promoted simultaneously. In addition, the Maillard reaction may lead to a reduction in aldehydes, causing a diminution in the characteristic flavor of fish soup, while the formation of 1-octen-3-ol can enhance the earthiness of the fish soup. The electronic tongue test results and the sensory results showed that the blend ratio of OS and RS at 7:3 had a more significant umami and fish aroma (p < 0.05). Under this condition, the mixed soup has better nutritional values and flavor characteristics.

Stromal cells-specific retinoic acid determines parturition timing at single-cell and spatial-temporal resolution.

The underlying mechanisms governing parturition remain largely elusive due to limited knowledge of parturition preparation and initiation. Accumulated evidences indicate that maternal decidua plays a critical role in parturition initiation. To comprehensively decrypt the cell heterogeneity in decidua approaching parturition, we investigate the roles of various cell types in mouse decidua process and reveal previously unappreciated insights in parturition initiation utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). We enumerate the cell types in decidua and identity five different stromal cells populations and one decidualized stromal cells. Furthermore, our study unravels that stromal cells prepare for parturition by regulating local retinol acid (RA) synthesis. RA supplement decreases expression of extracellular matrix-related genes in vitro and accelerates the timing of parturition in vivo. Collectively, the discovery of contribution of stromal cells in parturition expands current knowledge about parturition and opens up avenues for the intervention of preterm birth (PTB).

An analysis of the nutritional effects of Schisandra chinensis components based on mass spectrometry technology.

Objective: Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (S. chinensis) is a Traditional Chinese medicinal herb that can be used both for medicinal purposes and as a food ingredient due to its beneficial properties, and it is enriched with a wide of natural plant nutrients, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, lignans, triterpenes, organic acids, and sugars. At present, there is lack of comprehensive study or systemic characterization of nutritional and active ingredients of S. chinensis using innovative mass spectrometry techniques. Methods: The comprehensive review was conducted by searching the PubMed databases for relevant literature of various mass spectrometry techniques employed in the analysis of nutritional components in S. chinensis, as well as their main nutritional effects. The literature search covered the past 5 years until March 15, 2023. Results: The potential nutritional effects of S. chinensis are discussed, including its ability to enhance immunity, function as an antioxidant, anti-allergen, antidepressant, and anti-anxiety agent, as well as its ability to act as a sedative-hypnotic and improve memory, cognitive function, and metabolic imbalances. Meanwhile, the use of advanced mass spectrometry detection technologies have the potential to enable the discovery of new nutritional components of S. chinensis, and to verify the effects of different extraction methods on these components. The contents of anthocyanins, lignans, organic acids, and polysaccharides, the main nutritional components in S. chinensis, are also closely associated to its quality. Conclusion: This review will provide guidelines for an in-depth study on the nutritional value of S. chinensis and for the development of healthy food products with effective components.

Fingerprint characteristics of refined oils and their traceability in the groundwater environment.

Chemical fingerprinting is essential for identifying the presence and responding to oil spills that frequently contaminate the groundwater environment of refineries. In this study, crude oil and oil products from the atmospheric and vacuum distillation units of a refinery were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to evaluate their chemical variability before and after refinery. A series of experiments involving evaporation and soil column penetration were conducted to simulate refined oil spilling into groundwater and determine appropriate characteristic ratios (CRs) for principal component analysis (PCA) for oil source identification. The simulated study demonstrated that all products had bell-shaped n-alkane distributions, with dominant peaks that remained unchanged or shifted towards longer chain lengths compared to the source oil. Similarly, naphthalene and dibenzothiophene series remained the main PAH components like the source oil. Ten relatively stable CRs were selected for PCA to identify different oil products through the simulated experiments. The chosen CRs were then utilized to identify the sources for two groundwater oil spills recently occurred, one that occurred in an oil depot area, and another near a continuous catalytic reforming unit in a refinery. This study showed that the components with long-chain n-alkanes (n ≥ C18), pristane, phytane, and phenanthrene and dibenzothiophene series PAHs played an important role in the identification of refined oil products spilling into the groundwater environment. The selected CRs provide an effective tool for rapid and accurate identification of oil spills, especially for newly occurring spills in the groundwater environment, which can aid in developing appropriate response strategies.

Deciphering the myth of icariin and synthetic derivatives in improving erectile function from a molecular biology perspective: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Although epimedium herb (EH) has been widely used in ancient Chinese medicine to enhance sexual activity, its pharmacological mechanism is not clear. Modern studies have shown that epimedium herb is rich in icariin (ICA, a flavonoid compound), and 91.2% of icariin is converted to icariside II (ICA II) by hydrolytic enzymes in intestinal bacteria after oral administration. YS-10 is a synthetic derivative of icariside II. The aim of this review was to summarize the contemporary evidence regarding the pharmacokinetics, therapeutic properties, and molecular biological mechanisms of ICA and some ICA derivatives for erectile dysfunction therapy. Methods: A detailed search was conducted in the PubMed database using keywords and phrases, such as "icariin" AND "erectile dysfunction", "icariside II" AND "erectile dysfunction". The publication time is limited to last 20 years. Articles had to be published in peer reviewed journals. Key Content and Findings: ICA and its some derivatives showed the specific inhibition on phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) and the promotion of testosterone synthesis. In addition, by regulating various reliable evidence of signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT, TGFß1/Smad2, p38/MAPK, Wnt and secretion of various cytokines, ICA and ICA derivatives can activate endogenous stem cells (ESCs) leading to endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell proliferation, nerve regeneration and fibrosis inhibition, repair pathological changes in penile tissue and improve erectile function. Conclusions: ICA and some of its derivatives could be a potential treatment for restoring spontaneous erections. In addition ICA and his derivatives may also be valuable as a regenerative medicine approach for other diseases, but more clinical and basic researches with high quality and large samples are recommended.

Phosphate (Pi) stress-responsive transcription factors PdeWRKY6 and PdeWRKY65 regulate the expression of PdePHT1;9 to modulate tissue Pi concentration in poplar.

Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient for plants. Here, we identify a WRKY transcription factor (TF) in poplar (Populus deltoides × Populus euramericana) (PdeWRKY65) that modulates tissue phosphate (Pi) concentrations in poplar. PdeWRKY65 overexpression (OE) transgenic lines showed reduced shoot Pi concentrations under both low and normal Pi availabilities, while PdeWRKY65 reduced expression (RE) lines showed the opposite phenotype. A gene encoding a Pi transporter (PHT), PdePHT1;9, was identified as the direct downstream target of PdeWRKY65 by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). The negative regulation of PdePHT1;9 expression by PdeWRKY65 was confirmed by DNA-protein interaction assays, including yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), co-expression of the promoters of PdePHT1;9 and PdeWRKY65 in tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) leaves, and chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR. A second WRKY TF, PdeWRKY6, was subsequently identified and confirmed to positively regulate the expression of PdePHT1;9 by DNA-protein interaction assays. PdePHT1;9 and PdeWRKY6 OE and RE poplar transgenic lines were used to confirm their positive regulation of shoot Pi concentrations, under both normal and low Pi availabilities. No interaction between PdeWRKY6 and PdeWRKY65 was observed at the DNA or protein levels. Collectively, these data suggest that the low Pi-responsive TFs PdeWRKY6 and PdeWRKY65 independently regulate the expression of PHT1;9 to modulate tissue Pi concentrations in poplar.

Anti-oral Cancer Biological Activity Evaluation and Chloroplast Genome Analyses of Populus euphratica.

In this research, the anti-cancer activity of the Populus euphratica extract was evaluated with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The inhibitory activity of the Populus euphratica extract on the activation levels of VEGF signaling pathway in the cancer cells was measured with real time RT-PCR. Next, the high-throughput Illumina pair-end sequencing was performed to detect the chloroplast (cp) genome of Populus euphratica for genome evolution assessment. The CCK-8 results indicated that the extract of Populus euphratica exhibited the significantly suppression effect on the viability of the cancer cells, and the data of the real time RT-PCR showed the activation levels of VEGF signaling pathway in the cancer cells was also reduced obviously by the Populus euphratica extract. The circular cp genome of the Populus euphratica is 157,806 bp, encoding 131 genes, containing 8 Ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 37 Transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) and 86 Protein coding genes (PCGs). And the results of the phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Populus euphratica. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis revealed that Populus euphratica has the closest relationship with Populus pruinosa. In addition to Populus pruinosa, Populus ilicifolia also has closely relationship with Populus euphratica. These three species could be clustered on the same clade.

Progress in studies on pathological changes and future treatment strategies of obesity-associated female stress urinary incontinence: a narrative review.

With the increasing prevalence of obesity worldwide, obesity-related female stress urinary incontinence (FSUI) has become a key health problem. Recent studies indicated that FSUI is primarily caused by obesity-related pathological changes, such as fat droplet deposition, and results in pelvic floor nerve, vascular, and urethral striated muscle injury. Meanwhile, treatments for obesity-associated FSUI (OA-FSUI) have garnered much attention. Although existing OA-FSUI management strategies, including weight loss, pelvic floor muscle exercise, and urethral sling operation, could play a role in symptomatic relief; they cannot reverse the pathological changes in OA-FSUI. The continued exploration of safe and reliable treatments has led to regenerative therapy becoming a particularly promising area of researches. Specifically, micro-energy, such as low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (Li-ESWT), and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), have been shown to restore the underlying pathological changes of OA-FSUI, which might be related by regulation endogenous stem cells (ESCs) to restore urine control function ultimately in animal experiments. Therefore, ESCs may be a target for repairing pathological changes of OA-FSUI. The aim of this review was to summarize the OA-FSUI-related pathogenesis, current treatments, and to discuss potential therapeutic options. In particular, this review is focused on the effects and related mechanisms of micro-energy therapy for OA-FSUI to provide a reference for future basically and clinical researches.

Structures of delithiated and degraded LiFeBO(3), and their distinct changes upon electrochemical cycling.

Lithium iron borate (LiFeBO3) has a high theoretical specific capacity (220 mAh/g), which is competitive with leading cathode candidates for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. However, a major factor making it difficult to fully access this capacity is a competing oxidative process that leads to degradation of the LiFeBO3 structure. The pristine, delithiated, and degraded phases of LiFeBO3 share a common framework with a cell volume that varies by less than 2%, making it difficult to resolve the nature of the delithiation and degradation mechanisms by conventional X-ray powder diffraction studies. A comprehensive study of the structural evolution of LiFeBO3 during (de)lithiation and degradation was therefore carried out using a wide array of bulk and local structural characterization techniques, both in situ and ex situ, with complementary electrochemical studies. Delithiation of LiFeBO3 starts with the production of LitFeBO3 (t ≈ 0.5) through a two-phase reaction, and the subsequent delithiation of this phase to form Lit-xFeBO3 (x < 0.5). However, the large overpotential needed to drive the initial two-phase delithiation reaction results in the simultaneous observation of further delithiated solid-solution products of Lit-xFeBO3 under normal conditions of electrochemical cycling. The degradation of LiFeBO3 also results in oxidation to produce a Li-deficient phase D-LidFeBO3 (d ≈ 0.5, based on the observed Fe valence of ∼2.5+). However, it is shown through synchrotron X-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies that the degradation process results in an irreversible disordering of Fe onto the Li site, resulting in the formation of a distinct degraded phase, which cannot be electrochemically converted back to LiFeBO3 at room temperature. The Li-containing degraded phase cannot be fully delithiated, but it can reversibly cycle Li (D-Lid+yFeBO3) at a thermodynamic potential of ∼1.8 V that is substantially reduced relative to the pristine phase (∼2.8 V).

A case of anaphylactoid purpura nephritis accompanied by pulmonary hemorrhage and review of the literature.

Cases of Henoch-Schönlein purpura and purpura nephritis accompanied by pulmonary hemorrhage are rare. Mild cases are easily ignored due to a lack of evident bleeding, and severe cases may be fatal. We have only treated one patient with Henoch-Schönlein nephritis (HSPN), a female child. The clinical manifestations were not evident, however, the imaging manifestations were clear. Finally, the patient was definitively diagnosed with HSPN accompanied by pulmonary hemorrhage. Following treatment with antiinflammatory and steroidal agents, tripterygium glycosides and traditional Chinese medicine, the patient recovered. In the present study, we report the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, with a review of the literature.

The association between workers' compensation claims involving neck pain and future health care utilization: a population-based cohort study.

PURPOSE: To describe the health care utilization of injured workers who made a workers' compensation claim for neck pain. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of injured workers who made an incident claim involving neck pain to the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board between 1997 and 1998. We linked their workers' compensation and Ontario Health Insurance Plan files to collect all health care services accrued during the year prior to and 2 years after the claim was initiated. We report the 7 day simple moving average of health care services per 1,000 claimants per day. We stratified our analysis by age, sex, the pre-claim level of health care utilization, diagnostic category and health care specialty. RESULTS: 58.1 % of claimants were males and 35.1 % were between the ages of 35 and 44 years. The cumulative rate of health care utilization was stable (mean = 60.80 services/1,000 claimants/day; 95 % CI: 59.7-62.0) throughout the year prior to the claim. However, it peaked during the first 4 days following the onset of the claim (mean = 473.3 services/1,000 claimants/day) and remained on average 311 % higher than baseline during the first month post-claim. On average in our sample, the health care utilization remained 11 % higher in the second year after the claim compared to the pre-claim level. This sustained increase was attributable to 6 % of claimants. CONCLUSIONS: We report a long-term increase in the average number of health care services utilized by injured workers who make a workers' compensation claim involving neck pain. This increase was attributable to a minority of claimants. The health reasons for this increase deserve further investigation.

[Effects of high dose glycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f on the fertility of young rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of high dose glycosides of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f (GTW) on the fertility of young rats. METHODS: Fifty female SD young rats and 50 male SD young rats were randomly divided into the blank group and the GTW group, 25 in each. GTW was given at the daily dose of 9 mg/kg. After 12 weeks of medication, the male rats were caged together with healthy adult female rats in the ratio of 1:1. The female rats were caged together with healthy adult male rats in the ratio of 2:1. The cage process lasted for two weeks, totally for three times. The pregnant rate of female rats and the survival rate of baby rats were then observed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the pregnant rate or the survival rate of baby rats in the GTW group. CONCLUSION: High dose GTW showed no obvious effects on the fertility of adult rats or the growth and development of new born rats.