Identification of key gene networks controlling polysaccharide accumulation in different tissues of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua by integrating metabolic phenotypes and gene expression profiles.

Plant polysaccharides, a type of important bioactive compound, are involved in multiple plant defense mechanisms, and in particular polysaccharide-alleviated abiotic stress has been well studied. Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (P. cyrtonema Hua) is a medicinal and edible perennial plant that is used in traditional Chinese medicine and is rich in polysaccharides. Previous studies suggested that sucrose might act as a precursor for polysaccharide biosynthesis. However, the role of sucrose metabolism and transport in mediating polysaccharide biosynthesis remains largely unknown in P. cyrtonema Hua. In this study, we investigated the contents of polysaccharides, sucrose, glucose, and fructose in the rhizome, stem, leaf, and flower tissues of P. cyrtonema Hua, and systemically identified the genes associated with the sucrose metabolism and transport and polysaccharide biosynthesis pathways. Our results showed that polysaccharides were mainly accumulated in rhizomes, leaves, and flowers. Besides, there was a positive correlation between sucrose and polysaccharide content, and a negative correlation between glucose and polysaccharide content in rhizome, stem, leaf, and flower tissues. Then, the transcriptomic analyses of different tissues were performed, and differentially expressed genes related to sucrose metabolism and transport, polysaccharide biosynthesis, and transcription factors were identified. The analyses of the gene expression patterns provided novel regulatory networks for the molecular basis of high accumulation of polysaccharides, especially in the rhizome tissue. Furthermore, our findings explored that polysaccharide accumulation was highly correlated with the expression levels of SUS, INV, SWEET, and PLST, which are mediated by bHLH, bZIP, ERF, ARF, C2H2, and other genes in different tissues of P. cyrtonema Hua. Herein, this study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the transcriptional regulation of polysaccharide accumulation and provides information regarding valuable genes involved in the tolerance to abiotic stresses in P. cyrtonema Hua.

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine exercise therapy on cancer-related fatigue, anxiety and sleep quality in cancer patients: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common adverse events of anticancer therapies, with an incidence of up to 90%, which seriously affects the quality of life in cancer patients. Complementary and alternative therapies for CRF include acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Tai Chi, Qigong, and massage therapy. Several studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) exercise therapies, such as Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, the classics of tendon changing, Six Healing Sounds, and Wu Qin Xi, can improve CRF, anxiety symptoms, and sleep quality in cancer patients. However, their specific efficacy and which TCM exercise therapy is the best remain controversial. In this study, we assess and compare the effects of different TCM exercise therapies on CRF, anxiety, and sleep quality in cancer patients by network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS: Randomized controlled trials reporting TCM exercise therapies for CRF, anxiety and sleep quality in cancer patients published before October 2021 will be searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, China Scientific Journal Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Wanfang Data. Two researchers will be independently responsible for literature screening, data extraction and assessment of their quality. Standard pair-wise and NMA will be performed to compare the efficacy of different TCM exercise therapies on CRF, anxiety and sleep quality in cancer patients using Stata 14.0 software. RESULTS: The results of this meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. CONCLUSIONS: This NMA will contribute to identify the optimal TCM exercise therapy for CRF and provide evidence-based bias for clinical decision-making. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was not required for this study. The systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at conferences, and shared on social media platforms. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/MJ8DA.

Efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine injections combined with FOLFOX4 regimen for gastric cancer: A protocol for systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Traditional Chinese medicine injections (TCMJs) combined with FOLFOX4 regimen could achieve favorable effects in the treatment of gastric cancer. However, the efficacy and safety of different TCMJs combined with FOLFOX4 in the treatment of gastric cancer have not been fully clarified. Due to the fact that there are as many as 10 kinds of TCMJs, how to choose an appropriate TCMJ has become an urgent clinical problem. The objective of this network meta-analysis is to explore the optimal options among different TCMJs for gastric cancer. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, China Scientific Journal Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Wanfang Data were searched to identify randomized controlled trials which focused on TCMJs combined with FOLFOX4 against gastric cancer from its inception to September 2021. Subsequently, 2 researchers will be independently responsible for literature screening, data extraction, and assessment of their quality. Standard pair-wise and Bayesian network meta-analysis will be performed to compare the efficacy and safety of different TCMJs combined with FOLFOX4 regimen via Stata 14.0 and WinBUGS1.4 software. RESULTS: The results of this meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. CONCLUSIONS: The conclusion of this systematic review will provide evidence for selecting an optimal TCMJ combined with FOLFOX4 for patients with gastric cancer.

Adsorption of Tea Polyphenols using Microporous Starch: A Study of Kinetics, Equilibrium and Thermodynamics.

Microporous starch (MPS) granules were formed by the partial hydrolysis of starch using α-amylase and glucoamylase. Due to its biodegradability and safety, MPS was employed to adsorb tea polyphenols (TPS) based on their microporous characteristics. The influences of solution pH, time, initial concentration and temperature on the adsorptive capacity were investigated. The adsorption kinetics data conformed to the pseudo second-order kinetics model, and the equilibrium adsorption data were well described by the Langmuir isotherm model. According to the fitting of the adsorption isotherm formula, the maximum adsorption capacity of TPS onto MPS at pH 6.7 and T = 293 K was approximately 63.1 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters suggested that the adsorption of TPS onto MPS was spontaneous and exothermic. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis and the thermodynamics data were consistent with a physical adsorption mechanism. In addition, MPS-loaded TPS had better stability during long-term storage at ambient temperature.

Purification, characterization and immunomodulatory activity of water extractable polysaccharides from the swollen culms of Zizania latifolia.

The swollen culms of Zizania latifolia is a popular vegetable and traditional herbal medicine mainly consumed in some Asian countries. In our previous study, water extractable polysaccharide (ZLPs-W) and alkali extractable polysaccharide (ZLPs-A) was sequentially prepared from the swollen culms of Zizania latifolia. In vitro cell assay revealed that ZLPs-W without cytotoxicity had higher immunomodulatory activity than ZLPs-A. Therefore, in this study, ZLPs-W was further separated to three purified polysaccharides of ZLPs-W1, ZLPs-W2, and ZLPs-W3 by anion exchange chromatography and size exclusive chromatography in sequence. They were found to be homogeneous polysaccharides in ß-type glycosidic linkage. ZLPs-W1 and ZLPs-W2 without triple helix conformation mainly contained Glc in molar percentage of 96.47% and 85.1%, respectively. ZLPs-W3 with triple helix conformation mainly consisted of Man, Rha, GalA, Glc, Gal and Ara in the molar ratio of 10.23:14.14:37.44:17.14:16.54:4.51. In addition, all the three purified polysaccharides could effectively enhanced the proliferation, phagocytosis, and nitric oxide production of murine macrophage RAW 264.7, suggesting that they possessed a potent immunostimulatory activity and could be developed as immunomodulator in medicine or functional food areas.

The effects of entanglement concentration on the hydrodynamic properties of cereal starches.

BACKGROUND: The hydrodynamic properties of four cereal starches in dilute and semi-dilute aqueous solutions were investigated using an Ubbelohde viscometer, a transmission electron microscope and steady shear rheological measurements. RESULTS: The results indicated that the starch solutions showed the nonlinear shape of the ηsp /c versus c curves in dilute solutions, followed by a linear increase to different extents thereafter. The intrinsic viscosity might be positively correlated with the entanglement concentration (ce ). Compared to normal maize and wheat starch solutions, ce influences more significantly the network formation of normal and waxy rice starch solutions. At concentrations ≤ ce , the gelatinized cereal starch solutions hardly exhibit shear thinning behavior, whereas shear thinning behavior developed at concentrations > ce , at which the solutions were pseudoplastic and thixotropic. CONCLUSION: The obtained information will be very useful, based on ce as a reference value, in regulating the starch concentration suitable for different industrial applications. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Morphologies and gelatinization behaviours of high-amylose maize starches during heat treatment.

The granule morphologies and gelatinization behaviours of high-amylose maize starches during heating treatment were investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Maltese crosses demonstrated that the high-amylose maize starches maintained a granular structure even at 120°C. The granules of high-amylose maize starches swelled slightly at 100°C and swelled remarkably at approximately 120°C. The destruction of the starch structure began at the centre and expanded rapidly to the periphery. The intense fluorescence of high-amylose maize starch granules gradually became feeble, and the darker region spread outward during heating at 130°C for 30min, indicating that the amylose component may have been damaged and shifted. The starch granules treated at 140°C were substantially destroyed, and the CLSM, normal light microscopy (NL) and SEM images displayed no discernible granules, which indicated that the original starch granules formed a continuous integrated matrix.

Characterization, antioxidant activity and immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharides from the swollen culms of Zizania latifolia.

The swollen culms of Zizania latifolia have been used as a vegetable and traditional herbal medicine in China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia countries. Up to date, there is little information about the polysaccharides from the swollen culms of Zizania latifolia and their potential bioactivities. In the present study, water extractable polysaccharide (ZLPs-W) and alkali extractable polysaccharide (ZLPs-A) was sequentially prepared from the swollen culms of Zizania latifolia. Both of ZLPs-W and ZLPs-A was found to be non-starch polydisperse heterpolysaccharide with ß-type glycosidic linkage. ZLPs-W with triple helix conformation mainly composed of GalA, Glc and Gal. ZLPs-A without triple helix conformation mainly composed of Glc, Gal, Xyl and Ara. In in vitro antioxidant assay, ZLPs-W and ZLPs-A exhibited good scavenging activities. The EC50 of DPPH radical, superoxide radical and hydroxy radical scavenging activities for ZLPs-A is 1.87, 1.13 and 0.38mg/mL compared with that for ZLPs-W is 2.95, 3.99 and 0.5mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, in vitro cell assay revealed that ZLPs-W without cytotoxicity has higher immunomodulatory activity than ZLPs-A in terms of stimulation of phagocytic ability and NO production in murine macrophage RAW 264.7. At the treated concentration of 400µg/mL and 100µg/mL, ZLPs-W induced a highest phagocytosis index (1.76) and NO product (29.12µmol/L), respectively. The results suggest that polysaccharide from the swollen culms of Zizania latifolia could be explored as potential natural antioxidant and immunomodulatory agents in medicine or functional food fields.

The role of entanglement concentration on the hydrodynamic properties of potato and sweet potato starches.

The hydrodynamic properties of potato starch and sweet potato starch in dilute and semi-dilute aqueous solutions were studied using a Ubbelohde viscometer, a transmission electron microscope, and steady shear rheological measurements. The results indicated that the potato starch solutions showed a linear shape of the ηred versus c curves. The sweet potato starch solutions presented a non-linear shape with a downturn in dilute solutions, or the concentrations were lower than entanglement concentration (ce). The ce values of the potato and sweet potato starch solutions were 0.43% and 0.54%, respectively. These findings indicated that the impact of the ce value on the network formation of the potato starch solutions was much more significant compared with the impact on the sweet potato starch solutions. The potato and sweet potato starch solutions showed shear thinning behaviour hardly occurs when the concentrations were less than ce, while shear thinning behaviour approached when the concentrations were equal to or greater than ce. Similarly, the potato and sweet potato starch solutions rarely resembled a pseudoplastic state when the concentrations were lower than or equal to ce, while the pseudoplastic behaviour developed when the concentrations were higher than ce.

Bioactivities of phytochemicals in Araiostegia yunnanensis (Christ).

The profile and bioactivity of phytochemicals in Araiostegia yunnanensis (Christ) Cop were investigated. The total flavonoids content in A. yunnanensis is about 84.90 mg/g. By means of HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS, the main flavonoids in A. yunnanensis were tentatively identified as myricetin 3-O-rhamnosylglucoside, eriodictyol 7-O-rutinoside, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside, luteolin-7-O-apiosylglucoside, quercetin 3-O-rhamnosylgalactoside, and luteolin 7-O-glucoside. The extract (0.268 mg/ml total flavonoids) from A. yunnanensis showed very strong superoxide anion radical scavenging potential and reducing power, which are higher than those of rutin (0.25 mg/ml). The extract (0.268 mg/ml total flavonoids) from A. yunnanensis exhibited similar DPPH scavenging activity with rutin (0.25 mg/ml). However, rutin (0.25 mg/ml) showed a significantly higher ABTS radical scavenging effect than that of the extract (0.268 mg/ml total flavonoids) from A. yunnanensis. The methanol extract from A. yunnanensis showed obviously cytotoxic effects on A549 cells and it had no effect against acetylcholinesterase.

Prevention of postsurgical atrial tachycardia with a modified right atrial free wall incision.

BACKGROUND: Most postsurgical macroreentry atrial tachycardias (PS-MATs) are atriotomy related; however, underlying mechanisms and prevention remain undefined. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the electrophysiological and histologic bases of right atriotomy incision arrhythmogenicity and whether a modified atriotomy that extends the incisional line to the tricuspid annulus (TA) and inferior vena cava (IVC) prevents PS-MAT. METHODS: Atrial arrhythmia induction and electrophysiological and histologic characteristics were studied 8 weeks after right atriotomy in 30 adult swine according to incision distance to TA or IVC (groups A, B, and C: broad, narrow, and closed corridors, respectively; group D, no-incision sham; n = 6 per group, except n = 12 for group B). RESULTS: Sustained PS-MATs were induced and mapped in the broad- and narrow-corridor groups (A, 1 of 6 [16.7%] vs B, 5 of 12 [41.7%]) but not in the closed-corridor (C) or sham (D) groups (P = .087). With 20-ms pacing cycle-length decrements (from 350 to 270 ms), mean conduction time over 20 mm at the atriotomy-to-TA corridor was 29.2 ± 2.2, 31.0 ± 4.2, 26.0 ± 1.9, and 17.0 ± 1.4 ms for 5 and 10 mm (both group B), 15 mm (group A), and sham incision (P = .017), respectively. Conduction properties correlated with histologic findings: the wider the corridor, the healthier its tissue. In group C (modified atriotomy), both corridors were replaced by dense scar with complete conduction block. CONCLUSION: Atriotomy corridor width determines conduction properties and contributes to arrhythmogenicity. A modified right atriotomy that extends to the TA and IVC prevents PS-MAT.

Effects of Exogenous Enzymatic Treatment During Processing on the Sensory Quality of Summer Tieguanyin Oolong Tea from the Chinese Anxi County.

In order to attenuate the bitter taste and improve the aroma of the summer tieguanyin oolong tea from the Chinese Anxi county, the effects of processing treatment with exogenous laccase and α-galactosidase on tea sensory quality and related compounds were investigated. The solutions of laccase and/or α-galactosidase were sprayed on the tea leaves before the first drying process. The sensory evaluation results showed that the sensory quality of the tea was significantly enhanced with the enzymatic treatment. The combined application of laccase at 8.25 and α-galactosidase at 22 U per kg of fresh tea shoots achieved the most satisfying sensory quality. Further analysis of flavour-related constituents was carried out by HPLC and GC-MS. The HPLC analysis showed that the contents of catechins and total polyphenols were reduced, compared to the untreated group, by 11.9 and 13.3% respectively, and the total soluble sugars and water extract content were increased by 19.4 and 6.6% respectively, after the treatment with both enzymes. The decrease of catechins and total polyphenols reduced the bitterness and astringency of the summer tea, while the increase of total soluble sugars and water extract content improved the sweetness and mellow taste. The aromatic compound data from GC-MS showed that the total essential oil content in these tea samples co-treated with laccase and α-galactosidase increased significantly, in which aldehydes, alcohols, esters and alkenes increased by 23.28, 37.05, 20.10 and 38.99%, respectively. Our data suggest that the exogenous enzymatic treatment can enhance the summer oolong tea quality, especially its taste and aroma.

Effects of molecular characteristics of on konjac glucomannan glass transitions of potato amylose, amylopection and their mixtures.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to explore further the functions of konjac glucomannan (KGM) in starch-based foods. Experiments were carried out using the mixed amylose/amylopectin/KGM system as a model. High-speed differential scanning calorimetry (hyper-DSC) with the support of high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) equipped with multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) and differential refractive index (RI), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and viscosimetry was used to investigate the effects of KGM on glass transition temperatures (T(g) s) of mixtures with different amylose/amylopectin ratios. RESULTS: Hyper-DSC results showed that the T(g) s of amylose, amylopection and their mixtures decreased with increasing concentration of KGM. Based on the molecular characteristics of KGM, HPSEC-MALLS-RI, viscosimetry and XRD results showed that the molar masses of KGM ranged from 1.023 × 10(6) to 1.329 × 10(6) g mol(-1) ; the root mean square (RMS) radii were distributed from 110.5 to 129.6 nm, and M(w) /M(n) was 1.017. KGM was a linear molecule with random-coil conformation in solution and the crystallinity was 0.00%. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the addition of KGM has plasticizing effects on the structures of amylose and amylopectin, which can increase free volume and molecular movement of amylose and amylopectin chains, resulting in a decrease in their T(g) s.

Antiseptic activity and phenolic constituents of the aerial parts of Vitex negundo var. cannabifolia.

Four phenolics, salviaplebeiaside (1), γ-tocopherol (2), chrysosplenol-D (4), and isovitexin (5), along with α-tocoquinone (3) and ß-sitosterol (6) were isolated from the aerial parts of Vitex negundo var. cannabifolia. The isolation was performed using bio-assay tracking experiments. The structures of compounds 1-5 were established by spectroscopic means. The antibacterial activities of the compounds were assessed against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus tetragenus and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Chrysosplenol-D (4) exhibited activities against all the four spoilage microorganisms.

Study on molecular structural characteristics of tea polysaccharide.

Tea polysaccharide (TPS) is attracting more attention gradually due to its particular biological properties. However, molecular characteristics of TPS are unclear since appropriate method is still absent. So, study on the molecular characteristics of TPS was carried out by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) and viscosimetry. The results showed that the molar masses of TPS ranged from 2.287 x 10(5) to 2.762 x 10(5)gmol(-1), the RMS radii distributed from 132.1 to 145.9 nm, and M(w)/M(n) is 1.028. The Mark-Houwink equation was established as [eta]=0.5423 M(w)(0.5379), and the intrinsic viscosity and molecular chain parameters were as follows: [eta]=1.007 dL g(-1), k(H)=0.845, k(K)=0.387, alpha=0.5379, K=0.5423. In addition, based on the slope of the RMS radius versus molar mass conformational plot being 0.24+/-0.00, we suggest that the molecular morphology of TPS is a homogeneous and spherical polymer with branch in solution.