Immunological strip sensor for the rapid determination of niacin in dietary supplements and foods.

Herein, four haptens of niacin (Vitamin B3, VB3) were designed, and after a series of experiments, it was concluded that hapten D had the best immune effect. To avoid false positives in the detection of real samples, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against VB3 was prepared by a matrix effect-enhanced mAb screening method. The concentration of the inhibition rate reaching 50% (IC50) was 603.41 ng mL-1 and the limit of detection (LOD) using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) was 54.89 ng mL-1. A lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFIA) based on gold nanoparticles was established to detect the concentration of VB3 in compound vitamin B tablets and infant formulas, with a visual LOD of 5 µg mL-1. Using a handheld reader, the quantitative LOD was calculated to be 0.60 µg mL-1. The contents of the compound vitamin B tablets and infant formulas were also verified by liquid chromatography. Therefore, the LFIA developed in this study can be applied to the specific identification and rapid detection of niacin in nutritional dietary supplements, thus meeting the market's demand for efficient niacin detection methods.

An ultra-sensitive photothermal lateral flow immunoassay for 17ß-estradiol in food samples.

Hormone residues in food and drinking water endanger human health, therefore, on-site analysis techniques of superior performance are important for monitoring this risk. In this study, an ultra-sensitive photothermal lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) for quantification of 17ß-estradiol (E2) has been developed. Anti-E2 antibody modified black phosphorus-Au (BP-Au) nanocomposite was developed as a photothermal contrast signal probe and the temperature at test-zone was recorded with an infrared camera. Under the irradiation of 808 nm laser at test-zone, it gave temperatures negatively related to the concentrations of E2 in samples. Under optimal detecting conditions, the developed photothermal LFIA exhibited a limit of detection of 50 pg mL-1, over 100-fold more sensitive than visual LFIA, and a linear range of 3 orders of magnitude. This method has been successfully applied to water, milk, and milk powder samples.

[Advances in separation and analysis of aromatic amino acids in food].

Amino acids are important building blocks of proteins in the human body, which are involved in many metabolic pathways. Patients with metabolic diseases such as phenylketonuria, tyrosinemia, and hepatic encephalopathy are genetically defective and cannot metabolize aromatic amino acids (AAA) in food; hence, a regular diet may lead to permanent physiological damage. For this reason, it is necessary to restrict the intake of AAA in their daily diet by limiting natural protein intake, while ensuring normal intake of low protein foods and supplementation with low-AAA protein equivalents. Sources of low-AAA protein equivalents currently rely on free amino acid complex mixtures and low-AAA peptides (also known as high-Fischer-ratio peptides), which have better absorption availability and palatability. AAA separation and analysis techniques are essential for the preparation and detection of low-AAA peptides. Researchers in this field have explored a variety of efficient adsorption materials to selectively remove AAA from complex protein hydrolysates and thus prepare low-AAA peptide foods, or to establish analysis strategies for AAA. Covering more than 70 publications on AAA removal and separation in the last decade from Web of Science Core Collection and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, this review analyzes the structural characteristics and physicochemical properties of AAA, and summarizes the technological progress of AAA removal based on adsorbents such as activated carbon and resin. The applications of two-dimensional nanomaterials, molecular imprinting, cyclodextrins, and metal-organic frameworks in AAA adsorption and analysis from three dimensions, i. e., sample pretreatment, chiral separation and adsorption sensing, are also reviewed. The mainstream adsorbents for AAA removal, such as activated carbon, still suffer from poor specificity and cause environmental pollution during post-use treatment. Existing AAA separating materials show impressive selective adsorption capability in food samples and chiral mixtures as well as high sensitivity in adsorption sensing. The development of an efficient detection technology for AAA may help in detecting trace AAA in food and in evaluating chiral AAA adulteration in food samples. By exploring the advantages and disadvantages of each type of technology, we provide support for the advancement of the removal and analysis techniques for AAA.

Effect of Electroacupuncture versus Sham Electroacupuncture in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of evaluating the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture versus sham electroacupuncture for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHOD: A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted at a teaching hospital in Beijing. A total of 30 patients with KOA (Kellgren grade II or III) were randomly allocated to an eight-week treatment of either electroacupuncture or sham electroacupuncture. Patients and outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. The primary outcome was the proportion of responders achieving at least 1.14 seconds decrease in the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) at week eight compared with baseline. The secondary outcomes included the knee range of motion, the knee extensor and flexor muscle strength, Lequesne index, 9-step stair-climb test (9-SCT), and TUG. RESULTS: Of 30 patients allocated to two groups, 27 (90%) completed the study. The proportion of responders was 53.3% (8 of 15) for electroacupuncture group and 26.7% (4 of 15) for sham electroacupuncture group by the intention-to-treat analysis (P = 0.264). There was no statistically significant difference in TUG between the two groups at eight weeks (P = 0.856). The compliance rate measured according to patients who conformed to the protocol and had received treatments ≥20 times was 93.3% (28 of 30). The dropout rate was 20% (3 of 15). Adverse effects were not reported in the study. CONCLUSION: Our research demonstrated that further evaluation of the effectiveness of electroacupuncture versus sham electroacupuncture was feasible and safe for patients with KOA. Whether or not the electroacupuncture can improve the physical functions of knee joint, expand the knee range of motion, and increase the extensor and flexor muscle strength more significantly than sham electroacupuncture, future studies can be designed with larger sample size, randomization design and less biases. This trial is registered with NCT03366363.

[Law of the meridian abnormality based on the effectiveness of electroacupuncture for severe functional constipation].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the law of the meridian abnormal changes and the correlation with acupuncture efficacy based on the effectiveness study of electroacupuncture (EA) in treatment of severe functional constipation. METHODS: Seventy patients of severe functional constipation were randomized into an EA group and a sham-EA group, 35 cases in each one. In the EA group, Tianshu (ST 25) and Fujie (SP 14) were punctured deeply and stimulated with EA (dense-disperse wave, 2Hz/15 Hz, 0. 1 to 1. 0 mA), and Shangjuxu (ST 37) was needled. In the sham-EA group, the sites lateral to Tianshu (ST 25) and Fujie (SP 14) were punctured shallowly and stimulated with electricity. The site lateral to Shangjuxu (ST 37) was punctured shallowly. The treatment was given continuously for 8 weeks in the two groups, 5 times weekly in the first 2 weeks and 3 times weekly in the rest 6 weeks. WANG Juyi's meridian examination method was applied to detect the abnormalities of the spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians before treatment, and in 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks among 70 patients separately. The frequency of complete spontaneous bowel movement (CSBM) every two weeks, meridian abnormal value and the relativity with CSBM change rate were compared in the patients between two groups. RESULTS: Regarding the increase of CSBM frequency, the effect started since the 2nd week in the EA group, with the treatment going on, CSBM frequency was increased apparently (all P<0. 05). In the sham-EA group, after 6 and 8-weeks of treatment, CSBM frequency was increased apparently as compared with that before treatment (all P<0. 05). The increase of CSBM frequency in the EA group was remarkably as compared with the sham-EA group at every time point (all P<0. 05). The abnormal value of the large intestine meridian in 2 weeks of treatment and the values of the stomach and spleen meridians and the relevant meridians in 4 weeks of treatment were all reduced apparently as compared with those in the baseline in the EA group (all P<0. 05). With the treatment time going on, the abnormal reflections on the large intestine and stomach meridians were reduced gradually (all P<0. 05), and the total change rate of abnormalities on the large intestine, stomach and spleen meridians presented the negative correlation with the total change rate of CSBM frequency (P<0. 01, P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: In the EA group, the efficacy on CSBM frequency in severe functional constipation is advantageous and stable as compared with the sham-EA group. Acupuncture at the relevant acupoints of the spleen, stomach and large intestine meridians achieves the definite regulation to the meridian abnormalities. It is discovered that the abnormal changes in the spleen, stomach

[Influence of therapeutic effect of acupoint sticking at Shenque (CV 8) for treatment of stroke patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupoint sticking therapy for treatment of stroke. METHODS: Two hundred and forty-six cases were randomly divided into a non-acupoint sticking group (control group, n=122) and an acupoint sticking group (n=124). The control group was treated with routine ward treatment of stroke (acupuncture combined with routine western medicine). The acupoint sticking group was treated with basis ward treatment of stroke (similar to the control group), and acupoint sticking therapy was applicated on Shenque (CV 8). The scores of Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) and WHOQOL-100BREF were adopted to evaluate the therapeutic effects and the cysteine of patients were tested before and after treatment. RESULTS: There were significant differences in scores comparison of SS-QOL and WHOQOL-100BREF before and after treatment in both groups (both P < 0.001); there was no significant difference after treatment between two groups (P > 0.05); there was a significant difference in thinking items of SS-QOL after treatment between two groups (P < 0.05), the acupoint sticking group was superior to that of control group; SS-QOL score of patients with abnormal cysteine of acupoint sticking group was superior to that of the control group after treatment, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The acupoint sticking therapy can improve the thinking ability of stroke patients, and improve the life quality of high cysteine stroke patients.

[Effect of alternative administration of scalp-acupuncture, body-acupuncture and abdominal-acupuncture on the upper-limb dyscinesia in patients with stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of combined treatment of apoplectic upper-limb dyscinesia with scalp-acupuncture, body-acupuncture and abdominal-acupuncture in stroke patients. METHODS: A total of 222 stroke patients were randomized into treatment group (n = 133) and control group (n = 89) according to the random number table method. For patients of treatment group, scalp-point used was Motor Area (MS 6); body acupoints were Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Shousanli (LI 10), etc; and abdominal acupoints Zhongwan (CV 12), Qihai (CV 6), etc. For patients in control group, only the same body acupoints were used. Acupuncture treatment was given once daily for 5 weeks. The therapeutic effects were evaluated by Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment (FMA) and Barthel-index (BI) scores. RESULTS: In comparison with pre-treatment, FMA score and BI score increased significantly 5 weeks, 1 and 3 months in treatment group, 1 and 3 months in control group (P < 0.01). Comparison between two groups showed that both FMA score and BI score of treatment group were markedly higher than those of control group 5 weeks, 1 and 3 months after the treatment (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Alternative administration of scalp-acupuncture, body-acupuncture and abdominal acupuncture can effectively improve stroke patients' upper-limb motor function, and its effect is obviously better than that of simple body acupuncture.

[Efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating 93 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: By prospective multi-centered randomized controlled design, 93 patients with BPH were assigned to two groups, 47 in the EA group treated by EA, and 46 in the control group treated by terazosin 2 mg taken orally once every evening. EA was applied on acupoints Zhongliao (BL33) and Huiyang (BL35), for 30 min, once every two days. The total treatment period was 4 weeks for them all. The indexes for efficacy evaluation were the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS), the urinary symptom bother score (BS), the maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), the post-voided residual urine volume (PVR), and the size of prostate gland. And the times of difficulties for holding urine in 24 h (HU) and the times of night-urinating (NU) were recorded as well. RESULTS: The trial was completed in 91 patients. After 4 weeks of treatment, the IPSS lowered, Qmax increased, PVR decreased, BS score reduced, times of HU and NU lessened in both groups (P <0.01). However, comparisons between groups showed that the improvement of IPSS (6.52 +/- 0.41 vs 2.69 +/- 0.36, P < 0.01), Qmax (4.71 +/- 0.70 vs 1.75 +/- 0.55, P =0.001) and PVR (44.79 +/- 9.73 vs 16.97 +/- 4.75, P =0.012) was more significant in the EA group than in the control group respectively, but the size of prostate gland after treatment was not different between groups. CONCLUSION: EA at Zhongliao and Huiyin points can markedly improve the symptoms of difficult urination in mild or moderate patients with BPH, increase their Qmax and reduce PVR. Its efficacy is better than that of terazosin.