Modulating in vitro fecal fermentation behavior of sodium alginate by Ca2+ cross-linking.

Slow fermentable dietary fibers can be utilized by human gut microbiota in the distal region of the colon and thus exert a sufficient short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) supplement in the distal region of the human colon. Alginate (Alg) based microgels are widely fabricated and used to control their digestion by digestive enzymes releasing active substances site-specifically. Herein, sodium alginate microgels with gradient calcium-ion (Ca2+) cross-linking densities were developed, restricting their degradation by gut microbiota. Alg microgels were prepared using high-speed shearing after Alg was cross-linked with 10, 40, and 60 mmol/L Ca2+, respectively (named 10-Alg, 40-Alg, and 60-Alg). The fluorescence and atomic force microscopic results showed that the 40-Alg particle has the densest structure among the three cross-linked Alg. In vitro human fecal fermentation results revealed that the Ca2+ cross-linking exerted more restricting effects than delaying effects on the fermentation of Alg, and the 40-Alg exhibited the slowest fermentation rate and the least fermentation extent, by characterizing the residual total carbohydrate content, residual monosaccharide content, pH, and total short-chain fatty acids. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results indicated that cross-linking structures shaped a high specifical Bacteroides-type microbial community and that OTU205 (Bacteroides_xylanisolvens) highly correlated to the cross-linking density (R = 0.65, p = 0.047). In sum, Ca2+ cross-linking generated a dense and compact structure of sodium alginate that facilitated a more restricted fermentation property and specificity-targeting microbial community structure in comparison to the original sodium alginate.

Formation and application of edible oleogels prepared by dispersing soy fiber particles in oil phase.

Oleogels containing less saturated and trans-fats were considered as an ideal option to replace the solid fats in foods. In this research, oleogel was fabricated by dispersing soy fiber particles (SFP) in soy oil, and further it was used in bread preparation. Effect of the particle size, particle content and the second fluid content on the formation of oleogels were evaluated, based on the appearance and rheological properties. Results showed that the suspension of SFP in soy oil (24%, w/w) could be transformed into gel-like state, upon the addition of the second fluid. The SFP based networks were dominated by the capillary force which was originated from the second fluid. The rheological properties and yield stress of the oleogels could be modulated by particle size and particle content of SFP in oil phase, as well as the second fluid content in the system. When the oleogels were applicated in bread preparation, a layered structure could be formed in the bread, indicating the possibility of replacing the solid fats in bakery products by our oleogels. Our results offered a feasibility approach for oil structuring with natural raw materials, and developed a new approach to replace the solid fats in foods.

FSCN1 Promotes Glycolysis and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Prostate Cancer through a YAP/TAZ Signaling Pathway.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the role and possible mechanism of fascin-1 (FSCN1) in the invasion, migration, glycolysis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of prostate cancer. Methods: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was utilized to determine the mRNA expression level of FSCN1 in prostate cancer tissues and prostate cancer cells PC-3 and DU145. The transwell and the scratch test were applied to detect the invasion and migration abilities of cells, respectively. A metabolic assay was used for measuring the glucose consumption, lactate production, and the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) in cells; western blot was used for checking FSCN1, EMT, and yes-associated protein/transcriptional co-activators with the PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ) signaling pathway-related protein expression level in cells or tissues. Results: FSCN1 was significantly highly expressed in prostate cancer tissues and cells. On the one hand, interference with the expression of FSCN1 could inhibit the invasion, migration, EMT, and glycolysis of prostate cancer cells. On the other hand, overexpression of FSCN1 promoted the invasion, migration, EMT, and glycolysis of prostate cancer cells. Besides, further mechanistic studies revealed that FSCN1 could activate the YAP/TAZ signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells. Conclusion: FSCN1 promotes invasion, migration, EMT, and glycolysis in prostate cancer cells by activating the YAP/TAZ signaling pathway. FSCN1 may be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis or treatment in prostate cancer.

Characterization of Roasting Time on Sensory Quality, Color, Taste, and Nonvolatile Compounds of Yuan An Yellow Tea.

Roasting is crucial for producing Yuan An yellow tea (YAYT) as it substantially affects sensory quality. However, the effect of roasting time on YAYT flavor quality is not clear. To investigate the effect of roasting time on the sensory qualities, chemical components, odor profiles, and metabolic profile of YAYTs produced with 13 min roasting, 16 min roasting, 19 min roasting, 22 min roasting, and 25 min roasting were determined. The YAYTs roasted for 22 min got higher sensory scores and better chemical qualities, such as the content of gallocatechin (GC), gallocatechin gallate (GCG), free amino acids, solutable sugar, meanwhile the lightness decreased, the hue of tea brew color (b) increased, which meant the tea brew got darker and yellower. YAYTs roasted for 22 min also increased the contents of key odorants, such as benzaldehyde, nonanal, ß-cyclocitral, linalool, nerol, α-cedrol, ß-ionone, limonene, 2-methylfuran, indole, and longiborneol. Moreover, non-targeted metabolomics identified up to 14 differentially expressed metabolites through pair-wise comparisons, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, sucrose, and critical metabolites, which were the main components corresponding to YAYT roasted for 22 min. In summary, the current results provide scientific guidance for the production of high quality YAYT.

Comprehensive Characterization for Ginsenosides Biosynthesis in Ginseng Root by Integration Analysis of Chemical and Transcriptome.

Herbgenomics provides a global platform to explore the genetics and biology of herbs on the genome level. Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer is an important medicinal plant with numerous pharmaceutical effects. Previous reports mainly discussed the transcriptome of ginseng at the organ level. However, based on mass spectrometry imaging analyses, the ginsenosides varied among different tissues. In this work, ginseng root was separated into three tissues-periderm, cortex and stele-each for five duplicates. The chemical analysis and transcriptome analysis were conducted simultaneously. Gene-encoding enzymes involved in ginsenosides biosynthesis and modification were studied based on gene and molecule data. Eight widely-used ginsenosides were distributed unevenly in ginseng roots. A total of 182,881 unigenes were assembled with an N50 contig size of 1374 bp. About 21,000 of these unigenes were positively correlated with the content of ginsenosides. Additionally, we identified 192 transcripts encoding enzymes involved in two triterpenoid biosynthesis pathways and 290 transcripts encoding UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Of these UGTs, 195 UGTs (67.2%) were more highly expressed in the periderm, and that seven UGTs and one UGT were specifically expressed in the periderm and stele, respectively. This genetic resource will help to improve the interpretation on complex mechanisms of ginsenosides biosynthesis, accumulation, and transportation.

Physicochemical properties and cell-based bioactivity of Pu'erh tea polysaccharide conjugates.

Polysaccharide conjugates were prepared from Pu'erh tea and fractionated by DEAE-cellulose DE-52 column chromatography to yield one unexplored polysaccharide-conjugate fraction termed TPC-P with a molecular weight of 251,200Da. DVS (dynamic vapour sorption) result discovered that the humidity condition of long-term preservation for TPC-P is below 70% RH. Although it contained proteins, TPC-P could not bind to the Coomassie Brilliant Blue dyes G250 and R250. The "shoulder-shaped" ultroviolet absorption peak in TPC-P UV-vis scanning spectum ascribe theabrownins that inevitably adsorbed the polysaccharide conjugate. Zeta potential results demonstrated TPC-P aqueous solution merely presented the negative charge properties of polysaccharides instead of acid-base property of its protein section, and had more stability in greater than pH 5.5. No precipitation or haze occurred in the three TPC-P/EGCG aqueous mixtures during their being stored for 12h. The phase separation was observed in aqueous mixtures of TPC-P and type B gelatin. TPC-P possessed the fine stability as a function of temperature heating and cooling between 0 and 55°C. It is proposed that some properties of the covalent binding protein of TPC-P were "shielded" by its polysaccharide chains.

[Transurethral resection of the prostate combined with 2-micron continuous-wave laser vaporesection for benign prostatic hyperplasia with the prostate volume > 80 ml].

OBJECTIVE: To sum up the clinical experience in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with the prostate weighing over 80 ml by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) combined with 2 µm continuous-wave laser vaporesection (LVR). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical effects of TURP combined with 2 µm LVR in the treatment of 46 cases of BPH with the prostate volume > 80 ml. RESULTS: All the operations were successfully accomplished. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were (112.0 ± 20.0) min (range 86-176 min) and (77.9 ± 25.9) ml (range 50-200 ml), respectively. The catheters were withdrawn at 7 days after surgery. Transient urinary incontinence occurred in 6 cases and secondary hemorrhage was found in 2 postoperatively. Six-month follow-up revealed no urethral stricture or other complications. Compared with the baseline, the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) was significantly decreased at 6 months after operation (26.3 ± 1.8 vs 11.6 ± 1.7, P <0.05), and so were the quality of life (QOL) score (5.3 ± 0.7 vs 1.3 ± 1.1, P <0.05) and post-void residual urine (PVR) ([115.5 ± 55.6] ml vs [19.9 ± 11.6] ml, P <0.05). However, the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was remarkably increased from (4.1 ± 2.6) ml/s to (16.2 ± 1.7) ml/s (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: TURP combined with 2 µm LVR is safe and effective for the treatment of BPH with the prostate volume >80 ml.

Effects of different extracts of kanggushu on osteoporosis in model rats and the underlying mechanisms.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventive effects and possible underlying mechanism of different extracts of Kanggushu () on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: One hundred and sixtyfive female SD rats were divided into 11 groups: control, sham, model, Xianling Gubao Capsule (), nilestriol, Kanggushu aqueous extract high-, medium-, and low-dose and suet extract high-, medium-, and low-dose groups. The osteoporosis model was made by ovariectomizing the rats. The latter 8 groups were administered intragastricly with Xianling Gubao Capsule, nilestriol, Kanggushu aqueous extract and suet extract for 12 weeks, respectively, while the other 3 groups were administered orally saline. The whole body bone mineral density, bone mineral content, organ coefficient of uterus, serum estradiol and alkaline phosphatase contents, blood calcium, phosphorus, interleukin 6 and bone Gla-protein levels after treatment were monitored. Additionally, three-point bending test of femur, HE staining, and scanning electron microscope were performed to explore the pharmacodynamics and underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: In comparison with ovariectomized rats of model group, Kanggushu aqueous extract high-dose resulted in an increased bone mineral density, bone mineral content and organ coefficient of uterus, improved estradiol level, and improved maximum load and structural stiffness (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Two-dimensional and three-dimensional trabecular structure was also observed under HE staining and scanning electron microscopy, and the number and thickness of trabecular bone in Kanggushu aqueous extract high-dose group was significantly increased compared to the model group, while the lipid droplets in bone marrow cavity were significantly less. However, there were no significant differences in blood calcium, total serum alkaline phosphatase and bone Gla protein among different treatment groups. Overall, the osteoprotective effects of Kanggushu aqueous extract were comparable to those of nilestriol and were significantly more effective than those of Xianling Gubao Capsule. CONCLUSION: The preventive effects of Kanggushu aqueous extract might be partly due to the increased estradiol level, accelerated restoration of bone trabecular reticulate structure, and accordingly increased bone mineral density in osteoporosis rats.