Fermentation of millet bran with Bacillus natto: enhancement of bioactivity levels and the bioactivity of bran extract.

BACKGROUND: Millet bran (MB), a byproduct of millet production, is rich in functional components but it is underutilized. In recent years, researchers have shown that fermentation can improve the biological activity of cereals and their byproducts. This study used Bacillus natto to ferment millet bran to improve its added value and broaden the application of MB. The bioactive component content, physicochemical properties, and functional activity of millet bran extract (MBE) from fermented millet bran were determined. RESULTS: After fermentation, the soluble dietary fiber (SDF) content increased by 92.0%, the ß-glucan content by 164.4%, the polypeptide content by 111.4%, the polyphenol content by 32.5%, the flavone content by 16.4%, and the total amino acid content by 95.4%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the microscopic morphology of MBE changed from complete and dense blocks to loosely porous shapes after fermentation. After fermentation, the solubility, water-holding capacity, and viscosity significantly increased and the particle size decreased. Moreover, the glucose adsorption capacity (2.1 mmol g-1), glucose dialysis retardation index (75.3%), and α-glucosidase inhibitory (71.4%, mixed reversible inhibition) activity of the fermented MBE (FMBE) were greater than those of the unfermented MBE (0.99 mmol g-1, 32.1%, and 35.1%, respectively). The FMBE presented better cholesterol and sodium cholate (SC) adsorption properties and the adsorption was considered inhomogeneous surface adsorption. CONCLUSION: Fermentation increased the bioactive component content and improved the physicochemical properties of MBE, thereby improving its hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties. This study not only resolves the problem of millet bran waste but also encourages the development of higher value-added application methods for millet bran. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of comprehensive nursing care for the liver cancer patients undergoing interventional therapy in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIMS: This review aims to assess the effect of comprehensive nursing care on liver cancer patients undergoing interventional therapy in China. METHODS: In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed randomized controlled trials and observational studies assessing the effect of comprehensive nursing care against standard care on liver cancer patients undergoing specific interventional therapies in China, including PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL and CINAHL till June 2023. Data synthesis was conducted using a random-effects model and reported as pooled odds ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD). RESULTS: Ten Chinese studies with 1682 participants were evaluated. Comprehensive nursing care significantly enhanced patient outcomes in liver cancer treatment. Quality of life improved markedly (OR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.06-0.41). Notable reductions were observed in anxiety (MD: -8.96, 95% CI: -11.52 to -6.40) and depression (MD: -9.47, 95% CI: -11.79 to -7.14). Patients also experienced increased physical (SMD: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.15-2.25), social (SMD: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.14-2.16) and activity scores (SMD: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.49-2.39), alongside a decrease in post-treatment complications (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.21-0.37), demonstrating the multifaceted benefits of comprehensive care. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive nursing care may improve patient outcomes in liver cancer treatment, offering potential benefits in reducing the side effects of interventional therapy.

Olanzapine-induced decreases of FGF21 in brown adipose tissue via histone modulations drive UCP1-dependent thermogenetic impairment.

Long-term olanzapine treatment has been associated with serious metabolism disorders, such as abnormal body weight gain, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. Recently, accumulated evidence points to a link between the metabolic disorders caused by olanzapine and thermogenetic impairment. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a pleiotropic protein, is a potent stimulator of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT). However, the relationship between autocrine FGF21 in BAT and thermogenetic impairment induced by olanzapine has not been investigated. In this study, C57BL/6 mice and C3H10T1/2 (a brown adipocyte cell line) were used to investigate the role of FGF21 in modulating thermogenetic impairments caused by olanzapine. Our data found a fall in BAT temperature, with a decrease in the protein levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and FGF21 in olanzapine-treatment mice. Olanzapine-induced deficits of mitochondrial activity and the expression of UCP1 and related thermogenetic factors could be improved by FGF21-overexpression in brown adipocytes. Furthermore, ChIP-sequencing showed the H3K9me3 modification in Fgf21 was dramatically increased in BAT of mice with olanzapine treatment. Lysine-specific demethylase 4a (KDM4a), a histone demethylase responsible for site-specific erasure of H3K9me3, was decreased in olanzapine-treated C3H10T1/2 cells, whereas FGF21 and UCP1 expression and thermogenesis were upregulated in KMD2a-overexpressing brown adipocyte. We concluded that FGF21 was a crucial regulator mediating UCP1-dependent thermogenetic impairments by olanzapine-modulating histone methylations. Our results also provide novel insights into identifying a new therapeutic target for treating metabolic side effects caused by the antipsychotic drug.

Deubiquitinase Ubp3 regulates ribophagy and deubiquitinates Smo1 for appressorium-mediated infection by Magnaporthe oryzae.

The Ubp family of deubiquitinating enzymes has been found to play important roles in plant-pathogenic fungi, but their regulatory mechanisms are still largely unknown. In this study, we revealed the regulatory mechanism of the deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp3 during the infection process of Magnaporthe oryzae. AUBP3 deletion mutant was severely defective in appressorium turgor accumulation, leading to the impairment of appressorial penetration. During appressorium formation, the mutant was also defective in glycogen and lipid metabolism. Interestingly, we found that nitrogen starvation and rapamycin treatment induced the ribophagy process in M. oryzae, which is closely dependent on Ubp3. In the ∆ubp3 mutant, the ribosome proteins and rRNAs were not well degraded on nitrogen starvation and rapamycin treatment. We also found that Ubp3 interacted with the GTPase-activating protein Smo1 and regulated its de-ubiquitination. Ubp3-dependent de-ubiquitination of Smo1 may be required for Smo1 to coordinate Ras signalling. Taken together, our results showed at least two roles of Ubp3 in M. oryzae: it regulates the ribophagy process and it regulates de-ubiquitination of GTPase-activating protein Smo1 for appressorium-mediated infection.

Endocytic protein Pal1 regulates appressorium formation and is required for full virulence of Magnaporthe oryzae.

Endocytosis plays key roles during infection of plant-pathogenic fungi, but its regulatory mechanisms are still largely unknown. Here, we identified a putative endocytosis-related gene, PAL1, which was highly expressed in appressorium of Magnaporthe oryzae, and was found to be important for appressorium formation and maturation. Deletion of PAL1 significantly reduced the virulence of M. oryzae due to defects in appressorial penetration and invasive growth in host cells. The Pal1 protein interacted and colocalized with the endocytosis protein Sla1, suggesting it is involved in endocytosis. The Δpal1 mutant was significantly reduced in appressorium formation, which was recovered by adding exogenous cAMP and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Moreover, the phosphorylation level of Pmk1 in Δpal1 was also reduced, suggesting Pal1 functions upstream of both the cAMP and Pmk1 signalling pathways. As a consequence, the utilization of glycogen and lipid, appressorial autophagy, actin ring formation, localization of septin proteins, as well as turgor accumulation were all affected in the Δpal1 mutant. Taken together, Pal1 regulates cAMP and the Pmk1 signalling pathway for appressorium formation and maturation to facilitate infection of M. oryzae.

Survival and transcriptomic response of Salmonella enterica on fresh-cut fruits.

Salmonella enterica is frequently implicated in foodborne disease outbreaks associated with fresh-cut fruits. In the U.S., more than one third of fruit-related outbreaks have been linked to two S. enterica serotypes Newport and Typhimurium. Approximately 80% of fruit-related human salmonellosis cases were associated with tomatoes, cantaloupes and cucumbers. In this study, we investigated the population dynamics of S. Newport and S. Typhimurium on fresh-cut tomato, cantaloupe, cucumber and apple under short-term storage conditions. We further compared the transcriptomic profiles of a S. Newport strain on fresh-cut tomato and cantaloupe using high-throughput RNA-seq. We demonstrated that both S. enterica Newport and Typhimurium survived well on various fresh-cut fruit items under refrigeration storage conditions, independent of inoculation levels. However, S. enterica displayed variable survival behaviors on different types of fruits. For example, at 7 d storage, the population of S. enterica reduced less than 0.2 log (p > 0.05) on fresh-cut tomato and cantaloupe, in contrast to ~0.5 log (p < 0.05) on cucumber and apple. RNA-seq analysis suggested that S. enterica mediates its survival on fresh-cut fruits through differentially regulating genes involved in specific carbon utilization and metabolic pathways. Several known bacterial virulence factors (e.g., pag gene) were found to be differentially regulated on fresh-cut tomato and cantaloupe, suggesting a link between the events of food contamination and subsequent human infection. Findings from this study contribute to a better understanding of S. enterica survival mechanisms on fresh-cut produce.

Clindamycin-induced Kidney Diseases: A Retrospective Analysis of 50 Patients.

Objective There are many adverse reactions due to clindamycin, but kidney diseases (acute kidney injury, AKI) are uncommon. However, in recent years, the rate of clindamycin-induced kidney diseases has increased. We analyzed 50 patients with clindamycin-induced kidney diseases retrospectively, and investigated the characteristics of these kidney diseases in order to provide a reference for rational clinical drug use and to reduce drug-induced organ damage. Methods We investigated 50 patients diagnosed with clindamycin-induced kidney diseases retrospectively at the Department of Nephrology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, from January 2009 to December 2013. The parameters included in our study were age, sex, clinical manifestations, efficacy and prognosis. Results All patients were diagnosed with clindamycin-induced kidney diseases within 48 hours of the application of clindamycin at 1.0-2.0 g/day. The patients included 29 women and 21 men. Most of the enrolled patients were 20-59 years old. Fifty-one patients were diagnosed with AKI stage 3 upon admission. Thirty-three had episodes of gross hematuria, but fever, skin rash and eosinophilia were rare. Urine analysis revealed mild proteinuria and severe tubular dysfunction. In the majority of patients, AKI was severe and required renal replacement therapy, but renal function in all patients had recovered significantly two months after discharge. Conclusion Clindamycin-induced AKI is largely reversible and is associated with episodes of gross hematuria. Clinicians should use clindamycin rationally and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions.

[Effects of abnormal nutritional supply during pregnancy on adult hormone resistance in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the effects of abnormal nutritional supply during pregnancy on the adult insulin and leptin resistance in rats. METHODS: We established the pregnant rat models given either low protein or high nutrition diet, and normal diet group served as control. There were 12 pregnant rats in each group. After vaginal delivery, the pups birth weight were measured. The randomly selected small for gestational age (SGA) from low protein diet group, large for gestational age (LGA) pups from high nutrition diet group and normal birth weight pups from control group were studied at both 4 weeks and 12 weeks after being born. Each group contained 36 rats. The insulin and leptin level were measured by the method of ELISA, and insulin sensitive index were calculated respectively. RESULTS: The pups of mothers served with low protein showed obviously lower birth weight than those mothers with normal diet (P < 0.01), 69% pups were SGA. While pups of mothers with high nutrition diet showed obviously higher birth weight than those mothers with normal diet (P < 0.01), 38% were LGA. The body weight of rats in SGA group was similar with those in control group at 4-week-age (P > 0.05), while the weight of fat around kidney, the ratio of fat and body weight (FW/BW) were (0.36 +/- 0.14) g, 6.5 +/- 0.3, which were higher than those of control (0.19 +/- 0.13) g, 3.4 +/- 0.3 (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). FW/BW in LGA group showed no obvious difference from that of control. At 12-week-age, the body weight of SGA was (222 +/- 19) g, that of LGA was (257 +/- 24) g, both of them significantly higher than that of control (215 +/- 25) g (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). FW/BW in SGA was 10.5 +/- 5.1, in LGA it was 11.8 +/- 3.6, which were significantly higher than that of control, 7.2 +/- 3.6 (P < 0.01). The higher insulin (5.5 +/- 0.9) microg/L, leptin (6.1 +/- 0.7) microg/L level and lower ISI (3.4 +/- 0.3) were obvious at 4-week-age (all P < 0.05) in SGA group but not in LGA group. At 12-week-age, all of them in the two groups were significantly different compared with those in control (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal nutritional supply during pregnancy can lead to abnormal birth weight. Both low birth weight and high birth weight pups showed obesity with different characteristics and insulin, leptin resistance during adult period.