Discrimination and quantification of volatile compounds in beer by FTIR combined with machine learning approaches.

The composition of volatile compounds in beer is crucial to the quality of beer. Herein, we identified 23 volatile compounds, namely, 12 esters, 4 alcohols, 5 acids, and 2 phenols, in nine different beer types using GC-MS. By performing PCA of the data of the flavor compounds, the different beer types were well discriminated. Ethyl caproate, ethyl caprylate, and phenylethyl alcohol were identified as the crucial volatile compounds to discriminate different beers. PLS regression analysis was performed to model and predict the contents of six crucial volatile compounds in the beer samples based on the characteristic wavelength of the FTIR spectrum. The R2 value of each sample in the prediction model was 0.9398-0.9994, and RMSEP was 0.0122-0.7011. The method proposed in this paper has been applied to determine flavor compounds in beer samples with good consistency compared with GC-MS.

Purification and identification of xanthine oxidase inhibitory peptides from enzymatic hydrolysate of α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein.

The development of food-derived Xanthine Oxidase (XO) inhibitors is critical to the treatment of hyperuricemia and oxidative stress-related disease. Few studies report on milk protein hydrolysates' XO inhibitory activity, with the mechanism of their interaction remaining elusive. Here, different commercial enzymes were used to hydrolyze α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein. The two proteins hydrolyzed by alkaline protease exhibited the most potent XO inhibitory activity (bovine casein: IC50 = 0.13 mg mL-1; α-lactalbumin: IC50 = 0.28 mg mL-1). Eight potential XO inhibitory peptides including VYPFPGPI, GPVRGPFPIIV, VYPFPGPIPN, VYPFPGPIHN, QLKRFSFRSFIWR, LVYPFPGPIHN, AVFPSIVGR, and GFININSLR (IC50 of 4.67-8.02 mM) were purified and identified from alkaline protease hydrolysates by using gel filtration, LC-MS/MS and PeptideRanker. The most important role of inhibiting activity of peptides is linked to hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding based on the results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The enzymatic hydrolysate of α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein could be a competitive candidates for hyperuricemia-resisting functional food.

An enantioselective convergent route to pamamycin 621A.

An effective approach to the total synthesis of natural antibiotic pamamycin 621A is described, in which the stereogenic centers at the C-13 and C-15 were taken from a chiral building block derived from the inexpensive D-glucolactone while all others (except the C-10) were installed via chiral auxiliary-induced asymmetric Evans/Crimmins aldol reactions. In the synthesis of the smaller/lower fragment, an antiselective Evans aldol condensation was found to occur only if a stoichiometric (rather than catalytic as reported in the literature) amount of magnesium chloride was present. A previously unknown effect of the steric bulkiness of the pyridine base employed on the stereochemical outcome of the formation of the THF ring in the presence of a chiral auxiliary was also observed. The THF rings in the larger/upper fragment were similarly synthesized with a high level of stereoselectivity from a linear precursor carrying a chiral auxiliary via intramolecular O-alkylations, most notably even under acidic conditions. The basic dimethylamino functionality at the C-15 was installed at the final stage of the whole synthesis, with those otherwise unavoidable side reactions in the conversion of the azido group effectively circumvented through using a very mild yet largely forgotten tributyltin reduction protocol.

Attitudes towards acceptance of an innovative home-based and remote sensing rehabilitation protocol among cardiovascular patients in Shantou, China.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) protocols have diversified to include home-based cardiac tele-rehabilitation (HBCTR) as an alternative to hospital-based or center-based CR. To adopt the use of home-based cardiac tele-rehabilitation, it is necessary to assess cardiac patients' attitudes towards acceptance of such e-health technology, especially in China where knowledge of such technology is deficient. METHODS: Interviews were conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China. After percutaneous coronary interventional (PCI) surgery, patients completed the survey. RESULTS: Among the 150 patients, only 13% had ever heard of HBCTR. After an introduction of our HBCTR program, 60% of patients were willing to participate in the program. From our multivariate analysis of questionnaire data, age (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86-0.98; P = 0.007), average family monthly income (OR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.05-0.34; P < 0.001), education level (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10-0.59; P = 0.002) and physical exercise time (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.06-0.56; P = 0.003) were independent predictors for acceptance of HBCTR. From the reasons for participation, patients selected: enhanced safety and independence (28.3%), ability to self-monitor physical conditions daily (25.4%), and having automatic and emergency alert (23.1%). Reasons for refusal were: too cumbersome operation (34.3%) and unnecessary protocol (19.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients lacked knowledge about HBCTR but volunteered to participate after they have learned about the program. Several personal and life-style factors influenced their acceptance of the program. These indicate that both improvement of technology and better understanding of the program will enhance active participation.

Sling exercise for chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Trials on sling exercise (SE), commonly performed to manage chronic low back pain (LBP), yield conflicting results. This study aimed to review the effects of SE on chronic LBP. METHODS: The randomized controlled trials comparing SE with other treatments or no treatment, published up to August 2013, were identified by electronic searches. Primary outcomes were pain, function, and return to work. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated, using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Risk of bias was rated as high in 9 included trials, where some important quality components such as blinding were absent and sample sizes were generally small. We found no clinically relevant differences in pain or function between SE and other forms of exercise, traditional Chinese medical therapy, or in addition to acupuncture. Based on two trials, SE was more effective than thermomagnetic therapy at reducing pain (short-term: WMD -13.90, 95% CI -22.19 to -5.62; long-term: WMD -26.20, 95% CI -31.32 to -21.08) and improving function (short-term: WMD -10.54, 95% CI -14.32 to -6.75; long-term: WMD -25.75, 95% CI -30.79 to -20.71). In one trial we found statistically significant differences between SE and physical agents combined with drug therapy (meloxicam combined with eperisone hydrochloride) but of borderline clinical relevance for pain (short-term: WMD -15.00, 95% CI -19.64 to -10.36) and function (short-term: WMD -10.00; 95% CI -13.70 to -6.30). There was substantial heterogeneity among the two trials comparing SE and thermomagnetic therapy; both these trials and the trial comparing SE with physical agents combined with drug therapy had serious methodological limitations. INTERPRETATION: Based on limited evidence from 2 trials, SE was more effective for LBP than thermomagnetic therapy. Clinically relevant differences in effects between SE and other forms of exercise, physical agents combined with drug therapy, traditional Chinese medical therapy, or in addition to acupuncture could not be found. More high-quality randomized trials on the topic are warranted.

[Timing of operation and therapeutic effect of endoscopic optic nerve decompression for traumatic optic neuropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the optimal timing of operation and the therapeutic effect of endoscopic optic nerve decompression for traumatic optic neuropathy (TON). METHODS: The clinical records of 90 consecutive patients with TON (93 eyes) after head and/or maxillofacial trauma from April 1998 to March 2007 were reviewed and analyzed. All patients were either unresponsive or intolerant to medication before they underwent intranasal endoscopic optic nerve decompression. The time interval between the injury and operation ranged from one day to 97 days (median 5.5 days). Among the 93 eyes, there were 71 eyes with no visual acuity before operation and 22 eyes with residue visual acuity, including light perception in 1 eye, hand movement in 5 eyes, counting fingers in 13 eyes, 0.04 in 1 eye, and 0.1 in 2 eyes. Duration of follow-up ranged from 6 days to two years (median 8 days). RESULTS: After decompression, 35 patients (36/93 eyes, 38.7%) showed improvement of visual acuity, 53 patients (55 eyes, 59.1%) remained the same as before operation, while 2 patients (2 eyes, 2.2%) showed decreased visual acuity. Among patients with visual acuity beyond light perception before decompression, 68.2% of them (15/22 eyes) experienced visual improvement, whereas only 22.9% (8/35 eyes, 0.02 in two eyes) among patients who lost visual acuity immediately after injury, and 36.1% (13/36 eyes, 0.02 in five eyes) among those who lost visual acuity gradually after injury. There was a significant difference in visual improvement between group with visual acuity and group with no visual acuity (chi(2) = 11.864, P < 0.01). Among patients with no visual acuity, 41.2% of those (7/17 eyes) who underwent operation within 3 days of injury, experienced improvement in visual acuity, compared with 25.9% (14/54 eyes) for those who underwent the operation more than 3 days after injury. It was indicated that no significant difference in visual improvement between these two groups (chi(2) = 1.46, P > 0.05). When comparing different sites of fracture, the effect of surgery was the most desirable (55.6%, 10/18 eyes improved) if the fracture occurred simultaneously in both exterior and interior walls of optic canal, followed by the interior wall fracture (45.7%, 21/46 eyes). The operation was less effective if there was no fraction (20%, 4/20 eyes) or if the fracture occurred in exterior wall alone (11.1%, 1/9 eyes). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic optic nerve decompression is a minimally invasive procedure with no adverse cosmetic effects. Early operation is recommended for saving vision, even though visual acuity is lost immediately after injury. However, the satisfactory clinical effects of endoscopic optic nerve decompression require further study.

[Retrospective analysis of the effect of intranasal endoscopic resection of olfactory neuroblastoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of intranasal endoscopic resection of olfactory neuroblastoma and the significance of assistant radiotherapy. METHODS: Six patients (4 men and 2 women) ranging in age from 9-68 years (median age, 48 years) with olfactory neuroblastoma treated endoscopically at the Third Affiliated Hospital of SUN Yat-sen University between August 2001 and September 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. The Kadish clinical stage was determined for all six cases, two cases with stage B, and 4 with stage C. The duration of endoscopic follow-up ranged from fourteen months to sixty three months. RESULTS: The tumor in five patients was completely excised including one case underwent craniotomy firstly and one case underwent neck dissection and the another case had her tumor subtotally resected. Five cases underwent assistant radiotherapy after operation without any evidence of recurrence so far, while the other one (Kadish stage B, tumor totally resection), who had no radiotherapy after first procedure, died from local recurrence and cerebellar metastasis 31 months after operation. The medium survival duration was 44.5 months. CONCLUSIONS: With simple approach, excellent visualization, a less operative invasiveness and no scar on face, the endoscopic approach appears to be the method of choice for the treatment of olfactory neuroblastoma. But it was necessary for good prognosis to combine with radiotherapy after operation.

[Glucocorticoid receptor subunit expression in adenoid tissue of children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: The expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in children is currently unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the GR-alpha and GR-beta status in the adenoidal tissues in children with OSAHS. METHODS: Thirty-four pediatric patients (aged 3-14 years, median 7.8 years) had sleep study with polysomnography before adenoidectomy. According to the criteria of apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > or = 5 /h or/and apnea index (AI) > or = 1/h, they were divided into OSAHS and non-OSAHS sub groups. The study was based on fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-RT-PCR) for the mRNA expression of GR-alpha and GR-beta in the adenoidal tissues in children. RESULTS: GR isoforms mRNA encoding for expression of both GR-alpha and GR-beta were detected in the adenoids of all children. GR-alpha mRNA level [(9.40 +/- 3.06) x 10(5) cDNA copies/microg total RNA] in the adenoidal tissues in OSAHS was lower than those in the non-OSAHS [(1.60 +/- 0.26) x 10(6) cDNA copies/microg total RNA] (F = 40.285, P < 0.001), whereas no differences found for GR-beta [(1.57 +/- 0.35) x 10(4) cDNA copies/microg total RNA, (1.52 +/- 0.18) x 10(4) cDNA copies/microg total RNA]. GR-alpha/GR-beta ratio was 62.3 +/- 20. 3 in OSAHS and 107.4 +/- 24.4 in non-OSAHS. AHI or AI was not related to the mRNA levels of GR-alpha and GR-beta in OSAHS or non-OSAHS. CONCLUSIONS: GR-alpha and GR-beta were detectable in the adenoidal tissues in children. These data indicated that the relationship between the expressions of GR and the clinical significance in OSAHS need further and profound investigation.

[Effect of specific immunoglobulin Y in the treatment of acute and chronic pharyngitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect and safety of the specific immunoglobulin Y (IgY) for treatment of acute and chronic pharyngitis. METHODS: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 50 adults with acute pharyngitis. Experimental group received a 6 times-daily total 30 doses of IgY stomat-spray which contained specific immunoglobulin Y (titer = 512) prepared from the egg yolk of hens immunized with a variety of bacteria. Another open label trial included 50 patients, whose ages ranged from 21-69 years, including 25 cases of acute pharyngitis and 25 cases of chronic pharyngitis were also treated using IgY stomat-spray. The therapeutic effect were objectively evaluated 7 days later by the decreased scores based on both the symptoms and physical signs. If the symptom did not improve or became severe three days later, these patients with acute pharyngitis was inefficiency and antibiotic medicine would be added to them. RESULTS: In Double-blind trial, 8 cases (32%) received IgY had apparent effect with the decreased scores 5 or more than 5, 13 cases (52%) had effective with the decreased scores 3-4, and other 4 cases (16%) had inefficacy with the decreased scores only 2 or no more than 2. While in placebo-controlled group, only 2 (8%) cases had apparent effect, 5 (20%) cases showed effective and 18 (72%) cases had non-effect. The difference between the two groups was significant (chi 2 = 16.06, P < 0.01). In open label trial, 19 cases (38%) showed apparent effect, in which 14 cases were acute pharygitis. 23 cases (46%) had effective, in which 10 cases were acute pharyngitis. The left 8 cases (16%) had ineffective, in which one case was acute pharyngitis. There was significantly difference (chi 2 = 8.90, P < 0.05) between acute pharyngitis and chronic pharyngitis. An average of three months followup showed that there were no side effect or toxic effect and no allergic reaction. CONCLUSION: The IgY stomat-spray is a safe and effective agent in treating acute and chronic pharyngitis, especially for acute pharyngitis.