Silk Sericin Protein Materials: Characteristics and Applications in Food-Sector Industries.

There is growing concern about the use of plastic in packaging for food materials, as this results in increased plastic waste materials in the environment. To counter this, alternative sources of packaging materials that are natural and based on eco-friendly materials and proteins have been widely investigated for their potential application in food packaging and other industries of the food sector. Sericin, a silk protein that is usually discarded in large quantities by the sericulture and textile industries during the degumming process of manufacturing silk from silk cocoons, can be explored for its application in food packaging and in other food sectors as a functional food and component of food items. Hence, its repurposing can result in reduced economic costs and environmental waste. Sericin extracted from silk cocoon possesses several useful amino acids, such as aspartic acid, glycine, and serine. Likewise, sericin is strongly hydrophilic, a property that confers effective biological and biocompatible characteristics, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-tyrosinase properties. When used in combination with other biomaterials, sericin has proved to be effective in the manufacture of films or coating or packaging materials. In this review, the characteristics of sericin materials and their potential application in food-sector industries are discussed in detail.

Mechanobiological Adaptation to Hyperosmolarity Enhances Barrier Function in Human Vascular Microphysiological System.

In infectious disease such as sepsis and COVID-19, blood vessel leakage treatment is critical to prevent fatal progression into multi-organ failure and ultimately death, but the existing effective therapeutic modalities that improve vascular barrier function are limited. Here, this study reports that osmolarity modulation can significantly improve vascular barrier function, even in an inflammatory condition. 3D human vascular microphysiological systems and automated permeability quantification processes for high-throughput analysis of vascular barrier function are utilized. Vascular barrier function is enhanced by >7-folds with 24-48 h hyperosmotic exposure (time window of emergency care; >500 mOsm L-1 ) but is disrupted after hypo-osmotic exposure (<200 mOsm L-1 ). By integrating genetic and protein level analysis, it is shown that hyperosmolarity upregulates vascular endothelial-cadherin, cortical F-actin, and cell-cell junction tension, indicating that hyperosmotic adaptation mechanically stabilizes the vascular barrier. Importantly, improved vascular barrier function following hyperosmotic exposure is maintained even after chronic exposure to proinflammatory cytokines and iso-osmotic recovery via Yes-associated protein signaling pathways. This study suggests that osmolarity modulation may be a unique therapeutic strategy to proactively prevent infectious disease progression into severe stages via vascular barrier function protection.

The development of a lifestyle modification mobile application, "Health for You" for overweight and obese breast cancer survivors in Korea.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a lifestyle modification (LSM) mobile application based on the Android operating system for overweight and obese breast cancer survivors (BCS) in Korea and evaluate its usability. Methods: The content analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of the LSM intervention mobile application for overweight and obese BCS was conducted by identifying survivors' needs, searching the literature, and reviewing existing mobile applications. The survey was conducted from June 1 to December 28, 2020 at Jeonju city, Korea. Results: The mobile application for BCS included dietary and exercise information, weight logs, as well as distress and daily achievement check. It also included information and videos on the prevention of breast cancer recurrence and used a communication bulletin board. Expert and user usability evaluation of its content and functions confirmed that it was appropriate and satisfactory for overweight and obese BCS. Conclusion: This LSM mobile application developed for overweight and obese BCS was found to be appropriate for use. It can be applied for further study of effectiveness on improving their health and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, to ultimately improve quality of life.

[Influence of lifestyle, depression, and marital intimacy on quality of life in breast cancer survivors]. / ìœ ë°©ì•” 생존자의 생활습관, 우울, 부부친밀도가 삶의 질에 미치는 영향.

Purpose: This study investigated lifestyle, depression, marital intimacy, and quality of life (QoL) in breast cancer survivors, with the goal of identifying the impacts of these factors on QoL. Methods: A sample of 146 breast cancer survivors was surveyed in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected from March 20 to May 30, 2019, using self-report structured questionnaires at a hospital located in Jeonju, Korea. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression analysis. Participants agreed to complete a face-to-face interview, including administration of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21-Depression Scale, Marital Intimacy Scale, and Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer tool. Results: QoL was positively correlated with lifestyle (r=.49, p<.001) and marital intimacy (r=.45, p<.001) and negatively correlated with depression (r=-.72, p<.001). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that depression (ß=-0.63, p<.001), marital intimacy (ß=0.19, p=.001), and lifestyle (ß=0.13, p=.031) had significant effects on the QoL of breast cancer survivors, accounting for 63.3% of variance in related QoL. Conclusion: This study provides insights into how breast cancer survivors' QoL was influenced by depression, marital intimacy, and lifestyle. To improve the QoL of breast cancer survivors, healthcare providers should consider developing strategies to decrease depression, to increase marital intimacy, and to improve lifestyle.

The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Korean children and adolescents: comparisons of the criteria of Cook et al., Cruz and Goran, and ferranti et al.

PURPOSE: Although the metabolic syndrome (MS), which can lead to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or diabetes mellitus (DM), is increasing in children and adolescents, no unified criteria have been established, and little attention has been paid to its occurrence in Korean children and adolescents. In this study, we compared the prevalence of the MS in Korean children and adolescents using the criteria which were modified for children and adolescents by Cook et al., Cruz and Goran, and Ferranti et al. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population was a nationwide representative sample of 3,431 children and adolescents (1,828 boys and 1,603 girls) from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), who were aged 10-19 years (mean 14.1 +/- 2.8), underwent a physical examination, and fasted for 8 hours before collecting blood samples. RESULTS: The rates of the MS were 6.1, 5.3, and 14.0% according to the criteria of Cruz and Goran, Cook et al., and Ferranti et al., respectively, and the agreement rate of the three sets of criteria was 88.7%. CONCLUSION: Unified criteria for the MS and a strategy for reducing obesity in children and adolescents will be necessary to prevent the occurrence of this syndrome.

Pen-2 overexpression induces Aß-42 production, memory defect, motor activity enhancement and feeding behavior dysfunction in NSE/Pen-2 transgenic mice.

Pen-2 is a key regulator of the γ-secretase complex, which is involved in the production of the amyloid ß (Aß)-42 peptides, which ultimately lead to Alzheimer's disease (AD). While Pen-2 has been studied in vitro, Pen-2 function in vivo in the brains of transgenic (Tg) mice overexpressing human Pen-2 (hPen-2) protein has not been studied. This study aimed to determine whether Pen-2 overexpression could regulate the AD-like phenotypes in Tg mice. NSE/hPen-2 Tg mice were produced by the microinjection of the NSE/hPen-2 gene into the pronucleus of fertilized eggs. The expression of the hPen-2 gene under the control of the NSE promoter was successfully detected only in the brain and kidney tissue of NSE/hPen-2 Tg mice. Also, 12-month-old NSE/hPen-2 Tg mice displayed behavioral dysfunction in the water maze test, motor activity and feeding behavior dysfunction in food intake/water intake/motor activity monitoring system. In addition, tissue samples displayed dense staining with antibody to the Aß-42 peptide. Furthermore, NSE/hPen-2 Tg mice exhibiting feeding behavior dysfunction were significantly more apt to display symptoms related to diabetes and obesity. These results suggest that Pen-2 overexpression in NSE/hPen-2 Tg mice may induce all the AD-like phenotypes, including behavioral deficits, motor activity and feeding behavior dysfunction, Aß-42 peptide deposition and chronic disease induction.