Cold plasma for enhancing covalent conjugation of ovalbumin-gallic acid and its functional properties.

The utilization of cold plasma (CP) treatment to promote covalent conjugation of ovalbumin (OVA) and gallic acid (GA), as well as its functionality, were investigated. Results demonstrated that CP significantly enhanced the covalent grafting of OVA and GA. The maximum conjugation of GA, 24.33 ± 2.24 mg/g, was achieved following 45 s of CP treatment. Covalent conjugation between GA and OVA were confirmed through analyses of total sulfhydryl (-SH) group, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Unfolding of the OVA molecule occurred upon conjugation with GA, as evidenced by multiple spectroscopy analyses. Additionally, conjugation with GA resulted in significant improvements in the antioxidant activity and emulsifying properties of OVA. This study demonstrated that CP is a robust and sustainable technique for promoting the covalent conjugate of polyphenols and proteins, offering a novel approach to enhance the functional properties of proteins.

Designing cellulose nanofibrils/carbon dots intelligent label with colorimetric and fluorescent dual responsiveness for real-time monitoring of food freshness.

This study utilized 1,2,4-triaminobenzene dihydrochloride and NaOH as precursors to prepare the pH optical sensor based on carbon dots (CDs). By incorporating CDs into pineapple peel cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) matrix, an intelligent label (CNF/CDs label) with colorimetric and fluorescent dual responsiveness was created for real-time monitoring of food freshness. The CNF/CDs labels exhibited remarkable sensitivity and recognizability towards pH changes from 1 to 12. They also demonstrated excellent reversibility during acid-alkali cycling. Moreover, these labels exhibited exceptional responsiveness to the alkaline and acidic gas environments formed by ammonium hydroxide and acetic acid solutions, respectively. These responses were visually distinguishable through visible color changes and ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence alterations. Encouragingly, the developed labels were successfully applied to monitor the freshness of prawns and fruits, enabling timely assessment of food freshness levels. The dual-mode response of color and fluorescence provided double assurance for the accuracy of the results.

Genetic Diversity and Natural Selection of Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 8 in Global Populations.

Plasmodium vivax Merozoite Surface Protein 8 (PvMSP8) is a promising candidate target for the development of multi-component vaccines. Therefore, determining the genetic variation pattern of Pvmsp8 is essential in providing a reference for the rational design of the P. vivax malaria vaccines. This study delves into the genetic characteristics of the Pvmsp8 gene, specifically focusing on samples from the China-Myanmar border (CMB) region, and contrasts these findings with broader global patterns. The study uncovers that Pvmsp8 exhibits a notable level of conservation across different populations, with limited polymorphisms and relatively low nucleotide diversity (0.00023-0.00120). This conservation contrasts starkly with the high polymorphisms found in other P. vivax antigens such as Pvmsp1. A total of 25 haplotypes and 14 amino acid mutation sites were identified in the global populations, and all mutation sites were confined to non-functional regions. The study also notes that most CMB Pvmsp8 haplotypes are shared among Burmese, Cambodian, Thai, and Vietnamese populations, indicating less geographical variance, but differ notably from those found in Pacific island regions or the Panama. The findings underscore the importance of considering regional genetic diversity in P. vivax when developing targeted malaria vaccines. Non departure from neutral evolution were found by Tajima's D test, however, statistically significant differences were observed between the kn/ks rates. The study's findings are crucial in understanding the evolution and population structure of the Pvmsp8 gene, particularly during regional malaria elimination efforts. The highly conserved nature of Pvmsp8, combined with the lack of mutations in its functional domain, presents it as a promising candidate for developing a broad and effective P. vivax vaccine. This research thus lays a foundation for the rational development of multivalent malaria vaccines targeting this genetically stable antigen.

Global One Health index for zoonoses: A performance assessment in 160 countries and territories.

The One Health (OH) approach is used to control/prevent zoonotic events. However, there is a lack of tools for systematically assessing OH practices. Here, we applied the Global OH Index (GOHI) to evaluate the global OH performance for zoonoses (GOHI-Zoonoses). The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process algorithm and fuzzy comparison matrix were used to calculate the weights and scores of five key indicators, 16 subindicators, and 31 datasets for 160 countries and territories worldwide. The distribution of GOHI-Zoonoses scores varies significantly across countries and regions, reflecting the strengths and weaknesses in controlling or responding to zoonotic threats. Correlation analyses revealed that the GOHI-Zoonoses score was associated with economic, sociodemographic, environmental, climatic, and zoological factors. Additionally, the Human Development Index had a positive effect on the score. This study provides an evidence-based reference and guidance for global, regional, and country-level efforts to optimize the health of people, animals, and the environment.

estimation of ecosystem water consumption and the suitable scale of cultivated land in the Karamay region and Muzat River basin based on the optimized SEBAL energy balance model and water resource constraint model.

Food security is closely related to the development of human society, and the root of food production lies in cultivated land, with water conservancy as its lifeline. This study estimates the ecological water consumption of located in the arid region of Northwest China (the Karamay region and Muzat River basin) from 1990 to 2020 based on the optimized Land Surface Energy Balance Algorithm. The verification accuracy of SEBAL energy balance model is greatly improved after optimization. It was showed an increasing trend in the Karamay region and Muzat River basin, increasing at the rates of 2.84 mm/year and 2.86 mm/year respectively. The suitability of cultivated land was evaluated by combining four periods of 30 m spatial resolution land use/land cover data from 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020, as well as the Hydrological Statistical Yearbook and Xinjiang Statistical Yearbook. Through the analysis of spatial optimization for cultivated land, it can be inferred that the primary limiting factors affecting cultivated land suitability in the Karamay region are irrigation guarantee rate (54.03%) and soil salinity (11.98%). Muzat River region are irrigation guarantee rate (32.19%) and soil salinity (18.62%). By comparing the scenarios of setting ecological priority and cultivated land priority, it is concluded that under the conditions of water resource constraints and 50%, 75% and 90% design irrigation assurance rates, Karamay still has cultivated land expansion potential, which can be used as the main preparatory reclamation area. In addition to the traditional agriculture irrigation area, the Muzat River basin still has development potential under the condition of ecological priority and no more than 75% irrigation design assurance rate. The study on the cultivated land suitability under the condition of water resource constraints can provide new ideas for food security.

Assessing the Effect of Cold Plasma on the Softening of Postharvest Blueberries through Reactive Oxygen Species Metabolism Using Transcriptomic Analysis.

The postharvest softening and corresponding quality deterioration of blueberry fruits are crucial factors that hinder long-distance sales and long-term storage. Cold plasma (CP) is an effective technology to solve this, but the specific mechanism of delaying fruit softening remains to be revealed. Here, this study found that CP significantly improved blueberry hardness. Physiological analysis showed that CP regulated the dynamic balance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to maintain hardness by increasing antioxidant content and antioxidant enzyme activity, resulting in a 12.1% decrease in the H2O2 content. Transcriptome analysis revealed that CP inhibited the expression of cell wall degradation-related genes such as the pectin hydrolase gene and cellulase gene, but up-regulated the genes of the ROS-scavenging system. In addition, the resistance genes in the MAPK signaling pathway were also activated by CP in response to fruit ripening and softening and exhibited positive response characteristics. These results indicate that CP can effectively regulate the physiological characteristics of blueberries at a genetic level and delay the softening process, which is of great significance to the storage of blueberries.

Revisiting the antigen markers of vector-borne parasitic diseases identified by immunomics: identification and application to disease control.

INTRODUCTION: Protein microarray is a promising immunomic approach for identifying biomarkers. Based on our previous study that reviewed parasite antigens and recent parasitic omics research, this article expands to include information on vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs), namely, malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, babesiosis, trypanosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis. AREAS COVERED: We revisit and systematically summarize antigen markers of vector-borne parasites identified by the immunomic approach and discuss the latest advances in identifying antigens for the rational development of diagnostics and vaccines. The applications and challenges of this approach for VBPD control are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION: The immunomic approach has enabled the identification and/or validation of antigen markers for vaccine development, diagnosis, disease surveillance, and treatment. However, this approach presents several challenges, including limited sample size, variability in antigen expression, false-positive results, complexity of omics data, validation and reproducibility, and heterogeneity of diseases. In addition, antigen involvement in host immune evasion and antigen sensitivity/specificity are major issues in its application. Despite these limitations, this approach remains promising for controlling VBPD. Advances in technology and data analysis methods should continue to improve candidate antigen identification, as well as the use of a multiantigen approach in diagnostic and vaccine development for VBPD control.

Effects of cold plasma pretreatment combined with sodium periodate on property enhancement of dialdehyde starch prepared using native maize starch.

This study represents the inaugural investigation into the effect of cold plasma (CP) pretreatment combined with sodium periodate on the preparation of dialdehyde starch (DAS) from native maize starch and its consequent effects on the properties of DAS. The findings indicate that the maize starch underwent etching by the plasma, leading to an increase in the particle size of the starch, which in turn weakened the rigid structure of the starch and reduced its crystallinity. Concurrently, the plasma treatment induced cleavage of the starch molecular chain, resulting in a decrease in the viscosity of the starch and an enhancement of its fluidity. These alterations facilitated an increased contact area between the starch and the oxidising agent sodium periodate, thereby augmenting the efficiency of the DAS preparation reaction. Consequently, the aldehyde group content was elevated by 9.98 % compared to the conventional DAS preparation methodology. Therefore, CP could be an efficient and environmentally friendly non-thermal processing method to assist starch oxidation for DAS preparation and property enhancement.

Preventing thermal aggregation of ovalbumin through dielectric-barrier discharge plasma treatment and enhancing its emulsification properties.

The impact of Dielectric-Barrier Discharge (DBD) plasma treatment on the prevention of heat-induced aggregation of Ovalbumin (OVA) and improvement in emulsification properties was investigated. Results highlighted the effective inhibition of thermal aggregation of OVA following exposure to plasma. Structural analysis revealed that the plasma-induced oxidation of sulfhydryl and intermolecular disulfide bonds played a pivotal role in inhibiting the thermal aggregation, considered by Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), multiplies spectroscopy, and analysis of dynamic exchange of sulfhydryl-disulfide bonds. Meanwhile, the oxidation of exposed hydrophobic sites due to plasma treatment resulted in the transformation of the OVA molecule's surface from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, contributing significantly to the aggregation inhibition. Additionally, compared to an untreated sample of OVA, almost one-fold increase in emulsifying ability (EAI) and 1.5-fold in emulsifying stability (ESI) was observed after 4 min of plasma treatment. These findings demonstrated that plasma treatment not only enhanced the thermal stability of OVA, but also improved its emulsification properties.

Engineering pineapple peel cellulose nanofibrils with oxidase-mimic functionalities for antibacterial and fruit preservation.

In this study, an antibacterial material (CNF@CoMn-NS) with oxidase-like activity was created using ultrathin cobalt­manganese nanosheets (CoMn-NS) with a larger specific surface area grown onto pineapple peel cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). The results showed that the CoMn-NS grew well on the CNF, and the obtained CNF@CoMn-NS exhibited good oxidase-like activity. The imidazole salt framework of the CNF@CoMn-NS contained cobalt and manganese in multiple oxidation states, enabling an active redox cycle and generating active oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet molecular oxygen atoms (1O2) and superoxide radical (·O2-), resulting in the significant inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus (74.14%) and Escherichia coli (54.87%). Importantly, the CNF@CoMn-NS did not exhibit cytotoxicity. The CNF@CoMn-NS further self-assembled into a CNF@CoMn-NS paper with flexibility, stability, and antibacterial properties, which can effectively protect the wound of two varieties of pears from decay caused by microorganisms. This study demonstrated the potential of using renewable and degradable CNF as substrate combined with artificial enzymes as a promising approach to creating antibacterial materials for food preservation and even extending to textiles and biomedical applications.

[Clinical comparative study on resection and non-resection of the fifth metatarsal to rheumatoid forefoot deformity].

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical effect of the fifth metatarsal head excision and non-excision in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) forefoot deformity reconstruction. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on 50 patients (76 feet) with moderate to severe forefoot deformity caused by RA treated from May 2015 to January 2019. According to degeneration of the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint,the fifth metatarsal head was retained or excised by wind-like forefoot reconstruction,and divided into the fifth metatarsal head preservation group (preservation group) and the fifth metatarsal head resection group (resection group). Twenty-four female patients in preservation group,aged from 47 to 81 years old with an average of (60.37±8.60) years old;the course of disease ranged from 13 to 22 years with an average of (19.00±3.06) years;body mass index (BMI) ranged from 21 to 28 kg·m-2 with an average of (23.53±2.47) kg·m-2;six patients (6 feet) with moderate hallux valgus deformity and 18 patients (30 feet) with severe hallux valgus deformity;treated with the first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion combined with the second th the fourth metatarsophalangeal joint arthroplasty and the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint cleanup. Twenty-six female patients in resection group were female,aged from 30 to 80 years old with an average of (58.53±13.70) years old;the course of disease ranged from 8 to 25 years with an average of (17.94±3.92) years;BMI raged from 20 to 28 kg·m-2 with an average of (24.60±2.03) kg·m-2;4 patients (4 feet) with moderate bunion valgus deformity and 22 patients (36 feet) with severe bunion valgus deformity;treated by the first metatarsophalangeal joint fusion combined with the second th the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint resection of the metatarsophalangeal head. Operation time and postoperative complications between two groups were observed,hallux valgus angle (HVA),intermetatarsal angles between the first and the second metatarsals (IMAFS),intermetatarsal angles between the first and fifth metatarsals (IMAFF),Japanese Society for Surgery of Foot (JSSF) score before surgery and at the latest follow-up were compared. RESULTS: Fifty patients were followed-up from 14 to 46(25.30±8.83) months in resection group and 12 to 48 with an average of (24.30±11.12) months in preservation group,while no significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant difference in operation time and postoperative complications between two groups (P>0.05). JSSF scores,HVA,IMAFS and IMAFF in fesection group were improved from (45.09±3.35) points,(38.90±13.67) °,(12.88±1.72) °,(32.50±2.99) ° before operation to (81.60±3.27) points,(15.40±0.90),(9.06±2.27) °,(22.20±1.98) ° at the latest follow-up (P<0.05);preservation group were improved from (47.09±3.96) points,(43.30±12.65) °,(13.99±3.13) °,(33.20±6.14) ° to (83.10±3.66) points,(15.20±1.54) °,(8.99±1.02) °,(24.70±1.88) °,respectively. There were no significant difference in JSSF score,HVA,IMAFS and IMAFF between two groups before operation and the latest follow-up (P>0.05). At the latest follow-up,there were statistically significant differences in pain and deformity in JSSF scores between two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Both rheumatoid anterior foot reconstruction and anterior foot reconstruction fifth metatarsophalangeal joint debridement showed significant improvement in clinical efficacy and imaging results. Compared with rheumatoid prefoot reconstruction,the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint reconstruction for the treatment of moderate and severe deformity of rheumatoid prefoot showed better improvement in pain,but worse improvement in deformity. For the moderate to severe deformity of the forefoot caused by rheumatoid disease,patients with mild to moderate degenerative deformity of the articular surface of the fifth metatarsal phalanges may be considered for use.

Fast real-time monitoring of meat freshness based on fluorescent sensing array and deep learning: From development to deployment.

A fluorescent sensor array (FSA) combined with deep learning (DL) techniques was developed for meat freshness real-time monitoring from development to deployment. The array was made up of copper metal nanoclusters (CuNCs) and fluorescent dyes, having a good ability in the quantitative and qualitative detection of ammonia, dimethylamine, and trimethylamine gases with a low limit of detection (as low as 131.56 ppb) in range of 5 âˆ¼ 1000 ppm and visually monitoring the freshness of various meats stored at 4 °C. Moreover, SqueezeNet was applied to automatically identify the fresh level of meat based on FSA images with high accuracy (98.17 %) and further deployed in various production environments such as personal computers, mobile devices, and websites by using open neural network exchange (ONNX) technique. The entire meat freshness recognition process only takes 5 âˆ¼ 7 s. Furthermore, gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) and uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) explanatory algorithms were used to improve the interpretability and transparency of SqueezeNet. Thus, this study shows a new idea for FSA assisted with DL in meat freshness intelligent monitoring from development to deployment.

Regulating bacterial biofilms in food and biomedicine: unraveling mechanisms and Innovating strategies.

Bacterial biofilm has brought a lot of intractable problems in food and biomedicine areas. Conventional biofilm control mainly focuses on inactivation and removal of biofilm. However, with robust construction and enhanced resistance, the established biofilm is extremely difficult to eradicate. According to the mechanism of biofilm development, biofilm formation can be modulated by intervening in the key factors and regulatory systems. Therefore, regulation of biofilm formation has been proposed as an alternative way for effective biofilm control. This review aims to provide insights into the regulation of biofilm formation in food and biomedicine. The underlying mechanisms for early-stage biofilm establishment are summarized based on the key factors and correlated regulatory networks. Recent developments and applications of novel regulatory strategies such as anti/pro-biofilm agents, nanomaterials, functionalized surface materials and physical strategies are also discussed. The current review indicates that these innovative methods have contributed to effective biofilm control in a smart, safe and eco-friendly way. However, standard methodology for regulating biofilm formation in practical use is still missing. As biofilm formation in real-world systems could be far more complicated, further studies and interdisciplinary collaboration are still needed for simulation and experiments in the industry and other open systems.

Unveiling microwave and Roasting-Steam heating mechanisms in regulating fat changes in pork using cell membrane simulation.

Fat reduction due to heating or cooking is an important issue in a healthy diet. In the current study, pork subcutaneous back fat was treated via microwave heating (MH) within 10-90 s and roasting - steam heating (RSH) within 2-30 min and their dynamic changes of individual adipocytes were explored by using vesicles as a bio-membrane model. The result showed that MH and RSH significantly increased fat loss (P < 0.05), with the maximum losses being 74.1 % and 65.6 %, respectively. The mechanical strength of connective tissue decreased and then increased slightly. The microstructure demonstrated that MH and RSH treatments facilitated a large outflow of fat, showing that the particle size of the vesicle and individual adipocytes increased and then decreased. It is thus feasible to study the dynamic changes of individual adipocytes in regulating fat reduction using cell membrane simulation.

Visible detection of chilled beef freshness using a paper-based colourimetric sensor array combining with deep learning algorithms.

This study developed an innovative approach that combines a colourimetric sensor array (CSA) composed of twelve pH-response dyes with advanced algorithms, aiming to detect amine gases and assess the freshness of chilled beef. With the assistance of multivariate statistical analysis, the sensor array can effectively distinguish five amine gases and enable rapid quantification of trimethylamine vapour with a limit of detection (LOD) of 8.02 ppb and visually monitor the fresh levels of chilled beef. Moreover, the utilization of deep learning models (ResNet34, VGG16, and GoogleNet) for chilled beef freshness evaluation achieved an overall accuracy of 98.0 %. Furthermore, t-distributed stochastic neighbour embedding (t-SNE) visualized the feature extraction process and provided explanations to understand the classification process of deep learning. The results demonstrated that applying deep learning techniques in the process of pattern recognition of CSA can help in realizing the rapid, robust, and accurate assessment of chilled beef freshness.

Co-encapsulation of curcumin and anthocyanins in bovine serum album-fucoidan nanocomplex with a two-step pH-driven method.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin (CUR) and anthocyanins (ACN) are recommended due to their bioactivities. However, their nutritional values and health benefits are limited by their low oral bioavailability. The incorporation of bioactive substances into polysaccharide-protein composite nanoparticles is an effective way to enhance their bioavailability. Accordingly, this study explored the fabrication of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-fucoidan (FUC) hybrid nanoparticles using a two-step pH-driven method for the delivery of CUR and ACN. RESULTS: Under a 1:1 weight ratio of BSA to FUC, the point of zero charge moved from pH ⁓ 4.7 for BSA to around 2.5 for FUC-coated BSA, and the formation of BSA-FUC nanocomplex was pH-dependent by showing the maximum CUR emission wavelength shifting from 546 nm (CUR-loaded BSA-FUC at pH 4.7) and 544 nm (CUR/ACN-loaded BSA-FUC nanoparticles at pH 4.7) to 540 nm (CUR-loaded BSA-FUC at pH 6.0) and 539 nm (CUR/ACN-loaded BSA-FUC nanoparticles at pH 6.0). Elevated concentrations of NaCl from 0 to 2.5 mol L-1 caused particle size increase from about 250 to about 800 nm, but showing no effect on the encapsulation efficiency of CUR. The CUR and ACN entrapped, respectively, in the inner and outer regions of the BSA-FUC nanocomplex were released at different rates. After incubation for 10 h, more than 80% of ACN was released, while less than 25% of CUR diffused into the receiving medium, which fitted well to Logistic and Weibull models. CONCLUSION: In summary, the BSA-FUC nanocomposites produced by a two-step pH-driven method could be used for the co-delivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic nutraceuticals. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Construction of a sustainable and hydrophobic high-performance all-green pineapple peel cellulose nanocomposite film for food packaging.

The increasing global awareness of environmental issues has led to a growing interest in research on cellulose-based film. However, several limitations hinder their development and industrial application, such as hydrophilicity, inadequate mechanical properties and barrier properties, and a lack of activity. This study aimed to create a sustainable and hydrophobic high-performance all-green pineapple peel cellulose nanocomposite film for food packaging by incorporating natural carnauba wax and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) into a pineapple peel cellulose matrix. The results showed that adding carnauba wax to the cellulose matrix converted the surface wettability of the cellulose-based film from hydrophilic to hydrophobic (water contact angle over 100). Additionally, the film exhibited ultraviolet resistance and antioxidation properties. The incorporation of CNF further improved the barrier properties, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of the cellulose nanocomposite film. In applied experiments, the cellulose nanocomposite film delayed post-harvest deterioration and maintained storage quality of cherry tomatoes. Importantly, the cellulose nanocomposite film could be degraded in soil within 30 days. It can be concluded that the cellulose nanocomposite film has great potential to alleviate the environmental problems and human health problems caused by non-degradable petroleum-based plastic packaging.

The role of Ginkgo Folium on antitumor: Bioactive constituents and the potential mechanism.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ginkgo biloba L. is a well-known and highly regarded resource in Chinese traditional medicine due to its effectiveness and safety. Ginkgo Folium, the leaf of Ginkgo biloba L., contains biologically active constituents with diverse pharmacological activities. Recent studies have shown promising antitumor effects of the bioactive constituents found in Ginkgo Folium against various types of cancer cells, highlighting its potential as a natural source of antitumor agents. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize its therapeutic potential. AIM OF THE REVIEW: To provide a detailed understanding of the pharmacological activities of Ginkgo Folium and its potential therapeutic benefits for cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we conducted a thorough and systematic search of multiple online databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, using relevant keywords such as "Ginkgo Folium," "flavonoids," "terpenoids," "Ginkgo Folium extracts," and "antitumor" to cover a broad range of studies that could inform our review. Additionally, we followed a rigorous selection process to ensure that the studies included in our review met the predetermined inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The active constituents of Ginkgo Folium primarily consist of flavonoids and terpenoids, with quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, ginkgolides, and bilobalide being the major compounds. These active constituents exert their antitumor effects through crucial biological events such as apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and inhibition of invasion and metastasis via modulating diverse signaling pathways. During the process of apoptosis, active constituents primarily exert their effects by modulating the caspase-8 mediated death receptor pathway and caspase-9 mediated mitochondrial pathway via regulating specific signaling pathways. Furthermore, by modulating multiple signaling pathways, active constituents effectively induce G1, G0/G1, G2, and G2/M phase arrest. Among these, the pathways associated with G2/M phase arrest are particularly extensive, with the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) being most involved. Moreover, active constituents primarily mediate autophagy by modulating certain inflammatory factors and stressors, facilitating the fusion stage between autophagosomes and lysosomes. Additionally, through the modulation of specific chemokines and matrix metalloproteinases, active constituents effectively inhibit the processes of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis, exerting a significant impact on cellular invasion and migration. Synergistic effects are observed among the active constituents, particularly quercetin and kaempferol. CONCLUSION: Active components derived from Ginkgo Folium demonstrate a comprehensive antitumor effect across various levels and pathways, presenting compelling evidence for their potential in new drug development. However, in order to facilitate their broad and adaptable clinical application, further extensive experimental investigations are required to thoroughly explore their efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanisms of action.

Constructing a novel humidity sensor using acrylic acid/bagasse cellulose porous hydrogel combining graphene oxide and citral for antibacterial and intelligent fruit preservation.

A novel hydrogel humidity sensor was developed using acrylic acid/bagasse cellulose (AA/BC) porous hydrogel triggered by cold plasma (CP) combining graphene oxide (GO) and embedding citral for antibacterial and intelligent fruit preservation. Results showed that both GO and citral were loaded in AA/BC and had strong hydrogen bond interaction with hydrogel. Acrylic acid/bagasse cellulose/graphene oxide (AA/BC/GO) showed the highest humidity response when the compound concentration of GO was 1.0 mg/mL and the test frequency was 1 kHz, and exhibited high electrical conductivity (-2.6 mS/cm). In addition, in continuous and cyclic relative humidity (RH) tests, the response time of AA/BC/GO from 33.70 % RH to 75.30 % RH was about 177.4 s and the recovery time was about 150.6 s, with excellent sensitivity and durability. The sensors also revealed remarkable antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, among which acrylic acid/bagasse cellulose/graphene oxide-citral (AA/BC/GO-C) was the most prominent, and could extend the shelf life of mangoes for about 8 days. By intuitively judging the appearances and total color difference (TCD) of the hydrogel sensors, it could play the role of intelligent preservation by connecting their water absorption and the release of citral. Therefore, this work provided innovative strategies for the application of hydrogel sensors in food preservation.

Work and lifestyle influencing factors for thyroid cancer among young and middle-aged patients with thyroid nodules / 环境与职业医学

Background The number of persons with thyroid nodules has increased rapidly in recent years, and thyroid cancer caused by malignant nodules has become a key problem endangering the health of young and middle-aged groups in China. Objective To explore work and lifestyle influencing factors for developing thyroid cancer among young and middle-aged patients with thyroid nodules. Methods The subjects with thyroid nodules were reported by routine physical examines ordered at the Huadong Sanatorium. We conducted a 1∶4 matched case-control study in which 232 patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer from 2012 to 2022 were matched to 928 controls by gender and age (±5 years). A validated questionnaire was used to collect data on work and lifestyle behaviors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were applied to explore potential relationships between selected factors (including environment, working hours, stress, diet, exercise, and mental health) and thyroid cancer. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the correlations between variables. Results The results of univariate logistic regression showed a history of thyroid cancer reported among first-degree relatives (OR=6.059, 95%CI: 1.007, 36.473), obesity (OR=1.973, 95%CI: 1.296, 3.004), noise and vibration exposure (OR=1.988, 95%CI: 1.143, 3.456), frequent stress (OR=2.093, 95%CI: 1.231, 3.559), frequent depression (OR=2.034, 95%CI: 1.048, 3.947), frequent anger (OR=1.791, 95%CI: 1.066, 3.012), frequent fried food diet (OR=1.535, 95%CI: 1.026, 2.297), and frequent fast food diet (OR=1.836, 95%CI: 1.048, 3.215) were risk factors for reporting thyroid cancer developing from thyroid nodules, while regular meals (OR=0.245, 95%CI: 0.061, 0.989) and frequent exercise (OR=0.571, 95%CI: 0.342, 0.952) were protective factors for reporting no thyroid cancer. The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that body mass index was positively correlated with frequent fried food, fast food, and sugary beverage diets (r=0.123, 0.083, 0.077, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with frequent depression and anger (r=−0.090, −0.070, P<0.05). The results of multiple logistic regression found that a history of thyroid cancer reported among first-degree relatives (OR=6.712, 95%CI: 1.071, 42.066), obesity (OR=2.032, 95%CI: 1.321, 3.125), noise and vibration exposure (OR=1.991, 95%CI: 1.089, 3.637), and frequent stress (OR=2.468, 95%CI: 1.417, 4.300) were associated with an elevated risk of reporting thyroid cancer developing from thyroid nodules patients. Regular exercise (frequency≥3 times·week−1, > 30 min per episode) (OR=0.516, 95%CI: 0.300, 0.890) was associated with a lowered risk of reporting thyroid cancer. Conclusions Multiple risk factors associated with reporting thyroid cancer among young and middle-aged groups with thyroid nodules are identified, such as obesity, noise and vibration exposure, frequent stress, and lack of exercise.