Effect of extrusion on the formation, structure and properties of yam starch-gallic acid complexes.

This paper investigated the effects of twin-screw extrusion treatment on the formation, structure and properties of yam starch-gallic acid complexes. Yam starch and gallic acid were extruded. The microstructure, gelatinization characteristics, and rheological properties of the samples were determined. The microstructure of extruded yam starch-gallic acid complexes presented a rough granular morphology, low swelling, and high solubility. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the extruded yam starch-gallic acid complexes exhibited A + V-type crystalline structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed that the extrusion treatment could destroy the internal orderly structure of yam starch, and the addition of gallic acid could further reduce its molecular orderliness. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed a decrease in the enthalpy of gelatinization of the sample. Dynamic rheological analysis showed that the storage modulus and loss modulus of the extruded yam starch-gallic acid complexes were significantly reduced, exhibiting a weak gel system. The results of viscosity showed that extrusion synergistic gallic acid reduced the peak viscosity and setback value of starch. In addition, extrusion treatment had an inhibitory effect on the digestibility of yam starch, and enhanced the interaction of gallic acid with yam starch or hydrolytic enzymes. Therefore, extrusion synergistic gallic acid has improved the structure and properties of yam starch-related products, which can provide new directions and new ideas for the development of yam starch.

Clinical Effect of the Combination of Compound Kushen Injection and Gemcitabine on Postoperative Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer and Its Influence on Serum-Related Factors.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of the combination of compound Kushen injection (CKI) and gemcitabine on postoperative patients with non-muscular invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and its influence on serum-related factors. METHODS: A total of 150 patients with NMIBC were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in the control group (n = 75) received gemcitabine therapy; They were given 0.2 g gemcitabine once a week for 8 weeks after surgery and then changed to once every 2 weeks for eight times. The patients in the observation group (n = 75) were given CKI treatment on the basis of the control group for 10 days. The treatment was continued for three courses. After continuous follow-up for 2 years, the blood biochemistry, serum-related factors and immune T cell subsets and the safety and immune function changes, total effective rate, recurrence rate and occurrence of adverse reactions were evaluated. RESULTS: The interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, clusters of differentiation (CD)8+, serum cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), hepatocyte CAM and cysteine proteinase-8 levels in the two groups after treatment significantly increased compared with those before treatment (p < 0.05), with the observation group showing more increase (p < 0.05). However, the tumour necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, CD3+, CD4+, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, MMP-2, epithelial-specific CAM, soluble CAM-1, liver CAM, E-cadherin, vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor levels decreased significantly after treatment (p < 0.05), with the observation group exhibiting more decrease (p < 0.05). The adverse reactions and recurrence rate in the observation group obviously decreased in comparison to those in the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of CKI and gemcitabine can improve the inflammatory response, relieve the clinical symptoms of patients and reduce adverse clinical symptoms during gemcitabine infusion chemotherapy, with high safety.

Clinical Effect of the Combination of Compound Kushen Injection and Gemcitabine on Postoperative Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer and Its Influence on Serum-Related Factors

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of the combination of compound Kushen injection (CKI) and gemcitabine on postoperative patients with non-muscular invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and its influence on serum-related factors. Methods: A total of 150 patients with NMIBC were randomly divided into two groups. The patients in the control group (n = 75) received gemcitabine therapy; They were given 0.2 g gemcitabine once a week for 8 weeks after surgery and then changed to once every 2 weeks for eight times. The patients in the observation group (n = 75) were given CKI treatment on the basis of the control group for 10 days. The treatment was continued for three courses. After continuous follow-up for 2 years, the blood biochemistry, serum-related factors and immune T cell subsets and the safety and immune function changes, total effective rate, recurrence rate and occurrence of adverse reactions were evaluated. Results: The interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, clusters of differentiation (CD)8+, serum cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), hepatocyte CAM and cysteine proteinase-8 levels in the two groups after treatment significantly increased compared with those before treatment (p < 0.05), with the observation group showing more increase (p < 0.05). However, the tumour necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-6, CD3+, CD4+, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, MMP-2, epithelial-specific CAM, soluble CAM-1, liver CAM, E-cadherin, vascular endothelial growth factor and fibroblast growth factor levels decreased significantly after treatment (p < 0.05), with the observation group exhibiting more decrease (p < 0.05). The adverse reactions and recurrence rate in the observation group obviously decreased in comparison to those in the control group (p < 0.05) (AU)

Acinetobacter entericus sp. nov., isolated from the gut of plastic-eating insect larvae Zophobas atratus.

A Gram-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped strain, BIT-DXN8T, was isolated from the gut of plastic-eating insect larvae Zophobas atratus. The taxonomic position of this new isolate was examined by using a polyphasic approach. A preliminary analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence (1411 bp) indicated that the most similar strain to BIT-DXN8T was Acinetobacter bouvetii DSM 14964T (98.5%), followed by Acinetobacter haemolyticus CIP 64.3T (98.2%) and Acinetobacter pullicarnis S23T (98.2%). The results of phylogenetic analyses, based on the 16S rRNA gene, concatenated sequences of five housekeeping genes (fusA, gyrB, recA, rplB and rpoB) and genome sequences, placed strain BIT-DXN8T in a separate lineage among the genus Acinetobacter of the family Moraxellaceae. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of the strain when compared to all other species within the genus Acinetobacter were below 96 and 70 %, respectively. The physiological and biochemical tests confirm the affiliation of strain BIT-DXN8T to the present species within the genus Acinetobacter, but with some specific phenotypic differences. Therefore, strain BIT-DXN8T is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Acinetobacter entericus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BIT-DXN8T (=CCTCC AB 2022117T=KCTC 92696T).

Preparation and Characterization of Extruded Yam Starch-Soy Protein Isolate Complexes and Their Effects on the Quality of Dough.

Extrusion is a method of processing that changes the physicochemical and rheological properties of starch and protein under specific temperature and pressure conditions. In this study, twin-screw extrusion technology was employed to prepare yam starch-soy protein isolate complexes. The structure and properties of the complexes and their effects on the quality of dough were studied. The results showed changes in the X-ray diffraction, rheology, and in vitro digestibility of the complexes. The extruded starch-protein complex formed an A+V-type crystal structure with the addition of soy protein isolate. A small amount of soy protein isolate could improve the complex's viscoelasticity. As the content of soy protein isolate increased, the content of slow-digesting starch and resistant starch in the complexes increased, and the digestibility decreased. The microstructure of the dough indicated that the network structure of the puffed yam starch-protein complex dough was more uniform than that of the same amount of puffed yam starch. The moisture distribution of the dough showed that with the addition of extruded flour, the closely bound water content of the dough increased, and the weakly bound water content decreased. The hardness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience of the dough decreased. In conclusion, extruded starch-protein complexes can improve dough quality and provide technical support for the broad application of yam.

The application of gargle containing honeysuckle and semen oroxyli to reduce the pain and complications after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

Purpose: The main purpose of this pilot study was to detect the positive effects of our self-made gargle containing honeysuckle and semen oroxyli on post-operative pain and complications after Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). Methods: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who had underwent elective UPPP during the period of April 2019 to January 2022 were randomly divided into treatment group and control group. The patients in the treatment group were instructed to gargle the solution containing honeysuckle and semen oroxyli (25 ml) four times a day for 2 weeks. The patients in the control group were instructed to gargle normal saline (25 ml) at the same schedule. The post-operative resting throat pain, swallowing throat pain and patient comfort level were evaluated at 12 h, 1 week and 2 weeks after UPPP. The post-operative complications were collected and analyzed. Results: During the study period, 218 patients completed all the post-operative assessments. For resting throat pain, the treatment group had much lower VAS scores at 1 week and 2 weeks after UPPP. For swallowing throat pain, treatment group had much lower VAS scores than control group at 2 weeks after surgery. And patients in the treatment group felt more comfortable comparing to those in control group at 1 week and 2 weeks after UPPP. Although the treatment group had less numbers of patients with post-operative wound infection or bleeding, the difference between the 2 groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The gargle containing honeysuckle and semen oroxyli could relieve both resting and swallowing throat pain and increase patient comfort after UPPP.

The Effects of Fungicide, Soil Fumigant, Bio-Organic Fertilizer and Their Combined Application on Chrysanthemum Fusarium Wilt Controlling, Soil Enzyme Activities and Microbial Properties.

Sustained monoculture often leads to a decline in soil quality, in particular to the build-up of pathogen populations, a problem that is conventionally addressed by the use of either fungicide and/or soil fumigation. This practice is no longer considered to be either environmentally sustainable or safe. While the application of organic fertilizer is seen as a means of combating declining soil fertility, it has also been suggested as providing some control over certain soil-borne plant pathogens. Here, a greenhouse comparison was made of the Fusarium wilt control efficacy of various treatments given to a soil in which chrysanthemum had been produced continuously for many years. The treatments comprised the fungicide carbendazim (MBC), the soil fumigant dazomet (DAZ), the incorporation of a Paenibacillus polymyxa SQR21 (P. polymyxa SQR21, fungal antagonist) enhanced bio-organic fertilizer (BOF), and applications of BOF combined with either MBC or DAZ. Data suggest that all the treatments evaluated show good control over Fusarium wilt. The MBC and DAZ treatments were effective in suppressing the disease, but led to significant decrease in urease activity and no enhancement of catalase activity in the rhizosphere soils. BOF including treatments showed significant enhancement in soil enzyme activities and microbial communities compared to the MBC and DAZ, evidenced by differences in bacterial/fungi (B/F) ratios, Shannon-Wiener indexes and urease, catalase and sucrase activities in the rhizosphere soil of chrysanthemum. Of all the treatments evaluated, DAZ/BOF application not only greatly suppressed Fusarium wilt and enhanced soil enzyme activities and microbial communities but also promoted the quality of chrysanthemum obviously. Our findings suggest that combined BOF with DAZ could more effectively control Fusarium wilt disease of chrysanthemum.

[Effects of bio-organic fertilizer and fungicide application on continuous cropping obstacles of cut chrysanthemum].

Abstract: Fusarium wilt is a soil borne disease caused by plant continuous cropping in monoculture Chrysanthemum morifolium 'Youxiang' monoculture not only declines plant quality and yield but also decreases soil enzymes and soil microbial diversity over successive cultivation. In this article, the effects of fungicide (Carbendazim MBC), antifungal enhanced bio-organic fertilizer (BOF), and their combined application on the quality and soil enzymes activities of Chrysanthemum morifolium 'Youxiang' in continuous cropping systems were investigated. The results showed that both bioorganic fertilizer (BOF) and fungicide (MBC) single application could effectively prevent the occurrence of Fusarium wilt disease of cut chrysanthemum. Bio-organic fertilizer application was more effective on root activity, soil enzymes activities and quality (shoot height, stem diameter, leaf SPAD value, ray floret number, shoot fresh mass) improvement of cut chrysanthemum, while fungicide single application was responsible for soil enzymatic activities suppression to some extent. The combined application treatment (MBC+BOF) showed the best effects on quality improvement and soil enzyme activities promotion.