Improvement of resistant starch content and thermal-stability of starch-linoleic acid complex: An attempt application in extruded recombinant rice.

The utilization of resistant starch in food industry is restricted due to its susceptibility to thermal degradation. This work aimed to address this issue by preparing a starch-linoleic acid complex (RS5) via extrusion method combined with heat moisture treatment, obtaining VII-type crystal (melting temperature âˆ¼110 °C). The complex obtained through an 8-hour heat moisture treatment exhibited a high RS content of 46.7 %. The glycemic index (pGI) values predicted by two different methods for this complex were 54.5 and 64.2. The complex was further processed into recombinant rice, which exhibited similar textural properties to commercial rice products after cooking. Notably, the recombinant rice maintained an anti-enzyme structure (VII-type complex) as evidenced by its significant resistant starch content of 38.1 %, the lowest pGI values of 59.6 and 72.5. These findings could serve as a useful reference to aid in developing low glycemic index foods based on starch.

High-intensity laser therapy on pain relief in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis is one of the leading causes of global disability and pain. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether High-Intensity Laser therapy has superior pain-relieving effects in individuals with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Searches were conducted using CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Web of Science, PEDro, and related reference lists with language limed to English. Clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of High-Intensity Laser therapy compared to other laser therapies, conventional therapies or exercises on knee osteoarthritis pain were included. The screening and selection of studies, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were performed by two independent researchers. Studies were quantitatively integrated using the Review Manager Software and qualitative analysis using the criteria recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. RESULTS: Nine studies meeting the eligibility criteria were identified, among which only one study was identified as excellent methodology quality, six was marked as good quality, and the remaining two studies were regarded as fair or poor quality. All studies reported positive effects of High-Intensity Laser therapy on knee osteoarthritis pain. Two studies (136 people) gave indication that there was moderate evidence that High-Intensity Laser therapy could be a promising new possibility in pain relief among patients with knee osteoarthritis compared with sham laser therapy in a short-term treatment (MD, -2.04, 95% CI, -2.12 to -1.96; Z= 51.01, P< 0.01). Four studies (160 people) showed that High-Intensity Laser therapy could be an effective modality on treating pain compared to conventional physiotherapies in decreasing visual analog scale score (MD, -0.98, 95% CI, -1.19 to -0.76; Z= 9.02, P< 0.01). Three studies (123 people) demonstrated that High-Intensity Laser therapy combined with exercises was more effective than placebo laser or lower-intensity laser combined with exercises in alleviating pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis (MD, -1.54, 95% CI, -1.84 to -1.24; Z= 10.06, P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: High-Intensity Laser therapy could be a promising and recommended modality in alleviating knee osteoarthritis pain, especially when it was implemented in combination with exercises.

Effect of home-based interventions on basic activities of daily living for patients who had a stroke: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effectiveness of home-based interventions in improving the ability to do basic activities of daily living in patients who had a stroke. METHODS: Randomised controlled trials were searched through MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL from their inception to 31 December 2021. We included studies involving home-based intervention prescribed by professionals and implemented at patients' homes. The characteristics of these studies were collected. Risk of bias of individual study was assessed by Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. Meta-analyses were performed where studies reported comparable interventions and outcomes. RESULTS: In total, 49 studies were included in the systematic review and 16 studies had sufficient data for meta-analyses. The short-term effect of home-based intervention showed no significant difference when compared with institution-based intervention (standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.24, 95% CI -0.15 to 0.62, I2=0%). No significant difference was found between home-based intervention and usual care for long-term effect (SMD=0.02; 95% CI -0.17 to 0.22; I2=0%). Home-based rehabilitation combined with usual care showed a significant short-term effect on the ability to do basic daily activities, compared with usual care alone (SMD=0.55; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.87; p=0.001; I2=3%). CONCLUSION: Home-based rehabilitation with usual care, which varied from no therapy to inpatient or outpatient therapy, may have a short-term effect on the ability to do basic activities of daily living for patients who had a stroke compared with usual care alone. However, the evidence quality is low because of the limited number of studies and participants included in the meta-analysis and the possible publication bias. Future research is needed to investigate the effectiveness of home-based rehabilitation in groups with stratification by stroke severity and time since stroke onset, with elaboration of details of the home-based and the control interventions. Moreover, more high-quality studies are required to prove the cost-effectiveness of newly developed strategies like caregiver-mediated rehabilitation and telerehabilitation. THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF FUNDING: The Medical Research Fund of Guangdong Province (No: A2021041).

Resistant structure of extruded starch: Effects of fatty acids with different chain lengths and degree of unsaturation.

This study investigated the formation mechanism of enzyme-resistant structures in extruded starch, specifically, fatty acid-starch complexes (FASCs). The effects of fatty acids (FAs) with different carbon-chain lengths (C12-C18) and degrees of unsaturation (C18:0-C18:2) on complex formation were evaluated, with fluorescence microscopy verifying complex formation. The complexed-lipid content and degree of relative crystallinity increased with the carbon-chain length and degree of FA unsaturation. FAs with fewer carbons were more likely to generate stable complexes (e.g., form II, melted at 100-120 °C), while FAs with more carbons tended to produce relatively unstable complexes (e.g., form I, melted at 80-100 °C). After reheating and cooling, a new amylose-lipid complex and an amylose-amylopectin network was formed in the unsaturated FASC samples, which restricted the penetration of enzymes into starch granules. A starch-linoleic acid complex exhibited the highest resistant starch content (15.7%) and lowest predicted glycaemic index (88.4).

Effects of cooling rate on retrograded nucleation of different rice starch-aromatic molecule complexes.

The effects of cooling rate (CR) on retrograded nucleation of rice starch-aromatic molecule complexes were evaluated. Six aromatic molecules (hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol, γ-decalactone, guaiacol, 2, 3-butanedione, and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline) were chosen to represent the typical aromas in cooked rice. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed that increased CR from 0.34 to 3.04 °C/min led to reduced enthalpy change (ΔH) (in 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline from 2.08 to 1.40 J/g), reduced Tp (in 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline 100.91 to 98.29 °C whereas in 2,3-butanedione it remained almost constant) and increased Tc-To (but fluctuating in γ-decalactone) (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the nucleation forming at higher CR were more thermally unstable, less perfect, and more heterogeneous. X-ray diffraction analysis further indicated that nucleation forming at high CR was looser and with lower relative crystallinity (in 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline decreased from 2.18% to 1.00%) (p < 0.05). These results may aid the development of procedures for more effective preservation of aromatic molecules in cooked rice.

Interactions between rice amylose and aroma compounds and their effect on rice fragrance release.

Starch in cooked rice affects the volatilization of aroma compounds, due to their interactions. In particular, the linear fraction of starch from various plant sources, i.e. amylose, can form complexes with a wide variety of ligands. In the present work, the capacity of amylose for embedding and controlling the release of five aroma compounds (hexanal, 1-octen-3-ol, γ-decalactone, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, 2,3-butanedione), corresponding to the different types of typical aromas in cooked rice, were tested to determine whether they formed complexes with amylose. The results obtained from x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry showed that the interactions occurred between amylose and aromas, and four of the aromas (except for 2,3-butanedione) could form complexes with V-type crystal. The release behavior of aromas from complexes was further evaluated using gas chromatography, indicating that amylose has effects on aroma release. These findings suggested that interactions between rice amylose and aromas occurred, thus affecting the release of aromas from the amylose matrix.

Structural changes of chemically modified rice starch by one-step reactive extrusion.

Structural changes of chemically modified rice starch (CMRS) by one-step reactive extrusion (REX) via esterification, acetylation, hydroxypropylation, and cross-linking or dual-modification (hydroxypropylation-cross-linking and acetylation-cross-linking) were investigated. REX treatments exhibited a significant effect on the structure of rice starch granules, resulting in the destruction of the starch crystalline structure and formation of new crystalline complexes. The original A-type crystalline structure was transformed to VH-type after REX treatments, which were further confirmed by DSC experiments since a new endotherm at 100-122 °C was detected. Due to the susceptibility differences in shear-induced breakdown of amylopectin and amylose, the molecular degradation was heterogeneous and retarded by esterification but enhanced by cross-linking. Morphology analysis showed that the original starch granular structure was lost and replaced with a rougher and more irregular structure. In consequence, REX process exerted significant influences on rice starch granules which enhanced its resistance to enzyme hydrolysis.

A simple and green method for preparation of non-crystalline granular starch through controlled gelatinization.

Non-crystalline granular starch (NCGS) is of considerable interest because of its unique functional properties. In this study, controlled gelatinization combined with sedimentation was used to prepare the NCGS from normal maize starch. The morphology and crystalline state of the NCGS were investigated using optical and electron microscopy, calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These methods showed that starch granules maintained a granule structure up to around 80 °C but they completely dissociated at higher temperatures. The number of the granules that disappeared the birefringence gradually increased with the temperature increase, and completely disappeared at 75 °C. The DSC results indicated that the crystalline structure of amylopectin was totally destroyed when the treating temperature was greater than or equal to 75 °C. The XRD patterns showed that the crystalline structure of native starch was thoroughly disappeared at 75 °C. However, B-type and V-type crystals formed in the samples heated at 80 °C or higher, corresponding to the short-term retrogradation of amylose and the formation of amylose-lipids complexes, respectively.

Disruption and molecule degradation of waxy maize starch granules during high pressure homogenization process.

The mechanism underlying the fragmentation of waxy maize starch (WMS) granules during high-pressure homogenization (HPH) was studied and the results were interpreted in terms of granular and molecular aspects. The diameter of disrupted starch granules decreased exponentially with increasing HPH pressure, but decreased linearly with increasing of HPH cycles. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a cone-like inside-out disruption pattern through the channels that resulted in separation of blocklets fragments or starch fragments. The Mw of amylopectin was reduced by ∼half following treatment at 150MPa with two cycles, or at 100MPa for eight cycles, and the decrease was in accordance with the disruption of starch granules. This indicated that amylopectin was "protected" by blocklets, and the disruption of WMS granules mainly occurred close to the linkage among blocklets. Increasing the HPH pressure appeared to be more effective for breaking starch granules than increasing the number of HPH cycles.

Measurement and characterization of external oil in the fried waxy maize starch granules using ATR-FTIR and XRD.

Concerns regarding increased dietary oil uptake have prompted efforts to investigate the oil absorption and distribution in fried starchy foods. In the present study, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, together with a chloroform-methanol method, was used to analyze the external and internal oil contents in fried starchy samples. The micromorphology of fried starchy samples was further investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), polarized light microscope (PLM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The results indicated that large amounts of oil were absorbed in or within waxy maize starch, but the majority of oil was located near the surface layer of the starch granules. After defatting, the internal oil was thoroughly removed, while a small amount of external oil remained. As evidenced by the changes of the crystalline characteristics with the help of X-ray diffraction (XRD), the interaction between starch and lipids on the surface was confirmed to form V-type complex compounds during frying at high moisture.

Associations of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase gene single nucleotide polymorphisms with sport performance and relative maximal oxygen uptake.

To observe the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) gene and sport performance and to analyse genotype associations of the associated SNPs with sport performance and relative maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]). Participants were selected from 685 Chinese Han male college students. The completion times of a 1000-m run and a 50-m run were used to reflect sport performance, respectively. Nineteen tagSNPs were genotyped with Polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction. Relative [Formula: see text] was directly determined with a cardiopulmonary function analyser. A significant association was found between rs2256292 and 1000-m run performance, but no significant association was found between any tagSNPs and 50-m run performance. The genotype associations of rs2256292 with 1000-m run performance and with relative [Formula: see text] were both significant under the recessive model (CC vs. CG + GG). No tagSNP in NNMT is significantly associated with 50-m run performance but rs2256292 is significantly associated with 1000-m run performance. The genotype associations of rs2256292 with sport performance are significant under recessive model, and a higher relative [Formula: see text] may be the physiological reason for minor homozygote CC carriers being of the better 1000-m runners.

Physiological Study on Association between Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase Gene Polymorphisms and Hyperlipidemia.

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) catalyzes the methylation of nicotinamide. Our previous works indicate that NNMT is involved in the body mass index and energy metabolism, and recently the association between a SNP (rs694539) of NNMT and a variety of cardiovascular diseases was reported. At present, more than 200 NNMT single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in the databases of the human genome projects; however, the association between rs694539 variation and hyperlipidemia has not been reported yet, and whether there are any SNPs in NNMT significantly associated with hyperlipidemia is still unclear. In this paper, we selected 19 SNPs in NNMT as the tagSNPs using Haploview software (Haploview 4.2) first and then performed a case-control study to observe the association between these tagSNPs and hyperlipidemia and finally applied physiological approaches to explore the possible mechanisms through which the NNMT polymorphism induces hyperlipidemia. The results show that a SNP (rs1941404) in NNMT is significantly associated with hyperlipidemia, and the influence of rs1941404 variation on the resting energy expenditure may be the possible mechanism for rs1941404 variation to induce hyperlipidemia.

[Expression of Aquaporin 4 in Diffuse Brain Injury of Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in diffuse brain injury (DBI) of rats and to explore the corresponding effect of AQP4 for brain edema. METHODS: The rat model of DBI was established using Marmarou's impact-compression trauma model. Brain water content was measured by dry-wet weight method. Blood-brain barrier permeability was evaluated by Evans blue (EB) staining. Immunohistochemical method was used to observe the expression of AQP4. RESULTS: Brain water content increased after 3 h and peaked at 24 h after DBI. Brain EB content significantly increased and peaked at 12 h after DBI. The expression of AQP4 significantly increased after 3 h and peaked at 24 h after DBI, and the number of AQP4 positive astrocytes increased. CONCLUSION: The increment of the permeability of blood-brain barrier and the expression of AQP4 may contribute to the development of brain edema in rat DBI. The change of AQP4 expression in astrocytes may also contribute to determine DBI.

Health effects from swimming training in chlorinated pools and the corresponding metabolic stress pathways.

Chlorination is the most popular method for disinfecting swimming pool water; however, although pathogens are being killed, many toxic compounds, called disinfection by-products (DBPs), are formed. Numerous epidemiological publications have associated the chlorination of pools with dysfunctions of the respiratory system and with some other diseases. However, the findings concerning these associations are not always consistent and have not been confirmed by toxicological studies. Therefore, the health effects from swimming in chlorinated pools and the corresponding stress reactions in organisms are unclear. In this study, we show that although the growth and behaviors of experimental rats were not affected, their health, training effects and metabolic profiles were significantly affected by a 12-week swimming training program in chlorinated water identical to that of public pools. Interestingly, the eyes and skin are the organs that are more directly affected than the lungs by the irritants in chlorinated water; instead of chlorination, training intensity, training frequency and choking on water may be the primary factors for lung damage induced by swimming. Among the five major organs (the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys), the liver is the most likely target of DBPs. Through metabolomics analysis, the corresponding metabolic stress pathways and a defensive system focusing on taurine were presented, based on which the corresponding countermeasures can be developed for swimming athletes and for others who spend a lot of time in chlorinated swimming pools.