Bu zhong Yiqi Decoction ameliorates mild cognitive impairment by improving mitochondrial oxidative stress damage via the SIRT3/MnSOD/OGG1 pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi Decoction(BZYQD) is a traditional formula commonly used in China, known for its effects in tonifying Qi and raising Yang. It can relieve symptoms of cognitive impairment such as forgetfulness and lack of concentration caused by qi deficiency, which is common in aging and debilitating. However, much of the current research on BZYQD has been focused on its impact on the digestive system, leaving its molecular mechanisms in improving cognitive function largely unexplored. AIM OF THE STUDY: Cognitive decline in the aging central nervous system is intrinsically linked to oxidative damage. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of BZYQD in treating mild cognitive impairment caused by qi deficiency, particularly through repair of mitochondrial oxidative damage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rat model of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was established by administering reserpine subcutaneously for two weeks, followed by a two-week treatment with BZYQD/GBE. In vitro experiments were conducted to assess the effects of BZYQD on neuronal cells using a H2O2-induced oxidative damage model in PC12 cells. The open field test and the Morris water maze test evaluated the cognitive and learning memory abilities of the rats. HE staining and TEM were employed to observe morphological changes in the hippocampus and its mitochondria. Mitochondrial activity, ATP levels, and cellular viability were measured using assay kits. Protein expression in the SIRT3/MnSOD/OGG1 pathway was analyzed in tissues and cells through western blotting. Levels of 8-OH-dG in mitochondria extracted from tissues and cells were quantified using ELISA. Mitochondrial morphology in PC12 cells was visualized using Mito Red, and mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed using the JC-1 kit. RESULTS: BZYQD treatment significantly improved cognitive decline caused by reserpine in rats, as well as enhanced mitochondrial morphology and function in the hippocampus. Our findings indicate that BZYQD mitigates mtDNA oxidative damage in rats by modulating the SIRT3/MnSOD/OGG1 pathway. In PC12 cells, BZYQD reduced oxidative damage to mitochondria and mtDNA in H2O2-induced conditions and was associated with changes in the SIRT3/MnSOD/OGG1 pathway. CONCLUSION: BZYQD effectively counteracts reserpine-induced mild cognitive impairment and ameliorates mitochondrial oxidative stress damage through the SIRT3/MnSOD/OGG1 pathway.

Interaction between HTR2A rs3125 and negative life events in suicide attempts among patients with major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Both genetic and environmental factors play crucial roles in the development of major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicide attempts (SA). However, the interaction between both items remains unknown. This study aims to explore the interactions between the genetic variants of the serotonin 2 A receptor (HTR2A) and the nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) and environmental factors in patients who experience MDD and SA. METHODS: A total of 334 patients with MDD and a history of SA (MDD-SA) were recruited alongside 518 patients with MDD with no history of SA (MDD-NSA), and 716 healthy controls (HC). The demographic data and clinical characteristics were collected. Sequenom mass spectrometry was used to detect eight tag-single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) in HTR2A (rs1328683, rs17068986, and rs3125) and NOS1 (rs1123425, rs2682826, rs3741476, rs527590, and rs7959232). Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was used to analyze the gene-environment interactions. RESULTS: Four tagSNPs (rs17068986, rs3125, rs527590, and rs7959232) exhibited significant differences between the three groups. However, these differences were not significant between the MDD-SA and MDD-NSA groups after Bonferroni correction. A logistic regression analysis revealed that negative life events (OR = 1.495, 95%CI: 1.071-2.087, P = 0.018), self-guilt (OR = 2.263, 95%CI: 1.515-3.379, P < 0.001), and negative cognition (OR = 2.252, 95%CI: 1.264-4.013, P = 0.006) were all independently associated with SA in patients with MDD. Furthermore, GMDR analysis indicated a significant interaction between HTR2A rs3125 and negative life events. Negative life events in conjunction with the HTR2A rs3125 CG + GG genotype were associated with a higher SA risk in patients with MDD when compared to the absence of negative life events in conjunction with the CC genotype (OR = 2.547, 95% CI: 1.264-5.131, P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Several risk factors and a potential interaction between HTR2A rs3125 and negative life events were identified in patients with SA and MDD. The observed interaction likely modulates the risk of MDD and SA, shedding light on the pathogenesis of SA in patients with MDD.

Galangin Prevents Against Ethanol-Induced Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction and NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation via NF-κB/MAPK Signaling Pathways in Mice and Caco-2 Cells.

The potential of natural phytochemicals in addressing ethanol-related public safety concerns has been garnering attention. Galangin, a potent flavonoid renowned for its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory characteristics, is derived from the galanga plant, and propolis is derived from bees. Here, we documented the effects of galangin on ethanol-stimulated intestinal tight junction damage and investigated its potential protective mechanism in both in vivo and in vitro models, which has not been extensively investigated. Our results revealed that galangin efficaciously mitigated ethanol-induced intestine injury and dysfunction of the intestinal barrier. Concurrently, galangin significantly counteracted the ethanol-induced upregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins and activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathways in both the mouse colon and Caco-2 cells. Interestingly, similar to galangin, inhibitors of MAPKs and the NF-κB p65 reduced ethanol-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and intestinal tight junction damage. To sum up, our results showed that galangin blocks the ethanol-induced perturbation of the intestinal barrier and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome via the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways.

The evaluation of catechins reducing heterocyclic aromatic amine formation: Structure-activity relationship and mechanism speculation.

The favorable inhibitory effect of tea polyphenols on heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) has been confirmed in many past studies. The objective of this study was to investigate the structure-activity relationship of catechins that act as inhibitors of HAA formation in chemical models. Two kinds of quantitative structure-activity relationship models for catechin-inhibiting-HAA were established. We chose two kinds of HAAs including 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), and five catechins including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and catechin (C). The inhibitory effect of five catechins were in the following order: EGCG > ECG > EGC > C > EC. Thereinto, EGCG and ECG showed dramatically better inhibition on the formation of PhIP and MeIQx, especially EGCG. Further, the mechanisms of catechin-inhibiting-HAA were speculated by correlation analysis. The free radical-scavenging ability was predicted to be the most relevant to the inhibitory effect of ECG, EGC, EC and C on HAAs. Differently, the phenylacetaldehyde-trapping ability might be the more important mechanism of EGCG inhibiting PhIP in chemical model system. This study may bring a broader idea for controlling the formation of HAAs according to the structure of catechins.

Search for Snail Repellents: Antimollusc Activities from Stemona parviflora and Six Other Chinese Stemona Species.

Snails are important agricultural pests difficult to control, but data regarding molluscicidal assays are scant. Stemona alkaloids are typical secondary metabolites for the taxa and have been broadly investigated for their pharmacological and toxicological effects. This makes it possible for us to further develop the toxicities of these compounds to snails. In this work, we tested the antifeedant properties of leaves from seven Chinese Stemona species against the land snail species Bradybaena ravida in choice and non-choice feeding assays. The tested leaves Stemona parviflora exhibited the most deterrent effects, and a further phytochemical investigation of aerial parts led to the identification of 16 alkaloids. Among them, three novel alkaloids could be identified. The alkaloidal fraction and single alkaloids were further assayed against this snail species, and the results suggest a cocktail effect because the impact of the alkaloidal fraction was higher than the effects caused by single alkaloids. The study can promote the search process of natural antimollusc products from plants to control snails.

A systematic study on the chemical model of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons formation from nutrients (glucose, amino acids, fatty acids) in food.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), prominent carcinogens formed during food processing, pose health risks through long-term consumption. This study focuses on 16 priority PAHs in the European Union, investigating their formation during pyrolysis. Glucose, amino acids and fatty acids are important food nutrients. To further explore whether these nutrients in food form PAHs during heating, a single chemical model method was used to heat these nutrients respectively, and GC-MS/MS was used to identify and quantify the obtained components. Glucose is the most basic nutrient in food, so the influence of water, pH, temperature and other factors on the formation of PAHs was studied in the glucose model. At the same time, the models of amino acids and fatty acids were used to assist in improving the entire nutrient research system. According to our results, some previously reported mechanisms of PAHs formation by fatty acids heating were confirmed. In addition, glucose and amino acids could also produce many PAHs after heating, and some conclusions were improved by comparing the intermediates of PAHs from three types of nutrients.

Lactobacillus reuteri biofilms formed on porous zein/cellulose scaffolds: Synbiotics to regulate intestinal microbiota.

Supplementing probiotics or indigestible carbohydrates is a usual strategy to prevent or revert unhealthy states of the gut by reshaping gut microbiota. One criterion that probiotics are efficacious is the capacity to survive in the gastrointestinal tract. Biofilm is the common growth mode of microorganisms with high tolerances toward harsh environments. Suitable scaffolds are crucial for successful biofilm culture and large-scale production of biofilm-phenotype probiotics. However, the role of scaffolds containing indigestible carbohydrates in biofilm formation has not been studied. In this study, porous zein/cellulose composite scaffolds provided nitrogen sources and carbon sources simultaneously at the solid/liquid interfaces, being beneficial to the biofilm formation of Lactobacillus reuteri. The biofilms showed 2.1-17.4 times higher tolerances in different gastrointestinal conditions. In human fecal fermentation, the biofilms combined with the zein/cellulose composite scaffolds act as the "synbiotics" positively modulating the gut microbiota and the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), where biofilms provide probiotics and scaffolds provide prebiotics. The "synbiotics" show a more positive regulation ability than planktonic L. reuteri, presenting potential applications in gut health interventions. These results provide an understanding of the synergistic effects of biofilm-phenotype probiotics and indigestible carbohydrates contained in the "synbiotics" in gut microbiota modulation.

Morphometrics predicts the differential regurgitant fraction in bilateral pulmonary arteries of patients with repaired tetralogy of fallot.

In patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF), the regurgitant fraction (RF) in left pulmonary artery (LPA) and right pulmonary artery (RPA) is usually unequal. The morphometrics may play a crucial role in this RF discrepancy. Cardiovascular MR of 79 rTOF patients and 20 healthy controls were retrospectively enrolled. Forty-four from the 79 patients were matched in age, sex and body surface area to the 20 controls and were investigated for: (1) phase-contrast flow of main pulmonary artery (MPA), LPA, and RPA; (2) vascular angles: the angles between the thoracic anterior-posterior line (TAPL) with MPA (θM-AP), MPA with RPA (θM-R), and MPA with LPA (θM-L); (3) cardiac angle, the angle between TAPL and the interventricular septum; (4) area ratio of bilateral lung and hemithorax regions. Compared with the 20 controls, the 44 rTOF patients exhibited wider θM-AP, sharper θM-L angle, and a smaller θM-L/θM-R ratio. In the 79 rTOF patients, LPA showed lower forward, backward, and net flow, and greater RF as compared with RPA. Multivariate analysis showed that the RF of LPA was negatively associated with the θM-L/θM-R ratio and the age at surgery (R2 = 0.255). Conversely, the RF of RPA was negatively associated with the left lung/left hemithorax area ratio and cross-sectional area (CSA) of LPA, and positively associated with CSA of RPA and MPA (R2 = 0.366). In rTOF patients, the RF of LPA is more severe than that of RPA, which may be related to the vascular morphometrics. Different morphometric parameters are independently associated with the RF of LPA or RPA, which may offer potential insights for surgical strategies.

Cerebral white matter burden is linked to cognitive function in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease is related to neurodegeneration and structural changes in the brain which might lead to cognitive decline. The Fazekas scale used for assessing white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) was associated with poor cognitive performance. Therefore, this study investigated the associations between the mini-mental status examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), cognitive abilities screening instrument (CASI), and Fazekas scale in patients under hemodialysis (HD). METHODS: The periventricular (PV) WMHs and deep WMHs (DWMHs) in brain magnetic resonance images of 59 patients under dialysis were graded using the Fazekas scale. Three cognition function tests were also performed, then multivariable ordinal regression and logistic regression were used to identify the associations between cognitive performance and the Fazekas scale. RESULTS: There were inverse associations between the three cognitive function tests across the Fazekas scale of PVWMHs (p = .037, .006, and .008 for MMSE, MoCA, and CASI, respectively), but the associations were attenuated in the DWMHs group. In CASI, significant differences were identified in short-term memory, mental manipulation, abstract thinking, language, spatial construction, and name fluency in the PVWMHs group. However, DWMHs were only significantly correlated with abstract thinking and short-term memory. CONCLUSION: An inverse correlation existed between the Fazekas scale, predominantly in PVWMHs, and cognition in patients undergoing HD. The PVWMHs were associated with cognitive performance assessed by MMSE, MoCA, and CASI, as well as with subdomains of CASI such as memory, language and name fluency in patients undergoing HD.

An inverse correlation existed between the Fazekas scale and cognition in patients undergoing hemodialysis, predominantly in periventricular white matter hyperintensities.The periventricular white matter hyperintensities were associated with cognitive performance assessed by mini-mental status examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), cognitive abilities screening instrument (CASI), as well as with subdomains of CASI such as memory, language and name fluency in patients undergoing HD.

Multi-average high-acceleration modified volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) for free-breathing multiphase contrast-enhanced liver MRI: a comparative study with breath-hold VIBE.

BACKGROUND: Breath-hold volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (BH-VIBE) of multiphase contrast-enhanced liver magnetic resonance imaging (MPCE-LMRI) requires good cooperative individuals to comply with multiple breath-holds. PURPOSE: To develop a free-breathing modified VIBE (FB-mVIBE) as a substitute of BH-VIBE in MPCE-LMRI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We modified VIBE with a high acceleration factor (2 × 2) and four averages to produce the mVIBE scan. A total of 90 individuals (40 men; mean age = 54.6 ± 10.0 years) who had received MPCE-LMRI as part of a voluntary health check-up for oncology survey were enrolled. Each participant was scanned in four phases (pre-contrast, arterial phase, venous phase, and delay phase), and each phase had two sequential scans. To encounter the timing effect of contrast enhancement, three scan orders were designed: BH-VIBE and FB-mVIBE (group A, n = 30); BH-VIBE and FB-VIBE (group B, n = 30); and FB-mVIBE and BH-VIBE (group C, n = 30). The comparisons included the objective measurements and 25 visual-score by two abdominal radiologists independently. RESULTS: Consistency between raters was observed for all three sequences (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.741-0.829). For rater 1, the mean scores of FB-mVIBE (23.67 ± 1.32) were equal to those of BH-VIBE (23.83 ± 1.98) in groups C and B (P = 0.852). The mean scores of FB-mVIBE (22.07 ± 3.02), but significantly higher than those of FB-VIBE (14.7 ± 3.41) in groups A and B (P <0.001). Similar scores were found for rater 2. The objective measurement of FB-mVIBE were equal to or higher than BH-VIBE and markedly superior to FB-VIBE. CONCLUSION: FB-mVIBE is a practical alternative to BH-VIBE for individuals who cannot cooperate with multiple breath-holds for MPCE-LMRI.

Improvement of gelation properties of Penaeus vannamei surimi by magnetic field-assisted freezing in combination with curdlan.

Traditional methods of freezing and thawing may harm the quality of meat products. In order to reduce the negative impact of freezing on surimi products, the magnetic field-assisted freezing method is combined with various curdlan ratios to enhance the gelation characteristics of Penaeus vannamei surimi in this study. The results showed that the magnetic field-assisted freezing technique significantly improved the quality of thawed surimi compared with soaking freezing (SF), whereas the addition of curdlan further improved the gelation properties, and the gel strength, water-holding capacity, textural properties, whiteness, and G' value were significantly improved when its content was increased to 0.6 %. However, excessive amounts of curdlan interfered with protein covalent cross-linking, leading to a decrease in gel quality. Additionally, the addition of magnetic field and curdlan encouraged the shift of the α-helix to the random coil and ß-sheet transition, which stimulated the growth of myofibril molecules, exposed the hydrophobic groups and thiols, improved protein-molecule interactions, and promoted systematic gathering of proteins, leading to the formation of the microstructure of dense and small pores. It also resulted in a drop in water release, an increase in the proton density and a shift in the water condition from free water to more immobile water, which had higher sensory qualities. These effects together resulted in a reduction in thawing and cooking loss to 11.41 % and 13.83 %, respectively. These results also help to clarify the gelation process of shrimp surimi and help to regulate the gelation characteristics of shrimp surimi products.

Insight into a natural novel histidine decarboxylase gene deletion in Enterobacter hormaechei RH3 from traditional Sichuan-style sausage.

Histamine (HIS) is primarily formed from decarboxylated histidine by certain bacteria with histidine decarboxylase (hdc) activity and is the most toxic biogenic amine. Hdc, which is encoded by the hdc gene, serves as a key enzyme that controls HIS production in bacteria. In this paper, we characterized the changes in microbial and biogenic amines content of traditional Sichuan-style sausage before and after storage and demonstrated that Enterobacteriaceae play an important role in the formation of HIS. To screen for Enterobacteriaceae with high levels of HIS production, we isolated strain RH3 which has a HIS production of 2.27 mg/mL from sausages stored at 37°C for 180 days, using selective media and high-performance liquid chromatography. The strain RH3 can produce a high level of HIS after 28 h of fermentation with a significant hysteresis. Analysis of the physicochemical factors revealed that RH3 still retained its ability to partially produce HIS in extreme environments with pH 3.5 and 10.0. In addition, RH3 exhibited excellent salt tolerance (6.0% NaCl and 1.0% NaNO2 ). Subsequently, RH3 was confirmed as Enterobacter hormaechei with hdc gene deletion by PCR, western blot, and whole-genome sequencing analysis. Furthermore, RH3 exhibited pathogenicity rate of 75.60% toward the organism, indicating that it was not a food-grade safe strain, and demonstrated a high level of conservation in intraspecific evolution. The results of this experiment provide a new reference for studying the mechanism of HIS formation in microorganisms. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study provides a new direction for investigating the mechanism of histamine (HIS) formation by microorganisms and provides new insights for further controlling HIS levels in meat products. Further research can control the key enzymes that form HIS to control HIS levels in food.

Effects of blackberry (Rubus spp.) polysaccharide on the structure and thermal behavior of the myofibrillar protein of chicken breast meat.

Blackberry crude polysaccharides (BCP) was added to chicken breast to inspect the intermolecular interaction with myofibrillar protein (MP). The influence of BCP on the thermal transformation behavior and protein micro-structure during temperature rise period was studied. The results showed that the interaction between BCP and MP was mainly affected by the concentration of BCP and heating temperature. The results of infrared spectrophotometer and nano-particle/zeta potentiometer showed that a BCP-MP complex was generated through hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction, which could promote the transformation of MP from ß-folding to ß-Angle transformation. The fluorescence spectra showed that the BCP was helped to the spread of protein structure of the MP. Moreover, synchronous thermal analyzer and rheometer results revealed that the BCP increased the enthalpy value and elastic modulus of MP. Scanning electron microscope verified pores inside the BCP-MP complex are more evenly distributed and smaller, which led to the high cross-linking of network and good stability of water distribution for the MP. The addition of BCP enhances the hydrogen bonds and disulfide bonds of MP molecules, which can strengthen the network structure and ultimately improve the performance of meat products.

Research of Multicopper Oxidase and Its Degradation of Histamine in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LPZN19.

In order to explore the structural changes and products of histamine degradation by multicopper oxidase (MCO) in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LPZN19, a 1500 bp MCO gene in L. plantarum LPZN19 was cloned, and the recombinant MCO was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). After purification by Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography, the obtained MCO has a molecular weight of 58 kDa, and it also has the highest enzyme activity at 50 °C and pH 3.5, with a relative enzyme activity of 100%, and it maintains 57.71% of the relative enzyme activity at 5% salt concentration. The secondary structure of MCO was determined by circular dichroism, in which the proportions of the α-helix, ß-sheet, ß-turn and random coil were 2.9%, 39.7%, 21.2% and 36.1%, respectively. The 6xj0.1.A with a credibility of 68.21% was selected as the template to predict the tertiary structure of MCO in L. plantarum LPZN19, and the results indicated that the main components of the tertiary structure of MCO were formed by the further coiling and folding of a random coil and ß-sheet. Histamine could change the spatial structure of MCO by increasing the content of the α-helix and ß-sheet. Finally, the LC-MS/MS identification results suggest that the histamine was degraded into imidazole acetaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.

Deep learning-based identification of spine growth potential on EOS radiographs.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an automatic computer-based method that can help clinicians in assessing spine growth potential based on EOS radiographs. METHODS: We developed a deep learning-based (DL) algorithm that can mimic the human judgment process to automatically determine spine growth potential and the Risser sign based on full-length spine EOS radiographs. A total of 3383 EOS cases were collected and used for the training and test of the algorithm. Subsequently, the completed DL algorithm underwent clinical validation on an additional 440 cases and was compared to the evaluations of four clinicians. RESULTS: Regarding the Risser sign, the weighted kappa value of our DL algorithm was 0.933, while that of the four clinicians ranged from 0.909 to 0.930. In the assessment of spine growth potential, the kappa value of our DL algorithm was 0.944, while the kappa values of the four clinicians were 0.916, 0.934, 0.911, and 0.920, respectively. Furthermore, our DL algorithm obtained a slightly higher accuracy (0.973) and Youden index (0.952) compared to the best values achieved by the four clinicians. In addition, the speed of our DL algorithm was 15.2 ± 0.3 s/40 cases, much faster than the inference speeds of the clinicians, ranging from 177.2 ± 28.0 s/40 cases to 241.2 ± 64.1 s/40 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our algorithm demonstrated comparable or even better performance compared to clinicians in assessing spine growth potential. This stable, efficient, and convenient algorithm seems to be a promising approach to assist doctors in clinical practice and deserves further study. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This method has the ability to quickly ascertain the spine growth potential based on EOS radiographs, and it holds promise to provide assistance to busy doctors in certain clinical scenarios. KEY POINTS: • In the clinic, there is no available computer-based method that can automatically assess spine growth potential. • We developed a deep learning-based method that could automatically ascertain spine growth potential. • Compared with the results of the clinicians, our algorithm got comparable results.

Effect of cellulose on gel properties of heat-induced low-salt surimi gels: Physicochemical characteristics, water distribution and microstructure.

The processing of surimi products requires the addition of high levels of salt, which makes it a high-salt food that poses a risk to human health. The search for exogenous additives to reduce the salt content of surimi products while ensuring their quality characteristics is crucial. Therefore, the effect of different species of cellulose on enhancing the quality characteristics of low-salt surimi gels was investigated and the best-modified cellulose was identified. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) were selected for this study to compare with high-salt control and low-salt control. The results showed that cellulose could induce conformational transitions of proteins and promote the formation of an ordered and dense surimi gel network and the minimum porosity of 15.935% was obtained in the MCC-treated group. The cellulose-treated group conferred good textural properties to the surimi gels, significantly improved gel strength and water retention capacity (p < 0.05), and reduced the amount of water lost after cooking treatment (p < 0.05). Low-field NMR results showed that cellulose reduced the release of water, converting more free water to immobile water, thus increasing the water proton density. The higher energy storage modulus G' in the presence of cellulose indicated a more stable surimi gel system dominated by springiness. In summary, cellulose could confer better quality characteristics to low-salt surimi gels and MCC performance was superior to other cellulose species. This study helps the understanding of the mechanism of cellulose-surimi action on the development of high-quality low-salt surimi gels.

Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation for a 90-year-old patient with intertrochanteric fracture complicated by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-induced osteoporosis, myasthenia, and disequilibrium are important risk factors for hip fracture, and decreased respiratory function after hip fracture surgery can decelerate recovery of activities of daily living (ADL) in elderly patients. CASE PRESENTATION: A 90-year-old male patient underwent an open reduction and intramedullary pinning surgery for right femoral intertrochanteric fracture. After surgery, he remained confined to bed with pain and swelling in the right lower extremity. Due to his history of COPD, he had a postoperative pulmonary infection and respiratory insufficiency. INTERVENTION: This patient received routine rehabilitation after surgery. However, severe respiratory symptoms prevented him from completing the rehabilitation procedure. Therefore, comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation including airway clearance techniques, inspiratory resistance training, aerobic training, respiratory muscle training, and intermittent low-flow oxygen inhalation was carried out to enhance the recovery process. OUTCOMES: After 4 weeks of treatment, the patient improved from continuous oxygen inhalation to being able to complete bed resistance training without supplemental oxygen. After 8 weeks, ADL reached independence, while lower limb muscle strength, pulmonary function parameters, fatigue index, and cough efficiency were improved as compared to test values obtained before treatment. CONCLUSION: Compared with the 6-month recovery time reported in the literature for patients with hip fractures to achieve independence with basic ADLs, the recovery time of this patient was shortened to 2 months with the application of comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation. It is feasible to carry out pulmonary rehabilitation for elderly patients after fracture surgery, but prospective clinical trials are needed to verify its efficacy.

Effect of к-carrageenan on saltiness perception and texture characteristic related to salt release in low-salt surimi.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Kappa (к)-carrageenan on texture and perception of saltiness of low salt surimi. The low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and microstructure results showed that к-carrageenan could promote the formation of more immobilized water in low salt surimi gel, change its matrix structure, and lead to the uneven spatial distribution of sodium, thus enhancing saltiness perception. The rheological properties of surimi showed that к-carrageenan could increase the network strength of low salt surimi gel and improve its thermostability. Furthermore, the low salt surimi gel added with к-carrageenan has lower cooking loss, higher water holding capacity (WHC), gel strength and improved texture properties. Therefore, к-carrageenan has the effects of improving the quality and increasing salt perception of surimi gel. This study provides a new method for reducing salt consumption in food industry.

Maternal RNA binding protein with multiple splicing 2 (RBPMS2) is involved in mouse blastocyst formation through the bone morphogenetic protein pathway.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Is early embryo development in mice influenced by RNA binding protein with multiple splicing 2 (RBPMS2), a maternal factor that accumulates and is stored in the cytoplasm of mature oocytes? DESIGN: The expression patterns of RBPMS2 in mouse were analysed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT PCR) and immunofluorescence staining. The effect of knockdown of RBPMS2 on embryo development was evaluated through a microinjection of specific morpholino or small interfering RNA. RNA sequencing was performed for mechanistic analysis. The interaction between RBPMS2 and the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway was studied using BMP inhibitor and activator. The effect on the localization of E-cadherin was determined by immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Maternal protein RBPMS2 is highly expressed in mouse oocytes, and knockdown of RBPMS2 inhibits embryo development from the morula to the blastocyst stage. Mechanistically, RNA sequencing showed that the differentially expressed genes were enriched in the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) signalling pathway. BMPs are members of the TGF-ß superfamily of growth factors. It was found that the addition of BMP inhibitor to the culture medium led to a morula-stage arrest, similar to that seen in RBPMS2 knockdown embryos. This morula-stage arrest defect caused by RBPMS2 knockdown was partially rescued by BMP activator. Furthermore, the localization of E-cadherin to the membrane was impaired in response to a knockdown of RBPMS2 or inhibition of the BMP pathway. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that RBPMS2 activates the BMP pathway and thus influences the localization of E-cadherin, which is important for early mouse embryo development during blastocyst formation.

Flavonoids and gastrointestinal health: single molecule for multiple roles.

Diet can be considered as one of the pivotal factors in regulating gastrointestinal health, and polyphenols widely distributed in human daily diet. The polyphenols and their metabolites playing a series of beneficial effects in human gastrointestinal tract that can regulate of the gut microbiota, increase intestinal barrier function, repair gastrointestinal mucosa, reduce oxidative stress, inhibit the secretion of inflammatory factors and regulating immune function, and their absorption and biotransformation mainly depend on the activity of intestinal microflora. However, little is known about the two-way interaction between polyphenols and intestinal microbiota. The objective of this review is to highlight the structure optimization and effect of flavonoids on intestinal flora, and discusses the mechanisms of dietary flavonoids regulating intestinal flora. The multiple effects of single molecule of flavonoids, and inter-dependence between the gut microbiota and polyphenol metabolites. Moreover, the protective effects of polyphenols on intestinal barrier function, and effects of interaction between plant polyphenols and macromolecules on gastrointestinal health. This review provided valuable insight that may be useful for better understanding the mechanism of the gastrointestinal health effects of polyphenols, and provide a scientific basis for their application as functional food.

Possible mechanism of flavonoids regulating intestinal flora.Flavonoids optimize the structure and composition of gut microbiota.Polyphenol improve intestinal barrier function.Interaction between polyphenols and macromolecules improves gastrointestinal healthThe two-way interaction between flavonoids and intestinal microflora to improve bioavailability.