Novel organic-inorganic composite pea protein silica food-grade aerogel materials: Fabrication, mechanisms, high oil-holding property and curcumin delivery capacity.

The fragility of the skeleton and poor bioaccessibility limit Silica aerogel's application in the food industry. In this study, composite gels were obtained by cross-linking pea proteins isolate (PPI) with Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS)to improve the bioavailability of silica-derived aerogels. It indicated that TEOS first condensed with H+ to form secondary particles and then complexed with PPI via hydroxyl groups to form a composite aerogel. Meanwhile, the PPI-Si composite aerogel formed a dense mesoporous structure with a specific surface area of 312.5 g/cm3. This resulted in a higher oil holding percentage of 89.67 % for the PPI (10 %)-Si aerogel, which was 34.1 % higher than other studies, leading to a more stable oleogel. Finally, as a delivery system, the composite oleogel not only could significantly increase the bioaccessibility rate by 27.4 % compared with silica aerogel, but also could efficiently inhibit the premature release of curcumin in the simulated gastric fluids, while allowed sustainably release in the simulated intestinal fluids. These results provided a theoretical basis for the application of silica-derived aerogels in food and non-food applications.

Continuous suture technique increases the complete closure rate of colorectal mucosal defects after endoscopic resection: a single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Complete closure of mucosal defects after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)/piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection (p-EMR) procedures reduces postoperative adverse events, but the complete closure rate of the traditional method using only hemostatic clips is not satisfactory. Therefore, we invented a continuous suture technique using a barbed suture and clips to increase the complete closure rate of colorectal mucosal defects. METHODS: Patients with a single large (≥ 2 cm) colorectal lesion were recruited. After completion of the ESD/p-EMR procedures, they were randomly allocated to the treatment group or control group. The mucosal defects of the treatment group were closed using barbed suture and clips, while the control group was closed using only clips. RESULTS: From January 18, 2022 to April 13, 2022, a total of 62 patients with colorectal lesions were enrolled, with 31 patients in each group. Complete closure was achieved in 29 patients (93.5%) in the treatment group and 18 patients (58.1%) in the control group (P = 0.001). The median closure time was 13 min in the treatment group and 19 min in the control group (P < 0.001). The median closure speed was 6.4 cm2/10 min in the treatment group and 3.5 cm2/10 min in the control group (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: This study provided a clinically feasible continuous suture technique that was safe and effective for the complete closure of colorectal mucosal defects after endoscopic resection.

Mapping and characterization of the Rx3 gene for resistance to Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria race T1 in tomato.

KEY MESSAGE: Rx3 encodes a typical CC-NBS-LRR resistance protein and confers the resistance to Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria race T1 causing bacterial spot in tomato. Bacterial spot caused by at least four species of Xanthomonas is an epidemic disease severely affecting tomato production worldwide. The use of resistant cultivars is an economical and effective approach to control the disease. An unimproved tomato breeding line Hawaii 7988 has been considered as the most reliable source for resistance to X. euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria race T1, and the Rx3 locus located at a 4.53-Mb region on chromosome 5 (SL4.0) is the major locus for resistance to race T1 in this line. In the current study, the Rx3 locus was firstly located to a 1.05-Mb region based on comparisons of marker polymorphisms between the susceptible line Ohio 88119 and resistant lines Hawaii 7998, Ohio 9834 and FG02-7530. Using recombinant inbred lines (F5:6, F6:7, and F7:8) derived from a cross between Ohio 88119 and Ohio 9834, the Rx3 locus was finally mapped to a 64.3-kb interval between markers MG-Rx3-4 and MG-Rx3-A6. The Solyc05g053980 gene, designated as Rx3, encoding a coiled-coil nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat protein was considered as the candidate for the Rx3 locus. Expression of the gene could be induced by the infection of race T1 strain. Knockout of the Solyc05g053980 gene through CRISPR/Cas9 editing system in the resistant line FG02-7530 decreased resistance to race T1 strain. These results provide a close step for understanding the resistance mechanism to race T1 in Hawaii 7998 and guide tomato breeders accordingly to improve bacterial spot disease resistance in tomato.

Simethicone administration improves gastric cleanness for esophagogastroduodenoscopy: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is very useful in diagnosing and treating upper gastrointestinal mucosal disorders, but too much foam and water in stomach decrease its diagnostic efficiency. Simethicone administration can help remove excessive foam. AIMS: To determine the optimal simethicone administration strategies in a comparative randomized controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Adult outpatients with indications for esophagogastroduodenoscopy were enrolled and randomly divided into group 1 (simethicone solution intake 20-30 min before procedure, n = 110), group 2 (simethicone solution intake 31-60 min before procedure, n = 92), and group 3 (simethicone solution intake > 60 min before procedure). Primary and secondary outcomes were procedure time and the patients' satisfaction after the examination. All symptoms like abdominal pain and distension were recorded. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found on the patients' demographic and clinical features and mean examination time (all P values > 0.05). The distribution of patients with different endoscopic and pathological diagnosis was comparable among three groups, respectively (P = 0.607; P = 0.289). However, the proportion of patients with Gastric Cleanness Grade A was most in group 2 (n = 73, 79.3%), and patient proportion with Gastric Cleanness Grade C was most found in group 1 (n = 72, 65.5%), which was greatly different (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference on the satisfaction scores [immediately 6 (3-8) vs. 6 (1-10) vs. 6 (1-9), P = 0.533; 2 h after 10 (8-10) vs. 10 (10-10) vs. 10 (8-10), P = 0.463]. CONCLUSION: Simethicone solution intake 31-60 min before esophagogastroduodenoscopy can help obtain the best gastric cleanness, which is recommended in clinical practice (registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03776916 on December 13, 2018).

Gold nanostars-enhanced Raman fingerprint strip for rapid detection of trace tetracycline in water samples.

Rapid and accurate detection of antibiotics at trace levels in food represents a great challenge. Tetracycline (TC), as a sort of broad-spectrum antibiotic, has been extensively used in animal infection therapy and animal husbandry as growth promoters. Large amounts of TC residues in animal-derived foods affect food quality and safety, and cause undesirable side effects such as allergic reactions and bacterial antibiotic resistance. Here, a Raman fingerprint strip sensor was reported based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering technology and demonstrated for ultrasensitive detection of TC. In this approach, 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) modified gold nanostars (GNSs) were used as a strong Raman reporter, which was coated with anti-TC monoclonal antibody serving as a biorecognition to acquire both visual and Raman signals on the test line. To demonstrate the performance of this strip, TC standard solutions with concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 50 ng/mL was detected, the limit of the detection (LOD) for the Raman signal was 0.04 ng/mL, which was 100 times more sensitive than those of color intensity quantifications. The other analogues, oxytetracycline, and chlortetracycline were detected using this method, making them suitable for the samples with TC analogues screening.

Topical pharyngeal anesthesia provides no additional benefit to propofol sedation for esophagogastroduodenoscopy: a randomized controlled double-blinded clinical trial.

Propofol sedation has been applied during esophagogastroduodenoscopy procedures, but whether topical pharyngeal anesthesia should be administered at the same time has rarely been reported. Our study examined the role of topical pharyngeal anesthesia in sedated endoscopies in a randomized controlled double-blinded clinical trial. A total of 626 patients who underwent sedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy were randomized into the experimental group (n = 313) or the control group (n = 313). The discomfort score, immediately and one day after the procedure, was not statistically significant [7.2 (5-9) vs. 7.5 (6-9), P = 0.210; 2.3 (0-3) vs. 2.6 (0-4), P = 0.095, respectively]. Two patients in the experimental group and three patients in the control group needed oral medication for pharyngeal discomfort (P = 0.354). The satisfaction score was 9.2 (8-10) in the experimental group and 8.9 (7-10) in the control group (P = 0.778). Lidocaine topical pharyngeal anesthesia in propofol-sedated esophagogastroduodenoscopy did not further reduce the pharyngeal discomfort or improve the satisfaction. This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03070379).

[Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis at remission stage treated with acupuncture:a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences in the therapeutic effects on relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) at remission stage between acupuncture at acupoints and shallow needling therapy at the nearby points. METHODS: Forty-two patients of RRMS were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 21 cases in each one. In the observation group, besides the basic treatment, acupuncture was applied according to WANG Leting's empirical prescriptions as "the empirical ten needles" "thirteen needles of the governor vessel" "twelve needles of hand and foot" as well as the symptomatic points. In the control group, the basic treatment was given. Additionally, the shallow needling therapy was given at the sites 0.2 to 0.3 cun lateral to the acupoints, and the arrival of qi was not required. In the two groups, acupuncture was given once a day for 5 days a week, continuously for 2 weeks. At the intervals of 2 weeks, totally the treatment of 3 months was required. The follow-up visit was conducted for 2 years. Separately, the scores of the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) before and in follow-up after treatment, the annual recurrent rate before and after treatment and recurrent interval after treatment were observed in the patients of the two groups. RESULTS: In the observation group, EDSS scores in 3-month and 6-month follow-up were reduced as compared with those before treatment (both P<0.05) and those in the 12-month and 24-month follow-up were increased (both P<0.05). In the control group, EDSS scores were increased in tendency continuously in 3-month, 6-month, 12-month and 24-month follow-up (all P<0.05). In each time point of follow-up, the different value of EDSS scores in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The annual recurrent rates after treatment were reduced as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.01) and the value in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.01). The recurrent interval in the observation group was longer than that in the control group[(441.56±65.37) d vs (382.78±59.33) d, P<0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture achieves the significant therapeutic effects on RRMS at the remission stage. This therapy relieves the symptoms of neural functional deficits, delays the time of occurrence and reduces the annual recurrent rate.