Fluid Multivalent Recognition Accelerating and Boosting Upconversion Luminescence-Activated DNA Nanomachines for Rapid and Sensitive In Vivo Imaging.

By integrating near-infrared (NIR) light-dependent optical control and DNA walkers-based signal amplification, upconversion luminescence-activated DNA nanomachines hold great potential in conducting an in vivo analysis. For the typical DNA nanomachines, the immobile multivalent recognition interface greatly compromised the reaction kinetics and amplification efficiency due to the cleavage-dependent response mode. In this work, novel upconversion luminescence-activated DNA nanomachines with a fluid multivalent recognition interface were reported for rapid and sensitive in vivo imaging. As a proof-of-concept study, the photolocked DNAzyme-based walker system was anchored on the surface of phospholipid membrane-coated upconversion nanoparticles through the cholesterol-phospholipid interaction to acquire a fluid multivalent recognition interface. Upon sequential inputs of NIR light and metal ions, the formed DNA nanomachines were autonomously initiated and generated a cascade of amplified signal. Relative to the typical DNA nanomachines, the proposed ones possess an accelerated reaction rate and an improved amplification capability owing to a higher local concentration by the lateral mobility. The present work provides a versatile alternative for performing precise and highly efficient in vivo analysis.

Potential role of exogenous melatonin involved in postharvest quality maintenance of Vitis labrusca × vinifera 'Kyoho'.

BACKGROUND: Melatonin is an endogenous free radical scavenger with antioxidant activity that preserves the commercial value of postharvest fruits and delays fruit senescence. To explore the effect of exogenous melatonin on antioxidants and aroma volatile compounds of grapes (Vitis labrusca × vinifera 'Kyoho'), the grapes were treated with distilled water (control), 50 µmol L-1 of melatonin (M50), and 100 µmol L-1 of melatonin (M100) for 30 min and were then stored at 4 °C for 25 days. RESULTS: Exogenous melatonin decreased the rachis browning index, the decay development, the weight loss rate, the berry abscission rate, and the respiration rate, promoted the accumulation of total phenolics and total flavonoids, and delayed the reduction of anthocyanins and total soluble solids. In volatile compounds, the accumulation of esters, aldehydes, and alcohols in grapes was promoted, and the terpenes content was reduced by exogenous melatonin. CONCLUSION: Exogenous melatonin had potentially positive effects on the postharvest life and quality maintenance of grapes. These findings provide theoretical support for the application of melatonin in grape storage and preservation. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Grade of Dried Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. Junzao) Affects Its Quality Attributes, Antioxidant Activity, and Volatile Aroma Components.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. Junzao) has attracted a large number of consumers because it is rich in nutrients, such as carbohydrates, organic acids, and amino acids. Dried jujube is more conducive to storage and transportation, and has a more intense flavor. Consumers are affected by subjective factors, and the most important factor is the appearance of the fruit, including size and color. In this study, fully matured jujubes were dried and divided into five grades according to their transverse diameter and jujube number per kilogram. In addition, the quality attributes, antioxidant activities, mineral elements, and volatile aroma components of dried jujube were further analyzed. As the dried jujube grade increased, the total flavonoid content increased, which was positively correlated with the antioxidant activity. The results showed that small dried jujube had a higher total acidity and lower sugar-acid ratio than large and medium dried jujube, thus, large and medium dried jujube had a better flavor than small dried jujube. However, the antioxidant activity and mineral elements of medium and small dried jujube were superior to large dried jujube. From the edible value analysis of dried jujube, medium and small dried jujube were better than large dried jujube. Potassium is the highest among the measured mineral elements, with contents ranging from 10,223.80 mg/kg to 16,620.82 mg/kg, followed by Ca and Mg. Twenty-nine volatile aroma components of dried jujube were identified by GC-MS analysis. The main volatile aroma components were acids including n-decanoic acid, benzoic acid, and dodecanoic acid. The fruit size affected the quality attributes, antioxidant activity, mineral elements, and volatile aroma components of dried jujube. This study provided a piece of reference information for further high-quality production of dried jujube fruit.

Partial compression increases acidity, but decreases phenolics in jujube fruit: Evidence from targeted metabolomics.

Jujube fruit (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is extremely susceptible to mechanical injury by extrusion and collision during storage, transportation and processing. In this study, we examined the morphology and endogenous metabolism of jujubes at three developmental stages after applying partial compression (PC) to mimic mechanical injury. Generally, PC did not affect the total soluble solids content, but increased the acidity and decreased the amount of phenolics in the jujube fruit. Targeted metabolomics analysis further confirmed that acid and phenolics content were differentially altered in response to PC. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize metabolic variations in ready-to-eat fruit that occur in response to physical damage. The results will provide insight into the understanding the consequences of mechanical injury on fruit nutrition and health benefits.

Clinical efficacy of vitamin B in the treatment of mouth ulcer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Our study sought to determine the efficacy of vitamin B in treating mouth ulcers. METHODS: The databases PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang were comprehensively searched to identify relevant articles published between 2010 and 2021. Subsequently, the clinical efficacy of vitamin B in the treatment of mouth ulcers was comprehensively and quantitatively evaluated through meta-analysis. RESULTS: Totally, 16 studies were finally included in the meta-analysis, including 1,534 patients. Patients who did not receive treatment were taken as controls, while those who were treated with vitamin B alone or vitamin B combined with pantothenic acid were included in the treatment group. In comparison with the control group, the effective rate was higher [odds ratio (OR) =5.24, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.72 to 7.37, P<0.001] while the recurrence rate was lower (OR =0.194, 95% CI: 0.128 to 0.295, P<0.001) in the treatment group. Additionally, both the ulcer healing time [standardized mean difference (SMD) =-2.15, 95% CI: -2.80 to -1.50, P<0.001] and treatment time (SMD =-2.31, 95% CI: -2.67 to -1.96, P<0.001) in the treatment group were shorter than those of the control group. DISCUSSION: Vitamin B enables a higher effective rate and lower recurrence rate, accelerates ulcer healing, and shortens the course of treatment. Collectively, vitamin B has a high clinical value in treating patients with mouth ulcers.

Molecular interplay between microRNA-130a and PTEN in palmitic acid-mediated impaired function of endothelial progenitor cells: Effects of metformin.

Metformin serves an important role in improving the functions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non­coding RNAs, have been investigated as significant regulators of EPC vascular functions. The present study investigated the molecular crosstalk between metformin and miRNA­130a (miR­130a) in the functions of EPCs exposed to palmitic acid (PA). Isolated EPCs were treated with metformin, PA, and metformin + PA, respectively. Cell Counting Kit­8, Transwell and Matrigel assays were performed to detect the proliferation, migration and tube formation ability of EPCs following different treatments. The expression of miR­130a, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and phosphorylated­AKT was analyzed by reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The specific mechanism underlying the function of metformin in EPCs was further elucidated by transfecting miR­130a mimics and inhibitor to overexpress and inhibit the expression of miR­130a in EPCs, respectively. EPCs exhibited impaired functions of proliferation (P<0.01 compared with the control), migration (P<0.01 compared with the control) and tube formation (P<0.01 compared with the control) following treatment with PA, and the expression levels of miR­130a and PTEN were decreased and increased, respectively. However, the presence of metformin, or the overexpression of miR­130a using miR­130a mimic alleviated the impairment of angiogenesis and proliferation, decreased the expression of PTEN and activated the phosphoinositide­3 kinase/AKT pathway in EPCs exposed to PA. By contrast, downregulating the expression of miR­130a with a miR­130a inhibitor reversed the metformin­mediated protection. These results demonstrate the beneficial effect of miR­130a/PTEN on EPC functions, which can be regulated by metformin. The effects of metformin on improving PA­induced EPC dysfunction are mediated by miR­130a and PTEN, which may assist in the prevention and/or treatment of diabetic vascular disease.

A GLP­1 receptor agonist attenuates human islet amyloid polypeptide­induced autophagy and apoptosis in MIN6 cells.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by the dysfunction and loss of pancreatic islet ß­cells, in part due to islet amyloid deposits derived from islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). The glucagon­like peptide­1 (GLP­1) receptor agonist exendin­4 enhances the insulin secretory response by increasing ß­cell mass in T2DM. However, it is unknown whether exendin­4 protects ß­cells from IAPP­mediated autophagy and apoptosis. In the present study, reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction, ELISA and western blotting were used to detected the mRNA and protein expression of insulin/hIAPP and other signaling molecules, while the mechanisms underlying these effects were also determined. Exendin­4 increased the level of insulin secretion, which was greater than that of IAPP, leading to a beneficial IAPP/insulin secretion pattern. In MIN6 cells incubated with 25 mM glucose, exendin­4 decreased the ratio of light chain 3 (LC3)­II/I, which was accompanied by an increase in p62 protein. In a hIAPP­overexpressing MIN6 cell model, exendin­4 prevented the hIAPP­induced increase in the LC3II/I ratio and decrease in p62 expression. In addition, exendin­4 pretreatment reduced hIAPP­induced activation of cleaved caspase­3, suggesting that exendin­4 may protect MIN6 cells against apoptosis. Taken together, the results highlight hIAPP as a critical mediator of ß­cell loss and suggest that the GLP­1 receptor agonist exendin­4 may be a potential therapeutic agent for hIAPP­induced ß­cell damage.

Association Between 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Chinese Non-Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is recognized as a useful indicator for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. However, studies on the association between vitamin D status and EAT thickness in type 2 diabetes (T2D) are limited. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of vitamin D (Calcifediol) status and EAT thickness (EATT) in Chinese non-obese patients with T2D. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed among 167 non-obese T2D Chinese patients and 82 non-diabetic patients, who are age- and gender-matched during the winter months. EATT was evaluated by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D, Calcifediol] was examined in the diabetic patients and in the control group. RESULTS The concentration of 25(OH)D was 32.00 nmol/l (19.30-53.70 nmol/l) among diabetic patients. Most (93.4%) of the diabetic patients had hypovitaminosis D. We confirmed a clear negative association between 25(OH)D level and EATT in non-obese T2D patients (p=0.01). EATT was significantly correlated with 25(OH)D level (p=0.001) and HOMA-IR (p=0.001). Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated increased EATT, which was remarkably associated with 25(OH)D levels (p=0.039), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.013), HOMA-IR (p=0.030), and waist circumference (p<0.001) in T2D patients after adjusting for the confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS Increased EATT was found in Chinese T2D patients with normal BMI. 25(OH)D and HOMA-IR were independently associated with increased EATT after adjusting for multiple confounders.