Biotransformation of Bioactive Metabolites in Cassiae Semen by Endogenous Enzymes and Probiotics.

The present study evaluated the potential of endogenous enzymes and probiotics in transforming bioactive metabolites to reduce the purgative effect and improve the functional activity of Cassiae Semen and verified and revealed the biotransformation effect of endogenous enzymes. Although probiotics, especially Lactobacillus rhamnosus, exerted the transformation effect, the endogenous enzymes proved to be more effective in transforming the components of Cassiae Semen. After biotransformation by endogenous enzymes for 12 h, the levels of six anthraquinones in Cassiae Semen increased by at least 2.98-fold, and free anthraquinones, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity also showed significant improvement, accompanied by an 82.2% reduction in combined anthraquinones responsible for the purgative effect of Cassiae Semen. Further metabolomic analysis revealed that the biotransformation effect of endogenous enzymes on the bioactive metabolites of Cassiae Semen was complex and diverse, and the biotransformation of quinones and flavonoids was particularly prominent and occurred by three primary mechanisms, hydrolyzation, methylation, and dimerization, might under the action of glycosyl hydrolases, SAM-dependent methyltransferases, and CYP450s. Accordingly, biotransformation by endogenous enzymes emerges as a mild, economical, food safety risk-free, and effective strategy to modify Cassiae Semen into an excellent functional food.

Preparation of ethylenediamine-modified pectin/alginate/Fe3O4 microsphere and its efficient Pb2+ adsorption properties.

As a common macromolecular carbohydrate, pectin has a strong affinity for Pb2+. An ethylenediamine modified pectin (EP48) with 48 % of amidation was prepared and exhibited great removal efficiency towards Pb2+ in our previous study. However, the EP48 has drawbacks in adsorption including low mechanical strength and difficulty in separation. In this study, EP48 was compounded with sodium alginate (Alg) and Fe3O4 to synthesize EP48/Alg/Fe3O4 microsphere. The physicochemical properties and Pb2+ adsorption characteristics of microsphere were analyzed. It was found that the microsphere exhibited good thermal stability, mechanical strength, porous structure, as well as acid tolerance. The pseudo-second-order model well described the kinetics of adsorption process, indicating the chemical adsorption is dominant. The Langmuir model fitted the experimental data well, and the maximum adsorption capacity reached 175.19 mg/g. Adsorption-desorption experiments showed that the removal rate of the microsphere maintained over 98.9 % after 10 cycles. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses revealed that the potential adsorption mechanism included ion-exchange and chelation. The above results suggested its potential use for the removal of Pb2+ from wastewater.

Identification of phenolics from miracle berry (Synsepalum dulcificum) leaf extract and its antiangiogenesis and anticancer activities.

Miracle berry is well-known for its ability to convert sour foods to sweet. In this study, the secondary metabolites of miracle berry leaves (MBL) were identified by UPLC-DAD-MS, and its antiangiogenesis and anticancer activities were evaluated by using a zebrafish model and the MCF-7 xenograft mouse model, respectively. The result showed that 18 phenolic compounds were identified in MBL extract, and dominated by the derivatives of quercetin and myricetin. The MBL extract showed low toxicity and high antiangiogenesis activity, it significantly inhibited the subintestinal vein vessels development in zebrafish at very low concentration. Furthermore, the MBL extract could promote the apoptosis of tumor cells and significantly inhibit the growth of MCF-7 xenograft tumor. In addition, the analysis of metabolites revealed that the MBL extract inhibited tumor growth by activating the metabolic pathways of unsaturated fatty acids and purines. Overall, this study suggests that MBL extract can be used as a natural anticancer adjuvant in the fields of functional foods.

Periventricular White Matter Hyperintensity in Males is Associated with Post-Stroke Depression Onset at 3 Months.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the correlation between white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and post-stroke depression (PSD) at 3 months, and to further investigate sex differences in the pathogenesis of PSD. METHODS: A total of 238 consecutive patients with acute cerebral infarction were recruited. PSD was assessed at 2 weeks and at 3 months after stroke onset. All stroke cases were divided into four subgroups according to the diagnosis of depression at two time nodes: continuous depression; depression remission; late-onset PSD; and continuous non-depression. The Fazekas and Scheltens visual rating scales were adopted to assess WMH. RESULTS: Logistic regression revealed that the presence of periventricular white matter hyperintensity (PVWMH) at baseline in male patients was an independent risk factor for PSD at 3 months. Further subgroup analysis revealed that PVWMH was associated with late-onset PSD in males, but not with continuous depression 3 months after stroke. Male acute stroke patients with PVWMH at baseline were more likely to develop PSD at 3 months, especially late-onset PSD. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that sex differences may influence the pathogenesis of PSD.

Biomarkers of intravenous immunoglobulin resistance and coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: Currently, there are no reliable indicators for predicting intravenous immunoglobulin resistance and coronary artery lesions in the early stage of Kawasaki disease. METHODS: A total of 300 patients with Kawasaki disease were studied retrospectively. Laboratory data were compared between the intravenous immunoglobulin resistant (29 patients) and responsive groups, and between the groups with coronary artery lesions (48 patients) and without coronary artery lesions. RESULTS: The intravenous immunoglobulin resistant group had significantly higher D-dimer, globulin, interleukin-6 and serum ferritin levels in comparison to the intravenous immunoglobulin responder group. D-dimer level had a sensitivity of 87.0% and a specificity of 56.3% for predicting intravenous immunoglobulin resistance at a cutoff point of 1.09 mg/L. Globulin had a sensitivity of 62.1% and a specificity of 82.3% for predicting intravenous immunoglobulin resistance at a cutoff point of 34.7 g/L. Serum ferritin level had a sensitivity of 42.9% and a specificity of 88.8% for predicting intravenous immunoglobulin resistance at a cutoff point of 269.7 ng/mL. The patients with coronary artery lesions had higher D-dimer and tumor necrosis factor-α level. D-dimer level had a sensitivity of 50% and a specificity of 78.6% for predicting coronary artery lesions at a cutoff point of 1.84 mg/L. Based on analysis by multivariate logistic regression, serum ferritin and globulin were independent risks for intravenous immunoglobulin resistance, D-dimer was independent risk for coronary artery lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum ferritin, globulin and D-dimer levels are significantly associated with intravenous immunoglobulin resistance in Kawasaki disease. Moreover, serum D-dimer is significantly increased in Kawasaki disease with coronary artery lesions.

Age-Related Frontal Periventricular White Matter Hyperintensities and miR-92a-3p Are Associated with Early-Onset Post-Stroke Depression.

Objective: To explore the correlationship among white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), miR-92a-3p and early-onset post-stroke depression (PSD). Methods: We recruited consecutively 238 patients with acute cerebral infarction and MRI examination in the Department of neurology, Ruijin hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. The diagnosis of early-onset PSD was made in accordance with DSM-IV criteria for depression in 2 weeks after stroke. Clinical information and assessments of stroke severity were recorded on admission. The analysis of plasma miR-92a-3p was performed using quantitative PCR at the same time. WMHs were evaluated by the Fazekas and Scheltens visual rating scales. The relationship among WMHs, miR-92a-3p and PSD were analyzed by SPSS 22.0 software. Results: Logistic regression demonstrated that periventricular WMHs (PVWMHs) in frontal caps was an independent risk factor with early-onset PSD (OR = 1.579, 95% CI: 1.040-2.397, p = 0.032). The age and numbers of lacunes were related to frontal PVWMHs. Plasma miR-92a-3p in the PSD group was higher compared with the non-depressed group. Receiver operating curve analysis revealed that miR-92a-3p could predict early-onset PSD with 90% sensitivity and 90% specificity. The higher miR-92a-3p trended toward association with greater frontal PVWMHs. Conclusion: Acute ischemic stroke patients with frontal PVWMHs or a high plasma miR-92a-3p at baseline were more likely to develop early-onset PSD. MiR-92a-3p might be involved in the white matter impairment and post-stroke depression.