Risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have been found to be at risk of concurrent cognitive dysfunction in previous studies, which has now become an important public health issue of widespread concern. AIM: To investigate the risk factors for concurrent cognitive dysfunction in patients with CKD. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study conducted among patients with CKD between October 2021 and March 2023. A questionnaire was formulated by literature review and expert consultation and included questions about age, sex, education level, per capita monthly household income, marital status, living condition, payment method, and hypertension. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that patients aged 60-79 years [odds ratio (OR) = 1.561, P = 0.015] and ≥ 80 years (OR = 1.760, P = 0.013), participants with middle to high school education (OR = 0.820, P = 0.027), divorced or widowed individuals (OR = 1.37, P = 0.032), self-funded patients (OR = 2.368, P = 0.008), and patients with hypertension (OR = 2.011, P = 0.041) had a higher risk of cognitive impairment. The risk of cognitive impairment was lower for those with a college degree (OR = 0.435, P = 0.034) and married individuals. CONCLUSION: The risk factors affecting cognitive dysfunction are age, 60-79 years and ≥ 80 years; education, primary school education or less; marital status, divorced or widowed; payment method, self-funded; hypertension; and CKD.

[DNA barcode screening, identification of germplasm resources, and analysis of genetic diversity of Anemarrhena asphodeloides].

Anemarrhena asphodeloides is a common medicinal material used in clinical prescriptions and Chinese patent medicine. In this study, the Illumina platform was used to obtain the chloroplast genome sequences of seven kinds of A. asphodeloides from different areas. The specific DNA barcodes were screened by comparative genomics analysis, and the DNA barcodes were used to identify the germplasm resources and analyze the genetic diversity of A. asphodeloides samples from different areas in China. All the seven chloroplast genomes had a ring structure. The total length was 156 801-156 930 bp, and 113 genes were annotated, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes. The comparative genomics analysis showed that rps16, trnG-GCC, atpF, rpoB, ycf3, rpl16, ndhF, trnS-GCU＿trnG-GCC, petN-psbM, and ndhF-rpl32 were potential candidates for specific DNA barcodes of A. asphodeloides. In this study, the second intron of ycf3 and atpF intron sequences with a sequence length of 700-800 bp and easy amplification were selected for polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplification and sequencing of 594 samples from 26 areas. The sequence analysis showed that six and eight haplotypes of ycf3 and atpF sequences could be identified, respectively, and 17 haplotypes could be identified by combined analysis of the two sequences, which were named Hap1-Hap17. The haplotype diversity(H_d), nucleotide diversity(P_i), and genetic distance of A. asphodeloides in 26 populations were 0.68, 0.93×10~(-3), and 0-0.003 1, respectively, indicating that the genetic diversity within the species of A. asphodeloides is rich. The intermediary adjacent network analysis showed that Hap5 was the oldest haplotype, which was mainly distributed in Yixian county of Baoding, Hebei province, Hequ county of Xinzhou, Shanxi province, and Xiangfen county of Linfen, Shanxi province. This study has important guiding significance for the identification of A. asphodeloides species, the protection and development of germplasm resources, and the identification of production areas, and it provides a research basis for further revealing the genetic evolution law of A. asphodeloides.

Clinical analysis of PAFAH1B1 gene variants in pediatric patients with epilepsy.

PURPOSE: PAFAH1B1, also known as LIS1, is associated with type I lissencephaly in humans, which is a severe developmental brain disorder believed to result from abnormal neuronal migration. Our objective was to characterize the genotypes and phenotypes of PAFAH1B1-related epilepsy. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the medical histories, magnetic resonance imaging findings, and video-electroencephalogram recordings of 11 patients with PAFAH1B1 variants at the Neurology Department of Beijing Children's Hospital from June 2017 to November 2022. RESULTS: The age of onset of epilepsy ranged from 2 months to 4 years, with a median onset age of 5 months. Among these 11 patients (comprising 6 boys and 5 girls), all were diagnosed with lissencephaly type 1. Predominantly, generalized tonic-clonic and spasm seizures characterized PAFAH1B1-related epilepsy. Additionally, 10 out of the 11 patients exhibited severe developmental disorders. All patients exhibited de novo variants, with three individuals displaying 17p13.3 deletions linked to haploinsufficiency of PAFAH1B1. Four variants were previously unreported. Notably, three patients with 17p13.3 deletions displayed developmental delay and drug resistant epilepsy, whereas the single patient with mild developmental delay, Intelligence Quotient (IQ) 57 and well-controlled seizures had a splicing-site variant. CONCLUSION: The severity of the phenotype in patients with PAFAH1B1 variants ranged from drug-responsive seizures to severe epileptic encephalopathy. These observations underscore the clinical heterogeneity of PAFAH1B1-related disorders, with most patients exhibiting developmental disorders. Moreover, the severity of epilepsy appears to be linked to genetic variations.

Enhanced formation of methane hydrate from active ice with high gas uptake.

Gas hydrates provide alternative solutions for gas storage & transportation and gas separation. However, slow formation rate of clathrate hydrate has hindered their commercial development. Here we report a form of porous ice containing an unfrozen solution layer of sodium dodecyl sulfate, here named active ice, which can significantly accelerate gas hydrate formation while generating little heat. It can be readily produced via forming gas hydrates with water containing very low dosage (0.06 wt% or 600 ppm) of surfactant like sodium dodecyl sulfate and dissociating it below the ice point, or by simply mixing ice powder or natural snow with the surfactant. We prove that the active ice can rapidly store gas with high storage capacity up to 185 Vg Vw-1 with heat release of ~18 kJ mol-1 CH4 and the active ice can be easily regenerated by depressurization below the ice point. The active ice undergoes cyclic ice-hydrate-ice phase changes during gas uptake/release, thus removing most critical drawbacks of hydrate-based technologies. Our work provides a green and economic approach to gas storage and gas separation and paves the way to industrial application of hydrate-based technologies.

ABO-incompatible living donor kidney transplantation failure due to acute blood group antibody-dependent rejection triggered by human parvovirus B19 infection: a case report and literature review.

Background: With the improvement of immunosuppressive regimens, the success rate and availability of ABO-incompatible (ABO-i) kidney transplantation (KT) have gradually increased. However, the management of immunosuppression protocols and complications associated with ABO-i KT is complex. Here, we report a clinical case of ABO-i living donor KT with allograft dysfunction caused by acute blood group antibody-dependent rejection triggered by human parvovirus B19 (B19V). Case report: The ABO blood group of the recipient was O, and that of the donor was B. The recipient had high baseline anti-B antibody titers (IgM, 1:1024; IgG, 1:64). Before transplantation, he completed a desensitization protocol comprising plasma exchange, double-filtration plasmapheresis, and rituximab, which maintained a low blood group antibody level and resulted in successful transplantation. Two weeks after surgery, the recipient developed a B19V infection combined with acute T-cell-mediated rejection. After the anti-rejection regimen, acute rejection (AR) was successfully reversed, but B19V persisted. One week after AR stabilization, the patient experienced acute antibody-mediated rejection that was more severe and refractory, resulting in the loss of the transplanted kidney. Conclusion: Desensitization combined with immunosuppressants can lead to overimmunosuppression and cause various infections. Infections could break the accommodation state of the patient, thereby inducing AR and resulting in the loss of the transplanted kidney.

[Application prospect of reaction engineering approach in studying drying behavior of single droplet during spray drying of traditional Chinese medicine].

Spray drying technology is one of the most commonly used unit operations in the production of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) preparations, offering advantages such as short drying time and uniform product quality. However, due to the properties of TCM extracts, such as high viscosity, strong hygroscopicity, and poor flowability, there is limited scope to solve the problems of wall adhesion and clumping in spray drying from the macroscopic perspective of pharmaceutical production. Therefore, it has become a trend to study and optimize the spray drying process from the microscopic point of view by investigating single droplet evaporation behavior. Based on the reaction engineering approach(REA), the single droplet drying system, as a novel method for studying droplets, collects parameter data on individual TCM droplets during the drying process and uses the REA to process the data and establish predictive models. This approach is crucial for understanding the mechanism of TCM spray drying. This paper summarized and analyzed the cha-racteristics of various single droplet systems, the application of REA in single droplet drying systems, and its significance in optimizing the process, predicting drying states, and shortening the development cycle in the field of TCM spray drying, and looked ahead to the prospects of this method, including the introduction of new parameters and imaging techniques, aiming to provide a reference for further research in the field of TCM spray drying.

Study on potential antigenicity and functional properties of whey protein treated by high hydrostatic pressure based on structural analysis.

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) is extensively utilized in the field of food processing due to its remarkable ability to preserve the freshness of food. The potential antigenicity of ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG) in whey protein isolate (WPI, 3%) treated by HHP was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, the impact of pressure-induced structural alterations on the emulsification properties and antioxidant activity of WPI was investigated. The findings revealed that pressures exceeding 300 MPa resulted in molecular aggregation, the formation of inter-molecular disulfide bonds, and an increase in surface hydrophobicity (H0). The percentage of ß-sheet decreased along with the pressure. The results showed the increment of α-helix and ß-turn with pressure. ELISA demonstrated a significant reduction in the antigenicity of ß-LG following HHP treatment (100-600 MPa), with a slight recovery observed at 300 MPa. These spatial structural modifications led to the unfolding of the ß-LG molecule, thereby enhancing its digestibility. Moreover, HHP treatment substantially improved the antioxidant properties, with the exposure to hydrophobic amino acids contributing to increased antioxidant properties and emulsion stability.

Inulin Inhibits the Inflammatory Response through Modulating Enteric Glial Cell Function in Type 2 Diabetic Mellitus Mice by Reshaping Intestinal Flora.

Inulin, a commonly used dietary fiber supplement, is capable of modulating the gut microbiome. Chronic inflammation resulting from metabolic abnormalities and gut flora dysfunction plays a significant role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our research has demonstrated that inulin administration effectively reduced colonic inflammation in T2DM mice by inducing changes in the gut microbiota and increasing the concentration of butyric acid, which in turn modulated the function of enteric glial cells (EGCs). Experiments conducted on T2DM mice revealed that inulin administration led to an increase in the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and the concentration of butyric acid in the colon. The anti-inflammatory effects of altered gastrointestinal flora and its metabolites were further confirmed through fecal microbiota transplantation. Butyric acid was found to inhibit the activation of the κB inhibitor kinase ß/nuclear factor κB pathway, regulate the expression levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, suppress the abnormal activation of EGCs, and prevent the release of inflammatory factors by EGCs. Similar results were observed in vitro experiments with butyric acid. Our findings demonstrate that inulin, by influencing the intestinal flora, modifies the activity of EGCs to effectively reduce colonic inflammation in T2DM mice.

Study on acoustic properties of hydrate-bearing sediments with reconstructed CO2 hydrate in different layers during CH4 hydrate mining.

Natural gas hydrate (NGH), a clean energy source with huge reserves in nature, and its safe and efficient exploitation fits perfectly with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-7). However, large-scale NGH decomposition frequently results in subsea landslides, reservoir subsidence, and collapse. In this work, in order to achieve safe and efficient exploitation of NGHs, the stability variation of different reservoir layers by depressurization/intermittent CO2/N2 injection (80:20 mol%, 50:50 mol%) was investigated using acoustic properties (P-wave velocity, elastic modulus), as well as reservoir subsidence under an overburden stress of 10 MPa. The P-wave velocity increased from 1282 m/s to 2778 m/s in the above-reservoir and from 1266 m/s to 2564 m/s in the below-reservoir, significantly increasing reservoir strength after CO2 hydrate formation. The P-wave velocity and elastic modulus in the top reconstructed reservoir were continually decreased by the shear damage of the overlying stress, while they remained stable in the bottom reconstructed reservoir during hydrate mining. However, due to superior pressure-bearing ability of the top CO2 hydrate reservoir, which was lacking in the bottom CO2 hydrate reservoir, the reservoir subsidence was relieved greatly. Despite the stiffness strength of reconstructed reservoir was ensured with CO2/N2 sweeping, the skeletal structure of CH4 hydrate reservoir was destroyed, and only the formation of CO2 hydrate could guarantee the stability of P-wave velocity and elastic modulus which was most beneficial to relieve reservoir subsidence. A large amount of CO2 was used in reservoir reconstruction and CH4 hydrate mining, which achieved the geological storage of CO2 (SDG-13). This work provided a new idea for safe and efficient NGHs mining in the future, and the application of acoustic properties served as a guide for the efficient construction of reconstructed reservoirs and offers credible technical assistance for safe exploitation of NGHs.

Recent advances in CRISPR-Cas system for the treatment of genetic hearing loss.

Genetic hearing loss has emerged as a significant public health concern that demands attention. Among the various treatment strategies, gene therapy based on gene editing technology is considered the most promising approach for addressing genetic hearing loss by repairing or eliminating mutated genes. The advent of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas system has revolutionized gene therapy through its remarkable gene editing capabilities. This system has been extensively employed in mammalian gene editing and is currently being evaluated through clinical trials. Against this backdrop, this review aims to provide an overview of recent advances in utilizing the CRISPR-Cas system to treat genetic hearing loss. Additionally, we delve into the primary challenges and prospects associated with the current application of this system in addressing genetic hearing loss.

Degradation of cochlear Connexin26 accelerate the development of age-related hearing loss.

The GJB2 gene, encoding Connexin26 (Cx26), is one of the most common causes of inherited deafness. Clinically, mutations in GJB2 cause congenital deafness or late-onset progressive hearing loss. Recently, it has been reported that Cx26 haploid deficiency accelerates the development of age-related hearing loss (ARHL). However, the roles of cochlear Cx26 in the hearing function of aged animals remain unclear. In this study, we revealed that the Cx26 expression was significantly reduced in the cochleae of aged mice, and further explored the underlying molecular mechanism for Cx26 degradation. Immunofluorescence co-localization results showed that Cx26 was internalized and degraded by lysosomes, which might be one of the important ways for Cx26 degradation in the cochlea of aged mice. Currently, whether the degradation of Cx26 in the cochlea leads directly to ARHL, as well as the mechanism of Cx26 degradation-related hearing loss are still unclear. To address these questions, we generated mice with Cx26 knockout in the adult cochlea as a model for the natural degradation of Cx26. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) results showed that Cx26 knockout mice exhibited high-frequency hearing loss, which gradually progressed over time. Pathological examination also revealed the degeneration of hair cells and spiral ganglions, which is similar to the phenotype of ARHL. In summary, our findings suggest that degradation of Cx26 in the cochlea accelerates the occurrence of ARHL, which may be a novel mechanism of ARHL.

[Electroencephalogram characteristics of 26 children with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome]. / 26ä¾‹å„¿ç«¥å‘çƒ­æ„ŸæŸ“ç›¸å ³æ€§ç™«ç—«ç»¼åˆå¾çš„è„‘ç”µå›¾åˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the electroencephalogram (EEG) characteristics and progression of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) in children, aiming to enhance diagnosis and treatment approaches. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 26 children with FIRES between May 2017 and December 2021. RESULTS: All 26 children (100%) presented with fever at the onset, followed by frequent convulsions that rapidly progressed into convulsive status. Ventilator support was required for 22 cases (85%). During the acute phase, EEG features demonstrated the disappearance of background activity and physiological sleep cycles in all children. Diffuse slow waves and multifocal slow spike slow waves were observed as abnormal waves during the interictal period. A characteristic pattern of focal low amplitude fast wave initiation was detected in all children during seizure episodes. In the chronic phase, the background EEG activity gradually recovered, and the presence of abnormal waves was relatively limited. The characteristic pattern of focal slow wave rhythm initiation was evident during seizure episodes. Additionally, extreme δ brushes were observed in four cases (15%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that EEG manifestations in children with FIRES exhibit distinctive patterns during the acute and chronic stages, providing significant value for early diagnosis and clinical staging. Extreme δ brushes may be one of the distinctive markers of children with FIRES.

Involvement in treatment decision-making and self-reported efficacy among patients with advanced colorectal cancer: a nationwide multi-center cross-sectional study.

Introduction: This cross-sectional study evaluated the involvement of patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) in treatment decision-making, assessed the treatment efficacy according to their self-reports, and investigated the influencing factors. Methods: Patients with advanced CRC were recruited from 19 hospitals from March 2020 to March 2021 by a multi-stage multi-level sampling method. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical characteristics, involvement of CRC patients in treatment decision-making, treatment methods, and self-reported efficacy. Univariate and unordered multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the factors affecting the involvement in treatment decision-making and self-reported efficacy. Results: We enrolled 4533 patients with advanced CRC. The average age at diagnosis was 58.7 ± 11.8 years. For the treatment method, 32.4% of patients received surgery combined with chemotherapy, 13.1% of patients underwent surgery combined with chemotherapy and targeted therapy, and 9.7% of patients were treated with surgery alone. For treatment decision-making, 7.0% of patients were solely responsible for decision-making, 47.0% of patients shared treatment decision-making with family members, 19.0% of patients had family members solely responsible for treatment decision-making, and 27.0% of patients had their physicians solely responsible for treatment decision-making. Gender, age, education level, family income, marital status, treatment cost, hospital type, and treatment method were significantly associated with the involvement of patients in treatment decision-making. A total of 3824 patients submitted self-reported efficacy evaluations during treatment. The percentage of patients with good self-reported efficacy was 76.5% (for patients treated for the first time), 61.7% (for patients treated for the second time), and 43.2% (for patients treated after recurrence and metastasis), respectively. Occupation, education level, average annual family income, place of residence, time since cancer diagnosis, hospital type, clinical stage, targeted therapy, and involvement in treatment decision-making were the main influencing factors of self-reported efficacy of treatment. Discussion: Conclusively, CRC patients are not highly dominant in treatment decision-making and more likely to make treatment decisions with their family and doctors. Timely and effective communication between doctors and patients can bolster patient involvement in treatment decision-making.

miRNA326-5p Targets DKC1 Gene to Regulate Apoptosis-Related Proteins and Intervene in the Development of Neuroblastoma.

Objective: To study the effect of congenital dyskeratosis 1 (DKC1) on neuroblastoma and its regulation mechanism. Methods: The expression of DKC1 in neuroblastoma was analyzed by TCGA database and molecular assay. NB cells were transfected with siDKC1 to observe the effects of DKC1 on proliferation, cloning, metastasis, and invasion, and apoptosis and apoptosis-related proteins. The tumor-bearing mouse model was constructed, shDKC1 was transfected to observe the tumor growth and tumor tissue changes, and the expression of DKC1 and Ki-67 was detected. Screening and identification of miRNA326-5p targeting DKC1. NB cells were treated with miRNA326-5p mimic or inhibitors to detect the expression of DKC1. NB cells were transfected with miRNA326-5p and DKC1 mimics to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, and apoptotic protein expression. Results: DKC1 was highly expressed in NB cells and tissues. The activity, proliferation, invasion, and migration of NB cells were significantly decreased by DKC1 gene knockout, while apoptosis was significantly increased. The expression level of B-cell lymphoma-2 in shDKC1 group was significantly lower than that of the control group, while the expression level of BAK, BAX, and caspase-3 was significantly higher than that of the control group. The results of experiments on tumor-bearing mice were consistent with the above results. The results of miRNA assay showed that miRNA326-5p could bind DKC1 mRNA to inhibit the protein expression, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of NB cells, promoting their apoptosis, and regulating the expression of apoptotic proteins. Conclusion: miRNA326-5p targeting DKC1 mRNA regulates apoptosis-related proteins to inhibit neuroblastoma proliferation and promote the apoptotic process.

Real-World Utilization, Barriers, and Factors Associated With the Targeted Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients in China: A Multi-Center, Hospital-Based Survey Study.

Objectives: To explore the utilization, barriers, and factors associated with the targeted treatment of Chinese metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. Methods: A total of 1,688 mCRC patients from 19 hospitals in 14 cities were enrolled from March 2020 to March 2021 using stratified, multistage cluster sampling. The use of targeted therapy and any barriers patients experienced were collected. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors associated with initiating targeted treatment. Results: About 51.6% of the patients initiated targeted therapy, of whom 44.5%, 20.2%, and 35.2% started first-, second-, and third-line treatment, respectively. The most reported barriers were high medical costs and a lack of belief in the efficacy of targeted therapy. Patients treated in the general hospital, diagnosed at an older age, less educated, and who had a lower family income, no medical insurance, poor health-related quality of life, metastasis outside the liver/lung or systemic metastasis, a shorter duration of mCRC were less likely to initiate targeted therapy. Conclusion: Reduced medical costs and interventional education to improve public awareness could facilitate the use of targeted treatment for mCRC.

[Current research status and application prospect of numerical simulation in traditional Chinese medicine drying].

With the rapid development of computer technology, numerical simulation has gradually become an important method to study drying process and improve drying equipment. Using computer to simulate the drying process of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is characterized by intuitiveness, scientificity, and low cost, which serves as an auxiliary means for technical innovation in TCM drying. This paper summarizes the theories of different drying methods and the research status of numerical simulation in drying, introduces the modeling methods and software of numerical simulation, and expounds the significance of numerical simulation modeling in shortening the research and development cycle, improving drying equipment, and optimizing drying parameters. However, the current numerical simulation method for drying process has problems, such as low accuracy, lack of quantitative indicators for the control of simulation results on the process, and insufficient in-depth research on the mechanism of drug quality changes. Furthermore, this paper put forward the application prospect of numerical simulation in TCM drying, providing reference for the further study of numerical simulation in this field.

Prognostic utility of 99mTc-MIBI single photon emission computerized tomography myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with ischemia and non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic value of gated SPECT MPI in non-obstructed coronary arteries (INOCA) patients, sought to stratify patients more accurately and thus derive more reliable prognostic information. Materials and methods: In total, 167 patients with INOCA were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups according to their SSS. Patients were followed-up regularly in terms of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, re-hospitalization with angina pectoris, and recurrent angina pectoris. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox's proportional hazards models were used to analyze survival and identify predictive factors. Results: Adverse cardiac events occurred in 33 cases (19.8%). The rate of MACE was higher in the summed stress score (SSS) ≥4 group than in the SSS 0-3 group (30.1% vs. 9.5%, respectively, P = 0.001) and MACE-free survival was lower (annual MACE-free rates of 87.5% vs. 96.2%, respectively, P = 0.003). Event-free survival was consistently higher in patients with normal arteries than in those with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (annual MACE-free rates of 96.1% and 88.4%, P = 0.035). When the SSS and the CAG results were combined, patients with normal coronary arteries (SSS 0-3) had the best prognosis and those with non-obstructive coronary artery stenosis (SSS ≥ 4) had the worst. However, the early prognosis of patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease and SSS of 0-3 was comparable to that of patients with normal coronary arteries and SSS ≥ 4 (annual MACE-free rates of 100%, 94.6%, 93.1%, and 78.2%, respectively). Multivariate Cox's regression indicated that the SSS [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.126, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.042-1.217, P = 0.003] and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (HR = 2.559, 95% CI 1.249-5.246, P = 0.01) were predictors of adverse cardiac events. Conclusion: SPECT MPI data were prognostic for INOCA patients, thus identifying groups at high risk. The long-term predictive efficacy of such data exceeded that of CAG data. A combination of the two measures more accurately stratified INOCA patients in terms of risk.

Preparation of fat substitute based on maize starch hydrolysates and application in reduced-fat acidified milk gel.

Reduced-fat food has become a popular choice among contemporary consumers. This study aims to develop a starch-based fat substitute and incorporate it into reduced-fat milk gel acidified with glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) to achieve similar rheological properties as a full-fat gel. The gel properties of the fat substitute were assessed. The study examined the rheological properties, syneresis, textural properties and microstructure of acidified milk gels while also monitoring acidification process. Starch hydrolysates with low dextrose equivalent (DE) (<5.1 %) can serve as an effective fat substitute due to their excellent gelling properties The rheological and textural properties of the reduced-fat acidified milk gel with DE at 3.1 % of starch hydrolysate and 30 % fat substitution are similar to those of the full-fat milk gel. The syneresis and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) results indicated that the microstructure of the reduced-fat acidified milk gel was similar to the full-fat version. Moreover, the sensory properties of the reduced-fat acidified milk gel were acceptable when the DE was 3.1 %, and 30 % fat was replaced. In our study, we utilized hydrolyzed starch to produce reduced-fat acidified milk gels, which could potentially be used in the development of reduced-fat yogurt formulations.

Purification and identification of xanthine oxidase inhibitory peptides from enzymatic hydrolysate of α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein.

The development of food-derived Xanthine Oxidase (XO) inhibitors is critical to the treatment of hyperuricemia and oxidative stress-related disease. Few studies report on milk protein hydrolysates' XO inhibitory activity, with the mechanism of their interaction remaining elusive. Here, different commercial enzymes were used to hydrolyze α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein. The two proteins hydrolyzed by alkaline protease exhibited the most potent XO inhibitory activity (bovine casein: IC50 = 0.13 mg mL-1; α-lactalbumin: IC50 = 0.28 mg mL-1). Eight potential XO inhibitory peptides including VYPFPGPI, GPVRGPFPIIV, VYPFPGPIPN, VYPFPGPIHN, QLKRFSFRSFIWR, LVYPFPGPIHN, AVFPSIVGR, and GFININSLR (IC50 of 4.67-8.02 mM) were purified and identified from alkaline protease hydrolysates by using gel filtration, LC-MS/MS and PeptideRanker. The most important role of inhibiting activity of peptides is linked to hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding based on the results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The enzymatic hydrolysate of α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein could be a competitive candidates for hyperuricemia-resisting functional food.

UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-Based Serum Metabolomics Reveals Potential Anti-tumor Mechanism of Banxia Xiexin Decoction in Colorectal Cancer Mice.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the potential mechanism of Banxia Xiexin Decoction (BXD) on colorectal cancer (CRC) from the perspective of metabolomics. METHODS: Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control (NC), azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) model, low-dose BXD (L-BXD), high-dose BXD (H-BXD) and mesalamine (MS) groups according to a random number table, 8 mice in each group. Colorectal cancer model was induced by AOM/DSS. BXD was administered daily at doses of 3.915 (L-BXD) and 15.66 g/kg (H-BXD) by gavage for consecutive 21 days, and 100 mg/kg MS was used as positive control. Following the entire modeling cycle, colon length of mice was measured and quantity of colorectal tumors were counted. The spleen and thymus index were determined by calculating the spleen/thymus weight to body weight. Inflammatory cytokine and changes of serum metabolites were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS), respectively. RESULTS: Notably, BXD supplementation protected against weight loss, mitigated tumor formation, and diminished histologic damage in mice treated with AOM/DSS (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, BXD suppressed expression of serum inflammatory enzymes, and improved the spleen and thymus index (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, 102 kinds of differential metabolites were screened in the AOM/DSS group, including 48 potential biomarkers, involving 18 main metabolic pathways. Totally 18 potential biomarkers related to CRC were identified, and the anti-CRC mechanism of BXD was closely related to D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, arginine biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and so on. CONCLUSION: BXD exerts partial protective effects on AOM/DSS-induced CRC by reducing inflammation, protecting organism immunity ability, and regulating amino acid metabolism.