Effects of different strains fermentation on nutritional functional components and flavor compounds of sweet potato slurry.

In this paper, we study the effect of microbial fermentation on the nutrient composition and flavor of sweet potato slurry, different strains of Aspergillus niger, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium brevis were employed to ferment sweet potato slurry. After 48 h of fermentation with different strains (10% inoculation amount), we compared the effects of several strains on the nutritional and functional constituents (protein, soluble dietary fiber, organic acid, soluble sugar, total polyphenol, free amino acid, and sensory characteristics). The results demonstrated that the total sugar level of sweet potato slurry fell significantly after fermentation by various strains, indicating that these strains can utilize the nutritious components of sweet potato slurry for fermentation. The slurry's total protein and phenol concentrations increased significantly, and many strains demonstrated excellent fermentation performance. The pH of the slurry dropped from 6.78 to 3.28 to 5.95 after fermentation. The fermentation broth contained 17 free amino acids, and the change in free amino acid content is closely correlated with the flavor of the sweet potato fermentation slurry. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry results reveal that microbial fermentation can effectively increase the kinds and concentration of flavor components in sweet potato slurry, enhancing its flavor and flavor profile. The results demonstrated that Aspergillus niger fermentation of sweet potato slurry might greatly enhance protein and total phenolic content, which is crucial in enhancing nutrition. However, Bacillus coagulans fermentation can enhance the concentration of free amino acids in sweet potato slurry by 64.83%, with a significant rise in fresh and sweet amino acids. After fermentation by Bacillus coagulans, the concentration of lactic acid and volatile flavor substances also achieved its highest level, which can considerably enhance its flavor. The above results showed that Aspergillus niger and Bacillus coagulans could be the ideal strains for sweet potato slurry fermentation.

Wheat embryo globulin nutrients ameliorate d-galactose and aluminum chloride-induced cognitive impairment in rats.

Wheat embryo globulin nutrient (WEGN), with wheat embryo globulin (WEG) as the main functional component, is a nutritional combination that specifically targets memory impairment. In this study, we explored the protective role of WEGN on Alzheimer's disease (AD)-triggered cognitive impairment, neuronal injury, oxidative stress, and acetylcholine system disorder. Specifically, we established an AD model via administration of d-galactose (d-gal) and Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) for 70 days, then on the 36th day, administered animals in the donepezil and WEGN (300, 600, and 900 mg/kg) groups with drugs by gavage for 35 days. Learning and memory ability of the treated rats was tested using the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition (NOR) test, while pathological changes and neuronal death in their hippocampus CA1 were detected via HE staining and Nissl staining. Moreover, we determined antioxidant enzymes by measuring levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in serum, cortex, and hippocampus, whereas changes in the acetylcholine system were determined by evaluating choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities, as well as choline acetylcholine (Ach) content. Results revealed that rats in the WEGN group exhibited significantly lower escape latency, as well as a significantly higher number of targeted crossings and longer residence times in the target quadrant, relative to those in the model group. Notably, rats in the WEGN group spent more time exploring new objects and exhibited lower damage to their hippocampus neuron, had improved learning and memory activity, as well as reversed histological alterations, relative to those in the model group. Meanwhile, biochemical examinations revealed that rats in the WEGN group had significantly lower MDA levels and AChE activities, but significantly higher GSH, SOD, and ChAT activities, as well as Ach content, relative to those in the model group. Overall, these findings indicate that WEGN exerts protective effects on cognitive impairment, neuronal damage, oxidative stress, and choline function in AD rats treated by d-gal/AlCl3.

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial resection of the renal pelvis for urothelial carcinoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: The standard treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract consists of radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff removal, which can be performed either in open or laparoscopy or robot-assisted laparoscopy. Treatment of chronic renal insufficiency patients with upper urothelial tumor is in a dilemma. Urologists weigh and consider the balance between tumor control and effective renal function preservation. European Association of Urology guidelines recommend that select patients may benefit from endoscopic treatment, but laparoscopic treatment is rarely reported. CASE SUMMARY: In this case report, we describe a case of 79-year-old female diagnosed with urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis and adrenal adenoma with chronic renal insufficiency. The patient was treated with retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial resection of the renal pelvis and adrenal adenoma resection simultaneously. CONCLUSION: Retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial resection of the renal pelvis is an effective surgical procedure for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis.

[Interval of ≤2 weeks between 12-core prostate biopsy and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy does not affect perioperative parameters or surgical outcomes].

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a short interval (≤2 weeks) between 12-core prostate biopsy and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) affects perioperative parameters and the outcome of surgery. METHODS: This retrospective study included 102 cases of prostate cancer treated by LRP after 12-core prostate biopsy from January 2012 to December 2016. Based on the interval between prostate biopsy and LRP, we divided the patients into three groups: ≤2 wk (n = 35), >2－6 wk (n = 21), and >6 wk (n = 46). The patients averaged 69.87 (59－84) years in age, 24.99 (15.62－33.14) kg/m2 in the body mass index (BMI), 24.41 (0.41－111.78) µg/L in the baseline PSA level, 56.05 (15.97－216.52) ml in the prostate volume, and 7.51 (6－9) in the Gleason score. We analyzed the clinical data, perioperative parameters and outcomes of surgery, and compared them among the three groups of patients. RESULTS: Operations were completed successfully in all the 102 cases without transferring to open surgery. There were no statistically significant differences among the three groups of patients in age, BMI, baseline PSA level, prostate volume, Gleason score, or T stage, nor in the operation time, estimated intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion rate, intestinal injury, positive incision margin rate, or urinary continence rate at 3 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy at ≤2 weeks after 12-core prostate biopsy is safe and effective in the treatment of prostate cancer and does not affect the perioperative parameters and outcomes of surgery.

[Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer found in transurethral resection of the prostate: Report of 14 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To sum up the experience in the treatment of prostate cancer found in transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) by laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). METHODS: Fourteen patients found with prostate cancer during TURP underwent LRP in our hospital between 2011 and 2016. We reviewed our experience in the treatment and analyzed the clinical and follow-up data. RESULTS: LRP was successfully performed in all the cases at 1－4 months after TURP, with a mean operation time of (113 ± 94) min (80－220 min), a mean blood loss of (188 ± 152) ml (100－500 ml), a mean catheterization time of (11.7 ± 3.7) d (7－16 d), and a median follow-up time of 28 (4－68) months. There were no rectal injuries, conversion to open surgery, or blood transfusion during the operation. Positive surgical margin was found in 1 case, in which the tumor involved the nerve and vessel, and lymphatic fistula occurred in another. Urinary continence was desirable in 13 cases at 12 months after surgery, and no incontinence was observed in the other, which had been followed up for less than 12 months. The patient with positive surgical margin received radiotherapy and endocrine therapy postoperatively and was still alive without pathologic progression. No biochemical or clinical recurrence was found in the other 13 cases. CONCLUSIONS: LRP at 1 month after TURP can provide a proper anatomical plane, make the operation easier, and achieve a satisfactory functional and oncological prognosis for patients with prostate cancer.

Molecular Design, Structural Analysis and Antifungal Activity of Derivatives of Peptide CGA-N46.

Chromogranin A (CGA)-N46, a derived peptide of human chromogranin A, has antifungal activity. To further research the active domain of CGA-N46, a series of derivatives were designed by successively deleting amino acid from both terminus of CGA-N46, and the amino acid sequence of each derivative was analyzed by bioinformatic software. Based on the predicted physicochemical properties of the peptides, including half-life time in mammalian reticulocytes (in vitro), yeast (in vivo) and E. coli (in vivo), instability index, aliphatic index and grand average of hydropathicity (GRAVY), the secondary structure, net charge, the distribution of hydrophobic residues and hydrophilic residues, the final derivatives CGA-N15, CGA-N16, CGA-N12 and CGA-N8 were synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. The results of bioinformatic analysis showed that CGA-N46 and its derivatives were α-helix, neutral or weak positive charge, hydrophilic, and CGA-N12 and CGA-N8 were more stable than the other derivatives. The results of circular dichroism confirmed that CGA-N46 and its derived peptides displayed α-helical structure in an aqueous solution and 30 mM sodium dodecylsulfate, but α-helical contents decreased in hydrophobic lipid vesicles. CGA-N15, CGA-N16, CGA-N12 and CGA-N8 had higher antifungal activities than their mother peptide CGA-N46. Among of the derived peptides, CGA-N12 showed the least hemolytic activity. In conclusion, we have successfully identified the active domain of CGA-N46 with strong antifungal activity and weak hemolytic activity, which provides the possibility to develop a new class of antibiotics.

Optimization of the Expression Conditions of CGA-N46 in Bacillus subtilis DB1342(p-3N46) by Response Surface Methodology.

CGA-N46 is a small antifungal-derived peptide and consists of the 31st-76th amino acids of the N-terminus of human chromogranin A. Polycistronic expression of recombinant CGA-N46 in Bacillus subtilis DB1342 was used to improve its production, but the yield of CGA-N46 was still low. In the present study, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize culture medium composition and growth conditions of the engineered strain B. subtilis DB1342(p-3N46) for the further increase in CGA-N46 yield. The results of two-level factorial experiments indicated that dextrin and tryptone were significant factors affecting CGA-N46 expression. Central composite design (CCD) was used to determine the ideal conditions of each significant factors. From the results of CCD, the optimal medium composition was predicted to be dextrin 16.6 g/L, tryptone 19.2 g/L, KH2PO4·H2O 6 g/L, pH 6.5. And the optimal culture process indicated inoculation of B. subtilis DB1342(p-3N46) seed culture into fresh culture medium at 5 % (v/v), followed by expression of CGA-N46 for 56 hours at 30 °C induced by 2 % (v/v) sucrose after one hour of shaking culture. To test optimal CGA-N46 peptide expression, the yeast growth inhibition assay was employed and it was found that under optimal culture conditions, CGA-N46 inhibited the growth of Candida albican by 42.17, 30.86 % more than that in the pre-optimization conditions. In summary, RSM can be used to optimize expression conditions of CGA-N46 in engineered strains B. subtilis DB1342(p-3N46).

Optimization of the expression conditions of CGA-N46 in Bacillus subtilis DB1342(p-3N46) by response surface methodology.

CGA-N46 is a small antifungal derived peptide and consists of the 31st to 76th amino acids of the N-terminus of human chromogranin A. Polycistronic expression of recombinant CGA-N46 in Bacillus subtilis DB1342 was used to improve its production, but the yield of CGA-N46 was still low. In the present study, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize culture medium composition and growth conditions of the engineered strain B. subtilis DB1342(p-3N46) for the further increase of CGA-N46 yield. The results of two-level factorial experiments indicated that dextrin and tryptone were significant factors affecting CGA-N46 expression. Central composite design (CCD) was used to determine the ideal conditions of each significant factors. From the results of CCD, the optimal medium composition was predicted to be dextrin 16.6 g/L, tryptone 19.2 g/L, KH2PO4·3H2O 6 g/L, pH 6.5. And the optimal culture process was indicated that B. subtilis DB1342(p-3N46) seed culture was inoculated into fresh culture medium at 5% (v/v), followed by expression of CGA-N46 for 56 hours at 30°C induced by 2% (v/v) sucrose after one hour of shaking culture. To test optimal CGA-N46 peptide expression, the yeast growth inhibition assay was employed and it was found that under optimal culture conditions, CGA-N46 inhibited the growth of C. albican by 42.17%, 30.86% more than that in the pre-optimization conditions. In summary, RSM can be used to optimize expression conditions of CGA-N46 in engineered strains B. subtilis DB1342(p-3N46).

Expression, purification and characterization of a feruloyl esterase A from Aspergillus flavus.

Feruloyl esterases are key enzymes involved in the complete hydrolysis of hemicellulose. In the present study, the encoding sequence of putative feruloyl esterase A (AfFaeA) was cloned from genomic DNA from Aspergillus flavus and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The purified recombinant AfFaeA had apparent relative molecular mass of about 40,000 and had an optimum pH of 6.0, although it was stable at pH values ranging from 4.5 to 8.0. The optimum temperature for AfFaeA was 58°C. AfFaeA had hydrolytic activity toward methyl caffeate, methyl p-coumarate, methyl ferulate and methyl sinapate. Substrate specificity profiling of AfFaeA demostrated it is a type-A feruloyl esterase. The good performance of AfFaeA to release ferulic acid from steam exploded corn stalk in concert with Geobacillus stearothermophilus xylanase mutant indicated it is a promising biocatalyst for biomass degradation.