Current knowledge of anthocyanin metabolism in the digestive tract: absorption, distribution, degradation, and interconversion.

Potential roles for anthocyanins in preventing various chronic diseases have been reported. These compounds are highly sensitive to external conditions and are susceptible to degradation, which increases the complexity of their metabolism in vivo. This review discusses anthocyanin metabolism in the digestive tract, phase I and II metabolism, and enterohepatic circulation (EHC), as well as their distribution of anthocyanins in blood, urine, and several organs. In the oral cavity, anthocyanins are partly hydrolyzed by microbiota into aglycones which are then conjugated by glucuronidase. In stomach, anthocyanins are absorbed without deglycosylation via specific transporters, such as sodium-dependent glucose co-transporter 1 and facilitative glucose transporters 1, while in small intestine, they are mainly absorbed as aglycones. High polymeric anthocyanins are easily degraded into low-polymeric forms or smaller phenolic acids by colonic microbiota, which improves their absorption. Anthocyanins and their derivatives are modified by phase I and II metabolic enzymes in cells and are released into the blood via the gastrovascular cavity into EHC. Notably, interconversion can be occurred under the action of enzymes such as catechol-O-methyltransferase. Taking together, differences in anthocyanin absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion largely depend on their glycoside and aglycone structures.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis in 12 children with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy]. / 12ä¾‹æ–°åž‹å† çŠ¶ç— æ¯’Omicronå˜å¼‚æ ªæ„ŸæŸ“ç›¸å ³æ€¥æ€§åæ­»æ€§è„‘ç— å„¿ç«¥çš„ä¸´åºŠç‰¹ç‚¹åŠé¢„åŽåˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical characteristics and prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical data of 12 children with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection-associated ANE who were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital from December 18 to 29, 2022. The children were divided into two groups based on outcomes: death group (7 cases) and survival group (5 cases). The clinical manifestations and auxiliary examination results were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The median age of the 12 patients was 30 months, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1. All patients presented with persistent high fever, with a median highest body temperature of 41℃. The median time from fever onset to seizure or consciousness disturbance was 18 hours. The death group had a higher proportion of neurogenic shock, coagulation dysfunction, as well as elevated lactate, D-dimer, interleukin-6, interleukin--8, and interleukin-10 levels compared to the survival group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Children with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection-associated with ANE commonly present with persistent high fever, rapidly progressing disease, and have a high likelihood of developing consciousness disorders and multiorgan dysfunction within a short period. The occurrence of neurogenic shock, coagulation dysfunction, and significantly elevated cytokine levels suggests an increased risk of mortality.

3D food printing: Applications of plant-based materials in extrusion-based food printing.

As an emerging digital production technology, 3D food printing intends to meet the demand for customized food design, personalized nutrition, simplification of the food supply chain system, and greater food material diversity. Most 3D food printing studies focus on the development of materials for extrusion-based food printing. Plant-based foods are essential for a healthy diet, and they are growing in popularity as their positive effects on human health gain wider recognition. The number of original studies on plant-based printable materials has increased significantly in the past few years. Currently, there is an absence of a comprehensive systematic review on the applications of plant-based materials in extrusion-based food printing. Thus, this review aims to provide a more intuitive overview and guidance for future research on 3D printing of plant-based materials. The requirements, classifications, and binding mechanisms of extrusion-based food printing materials are first summarized. Additionally, notable recent achievements and emerging trends involving the use of plant-based materials in extrusion-based food printing are reviewed across three categories, namely, hot-melt (e.g., chocolate), hydrogel, and soft (e.g., cereal- and fruit/vegetable-based) materials. Finally, the challenges facing 3D food printing technology as well as its future prospects are discussed.

[Clinical features of children with Epstein-Barr virus-related acute liver failure: an analysis of four cases].

A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of four children with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related acute liver failure. There were two boys and two girls with a median age of 10 months (range 8.5-44 months). Of the four children, three were diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis (IM), among whom two met the diagnostic criteria of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), and one was diagnosed with past EBV infection. All the children had positive EBV DNA in blood and all had pyrexia, hepatomegaly, and jaundice on admission. Three children had the symptom of splenomegaly, ascites, or vomiting. Two children had enlargement of cervical lymph nodes, skin rash, or pleural effusion. One child had gastrointestinal bleeding or stage 2 hepatic encephalopathy. All the children had an abnormal lymphocyte count of <10%, and only one child had leukocytosis and thrombocytopenia. Among the four children, alanine aminotransferase level increased by 10-100 times; total bilirubin level increased by 3-5 times; lactate dehydrogenase level increased by many 10 times; prothrombin time prolonged significantly. All the children were given antiviral therapy with intravenously injected acyclovir or ganciclovir, as well as hepatocyte growth factor to promote hepatocyte growth and hormone to alleviate inflammatory response. Two children were given plasma exchange in addition, among whom one was given the combination of continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. Two children with HLH were given chemotherapy according to the HLH-2004 regimen. Three children survived, and one child with HLH died of multiple organ failure. It is concluded that EBV infection can cause acute liver failure and that early use of multimodality therapy including blood purification may be beneficial for prognosis in these children.

Phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activity of 27 cultivars of tea.

Tea, rich in phytochemicals, has been suggested to have human health benefits. The phenolic profiles, antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of 27 tea cultivars were determined. Wide ranges of variation were found in analyzed cultivars for the contents of water-soluble phenolics (121.6-223.7 mg/g dry weight (DW)), total catechins (TC) (90.5-177.2 mg/g DW), antioxidant activities (PSC values 627.3-2332.3 µmol of vitamin C equiv/g DW, ORAC values (1865.1-3489.3 µmol of vitamin C equiv/g DW), CAA values (37.7-134.3 µmol of QE/g DW without PBS wash and 25.3-75.4 µmol of QE/g DW with PBS wash) and antiproliferative activity (53.0-90.8% at the concentration of 400 µg/mL extracts). The PSC, ORAC and CAA values were significantly correlated with phenolics, epicatechin gallate (ECG), CC and TC. Knowledge of specific differences among tea cultivars is important for breeding tea cultivars and gives sights to its potential application to promote health.

[Value of serum S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase levels in predicting the severity of hand, foot and mouth disease].

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of serum S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels in predicting the severity of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). METHODS: Ninety children with HFMD were classified into three groups: common type, severe type, and critical type (n=30 each). Thirty healthy children were randomly selected as the control group. ELISA was used to measure serum levels of S100B protein and NSE before and at 7 days after treatment. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the prediction efficiency of S100B protein and NSE for the severity of HFMD. RESULTS: The critical type group had significant increases in the serum levels of S100B protein and NSE compared with the other three groups (P<0.01). The severe type group had significant increases in serum levels of S100B protein and NSE compared with the common type and control groups (P<0.01). The critical type and severe type groups had significant reductions in serum levels of S100B protein and NSE after treatment (P<0.05). Serum S100B protein had the highest Youden value of 0.611 at the cut-off value of 0.445 µg/L, with a sensitivity of 61% and a specificity of 100%, in the prediction of serious HFMD (including severe type and critical type HFMD). Serum NSE had the highest Youden value of 0.533 at the cut-off value of 5.905 µg/L, with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 73%, in the prediction of serious HFMD. Combined measurements of these two parameters had a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 73% and had the highest predictive value for serious HFMD. CONCLUSIONS: The serum levels of S100B protein and NSE help to predict the severity and treatment outcomes of HFMD. Combined measurements of these two parameters has a higher predictive value for serious HFMD.

[Association between S100B gene polymorphisms and hand, foot and mouth disease caused by enterovirus 71 infection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between rs9722 polymorphisms in the S100B gene and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by enterovirus 71. METHODS: A total of 124 HFMD children with enterovirus 71 infection were enrolled as subjects, and 56 healthy children were enrolled as control group. The rs9722 polymorphisms in the S100B gene were detected for both groups, and the serum level of S100B protein was measured for 74 HFMD children. RESULTS: The rs9722 locus of the S100B gene had three genotypes, CC, CT, and TT, and the genotype frequencies were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Compared with the control group, the HFMD group had significant increases in the frequencies of TT genotype and T allele (P<0.01). Children with severe HFMD caused by enterovirus 71 infection had significantly higher frequencies of TT genotype and T allele than those with moderate or mild HFMD (P<0.05). Compared with the cured patients, the patients with poor prognosis had significant increases in the frequencies of TT genotype and T allele in the rs9722 locus of the S100B gene (P<0.05). Among the 74 children with HFMD, the children with TT genotype had the highest serum level of S100B protein, and those with CC genotype had the lowest level (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: T allele in the rs9722 locus of the S100B gene might be a risk factor for severe HFMD caused by enterovirus 71 infection.

A consecutive centrifugal method for concentration of human enteric viruses in water samples.

A consecutive centrifugal method was developed to concentrate enteric viruses from water. Using five selected human enteric viruses, the recovery rates were evaluated and compared with results from NanoCeram filtration methods. The highest recovery rate was achieved for coxsackievirus (78.11 %, 42.97-101.39), and the lowest rate was for adenovirus (32.84 %, 19.68-66.20). In comparison with NanoCeram disc filtration with beef-extract flocculation (BE), the recovery rate was increased for all viruses. The rate of increase varied from a low of 8.24 % (astroviruses) to a high of 24.22 % (noroviruses). The NanoCeram filtration with BE was further modified by NaPP buffer plus one-step centrifugation using a Centricon plus-70 device. The modified method further increased the concentrations of viruses in the sample. Virus concentration was increased to 19.45 ± 7.19-fold for rotavirus, 19.40 ± 6.54-fold for norovirus, 16.10 ± 7.61-fold for coxsackievirus, 12.80 ± 3.00-fold for astrovirus and 11.97 ± 6.94-fold for adenovirus compared to the NanoCeram filtration with BE. Subsequent cell culture showed that the infectivity of the viruses was not altered by any of the three methods. Three methods will provide testing labs with choices for cost-effective approaches to concentrate viruses from water.

[Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of children with critical hand-foot-mouth disease treated with mechanical ventilation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics of children with critical hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) who were treated with mechanical ventilation and to explore the risk factors for poor prognosis. METHODS: The clinical data of 63 children with critical HFMD who were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit between April 2012 and September 2013 and needed mechanical ventilation were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 63 children, 43 were boys and 20 were girls, and their mean age was 25 ± 18 months, with 81% under 3 years old. The four death cases were all under three years old. Compared with the cured cases, the death cases had a significantly lower mean age (8 ± 3 months vs 25 ± 18 months; P<0.05). Poor peripheral circulation above the elbow or knee joint, pulmonary edema involving at least two thirds of the lung field, and pulmonary hemorrhage were all closely related to death (P<0.01). The death cases and cured cases had significantly different peripheral white blood cell counts, blood lactic acid, and blood glucose (24 ± 11× 109/L vs 12 ± 5×109/L; 6.6 ± 1.8 mmol/L vs 3.6 ± 1.7 mmol/L; 16.4 ± 2.5 mmol/L vs 10.0 ± 3.0 mmol/L). The cases with critical illness score <90 had a significantly higher death risk (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Children with critical HFMD are mainly under 3 years old. The children face extremely high risk of death when they suffer from poor peripheral circulation above the elbow or knee joint, pulmonary edema involving at least two thirds of the lung field, and pulmonary hemorrhage. Significant increases in peripheral white blood cell counts, blood lactic acid, and blood glucose are risk factors for poor prognosis. Critical illness score is also related to poor prognosis.

Food inflammation index reveals the key inflammatory components in foods and heterogeneity within food groups: How do we choose food?

INTRODUCTION: Food is a critical factor of chronic inflammation. Few studies tried to quantize inflammatory effects of food. Moreover, the discrepancies in inflammatory effects among foods within the same food group are frequently ignored. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare inflammatory effects of food based on Food Composition Tables via a Food Inflammation Index (FII). We aimed to reveal heterogeneity within food groups in dietary guidelines and identify the key components. METHODS: The FII was adapted from Dietary Inflammation Index (DII) with a weighted algorithm, validated by NHANES.The Food Inflammation Scores of Individuals (FISI) of various dietary patterns were analyzed and compared. FII scores were converted to percentages for intuitive grading using the United States Department of Agriculture Food Composition Table (USDA-FCT), and China-FCT was also used for validation.The FII scores of various food groups based on USDA-FCT and dietary guidelines were counted and compared to reveal the heterogeneity within food groups. RESULTS: FII proves effective in delineating food inflammatory effects. It reveals substantial inflammatory risk even with adherence to the Mediterranean diet, highlighting the need to address intra-group heterogeneity. Within USDA-FCT, nuts and select vegetable oils (rich in flavonoids and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) are notable anti-inflammatory foods, contrasting with pro-inflammatory meats high in saturated fats. According to the current dietary nutrition guidelines, the inflammatory effects of food groups vary greatly. Further subdivision of food groups can weaken the problem of heterogeneity within food groups, thereby providing more accurate dietary recommendations. CONCLUSION: Quantifying the inflammatory effects of whole foods is important for general consumers to realize their own dietary inflammatory exposure risk. The FII reveals the heterogeneity within food groups and can be a reference for dietary recommendations. This public tool could be beneficial for consumer choice, dietary guideline revision, science research for healthier eating.

Antioxidization and antiproliferation of extract from leaves of Toona sinensis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the antioxidization and antiproliferation of extract from leaves of Toona sinensis (LTS). METHODS: The total phenolic extract of LTS was obtained by solvent and polyamide resin to determine the content. The antioxidization of the LTS extract was measured by TOSC assay. Antiproliferation was studied in vitro with different human cancer cells. RESULTS: The total phenolic content in the LTS was (427.53±4.31) mg/g and antioxidization was 807.64 µmoL vitamin C equivalents/g in the sample. The extract significantly inhibited the colon cancer cell Caco-2, human liver cancer cell HepG(2) and breast cancer cell MCF-7 proliferation with EC(50) (4.00±0.39), (153.16±13.49) and (193.46±14.68) µg/mL, respectively. The bioactivity index (BI) of the LTS extract was nearly 283. Caco-2 was more sensitive than MCF-7 and HepG(2). CONCLUSION: Extract from LTS has anticancer properties useful for preventing chronic diseases.

A dynamic view on the chemical composition and bioactive properties of mulberry fruit using an in vitro digestion and fermentation model.

Mulberry is a kind of fruit rich in nutrients, however, the beneficial effects of mulberry fruits are related not only to the amount consumed, but also to the bioavailability of these nutrients in the organism. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the bioaccessibility of main bioactive compounds from mulberry fruit using an in vitro digestion model, the changes in bioactivities as well as intestinal flora were also investigated. The results showed that the particle size of the mulberry fruit was gradually reduced (from 196.87 to 60.85 µm), as well as the phenolics and carbohydrates were significantly released during the digestion and maximized in the first 15 min in the intestinal phase (1752 ± 2.80 mg GAE per 100 g, DW; 277.402 ± 2.80 mg GE per 100 g, DW, respectively). Meanwhile, the bioaccessibility indices for phenolic compounds and carbohydrates were 55.49% and 84.62%. The antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of the mulberry fruit were positively correlated with their total content of released phenolic compounds. And the phenolic compounds (2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and gallic acid) were the main compounds that inhibit the α-glucosidase activity by binding to its active cavity through hydrogen bonds. In addition, the mulberry fruit undigested fractions could be further fermented by intestinal microorganisms to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which decreased the colon pH value (from 5.93 to 4.79) and the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio which was beneficial for obesity. Our results indicated that the mulberry fruit exhibited good bioactivity during digestion and fermentation, and could be a promising candidate as a dietary source of functional foods.

Mediation of the microbiome-gut axis by oyster (Crassostrea gigas) polysaccharides: A possible protective role in alcoholic liver injury.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the molecular mechanism by which polysaccharides from Crassostrea gigas (RPS) prevent alcoholic liver injury and to uncover whether the steaming process affects the bioactivities of RPS. Oral administration of RPS or polysaccharides from steamed oyster (SPS) (282 mg/kg b.w.) significantly attenuated alcoholic liver injury in mice. RPS and SPS treatments protected gut functions by significantly enhancing the expression of tight-junction proteins and suppressing inflammatory responses. RPS and SPS treatments also significantly increased Lactobacillus reuteri and Roseburia spp. and decreased the level of Escherichia. Microbial metabolites, especially propionate and butyrate, were also increased in RPS- and SPS-treated mice. Correlation analysis revealed that the beneficial effects of RPS and SPS were strongly correlated with the microbiota composition and SCFAs. These results indicated that oyster polysaccharides alleviated alcoholic liver injury by mediating the gut-liver-metabolite axis, and the steaming process had little influence on the bioactivity.

Wild pink bayberry fruit: the effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on phytochemical profiles, and antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.

The regular consumption of polyphenol-rich foods is essential to prevent the onset of diseases. Wild fruits are known to possess higher levels of bioactive components than the domesticated fruits because of the severe environmental conditions they are grown in. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profiles, and antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of a wild pink bayberry fruit after in vitro digestion and to compare them with results obtained with a chemical extraction method. A low release of total phenolics and anthocyanins was observed after digestion compared with chemical extraction, while more flavonol contents were found by HPLC analysis. The digesta samples demonstrated low levels of extracellular antioxidant activity (EAA) and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA). However, the cellular uptake rate was increased during the in vitro digestion, and the largest value of 75.35% was obtained in the colon step. Notably, the antiproliferative activity in the colon digesta (10.14 ± 0.13 mg mL-1) was close to that of extracts (7.6 ± 0.63 mg mL-1). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that EAA and CAA were significantly correlated with TPC, while the antiproliferative activity was significantly correlated with the total contents of three flavonol compounds (quercetin, kaempferol, and myricetin). Our observations provide new insights into the bioactivity variation of whole fruits as affected by simulated digestion.

A study on the Fe3O4@Fructus mori L. polysaccharide particles with enhanced antioxidant activity and bioavailability.

Molecular conformation is closely related to the functional properties of macromolecules. In order to prove that the bioactivity of mulberry fruit polysaccharides (MFPs) is greatly affected by the conformation, and to improve adsorption properties, we have designed Fe3O4@MFPNPs core-shell nanoparticles. The spherical Fe3O4@MFPNPs have been successfully synthesized with particle size distribution in the ranges of 3-10 nm and 68-164 nm, which are smaller than their previously prepared original polysaccharides and MFP-Fe(iii). The Fe3O4@MFPNPs showed better antioxidant activity in comparison to MFP and MFP-Fe(iii). The difference in the antioxidant activity between Fe3O4@MFPNPs and MFP-Fe(iii), both of which were modified based on elemental iron, may be attributed to their different conformations: MFP-Fe(iii) were rod-shaped, while Fe3O4@MFPNPs were spherical. Furthermore, Fe3O4@MFPNPs also exhibited greater absorption in the small intestine, which can promote its application in human health.

Fabrication, characterization and evaluation of myricetin adsorption onto starch nanoparticles.

Myricetin (MY) is a natural antioxidant flavonoid with a variety of biological activities. However, extremely low water solubility, bioavailability, and easy degradation, restrict their application. Recently, increasing interest in starch nanoparticles as a new kind of biocompatible renewable polymer in applications like nanocarriers. This work was to fabricate MY adsorption onto tapioca starch nanoparticles (TSNPs) and evaluate their biological activities. The adsorption mechanism, loading amount, antioxidative capacity, and in vitro release of the loaded MY were also analyzed. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption equilibrium were best explained by a pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich isotherms, respectively. Based on the thermodynamic parameters, adsorption was found to be a spontaneous and exothermic process with a decrease in entropy. MY possessed a maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity of 453 ± 8.07 mg/g. Low cytotoxicity were obtained as described by methylene blue assay, and a sustained release of loaded MY was observed in stimulated gastric (pH 2.0) and intestinal (pH 7.0) fluids. Additionally, the rate of clearance of DPPH free radicals was increased by the adsorption of MY onto TSNPs, which was confirmed by the lower value of 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50).

Effects of alternate-day fasting, time-restricted fasting and intermittent energy restriction DSS-induced on colitis and behavioral disorders.

Intermittent fasting (IF) has been reported to have beneficial effects on improving gut function via lowering gut inflammation and altering the gut microbiome diversity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the differential effects of three different common IF treatments, alternate day fasting (ADF), time-restricted fasting (TRF), and intermittent energy restriction (IER), on a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. The results indicated that TRF and IER, but not ADF improved the survival rates of the colitis mice. TRF and IER, but not ADF, reversed the colitis pathological development by improving the gut barrier integrity and colon length. Importantly, TRF and IER suppressed the inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in colon tissues. Interestingly, TRF and IER also attenuated colitis-related anxiety-like and obsessive-compulsive disorder behavior and alleviated the neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. TRF and IER also altered the gut microbiota composition, including the decrease of the enrichments of colitis-related microbes such as Shigella and Escherichia Coli, and increase of the enrichments of anti-inflammatory-related microbes. TRF and IER also improved the short chain fatty acid formation in colitis mice. In conclusion, the TRF and IER but not ADF exhibited the protective effects against colitis and related behavioral disorders, which could be partly explained by improving the gut microbiome compositions and preventing gut leak, and consequently suppressing the inflammation and oxidative damages in both colon and brain. The current research indicates that proper IF regimens could be effective strategies for nutritional intervention for the prevention and treatment of colitis.

Magnesium is a critical element for competent development of bovine embryos.

The study was designed to determine the impact of magnesium (Mg2+) on bovine embryo development. We found that two commercially available sources of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) contained different amounts of Mg2+ residue: 4 ppm in ICPbio BSA, 114 ppm in Sigma BSA, and 44 ppm in FBS. When CR1 was used as basal medium, PVA and ICPbio BSA produced the lowest blastocyst yield (2.2-2.3%), whereas Sigma BSA increased blastocyst yield to 18.9% (P < 0.05). Supplementation of 1.4 mM MgCl2 into the medium increased the blastocyst rate in the ICPbio BSA group (29.4%) but not in the PVA group (5.4%; P < 0.05) to a level comparable to that of the FBS group (33.7%; P > 0.05). We next found that increasing concentrations of MgCl2 in the culture medium (ICPbio BSA) elevated blastocyst rate from 2.6% (0 mM), 38.4% (0.35 mM) to 50.2% (1.4 mM; P < 0.05), further maintained at 44.9% (2.1 mM) and 43.4% (2.8 mM) (P > 0.05). However, blastocyst rate was reduced to 31.4% (4.2 mM) and 29.4% (5.6 mM) when MgCl2 supplement was increased (P < 0.05). Comparable blastocyst development was achieved in both ICPbio BSA (30.0-33.1%) and Sigma BSA (37.4-38.7%) groups when 1.4 mM Mg2+ was supplemented regardless of its source (MgCl2 vs. MgSO4; P > 0.05). In embryo transfer experiments, higher rates of pregnancy (54.3 vs. 41.5%) and calving (44.3 vs. 32.5%) were achieved in the CR1-Mg2+-supplemented BSA group compared with the FBS group with co-culture, respectively (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that Mg2+ is a key ion that promotes competent blastocyst and term development. Therefore, a simple and efficient defined medium (CR1-Mg2+-BSA) can successfully replace complex serum and somatic cell co-culture.

Ovalbumin as an Outstanding Pickering Nanostabilizer for High Internal Phase Emulsions.

There is still a debate about the effectiveness of native globular proteins to perform as Pickering-like stabilizers for oil-in-water high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). In the work, we report one native globular protein (ovalbumin) with strong structural integrity and high refolding ability, exhibits an outstanding Pickering stabilization for HIPEs. Ultrastable gel-like HIPEs can be formed through a facile one-pot homogenization even at a concentration as low as 0.2 wt %. The HIPEs formed in the protein-poor regime are a kind of self-supporting and remoldable hydrogel consisting of bridging droplets. The formed HIPEs also exhibit other unique characteristics, such as extraordinary coalescence stability (against prolonged storage or heating), susceptibility to freeze-thawing, enhanced oxidation stability (to encapsulated bioactives), and inhibited vaporization of volatile oils. The findings would be of importance for extending the HIPEs to be applied in food, cosmetic, and petroleum industries.