Influencing factors of vascular endothelial function in patients with non-obstructive coronary atherosclerosis: a 1-year observational study.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction may play a key role in non-obstructive coronary artery atherosclerosis. Our study aimed to evaluate the vascular endothelial function and its influencing factors in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery atherosclerosis. METHODS: A total of 131 consecutive patients with non-obstructive coronary artery atherosclerosis were enrolled. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was measured at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were counted by staining the fasting venous blood with antibodies against CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and the levels of HbA1c in participants with baseline FMD < 6% (n = 65) were significantly higher than those with baseline FMD ≥ 6% (n = 66). Baseline FMD was negatively associated with EPC counts (r = - 0.199, P < 0.05) and systolic blood pressure (r = - 0.315, P < 0.01). The 1-year FMD was significantly increased compared to the baseline FMD [(9.31 ± 5.62) % vs (7.31 ± 5.26) %, P < 0.001]. Independent predictors of FMD improvement included elevated EPC counts (OR = 1.104, 95% CI: 1.047-1.165, P < 0.001) and decreased levels of serum creatinine (OR = 0.915, 95% CI: 0.843-0.993, P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Family history of premature cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, elevated systolic pressure, and HbA1c > 6.5% are independent risk factors for endothelial dysfunction in non-obstructive atherosclerotic patients. Elevated peripheral blood EPC counts and decreased levels of serum creatinine are independent predictors of endothelial function improvement.

Exosomes secreted from osteocalcin-overexpressing endothelial progenitor cells promote endothelial cell angiogenesis.

Exosome secretion is an important paracrine way of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to modulate resident endothelial cells. The osteocalcin (OCN)-expressing EPCs have been found to be increased in cardiovascular disease patients and are considered to be involved in the process of coronary atherosclerosis. Since OCN has been proven to prevent endothelial dysfunction, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of exosomes derived from OCN-overexpressed EPCs on endothelial cells. Exosomes derived from EPCs (Exos) and OCN-overexpressed EPCs (OCN-Exos) were isolated and incubated with rat aorta endothelial cells (RAOECs) with or without the inhibition of OCN receptor G protein-coupled receptor family C group 6 member A (GPRC6A). The effects of exosomes on the proliferation activity of endothelial cells were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, and the migration of endothelial cells was detected by wound healing assay. A tube formation assay was used to test the influence of exosomes on the angiogenesis performance of endothelial cells. Here, we presented that OCN was packed into Exos and was able to be transferred to the RAOECs via exosome incorporation, which was increased in OCN-Exos groups. Compared with Exos, OCN-Exos had better efficiency in promoting RAOEC proliferation and migration and tube formation. The promoting effects were impeded after the inhibition of GPRC6A expression in RAOECs. These data suggest that exosomes from OCN-overexpressed EPCs have a beneficial regulating effect on endothelial cells, which involved enhanced OCN-GPRC6A signaling.

Comparison of Ultrasound, Radiography, and Clinical Investigations in the Diagnosis of Early Rheumatoid Synovitis in Patients with Nonspecific Musculoskeletal Symptoms: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatoid synovitis can reduce the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, in the early stages of rheumatoid synovitis, patients may only have non-specific musculoskeletal symptoms, and plain film radiographs may not detect early synovial changes. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound with radiography, and clinical investigations in the detection of rheumatoid synovitis in patients presenting with nonspecific musculoskeletal symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a non-randomized, cross-sectional, clinical study that included 189 patients who had nonspecific musculoskeletal symptoms. All patients underwent clinical investigations, postero-anterior and dorsal radiographic imaging, and bilateral grey-scale ultrasound examinations of the third and second metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, the third and the second proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, the second and the fifth metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints, and the wrist. RESULTS There was no clear predictive value for detection of early synovitis by clinical investigations alone. Plain film radiography of patients only provided accurate information of joint erosions but less information for synovitis. Grey-scale ultrasound was more effective at detecting early synovitis compared with clinical investigations (p=0.00015; q=4.548) and compared with plain film radiography (p=0.0002; q=4.537), and quantified the synovial changes. The predictive values of plain film radiography and clinical investigations had 0.43 and 0.24 sensitivity and 0 specificity compared with ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study support the use of grey-scale ultrasound in the detection of early rheumatoid synovitis of the fingers and the wrist.

Comparison of the Clinical Effectiveness of PFNA, PFLCP, and DHS in Treatment of Unstable Intertrochanteric Femoral Fracture.

In this study, a randomized trial was conducted to compare the clinical effectiveness of proximal femoral locking compression plate (PFLCP), dynamic hip screw (DHS), and proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) for unstable intertrochanteric femoral fracture treatment. Ninety patients diagnosed with unstable intertrochanteric femoral fracture were enrolled in this study at the department of orthopedics at Linyi Second People's Hospital between May 2010 and May 2012. Fractures were classified according to Tronzo-Evans classification, and the patients were randomly divided into 3 groups, PFLCP, DHS, and PFNA, with 30 patients in each group. The length of incision, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, postoperative weight-bearing ambulation time, and duration of fracture union were significantly lower in patients who underwent PFNA and PFLCP compared to patients treated with DHS. Furthermore, when the same clinical parameters were used for comparison, the PFNA group showed markedly lower values compared with the PFLCP group. The total incidence of postoperative complications was significantly different among the PFNA, PFLCP, and DHS groups, with the PFNA group exhibiting markedly lower complication rates compared with PFLCP and DHS groups. However, PFLCP and DHS groups did not show significant differences in the incidence of postoperative complications. Notably, the Harris hip score of PFNA group was markedly higher than the DHS group. In conclusion, our results provide convincing evidence that PFNA may be the most effective internal fixation treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femoral fracture.

[Effects of Ligustrazine on Serum S100ß Protein and Neuron-Specific Enolase in Elderly Patients Undergoing Orthopedics Operations].

OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of Ligustrazine on serum S100p protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in elderly patients undergoing orthopedics operations. METHODS: Totally 60 patients undergoing selective total hip replacement, 65-80 years old, who were in line with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade I or II, were randomly assigned to the Ligustrazine group (Group L) and the normal saline control group (Group S). The right internal jugular vein catheters were placedcephalad and ensured theirs tips in jugular venous bulbs after anesthesia induction and tracheal intubation. Patients in Group L received 2 mg/kg Ligustrazine Injection (40 drops within one minute) and those inGroup S received equal volume of normal saline via central veins before operations. Other medicines were the same for all patients during and after operation. Five millimeter blood sample was collected frominternal jugular venous bulbs before operation (T0), 24 h (T1), 72 h (T2), 168 h (7th day, T3) after operation. Serum was collected after centrifuge. S100ß protein and NSE concentration were analyzed usingELISA. Mini-mental state examinations (MMSE) were scored by the same doctor at T0, T1, T2, and T3,respectively. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in MMSE scores, serum S1000 protein, or NSE at TO (P > 0.05). Compared with TO, S100 P protein and NSE concentration increased and MMSE scores decreased at T1, T2, and T3 in the two groups. All indices except S100P protein and NSE at T3 were statistically different between Group L and Group S (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum S100P protein and NSE could be changed by pre-operation injecting Ligustrazine at certain dose in elderly patients undergoing orthopedics operations.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with chronic kidney disease in a Zhuang ethnic minority area in China.

AIM: Numerous studies have examined and reported a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population in various countries including China. However, the situation may be different in undeveloped rural minority regions in China because of China's economic diversity. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of CKD and to analyze its associated factors in a Zhuang ethnic minority area in Southwest China. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of a rural minority area populated by people of Zhuang ethnicity in Southwest China using multistage, cluster random sampling methods was performed. The prevalence of indicators of kidney damage and CKD were calculated and risk factors associated with the presence of CKD were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 7588 people participated in the study. After adjustment for age and gender, the prevalence of albuminuria, haematuria and reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate were 2.7%, 3.7%, and 2.2%, respectively. After adjustment for age and gender, the prevalence of CKD was 8.3%, while recognition of the disease was 3.6%. Independent risk factors associated with CKD were age, gender, and hypertension. Risk factors independently associated with kidney damage were age, gender, hyperuricaemia, and hypertension. CONCLUSION: Our data exhibited a lower prevalence and awareness of CKD in undeveloped rural minority regions, especially exhibited a low prevalence of albuminuria. This result attributed to the low prevalence of metabolic disorders in the local region. Risk factors associated with CKD in our study is similar to surveys in other regions of China.

Association of prealbumin with short-term and long-term outcomes in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Prealbumin is considered to be a useful indicator of nutritional status. Furthermore, it has been found to be associated with severities and prognosis of a range of diseases. However, limited data on the association of baseline prealbumin level with outcomes of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are available. METHODS: We analyzed 2313 patients admitted for acute STEMI between October 2013 and December 2020. In-hospital outcomes and mortality during the 49 months (interquartile range: 26-73 months) follow-up period were compared between patients with the low prealbumin level (< 170 mg/L) and those with the high prealbumin level (≥ 170 mg/L). RESULTS: A total of 114 patients (4.9%) died during hospitalization. After propensity score matching, patients with the low prealbumin level than those with the high prealbumin level experienced higher incidences of heart failure with Killip class III (9.9% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.034), cardiovascular death (8.4% vs. 3.4%, P = 0.035) and the composite of major adverse cardiovascular events (19.2% vs. 10.3%, P = 0.012). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that the low prealbumin level (< 170 mg/L) was an independent predictor of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events (odds ratio = 1.918, 95% CI: 1.250-2.942, P = 0.003). The cut-off value of prealbumin level for predicting in-hospital death was 170 mg/L (area under the curve = 0.703, 95% CI: 0.651-0.754, P < 0.001; sensitivity = 0.544, specificity = 0.794). However, after multivariate adjustment of possible confounders, baseline prealbumin level (170 mg/L) was no longer independently associated with 49-month cardiovascular death. After propensity score matching, Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed consistent results. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased prealbumin level closely related to unfavorable short-term outcomes. However, after multivariate adjustment and controlling for baseline differences, baseline prealbumin level was not independently associated with an increased risk of long-term cardiovascular mortality in STEMI patients.

Regulation and mechanism of enzyme metabolism in germinated hemp seeds by ultrasound combined with exogenous calcium chloride treatment.

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) plays an important role in anti-anxiety by inhibiting neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) of mammals, which is generated in the germinating seeds. The key enzymes activity of GABA metabolism pathway and nutrients content in hemp seeds during germination were studied after treated with ultrasound and CaCl2. The mechanism of exogenous stress on key enzymes in GABA metabolism pathway was investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. The results showed that ultrasonic combined with 1.5 mmol·L-1CaCl2 significantly increased the activities of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA transaminase (GABA-T) in seeds, and promoted the conversion of glutamate to GABA, resulting in the decrease of glutamate content and the accumulation of GABA. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that Ca2+ environment enhanced the activity of GAD and GABA-T enzymes by altering their secondary structure, exposing their hydrophobic residues. Ultrasound, germination and CaCl2 stress improved the nutritional value of hemp seeds.

Discrimination and quantification of volatile compounds in beer by FTIR combined with machine learning approaches.

The composition of volatile compounds in beer is crucial to the quality of beer. Herein, we identified 23 volatile compounds, namely, 12 esters, 4 alcohols, 5 acids, and 2 phenols, in nine different beer types using GC-MS. By performing PCA of the data of the flavor compounds, the different beer types were well discriminated. Ethyl caproate, ethyl caprylate, and phenylethyl alcohol were identified as the crucial volatile compounds to discriminate different beers. PLS regression analysis was performed to model and predict the contents of six crucial volatile compounds in the beer samples based on the characteristic wavelength of the FTIR spectrum. The R2 value of each sample in the prediction model was 0.9398-0.9994, and RMSEP was 0.0122-0.7011. The method proposed in this paper has been applied to determine flavor compounds in beer samples with good consistency compared with GC-MS.

A novel approach has been developed to produce pure plant-based gel soy yogurt by combining soy proteins (7S/11S), high pressure homogenization, and glycation reaction.

This research sought to examine how the physicochemical characteristics of soy globulins and different processing techniques influence the gel properties of soy yogurt. The goal was to improve these gel properties and rectify any texture issues in soy yogurt, ultimately aiming to produce premium-quality plant-based soy yogurt. In this research study, the investigation focused on examining the impact of 7S/11S, homogenization pressure, and glycation modified with glucose on the gel properties of soy yogurt. A plant-based soy yogurt with superior gel and texture properties was successfully developed using a 7S/11S globulin-glucose conjugate at a 1:3 ratio and a homogenization pressure of 110 MPa. Compared to soy yogurt supplemented with pectin or gelatin, this yogurt demonstrated enhanced characteristics. These findings provide valuable insights into advancing plant protein gels and serve as a reference for cultivating new soybean varieties by soybean breeding experts.

Investigation of medical waste management in Gansu Province, China.

Medical waste is a special category of waste with potential health and environment risks. The present study aimed to explore the current status of medical waste management in western China. Seventy-four healthcare facilities were selected to assess the general status of medical waste management based upon a designed questionnaire survey. The surveyed results showed that the quantities of average medical waste generation were 0.79, 0.59 and 0.61 kg bed(-1) day(-1) in tertiary, secondary and primary hospitals, respectively. The incomplete segregation of domestic and medical waste generated a higher quantity of medical waste in primary hospitals (0.61 kg bed(-1) day(-1)) than that in secondary hospitals. Furthermore, the effective implementation of the medical waste management system depended on national regulations, occupational safety, internal policies and administration and the qualifications and competence of the directors of the waste management department in the healthcare facilities. Therefore, sufficient training programmes and protective measures should be provided by healthcare facilities to all relevant personnel and adequate financial support and effective administrative monitoring should be performed by local authorities.

Qualitative and quantitative prediction of food allergen epitopes based on machine learning combined with in vitro experimental validation.

An allergen epitope is a part of molecules that can specifically bind to immunoglobulin E (IgE), causing an allergic reactions. To predict protein epitopes and their binding ability to IgE, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were established using four algorithms combined with the selected chemical descriptors. The model predicted the binding capabilities of the epitopes to IgE with the R2 and root mean squared error (RMSE) as 0.7494 and 0.2375, respectively. The model's performance was validated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed that the established QSAR model could efficiently and accurately predict the allergic reaction of food protein epitopes. The prediction results of the model and the experimental results were consistent, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.8956. The results from both the QSAR model and in vitro experiments indicated that amino acid sequence 116-130 was a novel IgE-binding epitope of ß-LG.

Roles of the Notch signaling pathway and microglia in autism.

The Notch signaling pathway is mainly involved in the regulation of neural stem cell proliferation, survival and differentiation during the development of the central nervous system. As a neurodevelopmental disorder, autism is associated with an abnormal increase in the number of microglia in several brain regions. These findings suggest that the pathogenesis of autism may be related to the Notch signaling pathway and microglia. In this review, we discuss how Notch pathway activity leads to behavioral abnormalities such as learning and memory impairment by influencing neuronal biological activities. An increase in microglial protein synthesis and abnormal autophagy can affect synaptic development and lead to behavioral abnormalities, and all of these changes can lead to autism. Furthermore, the Notch signaling pathway regulates the activation and differentiation of microglia and promotes inflammatory responses, leading to the occurrence of autism. When excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) secreted by microglia cannot be cleared by autophagy in a timely manner, Notch signaling pathway activity is affected, possibly further increasing susceptibility to autism. This review reveals the mechanism underlying the role of the Notch signaling pathway, microglia and their interaction in the pathogenesis of autism and provides a theoretical reference for targeted clinical therapies for autism.

Incidence, predictors and prognosis of acute kidney injury in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing emergent coronary angiography/primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after coronary angiography (CAG) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is frequently observed, and often interpreted as contrast induced-AKI. This study aimed to investigate the incidence, predictors and outcomes of AKI in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing emergent CAG/PPCI using the control group of STEMI patients who were not exposed to contrast agents within the first 72 h. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 1670 STEMI patients. Of them, 673 patients underwent emergent CAG/PPCI, and 997 patients treated with thrombolysis or no reperfusion therapy who were not exposed to contrast material during the first 72 h. AKI was defined as an increase of serum creatinine ≥ 44.2 mmol/L or ≥ 25% from baseline within 72 h. Patents were then followed up for the occurrence of all-cause mortality for 40 months (interquartile range: 24-55 months). RESULTS: After propensity score matching, 505 pairs of patients were matched. Overall, the incidence of AKI was 27.4%, and AKI rates were not significantly different in patients with and without emergent CAG/PPCI procedure (27.5% vs. 27.3%, P = 0.944). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that the independent predictors of AKI were female, elevated interleukin-6 level, decreased lymphocyte count, left ventricular ejection fraction < 50% and use of diuretics in patients with emergent CAG/PPCI. Patients with AKI than those without AKI experienced higher incidence of acute heart failure with Killip class III (9.4% vs. 3.3%, P = 0.005; 15.2% vs. 6.8%, P = 0.003, respectively) and mortality (5.8% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.014; 12.3% vs. 4.6%, P = 0.002, respectively) in patients with and without emergent CAG/PPCI. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that AKI was independently associated with long-term mortality rate at 40 months follow-up in patients with and without emergent CAG/PPCI (HR = 1.867, 95% CI: 1.086-3.210, P = 0.024; HR = 1.700, 95% CI: 1.219-2.370, P = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 27.0% of STEMI patients experience AKI, which is strongly associated with an increased short- and long-term mortality regardless of emergent CAG/PPCI procedure. The development of AKI is mainly related to female gender, inflammation reaction, heart failure and use of diuretics in STEMI patients undergoing emergent CAG/PPCI.

Low-fat ice cream model system: impact of incorporation of alcalase hydrolyzed zein.

Research on fat substitutes with low calories and good flavor is important to reduce the fat content in food. In this paper, the selection of fat substitutes and the preparation of low-fat ice cream were carried out through looking at the emulsion properties of the enzymatic hydrolysis of zein. The results showed that the emulsifying activity of zein after enzymatic hydrolysis for 10 min was 66.76 m2 g-1, and the emulsifying stability was 78.51 min, showing the best emulsifying properties. Enzymatic hydrolysis of zein can effectively reduce the degree of lipid oxidation. The protein digestibility in intestinal juice was also significantly improved, and the release rate of free fatty acids in the emulsion reached more than 80%. The viscosity, shear stress, elastic modulus, electronic nose and electronic tongue of ice cream with 10% oil substitute were close to those of full-fat ice cream. It is expected to provide a basis for the development of functional foods.

Effect of ferulic acid covalent conjugation on the functional properties and antigenicity of ß-lactoglobulin.

Binding to phenolics can improve the functional properties of proteins. Changes in structure, functional properties, and antigenicity of ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG) after covalent conjugation with ferulic acid (FA) at different mass ratios were reported here. The results of SDS-PAGE and gel exclusion chromatography confirmed that covalent complexes were formed. When the mass ratio of ß-LG and FA was 10:6, the binding content of FA was the highest. Fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-visible absorption spectrometry, and FTIR analysis showed that the structure of the complexes was more stretched compared to native ß-LG. The addition of FA significantly improved the emulsifying property of ß-LG. When the mass ratio was 10:6, the radical scavenging activities of DPPH and ABTS reached 65.06% and 88.22%, respectively, and the antigenicity of ß-LG reduced by about 35%. This study provides novel ß-LG-FA complexes in food systems to reduce the antigenicity of ß-LG and improve functional properties.

Nanoemulsion: A novel delivery approach for thermosensitive IgG on inhibiting milk fat oxidation.

IgG, a biologically active substance in bovine colostrum, is easily inactivated during heat treatment and edible process to lose its biological activity. Nanoemulsion can effectively protect IgG to maintain its biological activity from injurious treatment. In this study, a food-grade nanoemulsion system was developed to protect IgG from heat and acid damage. It can be found that the residual rate of nanoemulsion-protected IgG reaches 87.1 % after 10 min at 72 °C. After 5 min at 82 °C, the residual rate of IgG in nanoemulsion was 18.7 % higher than that in PBS. In the simulated gastric fluid at pH 2.0, the residual rate of IgG in the nanoemulsion reacted for 4 h was 21.5 % higher than that in PBS. It indicated that nanoemulsion system can improve the heat and acid resistance of IgG compared with others, which is attributed to the lowest water activity of nanoemulsion. The contents of hydroperoxide and malondialdehyde in the milk after storage for 72 h with nanoemulsion-protected IgG were 0.12 meq/kg and 0.04 mg/kg, respectively, less than that of PBS-protected IgG. IgG is protected by nanoemulsion can effectively protect its activity during processing, which provides a theoretical basis for its direct application in liquid milk.

N-acetylcysteine improves autism-like behavior by recovering autophagic deficiency and decreasing Notch-1/Hes-1 pathway activity.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been reported to improve social interaction behavior, irritability, self-injury, and anxiety-like behavior in autism. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic roles of NAC in autism remains unknown. This study mainly aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of NAC on valproic acid (VPA)-induced autism model and the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that NAC ameliorated the deficits in sociability and the anxiety- and repetitive-like behaviors displayed by VPA-exposed rats. In addition, VPA exposure induced autophagic deficiency and enhanced Notch-1/Hes-1 pathway activity based on lowered Beclin-1 and LC3B levels, while increased expression of p62, Notch-1, and Hes-1 expression at the protein level. However, NAC recovered VPA-induced autophagic deficiency and reduced Notch-1/Hes-1 pathway activity in a VPA-exposed autism rat model and SH-SY5Y neural cells. The present results demonstrated that NAC improves autism-like behavioral abnormalities by inactivating Notch-1/Hes-1 signaling pathway and recovering autophagic deficiency. Taken together, this study helps to elucidate a novel molecular mechanism that underlies the therapeutic actions of NAC in autism and suggests its potential to ameliorate behavioral abnormalities in neurodevelopmental disorders.

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.

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.