Enhanced stabilization of multifunctional phenolic acids-grafted chitin nanofibers for Pickering emulsions

The objective of this study was to develop novel functional stabilizers for Pickering emulsions using phenolic acids-grafted chitin nanofibers (phenolic acids-g-ChNF), which were fabricated by grafting ferulic acid (FA), sinapic acid (SA) and caffeic acid (CA) onto ChNF via free radical-mediated method. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum and Proton nuclear magnetic resonance showed that graft copolymerization occurred between the amino groups of ChNF and the carbonyl of the phenolic acids. Further, it was revealed that CA-g-ChNF and SA-g-ChNF possessed stronger antioxidant and antibacterial properties than the original ChNF and FA-g-ChNF. Additionally, we applied phenolic acids-g-ChNF to develop Pickering emulsions and found that SA-g-ChNF- and CA-g-ChNF-stabilized emulsions displayed reduced droplet sizes compared to FA, the main reason for which was that SA and CA had a rather close bonding relationship with ChNF. Taken together, SA-g-ChNF and CA-g-ChNF as novel multi-functional particles can be employed for facilitating the stability of Pickering emulsions.

Robust construction of konjac glucomannan/polylactic acid nanofibrous films incorporated with carvacrol via microfluidic blow spinning for food packaging

In recent years, the application of biopolymer-based nanofibers prepared via microfluidic blow spinning (MBS) for food packaging has continuously increased due to their advantages of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and safety. However, the poor spinnability, undesirable water barrier capacity, and loss of antibacterial and antioxidant properties of biopolymer-based nanofibers strictly restrict their real-world applications. In this work, carvacrol (CV) incorporated konjac glucomannan (KGM)/polylactic acid (PLA) nanofibrous films (KP-CV) were produced by MBS. The FTIR spectra and XRD analysis revealed the hydrogen bonding interactions among CV, PLA, and KGM, thus significantly improving the TS of KP-CV nanofibrous films from 0.23 to 1.27 MPa with increased content of CV from 0 % to 5 %. Besides, KP-CV nanofibrous films showed improved thermal stability, excellent hydrophobicity (WCA: 128.19°, WVP: 1.02 g mm/m2 h kPa), and sustained release of CV combined with good antioxidant activities (DPPH radical scavenging activity: 77.51 ± 1.57 %), and antibacterial properties against S. aureus (inhibition zone: 26.33 mm) and E. coli (inhibition zone: 22.67 mm). Therefore, as prepared KP-CV nanofibrous films can be potentially applied as packaging materials for the extended shelf life of cherry tomatoes.

Sub-millisecond lithiothermal synthesis of graphitic meso-microporous carbon

Porous carbons with concurrently high specific surface area and electronic conductivity are desirable by virtue of their desirable electron and ion transport ability, but conventional preparing methods suffer from either low yield or inferior quality carbons. Here we developed a lithiothermal approach to bottom-up synthesize highly meso-microporous graphitized carbon (MGC). The preparation can be finished in a few milliseconds by the self-propagating reaction between polytetrafluoroethylene powder and molten lithium (Li) metal, during which instant ultra-high temperature (>3000 K) was produced. This instantaneous carbon vaporization and condensation at ultra-high temperatures and in ultra-short duration enable the MGC to show a highly graphitized and continuously cross-coupled open pore structure. MGC displays superior electrochemical capacitor performance of exceptional power capability and ultralong-term cyclability. The processes used to make this carbon are readily scalable to industrial levels.

Preparation and Characterization of Fish Oil Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Resveratrol-Loaded Gliadin/Chitin Nanocrystal Composite Nanoparticles

Unsaturated fatty acids present in fish oil offer various physiological benefits to the human body. However, their susceptibility to oxidation severely limits their potential applications. The purpose of this study was to develop Pickering emulsions stabilized from a composite of resveratrol-loaded gliadin nanoparticles and oxidized chitin nanocrystals (GR/OC) to protect fish oil from oxidation. The effects of the GR/OC composite on the characterizations of fish oil Pickering emulsions were investigated, including the microstructure, physicochemical properties (stability and rheological behavior), and digestion properties in vitro. The results revealed that an increased concentration of the GR/OC composite significantly reduced the droplet size and improved the ambient stability of the emulsions (in terms of pH, ionic strength, temperature, and storage time). Confocal laser scanning microscopy images depicted that the GR/OC nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed at the interface between water and fish oil (W-O interface). This distribution formed a protective envelope around the droplets. Remarkably, the addition of 2% GR/OC nanoparticles stabilized the Pickering emulsions and showed the most positive effect on the antioxidant capacity compared to that of the control group. These stabilized emulsions maintained lower peroxide values and acid values, which were 1.5 times less than those of the blank control during the 14 day accelerated oxidation experiment. Furthermore, the Pickering emulsions stabilized by GR/OC nanoparticles exhibited the ability to protect fish oil from contamination by gastric juices and facilitate the intestinal absorption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The findings suggest that these GR/OC-stabilized Pickering emulsions offer a promising alternative for delivering fish oils in various industries, including the food industry.

Pullulan nanofibrous films incorporated with W/O emulsions via microfluidic solution blow spinning technology

In this work, pullulan (PUL) nanofibrous films incorporated with water-in-oil emulsions (PE) were prepared by microfluidic blowing spinning (MBS). The microstructures of nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). With the addition of W/O emulsions, the thermal stability, mechanical, and water barrier properties of PUL nanofibers were improved. Increases in emulsion content significantly affected the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of nanofibrous films. ABTS and DPPH free radical scavenging rates increased from 10.26 % and 8.57 % to 60.66 % and 57.54 %, respectively. The inhibition zone of PE nanofibers against E. coli and S. aureus increased from 11.00 to 20.00 and from 15.67 to 21.17 mm, respectively. In addition, we investigated the freshness effectiveness of PE nanofibrous films on fresh-cut apples. PE nanofibrous films significantly maintained the firmness, and reduced the weight loss and browning index of the fresh-cut apple, throughout the 4 days of storage. Thus, the PE nanofibrous films exhibited good potential to prolong the shelf life of fresh-cut fruit and promote the development of active food packaging.

Delayed development of a huge chest wall hematoma post pacemaker implantation: A case report

An 83-year-old Chinese man presented with a huge left chest wall hematoma and hemorrhagic shock 4 months after permanent pacemaker implantation. Computed Tomography of Angiogram of the left subclavian artery revealed a pseudoaneurysm. He underwent radiologically guided stenting followed by hematoma clearance. It is rare to have delayed formation of pseudoaneurysm at 4 months post pacemaker implantation. Radiologically guided stenting is the preferred treatment, followed by hematoma clearance. It is strongly advised against blind surgery for wound debridement or bleeding detection. Familiarizing with axillary vein anatomy, improving axillary vein cannulation skills, and detecting early complications of artery injury are key strategies in preventing pseudoaneurysm formation post pacemaker implantation.

Bacterial antigens and asthma: a comparative study of common respiratory pathogenic bacteria

Objective: In a previous study we have shown that, in the presence of interleukin (IL)-33, repeated, per-nasal challenge of murine airways with Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) organisms induces human asthma-like airways inflammation. It is not clear, however, whether this effect is unique or manifest in response to other common respiratory pathogens.Methods: To explore this, airways of BALB/c mice were repeatedly challenged per-nasally with formaldehyde-inactivated bacterial bodies in the presence or absence of murine recombinant IL-33. Serum concentrations of S.pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis (M.catarrhalis) and Haemophilus influenzae (H.influenzae) lysates-specific IgE were measured in patients with asthma and control subjects.Results: We showed that in the presence of IL-33, repeated, per-nasal airways exposure to the bodies of these bacteria induced airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in the experimental mice. This was accompanied by cellular infiltration into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), eosinophilic infiltration and mucous hypertrophy of the lung tissue, with elevated local expression of some type 2 cytokines and elevated, specific IgG and IgE in the serum. The precise characteristics of the inflammation evoked by exposure to each bacterial species were distinguishable.Conclusions: These results suggest that in the certain circumstances, inhaled or commensal bacterial body antigens of both Gram-positive (S. pneumoniae) and Gram-negative (M. catarrhalis and H. influenzae) respiratory tract bacteria may initiate type 2 inflammation typical of asthma in the airways. In addition, we demonstrated that human asthmatic patients manifest elevated serum concentrations of M.catarrhalis- and H.influenzae-specific IgE.

Addition of konjac glucomannan improves spraying efficiency on fruits and vegetables: Effect of surface hydrophilicity and molecular weight

Biomacromolecules have attracted interest as spraying additives due to their degradability, renewability, and non-toxicity. However, microscopic mechanism of the biomacromolecules regulating the droplet behavior on fruits and vegetables is still unclear. In this study, konjac glucomannan (KGM) was used to improve the spraying efficiency and the fresh-keeping performance of tea polyphenols solution. KGM increased effective spreading ratio on hydrophilic surfaces and retention ratio of the main droplet on hydrophobic surfaces, thus improving spraying efficiency. Computational fluid dynamics and Brown dynamics simulations were implemented to investigate KGM behaviors during droplets colliding on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. Most KGM molecules extended and then collapsed in gradually weakened shear flow. Meanwhile, on the hydrophobic surface, most KGM molecules were continuously stretched by the unstable flow field. As the KGM extended, the kinetic energy of droplets converted into elastic energy stored in the KGM, promoting the stability of droplets on target surfaces and improving the spraying efficiency. The KGM molecular weight of 3.8 × 105 Da was optimal from the point of energy storage density. This study provides more understanding of the mechanism of biomacromolecules on spraying efficiency and guidance to develop biomass spraying additives for fruit and vegetable preservation.

Advances in the construction and application of konjac glucomannan-based delivery systems

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) has been widely used to deliver bioactive components due to its naturalness, non-toxicity, excellent biodegradability, biocompatibility, and other characteristics. This review presents an overview of konjac glucomannan as a matrix, and the types of konjac glucomannan-based delivery systems (such as hydrogels, food packaging films, microencapsulation, emulsions, nanomicelles) and their construction methods are introduced in detail. Furthermore, taking polyphenol compounds, probiotics, flavor substances, fatty acids, and other components as representatives, the applied research progress of konjac glucomannan-based delivery systems in food are summarized. Finally, the prospects for research directions in konjac glucomannan-based delivery systems are examined, thereby providing a theoretical basis for expanding the application of konjac glucomannan in other industries, such as food and medicine.

Multifunctional Sensors Made with Conductive Microframework and Biomass Hydrogel for Detecting Packaging Pressure and Food Freshness

Food packaging detection devices have attracted attention to optimize storage situations and reduce food spoilage. However, low-cost and highly sensitive multifunctional sensors for detecting both food freshness and packaging pressure are still lacking. In this study, a multifunctional sensor was developed consisting of a MXene coated alcohol-soluble polyurethane fiber network (MXene/APU) and composite biohydrogel films made of konjac glucomannan, chitosan, and blueberry anthocyanin (KCB). Based on the pressure sensitivity of MXene/APU and the color changes of KCB in response to pH values, the sensor can detect internal package bulging, external squeezing, and food deterioration. The pressure sensor shows a sensitivity of 1.16 kPa-1, a response time of 200 ms, a wide strain range of 1092%, and stability over multiple loops. The pressure sensor could detect human motion and identify surface morphologies. The excellent sensor performance was attributed to the porous structure and large specific surface area of microfiber networks, conductivity of MXene nanosheets, and protective effect of KCB films coated on the conductive membrane. Besides, the microfluidic blow-spinning method used to prepare microfiber networks showed the advantages of low energy consumption and high production efficiency. Based on the color changes of blueberry anthocyanin loaded in KCB films in response to pH, the sensor realized sensitive spoilage detection of food containing protein. This study provides a new multifunctional food packaging sensing device and a greater understanding of the optimization and application of related devices.

Effects of oregano essential oil Pickering emulsion and ZnO nanoparticles on the properties and antibacterial activity of konjac glucomannan/carboxymethyl chitosan nanocomposite films

Green and environmentally friendly natural bio-based food packaging films are increasingly favored by consumers. This study incorporated carboxylated-cellulose nanocrystal stabilized oregano essential oil (OEO) Pickering emulsion and ZnO nanoparticles (ZNPs) into konjac glucomannan (KGM)/carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) complexes to develop active food packaging films. The effects of OEO Pickering emulsion and ZNPs on the physical, structural, and antimicrobial activities of the nanocomposite films were evaluated. The OEO Pickering emulsion had a droplet size of 48.43 ± 3.56 μm and showed excellent dispersion and stability. Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction analyses suggested that the interactions between the Pickering emulsion, ZNPs and KGM/CMCS matrix were mainly through hydrogen bonding. SEM observations confirmed that the Pickering emulsion and ZNPs were well incorporated into the KGM/CMCS matrix, forming tiny pores within the nanocomposite films. The incorporation of the OEO Pickering emulsion and/or ZNPs obviously increased the light and water vapor barrier ability, thermal stability, mechanical strength and antimicrobial properties of the KGM/CMCS nanocomposite film. Notably, KGM/CMCS/ZNPs/OEO Pickering emulsion films exhibited the highest barrier, and mechanical and antimicrobial activities due to the synergistic effect between the OEO Pickering emulsion and ZNPs. These results suggest that KGM/CMCS/ZNPs/OEO Pickering emulsion films can be utilized as novel active food packaging materials to extend the shelf life of packaged foods.

Versatile Bioactive Glass/Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8-Based Skin Scaffolds toward High-Performance Wound Healing

Designing a novel biomaterial for wound healing is based on biocompatibility and excellent mechanical strength. In this study, bioactive glass (BG) and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) have been incorporated into poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PCL/PVA) composite skin scaffolds via microfluidic electrospinning. Interestingly, the addition of ZIF-8 further strengthens the BG stability and demonstrates better antibacterial effects. Utilizing the slow release of Zn, Ca, and Si ions, it also significantly promotes growth factor expression and skin regeneration. In addition, it is further demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies that the prepared composite skin scaffolds possess excellent biocompatibility, antibacterial capabilities, and mechanical properties. The prepared BG/ZIF-8-loaded scaffold possesses high tensile strength (26 MPa) and excellent antibacterial properties (achieves 89.64 and 78.8% inhibition of E. coli and S. aureus, respectively), and cell viability increased by 51.2%. More importantly, the wound shrinkage of the BG/ZIF-8-loaded scaffold is better than that of an unloaded scaffold, and the shrinkage rates of PCL/PVA@BG/ZIF-8(1 wt %) group is 95% with 2.2 mm granulation growth thickness within 12 days. Thus, the composite skin scaffold loaded with BG/ZIF-8 prepared by microfluidic electrospinning provides a new perspective for accelerating wound healing and is a potential novel therapeutic strategy for efficient wound healing.

Correlation Between B-Cell Activating Factor of the Tumor Necrosis Factor Family Level in Serum and Immune Inflammation in Patients with Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and its Clinical Value

OBJECTIVE

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is a form of SLE associated with severe NP syndromes causing mortality and morbidity. Respecting the fundamental of BAFF in NPSLE pathophysiology, we investigated its clinical value.

METHODS

Totally 105 NPSLE and 101 SLE cases without NPSLE (non-NPSLE, control) were included. Serum BAFF/TNF-α/IL-6/IL-10 levels were measured using ELISA kits. T lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry. The independent influencing factors for NPSLE, and the auxiliary diagnostic efficacy and the ability of BAFF levels to predict adverse prognosis of NPSLE patients were analyzed by multiple factor logistic regression, and ROC curve and survival curve.

RESULTS

In NPSLE patients, serum BAFF level was increased and positively correlated with SLEDAI-2k, serum proinflammatory cytokines, while negatively correlated with CD4+T/CD8+T cells, and anti-inflammatory cytokine. High serum BAFF protein level was associated with a higher risk of developing NPSLE. The AUC of serum BAFF > 301.7 assisting in NPSLE diagnosis was 0.8196. Furthermore, high levels of serum BAFF were associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes in NPSLE patients.          .

CONCLUSION

Serum BAFF level in NPSLE patients was correlated with lymphocytes and high serum BAFF protein level could assist in diagnosis and to predict adverse outcomes in NPSLE patients.

Causal association between uric acid levels and the risk of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Increasing numbers of studies have sought to uncover the relationship between serum uric acid (UA) levels and the risk of aortic aneurysm (AA) or aortic dissection (AD), but the causality of the associations has not been established yet. To assess this potential relationship, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using independent genetic variants for UA levels from a published genome-wide association study (GWAS). Summary statistics for instrument-outcome associations from FinnGen database for AA and AD. Various sensitivity analyses were performed using different MR methods including random effects inverse variance weighting, fix effects inverse variance weighting, MR-Egger, weighted median/mode, and the contamination mixture method. Genetically predicted UA levels was associated with a higher AA risk (odds ratio (OR), 1.223; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.058-1.388; p = 0.017) in a simple size of 209,366 individuals. No association was found between uric acid levels and the risk of AD (OR,0.812; 95 % CI, 0.423-1.200; p = 0.293).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests a significant and robust causal association between UA levels and risk of AA but did not support such a relationship between UA levels and AD risk, which might be interpreted with caution and further confirmed. These findings support a clinically relevant causal effect of serum urate levels on the risk of AA.

pH-responsive Pickering emulsion containing citrus essential oil stabilized by zwitterionically charged chitin nanofibers: Physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activity

In this study, zwitterionic chitin nanofibers (Z-ChNFs) were used to prepare Pickering emulsions containing citrus essential oils (CEO) and their physicochemical properties and antimicrobial activity were investigated. Results show that as-prepared Pickering emulsions exert pH-reversible properties, pH can adjust the charge of Z-ChNFs to influence the stability of the emulsion. As the concentration of Z-ChNFs increase, the droplet size of the emulsion decreases. The high concentration of Z-ChNFs (1.5 wt%) can enhance the viscosity and promote forming nano-network structures within continuous phases, and their amphiphilic nature can strengthen the capacity for adsorption on the oil/water interface, resulting in enhanced physical stability of the encapsulated CEO emulsion. Additionally, Z-ChNFs have positive effects on the improvement of antimicrobial activity of CEO. This study provides valuable implications for the development and application of essential oils as biopreservation in the food field.

Electrospun Konjac Glucomannan/Polyvinyl Alcohol Long Polymeric Filaments Incorporated with Tea Polyphenols for Food Preservations

In this study, nanofiber films were prepared by electrospinning technology with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and konjac glucomannan (KGM) as raw materials. Tea polyphenols (TPs) were incorporated in the above matrix, which increased physicochemical (thermal and mechanical characteristics) and antibacterial properties of the nanofiber films. The release behavior of phenolic compounds from PVA/KGM-TPs nanofiber films was determined in different food simulants; antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the films were also evaluated. The results showed that the addition of KGM increased the physical and chemical properties of the films. The tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (EB) increased from 5.40 ± 0.33 to 10.62 ± 0.34 and from 7.24 ± 0.32 to 18.10 ± 0.91, respectively. PVA/KGM-TPs nanofiber films performed controlled release of TPs, with final release of 49.17% in 3% acetic acid, 43.6% in 10% ethanol, and 59.42% in 95% ethanol. The nanofiber films showed good antioxidation properties, with the free radical scavenging rate increasing from 1.33% to 25.61%, and good antibacterial properties with inhibition zones against E. coli and S. aureus of 24.33 ± 0.47 mm and 34.33 ± 0.94 mm, respectively. In addition, the as-prepared films showed significant preservation performance for raw bananas at 25 °C.

Investigation of the Alternations in Lipid Oxidation and Lipase Activity in Air-Dried Hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus) during Chilled Storage

The effects of water content and water activity on the lipid stability of air-dried hairtail (Trichiurus haumela) were investigated during chilled storage. Air-dried hairtail samples with high and low water contents were comparatively analyzed over 8 days of storage at 4 °C. The results indicated that the decreases in water activity and increases in the NaCl content significantly inhibited lipid oxidation in the air-dried hairtail samples. The peroxidation value (PV), conjugated diene value (CD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) value, and p-anisidine value (p-AnV) of the air-dried hairtail significantly increased with the extension of storage time. The low water content significantly inhibited the activity of neutral and alkaline lipase, in addition to lipoxygenase, and retarded the rapid increases in the non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) content in the hairtail samples. The correlation analysis results showed that the TBARS, p-AnV, and lipase activity were positively correlated in the air-dried hairtail samples, and the lower water content significantly inhibited the progress of lipid oxidation. This study offers a theoretical framework for the industrial processing and storage of air-dried hairtail products.

TyG index is a predictor of all-cause mortality during the long-term follow-up in middle-aged and elderly with hypertension

BACKGROUND

The triglyceride and glucose (TyG) index has been found to be significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality. However, there has been a lack of studies exploring the specific relationship between the TyG index and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among middle-aged and elderly with hypertension.

METHODS

A total of 3,614 participants with hypertension were enrolled from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The TyG index was calculated using the formula log [fasting triglycerides (mg/dL) x fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The Cox proportional hazard ratios were used to evaluate the association between the TyG index and the risk of mortality.

RESULTS

Over a follow-up period of 7.87 years, 991 all-cause death and 189 cardiovascular deaths occurred. Compared with the reference quartile, the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were 1.28 (1.07-1.53; p = .006) in the fourth quartile for all-cause mortality and 0.63 (0.42-0.96; p = .031) in the second quartile for cardiovascular mortality. Dose-response analysis indicated an L-shaped relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

The TyG index exhibited an L-shaped association with the risk of all-cause mortality among middle-aged and elderly with hypertension.

Effects of cold atmospheric plasma pre-treatment on maintaining the quality of ready-to-eat drunken red shrimp (Solenocera crassicornis) stored at chilled conditions

This present study investigated the effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) pre-treatment on the quality of ready-to-eat drunken red shrimp (Solenocera crassicornis) during chilled storage. The shrimp were pre-treated with the CAP at 40 kV and 36 kH for 100 s in a plasma generating equipment before the drunken treatment and compared with an untreated control sample. The results showed that the CAP pre-treatment significantly inhibited the total viable count (TVC) values, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content, and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of the drunken shrimp compared to the control treatment. Furthermore, the CAP pre-treatment also significantly maintained the myofibrillar protein (MP) content, texture properties, and a more stable histological structure of muscle fibers compared to the control. High-throughput sequencing results confirmed that the CAP pre-treatment significantly reduced the diversity and abundance of several bacteria in the shrimp. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) analysis detected that the CAP pre-treatment effectively maintained the stability of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These findings provide valuable theoretical support for the processing and storage of drunken shrimp.

Biosynthesis of Quercetin-Loaded Melanin Nanoparticles for Improved Antioxidant Activity, Photothermal Antimicrobial, and NIR/pH Dual-Responsive Drug Release

Quercetin (QCT) is a promising dose-dependent nutraceutical that usually suffers from poor water solubility and low bioavailability issues. In this work, a novel QCT-loaded nanoscale delivery system was constructed based on the oxidative self-polymerization of melanin (Q@MNPs). The FT-IR, XRD, and Zeta potential analyses confirmed that QCT was successfully absorbed on the melanin nanoparticles (MNPs) via Π-Π and hydrogen bonding interactions. The encapsulation efficiency and particle size of Q@MNPs were 43.78% and 26.68 nm, respectively. Q@MNPs improved the thermal stability of QCT and the antioxidant properties in comparison to MNPs. Meanwhile, Q@MNPs presented fantastic photothermal conversion capacity and stability triggered by the NIR laser, which significantly enhanced the antibacterial capability with a sterilization rate of more than 98% against E. coli and S. aureus. More importantly, Q@MNPs exhibited NIR/pH dual-responsive drug release behavior and good biocompatibility (at concentrations of < 100 μg/mL). Thus, Q@MNPs show promising prospects for flavonoid delivery.

Impact of initial dialysis modality on the survival of patients with ESRD: a propensity-score-matched study

BACKGROUND

Studies comparing the survival of hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are controversial. This study evaluated the impact of initial dialysis modality on the survival of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in a matched-pair cohort.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed on ESRD patients who initiated renal replacement treatment between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018. Propensity score matching was applied to balance the baseline conditions, and multivariate Cox regression analysis was applied to compare mortality between HD and PD patients and evaluate correlations between mortality and various baseline characteristics. Subgroup analysis was performed with respect to diabetes status.

RESULTS

There were 739 patients in our center in the Chinese National Renal Data System (CNRDS) between 2010 and 2018. Of these, 125 PD patients were matched with 125 HD patients. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 96.5%, 90.7%, and 82.5%, respectively, in the HD group and 99.5%, 97.8%, and 92.5%, respectively, in the PD group (log-rank P < 0.001). Among the propensity score-matched cohorts, no significant differences in Kaplan-Meier curves were observed between the two groups (log-rank P = 0.514). Age at dialysis initiation, CCI, congestive heart failure and cerebrovascular disease were risk factors in the multivariable-adjusted model. In subgroups defined by diabetes status, the Kaplan‒Meier survival curve showed that PD survival was significantly higher than that of HD (log-rank P = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

HD and PD were not significantly different regarding the survival of patients with ESRD. PD was associated with better survival in diabetic ESRD patients.

Highly Hydrophobic Gelatin Nanocomposite Film Assisted by Nano-ZnO/(3-Aminopropyl) Triethoxysilane/Stearic Acid Coating for Liquid Food Packaging

Biodegradable gelatin (G) food packaging films are in increasing demand as the substitution of petroleum-based preservative materials. However, G packaging films universally suffer from weak hydrophobicity in practical applications. Constructing a hydrophobic micro/nanocoating with low surface energy is an effective countermeasure. However, the poor compatibility with the hydrophilic G substrate often leads to the weak interfacial adhesion and poor durability of the hydrophobic coating. To overcome this obstacle, we used (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APS) as an interfacial bridging agent to prepare a highly hydrophobic, versatile G nanocomposite film. Specifically, tannic acid (TA)-modified nanohydroxyapatite (n-HA) particles (THA) were introduced in G matrix (G-THA) to improve the mechanical properties. Micro/nanostructure with low surface energy composed of nanozinc oxide (Nano-ZnO)/APS/stearic acid (SA) (NAS) was constructed on the surface of G-THA film (G-THA/NAS) through one-step spray treatment. Consequently, as-prepared G-THA/NAS film presented excellent mechanics (tensile strength: 7.6 MPa, elongation at break: 292.7%), water resistance ability (water contact angle: 150.4°), high UV-shielding (0% transmittance at 200 nm), degradability (100% degradation rate after buried in the natural soil for 15 days), antioxidant (78.8% of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity), and antimicrobial (inhibition zone against Escherichia coli: 15.0 mm and Staphylococcus aureus: 16.5 mm) properties. It should be emphasized that the bridging function of APS significantly improves the interfacial adhesion ability of the NAS coating with more than 95% remaining area after the cross-cut adhesion test. Meanwhile, the G-THA/NAS film could maintain stable and long-lasting hydrophobic surfaces against UV radiation, high temperature, and abrasion. Based on these multifunctional properties, the G-THA/NAS film was successfully applied as a liquid packaging material. To sum up, we provide a feasible and effective method to prepare high-performance green packaging films.

Imbalance of peripheral blood Th17/Treg increases neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with dermatomyositis

OBJECTIVE

To explore and analyze the association between peripheral blood Th17/Treg balance and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with dermatomyositis (DM).

METHODS

Data of 83 DM patients hospitalized between January 2020 to April 2022 were collected, including 43 patients in the active phase (DM active-phase group) and 40 in the remission phase (DM remission-phase group). Additionally, data of 50 healthy subjects who underwent physical examinations and immunologic function testing in the same period were taken as a control group. We detected the percentage of Th17 and Treg cells by flow cytometry, calculated patient's NLR and laboratory test indicators, and analyzed the correlation of Th17/Treg balance with NLR and laboratory indicators.

RESULTS

Th17 percentage and Th7/Treg ratio in the DM active-phase group were higher than those in the DM remission-phase group (P<0.05), while Treg percentage was lower in the active-phase group than in the remission-phase group (P<0.05). The creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), erythrocyte deposition rate (ESR), and NLR in DM patients were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05), and were associated with the disease activity of DM. The ratio of Th17/Treg was positively correlated with CK, LDH, AST, ALT, ESR, and NLR (P<0.05). NLR was positively correlated with CK, LDH, AST, ALT, and ESR (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

DM patients exhibit changes in immune balance of Th17/Treg and an increase in the NLR. The Th17/Treg ratio in the patients is closely associated with the NLR, which suggests that the immune balance mechanism may interact with the inflammatory response of the body, collectively contributing to the progression of DM.

Machine Learning-Enhanced Biomass Pressure Sensor with Embedded Wrinkle Structures Created by Surface Buckling

Flexible piezoresistive sensors are core components of many wearable devices to detect deformation and motion. However, it is still a challenge to conveniently prepare high-precision sensors using natural materials and identify similar short vibration signals. In this study, inspired by microstructures of human skins, biomass flexible piezoresistive sensors were prepared by assembling two wrinkled surfaces of konjac glucomannan and k-carrageenan composite hydrogel. The wrinkle structures were conveniently created by hardness gradient-induced surface buckling and coated with MXene sheets to capture weak pressure signals. The sensor was applied to detect various slight body movements, and a machine learning method was used to enhance the identification of similar and short throat vibration signals. The results showed that the sensor exhibited a high sensitivity of 5.1 kPa-1 under low pressure (50 Pa), a fast response time (104 ms), and high stability over 100 cycles. The XGBoost machine learning model accurately distinguished short voice vibrations similar to those of individual English letters. Moreover, experiments and numerical simulations were carried out to reveal the mechanism of the wrinkle structure preparation and the excellent sensing performance. This biomass sensor preparation and the machine learning method will promote the optimization and application of wearable devices.

Konjac glucomannan/carboxymethyl chitosan film embedding gliadin/casein nanoparticles for grape preservation

Constructing biopolymer-based packaging films with fantastic water resistance and mechanical properties for food preservation is highly desirable and challenging. In this work, Gliadin/Casein nanoparticles (GCNPs) were prepared by pH-driven method and embedded into konjac glucomannan/carboxymethyl chitosan (KC) film matrix to improve the water resistance and mechanical properties of KC film. Gliadin and Casein showed good compatibility and co-assembled to form compact GCNPs clusters through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction verified by FT-IR spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The particle size and zeta potential of GCNPs was 269.7 nm and -7.6 mV, respectively. The effect of GCNPs on the mechanics, water barrier, thermal stability, and UV-shielding of KC-GCNPs film was investigated. SEM images revealed that GCNPs uniformly distributed into KC film matrix and significantly improved the mechanics (tensile strength: 75.6 MPa, elongation at breaking: 36.7 %), water barrier ability (water contact angle: 91.3°, water vapor permeability: 0.994 g mm/m2 day kPa, water solubility: 52.0 %), thermal stability and UV blocking property of KC-GCNPs film. Furthermore, KC-GCNPs film could also be applied to extend the shelf life of grapes. This paper demonstrated the great potential of GCNPs as functional nanofillers in enhancing the physicochemical properties of KC film.

Use of Tandem Mass Spectrometry Quantitative Proteomics to Identify Potential Biomarkers to Follow the Effects of Cold and Frozen Storage of Muscle Tissue of Litopenaeus vannamei

L. vannamei has become one of the most productive species. However, it is susceptible to microbial contamination during fishing, transportation, and storage, which can lead to spoilage and quality deterioration. This study investigates the relationship between changes in the proteome of Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei) muscle and quality characteristics during low-temperature storage using the tandem mass spectrometry technology of quantitative proteomics strategy. The differential expression of proteins under cold storage (4 °C, CS), partial slight freezing (-3 °C, PFS), and frozen storage (-18 °C, FS) conditions was compared with the fresh group (CK), resulting in 1572 proteins identified as differentially expressed. The purpose of this research is to identify potential biochemical markers by analyzing quality changes and relative differential proteins through searches in the UniProt database, Gene Ontology database, and Genome Encyclopedia. Correlation analysis revealed that seven DEPs were significantly related to physical and chemical indicators. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that most DEPs are involved in binding proteins, metabolic enzymes, and protein turnover. Additionally, some DEPs were identified as potential biomarkers for muscle decline. These findings contribute to understanding the mechanism of freshness decline in L. vannamei under low-temperature storage and the changes in muscle proteome.

Multi-functional konjac glucomannan/chitosan bilayer films reinforced with oregano essential oil loaded β-cyclodextrin and anthocyanins for cheese preservation

In this work, a multifunctional bilayer film was prepared by solvent casting method. Elderberry anthocyanins (EA) were incorporated into konjac glucomannan (KGM) film as the inner indicator layer (KEA). β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) loaded with oregano essential oil (OEO) inclusion complexes (β-CD@OEO) was prepared and incorporated into chitosan (CS) film as the outer hydrophobic and antibacterial layer (CS-β-CD@OEO). The impacts of β-CD@OEO on the morphological, mechanical, thermal, water vapor permeability and water resistance properties, pH sensitivity, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of bilayer films were thoroughly evaluated. The incorporation of β-CD@OEO into bilayer films can significantly improve the mechanical properties (tensile strength (TS): 65.71 MPa and elongation at break (EB): 16.81 %), thermal stability, and water resistance (Water contact angle (WCA): 88.15°, water vapor permeability (WVP): 3.53 g mm/m² day kPa). In addition, the KEA/CS-β-CD@OEO bilayer films showed color variations in acid-base environments, which could be used as pH-responsive indicators. The KEA/CS-β-CD@OEO bilayer films also presented controlled release of OEO, good antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity, which exhibited good potential for the preservation of cheese. To sum up, KEA/CS-β-CD@OEO bilayer films have potential applications in the field of food packaging industry.

Development of chitosan/konjac glucomannan/tragacanth gum tri-layer food packaging films incorporated with tannic acid and ε-polylysine based on mussel-inspired strategy

Constructing biodegradable food packaging with good mechanics, gas barrier and antibacterial properties to maintain food quality is still challenge. In this work, mussel-inspired bio-interface emerged as a tool for constructing functional multilayer films. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) and tragacanth gum (TG) with physical entangled network are introduced in the core layer. Cationic polypeptide ε-polylysine (ε-PLL) and chitosan (CS) producing cationic-π interaction with adjacent aromatic residues in tannic acid (TA) are introduced in the two-sided outer layer. The triple-layer film mimics the mussel adhesive bio-interface, where cationic residues in outer layers interact with negatively charged TG in the core layer. Furthermore, a series of physical tests showed excellent performance of triple-layer film with great mechanical properties (tensile strength (TS): 21.4 MPa, elongation at break (EAB): 7.9 %), UV-shielding (almost 0 % UV transmittance), thermal stability, water, and oxygen barrier (oxygen permeability (OP): 1.14 × 10^-3 g/m s Pa and water vapor permeability (WVP): 2.15 g mm/m² day kPa). In addition, the triple-layer film demonstrated advanced degradability, antimicrobial functions, and presented good moisture-proof performance for crackers, which can be potentially applied as dry food packaging.

Adding Konjac Glucomannan for Enhancing the Whole Spraying Performance on Superhydrophobic and Hydrophilic Surfaces

Spraying is a common way to coat solutions onto surfaces evenly. Improving spraying effectiveness can avoid wasting solutions and reduce pollution. In this study, a trace amount of natural polysaccharide, konjac glucomannan (KGM), was added into solutions to regulate the spraying performances including the breakup of liquid jets, size of produced droplets, and collision and spreading of droplets on both superhydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces. The shear viscosity, extensive viscosity, and surface tension of the KGM solutions were tested. The results of spraying experiments showed that adding KGM inhibited the liquid jet from breaking into small droplets, avoided the breakage of droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces, and promoted the spreading of liquid films on hydrophilic surfaces. The numerical simulation showed the stretching of single macromolecules and quantified the energy stored in molecular chains in a shear-dominated flow field during the spreading of droplets on surfaces and an elongational-dominated flow field during the breakage of a liquid bridge. The storage and dissipation of energy during the stretching and relaxing of KMG macromolecules were important origins of the increase in the colloid viscosity and molecular mechanisms of the effect of the KGM additive on spraying performances. This study provided an understanding and a strategy for optimization and application of spraying additives.

Robust microfluidic construction of polyvinyl pyrrolidone microfibers incorporated with W/O emulsions stabilized by amphiphilic konjac glucomannan

In this work, we prepared polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) microfibers incorporated water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. The W/O emulsions were fabricated by hexadecyl konjac glucomannan (HKGM, emulsifier), corn oil (oil phase) and purple corn anthocyanins (PCAs, water phase). The structures and functions of emulsions and microfibers were characterized by confocal laser scanning (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The results showed that W/O emulsions exhibited good storage stability for 30 d. Microfibers presented ordered and uniform arrays. Compared with pure PVP microfiber films, the addition of W/O emulsions with PCAs improved the water resistance (WVP from 1.28 to 0.76 g mm/m² day kPa), mechanical strength (Elongation at break from 18.35 % to 49.83 %), antioxidation (free radical scavenging rate from 2.58 % to 16.37 %), and antibacterial activity (inhibition zone against E. coli: 27.33 mm and inhibition zone against S. aureus: 28.33 mm) of microfiber films. Results showed that microfiber film exhibited controlled release of PCAs in W/O emulsions, and about 32 % of the PCAs were released from the microfiber film after 340 min. The as-prepared microfiber films exhibited potential applications for food packaging.

Review of Konjac Glucomannan Structure, Properties, Gelation Mechanism, and Application in Medical Biology

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a naturally occurring macromolecular polysaccharide that exhibits remarkable film-forming and gel-forming properties, and a high degree of biocompatibility and biodegradability. The helical structure of KGM is maintained by the acetyl group, which plays a crucial role in preserving its structural integrity. Various degradation methods, including the topological structure, can enhance the stability of KGM and improve its biological activity. Recent research has focused on modifying KGM to enhance its properties, utilizing multi-scale simulation, mechanical experiments, and biosensor research. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the structure and properties of KGM, recent advancements in non-alkali thermally irreversible gel research, and its applications in biomedical materials and related areas of research. Additionally, this review outlines prospects for future KGM research, providing valuable research ideas for follow-up experiments.

Effect of konjac oligo-glucomannan on emulsifying properties of myofibrillar protein

BACKGROUND

The high viscosity of konjac glumannan (KGM) limits its application in meat processing. In this work, the effects of konjac oligo-glucomannan (KOG), as a derivative of KGM, on the emulsifying properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) and the related mechanism were investigated.

RESULTS

It was found that the addition of KOG had no significant effect on the secondary structure of MP, but altered the tertiary conformation of MP, resulting in exposure of tyrosine residues to polar microenvironments and decreased intrinsic fluorescence intensity. In addition, the addition of KOG increased the emulsifying activity of MP, resulting in decreased particle size and improved physical stability of the emulsion. The emulsifying activity of MP reached the maximum value when 1.0 wt% KOG was added. Moreover, the interfacial tension and interfacially adsorbed protein content of MP/KOG emulsions decreased with the increase in KOG concentration.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrated that KOG mainly interacted with MP and changed the amphipathy of the KOG-MP at the oil-water interface, forming a stable interface film to improve the emulsifying properties of MP. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

[Establishment of a Patient-Derived T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Xenograft Model in Novel Immunodeficient NCG Mice]

OBJECTIVE

The leukemia cells from patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) were inoculated into NCG mice to establish a stable human T-ALL leukemia animal model.

METHODS

Leukemia cells from bone marrow of newly diagnosed T-ALL patients were isolated, and the leukemia cells were inoculated into NCG mice via tail vein. The proportion of hCD45 positive cells in peripheral blood of the mice was detected regularly by flow cytometry, and the infiltration of leukemia cells in bone marrow, liver, spleen and other organs of the mice was detected by pathology and immunohistochemistry. After the first generation mice model was successfully established, the spleen cells from the first generation mice were inoculated into the second generation mice, and after the second generation mice model was successfully established, the spleen cells from the second generation mice were further inoculated into the third generation mice, and the growth of leukemia cells in peripheral blood of the mice in each group was monitored by regular flow cytometry to evaluate the stability of this T-ALL leukemia animal model.

RESULTS

On the 10th day after inoculation, hCD45⁺ leukemia cells could be successfully detected in the peripheral blood of the first generation mice, and the proportion of these cells was gradually increased. On average, the mice appeared listless 6 or 7 weeks after inoculation, and a large number of T lymphocyte leukemia cells were found in the peripheral blood and bone marrow smear of the mice. The spleen of the mice was obviously enlarged, and immunohistochemical examination showed that hCD3⁺ leukemia cells infiltrated into bone marrow, liver and spleen extensively. The second and third generation mice could stably develop leukemia, and the average survival time was 4-5 weeks.

CONCLUSION

Inoculating leukemia cells from bone marrow of patients with T-ALL into NCG mice via tail vein can successfully construct a patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDTX) model.

Insights into electrospun pullulan-carboxymethyl chitosan/PEO core-shell nanofibers loaded with nanogels for food antibacterial packaging

Nisin, a natural substance from Lactococcus lactis, displays a promising antibacterial ability against the gram-positive bacteria. However, it is susceptible to the external environment, i.e. temperature, pH, and food composition. In this study, a dual stabilization method, coaxial electrospinning, was applied to protect nisin in food packaging materials and the effect of nisin concentration on the properties of the nanofibers was investigated. The core-shell nanofibers with pullulan as a core layer and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS)/polyethylene oxide (PEO) as shell layer were prepared, and then the prepared CMCS-nisin nanogels (CNNGs) using a self-assembly method were loaded into the core layer of the nanofibers as antibacterial agents. The result revealed that the smooth surface can be observed on the nanofibers by microstructure characterization. The CNNGs-loaded nanofibers exhibited enhanced thermal stability and mechanical strength, as well as excellent antibacterial activity. Importantly, the as-formed nanofibers were applied to preserve bass fish and found that the shelf life of bass fish packed by CNNGSs with nisin at a concentration of 8 mg/mL was effectively extended from 9 days to 15 days. Taken together, the CNNGs can be well stabilized with the core-shell nanofibers, thus exerting significantly improved antimicrobial stability and bioactivity. This special structure exerts a great potential for application as food packaging materials to preserve aquatic products.

Preparation, characterization and biological activity of phosphorylated surface deacetylated chitin nanofibers

Phosphorylation is a key route to achieve varieties of biological activities for polysaccharides. Here, we report the phosphorylated surface deacetylated chitin nanofibers (PS-ChNFs) using the sodium tripolyphosphate/sodium trimetaphosphate (STPP/STMP) method. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize in this study. Under optimal conditions, a maximum degree of substitution (DS) of 0.13 was obtained. In addition, the structures of PS-ChNFs were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectra (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy-mapping) EDS-mapping. The findings revealed that the FT-IR spectroscopy and XPS analysis confirmed the appearance of phosphate groups in PS-ChNFs. The ³¹P NMR results indicate that the PS-ChNFs structure has characteristic peaks of P elements. SEM images showed that PS-ChNFs had a rough surface with many cavities, but the P elements on the surface of the EDS-mapping are uniformly distributed throughout the sample without any enrichment. Antioxidant and antibacterial test showed that PS-ChNFs had significant scavenging effect on free radicals and antibacterial effect. The above results indicate that the chemical modification of PS-ChNFs was successful.

Efficient and accurate multi-scale simulation for viscosity mechanism of konjac glucomannan colloids

The viscosity is a foundational parameter of biomacromolecule in the food industry. The viscosity of macroscopic colloids is closely related to the dynamical behaviors of mesoscopic biomacromolecule clusters, which are difficult to be investigated at molecular resolution by common methods. In this study, based on experimental data, multi-scale simulations combining microscopic molecular dynamics simulation, mesoscopic Brownian dynamics simulation, and macroscopic flow field construction were used to investigate the dynamical behaviors of mesoscopic clusters of konjac glucomannan (KGM) colloids (~500 nm) over a long time (~100 ms). Numerical statistical parameters of the mesoscopic simulation of macroscopic clusters were proposed and proved to represent the viscosity of colloids. Based on the intermolecular interaction and macromolecular conformation, the mechanism of the shear thinning effect was revealed as both the regular arrangement of macromolecules at low shear rates (<100 s^-1) and structural collapse of macromolecules at high shear rates (>500 s^-1). Then, the effect of molecular concentration, molecular weight, and temperature on the colloid viscosity and cluster structure of KGM colloids was investigated by experiments and simulations. This study provides a novel multi-scale numerical method and insight into the viscosity mechanism of biomacromolecule.

Micro-structure and tensile properties of microfluidic spinning konjac glucomannan and sodium alginate composite bio-fibers regulated by shear and elongational flow: experiment and multi-scale simulation

Microfluidic spinning has been widely used to produce bio-fibers with excellent tensile performances by regulating the conformation of biological macromolecules. However, the effect of channel shapes on fiber tensile performances is unclear. In this study, bio-fibers were prepared using konjac glucomannan and sodium alginate by five channels. The micro-morphology and tensile performance of fibers were characterized and measured. Then, the dynamical behaviours of macromolecule clusters in flow fields were simulated by multi-scale numerical methods. The results show that the elongational flow with increasing extension rates produced fibers with a tensile strength of 32.34 MPa and a tensile strain of 18.72 %, which were 1.37 and 1.55 times that for a shear flow, respectively. The difference in tensile performances was attributed to the micro-morphology regulated by flow fields. The continuously increasing extension rate of flow was more effective than the shear rate or the maximum extension rate for the stretching of macromolecule clusters. We conclude that the channel shapes significantly influence flow fields, dynamical behaviours of molecule clusters, the morphology of fibers, and tensile performances. This study provides a novel numerical method and understanding of microfluidic spinning, which will promote the optimization and applications of bio-fibers.

Biejiajian pill inhibits progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by downregulating PDGFRβ signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Biejiajian pill (BJJP) is a canonical formula that is clinically used to treat chronic liver disease, especially to decrease the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanisms underlying the prevention of HCC progression by BJJP remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to determine whether BJJP inhibits HCC progression by downregulating platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) signaling in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in a mouse model of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)/carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced HCC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

C57BL/6 male mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEN 2 weeks after birth, followed by repeated injections of CCl₄ weekly from 6 weeks of age onwards, to recapitulate features of HCC. At week 14, BJJP was orally administered to mice. The effects of BJJP on HCC progression were evaluated using histology, immunohistochemistry, and serum biochemical marker levels. Transcriptome analysis, molecular docking, quantitative real-time PCR, and Western blot were used to study the genes targeted by BJJP and the associated signaling pathway. The effects of BJJP on PDGFRβ signaling in CAFs and the underlying mechanism were demonstrated.

RESULTS

BJJP treatment significantly suppressed carcinogenesis and cancer progression, and it ameliorated liver inflammation in mice with HCC. A total of 176 genes, including PDGFRβ, were significantly downregulated after BJJP treatment and five components of BJJP with high binding affinity to PDGFRβ were identified. BJJP inhibited the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) by suppressing PDGFRβ expression in CAFs, and it also downregulated the expression of the downstream proteins hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). Furthermore, BJJP-containing serum consistently reduced PDGFRβ, HGF, and VEGF-A expression levels in HSC-derived CAFs in vitro. Importantly, PDGF-BB induced PDGFRβ activation in CAFs and both BJJP and sunitinib (a kinase inhibitor) inhibited PDGF-BB/PDGFRβ signaling.

CONCLUSION

BJJP inhibits the progression of HCC through suppressing VEGF-A and HGF expression in CAFs by downregulating PDGFRβ signaling.

Construction and sustained release of konjac glucomannan/naringin composite gel spheres

Objective

To improve the bioavailability of active substances and reduce the toxic and side effects on the human body, natural biological macromolecules are used to load active substances and control their release speed in different environments of the human body. In this study, mesoporous silica (MSN) was combined with konjac glucomannan (KGM) and sodium alginate (AC) to prepare pH-sensitive konjac glucomannan/sodium alginate-mesoporous silica loaded naringin gel spheres (KS/MSN). On this basis, the structure, morphology, and release properties of the composite gel spheres were characterized. The results showed that the cumulative release rates of both simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and Simulated colonic fluid (SCF) were lower than that of simulated small intestinal fluid (SIF), which indicated that the prepared composite gel spheres were pH-sensitive to SIF and obtained the best release rate of about 70% under SIF environment.

Methods

The pH-sensitive konjac glucomannan/sodium alginate composite gel spheres (KGM/SA) were prepared by combining inorganic nano-materials mesoporous silica (MSN) with natural macromolecular polysaccharides konjac glucomannan (KGM) and sodium alginate (SA) and characterized.

Results

The results showed that there was a process of ionic crosslinking and entanglement between konjac glucomannan (KGM) and sodium alginate (SA). Naringin (NG) and mesoporous silica (MSN) were successfully compounded and had good compatibility. The gel microstructure diagram showed that the addition of MSN improved the gel properties of KGM, and KGM and SA gel spheres (KGM/SA) had good compatibility with mesoporous silica/naringenin nanoparticles (NG/MSN). The study of the simulated digestive environment of the gastrointestinal release medium showed that Konjac glucomannan/sodium alginate-mesoporous silica loaded naringin gel spheres (KS/NM) composite gel spheres had the best slow-release effect and the highest final-release completion degree in SIF. The release of NG from KS/NM composite gel spheres showed a slow upward trend. The results showed that KS/NM composite gel spheres were pH-sensitive.

Conclusion

The KS/NM composite gel spheres showed obvious pH sensitivity to the release of NG, and the gel spheres had a good sustained release effect on NG.

Impact of parathyroidectomy among nondiabetic hemodialysis patients with severe hyperparathyroidism

Background

Parathyroidectomy (PTX) is a treatment for hyperparathyroidism (HPT) and has uncertain risks and benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PTX versus nonoperative treatment among nondiabetic hemodialysis patients.

Methods

A retrospective matched cohort study was performed. Each PTX patient was matched with one patient who had severe HPT but rejected PTX. The patients were matched by sex, birth date, date of first dialysis, nondiabetic status, and left ventricular ejection fraction. The serum markers, survival, main adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular event (MACCE) rates, and hospitalization were compared between the PTX patients and matched non-PTX patients.

Results

There were 1143 patients at our center in the Chinese National Renal Data System (CNRDS) between 2010 and 2020. Of these, 75 PTX patients were matched with 75 non-PTX patients. Rapid decreases in the mean intact parathyroid hormone, calcium and phosphorus concentrations, and a gradual increase in hemoglobin concentration were observed in the PTX group. The mortality was 2.9 per 100 patient-years in the PTX group and 10.9 per 100 patient-years in the non-PTX group (p < 0.001). Compared with non-PTX patients, PTX patients had an adjusted HR for death of 0.236 (95% CI 0.108–0.518). The cumulative MACCE rates were 6.7 per 100 patient-years in the PTX group and 15.2 per 100 patient-years in the non-PTX group (p < 0.001). The adjusted HR of the occurrence of first MACCE for PTX patients compared with non-PTX patients was 0.524 (95% CI 0.279-0.982). The cumulative hospitalization rates were 50.3 per 100 patient-years in the PTX group and 66.5 per 100 patient-years in the matched non-PTX group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Compared with non-PTX patients, PTX was associated with an improvement in the biochemical measures and patient-level outcomes in nondiabetic hemodialysis patients with severe HPT.

Recent Trends of Microfluidics in Food Science and Technology: Fabrications and Applications

The development of novel materials with microstructures is now a trend in food science and technology. These microscale materials may be applied across all steps in food manufacturing, from raw materials to the final food products, as well as in the packaging, transport, and storage processes. Microfluidics is an advanced technology for controlling fluids in a microscale channel (1~100 μm), which integrates engineering, physics, chemistry, nanotechnology, etc. This technology allows unit operations to occur in devices that are closer in size to the expected structural elements. Therefore, microfluidics is considered a promising technology to develop micro/nanostructures for delivery purposes to improve the quality and safety of foods. This review concentrates on the recent developments of microfluidic systems and their novel applications in food science and technology, including microfibers/films via microfluidic spinning technology for food packaging, droplet microfluidics for food micro-/nanoemulsifications and encapsulations, etc.

Stable O/W emulsions and oleogels with amphiphilic konjac glucomannan network: preparation, characterization, and application

BACKGROUND

The stabilization of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions has long been explored. Assembly of polymer networks is an effective method for stabilizing O/W emulsions. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a plant polysaccharide and the network of KGM gel is a good candidate for stabilizing O/W emulsions based on its high viscosity and thickening properties. However, natural KGM has strong hydrophilicity and is not able to offer interfacial activity. Octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) is a hydrophobic molecule, which is widely used as thickener and stabilizer in food emulsions. In this work, the amphiphilic biopolymer (OSA-KGM) was fabricated by modifying the KGM with OSA. Furthermore, OSA-KGM biopolymer was used to prepare O/W emulsions, which were then freeze-dried and used to prepare oleogels as fat substitute for bakery products.

RESULTS

OSA-KGM had advanced hydrophobicity with water contact angle 81.13° and adsorption behavior at the oil-water interface, with interfacial tension decreasing from 18.52 to 13.57 mN m^-1 within 1 h. The emulsification of OSA-KGM remarkably improved the stability of emulsions without phase separation during storage for 31 days. Oleogels with OSA-KGM showed good thixotropic and structure recovery properties (approximately 100%) and low oil loss (from 69.5% to 50.4%). Cakes made from oleogels had a softer texture than cakes made from peanut oil and margarine.

CONCLUSION

Amphiphilic biopolymer OSA-KGM shows advanced interfacial activity and hydrophobicity. This paper provides an insight into preparing stable O/W emulsions with a new biopolymer and oleogels potentially applied as fat substitute in bakery products. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dietary Antioxidant-Constructed Nanodrugs Can High-Efficiently Kill Cancer Cells while Protecting Noncancer Cells

Despite great advances, the development of cancer drugs that can efficiently kill cancer cells while protecting noncancer cells has not been achieved. By using only dietary antioxidants vitamin C (VC) and (R)-(+)-lipoic acid (LA), we herein develop a nanodrug VC@cLAV featuring the above function. After entering cells, cLAV dissociates into LA and DHLA (dihydrolipoic acid, reduced form of LA) and releases VC and DHA (dehydroascorbate, oxidized form of VC). In cancer cells, the two redox pairs recycle each other and dramatically promote the intracellular reactive oxygen species production to kill cancer cells at low doses comparable to cytotoxic drugs. Oppositely in noncancer cells, the LA/DHLA and VC/DHA pairs exert anti-oxidant action to actively protect the organism by preventing the normal cells from oxidative stress and repairing cells suffering from oxidative stress. When compared with the first-line cytotoxic drug, VC@cLAV displayed superior therapeutic outcomes yet without side effects in diverse tumor models including patient-derived xenograft (PDX). This drug with efficient cancer cell killing and noncancer cell protection represents a new cancer therapy.

Oxidized Chitin Nanocrystals Greatly Strengthen the Stability of Resveratrol-Loaded Gliadin Nanoparticles

Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenol with a variety of health beneficial properties, but its application is greatly limited due to low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability. This study aims to address these issues via gliadin nanoparticles stabilized with oxidized chitin nanocrystals (O-ChNCs) as a delivery system for RES. RES-loaded gliadin nanoparticles (GRNPs) were fabricated by an antisolvent method, and their formation mechanism was elucidated using zeta-potential, FTIR, XRD, and TEM. Furthermore, the effect of O-ChNCs on the colloidal stability and bioactiveness of GRNPs was discussed. The results demonstrate that O-ChNCs are adsorbed onto the surface of GRNPs through hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, leading to the enhanced absolute potential and the improved hydrophobicity of the particles, which in turn facilitates the stability of the GRNPs. Furthermore, the changes in the release profile and antioxidant activity of RES in the simulated gastric and intestinal tracts indicate that the adsorption of O-ChNCs not only delays the release of RES but also has a protective effect on the antioxidant capacity of RES. This study provides significant implications for developing stable gliadin nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for bioactive substances.