AAV9-based PMM2 gene replacement augments PMM2 expression and improves glycosylation in primary fibroblasts of patients with phosphomannomutase 2 deficiency (PMM2-CDG)

Inherited deficiency of phosphomannomutase 2 (PMM2) (aka PMM2-CDG) is the most common congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) and has no cure. With debilitating morbidity and significant mortality, it is imperative to explore novel, safe, and effective therapies for the disease. Our Proof-of-Concept study showed that AAV9-PMM2 infection of patient fibroblasts augmented PMM2 expression and improved glycosylation. Thus, AAV9-PMM2 gene replacement is a promising therapeutic strategy for PMM2-CDG patients.

A simple and efficient alginate hydrogel combined with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for quantitative analysis of sodium nitrite in meat products

Sodium nitrite is a commonly used preservative and color protectant in the food industry. Conventional analytical methods are highly susceptible to food matrix interference, time-consuming and costly. In this study, the ion cross-linking method was employed to prepare alginate hydrogel substrates, and phenosafranin was chosen as a single-molecule probe to analyze sodium nitrite. Our investigation centered on elucidating the effects of alginate and cross-linking ion concentrations on Raman signal characteristics. The optimal Raman response was observed in the precursor solution with 1% sodium alginate and 0.1 mol L-1 cross-linking ions. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of the feature peaks from the three substrate batches ranged from 1.22% to 16.30%, attesting the robustness and consistency of the substrates. The signal reduction of the substrates after a four-week storage period remained below 10%, indicating that the substrates had good reproducibility and stability. The limits of detection (LODs) for sodium nitrite in extracts from cured meat, luncheon meat, and sliced ham were determined to range from 3.75 mg kg-1 to 8.11 mg kg-1, with low interference from the food matrix. The support vector machine algorithm was utilized to train and predict the data, which proved to be more accurate (98.6%-99.8% recovery) than the traditional linear regression model (81.9%-112.7% recovery) in predicting the spiked samples. The application of hydrogel-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates for nitrite detection in food, combined with machine learning for regression prediction in data processing, collectively augmented the potential of SERS technology in the field of food analysis.

Rapid detection of thiabendazole residues in apple juice by surface-enhanced Raman scattering coupled with silver coated gold nanoparticles

In recent years, the excessive use of pesticides has posed significant hazards to the ecological environment and human health in the pursuit of high crop yields. In this work, we developed a simple, sensitive, and eco-friendly approach for rapid detection of thiabendazole in apple juice using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) coupled with silver-coated gold nanoparticles (Au@Ag NPs). The developed Au@Ag NPs exhibited excellent sensitivity, allowing for the detection of thiabendazole in standard solutions at a minimum concentration of 50 ng/mL. Furthermore, two sample preparation methods were compared for detecting thiabendazole in apple juice. As the direct detection method for SERS analysis failed to detect thiabendazole at levels below the maximum residue limit based on the Chinese standard (3000 ng/mL), the effects of main matrix components in apple juice on the detection of thiabendazole were further investigated. The results revealed that both sugars and organic acids in apple juice interfered with the SERS measurement to varying degrees. Consequently, we optimized the QuEChERS method for sample preparation and achieved a higher sensitivity with a minimum detectable concentration of 250 ng/mL, a limit of detection of 0.06 mg/L and the recoveries of spiked samples were ranged from 80.2 % to 108.6 %. This study demonstrated the feasibility of proposed SERS method for pesticide residue analysis, addressing the need for food safety monitoring.

Colloidal SERS measurement of enrofloxacin with petaloid nanostructure clusters formed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase catalyzed cytosine-constituted ssDNA

We developed petal-like plasmonic nanoparticle (PLNP) clusters-based colloidal SERS method for enrofloxacin (EnFX) detection. PLNPs were synthesized by the regulation of single-stranded DNA composed of homo-cytosine deoxynucleotides (hC) catalyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. SERS hot spots were created via the agglomeration process of PLNPs by adding an inorganic salt potassium iodide solution, in which EnFX molecules were attached to the negatively charged PLNPs surface by electrostatic interactions. This approach enabled direct in situ detection of antibiotic residues, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.15 μg/kg for EnFX. The spiked recoveries of the SERS method were approximately 92.7% to 107.2% and the RSDs ranged from 1.05% to 7.8%, indicating that the method can be applied to actual sample detection. This colloidal SERS measurement platform would be very promising in various applications, especially in real-time and on-site food safety screening owing to its rapidness, simplicity, and sensitivity.

Kiwi-derived extracellular vesicles for oral delivery of sorafenib

Sorafenib is an oral treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, poor water solubility, harsh gastrointestinal environment and off-target effects contribute to the low bioavailability of oral sorafenib. Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) are biological nanovesicles with various bioactive functions that offer significant advantages in the field of oral drug delivery: protection from degradation by gastrointestinal fluids; crossing the intestinal epithelial barrier; specific targeting; safety; and abundant yield. However, there are fewer studies applying PDEVs for anti-tumor drug delivery to extra-digestive tissues. In this study, kiwifruit-derived extracellular vesicles (KEVs) were isolated and purified from kiwifruit, and their natural hepatic accumulation properties were exploited for targeted delivery of sorafenib (KEVs-SFB). Evidence showed that encapsulation of KEVs reduced the leakage of sorafenib in the gastrointestinal environment and enhanced the ability to cross the intestinal epithelium; KEVs-SFB was able to achieve liver accumulation and was predominantly taken up by HepG2 cells; KEVs-SFB was effective in inhibiting 4T1 cell proliferation; in the orthotopic liver cancer model, oral administration of KEVs-SFB inhibited tumor growth and improved the side effects of SFB. This PDEVs-based oral drug delivery platform is important for improving oral bioavailability and reducing drug side effects.

Investigation of Advanced Glycation End-Products, α-Dicarbonyl Compounds, and Their Correlations with Chemical Composition and Salt Levels in Commercial Fish Products

The contents of free and protein-bound advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) including Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) and Nε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL), along with glyoxal (GO), methylglyoxal (MGO), chemical components, and salt in commercially prepared and prefabricated fish products were analyzed. Snack food classified as commercially prepared products exhibited higher levels of GO (25.00 ± 3.34-137.12 ± 25.87 mg/kg of dry matter) and MGO (11.47 ± 1.39-43.23 ± 7.91 mg/kg of dry matter). Variations in the contents of free CML and CEL increased 29.9- and 73.0-fold, respectively. Protein-bound CML and CEL in commercially prepared samples were higher than those in raw prefabricated ones due to the impact of heat treatment. Levels of GO and MGO demonstrated negative correlations with fat (R = -0.720 and -0.751, p < 0.05) in commercially prepared samples, whereas positive correlations were observed (R = 0.526 and 0.521, p < 0.05) in raw prefabricated ones. The heat-induced formation of protein-bound CML and CEL showed a negative correlation with the variations of GO and MGO but was positively related to protein levels in prefabricated products, suggesting that GO and MGO may interact with proteins to generate AGEs during heating. The influence of NaCl on the formation of GO and MGO exhibited variations across different fish products, necessitating further investigation.

Modified paper-based substrates fabricated via electrostatic attraction of gold nanospheres for non-destructive detection of pesticides based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

BACKGROUND

Flexible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates such as paper-based substrates show great potential for rapid detection of residual chemicals on food surfaces. However, controlling the density and distribution of metallic nanoparticles adsorbed on the paper is still challenging.

RESULTS

The amount of gold (Au) nanospheres (51 ± 4 nm) attached on the filter paper modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was tunable, increasing as the level of APTES (2.5-15.0 g kg-1 ) applied for paper modification increased. Moreover, the Au nanospheres were relative evenly distributed on the filter paper modified with 2.5-10.0 g kg-1 of APTES, which resulted in excellent intra- and inter-reproducibility of SERS signals for pesticides including thiram, diquat dibromide, and paraquat dichloride (relative standard deviation = 2.2-10.1%). The modified paper-based substrate could be used to detect as low as 0.05-0.2 mg L-1 of pesticides in standard solutions, and as low as 5-20 ng cm-2 of residual pesticides on apple skins with minimum sample pretreatment.

CONCLUSION

This paper-based substrate with tunable feature for the density and distribution of nanoparticles is applicable for rapid SERS detection of residual pesticides in fruits and vegetables. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Implementation of a Systematic, Digital Oncology Workflow for Patient Distress Screening in a National, Multi-Site Radiotherapy Outpatient Setting

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Distress screening is recommended as standard of care in oncology to improve the quality of personalized care for patients, however previously reported barriers have led to poor uptake and reporting of clinician follow up and interventions. Our purpose was to improve the quality of personalized care for patients with high patient participation rate (>50%), clinical and nurse workflow compliance rate (>70%) and create structured data for practice improvement. To achieve this purpose, an in-house systematic digital screen and templated well-being plan (WBP) workflow was implemented across 33 outpatient Radiation Oncology sites in a multi-institutional center.

MATERIALS/METHODS

An in-house digital version of the NCCN Distress Thermometer and Problem Checklist (DT) was built in the integrated web-based portal for patients to complete at home or in a clinic setting. A digital workflow was co-designed with clinicians with automatic integration of the DT PDF document into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), assigned for doctor review. Nurses subsequently recorded screening actions in the WBP. An extensive engagement, education and support program was completed nationally with phased implementation after an initial pilot at 3 sites. Staff and patient feedback were documented and presented with the collated data for review.

RESULTS

The program was successfully implemented at 33 centers across Australia in the multi-site organization between March and October 2022. A total of 7788 distress screening forms were submitted with an uptake rate of 78% at baseline and 53% at end of treatment (EOT). DT document approval rates by doctors varied (41%-98%), and WBP was completed for 48-100% of patients, with variations of rates and use noted between states and individuals for both. Referrals were recorded in the WBP for 3% of patients, however, as up to 52% of documentation was not in a WBP (for some states), true referral numbers require further manual analysis. Pairwise analysis of screening scores between time points saw 42% of scores reduced, 34% increased and 24% with no change. Analysis of a subset of patients with increased or no change in score showed 57% had some change in categories of distress, 22% had complete change and 10% had no change.

CONCLUSION

With an increasing global focus on improving patient centered care, implementation of a systematic digital workflow for distress screening and supportive care was achieved resulting in patient identified stressors being addressed as standard of care. Key barriers reported, include confidence discussing screening results with patients and manual workflows at EOT. The provision of a rich data set can also highlight opportunities for clinical practice improvement, cohort-based focus, clinical quality indicators, benchmarking and reporting.

Cocaine screening in patients undergoing nasal reconstructive surgery: a cross-sectional, survey-based study of UK rhinology consultants

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the current practices of the UK rhinology consultant body in regard to cocaine screening in nasal reconstructive surgery.

METHOD

A 12-question online survey was distributed to rhinology consultants (October 2021 to February 2022) currently practising in the UK.

RESULTS

A total of 55 consultants responded. Fifty-three per cent asked patients about cocaine use prior to consideration of surgery, and 45 per cent performed cocaine testing prior to consideration of surgery. Of these, the majority employed urine testing alone (60 per cent), with hair testing being less common as a single screening modality (4 per cent). Sixteen per cent opted for both urine and hair testing. The most common reasons for not performing cocaine testing included patient history or clinical examination that was not suggestive of cocaine use (44 per cent), lack of formal guidelines (33 per cent) and lack of testing availability (27 per cent). Sixty-four per cent were in favour of a national policy for cocaine screening.

CONCLUSION

There is marked variation in cocaine screening practices for nasal reconstructive surgery among UK rhinologists.

CREB3L2 Regulates Hemidesmosome Formation during Epithelial Sealing

The long-term success rate of dental implants can be improved by establishing a favorable biological sealing with a high-quality epithelial attachment. The application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) holds promise for facilitating the soft tissue integration around implants, but the molecular mechanism is still unclear and the general application of MSC sheet for soft tissue integration is also relatively unexplored. We found that gingival tissue-derived MSC (GMSC) sheet treatment significantly promoted the expression of hemidesmosome (HD)-related genes and proteins in gingival epithelial cells (GECs). The formation of HDs played a key role in strengthening peri-implant epithelium (PIE) sealing. Further, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing showed that GMSC sheet significantly upregulated the PI3K/AKT pathway, confirming that cell adhesion and HD expression in GECs were regulated by GMSC sheet. We observed that the expression of transcription factor CREB3L2 in GECs was downregulated. After treatment with PI3K pathway inhibitor LY294002, CREB3L2 messenger RNA and protein expression levels were upregulated. Further experiments showed that overexpression or knockdown of CREB3L2 could significantly inhibit or promote HD-related genes and proteins, respectively. We confirmed that CREB3L2 was a transcription factor downstream of the PI3K/AKT pathway and participated in the formation of HDs regulated by GMSC sheet. Finally, through the establishment of early implant placement model in rats, we clarified the molecular function of CREB3L2 in PIE sealing as a mechanical transmission molecule in GECs. The application of GMSC sheet-implant complex could enhance the formation of HDs at the implant-PIE interface and decrease the penetration distance of horseradish peroxidase between the implant and PIE. Meanwhile, GMSC sheet reduced the length of CREB3L2 protein expression on PIE. These findings elucidate the potential function and molecular mechanism of MSC sheet regulating the epithelial sealing around implants, providing new insights and ideas for the application of stem cell therapy in regenerative medicine.

Assessing the Compliance and Accuracy of a National Australian Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) Database

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Accurate cancer databases enable auditing of patient management, and this knowledge facilitates optimizing care. A multi-institutional organization, the largest single provider of radiation oncology services in Australia, has developed its own national database (ND). All patients are entered on the ND as a prerequisite for generating a radiotherapy prescription. A significant component of the ND is automated, but manual input from the treating radiation oncologist (RO) is also required. The purpose of this study was to assess the compliance and accuracy of the data entered on this ND for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We included all HNC patients with either oral cavity cancer or oropharynx cancer (ICD-10 coding) treated between September 2021 and September 2022 to assess compliance. We randomly selected 25% of these cases and assigned them to 3 HNC ROs to manually review the accuracy of all clinical data points.

RESULTS

There were 166 HNC patients, 139 oropharynx and 27 oral cavity. Compliance in the 166 patients was excellent (94% or higher) for the majority of data points - age, gender, diagnosis ICD code, diagnosis date, laterality, TNM classification, radiotherapy dose, fractionation and technique and start and completion dates. Compliance was good (85% or more) for smoking history, use of chemotherapy, and p16 status (oropharynx). Compliance was poor (43%) for specific chemotherapy regimens. Accuracy was high (92% or higher) for diagnosis ICD code, smoking history, use of chemotherapy; good (87% or higher) for p16 status (oropharynx), laterality and histopathology; and poor for date of diagnosis (75%), TNM classification (62%) and specific chemotherapy regimens (29%).

CONCLUSION

The ND is a powerful tool for assessing patient care. Overall, compliance was very good. Accuracy was very good for most items, and we have highlighted areas where improvements can be made. This study shows that a compliant and accurate ND is achievable and supports the next goal of additional items to be included in the ND, specifically patient outcome data.

Effects of acetic, malic, and citric acids on the large deformation behaviors of fish gelatin gels

This research was aimed to quantify the effects of acetic acid, malic acid, and citric acid (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/100 g H2 O) on the stress-strain responses of fish gelatin (FG) gels (2, 4, and 6.67 g/100 g H2 O) under uniaxial compression up to 68% of deformation. The first-order Ogden model fitted quite well for the compression responses of FG gels (R2  = 0.9909-0.9997). Protons from the acids played a key role on weakening the FG gel structures (gel rigidity, μ, decreased 11%-27%), as the μ values and pH values of FG gels were linearly correlated (R2  = 0.8240-0.9748), regardless of the acid type. The addition of an acid also resulted in a significant increase (p < .002) in the strain hardening capacity (α) of gels with 2 g FG/100 g H2 O. Both μ and α values of FG gels with higher gelatin concentrations were less affected by an acid partly due to their stronger buffering effects. The μ and α values of FG gels as affected by acids could not be fully explained based upon the pH changes, implying that the effects of acetate, malate, and citrate ions on the gel structure could not be ignored.

The Effect of Glucose on the Interaction of Bisphenol A and Bovine Hemoglobin Characterized by Spectroscopic and Molecular Docking Techniques

The interaction mechanism of hemoglobin (Hb) with bisphenol A (BPA) in diabetic patients and the difference with healthy people have been studied using spectroscopic and molecular docking techniques at several glucose (Glc) concentration, with bovine hemoglobin (BHb) instead of Hb. It is found that Glc can interact with BHb-BPA and affect its molecular structure, resulting in an altered microenvironment for tyrosine (Tyr) and tryptophan (Trp) in BHb-BPA. It is also found that Glc can bind to BHb alone, and its effect on the molecular structure of BHb is weaker than that on the structure of BHb in BHb-BPA complex. The results of circular dichroism (CD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicate that Glc causes an increase in the content of the α-helix and a decrease in that of the β-sheet of BHb-BPA by 1.5-1.9% and 3.1%, respectively. The results of molecular docking show that Glc binds to BHb-BPA through hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds, and the position of binding differs from that of Glc binding to BHb alone, which may be attributed to the fact that BPA affects the protein molecular structure of BHb and has an effect on the binding of BHb to Glc. This study provides some theoretical basis for the mechanism of BPA toxicity in vivo for people with different blood glucose levels.

Vitamin D and smell impairment: a systematic literature review

OBJECTIVE

Smell impairment affects 60-80 per cent of individuals aged over 80 years. This review aimed to identify any association between vitamin D deficiency and smell impairment, and determine the efficacy of vitamin D to treat smell impairment.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted across four databases between the years 2000 and 2022. The literature screen was performed by two independent reviewers.

RESULTS

Seven articles were included in this review. Four studies examined the association between vitamin D deficiency and smell impairment, with three studies identifying a significant relationship. Three studies investigated the use of vitamin D as treatment for smell impairment, which found complete resolution or significant symptom improvement after vitamin D deficiency was treated.

CONCLUSION

This review identified limited studies on this topic. As vitamin D supplementation is relatively cost-efficient, further large-scale studies should be carried out to investigate the efficacy of vitamin D for treating anosmia.

Selection and quantification of volatile indicators for quality deterioration of reheated pork based on simultaneously extracting volatiles and reheating precooked pork

This study was to screen and quantify characteristic volatiles tied to the quality deterioration of reheated pork via simultaneously reheating (75 °C, 30 min) and collecting headspace volatiles of precooked pork (100 °C, 10 min; stored: 0 °C, 0-14 d) for GC-MS analysis. The concentrations of hexanal (6.05 ± 0.86-12.05 ± 0.44 mg/kg), (E)-2-octenal (1.54 ± 0.16-3.07 ± 0.08 mg/kg), (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal (1.52 ± 0.44-2.58 ± 0.31 mg/kg) and 8 other selected volatiles in reheated pork increased as the storage time of the precooked counterparts increased. The increase rate of hexanal was 2.9-199 times faster than that of other volatiles based on zero-order reaction fitting (R² = 0.876-0.997). Results from clustering analysis of these volatiles were consistent with their formation pathways tied to lipid autooxidation. This simple approach, reheating and collecting volatiles of precooked meat concurrently, introduces a new possibility for standardizing volatile analysis of precooked meats required being reheated before consumption.

AAV-based gene therapy prevents and halts the progression of dilated cardiomyopathy in a mouse model of phosphoglucomutase 1 deficiency (PGM1-CDG)

Phosphoglucomutase 1 (PGM1) deficiency is recognized as the third most common N-linked congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) in humans. Affected individuals present with liver, musculoskeletal, endocrine, and coagulation symptoms; however, the most life-threatening complication is the early onset of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Recently, we discovered that oral D-galactose supplementation improved liver disease, endocrine, and coagulation abnormalities, but does not alleviate the fatal cardiomyopathy and the associated myopathy. Here we report on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in 6 individuals with PGM1-CDG. LVEF was pathologically low in most of these individuals and varied between 10% and 65%. To study the pathobiology of the cardiac disease observed in PGM1-CDG, we constructed a novel cardiomyocyte-specific conditional Pgm2 gene (mouse ortholog of human PGM1) knockout (Pgm2 cKO) mouse model. Echocardiography studies corroborated a DCM phenotype with significantly reduced ejection fraction and left ventricular dilation similar to those seen in individuals with PGM1-CDG. Histological studies demonstrated excess glycogen accumulation and fibrosis, while ultrastructural analysis revealed Z-disk disarray and swollen/fragmented mitochondria, which was similar to the ultrastructural pathology in the cardiac explant of an individual with PGM1-CDG. In addition, we found decreased mitochondrial function in the heart of KO mice. Transcriptomic analysis of hearts from mutant mice demonstrated a gene signature of DCM. Although proteomics revealed only mild changes in global protein expression in left ventricular tissue of mutant mice, a glycoproteomic analysis unveiled broad glycosylation changes with significant alterations in sarcolemmal proteins including different subunits of laminin-211, which was confirmed by immunoblot analyses. Finally, augmentation of PGM1 in KO mice via AAV9-PGM1 gene replacement therapy prevented and halted the progression of the DCM phenotype.

Formation of advanced glycation end-products in minced pork during frozen-then-chilled storage and subsequent heating

The influences of frozen-then-chilled storage of minced pork on the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) including N^ε-carboxymethyllysine and N^ε-carboxyethyllysine, and their corresponding α-dicarbonyl precursors (α-DPs; glyoxal and methylglyoxal) during storage and subsequent heating were investigated in comparison with chilled storage. During cold storage, the levels of AGEs, trichloroacetic acid-soluble peptides, and Schiff bases in minced pork continuously increased while α-DPs decreased. The 30 min heating (100 °C) resulted in 64-560% increase of AGEs in pork, corresponding with an increase of Schiff bases and decreases of α-DPs. Compared to the chilled storage, the frozen-then-chilled storage led to no significant difference (P > 0.05) on the levels of AGEs and α-DPs in raw or heat-treated pork, implying that the formation and thawing of ice crystals in pork during the frozen-then-chilled storage had minor to no effects on the formation of AGEs and their α-DPs.

A highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensor with MIL-100(Fe)/Au composites for detection of malachite green in fish pond water

Concerns about food safety have been arisen due to the improper use of chemicals in aquaculture. Malachite green (MG) has attracted attention because of its illegal usage and its potential negative impacts on the environment and public health. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platforms coupled with different SERS substrates have been employed for rapid analysis of MG residues in food. However, the most commonly used SERS substrates were non-reusable and showed limited detection sensitivity. In this study, a novel SERS substrate with a good recyclability and a high sensitivity was prepared by electrostatically assembling together a metal-organic framework material called materials of institute lavoisie-100(Fe) (MIL-100(Fe)) and Au NPs. The lowest detectable concentration of MG was 10^-13 M based on the optimal substrate. The SERS sensor was applied for the detection of the trace MG in fish pond water, which was accomplished with the correlation coefficients R² = 0.991-0.996 in a concentration range of 10^-6-10^-13 M. Moreover, MIL-100(Fe)/Au was recycled at least five times, realizing a "detection to degradation", showing great potential for food contamination monitoring due to its distinguished performance.

Effect of Sucrose on the Formation of Advanced Glycation End-Products of Ground Pork during Freeze-Thaw Cycles and Subsequent Heat Treatment

The changes in protein degradation (TCA-soluble peptides), Schiff bases, dicarbonyl compounds (glyoxal-GO, methylglyoxal-MGO) and two typical advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) including N^ε-carboxymethyllysine (CML), N^ε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL) levels in ground pork supplemented with sucrose (4.0%) were investigated under nine freeze-thaw cycles and subsequent heating (100 °C/30 min). It was found that increase in freeze-thaw cycles promoted protein degradation and oxidation. The addition of sucrose further promoted the production of TCA-soluble peptides, Schiff bases and CEL, but not significantly, ultimately leading to higher levels of TCA-soluble peptides, Schiff bases, GO, MGO, CML, and CEL in the ground pork with the addition of sucrose than in the blank groups by 4%, 9%, 214%, 180%, 3%, and 56%, respectively. Subsequent heating resulted in severe increase of Schiff bases but not TCA-soluble peptides. Contents of GO and MGO all decreased after heating, while contents of CML and CEL increased.

Stimulus-Responsive DNA Hydrogel Biosensors for Food Safety Detection

Food safety has always been a major global challenge to human health and the effective detection of harmful substances in food can reduce the risk to human health. However, the food industry has been plagued by a lack of effective and sensitive safety monitoring methods due to the tension between the cost and effectiveness of monitoring. DNA-based hydrogels combine the advantages of biocompatibility, programmability, the molecular recognition of DNA molecules, and the hydrophilicity of hydrogels, making them a hotspot in the research field of new nanomaterials. The stimulus response property greatly broadens the function and application range of DNA hydrogel. In recent years, DNA hydrogels based on stimulus-responsive mechanisms have been widely applied in the field of biosensing for the detection of a variety of target substances, including various food contaminants. In this review, we describe the recent advances in the preparation of stimuli-responsive DNA hydrogels, highlighting the progress of its application in food safety detection. Finally, we also discuss the challenges and future application of stimulus-responsive DNA hydrogels.

Measuring clinical trial set-up complexity: development and content validation of a pharmacy scoring tool to support workload planning

Introduction

Clinical trials are essential for advancing medical knowledge and patient care. Pharmacy plays a vital role in research delivery, safeguarding participants, healthcare professionals and Trusts by ensuring Investigational Medicinal Products (IMPs) are procured, handled, stored, dispensed and used safely. Data have emerged indicating that clinical trial protocols are increasingly more complex for site personnel to execute. Whilst various tools have been developed to support workload planning and costing of clinical trials for clinicians and nursing personnel, the equivalent tool for pharmacy activities is not available.1,2

Aim

This study aims to locally develop and validate a pharmacy scoring tool to assess clinical trial complexity at the set-up stage. Objectives are to develop pharmacy-scoring tool to quantify clinical trials execution complexity with respect to pharmacy activities and determine Content Validity Index (CVI) and Inter-Rater Agreement (IRA) of the scoring tool through an internal vetting process.

Methods

A three-stage process was used to develop and validate the scoring tool. Two researchers contextualised the pharmacy–specific items, organised the content and constructed the tool based on suitable elements for inclusion through a targeted literature search and outputs from an expert panel meeting. Four experts independently rated each items on its relevance, clarity and alignment with clinical trial complexity considerations at the set-up stage using a 4-point Likert scale. Following data analysis, researchers made a judgement on whether to retain, modify, omit or add new items to the tool. Where the desired level of content validity had not been achieved for an item, revisions were made following a group discussion and the tool was re-distributed to the same expert panel for a second round of assessment. Item level-CVI (I-CVI) and tool level-CVI (average-CVI) was calculated for each round. Four experts then utilised the revised tool to retrospectively review 20 random studies to evaluate clinical trial complexity scores independently. IRA among assessors was measured for each individual pharmacy-specific item by dividing the responses into dichotomous ratings (one or two vs. three or four). The study was deemed a service evaluation and approved by the Trust Pharmacy Research and Audit Group therefore ethical submission was waived.

Results

Fourteen pharmacy-specific items were identified for inclusion in the tool with a possible score of 0-3 points per item. The highest possible complexity score when adding up all items is 42 points with a scale of low 0-14, moderate &gt;14-28, and high &gt;28-42. Following two rounds of content validity assessment where clarity revisions were made to four items, 14 out of 14 scored I-CVI of 1 with overall tool level average-CVI score of 1. The IRA shows 100% agreement by item and tool.

Discussion/Conclusion

This clinical trial’s complexity-scoring tool is the first of its kind tailored for pharmacy set-up in the UK. Overall, the results from this study support validity and reliability (content and construct) of this locally developed tool. The formal agreement on the use of this tool with the Trust Research Lead has better facilitated workload and capacity planning as well as ensuing costings for Pharmacy clinical trial activities.

References

1. Department of Health. Attributing the Cost of health and social care Research & Development (AcORD) Published 2012. Available from: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/351182/AcoRD_Guidance_for_publication_May_2012.pdf

2. Marta Calvin-Lamas et al. A complexity scale for clinical trials from a pharmacy perspective. European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 2018;25:251-256

Measuring drug name similarity to prioritise the application of tall-man lettering in a computerised pharmacy dispensing system

Introduction

Medicine name similarity is a contributory factor to medication errors.1 Published lists exists highlighting medicine pairs that are easily confused; locally a Look-Alike-Sound-Alike (LASA) list has expanded over time with no formal system of triage. A multipronged approach is required to address LASA risks. Tall-Man Lettering (TML) is one intervention that uses uppercase lettering for the dissimilarities in look-alike drug names to alert staff to the risk of error.1 For greatest impact, it should be reserved for pairs with the highest risk for patient safety.

Aim

This study aimed to use Levenshtein Distance (LD), Bigram (Bi) and Trigram (Tri) methods to prioritise medicine pairs for TML in the Pharmacy dispensing system. Objectives were to: Produce a comprehensive list of medicines pairs; Establish normalised thresholds from LD, Bi and Tri to prioritise medicine pairs for TML; and, measure drug name similarity using validated software2 applying LD, Bi and Tri to medication pairs as a method of triage for orthographic assessment.

Methods

Approval was obtained by the Trust Pharmacy Research Committee. The need for ethical submission was waived. A LASA list was developed combining medicine name pairs from National Pharmacy Association list3, historical local list and internal incidents where medicine name confusion was cited. Duplicated, branded and non-stock pairs were excluded. A literature search was undertaken to identify published thresholds for accuracy and sensitivity of the methods in the measure of medicine name similarity. LD measures the minimum number of edit operations needed to transform one string into another; Bi and Tri measures the frequency in which two/three similar sequential strings appear within a medicine name respectively. Two assessors independently entered medicine pairs through a validated computer program2 applying LD, Bi and Tri to measure orthographic similarity. Normalised computed similarity scores (between 0-1 where higher values represent increased drug similarity) were collated on Microsoft excel for comparison against thresholds.

Results

Two-hundred and twelve medicine pairs were identified for review. The literature defined Bi and Tri thresholds at ≥0.3 and ≥0.1 respectively; in absence of this for LD, in-house thresholds were assessed then defined at ≥0.6. LD identified 84 medicine pairs; Bi identified 144; and Tri identified 158; none were uniquely found by LD, four by Bi and 18 by Tri. A final look-alike list with 82 medicine pairs meeting all three thresholds was identified for TML.

Discussion/Conclusion

Screening using all three methods led to a 61% reduction in medicines pairs allowing prioritisation of TML as an effective intervention based on look-alike pairs with the highest risk of error. This study focused on identifying orthographic similarity in ‘look-alike’ medicine pairs only. With no single intervention available to prevent LASA errors, future work can explore other interventions. In the absence of literature around normalised LD, the definition of an in-house threshold posed to be another limitation and an area where further exploratory work should be considered. As new LASA incidents arise or the Trust catalogue increases, these methods should be applied to triage their look-alike potential, confirming if TML is an appropriate intervention.

References

1. World Health Organisation. Look-alike, sound-alike medication names. patient safety solutions. 2007 May, Volume 1: Solution 1.

2. Strcmp2. [Internet] Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto: Aditya Bhargava [Date of publication unknown]. Available from: https://www.cs.toronto.edu/~aditya/strcmp2/, Work based on: Grzegorz Kondrak. N-gram similarity and distance. Proceedings of the Twelfth International Conference on String Processing and Information Retrieval. 2005 Nov; pp. 115—126.

3. The National Pharmacy Association Pharmacy Team. Look-alike sound-alike (LASA) items [Internet]. The National Pharmacy Association; 2021. Available from: https://www.npa.co.uk/information-and-guidance/look-alike-sound-alike-lasa-items/

Initial observations on the impact of implementation of a seven-day clinical pharmacy service on dispensary activity and performance

Introduction

The need for seven-day clinical pharmacy services is widely acknowledged, although limited, in the acute sector of the National Health Service.1,2 Timely medicine supply is integral to provision of improved clinical pharmacy services to patients across seven-days, and is essential in effective discharge planning. There is a paucity of evidence for implementation of seven-day clinical pharmacy services, including the impact of service transformation on dispensary activity and performance. This limits planning and development of seven-day pharmacy services.

Aim

To assess the impact of a seven-day clinical pharmacy service on dispensary activity and performance, at the main site of a tertiary-referral teaching hospital.

Methods

A seven-day clinical pharmacy service was implemented in October 2021. Prior to this, pharmacy services were largely dispensary-based with clinical pharmacy services for acute and neurosciences admission and limited ward-based services in other specialities. At implementation, clinical pharmacy technicians and pharmacists (n=16) provided patient-facing pharmaceutical care for 7.5-hours/day across all specialities over the weekend; this included medicines reconciliation, preparation of discharge-medication lists, independent prescribing, counselling and clinical review of prioritised patients. The weekend dispensary staffing, skill-mix and shift patterns were redesigned to facilitate staff release from the dispensary rota. Dispensing activity data were obtained from Ascribe for six months pre- and post-implementation (April 2021-March 2022). Data were categorised as inpatient/discharge and the mean number of items dispensed per month analysed using Microsoft Excel. Discharge turnaround performance was calculated as percentage of discharge prescriptions dispensed within two-hours of dispensary receipt and obtained from the Prescription Tracking System. Verbal staff feedback was sought 4-months post-implementation. The study was deemed a service evaluation by the Pharmacy Research and Audit Group and so ethical approval was not required.

Results

Twelve dispensing staff and one pharmacist were rostered to one of three daily 3.75-hour dispensary shift patterns. Following implementation, mean total inpatient dispensing activity increased from 12799 to 13250 items/month (3.5% increase) and mean weekend activity from 2184 to 2677 items/month (22.6% increase). Mean weekday inpatient activity was stable at 10615 to 10573 items/month. The mean discharge dispensing activity increased from 9065 to 9837 items/month (8.5% increase): mean weekday discharge from 8498 to 8622 items/month (1.5% increase); mean weekend activity from 569 to 1215 items/month (114% increase). Discharge turnaround performance remained stable with 85% discharge prescriptions dispensed within 2-hours, versus 84% pre-implementation. Weekday performance also remained stable - from 84% to 83% and the weekend performance increased from 85% to 92%. Dispensary staff fed-back that weekend shift patterns were effective, activity was manageable and shifts usually ran smoothly and finished on time.

Discussion/Conclusion

Introduction of a seven-day clinical pharmacy service led to an increase in weekend dispensary activity, which was not offset by decrease in weekday activity. Importantly, the dispensary performance was not negatively impacted and weekend discharge performance improved. Increases could be because of weekend medicines reconciliation, pro-active medication ordering and pharmacist-led preparation of discharge-medicine lists. Dispensary activity in Winter 2020 was atypical because of COVID-19, thus it was not feasible to compare data. Further review, including 12 months data would reduce impact of seasonal variations in NHS activity. Limitations include that patient data including length of stay and time to discharge were not within scope.

References

1. Anon. Transformation of seven day clinical pharmacy services in acute hospitals. 2016. http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/7ds-clinical-pharmacy-acute-hosp.pdf. Accessed 29 July 2022.

2. Anon. RPS professional standards for hospital pharmacy services. 2017. http://www.rpharms.com/recognition/setting-professional-standards/hospital-pharmacy-professional-standards. Accessed 29 July 2022.

Prevalence and potential clinical significance of near miss dispensing errors at a large teaching hospital in the United Kingdom (UK)

Introduction

Dispensing is a complex multi-step process where mistakes can arise at any stage leading to a potential to cause patient harm. Published literature identifies near miss dispensing error rates up to 2.7% in UK hospitals.1 Near misses are ‘a dispensing error detected by the checker before it reaches the patient’. Near miss audits are routinely undertaken across two main dispensaries at this teaching hospital where one dispensary (site 1) is automated and the other (site 2) is not.

Aim

To determine the frequency of near miss dispensing errors, by site, and review the potential clinical significance of near misses observed.

Methods

Locally adapted data collection tool based on Royal Pharmaceutical Society near miss error codes2 was developed and piloted. Details on prescription type, drug, dose, strength, route, formulation and near misses were included. Details of all medication orders dispensed were also recorded. Prospective observational audit of near misses identified at the checking bench was undertaken, on three separate days, across three consecutive months. Dean and Barber method3 was used for assessing potential clinical significance of near misses. Four independent assessors: two pharmacists; one nurse and one doctor; reviewed near misses for the likelihood to cause harm. The mean severity score attained across assessors was calculated. Approval was obtained by the Trust Pharmacy Research and Audit Committee. The need for ethical submission was waived.

Results

Overall 3027 items were dispensed; 1539 and 1488 at sites 1 and 2 respectively. There were 177 (5.8%) erroneous dispensed items involving 193 near misses in total (15 items had two near misses and one item had three near misses). Ninety one (5.9%) erroneous dispensed items were captured at site 1 and 86 (5.8%) at site 2 (χ 2, p=0.94). Overall 161 near miss descriptions were assessed for clinical significance: 97 (60.2%) minor, 63 (39.1%) moderate and one (0.6%) severe. Statistically significant difference in severity rating of near misses between prescription type (χ 2(2) = 32.268, p &lt;0.001); mean ranks 80, 57, 125 for discharge, inpatient and outpatient prescriptions respectively. No statistical difference in severity rating of near misses between error type (χ 2(2) = 2.402, p =0.3).

Discussion/Conclusion

Local prevalence of near misses is higher than in published literature.1 However, the majority of errors were considered to have minor clinical impact on patients. Difficult to make direct comparisons between studies due to differences in research methods, definitions, operating systems and hospital settings. There was no statistical difference noted in prevalence between sites despite presence of automation at one and manual dispensing at the other. Two factors may explain this: Firstly, part-pack robotic dispensing, where generation of medication barcodes is a manual process and one subject to human input error itself; although not explored explicitly as part of this study. Secondly, lack of knowledge and complex prescriptions are known to be key contributory factors associated with dispensing errors, but the categories of drugs dispensed at a specialist tertiary dispensary (site 1) were broader and more complex. Further study is needed on the impact of part-pack robotic dispensing on dispensing errors.

References

1. James KL et al. Incidence, type and causes of dispensing errors. A review of literature. Int J Pharm Pract 2009; 17:9-30.

2. Royal Pharmaceutical Society [Internet]. Near Miss Error Log. London: Royal Pharmaceutical Society; 2015. Available from: RPS-NearMissError-LOG.pdf (rpharms.com)

3. Dean BS, Barber ND. A validated, reliable method for scoring the severity of medication errors. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 1999;56:57-62.

Detection of thiram on fruit surfaces and in juices with minimum sample pretreatment via a bendable and reusable substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

BACKGROUND

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates based on metallic nanoparticles locked in some flexible materials have great potential for rapid detection of pesticide residues in foods, but these substrates are generally not reusable.

RESULTS

A bendable and reusable sponge based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Au nanospheres was synthesized and employed as SERS substrate to analyze thiram on the surfaces of apples and grapes (20-1000 ng cm^-2 ) and in their juices (0.5-5.0 mg L^-1 ) with minimum sample pretreatments. The lowest detectible concentrations for thiram in fruit juices and on fruit skins were 0.5 mg L^-1 and 20 ng cm^-2 , respectively. The Au-PDMS substrate had acceptable intra-reproducibility for SERS analysis of thiram in fruit juices and on fruit skins, resulting in 3.6-16.9% relative standard deviation (RSD) for the SERS signal of the primary peak of thiram. Moreover, the Au-PDMS substrate exhibited distinguished reusability and stability, which could provide a reproducible SERS signal of thiram in apple juice even after the substrate being reused ten times (RSDs for the three major characteristic peaks of thiram were 2.7-10.5% during the ten reused cycles).

CONCLUSION

This flexible and reusable Au-PDMS SERS substrate for thiram detection could be readily extended to the analysis of other trace chemicals in a broad range of foods, providing a new possibility for SERS application. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Heat-induced formation of advanced glycation end-products in ground pork as affected by the addition of acetic acid or citric acid and the storage duration prior to the heat treatments

•

Organic acids affected advanced glycation end-product (AGE) levels in heated pork.

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Heat-induced AGEs in pork with citric acid (ca 0.5–1%) were reduced by 30–54%.

•

Adding acetic acid at the same level led to 14–48% reduction of AGEs.

•

The reduction of AGEs corresponded to decreased levels of TBARS and Schiff bases.

•

Marinating time (pork & acid) did not affect the acid’s inhibiting effect for AGEs.

The heat-induced (121 °C, 10 or 30 min) formation of two potentially hazardous advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), protein-bound N^ɛ-carboxymethyllysine (CML) and N^ɛ-carboxyethyllysine (CEL), in pork as affected by citric or acetic acid (0.5, 1 g/100 pork) and the storage duration (0 °C, 0 – 8 d) prior to the heating was investigated. A longer storage time of raw pork resulted in higher levels of AGEs produced during the later heating, likely due to the accumulation of some AGE precursors during the storage. Depending on the acid level and heating time, adding acid in pork led to 30 – 54% (citric acid) or 14 – 48% (acetic acid) average reduction of heat-induced production of CML/CEL, which corresponded to the reduction of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and Schiff bases. The marinating time of raw pork with an acid did not significantly affect (P = 0.959 – 0.998) the acid’s inhibition effect on heat-induced formation of CML/CEL.

Fishing unfunctionalized SERS tags with DNA hydrogel network generated by ligation-rolling circle amplification for simple and ultrasensitive detection of kanamycin

Simple assay format-based SERS methods for sensitive target substance analysis is of great significance for the development of on-site monitoring biosensors. Herein, taking the typical antibacterial kanamycin (KANA) as a subject, a simple, highly sensitive and specific SERS aptasensor was developed by manipulating DNA hydrogel network to fish plasmonic core-shell nanoparticles. A competitive binding mode of aptamer, ligation-rolling circle amplification (L-RCA), gap-containing Au@Au nanoparticles (GCNPs) with embedded Raman reporters were integrated into the sensor. In the presence of KANA, the double stranded DNA (dsDNA) structure of the aptamer was disrupted, and the released primers were used to construct two kinds of circularized padlock probes (CPPs) which were partially complementary. DNA hydrogel network was formed through the intertwining and self-assembly of two RCA-generated single stranded DNA (ssDNA) chains, during which GCNPs and magnetic beads (MBs) were entangled and incorporated. Finally, KANA quantification was successfully achieved through the quantification of the DNA hydrogel. Overall, this novel SERS aptasensor realized a simple and ultrasensitive quantification of KANA down to 2.3 fM, plus excellent selectivity, and precision even for real food samples. In view of innovative fusion across L-RCA-based DNA hydrogel and SERS technique, the proposed method has promising potential for application in on-site detection and quantification of trace food contaminants.

Flupentixol/melitracen for chronic refractory cough after treatment failure with other neuromodulators

BACKGROUND: Gabapentin and baclofen are recommended for the treatment of chronic refractory cough (CRC). We investigated the efficacy of flupentixol/melitracen in patients unresponsive to these neuromodulators.METHODS: A total of 101 patients with CRC who failed to respond to gabapentin and baclofen were recruited, and treated with flupentixol/melitracen. The prevalence of cough resolution and changes in the Cough Symptom Score (CSS), cough thresholds to capsaicin, Hull Airway Reflux Questionnaire (HARQ), Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 were evaluated after treatment.RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients (97.0%) completed the study. The overall successful cough resolution rate was 62.4% (63/101). Cough resolution was accompanied by an obvious decrease in the CSS and HARQ score and a remarkable increase in cough thresholds to capsaicin challenge and LCQ score, whereas anxiety and depression scores did not change significantly. The prevalence of adverse effects (e.g., insomnia and dizziness) was 21.8%. The prevalence of cough recurrence within 2 weeks after treatment cessation was 17.8%.CONCLUSION: Flupentixol/melitracen may be an efficacious option for CRC unresponsive to other neuromodulators.

Mid-treatment Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in Human Papillomavirus-related Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Primary Radiotherapy: Nodal Metabolic Response Rate can Predict Treatment Outcomes

AIMS

To evaluate whether biomarkers derived from fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET-CT) performed prior to (prePET) and during the third week (interim PET; iPET) of radiotherapy can predict treatment outcomes in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective analysis included 46 patients with newly diagnosed OPC treated with definitive (chemo)radiation and all patients had confirmed positive HPV status (HPV+OPC) based on p16 immunohistochemistry. The maximum standardised uptake value (SUV_max), metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesional glycolysis (TLG) of primary, index node (node with the highest TLG) and total lymph nodes and their median percentage (≥50%) reductions in iPET were analysed, and correlated with 5-year Kaplan-Meier and multivariable analyses (smoking, T4, N2b-3 and AJCC stage IV), including local failure-free survival, regional failure-free survival, locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS), distant metastatic failure-free survival (DMFFS), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival.

RESULTS

There was no association of outcomes with prePET parameters observed on multivariate analysis. A complete metabolic response of primary tumour was seen in 13 patients; the negative predictive value for local failure was 100%. More than a 50% reduction in total nodal MTV provided the best predictor of outcomes, including LRFFS (88% versus 47.1%, P = 0.006, hazard ratio = 0.153) and DFS (78.2% versus 41.2%, P = 0.01, hazard ratio = 0.234). More than a 50% reduction in index node TLG was inversely related to DMFFS: a better nodal response was associated with a higher incidence of distant metastatic failure (66.7% versus 100%, P = 0.009, hazard ratio = 3.0).

CONCLUSION

The reduction (≥50%) of volumetric nodal metabolic burden can potentially identify a subgroup of HPV+OPC patients at low risk of locoregional failure but inversely at higher risk of distant metastatic failure and may have a role in individualised adaptive radiotherapy and systemic therapy.

Effects of Different Salt Concentrations on Several Freshness Indicators of North Pacific Squid (Ommastrephes sloani pacificus) during Storage at 4°C

ABSTRACT

The effects of salt treatment (2% [w/w] low salt and 6% [w/w] high salt) and storage time (0 to 12 days) on two biogenic amines (histamine and tyramine), total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), pH, and volatile compounds of the North Pacific squid during storage at 4°C were evaluated. The freshness of squid muscle was evaluated by monitoring the changes in these indicators during storage. Results showed that histamine and tyramine contents increased with storage time (4.29 to 22.47 mg/kg for histamine and 28.10 to 135.78 mg/kg for tyramine) and that, in samples treated with salt, formation of these amines can be effectively inhibited (P < 0.05) compared with untreated samples. The overall pH level initially decreased and then increased during storage (ranging from 6.49 to 7.13), and the pH level of the two salt treatment groups was a little lower than that of the control group. The TVB-N value increased with time and was effectively inhibited by salt (P < 0.05). The number and content of the volatile components in squid varied during the entire storage time. The main volatile components detected in North Pacific squid were aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, esters, aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, nitrogenous compounds, sulfo compounds, and esters. Several compounds, such as trimethylamine, butyric acid, and sulfureted hydrogen, can be used to determine the quality of aquatic products, and salt treatment can inhibit their formation. The TVB-N value was significantly correlated with pH level and with the concentrations of histamine, tyramine, and several volatile compounds in all samples (P < 0.05). In summary, salt concentration had a positive effect on extending the shelf life of North Pacific squid, and multiple indicators should be used to determine the quality of squid.

HIGHLIGHTS

miR-18a expression in basal cell carcinoma and regulatory mechanism on autophagy through mTOR pathway

BACKGROUND

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin carcinoma.

AIM

To investigate the function of key micro(mi)RNAs and to explore the potential molecular mechanisms involved in BCC.

METHODS

The microarray dataset GSE34535, which comprises seven BCC samples and seven control samples, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) were identified. We collected tissue samples from 20 patients with BCC and 20 healthy controls (HCs), to compare the miR-18a expression in their tissue samples. Expression of miR-18a in A431 and HaCaT cells was also assayed. Following this, we upregulated and downregulated miR-18a expression in A431 cells to examine the effects on cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis. To further investigate the relative mechanism, the proteins LC3, Beclin 1, Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were examined by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. For further verification, we examined the expression of LC3 in the 20 BCC and 20 HC tissue samples.

RESULTS

In total, 19 DE-miRNAs (13 upregulated and 6 downregulated) that were common to the BCC and HC groups were identified. Levels of miR-18a were about three-fold higher in BCC tissues and A431 cells compared with their respective control groups. In vitro, downregulation of miR-18a was shown to inhibit cell proliferation and activate autophagy via the Akt/mTOR signalling pathway, while upregulation of miR-18a promoted proliferation of these cells. LC3 was decreased in BCC compared with HC tissue samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support an oncogenic role of miR-18a through a novel Akt/mTOR/Beclin 1/LC3 axis, and suggest that the antitumour effects of miR-18a inhibitor may make it suitable for BCC therapy.

Formation of protein-bound Nε-carboxymethyllysine and Nε-carboxyethyllysine in ground pork during commercial sterilization as affected by the type and concentration of sugars

This research was aimed to investigate the formation of protein-bound N^ε-carboxymethyllysine (CML) and N^ε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL) in ground pork at 121 °C (5-30 min) as affected by sugars (1-9% w/w, glucose, fructose, lactose, and sucrose).The addition of reducing sugar significantly (P < 0.05) increased the levels of CML and CEL in heat treated pork samples. Even adding 1% of glucose in pork could lead to 3.8 and 4.0 times increase in the formation rate constant (zero-order) of CML and CEL, respectively. In a typical commercial sterilization process (121 °C, 30 min), adding glucose, fructose or lactose in pork resulted in an average increase of 224-581%, 26-276%, and 8-189% CML, and 217-720%, 213%-15.8 times, and 20-150% CEL, respectively, depending on the sugar concentration. Sucrose did not promote the formation of CML and CEL in pork during heating.

Revealing a key inhibitory mechanism of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoxaline via trapping of methylglyoxal

The inhibitory effects of vitamins (nicotinic acid, pyridoxamine [PM], and l-ascorbic acid) and phenolic acids (ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid) on the formation of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo [4,5-f] quinoxaline (MeIQx) were studied in a glycine/glucose/creatinine model system and fried tilapia cakes. The results showed that PM was the most potential inhibitor and the inhibition rates reached 82.72% and 78.54% in model system and fried tilapia cakes, respectively. Detailed formation mechanism of MeIQx was put forward to find the inevitable species in the non-free radical formation mechanism of MeIQx. Dose-dependent analysis of PM on methylglyoxal (MGO ) and MeIQx formation were studied by using model systems and the results showed that MGO and MeIQx were both reduced about 60% in reaction mixtures when the molar ratio of PM to glycine was 1:16, which indicated that MGO is a key intermediate on the pathway of MeIQx formation. Quantum chemistry calculations showed that PM can act as a useful inhibitor to inhibit the formation of MeIQx and react with MGO to form new compounds. A pathway for the inhibitory activity of PM against MeIQx formation was proposed. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Pyridoxamine was the most effective inhibitor against heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) and could be applied to a variety of food systems. While the inhibitory mechanism is still unclear. Detailed formation mechanism of MeIQx was put forward first and suggested methylglyoxal as an inevitable species in the non-free radical formation mechanism of MeIQx in this study. Pyridoxamine trapping methylglyoxal is likely a key mechanism against the generation of MeIQx was demonstrated by quantum chemistry calculation and experimental demonstration. These findings may provide effective suggestions for reducing HAAs and similar toxicants in daily cuisine.