Fabrication of whey protein/pectin double layer microcapsules for improving survival of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ZFM231

To improve the viability of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ZFM231 strain in the gastrointestinal tract and exhibit better probiotic effect, an internal emulsification/gelation technique was employed to encapsulate this strain using whey protein and pectin as wall materials to fabricate the double layer microcapsules. Four key factors affecting the encapsulation process were optimized using single factor analysis and response surface methodology. Encapsulation efficiency of L. rhamnosus ZFM231 reached 89.46 ± 0.82 %, the microcapsules possessed a particle size of 172 ± 1.80 μm and ζ-potential of -18.36 mV. The characters of the microcapsules were assessed using optical microscope, SEM, FT-IR and XRD analysis. It was found that after exposure to simulated gastric fluid, the bacterial count (log (CFU g^-1)) of the microcapsules only lost 1.96 units, the bacteria were released readily in simulated intestinal fluid, reaching 86.56 % after 90 min. After stored at 4 °C for 28 days and 25 °C for 14 days, bacterial count of the dry microcapsules decreased from 10.59 to 9.02 and 10.49 to 8.70 log (CFU g^-1), respectively. The double layered microcapsules could significantly increase the storage and thermal abilities of bacteria. Such L. rhamnosus ZFM231 microcapsules could find applications as ingredient of the functional foods and the dairy products.

Exopolysaccharide from Lactobacillus rhamnosus ZFM231 alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice by regulating gut microbiota

BACKGROUND

The exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by Lactobacillus and other probiotics are associated with many benefits, such as immune regulation, antioxidant properties, antitumor effect, and regulation of intestinal microbe homeostasis. In the present study, the modulatory effect of EPS produced by Lactobacillus rhamnosus ZFM231 on the intestinal flora of mice with inflammatory bowel disease induced by dextran sulfate solution was investigated.

RESULTS

Results indicated that weight loss, colonic length, the disease activity index score and colonic tissue damage in mice were significantly improved by EPS treatment. Compared with the model group, in the EPS-treated group, the diversity of and the composition of gut microbiota at both phylum and genus levels were found to recover to the levels of normal group, indicating the effective modulation on gut microbiota by EPS; short-chain fatty acids, including acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid produced by intestinal microbial metabolism, increased significantly; the level of anti-inflammatory factor transforning growth factor-β significantly increased and the level of pro-inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor-α significantly decreased in the colonic cells of EPS-treated mice.

CONCLUSION

It is clear that EPS produced by L. rhamnosus ZFM231 could find application in functional foods with the property of anti-ulcerative colitis. The experimental results provide new insights into the probiotic effect of EPS. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Biological Functions of Selenoprotein Iodothyronine Deiodinase and its Expression in Osteoarthritis

Objective Iodothyronine deiodinases (DIOs) are important selenoproteins that play a key role in the bone and joint diseases. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent joint disease especially in elders. This bioinformatic analysis was performed to explore the role of DIOs in OA pathogenesis. Methods The biological functions of selenoprotein DIOs were analyzed by bioinformatic techniques, including GenCLip 3.0, Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), STRING, Cytoscape, and Network Analyst. The expression of DIOs in the healthy individuals and OA patients was determined by mining OA-related microarray data in the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database of National Center for Biotechnology Information and performing a Meta-analysis of the data with Review Manager 5.3. Results Cluster analysis revealed that the function of the DIOs was associated with thyroid hormone receptor and iodothyronine; GO analysis showed that DIOs were mainly involved in biological processes, such as ethanol metabolism and phenol-containing compound metabolism and primarily involved in the cytochrome P450 metabolism of exogenous organisms and thyroid hormone signaling; SULT1A1 was the core node of the PPI network; miRNAs and thyroid hormones had some iterations with DIO1and DIO2; Meta-analysis showed that DIO3 expression was significantly up-regulated in OA patients (SMD = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.03, 0.59, P = 0.03). Conclusions The main biological functions of DIOs were closely associated with the regulation of thyroid hormone. And the up-regulated expression of DIO3 may have crucial impact on the occurrence of OA.

[Expression of Glutathione Peroxidases and Its Effect on Clinical Prognosis in Glioma Patients]

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of glutathione peroxidase(GPX)genes and the clinical prognosis in glioma patients,and to construct and evaluate the model for predicting the prognosis of glioma. Methods The clinical information and GPX expression of 663 patients,including 153 patients of glioblastoma(GBM)and 510 patients of low-grade glioma(LGG),were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database.The relationship between GPX expression and patient survival was analyzed.The key GPX affecting the prognosis of glioma was screened out by single- and multi-factor Cox's proportional-hazards regression models and validated by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(Lasso)regression.Finally,we constructed the model for predicting the prognosis of glioma with the screening results and then used concordance index and calibration curve respectively to evaluate the discrimination and calibration of model. Results Compared with those in the control group,the expression levels of GPX1,GPX3,GPX4,GPX7,and GPX8 were up-regulated in glioma patients(all P<0.001).Moreover,the expression levels of other GPX except GPX3 were higher in GBM patients than in LGG patients(all P<0.001).The Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the progression-free survival of GBM with high expression of GPX1(P=0.013)and GPX4(P=0.040),as well as the overall survival,disease-specific survival,and progression-free survival of LGG with high expression of GPX1,GPX7,and GPX8,was shortened(all P<0.001).GPX7 and GPX8 were screened out as the key factors affecting the prognosis of LGG.The results were further used to construct a nomogram model,which suggested GPX7 was the most important variable.The concordance index of the model was 0.843(95%CI=0.809-0.853),and the calibration curve showed that the predicted and actual results had good consistency. Conclusion GPX7 is an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of LGG,and the nomogram model constructed with it can be used to predict the survival rate of LGG.

Purification and Biological Activities of Enzymatically Degraded Sargassum fusiforme Polysaccharides

Enzymatic hydrolysate of the crude polysaccharide (SFP) extracted from Sargassum fusiforme was purified by column DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100 to yield four components, namely, ESFP1, ESFP2, ESFP3 and ESFP4. These components were characterized by chemical composition assay, GC/MS, HPGPC, UV and FT-IR techniques. The in vitro antioxidant activities of the four purified fractions were investigated by measuring their radical scavenging activity and reducing power. The results suggested that all the four components possess good antioxidant activities. Among them, ESFP1 was found to possess the strongest 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity, and the greatest ferric reducing power. The immunomodulatory effect of these four polysaccharides was demonstrated by their ability to promote proliferation, and to enhance both phagocytic activity and NO release in a macrophage RAW264.7 model. The results revealed that the bioactivities of the polysaccharides are related to their molecular weight, and the uronic acid and sulfate contents.

Effect of enzymatic degraded polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera on the physical and oxidative stability of fish oil-in-water emulsions

To explore the potential application of enzymatic degraded polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifra (EEP) as antioxidant in fish oils, a stable fish oil emulsion system incorporating EEP was established. Effects of emulsifier (Tween 80, gum arabic and lecithin) and EEP concentration on the physical characteristics of fish oil emulsions were investigated. The results indicated that Tween 80 was the best choice, and 1% (w/w) of EEP was the optimum concentration for the preparation of fish oil emulsions. Influence of EEP on the oxidative stability and physical stability of fish oil emulsions was compared with that of antioxidants V_E and TBHQ by determining the physical properties, lipid hydroperoxide formation, secondary reaction products formation, pH and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid content, during storage at 45 °C. The results indicated that the fish oil emulsion system (5% oil, 1% EEP and 1% Tween 80, w/w) possessed good physical and oxidative stabilities.

[Total hip arthroplasty in patients with Psoriatic arthritis]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in treating the hip joint involvement of Psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods: From January 2005 to December 2016, a total of 15 PsA patients (20 hip joints) underwent THA in Department of Orthopaedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. All the patients had obvious restriction in daily life before operation. The mean Harris score was 25.2 averagely and the mean total range of the hip joint movement was 39.6° before surgery. All the prosthesis were biotype and ceramic to ceramic. Results: All patients were followed up with an average of 35.7 months and could take care of themselves. The Harris score of hip joint was 83.2 averagely, including 15 hips excellent, 3 good, and 2 passable, with an excellent and good rate of 90%. The mean total range of the hip joint movement was 175° after surgery. There was no infection, nerve injury or loosening of the prosthesis. 1 hip appeared avulsion fracture of greater trochanter of femur, and the joint function was satisfying at the last time of follow-up. Conclusion: THA is an effective method in treating affected hip joint of PsA. It can restore the hip function and improve the life quality of the PsA patients.

Is intralesional resection suitable for central grade 1 chondrosarcoma: A systematic review and updated meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The surgical choice for grade 1 chondrosarcoma has been debated for decades. Intralesional resection can minimize the damage caused by surgery and offer better functional outcome. However, controversy remains about whether it will result in higher rates of local recurrence and metastasis, fewer complications, and better functional outcome compared with resection with wide margin. This systematic review and updated meta-analysis therefore compared intralesional resection and resection with wide margin in terms of local recurrence, metastasis, complications, and functional outcome.

METHODS

Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were comprehensively searched in December 2016 to identify studies comparing intralesional resection and resection with wide margin for central grade 1 chondrosarcoma. Data of interest were extracted and analyzed using Review Manager 5.3.

RESULTS

Ten studies involving 394 patients were included, with 214 patients who had intralesional resection and 180 patients who had resection with wide margin for grade 1 chondrosarcoma. Intralesional resection was associated with lower complication rates (P < 0.0001) and better Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score (MSTS). There were no significant differences in terms of overall local recurrence (P = 0.27), local recurrence based on adjuvant therapies (P = 0.22), local recurrence in studies that included lesions of the hand, foot, pelvis, and axial skeleton (P = 0.55), and metastasis (P = 0.74) between groups.

CONCLUSION

Intralesional resection provides lower complications and better functional outcome with no significant increase in the risk of recurrence and metastasis. We think it is a suitable treatment for central grade 1 chondrosarcoma.