Advancements in nonthermal physical field technologies for prefabricated aquatic food: A comprehensive review

Aquatic foods are nutritious, enjoyable, and highly favored by consumers. In recent years, young consumers have shown a preference for prefabricated food due to its convenience, nutritional value, safety, and increasing market share. However, aquatic foods are prone to microbial spoilage due to their high moisture content, protein content, and unsaturated fatty acids. Furthermore, traditional processing methods of aquatic foods can lead to issues such as protein denaturation, lipid peroxidation, and other food safety and nutritional health problems. Therefore, there is a growing interest in exploring new technologies that can achieve a balance between antimicrobial efficiency and food quality. This review examines the mechanisms of cold plasma, high-pressure processing, photodynamic inactivation, pulsed electric field treatment, and ultraviolet irradiation. It also summarizes the research progress in nonthermal physical field technologies and their application combined with other technologies in prefabricated aquatic food. Additionally, the review discusses the current trends and developments in the field of prefabricated aquatic foods. The aim of this paper is to provide a theoretical basis for the development of new technologies and their implementation in the industrial production of prefabricated aquatic food.

QD-based fluorescent nanosensors: Production methods, optoelectronic properties, and recent food applications

Food quality and safety are crucial public health concerns with global significance. In recent years, a series of fluorescence detection technologies have been widely used in the detection/monitoring of food quality and safety. Due to the advantages of wide detection range, high sensitivity, convenient and fast detection, and strong specificity, quantum dot (QD)-based fluorescent nanosensors have emerged as preferred candidates for food quality and safety analysis. In this comprehensive review, several common types of QD production methods are introduced, including colloidal synthesis, self-assembly, plasma synthesis, viral assembly, electrochemical assembly, and heavy-metal-free synthesis. The optoelectronic properties of QDs are described in detail at the electronic level, and the effect of food matrices on QDs was summarized. Recent advancements in the field of QD-based fluorescent nanosensors for trace level detection and monitoring of volatile components, heavy metal ions, food additives, pesticide residues, veterinary-drug residues, other chemical components, mycotoxins, foodborne pathogens, humidity, and temperature are also thoroughly summarized. Moreover, we discuss the limitations of the QD-based fluorescent nanosensors and present the challenges and future prospects for developing QD-based fluorescent nanosensors. As shown by numerous publications in the field, QD sensors have the advantages of strong anti-interference ability, convenient and quick operation, good linear response, and wide detection range. However, the reported assays are laboratory-focused and have not been industrialized and commercialized. Promising research needs to examine the potential applications of bionanotechnology in QD-based fluorescent nanosensors, and focus on the development of smart packaging films, labeled test strips, and portable kits-based sensors.

Applications of Gas Sensing in Food Quality Detection: A Review

Food products often face the risk of spoilage during processing, storage, and transportation, necessitating the use of rapid and effective technologies for quality assessment. In recent years, gas sensors have gained prominence for their ability to swiftly and sensitively detect gases, making them valuable tools for food quality evaluation. The various gas sensor types, such as metal oxide (MOX), metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors, surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, colorimetric sensors, and electrochemical sensors, each offer distinct advantages. They hold significant potential for practical applications in food quality monitoring. This review comprehensively covers the progress in gas sensor technology for food quality assessment, outlining their advantages, features, and principles. It also summarizes their applications in detecting volatile gases during the deterioration of aquatic products, meat products, fruit, and vegetables over the past decade. Furthermore, the integration of data analytics and artificial intelligence into gas sensor arrays is discussed, enhancing their adaptability and reliability in diverse food environments and improving food quality assessment efficiency. In conclusion, this paper addresses the multifaceted challenges faced by rapid gas sensor-based food quality detection technologies and suggests potential interdisciplinary solutions and directions.

Artificial neural network-based shelf life prediction approach in the food storage process: A review

The prediction of food shelf life has become a vital tool for distributors and consumers, enabling them to determine storage and optimal edible time, thus avoiding unexpected food waste. Artificial neural network (ANN) have emerged as an effective, fast and accurate method for modeling, simulating and predicting shelf life in food. ANNs are capable of tackling nonlinear, complex and ill-defined problems between the variables without prior knowledge. ANN model exhibited excellent fit performance evidenced by low root mean squared error and high correlation coefficient. The low relative error between actual values and predicted values from the ANN model demonstrates its high accuracy. This paper describes the modeling of ANN in food quality prediction, encompassing commonly used ANN architectures, ANN simulation techniques, and criteria for evaluating ANN model performance. The review focuses on the application of ANN for modeling nonlinear food quality during storage, including dairy, meat, aquatic, fruits, and vegetables products. The future prospects of ANN development mainly focus on optimal models and learning algorithm selection, multiple model fusion, self-learning and self-correcting shelf-life prediction model development, and the potential utilization of deep learning techniques.

Characteristic volatiles fingerprints in olive vegetable stored at different conditions by HS-GC-IMS

The olive vegetable is popular food owing to its unique flavor. This study innovatively used headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry to evaluate olive vegetables' volatiles under different conditions. A total of 57 volatile compounds were determined from olive vegetables, including 30 aldehydes, 8 ketones, 5 alcohols, 2 esters, 8 hydrocarbons, 1 furans, 3 sulfur compounds. The PCA distinguished the olive vegetable stored at different conditions by volatiles. The gallery plot showed that olive vegetables stored at 4 °C for 21 d produced more limonene, which had a desirable fruity odor. The (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-pentenal, (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal, 5-methylfurfural, and heptanal in fresh olive vegetables were lowest and increased with storage time. Furthermore, the change of volatiles was the least when the olive vegetable was stored at 0 °C. This study can provide theoretical bases for improving the flavor quality of olive vegetables and developing traditional food for standardized industrial production.

Effects of various logistics packaging on the quality and microbial variation of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)

Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) is an economically valuable ocean fish species. It is susceptible to contamination during storage and transportation. Having proper transportation packaging and stable temperature during transportation are critical to prevent quality deterioration. However, the influence of packaging on retaining freshness in transit remains unknown. Here, the impact of different transportation packaging on the quality and microbiological variation of bigeye tuna during the logistics process was investigated by measuring physical-chemical indexes and microbial diversity. It turned out that aluminum foil paper (AFP) group had minimum temperature fluctuation, exhibited preferable water retaining capacity and color protection effect. AFP packaging could efficiently prevent TVB-N increase and microbial growth. After 40 h, the TVB-N value was 21.28 mg/100 g and microbial total plate count was 3.53 lg CFU/g, which was within the acceptable range. Temperature fluctuations and packaging materials had a major effect on the microbial community structure of bigeye tuna. Chitinophagaceae, Acinetobacter, and Knoellia were dominant in the AFP group, while Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Macrococcus were dominant in the expanded polystyrene foam (EPSF) and European logistics (EUL) groups. AFP packaging could effectively slow down the growth and reproduction of Pseudomonas, restraining the growth of microorganisms and preserve the quality of bigeye tuna. This study provides insights into understanding the effects of packaging material on maintaining quality during logistics transportation.

Gas-phase ion migration spectrum analysis of the volatile flavors of large yellow croaker oil after different storage periods

The large yellow croaker, a species of fish found in the northwestern Pacific, is favored by consumers because of its prevalence in saltwater bodies, golden yellow abdomen, high calcium content, high protein, high fat content, and a flavor that originates from its lipids and volatile components. Volatile organic compounds significantly affect the aroma of food. In this work, electronic nose and headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry were applied to analyze the flavor differences in fish oil durations. Through electronic nose system analysis, sensors W1C, W3S, W6S, and W2S directly affected fish oil flavor, and their flavor components were different. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry identified 26 volatile components (19 aldehydes, 3 ketones, 2 alcohols, 1 furan, and 1 olefin). (E,E)-2,4-hexadienal (D), (E,E)-2,4-hexadienal (M), 2,4-heptadienal (M), (E)-2-octenal, 2-propanone, 2-heptanone (M), 3-pentanone (D), and 1-octen-3-ol were the key flavor components of the fish oil. In conclusion, the combination of GC-IMS and PCA can identify the differences in flavor changes of large yellow croaker oil during 0–120 days storage. After 60 days storage, the types and signals of 2-propanone, 2-heptanone (M) components increase significantly. When 120 days storage, at this time, (E,E)-2,4-hexadienal (D), (E,E)-2,4-hexadienal (M), 2,4-heptadienal (M), (E)-2-octenal,(E)-2-octenal significantly. It has become the main flavor substance of fish oil. In summary, as the storage period increases, the components increase, and the oxidizing substances will increase, resulting in the deterioration of fish oil.

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The oxidation state of Large yellow croaker oil in different storage periods was investigated.

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The volatile compounds of Large yellow croaker oil were studied by GC-IMS.

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The effects of storage period on the composition of large yellow croaker oil samples were tested.

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We believe GC-IMS will play a crucial role in controlling the flavor of fish oil.

Comparative Study of Astaxanthin, Cholesterol, Fatty Acid Profiles, and Quality Indices Between Shrimp Oil Extracted From Hepatopancreas and Cephalothorax

Shrimp oil from two different portions of Pacific white shrimp including cephalothorax and hepatopancreas was extracted using the mixture of hexane/isopropanol (1:1). The extracted oils from the cephalothorax (CPO) and hepatopancreas (HPO) were characterized for astaxanthin content, cholesterol levels, and fatty acid profiles. Nutrition indices of CPO and HPO were also compared. CPO had lower extraction yield (3.2 ± 0.1%, wet weight basis) than HPO (11.1 ± 0.5%, wet weight basis). High-performance liquid chromatography results indicated that the astaxanthin content in HPO was higher, compared to that of CPO. Nevertheless, the cholesterol level in HPO was 70% lower than that of CPO. Fatty acid profiles of HPO and CPO demonstrated that the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in HPO was higher than that of CPO. The amount of docosahexaenoic acid in the former was ~2 times higher than that of the latter. HPO contained 42.76 ± 0.36% PUFA, whereas PUFA content of CPO was 35.27 ± 0.19%. On the other hand, saturated fatty acids (SFA) were more pronounced in CPO (38.44 ± 0.26%) than HPO (30.82 ± 0.55%). Based on nutrition indices, namely, atherogenicity index, thrombogenicity index, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic (h/H) ratio, and PUFA/SFA ratio, HPO possessed higher health benefit than CPO. The oxidation status of CPO and HPO measured in terms of peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, anisidine value, and conjugated dienes indicated that higher primary oxidation products were present in CPO, whereas HPO exhibited more secondary oxidation compounds. Fourier transform infrared spectra further substantiated the presence of oxidation products in CPO and HPO. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identification showed the enhanced levels of phospholipids and glycolipids in the ethanolic fraction of CPO. Overall, HPO with a higher yield was more beneficial in terms of health benefits than CPO.

Changes of Volatile Flavor Compounds in Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea) during Storage, as Evaluated by Headspace Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry and Principal Component Analysis

The large yellow croaker is one of the most economically important fish in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, and is well known for its high protein and fat contents, fresh and tender meat, and soft taste. However, the mechanisms involved in its flavor changes during storage have yet to be revealed, although lipid oxidation has been considered to be one important process in determining such changes. Thus, to explore the changes in the flavor of large yellow croaker fish meat during different storage periods, the main physical and chemical characteristics of the fish meat, including the acid value, peroxide value, p-anisidine value, conjugated diene value, and identities of the various flavor substances, were investigated and analyzed by multivariable methods, including headspace gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and principal component analysis (PCA). It was found that after 60 d storage, the types and contents of the aldehyde and ketone aroma components increased significantly, while after 120 d, the contents of ketones (2-butanone), alcohols (1-propanethiol), and aldehydes (n-nonanal) decreased significantly. More specifically, aldehyde components dominated over ketones and lipids, while the n-nonanal content showed a downward trend during storage, and the 3-methylbutanol (trimer), 3-methylbutanol (dimer, D), 3-pentanone (D), and 3-pentanone (monomer) contents increased, whereas these compounds were identified as the key components affecting the fish meat flavor. Furthermore, after 120 d storage, the number of different flavor components reached its highest value, thereby confirming that the storage time influences the flavor of large yellow croaker fish. In this context, it should be noted that many of these compounds form through the Maillard reaction to accelerate the deterioration of fish meat. It was also found that after storage for 120 d, the physical indices of large yellow croaker meat showed significant changes, and its physicochemical properties varied. These results therefore demonstrate that a combination of GC-IMS and PCA can be used to identify the differences in flavor components present in fish meat during storage. Our study provides useful knowledge for understanding the different flavors associated with fish meat products during and following storage.

Identification of novel antioxidant peptide from porcine plasma hydrolysate and its effect in in vitro digestion/HepG2 cells model

A novel antioxidant peptide EDEQKFWGK from porcine plasma hydrolysate (PPH) was separated by chromatography, HPLC, and identified by LC-MS/MS. Results showed that EDEQKFWGK had better antioxidant ability (Hydroxyl RAS 32.19%, ABTS RAS 92.93% and DPPH RAS 26.76%) compared with glutathione (30.11%, 82.01%, 26.44%) due to the presence of hydrophobic, aromatic acids (F, W) and acidic amino acids (E, D), decreasing ROS by providing hydrogen atom and chelating metal ions. Furthermore, the antioxidant properties of synthetic EDEQKFWGK still significant despite in vitro digestion because of the production of smaller active peptide. Additionally, it could increase SOD, CAT, GSH-Px to resist oxidative damage in HepG2 cells by inhibiting ROS (O₂ ^- , OH·), forming complexes to prevent OH· from destroying DNA and binding to ARE to promote antioxidase expression. Thereby, the novel peptide EDEQKFWGK from porcine plasma had much stable antioxidant properties and hade great potential in formulating functional foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This research isolated a novel antioxidant peptide. Moreover, the antioxidant effects of peptide were confirmed under the in vitro digestion model and oxidative damage HepG2 cells model. The results showed the antioxidant peptide could play better effect after digestion and protect the cells from oxidative damage. These data could expand the sequence data of antioxidant peptides and promote the high-value utilization of PPH.

Effect of sacral neuromodulation on bowel dysfunction in patients with neurogenic bladder

AIM

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical effect of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) on bowel dysfunction in patients with neurogenic bladder using the neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) score.

METHOD

Between July 2012 and July 2019, 41 patients with both neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction underwent permanent SNM implantation. The NBD score was used to evaluate the bowel symptoms before the testing phase and at follow-up. The first follow-up was at the time of discharge after permanent implantation. The second follow-up was conducted by telephone after discharge.

RESULTS

The mean NBD score before the testing phase was 11.0 ± 5.83, whilst it significantly decreased to 5.2 ± 5.32 (n = 41, P < 0.05) at the first follow-up (32 ± 3.9 days). Before the testing phase, there were 9 patients with very minor NBD, 10 with minor NBD, 13 with moderate NBD and 9 with severe NBD. At the first follow-up, there were 26 patients with very minor NBD, 7 with minor NBD, 4 with moderate NBD and 4 with severe NBD (P < 0.05). Twenty-six patients were interviewed in the long-term follow-up (34 ± 30.9 months). The NBD score in these 26 patients was 5.6 ± 5.18, which was not significantly different from the NBD score (5.5 ± 5.33) at the first follow-up (n = 26, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

SNM facilitates a significant reduction in NBD score in patients with neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction. The improvement in NBD symptoms can also be used as a future indicator to determine the clinical efficacy of permanent SNM implantation in the treatment of neurogenic bladder.

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics analysis reveals inhibitory mechanismsof the antimicrobial peptide MDAP-2 against Salmonella gallinarum

MDAP-2 is a new AMP with high inhibitory activity on Salmonella gallinarum, which may be developed as an antimicrobial agent in the agricultural industry and food preservation. To investigate the underlying the action mechanism of MDAP-2 on Salmonella gallinarum, impacts of MDAP-2 on the growth curve and bacterial morphology of Salmonella gallinarum were studied. iTRAQ-based proteomics analysis was also performed on proteins extracted from treated and untreated Salmonella gallinarum cells. The differentially expressed proteins were then analyzed using the KEGG and GO databases. Finally, the function of some differentially expressed proteins was verified. The results showed that 150 proteins (41 up-regulated and 109 down-regulated) were found differentially expressed (fold > 1.8, p⟨0.05). The results indi- cate that MDAP-2 kills Salmonella gallinarum mainly through two mechanisms: (i) direct inhibi- tion of cell wall/ membrane/ envelope biogenesis, energy production/ conversion, carbohydrate transport/ metabolism, and DNA transcription/ translation through regulation of special protein levels; (ii) indirect effects on the same pathway through the accumulation of Reactive oxygen species (O2 ▪-, H2O2 and OH▪-).

Ameliorating Effect of Pentadecapeptide Derived from Cyclina sinensis on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Nephrotoxicity

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a widely used anticancer drug with severe nephrotoxicity. The pentadecapeptide (RVAPEEHPVEGRYLV) from Cyclina sinensis (SCSP) has been shown to affect immunity and to protect the liver. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the ameliorating effect of SCSP on CTX-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. We injected male ICR mice with CTX (80 mg/kg·day) and measured the nephrotoxicity indices, levels of antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), inflammatory factors, as well as the major proteins of the NF-κB and apoptotic pathways. Cyclophosphamide induced kidney injury; the levels of kidney-injury indicators and cytokines recovered remarkably in mice after receiving SCSP. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) increased, while there was a significant decrease in MDA levels. The kidney tissue damage induced by CTX was also repaired to a certain extent. In addition, SCSP significantly inhibited inflammatory factors and apoptosis by regulating the NF-κB and apoptotic pathways. Our study shows that SCSP has the potential to ameliorate CTX-induced nephrotoxicity and may be used as a therapeutic adjuvant to ameliorate CTX-induced nephrotoxicity.

Salidroside Reduces Inflammation and Brain Injury After Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion in Rats by Regulating PI3K/PKB/Nrf2/NFκB Signaling Rather than Complement C3 Activity

Salidroside, an active constituent of Rhodiola rosea, is neuroprotective after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO). However, its effects in other experimental stroke models are less understood. Here, we investigated the effect of daily intraperitoneal injections of salidroside in rats after permanent MCAO (pMCAO). Cerebral infarct volumes at 1 day after pMCAO were significantly reduced by treatment with 100 mg/kg/day salidroside, but not by 25 or 50 mg/kg/day, and this benefit of salidroside increased significantly over at least 7 days of treatment, when it was also accompanied by decreased neurological deficit scores. These observations led us to investigate the underlying mechanism of action of salidroside. 100 mg/kg salidroside for 1 day increased NeuN, Nrf2, and its downstream mediator HO-1, while it reduced nuclear NFκB p50, IL-6, and TNFα. Brusatol, a Nrf2 inhibitor, blocked the actions of salidroside on Nrf2, NFκB p50, IL-6, and TNFα. Salidroside also increased the ratio of p-PKB/PKB at 1 day after pMCAO even in the presence of brusatol. LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, prevented all these effects of salidroside, including those on NeuN, p-PKB/PKB, Nrf2, HO-1, and pro-inflammatory mediators. In contrast, salidroside had no significant effect on the level of cerebral complement C3 after pMCAO, or on the activity of C3 as measured by the expression of cerebral Egr1. Our findings therefore suggest that salidroside reduces neuroinflammation and neural damage by regulating the PI3K/PKB/Nrf2/NFκB signaling pathway after pMCAO, and that this neuroprotective effect does not involve modulation of complement C3 activity.

The complete mitochondrial genome of ostorhinchus fleurieu (kurtiformes: Apogonidae) and phylogenetic studies of apogoninae

The complete mitochondrial genome of Ostorhinchus fleurieu was first determined, which was 16,521 bp in length, containing 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, a putative control region and one origin of replication on the light-strand. The overall base composition included C(29.2%), A(26.7%), T(26.7%) and G(17.4%). Moreover, the 13 PCGs encoded 3800 amino acids in total, twelve of which used the initiation codon ATG except for COI started with GTG. Most of them ended with complete stop codon, whereas three protein-coding genes (COII, ND4 and Cytb) used incomplete stop codon and represented as T. The phylogenetic tree based on the Neighbour Joining method was constructed to provide relationship within Apogoninae, which could be a useful basis for management of this species.

Biological characteristics of a new antibacterial peptide and its antibacterial mechanisms against Gram-negative bacteria

MDAP-2 is a new antibacterial peptide with a unique structure that was isolated from house- flies. However, its biological characteristics and antibacterial mechanisms against bacteria are still poorly understood. To study the biological characteristics, antibacterial activity, hemolytic activi- ty, cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, and the secondary structure of MDAP-2 were detected; the results showed that MDAP-2 displayed high antibacterial activity against all of the tested Gram-negative bacteria. MDAP-2 had lower hemolytic activity to rabbit red blood cells; only 3.4% hemolytic activity was observed at a concentration of 800μg/ml. MDAP-2 also had lower cytotoxicity to mammalian cells; IC50 values for HEK-293 cells, VERO cells, and IPEC-J2 cells were greater than 1000 μg/ml. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra showed that the peptide most- ly has α-helical properties and some β-fold structure in water and in membrane-like conditions. MDAP-2 is therefore a promising antibacterial agent against Gram-negative bacteria. To deter- mine the antibacterial mechanism(s) of action, fluorescent probes, flow cytometry, and transmis- sion electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the effects of MDAP-2 on membrane perme- ability, polarization ability, and integrity of Gram-negative bacteria. The results indicated that the peptide caused membrane depolarization, increased membrane permeability, and destroyed membrane integrity. In conclusion, MDAP-2 is a broad-spectrum, lower hemolytic activity, and lower cytotoxicity antibacterial peptide, which is mainly effective on Gram-negative bacteria. It exerts its antimicrobial effects by causing bacterial cytoplasm membrane depolarization, increas- ing cell membrane permeability and disturbing the membrane integrity of Gram-negative bacte- ria. MDAP-2 may offer a new strategy to for defense against Gram-negative bacteria.

A retrospective study of neurocombing for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia without neurovascular compression

BACKGROUND

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the most effective and non-ablative treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (TN). However, it is not possible when neurovascular compression (NVC) is absent. Neurocombing is a possible treatment option for TN patients without NVC.

AIM

To evaluate and describe the clinical outcome of neurocombing for the treatment of TN when NVC was absent.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of the 37 patients of Type 1 TN without NVC who underwent neurocombing in our department between January 2013 and November 2014. The Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) Pain Intensity scale, the numerical rating scale (NRS) and the quality of life scale (QOL) were evaluated in four stages-presurgical, immediate, at 1 and at 3 years. Pain recurrence was statistically evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

All the 37 enrolled patients were proved to have no NVC by imaging or exploration in surgery. The mean follow-up duration was 29.50 months. After the procedure, 35 patients (94.6%) experienced immediate pain relief (BNI I) and 2 patients (5.4%) had occasional pain without any medication (BNI II). At 1 year and 3 years, the rates of successful pain relief (BNI I&II) were 86.5 and 83.3%, respectively. 34 patients (91.9%) suffered from mild facial numbness, while it did not exert a harmful impact on their quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that neurocombing is an attractive, effective, safe and durable treatment option for TN when NVC is absent. Further study is needed to explain the complicated and exact mechanism of pain relief by neurocombing.

Litchi freshness rapid non-destructive evaluating method using electronic nose and non-linear dynamics stochastic resonance model

In this paper, litchi freshness rapid non-destructive evaluating method using electronic nose (e-nose) and non-linear stochastic resonance (SR) was proposed. EN responses to litchi samples were continuously detected for 6 d Principal component analysis (PCA) and non-linear stochastic resonance (SR) methods were utilized to analyze EN detection data. PCA method could not totally discriminate litchi samples, while SR signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) eigen spectrum successfully discriminated all litchi samples. Litchi freshness predictive model developed using SNR eigen values shows high predictive accuracy with regression coefficients R(2) = 0 .99396.

Study on non-linear bistable dynamics model based EEG signal discrimination analysis method

Electroencephalogram (EEG) is the recording of electrical activity along the scalp. EEG measures voltage fluctuations generating from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain. EEG signal is looked as one of the most important factors that will be focused in the next 20 years. In this paper, EEG signal discrimination based on non-linear bistable dynamical model was proposed. EEG signals were processed by non-linear bistable dynamical model, and features of EEG signals were characterized by coherence index. Experimental results showed that the proposed method could properly extract the features of different EEG signals.

E-nose based rapid prediction of early mouldy grain using probabilistic neural networks

In this paper, early mouldy grain rapid prediction method using probabilistic neural network (PNN) and electronic nose (e-nose) was studied. E-nose responses to rice, red bean, and oat samples with different qualities were measured and recorded. E-nose data was analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), back propagation (BP) network, and PNN, respectively. Results indicated that PCA and BP network could not clearly discriminate grain samples with different mouldy status and showed poor predicting accuracy. PNN showed satisfying discriminating abilities to grain samples with an accuracy of 93.75%. E-nose combined with PNN is effective for early mouldy grain prediction.

Effects of green tea or green tea extract on insulin sensitivity and glycaemic control in populations at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Although the regular consumption of green tea or green tea extract has been considered to improve insulin sensitivity, the reported results are inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of green tea or green tea extract on insulin sensitivity and glycaemic control in populations at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

Electronic databases, including PUBMED, The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Chinese Scientific Journals Fulltext Database, were systematically searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) up to December 2011, supplemented by the Clinicaltrials.gov websites and the reference lists of identified studies. Two reviewers independently selected trials, extracted data, and evaluated the methodological qualities and evidence levels.

RESULTS

Seven RCTs involving 510 participants were identified. There was no statistically significant difference between green tea or green tea extract group and placebo group with regard to fasting plasma glucose [standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.15 to 0.24], fasting serum insulin (SMD -0.09; 95% CI -0.30 to 0.11), 2-h plasma glucose in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT-2 h) (SMD -0.14; 95% CI -0.63 to 0.34), haemoglobin A₁c (SMD 0.10; 95% CI -0.13 to 0.33) and homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA(IR)) index (SMD -0.06; 95% CI -0.35 to 0.23) in participants at risk of T2DM.

CONCLUSIONS

The consumption of green tea did not decrease the levels of fasting plasma glucose, fasting serum insulin, OGTT-2 h glucose, haemoglobin A₁c and HOMA(IR) in populations at risk of T2DM. Larger, longer-term and high-quality RCTs are needed to further definitely determine the effect of green tea or green tea extract on insulin sensitivity and glycaemic control in populations at risk of T2DM.

Laparoscopic versus open surgery for rectal cancer: a clinical comparative study

OBJECTIVE

To compare short-term surgical outcomes and long-term survival following laparoscopic or open resection for rectal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 381 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery and 276 undergoing open surgery for curative resection of rectal cancer were included. Long-term survival and peri- and postoperative data were retrospectively reviewed from a prospectively-collected database.

RESULTS

Surgical groups were comparable regarding age, gender, tumour stage and preoperative comorbidities. Laparascopic surgery was associated with significantly longer duration of surgery, less intraoperative blood loss and fewer postoperative infections than open surgery. Patients who underwent laparoscopic resection had significantly earlier recovery of gastrointestinal function than those who underwent open surgery. There were no significant between-group differences in number of lymph nodes excised, specimen length or distal margin. The 3- and 5-year survival rates and overall survival were similar in the two groups, and survival was not influenced by tumour location.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery can achieve the same oncological results as open resection in patients with rectal cancer, supporting its continued use in the management of this disease.

Immunodiagnostic value of combined detection of autoantibodies to tumor-associated antigens as biomarkers in pancreatic cancer

Previous studies demonstrated that cancer sera contain antibodies, which react with a unique group of autologous cellular antigens called tumour-associated antigens (TAAs). This study determines whether a panel of TAAs would enhance antibody detection and be a useful approach in pancreatic cancer (PC) detection and diagnosis. The panel of TAAs was composed of six TAAs including p53, p16, p62, survivin, Koc and IMP1 full-length recombinant proteins. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect antibodies against these six TAAs in 23 sera from patients with PC and also 23 sera from normal individuals. Antibody frequency to any individual TAA in PC was variable and ranged from 14.7% to 30.4%. With the successive addition of TAAs to a final total of six antigens, there was a stepwise increase in positive antibody reactions reaching a sensitivity of 60.9% and a specificity of 87.0% in PC. Positive and negative likelihood ratio were 4.685 and 0.449, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were, respectively, 82.4% and 69.0%. Agreement rate and Kappa value were 73.9% and 0.478, respectively. The data from this study support our previous hypothesis that using a panel of appropriately selected TAAs can enhance autoantibody detection in immunodiagnosis of PC. In 15 PC sera with carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) negative, 6 (40%) were found to have anti-TAA (anti-tumour associated antigens) antibodies. When CA19-9 and anti-TAAs were used together as markers in PC detection, the diagnostic sensitivity could be raised from 60.9% to 69.6%. Anti-TAA and CA19-9 were independent markers, and the simultaneous use of these two markers could raise the sensitivity of PC detection.

Con A-binding protein Zn-α2-glycoprotein on human sperm membrane is related to acrosome reaction and sperm fertility

Fertilization, the recognition and fusion between spermatozoa and oocyte, involves various molecules on the spermatozoa and oocyte membranes. Concanavalin A (ConA)-binding proteins may be one of the molecules involved in mammal spermatozoa fertilization; however, their structure and function remain largely unknown. Here, we initially identified a ConA-binding protein, Zn-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG), involved in regulating the acrosome reaction (AR) of human spermatozoa. ZAG is localized on the pre-equatorial region covering the acrosome, neck and tail (some parts of middle piece and principal piece respectively) regions of the acrosome intact human spermatozoa, and disappears in the acrosomal region of the acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. Polyclonal antibodies against human recombinant ZAG significantly reduced the AR and sperm capability binding to human zona pellucida or penetration into zona-free hamster oocytes. Furthermore, assessment of the signaling pathways regulated by ZAG revealed that ZAG affects sperm AR through both the cAMP/PKA and PKC pathways. These results indicate that ZAG, which is present on the human sperm membrane, plays a critical role in the AR and subsequently, may be involved in sperm fertility.

Association between Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and Components of Metabolic Syndrome in Young Chinese Men

BACKGROUND

To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in young Chinese population and assess the association between HOMA-IR and different components of MetS in young Chinese men.

METHODS

Overall 5576 young Chinese subjects (age range [19-44 yr], 3636 men) were enrolled in, who visited our Health Care Center for a related health checkup from March to December 2008. The international diabetes federation (IDF) definition for MetS was used. The SPSS statistical package, version 11.5 was used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MetS was 21.81% in young men and 5.62% in young women. According to suffering from different numbers of MetS components, the male subjects were divided into four groups. Numbers of MetS components were more and HOMA-IR values were significantly higher. In this male population, the quartile of HOMA-IR was higher, values of triglyceride (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FBG), systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP) and waist circumference (WC) were all significantly higher, as well as high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) value was significantly lower (P= 0.000). In Spearman's correlation analysis, HOMA-IR was positively correlated with TG, FBG, SBP, DBP and WC, and negatively correlated with HDL-C (r= 0.460, 0.464, 0.362, 0.346, 0.586, -0.357, respectively, all P value= 0.000).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of MetS in these young Chinese men was obviously high. Insulin resistance played an important role in occurrence and development of MetS. Waist circumference was the best correlation with HOMA-IR among all components of MetS.

Abstract P5-13-06: Survival Benefit of Bisphophonates in Early Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Objectives: Bone is one of the most common metastatic sites of breast cancer. Recent date from randomized clinical studies suggested that the use of bisphophonates affect bone metastasis and survival in early breast cancer patients. Results from some of these trials are encouraging but somewhat contradictory. We conducted a meta analyses to assess the effect of bisphosphonates on bone metastasis and survival in primary breast cancer patients.

Methods: Trials were retrieved by searching the PubMed database, Cochrane Library and major cancer scientific conferences up to January 2010. All tirals randomized patients to receive any bisphosphonate versus non-use or placebo. Hazard ratios (HR) and its 95% CIs for bone metastasis free survival and overall survival were estimated.

Results: 8 eligible trials including 6132 patients entered the analysis. 3049 patients were treated with bisphosphonates and 3083 received either placebo or no treatment. Compared with no use, bisphophonates in the adjuvant setting improved the overall survival (HR=0.808; 95%CI 0.708-0.923; P = 0.022). However, the reduction of bone metastasis was failure to be seen (HR = 1.011; 95% CI 0.996-1.027; P = 0.667). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis provides additional evidence that adjuvant breast cancer treastment with bisphosphonates brought a survival benefit. However, the result should be carefully interpreted for that the statistical significance was not consistent in the bone benefit. Results of new clinical trials were awaited.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-13-06.