Effects of physical activity and stress on the relationship between social capital and quality of life among breast cancer survivors.

This study aims to investigate the serial multiple mediation of physical activity and perceived stress in the relationship between individual social capital and quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer survivors (BCSs). This study was conducted among 520 BCSs between March and April 2017 in Shanghai, China. Data were collected using the Individual Social Capital Scale, the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II, the Perceived Stress Scale-14 and the EORTC QLQ-C30. Ordinary least-squares regression and the bootstrap method was used to test the significance of the serial multiple mediation model. The serial-multiple mediations of physical activity and perceived stress were found significant in the relationship of QOL with all five dimensions of individual social capital. The separate mediations of two single mediating variables were found significant in the relationship of QOL with control over life and feeling about the community. In the relationship of QOL with social participation, social network and social support, the separate mediation of physical activity was significant, while the separate mediation of perceived stress was not significant. A multidisciplinary team approach and a variety of delivery systems are needed to address the social, physical and psychological issues for improving QOL among BCSs.

S100A4 Gene is Crucial for Methionine-Choline-Deficient Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Mice.

PURPOSE: To explore the influence of S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4) knockout (KO) on methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: S100A4 KO mice (n=20) and their wild-type (WT) counterparts (n=20) were randomly divided into KO/MCD, Ko/methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS), WT/MCD, and WT/MCS groups. After 8 weeks of feeding, blood lipid and liver function-related indexes were measured. HE, Oil Red O, and Masson stainings were used to observe the changes of liver histopathology. Additionally, expressions of S100A4 and proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, while hepatocyte apoptosis was revealed by TUNEL staining. RESULTS: Serum levels of aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in mice were increased after 8-week MCD feeding, and hepatocytes performed varying balloon-like changes with increased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fibers; however, these effects were improved in mice of KO/MCD group. Meanwhile, total NAFLD activity scores and fibrosis were lower compared to WT+MCD group. Compared to WT/MCS group, S100A4 expression in liver tissue of WT/MCD group was enhanced. The expression of proinflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6) and profibrogenic cytokines (TGF-ß1, COL1A1, α-SMA) in MCD-induced NAFLD mice were increased, as well as apoptotic index (AI). For MCD group, the expressions of proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines and AI in KO mice were lower than those of WT mice. CONCLUSION: S100A4 was detected to be upregulated in NAFLD, while S100A4 KO alleviated liver fibrosis and inflammation, in addition to inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.

Effect of Bmi-1-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway on the stem-like properties of CD133+ human liver cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of Bmi-1-mediated NF-κB pathway on the biological characteristics of CD133+ liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs). METHODS: Flow cytometry was used to isolate CD133+ LCSC cells from Huh7, Hep3B, SK-hep1, and PLC/PRF-5 cells. CD133+ Huh7 cells were divided into Control, Blank, Bmi-1 siRNA, JSH-23 (NF-κB pathway inhibitor), and Bmi-1 + JSH-23 groups. The properties of CD133+ Huh7 cells were detected by the colony-formation and sphere-forming assays. Besides, Transwell assay was applied for the measurement of cell invasion and migration, immunofluorescence staining for the detection of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation, and qRT-PCR and Western blotting for the determination of SOX2, NANOG, OCT4, Bmi-1, and NF-κB p65 expression. RESULTS: CD133+ Huh-7 cells were chosen as the experiment subjects after flow cytometry. Compared with CD133- Huh-7 cells, the expression of CD133, OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, Bmi-1, and NF-κB p65, the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65, the number of cell colonies and Sphere formation, as well as the abilities of invasion and migration were observed to be increased in CD133+ Huh-7 cells, which was inhibited after treated with Bmi-1 siRNA or JSH-23, meanwhile, the cell cycle was arrested at the G0/G1 and S phases with apparently enhanced cell apoptosis. Importantly, no significant differences in the biological characteristics of CD133 + Huh-7 cells were found between the Blank group and Bmi-1 + JSH-23 group. CONCLUSION: Down-regulating Bmi-1 may inhibit the biological properties of CD133+ LCSC by blocking NF-κB signaling pathway, which lays a scientific foundation for the clinical treatment of liver cancer.

Flavor compounds and sensory profiles of a novel Chinese marinated chicken.

BACKGROUND: Marinating is a Chinese traditional meat-processing method using aged brine that brings popular flavor together with food safety issues. In this study a novel method named quantitative marinating (QM) was developed to improve Chinese traditional marinating (TM). Flavor compounds and sensory profiles of two marinated products were determined to verify if the improved marinating method could maintain the characteristic flavors of TM. RESULTS: Fifty-four, 60, 60, 60 and 44 volatile flavor compounds were identified from four processing stages of QM and TM respectively. Contents of taste compounds first increased and then decreased in the processing stages of QM. The total free amino acid contents of QM and TM products were 789 and 536 mg per 100 g respectively. The total nucleotide content of QM product (22.21 mg per 100 g) was higher than that of TM (20.75 mg per 100 g), while the fatty acid content of QM product (26.66 mg g(-1)) was lower than that of TM (44.43 mg g(-1)). Finally, QM received higher sensory scores than TM. CONCLUSION: Volatile flavor compounds, taste compounds and sensory properties of QM were richer than those of TM, indicating that QM can not only maintain the original aroma of TM but also have advantages in taste compounds.

Development of a novel method for hot-pressure extraction of protein from chicken bone and the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis on the extracts.

To investigate the hot-pressure extraction of protein from chicken bone (CB), chicken bone extracts (CBE) was prepared from CB by heating at 130±0.5 °C for 120 min, followed by filtration, standing, defatting, and concentration. Effects of enzymatic hydrolysis on the properties of hydrolysates were examined. Results showed CBE contained 25.59% of protein, and showed a desirable value of protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score for adult. The total amino acid (AA) content of CBE is 21.99%, among which 40.62% and 54.66% are essential and fresh AA, respectively. Forty kinds of volatile compounds were identified after 24 h of hydrolysis, with 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine as the key flavor compound. After 8 h of hydrolysis of CBE, the content of small MW of peptides (400-1000 Da) increased by 74 times compared with that of 1 h. CBE and its hydrolysates demonstrate a new kind of potential suitable nutritional supplement in various foods.

[Study on the relationship between air temperature and daily mortality in Minhang district, Shanghai].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between air temperature and mortality in Minhang district, Shanghai. METHODS: Generalized additive model (GAM) to analyze time series was used. After controlling for medium-term and long-term trends,date in the week,situation of air pollution etc., this study estimated the association in virtue of quadratic curve and differential coefficient principle. RESULTS: The study was able to estimate an optimum temperature range (11.67 degrees C-20.71degrees C) by relative risk and 95% confidence interval of deaths with air temperature variation. The mortality in Minhang district, Shanghai increased along with the fluctuation of temperature deviating from this range. CONCLUSION: The findings from our study indicated that the current air temperature had an acute effect on mortality in Minhang district, Shanghai.