Development of dual-channel starch-based film incorporated with betanin@ß-cyclodextrin inclusion complex and berberine for indicating shrimp freshness.

In this study, the ß-cyclodextrin encapsulated betanin (BET@ß-CD) with improved thermal stability and retention as well as the berberine (BBR) with aggregate induced luminescence effect were incorporated into corn amylose (CA) biomatrix to develop colorimetric/fluorescent dual-channel smart film. Results shown that the added functional components were uniformly distributed in the film matrix. The high tensile strength (78.87%), low water solubility (31.15%) and water vapor permeability (1.24 × 10-10 g Pa-1 s-1 m-1) of the film predicted its acceptable stability. It was worth mentioning that the film displayed excellent responsiveness to volatile ammonia (0.025-25 mg/mL) with at least 4 times recyclability. Application experiment demonstrated that the film can achieve macroscopic dynamic monitoring of the freshness of shrimps stored at 25 °C, 4 °C, -20 °C under daylight (red to yellow) and UV light (yellow-green to blue-green). Thus, the study suggests an attractive and effective strategy for constructing dual-mode smart packaging materials for food freshness detection.

MR-based radiomics predictive modelling of EGFR mutation and HER2 overexpression in metastatic brain adenocarcinoma: a two-centre study.

OBJECTIVES: Magnetic resonance (MR)-based radiomics features of brain metastases are utilised to predict epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression in adenocarcinoma, with the aim to identify the most predictive MR sequence. METHODS: A retrospective inclusion of 268 individuals with brain metastases from adenocarcinoma across two institutions was conducted. Utilising T1-weighted imaging (T1 contrast-enhanced [T1-CE]) and T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2-FLAIR) sequences, 1,409 radiomics features were extracted. These sequences were randomly divided into training and test sets at a 7:3 ratio. The selection of relevant features was done using the least absolute shrinkage selection operator, and the training cohort's support vector classifier model was employed to generate the predictive model. The performance of the radiomics features was evaluated using a separate test set. RESULTS: For contrast-enhanced T1-CE cohorts, the radiomics features based on 19 selected characteristics exhibited excellent discrimination. No significant differences in age, sex, and time to metastasis were observed between the groups with EGFR mutations or HER2 + and those with wild-type EGFR or HER2 (p > 0.05). Radiomics feature analysis for T1-CE revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98, classification accuracy of 0.93, sensitivity of 0.92, and specificity of 0.93 in the training cohort. In the test set, the AUC was 0.82. The 19 radiomics features for the T2-FLAIR sequence showed AUCs of 0.86 in the training set and 0.70 in the test set. CONCLUSIONS: This study developed a T1-CE signature that could serve as a non-invasive adjunctive tool to determine the presence of EGFR mutations and HER2 + status in adenocarcinoma, aiding in the direction of treatment plans. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: We propose radiomics features based on T1-CE brain MR sequences that are both evidence-based and non-invasive. These can be employed to guide clinical treatment planning in patients with brain metastases from adenocarcinoma.

Magnetic resonance imaging features and classification of intraspinal echinococcosis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and classification of echinococcosis of the spinal canal. Methods: The clinical manifestations and MRI findings and classification of 19 patients diagnosed with intraspinal echinococcosis over 10 years (2011-2020) were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The mean age of the nine males and 10 females was 39 years (range 28-65 years). Among these, the number of cases with thoracic, lumbar, sacral, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral, cervical, and lumbar segments was nine (47 %), five (26 %), one (5 %), one (5 %), two (11 %), and one (5 %) cases, respectively. Furthermore, 13 cases (69 %) involved adjacent vertebral bodies, accessories, and surrounding soft tissues. The lesion was confined to the intramedullary, extramedullary subdural, extramedullary epidural, and multiple spaces in one (Type I) (5 %), four (Type II) (21 %), one (Type III) (5 %), and thirteen (69 %) cases, respectively. Moreover, nine cases (47 %) had a history of hydatid disease in the spine or other tissues. The clinical manifestations were chest and lumbosacral pain in 18 cases (95 %) and chest and lumbosacral pain accompanied by lower limb dysfunction in four cases (21 %). The MRI revealed different sizes of T1WI low-signal and T2WI high-signal vesicles with a "grape-like" appearance, with 16 cases (84 %) showing low signals on the edge of the cyst wall. Conclusion: Intraspinal echinococcosis is rare, even in endemic areas. However, intraspinal echinococcosis should be considered when there is a history of echinococcosis in other sites or when there are clear MRI characteristics for the disease.

A novel dual-channel cassava starch/polyvinyl alcohol-based film for visual monitoring of shrimp freshness.

In this study, the polyvinylpyrrolidone-alizarin nanoparticles (PVP-AZ NPs) with favorable water dispersion and the carbon quantum dots (RQDs) with aggregate induced emission effect were synthesized to construct an eco-friendly film for food freshness monitoring. The introduction of PVP-AZ NPs and RQDs enhanced the network structure and thermal stability of the cassava starch/polyvinyl alcohol film, and reduced its crystallinity and light transmittance via non-covalent binding with the film-forming matrix. The developed film exhibited visually recognizable colorimetric and fluorescent responses to ammonia at 0.025-25 mg/mL, and it can be reused at least 6 times. Practical application experiment proved that the film, as an indicator label, can achieve accurate, real-time, and visual dynamic monitoring of the freshness of shrimp stored at 25 °C, 4 °C, and - 20 °C under daylight (orange yellow to purple) and UV light (red to blue). The integration of multivariate detection technology can eliminate the interference of external factors by self-correction to improve sensitivity and reliability, which provides a reference for the development of other food quality and safety monitoring platforms.

Total cucurbitacins from Herpetospermum pedunculosum pericarp do better than Hu-lu-su-pian (HLSP) in its safety and hepatoprotective efficacy.

The pericarp of Herpetospermum pedunculosum (HPP) has traditionally been used for treating jaundice and hepatitis. However, the specific hepatoprotective components and their safety/efficacy profiles remain unclear. This study aimed to characterize the total cucurbitacins (TCs) extracted from HPP and evaluate their hepatoprotective potential. As a reference, Hu-lu-su-pian (HLSP), a known hepatoprotective drug containing cucurbitacins, was used for comparison of chemical composition, effects, and safety. Molecular networking based on UHPLC-MS/MS identified cucurbitacin B, isocucurbitacin B, and cucurbitacin E as the major components in TCs, comprising 70.3%, 26.1%, and 3.6% as determined by RP-HPLC, respectively. TCs treatment significantly reversed CCl4-induced metabolic changes associated with liver damage in a dose-dependent manner, impacting pathways including energy metabolism, oxidative stress and phenylalanine metabolism, and showed superior efficacy to HLSP. Safety evaluation also showed that TCs were safe, with higher LD50 and no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) values than HLSP. The median lethal dose (LD50) and NOAEL values of TCs were 36.21 and 15 mg/kg body weight (BW), respectively, while the LD50 of HLSP was 14 mg/kg BW. In summary, TCs extracted from HPP demonstrated promising potential as a natural hepatoprotective agent, warranting further investigation into synergistic effects of individual cucurbitacin components.

Fluorescent responsive membrane based on terbium coordination polymer and carbon dots with AIE effect for rapid and visual detection of fluoroquinolone.

In this study, based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect and antenna effect, a novel portable fluorescent responsive membrane was constructed with red carbon dots (R-CDs) as reference signal and terbium coordination polymer (Tb-AMP CPs) as response signal for visual, instrument-free, and sensitive detection of fluoroquinolones (FQs). Specifically, the fluorescent responsive membrane (R-T membrane) was prepared by physically depositing R-CDs with AIE property and Tb-AMP CPs on the surface of polyvinylidene fluoride filter membranes at ambient temperature. In the presence of FQs, Tb3+ in the Tb-AMP CPs of the prepared membrane coordinated with the ß-diketone structure of FQs, which turned on the yellow-green fluorescence through the "antenna effect". As the concentration of FQs increased, the R-T membrane achieved a fluorescent color transition from bright pink to yellow-green. Its visual detection sensitivity for three FQs, including ciprofloxacin, difloxacin, and enrofloxacin, was 0.01 µM, and the detection limits were 7.4 nM, 7.8 nM, and 9.2 nM, respectively, by analyzing the color parameter green. In the residue analysis of FQs in real samples, the constructed membrane also exhibited remarkable anti-interference and reliability, which is of great significance for ensuring the safety of animal-derived food.

Mn-modified porphyrin metal-organic framework mediated colorimetric and photothermal dual-channel probe for sensitive detection of organophosphorus pesticides.

Herein, a novel dual-mode probe for organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) colorimetric and photothermal detection was developed based on manganese modified porphyrin metal-organic framework (PCN-224-Mn). PCN-224-Mn had excellent oxidase-like activity and oxidized colorless 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to blue-green oxidation state TMB (oxTMB), which exhibited high temperature under near-infrared irradiation. l-ascorbate-2-phosphate was hydrolyzed by acid phosphatase to produce ascorbic acid, which weakened colorimetric and photothermal signals by impacting oxTMB generation. The presence of OPs blocked the production of ascorbic acid by irreversibly inhibiting the activity of acid phosphatase, causing the restoration of chromogenic reaction and the increase of temperature. Under the optimal conditions, the probe showed a good linear response to OPs in the concentration range of 5 âˆ¼ 10000 ng/mL, using glyphosate as the analog. The detection limits of glyphosate in colorimetric mode and photothermal mode were 1.47 ng/mL and 2.00 ng/mL, respectively. The probe was successfully used for sensitive identification of OPs residues in tea, brown rice, and wheat flour. This work proposes a simple and reliable colorimetric/photothermal platform for OPs identification, which overcomes the problem that single-mode detection probes are susceptible to external factors, and has broad application potential in the field of food safety.

4-octyl itaconate protects against oxidative stress-induced liver injury by activating the Nrf2/Sirt3 pathway through AKT and ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) is a cell-permeable itaconate derivative with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, its therapeutic potential for oxidative stress-induced liver injury remains unknown. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects and mechanisms of 4-OI against oxidative damage in in vitro and in vivo models. 4-OI attenuated H2O2-induced cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in L02 and HepG2 cells. Untargeted metabolomics profiling and pathway analysis identified the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK pathways as key regulators of 4-OI's protective effects. Specifically, 4-OI induced phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2, leading to activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Nrf2 upregulated expression of the mitochondrial deacetylase Sirt3, which subsequently alleviated H2O2-induced cell injury. In mice, 4-OI reduced acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury as evidenced by attenuated hepatocellular necrosis and decreased serum liver enzymes. It also elevated hepatic expression of Nrf2, Sirt3, p-AKT and p-ERK1/2. Inhibition of AKT, ERK1/2 or Nrf2 blocked the protective effects of 4-OI in vitro, suggesting its antioxidant activity is mediated by activating the Nrf2/Sirt3 pathway via AKT and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In summary, 4-OI exerted antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects by activating the Nrf2/Sirt3 signaling pathway through AKT and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which were elucidated using in vitro and in vivo oxidative stress models. This provides novel insights into the mechanisms of 4-OI against oxidative stress-related liver diseases.

Assembly and comparative analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

BACKGROUND: Trigonella foenum-graecum L. is a Leguminosae plant, and the stems, leaves, and seeds of this plant are rich in chemical components that are of high research value. The chloroplast (cp) genome of T. foenum-graecum has been reported, but the mitochondrial (mt) genome remains unexplored. RESULTS: In this study, we used second- and third-generation sequencing methods, which have the dual advantage of combining high accuracy and longer read length. The results showed that the mt genome of T. foenum-graecum was 345,604 bp in length and 45.28% in GC content. There were 59 genes, including: 33 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 21 tRNA genes, 4 rRNA genes and 1 pseudo gene. Among them, 11 genes contained introns. The mt genome codons of T. foenum-graecum had a significant A/T preference. A total of 202 dispersed repetitive sequences, 96 simple repetitive sequences (SSRs) and 19 tandem repetitive sequences were detected. Nucleotide diversity (Pi) analysis counted the variation in each gene, with atp6 being the most notable. Both synteny and phylogenetic analyses showed close genetic relationship among Trifolium pratense, Trifolium meduseum, Trifolium grandiflorum, Trifolium aureum, Medicago truncatula and T. foenum-graecum. Notably, in the phylogenetic tree, Medicago truncatula demonstrated the highest level of genetic relatedness to T. foenum-graecum, with a strong support value of 100%. The interspecies non-synonymous substitutions (Ka)/synonymous substitutions (Ks) results showed that 23 PCGs had Ka/Ks < 1, indicating that these genes would continue to evolve under purifying selection pressure. In addition, setting the similarity at 70%, 23 homologous sequences were found in the mt genome of T. foenum-graecum. CONCLUSIONS: This study explores the mt genome sequence information of T. foenum-graecum and complements our knowledge of the phylogenetic diversity of Leguminosae plants.

Clinical Application of Dark-blood Imaging in Head and Neck CT Angiography: Effect on Image Quality and Plaque Visibility.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the potential of a newly developed dark-blood imaging technique to improve image quality and plaque visibility in head and neck computed tomography (CT) angiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent triphasic head and neck CT angiography scans from August 2021 to March 2023 were retrospectively enrolled (mean age 67.23 ± 10.81 [SD] years, range 43-85 years, 64.7% male). The CT protocol consists of pre-contrast, arterial and delayed phases. Dark-blood images were postprocessed with the contrast-enhancement boost (CE-boost) technique. The quantitative assessment involved evaluating the CT value, image noise, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of calcified plaque and non-calcified plaque. The plaque CNR relative to the vessel lumen (CNRplaque-lumen), vessel wall (CNRplaque-wall), and adjacent muscle (CNRplaque-muscle) was respectively calculated. Two experienced radiologists independently evaluated the CT images (5, best; 1, worst) by four characteristics including calcified plaque visibility, non-calcified plaque visibility, diagnostic confidence, and overall image quality. Inter-rater variability was also evaluated. The artery stenosis rate and plaque burden on dark-blood images were measured and compared with arterial phases. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used for consistency analysis. The diagnostic accuracy of dark-blood images for the stenosis rate was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 43 patients with 54 calcified plaques and 34 non-calcified plaques were assessed in this study. When compared with pre-contrast and delayed phase, dark-blood images yielded significantly higher CNRplaque-lumen and CNRplaque-muscle of calcified (219.79 ± 159.20 and 181.23 ± 112.12, respectively) and non-calcified (30.30 ± 29.11 and 6.28 ± 4.75, respectively) plaques (all p < 0.001). Calcified plaque SNR of dark-blood showed equal or slightly lower than other phases (p > 0.05 or p = 0.02). A major increase was observed in the non-calcified plaque SNR of dark-blood compared to the arterial phase (5.56 ± 3.71 vs. 4.23 ± 3.56, p = 0.02), although there were no apparent differences compared to pre-contrast and delayed phases (p > 0.05). In subjective analyzes, the calcified plaque visibility (4.99 ± 0.07), non-calcified plaque visibility (4.62 ± 0.48), overall image quality (4.81 ± 0.34), and diagnostic confidence (4.74 ± 0.36) in dark-blood images dominated the highest scores (p < 0.001). The subjective scores of radiologists exhibited good consistency (all kappa value>0.7). The dark-blood image and the arterial phase image exhibited good consistency in identifying the stenosis rate (p < 0.001). In the evaluation of plaque burden, the interobserver agreement for dark-blood images was higher compared to arterial phase images (ICC = 0.870 vs. 0.729). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to conventional triphasic head and neck CT angiography, the CE-boost derived dark-blood imaging demonstrated a significant improvement in image quality and visibility for both calcified and non-calcified plaque assessment.

Study on the acute toxicity of trichlorfon and its breakdown product dichlorvos to goldfish (Carassius auratus) based on 1H NMR metabonomics.

Trichlorfon, one of the most widely used organophosphate insecticides, is commonly employed in aquaculture and agriculture to combat parasitic infestations. However, its inherent instability leads to rapid decomposition into dichlorvos (DDVP), increasing its toxicity by eightfold. Therefore, the environmental effects of trichlorfon in real-world scenarios involve the combined effects of trichlorfon and its degradation product, DDVP. In this study, we systematically investigated the degradation of trichlorfon in tap water over time using HPLC and LC-MS/MS analysis. Subsequently, an experiment was conducted to assess the acute toxicity of trichlorfon and DDVP on goldfish (Carassius auratus), employing a 1H NMR-based metabolic approach in conjunction with serum biochemistry, histopathological inspection, and correlation network analysis. Exposure to trichlorfon and its degradation product DDVP leads to increased lipid peroxidation, reduced antioxidant activity, and severe hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in goldfish. Based on the observed pathological changes and metabolite alterations, short-term exposure to trichlorfon significantly affected the liver and kidney functions of goldfish, while exerting minimal influence on the brain, potentially due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier. The changes in the metabolic profile indicated that trichlorfon and DDVP influenced several pathways, including oxidative stress, protein synthesis, energy metabolism, and nucleic acid metabolism. This study demonstrated the applicability and potential of 1H NMR-based metabonomics in pesticide environmental risk assessment, providing a feasible method for the comprehensive study of pesticide toxicity in water environments.

Hepialiamides A-C: Aminated Fusaric Acid Derivatives and Related Metabolites with Anti-Inflammatory Activity from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Samsoniella hepiali W7.

A systematic investigation combined with a Global Natural Products Social (GNPS) molecular networking approach, was conducted on the metabolites of the deep-sea-derived fungus Samsoniella hepiali W7, leading to the isolation of three new fusaric acid derivatives, hepialiamides A-C (1-3) and one novel hybrid polyketide hepialide (4), together with 18 known miscellaneous compounds (5-22). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated through detailed spectroscopic analysis. as well as TD-DFT-based ECD calculation. All isolates were tested for anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. Under a concentration of 1 µM, compounds 8, 11, 13, 21, and 22 showed potent inhibitory activity against nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated BV-2 microglia cells, with inhibition rates of 34.2%, 30.7%, 32.9%, 38.6%, and 58.2%, respectively. Of particularly note is compound 22, which exhibited the most remarkable inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 426.2 nM.

Significance of LINC02082 and LOC105369812 in differentiating papillary thyroid cancer from benign nodules.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the significance of LINC02082 and LOC105369812 in the differential diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and benign nodules. METHODS: Cancer tissues and benign nodules from 8 patients were sequenced and constructed using high-throughput sequencing. Differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) with significant differences were screened. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed on the mRNAs co-expressed by DEmRNAs and DElncRNAs. LncRNAs with significant differences, good consistency, and enrichment in the PI3K-AKt signaling pathway were selected as candidate lncRNAs, and the target lncRNAs were screened by correlation analysis. Target lncRNAs and co-expressed mRNAs enriched in the PI3K-AKt signaling pathway and microRNAs (miRNAs) interacting with each other were used to construct a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. Finally, the PTC-related gene set (GSE33630) was downloaded from the GEO database and the expression of the genes obtained by sequencing was compared. Differential expression was verified using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Finally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of the target lncRNAs in diagnosis, when used alone or in combination. RESULTS: A total of 1113 differential RNAs (DE RNAs) were identified, of which 338 were DElncRNAs and 775 were DEmRNAs. Three lncRNAs enriched in the PI3K-AKt signaling pathway, LINC02082, LOC105369812, and LOC105375170, were used as candidate lncRNAs. After correlation analysis with known biomarkers, LINC02082 and LOC105369812 were selected as the target lncRNAs. The qRT-PCR results showed that the target lncRNAs were significantly different among the 3 tissues. The ROC curve showed that LOC105369812 could be used to differentiate PTC from benign thyroid nodules, whereas LINC02082 and its combination had lower predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: LOC105369812 is valuable for differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules, whereas LINC02082 has lower diagnostic value.

Maintaining immune homeostasis with Coptis Chinensis water extract to mitigate sepsis severity via modulating gut microbiome and metabolism.

Sepsis arises from an uncontrolled inflammatory response to infection that can lead to organ failure. The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a key modulator of sepsis progression. This study investigated whether Coptis chinensis water extract (CCWE) could attenuate sepsis by modulating the gut microbiome and immune response. A rat model of sepsis induced by cecum ligation and perforation was used. 16 S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) sequencing, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) metabolomics and flow cytometry assays were used to evaluate microbial, metabolic and immune profiles. CCWE treatment reversed sepsis-induced loss of beneficial bacteria like Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes and restored gut microbial balance. CCWE increased short-chain fatty acids, carnitine and phenylacetate, which provide energy and curb inflammation. By enhancing immune homeostasis and maintaining regulatory T cells (Tregs), CCWE treatment also exerted bidirectional regulation on T cells for initially suppressing hyperactivation then enabling recovery. Overall, CCWE may benefit sepsis by regulating the gut-microbiome-immune axis. By restoring microbiome balance, improving metabolism, and modulating immunity, CCWE treatment shows potential for alleviating sepsis severity and progression. The increases in beneficial bacteria, Tregs, and anti-inflammatory metabolites coupled with decreases in opportunistic pathogens likely contributed collectively to CCWE's protective effects. CCWE may emerge as an alternative or adjunctive option for managing disorders of dangerous inflammation like sepsis. Future research should explore CCWE's mechanisms of action clinically to determine its potential as a safe, effective means of modulating health through natural regulation of the gut microbiome and immune function.

MiR-191-5p inhibits KLF6 to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) exert certain functions in the development of several cancers and can be a potential hallmark for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. MiR-191-5p has been proven to have high expression in breast cancer (BC), while its biological role and potential regulatory mechanisms in BC remain an open issue. OBJECTIVE: Bioinformatics was utilized to assay miR-191-5p level in BC tissues and predict its downstream target gene as well as the enriched signaling pathways of the target gene. METHODS: qRT-PCR was carried out to assay miR-191-5p and KLF6 levels in BC cells as well as miR-191-5p level in blood-derived exosomes from BC patients. Western blot was to examine the expression of proteins linked with cell adhesion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and exosome markers. A dual luciferase reporter assay was utilized to verify the interaction between miR-191-5p and KLF6. Abilities of cell phenotypes of BC cells were detected by CCK8, Transwell, and cell adhesion assay, separately. RESULTS: Upregulated miR-191-5p expression and downregulated KLF6 expression were observed in BC cells. There was a targeting relationship between miR-191-5p and KLF6. MiR-191-5p negatively regulated KLF6 to promote EMT and malignant progression of BC cells. Additionally, we described a dramatically high level of miR-191-5p in the blood exosomes of BC patients. CONCLUSION: MiR-191-5p advances the EMT of BC by targeting KLF6, indicating that miR-191-5p and KLF6 may be new biomarkers for BC.

Therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of Gastrodia elata polysaccharides on dextran sulfate sodium-induced inflammatory bowel disease in mice: Modulation of the gut microbiota and improvement of metabolic disorders.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal disease, and an imbalance in the gut microbiota is a critical factor in its development. Gastrodia elata (G. elata), an Orchidaceae plant, is recognized for its nutritional and medicinal value. Studies have shown that G. elata polysaccharides (GBP) have anti-inflammatory properties that may ameliorate IBD. However, the therapeutic effects of GBP on gut microbiota metabolism remain unknown. Therefore, we aimed to examine the therapeutic potential of G. elata extract and GBP in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD mice. GBP demonstrated the best therapeutic effect by reducing IBD symptoms in mice to the greatest extent. Administering GBP resulted in significant increases in the relative abundances of bacteria with potential anti-inflammatory effects, such as Ligilactobacillus and Alloprevotella, and decreases in the levels of bacteria associated with proinflammatory responses, such as Bacteroides and Escherichia-Shigella. Furthermore, 36 significant differential metabolites between the model and GBP groups were identified in feces, which were mainly enriched in amino acid metabolism, including tryptophan and cysteine, vitamin B6 metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Consequently, investigating the metabolic regulation of the gut microbiota is a promising approach to evaluate the therapeutic effect of GBP on IBD.

Enzyme-mediated Ru@UiO-66@MnO2 NSs/thiamine-based ratiometric fluorescence sensor for visual detection of organophosphorus pesticide residues.

In view of the potential hazards of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs), this paper constructed a ratiometric fluorescent probe utilizing a functionalized metal-organic framework to detect OPs. Ru(bpy)3Cl2 was encapsulated inside UiO-66 as a reference signal, and MnO2 nanosheets (MnO2 NSs) were grown on the surface to obtain Ru@UiO-66@MnO2 NSs. Acetylcholinesterase catalyzed the decomposition of acetylcholine into reductive thiocholine, which consumed MnO2 NSs, thus restoring the Ru@UiO-66 fluorescence. Due to the enzymatic inhibition of OPs and the redox reaction between MnO2 NSs and thiamine, this probe emitted blue fluorescence in the presence of OPs. The probe achieved linear responses to dichlorvos and chlorpyrifos with LODs of 9.99 × 10-6 µg mL-1 and 9.99 × 10-5 µg mL-1. The probe exhibited a satisfactory recovery rate for OPs in green tea. Furthermore, a hydrogel detection platform was developed by embedding the probe into sodium alginate. Overall, this work provides a visual approach to detect OPs in agricultural products.

A Method for Measuring Parameters of Defective Ellipse Based on Vision.

Ellipse detection has a very wide range of applications in the field of object detection, especially in the geometric size detection of inclined microporous parts. However, due to the processing methods applied to the parts, there are certain defects in the features. The existing ellipse detection methods do not meet the needs of rapid detection due to the problems of false detection and time consumption. This article proposes a method of quickly obtaining defective ellipse parameters based on vision. It mainly uses the approximation principle of circles to repair defective circles, then combines this with morphological processing to obtain effective edge points, and finally uses the least squares method to obtain elliptical parameters. By simulating the computer-generated images, the results demonstrate that the center fitting error of the simulated defect ellipses with major and minor axes of 600 and 400 pixels is less than 1 pixel, the major and minor axis fitting error is less than 3 pixels, and the tilt angle fitting error is less than 0.1°. Further, experimental verification was conducted on the engine injection hole. The measurement results show that the surface size deviation was less than 0.01 mm and the angle error was less than 0.15°, which means the parameters of defective ellipses can obtained quickly and effectively. It is thus suitable for engineering applications, and can provide visual guidance for the precise measurement of fiber probes.

Development of antioxidant and smart NH3 -sensing packaging film by incorporating bilirubin into κ-carrageenan matrix.

BACKGROUND: Active and smart food packaging based on natural polymers and pH-sensitive dyes as indicators has attracted widespread attention. In the present study, an antioxidant and amine-response color indicator film was developed by incorporating bilirubin (BIL) into the κ-carrageenan (Carr) matrix. RESULTS: It was found that the introduction of BIL had no effect on the crystal/chemical structure, water sensitivity and mechanical performance of the Carr-based films. However, the barrier properties to light and the thermal stability were significantly improved after the addition BIL. The Carr/BIL composite films exhibited excellent 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (i.e. DPPH)/2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (i.e. ABTS) free radical scavenging abilities and color responsiveness to different concentrations of ammonia. The application assay reflected that the Carr/BIL0.0075 film was effective in delaying the oxidative deterioration of shrimp during storage and realizing the color response of its freshness through the change of b* value. CONCLUSION: Active and smart packaging films were successfully prepared by incorporating different contents of BIL into the Carr matrix. The present study helps to further encourage the design and development of a multi-functional packaging material. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Identification and quantification of cucurbitacin in watermelon frost using molecular networking integrated with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Watermelon frost, a traditional Chinese medicine produced using watermelon and Glauber's salt, has been widely used for the therapy of oral and throat disorders. Watermelon contains various phytochemical compounds including cucurbitacins and their glycoside derivatives, which have attracted considerable attention because of their medicinal values. However, whether the composition of cucurbitacins existed in watermelon frost was rarely reported. In this study, three cucurbitacins including cucurbitacin B, isocucurbitacin B, and cucurbitacin E were found from watermelon frost extract assisted by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and molecular networking guided strategy, and the compounds were verified using standard solutions. Furthermore, a quantification method for simultaneously targeted analysis of cucurbitacins was established using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry operating in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. Among them, cucurbitacin B and cucurbitacin E in watermelon frost samples were determined, and the concentrations were 3.78 ± 0.18 and 0.86 ± 0.19 ng/ml, respectively. While isocucurbitacin B was not detected due to the lower content possibly. In conclusion, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry combined with molecular networking is a very useful technique for the rapid identification of unknown cucurbitacin components in watermelon frost.