A novel approach has been developed to produce pure plant-based gel soy yogurt by combining soy proteins (7S/11S), high pressure homogenization, and glycation reaction.

This research sought to examine how the physicochemical characteristics of soy globulins and different processing techniques influence the gel properties of soy yogurt. The goal was to improve these gel properties and rectify any texture issues in soy yogurt, ultimately aiming to produce premium-quality plant-based soy yogurt. In this research study, the investigation focused on examining the impact of 7S/11S, homogenization pressure, and glycation modified with glucose on the gel properties of soy yogurt. A plant-based soy yogurt with superior gel and texture properties was successfully developed using a 7S/11S globulin-glucose conjugate at a 1:3 ratio and a homogenization pressure of 110 MPa. Compared to soy yogurt supplemented with pectin or gelatin, this yogurt demonstrated enhanced characteristics. These findings provide valuable insights into advancing plant protein gels and serve as a reference for cultivating new soybean varieties by soybean breeding experts.

Identification of novel umami molecules via QSAR models and molecular docking.

Umami substances can increase the overall taste of food and bring pleasure to people. However, it is still challenging to identify the umami molecules through virtual screening due to the crystal structure of the umami receptor being undefined. Herein, based on the hypothesis that the molecules with bitter and sweet taste characteristics may be umami molecules, this study proposed an in silico method to identify novel umami-tasting molecules in batch from SWEET-DB and BitterDB databases via the QSAR models, PCA, molecular docking and electronic tongue analysis. In total, 169 potential umami molecules were identified through QSAR modeling, PCA, and molecular docking. Of the 169 molecules, 18 were randomly selected, and all were identified as umami molecules via electronic tongue analysis. Among the 18 chosen molecules, 10 molecules could be traced back to their concentration range in food, and finally, 8 molecules were predicted to be nontoxic. This work provides a simple and efficient strategy to identify novel umami molecules, holding an excellent promise for demonstrating the crystal structure of umami receptors and taste-sensing mechanisms. Furthermore, this study opens the possibility for the practical application of new umami molecules in food.

Comparative Performance of Body Composition Parameters in Prediction of Death in Hospitalized Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Cohort Study.

We compared the prognostic value of nutritional or volumetric parameters measured by body composition in hospitalized patients on maintenance hemodialysis. We conducted a cohort study to assess the association of different parameters of body composition with all-cause mortality in inpatients admitted to our nephrology department from January 2014 to December 2016. Of the 704 study patients, 160 (22.7%) died during a median follow-up of 33 months. In multivariate adjusted Cox models, higher ratio of extracellular water to body cell mass (ECW/BCM) (adjusted HR per 1-SD, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.85), lower lean tissue index (LTI) (adjusted HR per 1-SD, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.86) and lower body cell mass index (BCMI) (adjusted HR per 1-SD, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.85) were associated with a significantly greater risk of death. When these parameters were added to the fully adjusted model, BCMI performed best in improving the predictability for all-cause mortality (integrated discrimination improvement = 0.02, P = 0.04; net reclassification index = 0.11, P = 0.04). Among body composition indexes, ECW/BCM was the most relevant fluid volume indices to mortality and BCMI and LTI were the most relevant nutritional status indices to mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Comparison of microwave ablation treatments in patients with renal secondary and primary hyperparathyroidism.

Purpose: Microwave ablation (MWA) is feasible for severe renal secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) and primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) patients ineligible for parathyroidectomy (PTX). Here we compared the clinical manifestations and characteristics of parathyroid glands in these two groups, and summarized the techniques, safety and efficacy of MWA.Methods: Baseline clinical characteristics, ablation-related techniques, adverse events/complications, and efficacy were recorded.Results: In SHPT group, malnutrition, cardiovascular/pulmonary complications, and abnormal bone metabolism were severe. SHPT patients had more hyperplastic parathyroid glands. The volume of each gland was smaller, and the time of ablation for a single parathyroid was shorter in the SHPT group, although there were no significant differences compared with patients in the PHPT group. Three patients in both groups had recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries and all recovered, except for one SHPT patient. By the end of follow-up, serum iPTH levels had decreased from 2400.26 ± 844.26 pg/mL to 429.39 ± 407.93 pg/mL (p < .01) in SHPT and from 297.73 ± 295.32 pg/mL to 72.22 ± 36.51 pg/mL in PHPT group (p < .01). Hypocalcemia was more common (p < .001) and serum iPTH levels were prone to rebound in SHPT patients after MWA.Conclusion: MWA can be reserved for those who had high surgical risks because of less invasiveness. Injuries of recurrent laryngeal nerves should be noticed. The health status, perioperative, and intraoperative procedures were more complicated and all parathyroids found by ultrasound should be ablated completely in SHPT patients.

FTIR spectroscopy coupled with machine learning approaches as a rapid tool for identification and quantification of artificial sweeteners.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy calibrations were developed to simultaneously determine the multianalytes of five artificial sweeteners, including sodium cyclamate, sucralose, sodium saccharin, acesulfame-K and aspartame. By combining the pretreatment of the spectrum and principal component analysis, 131 feature wavenumbers were extracted from the full spectral range for modelling to qualitative and quantitative analysis. Compared to random forest, k nearest neighbour and linear discriminant analysis, support vector machine model had better predictivity, indicating the most effective identification performance. Furthermore, multivariate calibration models based on partial least squares regression were constructed for quantifying any combinations of the five artificial sweeteners, and validated by prediction data sets. As shown by the good agreement between the proposed method and the reference HPLC for the determination of the sweeteners in beverage samples, a promising and rapid tool based on FTIR spectroscopy, coupled with chemometrics, has been performed to identify and objectively quantify artificial sweeteners.

Clearance of Magnesium in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Single-Center Study.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the clearance of magnesium (Mg) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and its influencing factors. METHODS: The demographic information, clinical characteristics and laboratory data of the patients were collected. According to the corrected serum Mg (cS-Mg) concentration, patients were divided into 3 groups including hypomagnesemia (Mg2+ < 0.77 mmol/L, group A), normal serum Mg concentration (0.77 mmol/L ≤ Mg2+ ≤1.03 mmol/L, group B), and hypermagnesemia (Mg2+ > 1.03 mmo/L, group C). RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen patients were enrolled, and their mean 24 h-peritoneal Mg clearance was 39.75 ± 17.42 mg. The mean normalized peritoneal Mg clearance rate was 1.82 ± 0.82 L/day/1.73 m2. Twenty-four-hour peritoneal Mg clearance of group A was significantly lower than that of group C (p < 0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis showed that cS-Mg was positively correlated with peritoneal dialysate Mg concentration (p < 0.01). cS-Mg was negatively correlated with the normalized peritoneal Mg clearance rate (p < 0.05). The normalized peritoneal Mg clearance rate was positively correlated with prealbumin (p < 0.05), daily peritoneal protein loss (p < 0.01) and the normalized PD-creatinine clearance rate (p < 0.01). The normalized peritoneal Mg clearance rate was also negatively correlated with the normalized renal-creatinine clearance rate (p < 0.01). Furthermore, cS-Mg of patients with continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) was significantly lower than that of patients with daytime ambulatory PD (DAPD, p < 0.01). The normalized peritoneal Mg clearance rate of patients with CAPD was significantly higher than that of patients with DAPD (p < 0.01). Moreover, among the patients with different peritoneal transport characteristics of peritoneal equilibration test, the normalized peritoneal Mg clearance rate of high average transport patients was significantly higher than that in those with low transport, low average transport and high transport (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum Mg could be partly cleared by PD. The peritoneal Mg clearance was positively related with serum Mg concentration, which was concentration-dependent. Peritoneal Mg clearance was negatively correlated with the residual renal function, while being positively correlated with the nutritional status and daily peritoneal protein loss. Peritoneal Mg clearance was higher in patients with high transport characteristics or CAPD.

Autophagy promotes fibrosis and apoptosis in the peritoneum during long-term peritoneal dialysis.

Long-term peritoneal dialysis is accompanied by functional and histopathological alterations in the peritoneal membrane. In the long process of peritoneal dialysis, high-glucose peritoneal dialysis solution (HGPDS) will aggravate the peritoneal fibrosis, leading to decreased effectiveness of peritoneal dialysis and ultrafiltration failure. In this study, we found that the coincidence of elevated TGF-ß1 expression, autophagy, apoptosis and fibrosis in peritoneal membrane from patients with peritoneal dialysis. The peritoneal membranes from patients were performed with immunocytochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. Human peritoneal mesothelial cells were treated with 1.5%, 2.5% and 4.25% HGPDS for 24 hrs; Human peritoneal mesothelial cells pre-treated with TGF-ß1 (10 ng/ml) or transfected with siRNA Beclin1 were treated with 4.25% HGPDS or vehicle for 24 hrs. We further detected the production of TGF-ß1, activation of TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signalling, induction of autophagy, EMT, fibrosis and apoptosis. We also explored whether autophagy inhibition by siRNA targeting Beclin 1 reduces EMT, fibrosis and apoptosis in human peritoneal mesothelial cells. HGPDS increased TGF-ß1 production, activated TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signalling and induced autophagy, fibrosis and apoptosis hallmarks in human peritoneal mesothelial cells; HGPDS-induced Beclin 1-dependent autophagy in human peritoneal mesothelial cells; Autophagy inhibition by siRNA Beclin 1 reduced EMT, fibrosis and apoptosis in human peritoneal mesothelial cells. Taken all together, these studies are expected to open a new avenue in the understanding of peritoneal fibrosis, which may guide us to explore the compounds targeting autophagy and achieve the therapeutic improvement of PD.

Parathyroidectomy and heart rate variability in patients with stage 5 CKD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lower heart rate variability implies increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between mineral metabolism and heart rate variability and longitudinal changes of heart rate variability after parathyroidectomy in stage 5 CKD patients. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: This cross-sectional study included 118 stage 5 CKD patients, 87 controls, and a prospective study in two subgroups classified as successful (n=17) and unsuccessful (n=4) parathyroidectomy follow-up enrolled from March of 2011 to December of 2012. Blood examination and 24-hour Holter for heart rate variability were measured. RESULTS: Most heart rate variability indices were lower in stage 5 CKD patients. In multivariate stepwise regression models, serum intact parathyroid hormone was correlated with mean normal-to-normal R-R intervals, mean heart rate, and very low frequency, serum calcium was correlated with SD of 5-minute average of normal R-R intervals, and serum phosphorus was correlated with very low frequency and low frequency/high frequency. Compared with baseline, the successful parathyroidectomy subgroup had significant improvements in mean normal-to-normal R-R intervals, mean heart rate, SD of normal-to-normal R-R intervals, SD of 5-minute average of normal R-R intervals, very low frequency, high frequency, and low frequency/high frequency. There was no significant change of heart rate variability in patients after unsuccessful parathyroidectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Disorders of mineral metabolism are associated with decreased heart rate variability in stage 5 CKD. Successful parathyroidectomy may contribute to reverse this cardiovascular disease risk in severe secondary hyperparathyroidism patients.

[Therapeutic assessment between the thrombolysis in 6 hours and delayed thrombolysis after onset of acute myocardial infarction].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of different starting time of thrombolysis on acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Ninety-five patients of AMI were divided into prompt thrombolysis group (less then 6 h, 46 patients) and delayed thrombolysis group (6-12 hours, 49 patients), according to the different starting time of treating AMI. The incidences of reopening and side-effect, as well as mortality were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The reopening rate and mortality in prompt thrombolysis group were 76% and 4%, respectively. The reopening rate and mortality in delayed thrombolysis group were 49% and 12%, respectively. Compared the prompt thrombolysis group with the delayed thrombolysis group, there was a significance discrepancy (both P<0.01). The side-effect rate had not significant discrepancy (15% vs. 16%, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The clinical reopening rate of the thrombolysis is higher in patients with thrombolysis less than 6 hours, the mortality is lower. The thrombolytic treatment should be prompt for patients adapting thrombolysis.