Investigating Texture and Freeze-Thaw Stability of Cold-Set Gel Prepared by Soy Protein Isolate and Carrageenan Compounding.

In this study, the purpose was to investigate the effects with different concentrations of carrageenan (CG, 0-0.30%) on the gel properties and freeze-thaw stability of soy protein isolate (SPI, 8%) cold-set gels. LF-NMR, MRI, and rheology revealed that CG promoted the formation of SPI-CG cold-set gel dense three-dimensional network structures and increased gel network cross-linking sites. As visually demonstrated by microstructure observations, CG contributed to the formation of stable SPI-CG cold-set gels with uniform and compact network structures. The dense gel network formation was caused when the proportion of disulfide bonds in the intermolecular interaction of SPI-CG cold-set gels increased, and the particle size and zeta potential of SPI-CG aggregates increased. SG20 (0.20% CG) had the densest gel network in all samples. It effectively hindered the migration and flow of water, which decreased the damage of freezing to the gel network. Therefore, SG20 exhibited excellent gel strength, water holding capacity, freeze-thaw stability, and steaming stability. This was beneficial for the gel having a good quality after freeze-thaw, which provided a valuable reference for the development of freeze-thaw-resistant SPI cold-set gel products.

Research progress on plant-based protein Pickering particles: Stabilization mechanisms, preparation methods, and application prospects in the food industry.

At present, there have been many research articles reporting that plant-based protein Pickering particles from different sources are used to stabilize Pickering emulsions, but the reports of corresponding review articles are still far from sufficient. This study focuses on the research hotspots and related progress on plant-based protein Pickering particles in the past five years. First, the article describes the mechanism by which Pickering emulsions are stabilized by different types of plant-based protein Pickering particles. Then, the extraction, preparation, and modification methods of various plant-based protein Pickering particles are highlighted to provide a reference for the development of greener and more efficient plant-based protein Pickering particles. The article also introduces some of the most promising applications of Pickering emulsions stabilized by plant-based protein Pickering particles in the food field. Finally, the paper also discusses the potential applications and challenges of plant-based protein Pickering particles in the food industry.

LUM as a novel prognostic marker and its correlation with immune infiltration in gastric cancer: a study based on immunohistochemical analysis and bioinformatics.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is considered the sixth highly prevailing malignant neoplasm and is ranked third in terms of cancer mortality rates. To enable an early and efficient diagnosis of GC, it is important to detect the fundamental processes involved in the oncogenesis and progression of gastric malignancy. The understanding of molecular signaling pathways can facilitate the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for GC patients. METHODS: The screening of genes that exhibited differential expression in early and advanced GC was performed utilizing the Gene Expression Omnibus databases (GSE3438). Based on this, the protein and protein interaction network was constructed to screen for hub genes. The resulting list of hub genes was evaluated with bioinformatic analysis and selected genes were validated the protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Finally, a competing endogenous RNA network of GC was constructed. RESULTS: The three genes (ITGB1, LUM, and COL5A2) overexpressed in both early and advanced GC were identified for the first time. Their upregulation has been linked with worse overall survival (OS) time in patients with GC. Only LUM was identified as an independent risk factor for OS among GC patients by means of additional analysis. IHC results demonstrated that the expression of LUM protein was increased in GC tissue, and was positively associated with the pathological T stage. LUM expression can effectively differentiate tumorous tissue from normal tissue (area under the curve = 0.743). The area under 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival relative operating characteristics were greater than 0.6. Biological function enrichment analyses suggested that the genes related to LUM expression were involved in extracellular matrix development-related pathways and enriched in several cancer-related pathways. LUM affects the infiltration degree of cells linked to the immune system in the tumor microenvironment. In GC progression, the AC117386.2/hsa-miR-378c/LUM regulatory axis was also identified. CONCLUSION: Collectively, a thorough bioinformatics analysis was carried out and an AC117386.2/hsa-miR-378c/LUM regulatory axis in the stomach adenocarcinoma dataset was detected. These findings should serve as a guide for future experimental investigations and warrant confirmation from larger studies.

Functional fitness norms and trends of community-dwelling older adults in urban China.

This study aimed to (1) establish age- and sex-specific functional fitness (FF) norms in Chinese older adults living in urban communities and (2) explore ageing-related degradations and sex differences in each FF dimension. A pool of 2398 individuals (1128 men; 1270 women) aged 60-98 years were recruited from urban communities of Nanjing, China. FF was measured using the Senior Fitness Test battery. FF norms were established for men and women in 5-year age intervals using five percentiles (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th). Significant degradations in FF were correlated with increases in age. Around half of test items in 75-79 years group (3 for men; 4 for women) and over half in 80-84 years group (5 for men; 4 for women) exhibited significant decreases in FF compared with the adjacent younger group, indicating that ages of 75 and 80 years are two potential turning points in FF declines. Significant differences existed between the overall FF of men and women; women outperformed men in flexibility and men outperformed women in upper body strength, agility/dynamic balance, and aerobic endurance. Significant age and sex effects occurred in each fitness dimension, which helps individualised program design and promotes an active lifestyle in older adults.

A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Study on Accessibility and Availability of Neonatal care Resources in Hospitals of China: Current Situation, Mortality and Regional Differences: Neonatal Care Resources and Newborn Mortality in China.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the current situation of neonatal care resources (NCR), newborn mortality rates (NMR), regional differences and existing challenges in China. METHODS: By using a self-designed questionnaire form and the cross-sectional method, we conducted a survey of all hospitals equipped with neonatal facilities in China from March 2019 to March 2020 with respect to the level and nature of these hospitals, the number of newborn beds and NICU beds, the number of neonatal pediatricians, and the development of therapeutic techniques. The data about the newborn births and deaths were retrieved from the annual statistics of the health commissions of the related provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. FINDING: Included in this nationwide survey were 3,020 hospitals from all 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government of Mainland China, with a 100% response rate. They included 1,183 (39.2%) level-3 (L3) hospitals, 1629 (53.9%) L-2 hospitals and 208 (6.9%) L-1 hospitals. Geographically, 848 (31.4%) hospitals were distributed in Central China, 983 (32.5%) hospitals in East China, and 1,089 (36.1%) in West China. The 3,020 included hospitals were altogether equipped with 75,679 newborn beds, with a median of 20 (2-350) beds, of which 2,286 hospitals (75.7%) were equipped with neonatal intensive care units (NICU), totaling 28,076 NICU beds with a median of 5 (1-160) beds. There were altogether 27,698 neonatal pediatricians in these hospitals, with an overall doctor-bed ratio of 0.366. There were 48.18 newborn beds and 17.87 NICU beds per 10,000 new births in China. In East, Central and West China, the number of neonatal beds, NICU beds, neonatal pediatricians, and attending pediatricians or pediatricians with higher professional titles per 10,000 newborns was 42.57, 48.64 and 55.67; 17.07, 18.66 and 18.17; 16.26, 16.51 and 20.81; and 10.69, 10.81 and 11.29, respectively. However, when the population and area are taken into consideration and according to the health resources density index (HRDI), the number of newborn beds, NICU beds and neonatal pediatricians in West China was significantly lower than that in Central and East China. In addition, only 10.64% of the neonatal pediatricians in West China possessed the Master or higher degrees, vs. 31.7% in East China and 20.14% in Central China. On the contrary, the number of neonatal pediatricians with a lower than Bachelor degree in West China was significantly higher than that in Central and East China (13.28% vs. 7.36% and 4.28%). Technically, the application rate of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) in L-1 hospitals of West China was lower than that in Central and East China. According to the statistics in 2018, the newborn mortality rate (NMR) in West China was significantly higher than that in Central and East China. INTERPRETATION: China has already possessed relatively good resources for neonatal care and treatment, which is the primary reason for the rapid decrease in the NMR in China. However, there are still substantial regional differences. The density of health resources, the level of technical development and educational background of neonatal pediatricians in West China still lag behind those in other regions of China and need to be further improved and upgraded. FUNDING: This research work was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (81671504) and United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (CHINA-UNICEF501MCH).

Impact of high-intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, physical fitness, and metabolic parameters in older adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can effectively increase peak oxygen consumption, body composition, physical fitness, and health-related characteristics of adults; however, its impact in the older population remains highly debated. This review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, physical fitness, and health-related outcomes in older adults. Four electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Medline, and Web of Science) were searched (until July 2020) for randomized trials comparing the effect of HIIT on physical fitness, metabolic parameters, and cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults. The Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies; Stata 14.0 software was used for statistical analysis. HIIT significantly improved the maximum rate of oxygen consumption (VO2peak) as compared to a moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) protocol (HIIT vs. MICT: weighted mean difference = 1.74, 95% confidence interval: 0.80-2.69, p < 0.001). Additional subgroup analyses determined that training periods >12 weeks, training frequencies of 2 sessions/week, session lengths of 40 min, 6 sets and repetitions, training times per repetition of >60 s, and rest times of <90 s were more effective for VO2peak. This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that HIIT induces favorable adaptions in cardiorespiratory fitness, physical fitness, muscle power, cardiac contractile function, mitochondrial citrate synthase activity, and reduced blood triglyceride and glucose levels in older individuals, which may help to maintain aerobic fitness and slow down the process of sarcopenia.

Magnesium Trisilicate Coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles as Prompt and Efficient Lactic Acid Removers Potential for Exercise-Induce Fatigue Prevention.

Exercise-induced fatigue is accumulated when lactic acid cannot be timely eliminated after intensive exercise, resulting in sport injuries. Traditional lactic acid removal methods are limited in timeliness, metabolic burden, and potential toxicity. To solve the thorny problems, in this study, nanomedicine was introduced for lactic acid removal. Magnesium trisilicate was coated on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles. These nanoparticles exhibited a prompt and efficient lactic acid adsorbing behavior. Moreover, they have favorable magnetic properties and good biocompatibility. The results showed that the prepared nanoparticles hold great potential in the removal of lactic acid for preventing exercise-induced fatigue.

Relationships of accelerometer-based measured objective physical activity and sedentary behaviour with cognitive function: a comparative cross-sectional study of China's elderly population.

BACKGROUND: This study explored the effects of physical activity and sedentary behaviour on the decline of cognitive ability among the elderly. To compensate for the limitations of self-reported physical activity, objective measures were used. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 308 aged people mean 68.66 ± 5.377 years, in Nanjing, China, was conducted. Physical activity was measured using the ActiGraph GT3X+, and cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. RESULTS: The overall participant model, adjusted for age, BMI, education, and monthly average income, found that light physical activity (ß = 0.006, p < 0.01), moderate-vigorous physical activity (ß = 0.068, p < 0.001), and total physical activity (ß = 0.006, p < 0.01) had a significant linear relationship with cognitive ability, while sedentary time did not (ß = - 0.020, p>0.05). Further, light physical activity only affects the cognitive ability of elderly females (ß = 0.006, p < 0.05). There was an inverted 'U' association between moderate-vigorous physical activity and cognitive ability. The association models found that moderate-vigorous physical activity in the 22.13 min·day- 1~38.79 min·day- 1 range affected cognitive ability most beneficially, with the highest beta coefficient among all groups (ß = 0.091, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: While physical activity can significantly improve cognitive ability among the elderly, sedentary behaviour is associated with decreased cognitive function across genders.

Influence of the built environment of Nanjing's Urban Community on the leisure physical activity of the elderly: an empirical study.

BACKGROUND: Urbanization and aging are global phenomena that offer unique challenges in different countries. A supportive environment plays an important role in addressing the issues of health behavioral change and health promotion (e.g., prevent chronic illnesses, promote mental health) among older adults. With the development of the socio-ecological theoretical model, studies on the impact of supportive environments on physical activity have become popular in the public health field in the EU and US. Meanwhile, very few Chinese studies have examined the relationship between built environment features and older adults' physical activity at the ecological level. The purpose of the study is to investigate how the factors part of the built environment of Nanjing's communities also influence leisure time physical activity among the elderly. METHODS: Using a socio-ecological model as a theoretical framework, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 399 elderly people from 19 communities in Nanjing, China, using a one-on-one questionnaire to collect data, including participants' perceived built environment and self-reported physical activity. A multivariate linear regression method was used to analyze the factors influencing their recreational physical activity. RESULTS: This study found that compared to older people with low average monthly income, the recreational physical activity of the elderly with average monthly incomes between 1001 and 2000 ¥ (ß = 23.31, p < 0.001) and 2001 ¥ or more (ß = 21.15, p < 0.001) are significantly higher. After controlling for individual covariates, street connectivity (ß = 7.34, p = 0.030) and street pavement slope (ß = - 7.72, p = 0.020), we found that two out of ten built environment factors indicators influence their physical activity. The importance of each influencing factor ranked from highest to lowest are monthly average income, street pavement slope, and street connectivity. Other factors were not significantly related to recreational physical activity by the elderly. CONCLUSIONS: Older adults with a high income were more likely to participate in recreational physical activity than those with a low income. In order to positively impact physical activity in older adults and ultimately improve health, policymakers and urban planners need to ensure that street connectivity and street pavement slope are factored into the design and development of the urban environment.

LPS induces cardiomyocyte injury through calcium-sensing receptor.

Calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) belongs to the family C of G-protein coupled receptors. We have previously demonstrated that CaSR could induce apoptosis of cultured neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes in simulated ischemia/reperfusion. It remains unknown whether the CaSR has function in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced myocardial injure. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the CaSR plays a role in LPS-induced myocardial injury. Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were treated with LPS, with or without pretreatment with the CaSR-specific agonist gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) or the CaSR-specific antagonist NPS2390. Release of TNF-α and IL-6 from cardiomyocytes was observed. Levels of malonaldehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. In addition, apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes, [Ca(2+)]i and level of CaSR expression were determined. The results showed that LPS increased cardiomyocytes apoptosis, [Ca(2+)]i, MDA, LDH, TNF-α, IL-6 release, and CaSR protein expression. Compared with LPS treatment alone, pretreatment with GdCl3 further increased apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, MDA, LDH, TNF-α, IL-6 release, [Ca(2+)]i, and the expression of the CaSR protein. Conversely, pretreatment with NPS2390 decreased apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, MDA, LDH, TNF-α, IL-6 release, [Ca(2+)]i and the expression of the CaSR protein. These results demonstrate that LPS could induce cardiomyocyte injury. Moreover, LPS-induced cardiomyocyte injury was related to CaSR-mediated cardiomyocytes apoptosis, TNF-α, IL-6 release, and increase of intracellular calcium.

Silver nanoparticle-enhanced fluorescence in microtransponder-based immuno- and DNA hybridization assays.

The aim of this study is to improve assay sensitivity in common solid-phase bioassay configurations as the result of using silver nanoparticles. The solid phase was provided by numerically indexed, silicon-based electronic chips, microtransponders (p-Chips) that have previously been used in multiplexed assays. Assay configurations investigated included an ELISA-type immunoassay and a DNA hybridization assay. The surface of p-Chips was derivatized with the silver island film (SIF) and a polymer, and then characterized with AFM and SEM. Silver nanoparticle sizes were in the range of 100 to 200 nm. Four fluorophores were tested for fluorescence enhancement; namely, green fluorescent protein, phycoerythrin, Cy3 and Alexa Fluor 555. We consistently observed significant fluorescence enhancement and sensitivity improvement in the p-Chip-based assays: the sensitivity in the cytokine IL-6 immunoassay was 4.3 pg/ml, which represented a 25-fold increase over the method not involving a SIF; and 50 pM in the hybridization assay, a 38-fold increase. The greatest enhancement was obtained for p-Chip surfaces derivatized first with the polymer and then coated with SIF. In conclusion, we show that the SIF-p-Chip-based platform is a highly sensitive method to quantify low-abundance biomolecules in nucleic acid-based assays and immunoassays.

Microtransponder-based multiplex assay for genotyping cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: We developed and evaluated a genotyping assay for detection of 50 cystic fibrosis (CF) mutations. The assay is based on small (500 microm) electronic chips, radio frequency (RF) microtransponders (MTPs). The chips are analyzed on a unique fluorescence and RF readout instrument. METHODS: We divided the CF assay into 4 panels: core, Hispanic, African-American, and Caucasian. We amplified 18 CF transmembrane regulator (CFTR) DNA fragments covering 50 mutations by use of multiplex PCR using 18 CFTR gene-specific primer pairs. PCR was followed by multiplex allele-specific primer extension (ASPE) reactions and hybridization to capture probes synthesized on MTPs. We used 100 ASPE primers and 100 capture probes. We performed fluorescence measurements of hybridized MTP kits and assay analysis using a custom automated bench-top flow instrument. RESULTS: We validated the system by performing the assay on 23 commercial DNA samples in an internal study and 32 DNA samples in an external study. For internal and external studies, correct calls were 98.8% and 95.7%, false-positive calls 1.1% and 3.9%, and false-negative calls 0.12% and 0.36%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The MTP-based multiplex assay and analysis platform can be used for CF genotyping.

Microtransponders, the miniature RFID electronic chips, as platforms for cell growth in cytotoxicity assays.

BACKGROUND: An electronic radio frequency (RF) microchip, the microtransponder (MTP), has been developed as a platform for assays in the fields of genomics and proteomics. Upon activation by light, each MTP provides a unique RF identification (ID) signal that matches a chip to the specific biological material attached to it. The MTP is powered by a photocell and has an antenna that transmits the signal. The aim of the present study was to explore utility of MTPs as a platform for cell growth in cytotoxicity assays. METHODS: The MCF-7, MCF-116, A549, or T-24 cells growing on MTPs placed in petri dishes or slide chambers were cultured untreated or exposed to antitumor drugs topotecan, mitoxantrone, or onconase for up to 4 days. Their attachment to- and growth on- MTPs was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and laser scanning cytometry (LSC) and compared with growth on the dish surface in the MTP neighborhood. The MTPs were fixed in ethanol, stained with propidium iodide (PI), and interrogated in flow in the instrument capable to rapidly (up to 103 MTPs/s) identify their ID signal and measure fluorescence. RESULTS: The cells plated on MTPs exhibited similar attachment properties to those plated in culture dishes. When measured by LSC, they had similar mitotic activity, growth rate, and cell cycle distributions as the cells adhering to the culture dish in the neighborhood of MTPs. The fluorescence intensity of MTPs provided information about the cell number per MTP, which made it possible to assess cell growth rate and monitor the cytostatic/cytotoxic effects of the tested drugs. CONCLUSIONS: The MTP-based system holds promise for the multiplexed cell assays in which numerous different cell lines can be screened for their growth rate or sensitivity while exposed to particular agents in the same vessel. Other advantages of the system are the rapidity of the screening and a very large number of ID codes. Because many cell lines/types can be assayed in a single dish, the system also offers cost savings on tissue culture reagents.

Effects of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 on astrocyte gene expression and function: potential role in neuropathogenesis.

Neurodegeneration and dementia caused by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of the brain are common complications of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) reduced the incidence of HIV-1-associated dementia, but so far had no effect on the high frequency of milder neurological disorders caused by HIV-1. This indicates that some neuropathogenic processes persist during limited HIV-1 replication in the central nervous system (CNS). The authors are evaluating the hypothesis that interaction of HIV-1 with astrocytes, which bind HIV-1 but support limited productive HIV-1 infection, may contribute to these processes by disrupting astrocyte functions that are important for neuronal activity or survival. Using laser-capture microdissection on brain tissue samples from HIV-1-infected individuals, we found that HIV-1 DNA can be detected in up to 1% of cortical and basal ganglia astrocytes, thus confirming HIV-1 infection in astrocytes from symptomatic patients. Using rapid subtraction hybridization, the authors cloned and identified 25 messenger RNAs in primary human fetal astrocytes either up-regulated or down-regulated by native HIV-1 infection or exposure to gp120 in vitro. Extending this approach to gene microarray analysis using Affymetrix U133A/B gene chips, the authors determined that HIV-1 alters globally and significantly the overall program of gene expression in astrocytes, including changes in transcripts coding for cytokines, G-coupled protein receptors, transcription factors, and others. Focusing on a specific astrocyte function relevant to neuropathogenesis, the authors showed that exposure of astrocytes to HIV-1 or gp120 in vitro impairs the ability of the cells to transport L-glutamate and the authors related this defect to transcriptional inhibition of the EAAT2 glutamate transporter gene. These findings define new pathways through which HIV-1 may contribute to neuropathogenesis under conditions of limited virus replication in the brain.

Reduced expression of glutamate transporter EAAT2 and impaired glutamate transport in human primary astrocytes exposed to HIV-1 or gp120.

L-Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Astrocytes maintain low levels of synaptic glutamate by high-affinity uptake and defects in this function may lead to neuronal cell death by excitotoxicity. We tested the effects of HIV-1 and its envelope glycoprotein gp120 upon glutamate uptake and expression of glutamate transporters EAAT1 and EAAT2 in fetal human astrocytes in vitro. Astrocytes isolated from fetal tissues between 16 and 19 weeks of gestation expressed EAAT1 and EAAT2 RNA and proteins as detected by Northern blot analysis and immunoblotting, respectively, and the cells were capable of specific glutamate uptake. Exposure of astrocytes to HIV-1 or gp120 significantly impaired glutamate uptake by the cells, with maximum inhibition within 6 h, followed by gradual decline during 3 days of observation. HIV-1-infected cells showed a 59% reduction in V(max) for glutamate transport, indicating a reduction in the number of active transporter sites on the cell surface. Impaired glutamate transport after HIV-1 infection or gp120 exposure correlated with a 40-70% decline in steady-state levels of EAAT2 RNA and protein. EAAT1 RNA and protein levels were less affected. Treatment of astrocytes with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) decreased the expression of both EAAT1 and EAAT2, but neither HIV-1 nor gp120 were found to induce TNF-alpha production by astrocytes. These findings demonstrate that HIV-1 and gp120 induce transcriptional downmodulation of the EAAT2 transporter gene in human astrocytes and coordinately attenuate glutamate transport by the cells. Reduction of the ability of HIV-1-infected astrocytes to take up glutamate may contribute to the development of neurological disease.