Immunomodulatory Effects of Sinensetin on Macrophage and Cyclophosphamide-induced Immunosuppression in Mice.

In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of sinensetin (SI) on RAW 264.7 macrophages and cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced immunosuppressed mice. The results showed that SI enhanced macrophage activity and promoted the secretion of NO, IL-1ß, and TNF-α in vitro. Compared with the CY-induced immunosuppressed mice, in mice treated with SI, the body weights, organ indices, and total lymphocytes increased. Furthermore, SI promoted the secretion and mRNA expression of IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-6 and reduced the damage caused by CY to the organs of the immune system. Moreover, it increased the activities of GSH-Px, CAT, SOD, and T-AOC and decreased the level of MDA. This study suggests that SI has the potential to be used as an immunity enhancer in the functional food and healthcare industries.

Determination of fipronil and its metabolites in environmental water samples by meltblown nonwoven fabric-based solid-phase extraction combined with gas chromatography-electron capture detection.

In this study, a new method for the determination of fipronil and its three metabolites in environmental water samples was developed based on meltblown nonwoven fabric solid-phase extraction combined with gas chromatography-electron capture detection. As the core material of medical masks, meltblown nonwoven fabric is made of polypropylene superfine fibers which are randomly distributed and bonded together with a relatively large specific surface area and good permeability. Polypropylene as a high molecular hydrocarbon-based polymer has the characteristics of good hydrophobicity and lipophilicity, which can be applied for the separation and enrichment of hydrophobic substances in food, environment, and biological samples. The meltblown nonwoven fabric is soft and can fill the solid-phase extraction cartridge tightly. This aspect also makes it suitable to be used as an ideal solid-phase extraction sorbent. A series of parameters influencing the extraction efficiency were investigated, and under the optimized conditions, fipronil and its three metabolites had a good linear relationship in the range of 0.2-100 µg/L with a correlation coefficient R2 of more than 0.999. The recoveries at three spiked concentrations were in the range of 99.2-107.3% with the relative standard deviations less than 9.8% (intra-day) and 8.1% (inter-day). The limit of detection for the four target analytes was in the range of 0.02-0.06 µg/L. Finally, this method was successfully applied in the analysis of fipronil and its three metabolites in various types of environmental water samples.

Formation of soybean protein isolate-hawthorn flavonoids non-covalent complexes: Linking the physicochemical properties and emulsifying properties.

In recent years, more and more attention had been paid to the combination of proteins and flavonoids, and several flavonoids had been reported to improve the physicochemical and emulsifying properties of proteins. This study investigated the effects of ultrasonic treatment (450 W for 10 min, 20 min, and 30 min) on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and emulsifying properties of soy protein isolate (SPI) -hawthorn flavonoids (HF) non-covalent complexes. The results showed that the addition of HF to SPI and 20 min of ultrasound could reduce α-helix and random coil, increase ß-sheet and ß-turn, and enhance fluorescence quenching. In addition, it decreased the particle size, zeta potential, surface hydrophobicity, and turbidity to 88.43 or 95.27 nm, -28.80 mV, 1250.42, and 0.23, respectively. The protein solubility, free sulfhydryl group, antioxidant activity, emulsifying activity index, and emulsifying stability index all increased to 73.93%, 15.07 µmol/g, 71.00 or 41.91%, 9.81 m2/g, and 67.71%, respectively. Moreover, high-density small and low-flocculation droplets were formed. Therefore, the combined ultrasound treatment and addition of HF to SPI is a more effective method for protein modification compared to ultrasound treatment alone. It provides a theoretical basis for protein processing and application in the future.

A multidisciplinary team approach for nutritional interventions conducted by specialist nurses in patients with advanced colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A clinical trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nutritional interventions for malnutrition in cancer patients can be helpful. However, concise intervention recommendations remain controversial. Thus, the aim of this study was to report on a nutrition intervention conducted by a multidisciplinary team of specialist nurses and to explore the effect of nutritional intervention on cancer patients. METHODS: This prospective clinical trial study enrolled 110 colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The patients were evaluated upon admission using the 2002 Nutritional Risk Screening system (NRS-2002). The patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups including 55 patients each. Patients in the control group were administered a normal diet, while those in the intervention group received individual recipes developed by a team of professional nurses, clinical doctors, dietitian, family caregivers, and the patients themselves. Patient weight and serum albumin and prealbumin levels were compared between the 2 groups at different time points. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in patient weight and serum albumin and prealbumin levels before and after nutrition intervention in the intervention group (P < .05). In the control group, weight did not change during ordinary diet guidance. Serum albumin level was slightly improved after 12 cycles of chemotherapy, similar to the prealbumin results. There were statistically significant differences in serum albumin and prealbumin levels between the intervention and control groups after nutrition intervention (P < .05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in weight between the groups after nutrition intervention (P > .05). CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary team approach for nutrition intervention conducted by specialist nurses improved prealbumin levels in colorectal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, with no weight change.