Effect of different gelators on the physicochemical properties and microstructure of coconut oleogels.

BACKGROUND: The inherent properties of coconut oil (CO), including its elevated saturated fatty acid content and low melting point, make it suitable for application in plastic fat processing. The present study explores the physicochemical characteristics, micromorphology and oxidative stability of oleogels produced from CO using various gelators [ethylcellulose (EC), ß-sitosterol/γ-oryzanol (PS) and glyceryl monostearate (MG)] to elucidate the formation mechanisms of coconut oleogels (EC-COO, PS-COO and MG-COO). RESULTS: Three oleogel systems exhibited a solid-like behavior, with the formation of crystalline forms dominated by ß and ß'. Among them, PS-COO exhibited enhanced capability with respect to immobilizing liquid oils, resulting in solidification with high oil-binding capacity, moderate hardness and good elasticity. By contrast, MG-COO demonstrated inferior stability compared to PS-COO and EC-COO. Furthermore, MG-COO and PS-COO demonstrated antioxidant properties against CO oxidation, whereas EC-COO exhibited the opposite effect. PS-COO and EC-COO exhibited superior thermodynamic behavior compared to MG-COO. CONCLUSION: Three oleogels based on CO were successfully prepared. The mechanical strength, storage modulus and thermodynamic stability of the CO oleogel exhibited concentration dependence with increasing gelling agent addition. PS-COO demonstrated relatively robust oil-binding capacity and oxidative stability, particularly with a 15% PS addition. This information contributes to a deeper understanding of CO-based oleogels and offers theoretical insights for their application in food products. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Lipidomics insight on differences in lipid profiles and phytosterol compositions of coconut oils extracted by classical and green solvents.

Searching for green and ecofriendly solvents to replace classical solvents for industrial scale extraction of coconut oil is of great interest. To explore these possibilities, this study performed comprehensive comparative analyses of lipid profiles and phytosterol compositions in coconut oils obtained by extraction with n-hexane, absolute ethyl alcohol, deep eutectic solvent/n-hexane, dimethyl carbonate (DME) and cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) using a foodomics approach. Results indicated that CPME (64.23 g/100 g dry matter) and DME (65.64 g/100 g dry matter) showed comparable capacity for total lipid extraction of total lipids to classical solvents (63.5-65.66 g/100 g dry matter). Considering the phytosterol yield, CPME (644.26 mg/kg) exhibited higher selectivity than other solvents (535.64-622.13 mg/kg). No significant difference was observed in the fatty acid composition of coconut oil by the different solvents assayed. Additionally, total 468 lipid molecules were identified in the samples. For glycerolipid and sphingolipid, the five solvents showed comparable extraction capabilities. However, CPME exhibited higher extraction efficiency of polar lipids (glycerophospholipid and saccharolipid) than other solvents. Overall, these results may be a useful guide for the application of green solvents in industrial production of coconut oil.

Comparison and enrichment of sn-2 palmitoyl triacylglycerols (OPO/OPL) in fish oil for its potential application as human milk fat substitutes.

Triacylglycerols (TAG) are differences in fatty acid distributions between infant formula and human milk. In this study, fish oil (Tilapia, Golden pompano, Tiger grouper, and Basa) showed the potential as the source of human milk fat substitutes by comparing TAG profiles with infant formula and human milk. The total lipids and TAG of fish were concentrated in the by-products of fish (head and viscera) and contained high levels of palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid. Compared with infant formula, fish oil was closer to human milk in sn-2 fatty acid distribution, and sn-2 palmitic acid level in fish oil exceeded 52 % of total palmitic acid, Golden pompano head was the highest (64.46 %). Further research showed that the content of sn-2 palmitoyl TAG (OPO and OPL dominated) increased from 157.16 mg/g TAG to 305.18 mg/g TAG by isopropanol enrichment (solid-liquid ratio: 1:4, temperature: -12 °C, time: 4 h).

GLUT3 as an Intersection of Glycerophospholipid Metabolism and the Innate Immune Response to Candida albicans.

Immune cells can optimize the management of metabolic resources to balance their energy requirements in order to regulate immune responses. The interconnection between immunometabolism and fungal infections is becoming increasingly apparent. Using proteome and metabolome assays, we found that stimulation of primary human monocytes by Candida albicans was accompanied by upregulation of glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) and activation of the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway. Upregulated GLUT3 expression has been preliminarily confirmed in monocytes from patients with C. albicans bloodstream infection. Our findings support the importance of GLUT3 in the complex network of glycerophospholipid metabolism and the innate immune responses against C. albicans. In summary, this study might contribute to decipher the regulatory mechanism between the monocyte metabolic reprogramming and innate immune response and reveal potential targets for the antifungal treatments.

Hepatitis B virus serological screen in a general hospital in Beijing from 2008 to 2018, and challenges to our vaccination policy.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) has a worldwide distribution and remains a leading public health problem in China. METHOD: Automated chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay was used to test all five markers of HBV serology in serum samples among 696,048 patients, pregnant women, and normal subjects in Beijing from 2008 to 2018. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of subjects categorized as previous/ occult HBV infection, inactive HBsAg carrier, active HBV infection, HBsAg, HBV susceptible, and immune via vaccination was 29.4%, 4.8%, 1.4%, 6.4%, 33.9% and 30.3%, respectively; men had a significantly higher prevalence of HBV infection than women. The prevalence of HBsAg was around 0.5% in subjects ≤ 10 years of age, increased dramatically to 3.7% in subjects between 11 and 20 years of age, reached the highest level of 7.9% in subjects between 41 and 50 years of age, and finally decreased to 2.8% in subjects ≥ 81 years of age. During the 10 years from 2008 to 2018, the prevalence of HBsAg was stabilized at about 6.0%, and indicators of HBV susceptibility, previous/ occult HBV infection, and immunity via vaccination were not further improved, despite the constant implementation of HBV vaccination since 1992. All four age groups (21 - 30y, 31 - 40y, 41 - 50y and 51 - 60y) of the normal adult population were found to have a significantly lower prevalence of HBsAg and HBV susceptibility but significantly higher prevalence of immunity via vaccination compared with corresponding age groups of the sub-total population. CONCLUSIONS: Although high coverage has been established among infants and young children, their vaccination alone could not reduce HBV infection in the adult Chinese population quickly. Adult populations with more vaccinated individuals are found to have fewer individuals with HBsAg. Vaccination in adults or at least in high-risk adults is an urgent need to decrease horizontal HBV transmission in China.

The establishment of CMV antigen-specific enzyme-linked immunospot assay among Chinese: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cytomegalovirus in China is high and the infection could result in disastrous consequences. Cellular immunity is the main mechanism for virus controlling. We explored the performance of cytomegalovirus antigen-specific enzyme-linked immunospot assay in patients with different infection states in endemic area. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with reliable results were included in statistical analysis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were extracted and were stimulated by cytomegalovirus phosphoprotein 65 or immediate early protein-1 antigen respectively. Spot forming cells (SFCs) were counted to evaluate the cellular immune response elicited by antigens. RESULTS: Spots could be clearly displayed, and evenly dispersed with a clean background. The numbers of SFCs were 0 [0-0], 426 [210-601] and 230 [57-513] for uninfected individuals (n = 7), latently infected patients (n = 11) and actively infected patients (n = 10) respectively, which were statistically different. The number of SFCs stimulated by phosphoprotein 65 was significantly higher than that by immediate early protein-1. CONCLUSIONS: The number of SFCs was significantly different among patients with different infection state. The stimulatory effect of phosphoprotein 65 was better than that of immediate early protein-1.

Cytomegalovirus antigenemia in patients with autoimmune and non-autoimmune diseases in Beijing: A 10-year single hospital experience.

BACKGROUND: Primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is prevalent worldwide and usually results in latency in immunocompetent populations. Reactivation of latent CMV can cause life-threatening complications in immunocompromised hosts. METHODS: We used the CMV Brite assay to test CMV antigenemia (pp65) in whole blood samples from 22,192 patients with or without autoimmune diseases in Beijing during 2008-2018. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CMV antigenemia was 19.5% (9.7%, males; 26.0%, females). The prevalence of CMV antigenemia was 35.1%, 58.6% and 11.4% in whole patients with autoimmune diseases, in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in patients with non-SLE autoimmune diseases, respectively. All patients with non-autoimmune diseases, patients with HIV/AIDS or transplantation were found to have 5.0%, 27% or 14.8%, respectively. Patients≤20 years with SLE had a significantly higher prevalence of CMV antigenemia than did all SLE patients, on average. Patients>51 years with non-SLE autoimmune diseases had a significantly higher prevalence than did all patients with non-SLE autoimmune diseases, on average. The prevalence of CMV antigenemia in patients admitted to intensive-care units (ICUs) were 9.2%, which was significantly higher than that among all patients with non-autoimmune diseases. Patients with SLE had 23.8% of negative conversion of CMV antigenemia, significantly lower than the percentage of patients with non-SLE autoimmune (64.3%) and non-autoimmune (61.0%) diseases. The mean number of days to negative conversion of CMV antigenemia in patients with SLE was 35.3±35.8 days, which was significantly longer than that in patients with non-SLE autoimmune diseases (15.4±11.9 days) and non-autoimmune diseases (13.6±7.7 days). CONCLUSIONS: CMV antigenemia is found more likely in women than in men, more prevalently in patients with SLE than those with HIV/AIDS or transplant recipients, more frequently in patients admitted to ICUs. Patients with SLE had prolonged CMV antigenemia. The role of CMV appears important in SLE.

A retrospective seroepidemiologic survey of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in patients in Beijing between 2008 and 2017.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is an obligate intracellular bacterium and a human pathogen that causes respiratory infectious diseases. More than 50% of the adult population worldwide was once infected with C. pneumoniae, but investigations into this topic are insufficient in mainland China. METHODS: Anti-C. pneumoniae IgG and IgM antibodies were detected using micro-immunofluorescence test in serum samples of patients visiting Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2008 and 2017 for routine medical purposes, and the aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the test results. RESULTS: Among 12,050 serum specimens tested for anti-C. pneumoniae IgG and IgM antibodies, the overall prevalence of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG antibodies was 86.6%, 87.2% for men and 86.0% for women. Adult men (>20 years) were found to have a significantly higher prevalence of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG than women (χ2 = 30.32, P = 0.000). 3 to 5 years old patients were observed to have the lowest prevalence of anti-C. pneumoniae IgG, 42.8%, then increased with age, reaching the highest level of 98.6% in patients over 70 years of age. In the 10,434 specimens with C. pneumoniae IgG antibodies, the total geometric mean titer (GMT) for C. pneumoniae IgG was 45.71. Although GMTs were found to be significantly higher among all men than among all women (t = 5.916, P = 0.000), sex difference actually began in patients over 40 years of age and increased in the elderly. In the total 12,050 specimens, 1.2% had anti-C. pneumoniae IgM, 3.3% had anti-C. pneumoniae IgG with titers equal to or greater than 1:512; 0.39% had ≥4-fold increasing titers of antibodies in acute and convalescent phase paired samples, and 4.4% were finally confirmed to have acute antibodies against C. pneumoniae. 6 to 10 years old patients were found to have the highest rate of both IgM antibodies (3.9%) and acute antibodies (6.2%) against C. pneumoniae. Acute antibodies against C. pneumoniae were found to be more frequent in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD, 14.0%, χ2 = 20.43, P = 0.000), patients with pneumonia (7.8%, χ2 = 51.87, P = 0.000) and patients with acute respiratory tract infection (12.3%, χ2 = 60.91, P = 0.000) than among all patients (4.4%). Both anti-C. pneumoniae IgG and IgM antibodies should be tested for acute antibodies against C. pneumoniae as testing for either alone will underestimate by a maximum of two-thirds the incidence of acute antibodies against C. pneumoniae. CONCLUSIONS: More than 86% of Chinese patients on an average were once infected with C. pneumoniae. Adult men had both a higher prevalence and higher levels of antibodies than women. 6 to10 year old patients were found to have the most frequent acute infection of C. pneumoniae. C. pneumoniae is associated with AECOPD, pneumonia and acute respiratory tract infection. Anti-C. pneumoniae IgG and IgM should be tested simultaneously to avoid underestimation of acute antibodies against C. pneumoniae.

Anti-Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in Beijing during 2013-2017: What we have found in the different patients.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) which is prevalent in South China, and its association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other autoimmune diseases has not been studied in the mainland of China. The EBV serological tests have been performed on patients with various diseases or manifestations for years at our institution and their values need to be evaluated. METHODS: For routine medical purposes, anti-EB viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies, anti-EBV diffuse early antigen (EA-D) IgA antibodies, and anti-EBV nuclear antigen-1(EBNA-1) IgG antibodies were tested with commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients visiting Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2013 and 2017. The test results were analyzed in this retrospective study. RESULTS: There were a total of 11122 serum samples available to be tested in the study. As indicators of past EBV infection, the prevalence of VCA-IgG/EBNA1-IgG were 66.6%/58.5%, 84.3%/78.8%, 92.9%/87.0% and 98.5%/95.4% in patients aged under 5 years, 6-10 years, 11-20 years and 21-30 years old, respectively, and these values maintained at this highest rate as age increased further. The prevalence of VCA-IgM, as a parameter of acute EBV infection, was 14.6%, 10.2%, 10.4%, 6.3% and 3.1% in patients aged under 5 years, 6-10 years,11-20 years, 21-30 years, 31-40 years old, respectively, and decreased to 2%~3% in older patients. Patients with elevated serum liver enzymes were more likely to have a higher prevalence of EA/D IgA antibody (P < 0.01) and young patients (≤30 years) with lymphadenopathy were more likely to have higher prevalence of VCA-IgM antibody (P < 0.01). The prevalence of VCA-IgA and EAD-IgA were 87.0% and 59.2% in NPC patients, respectively, and both were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that in non-NPC patients. The prevalence of VCA-IgA was 45.4% and 25.6% in SLE patients and patients with other autoimmune diseases, respectively, which were significantly (P < 0.001) and mildly (P = 0.039) higher than their controls. In pediatric SLE patients between 6 and10 years old, the prevalence of VCA-IgG, VCA-IgA and EBNA1-IgG was 100%, 59.5% and 100%, respectively, all being significantly higher than the age (6-10y) related controls (P< 0.01). In the 705 cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) specimens, VCA-IgG, VCA-IgM, VCA-IgA and EAD-IgA were found to be positive in 12.1%, 0.15%, 0.25% and 0.25%, respectively. There were 157 paired specimens (CSF and serum were collected simultaneously) and VCA-IgG was identified as positive in 12.7% of the CSF and 100% of the serum specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Around 98% of Chinese patients were infected with EBV before 30 years of age and the highest rate of acute EBV infection were observed in patients under 5 years old. EBV infection was found to be associated with elevated serum liver enzymes, NPC and SLE. Acute anti-EBV antibody was valued for young patients with lymphadenopathy but limited value for CNS neuropathy.

Seroprevalence of the Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Human Immunodeficiency Viruses and Treponema pallidum at the Beijing General Hospital from 2010 to 2014: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The hepatitis B, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency viruses and Treponema pallidum are important causes of infectious diseases concern to public health. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2014, we used an automated chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay to detect the hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency viruses as well as Treponema pallidum (the rapid plasma regain test was used in 2010-2011). Positive human immunodeficiency virus tests were confirmed via western blotting. RESULTS: Among 416,130 subjects, the seroprevalences for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and Treponema pallidum were 5.72%, 1.23%, 0.196%, and 0.76%, respectively. Among 671 patients with positive human immunodeficiency virus results, 392 cases were confirmed via western blotting. Hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus infections were more frequent in men (7.78% and 0.26%, respectively) than in women (4.45% and 0.021%, respectively). The hepatitis B and C virus seroprevalences decreased from 6.21% and 1.58%, respectively, in 2010, to 5.37% and 0.988%, respectively, in 2014. The human immunodeficiency virus seroprevalence increased from 0.04% in 2010 to 0.17% in 2014, and was elevated in the Infectious Disease (2.65%), Emergency (1.71%), and Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (1.12%) departments. The specificity of the human immunodeficiency virus screening was 71.4%. The false positive rates for the Treponema pallidum screening tests increased in patients who were 60-70 years old. The co-infection rates for the hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency viruses were 0.47% in hepatitis C virus-positive patients and 7.33% in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: During 2010-2014, hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus infections were more frequent among men at our institution. Although the seroprevalences of hepatitis B and C viruses decreased, the seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection increased (with higher seroprevalences in high-risk departments). Older patients were more likely to exhibit false positive findings for syphilis.

[Detection of serum Chlamydia pneumoniae antibodies and analysis of epidemiologic data in 5 years].

OBJECTIVE: To detect serum Chlamydia pneumoniae (C.pneumonia) antibodies and analyze the epidemiologic data. METHODS: Micro-immunofluorescence (MIF) was used to detect IgG and IgM antibodies against C.pneumoniae in 7 802 serum specimens from May 2008 to September 2013. C.pneumoniae past or recent infections were determined based on specific IgG and IgM antibodies and their titers. The analysis of relationship between age, gender and other clinical factors associated with antibody titers was performed. RESULTS: The positive rate of C.pneumonia IgG antibodies ( ≥ 1: 16 and <1: 512) was 87.5% (6 827/7 802). And the lowest rate of 50.6% (78/154) was shown in patients of 2-4 years age group while the highest rate of 98.7% (1 277/1 294) in those above 70 years old. The average geometric mean titer (GMT) of C.pneumonia IgG antibodies was 43.9. GMT in males was significantly higher than that in females (45.8 vs 41.9, P = 0.000 1). And 282 (3.6%) patients were diagnosed with recent C.pneumoniae infection (IgG ≥ 1: 512 or IgM ≥ 1: 16 or acute and convalescent serum antibody titers turned to positive or four times and more elevated). The lowest rate of 0.5% (2/417) was detected in < 2-year-old patients while the highest rate of 6.7% (24/357) in 10-14-year-old group patients. The miss ratio was as high as 68.1% (192/282) if C.pneumoniae IgM antibody was used as an only criteria for C. pneumoniae recent infection. The recent infection rates in patients with autoimmune diseases (7.1% (24/336) ) and those with pneumonia/chest radiological shadow findings (4.7% (69/1 467)) were statistically higher than the average rate (3.6%) of total population (P = 0.000 4, 0.014 0). CONCLUSIONS: The positive rate of C.pneumonia IgG antibody is quite high in the population. And the GMT of C.pneumoniae IgG antibody in males is significantly high than that in females. Recent C.pneumonia infection is to be missed if IgM antibody is used as a sole criterion.

[Analysis of cytomegaloviral antigenemia test and re-test after antiviral chemotherapy in patients with autoimmune and non-autoimmune diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia test and re-test after antiviral chemotherapy in patients with autoimmune and non-autoimmune diseases. METHODS: CMV Brite kit and indirect immunofluorescence were used to detect CMVpp65 antigenemia in 6471 peripheral blood leukocyte specimens from 5325 clinic and hospitalized patients with clinically suspicious CMV infections from May 2008 to February 2012. And the positive results were defined as episodes of systemic CMV activity. RESULTS: In 6471 EDTA-treated peripheral blood specimens, 948 (14.6%) were found with positive CMV antigenemia. The average positive rate from 13 kinds of autoimmune diseases was 34.9% (670/1922) in which systemic lupus erythematosus patients had the highest (52.4%, 551/1052). Meanwhile, the average positive rate from 12 kinds of non-autoimmune diseases was only 6.1% (144/2367) in which it was 17.3% (27/156) in patients with respiratory/acute renal failure, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and kidney transplant recipients. And 189 patients with positive antigenemia were re-tested after antiviral chemotherapy and only 64 (33.9%) were converted negatively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with autoimmune diseases have replaced traditionally immunocompromised patients, e.g. AIDS and kidney transplant recipient, to become the highest risk group of systemic CMV activity. Negative conversion rate of CMV antigenemia is low after antiviral chemotherapy.

Effects of anti-leukemia drug Harringtonine on the levels of centromere proteins and gene expression of CenpB in L1210 cells.

In this study, we investigated the effects of the anti-leukemia drug Harringtonine (HT) on the levels of centromere proteins and gene expression of centromere protein CenpB in L1210 cells. The intensity of centromere fluorescence, shown by indirect immunofluorescence staining, decreased with HT treatment. Western blot showed that the anti-centromere antibody (ACA) serum used in this study recognized 8 proteins with different molecular weights: 140, 80, 70, 56, 37, 34, 32 and 17 kD. The amounts of some of these proteins were reduced to different extents by HT treatment. The ACA antibodies that recognized the 17, 80 and 140 kD proteins in L1210 cells also cross-reacted with 3 proteins with similar molecular weights which are known to be CenpA, CenpB and CenpC, respectively. Northern and Dot blot analyses revealed that the level of CenpB mRNA in HT-treated cells was markedly lower than that in the untreated cells. These results suggest that HT may cause a decrease in the intracellular level of some centromere proteins, probably by inhibiting mRNA expression of corresponding genes. Moreover, it is possible that the cell-killing and appotosis-inducing effects of HT may be mediated by the inhibition of the expression of CenpB and other centromere protein genes.