Enhancing bread anti-staling with glucose-derived Maillard reaction products: In-depth analysis of starches, gluten networks, and moisture status.

In this study, six types of amino acids (Ala, Phe, Glu, Gly, Ser, and Lys) were combined with glucose to produce Maillard reaction products (MRPs) named G-Ala, G-Phe, G-Glu, G-Gly, G-Ser and G-Lys. The effect of MRPs on bread staling was evaluated through texture and sensory analyses during storage. Furthermore, the study comprehensively analyzed the anti-staling mechanisms of MRPs by examining moisture content, starches, and gluten network changes. The results indicated that G-Gly and G-Glu delayed bread staling, with G-Gly showing the most significant effect. Compared with control, the staling rate and starch crystallinity of G-Gly bread decreased by 24.07% and 7.70%, respectively. Moreover, G-Gly increased the moisture content (3.48%), weakly bound water mobility (0.77%), and α-helix content (1.00%) of bread. Component identification and partial least squares regression further confirmed the aldonic acid, heterocyclic acids and heterocyclic ketones in MRPs inhibit water evaporation, gluten network loosening, and starch degradation, thereby delaying bread staling.

Edible film preparation by anthocyanin extract addition into acetylated cassava starch/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose matrix for oxidation inhibition of pumpkin seeds.

In this study, an edible film was fabricated by incorporating anthocyanin extract from black rice (AEBR) into acetylated cassava starch (ACS)/carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) to enhance the shelf life of pumpkin seeds. The effects of AEBR on the rheological properties of film-forming solutions, as well as the structural characterization and physicochemical properties of the film, were evaluated. Rheological properties of solutions revealed that AEBR was evenly dispersed into polymer matrix and bound by hydrogen bonds, as confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The appropriate AEBR addition could be compatible with polymer matrix and formed a compact film structure, improving the mechanical properties, barrier properties, and opacity. However, with further addition of AEBR, the tensile strength and water vapor permeability decreased and the tight structure was destroyed. After being stored separately under thermal and UV light accelerated conditions for 20 days, the peroxide value and acid value of roasted pumpkin seeds coated with the AEBR film showed a significant reduction. Moreover, the storage stability of AEBR was improved through the embedding of ACS/CMC biopolymers. These results indicated that AEBR film could effectively delay pumpkin seeds oxidation and prolong their shelf life as an antioxidant material.

Anion-Coordination Foldamer-Based Polymer Network: from Molecular Spring to Elastomer.

Foldamer is a scaled-down version of coil spring, which can absorb and release energy by conformational change. Here, polymer networks with high density of molecular springs were developed by employing anion-coordination-based foldamers as the monomer. The coiling of the foldamer is controlled by oligo(urea) ligands coordinating to chloride ions; subsequently, the folding and unfolding of foldamer conformations endow the polymer network with excellent energy dissipation and toughness. The mechanical performance of the corresponding polymer networks shows a dramatic increase from P-L2UCl (non-folding), to P-L4UCl (a full turn), and then to P-L6UCl (1.5 turns), in terms of strength (2.62 MPa; 14.26 MPa; 22.93 MPa), elongation at break (70 %; 325 %; 352 %), Young's modulus (2.69 MPa; 63.61 MPa; 141.50 MPa), and toughness (1.12 MJ/m3; 21.39 MJ/m3; 49.62 MJ/m3), respectively, which is also better than those without anion centers and the non-foldamer based counterparts. Moreover, P-L6UCl shows enhanced strength and toughness than most of the molecular-spring based polymer networks. Thus, an effective strategy for designing high-performance anion-coordination-based materials is presented.

A supramolecular approach for converting renewable biomass into functional materials.

The rational transformation and utilization of biomass have attracted increasing attention because of its high importance in sustainable development and green economy. In this study, we used a supramolecular approach to convert biomass into functional materials. Six biomass raw materials with distinct chemical structures and physical properties were copolymerized with thioctic acid (TA) to afford poly[TA-biomass]s. The solvent-free copolymerization leads to the convenient and quantitative fabrication of biomass-based versatile materials. The non-covalent bonding and reversible solid-liquid transitions in poly[TA-biomass]s endow them with diversified features, including thermal processability, 3D printing, wet and dry adhesion, recyclability, impact resistance, and antimicrobial activity. Benefiting from their good biocompatibility and nontoxicity, these biomass-based materials are promising candidates for biological applications.

Host-Guest-Interaction Enhanced Nitric Oxide Photo-Generation within a Pillar[5]arene Cavity for Antibacterial Gas Therapy.

Supramolecular macrocycles with intrinsic cavities have been widely explored as containers to fabricate versatile functional materials via specific host-guest recognitions. However, relatively few studies have focused on the modulation of guest reactivity within a macrocyclic cavity. Here, we demonstrate the confinement effect of pillar[5]arene with an electron-rich and precise cavity that can dramatically enhance guest photoactivity and nitric oxide (NO) generation upon visible light irradiation. Mechanism studies reveal that it is achieved through increasing the ground state nitro-aromatic torsion angle, suppressing the intersystem crossing relaxation path of the S1 state, and accelerating the isomerization reaction path of guest molecules. This NO-generating system displays broad-spectrum antibacterial, biofilm inhibition, and dispersal activities. Moreover, it can accelerate the healing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected wounds in vivo.

Impact of continuous pharmaceutical care led by clinical pharmacists during transitions of care on medication adherence and clinical outcomes for patients with coronary heart disease: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: The study aimed to explore the impact of a continuous pharmaceutical care (CPC) program during care transitions on medication adherence and clinical outcomes for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from April 2020 to February 2021. Patients diagnosed with CHD were selected and divided into intervention (CPC) and usual care (UC) groups by nurses at equal intervals based on admission time. The intervention group received CPC services provided by clinical pharmacists (including medication reconciliation, disease education, medication guidance, lifestyle counseling, and follow-up services) and usual care. The UC group received only routine medical care. The study compared medication adherence, clinical indicators (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], blood pressure [BP], glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] control rates), the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and readmission rates (overall, major adverse cardiovascular events [MACEs]-related, and CHD risk factors-related) at admission and 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge between the two groups. Results: A total of 228 patients with CHD completed the study, including 113 patients in the CPC group and 115 patients in the UC group. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in both groups in demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline. A total of 101 drug-related problems were identified in the CPC group (an average of 0.89 per person). The CPC group showed significantly higher medication adherence at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge than the UC group (p < 0.05). At 3 and 6 months after discharge, the intervention group had significantly higher control rates of LDL-C (61.11% vs. 44.64% at 3 months, 78.18% vs. 51.43% at 6 months), and BP (91.15% vs. 77.39% at 3 months, 88.50% vs. 77.19% at 6 months). The CPC group had higher HbA1c control rates (53.85% vs. 34.21% at 3 months, 54.05% vs. 38.46% at 6 months) than the UC group. However, the differences were not statistically significant. The incidence of ADRs 6 months after discharge was significantly lower in the CPC group than in the UC group (5.13% vs. 12.17%, p < 0.05). The CPC group had a lower overall readmission rate (13.27% vs. 20.00%), MACE-related readmission rate (5.31% vs. 12.17%), and readmission rate related to CHD risk factors (0.88% vs. 2.61%) 6 months after discharge compared to the UC group. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: CPC led by clinical pharmacists during care transitions effectively improved medication adherence, safety, and risk factor control in patients with CHD.

Insights into flavor and key influencing factors of Maillard reaction products: A recent update.

During food processing, especially heating, the flavor and color of food change to a great extent due to Maillard reaction (MR). MR is a natural process for improving the flavor in various model systems and food products. Maillard reaction Products (MRPs) serve as ideal materials for the production of diverse flavors, which ultimately improve the flavor or reduce the odor of raw materials. Due to the complexity of the reaction, MR is affected by various factors, such as protein source, hydrolysis conditions, polypeptide molecular weight, temperature, and pH. In the recent years, much emphasis is given on conditional MR that could be used in producing of flavor-enhancing peptides and other compounds to increase the consumer preference and acceptability of processed foods. Recent reviews have highlighted the effects of MR on the functional and biological properties, without elaborating the flavor compounds obtained by the MR. In this review, we have mainly introduced the Maillard reaction-derived flavors (MF), the main substances producing MF, and detection methods. Subsequently, the main factors influencing MF, from the selection of materials (sugar sources, protein sources, enzymatic hydrolysis methods, molecular weights of peptides) to the reaction conditions (temperature, pH), are also described. In addition, the existing adverse effects of MR on the biological properties of protein are also pointed out.

A Metal-Ion-Incorporated Mussel-Inspired Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)-Based Polymer Coating Offers Improved Antibacterial Activity and Cellular Mechanoresponse Manipulation.

Cobalt (CoII ) ions have been an attractive candidate for the biomedical modification of orthopedic implants for decades. However, limited research has been performed into how immobilized CoII ions affect the physical properties of implant devices and how these changes regulate cellular behavior. In this study we modified biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol) with terpyridine and catechol groups (PVA-TP-CA) to create a stable surface coating in which bioactive metal ions could be anchored, endowing the coating with improved broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as enhanced surface stiffness and cellular mechanoresponse manipulation. Strengthened by the addition of these metal ions, the coating elicited enhanced mechanosensing from adjacent cells, facilitating cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation on the surface coating. This dual-functional PVA-TP-CA/Co surface coating offers a promising approach for improving clinical implantation outcomes.

Association between General Anesthesia and the Occurrence of Cerebrovascular Accidents in Hip Fracture Patients.

Background: General anesthesia is an important factor leading to postoperative complications, and cerebrovascular accidents take the first place in the causes of postoperative death. Therefore, it is extremely important to explore the correlation between general anesthesia and the occurrence of cerebrovascular accidents in hip fracture patients. Objective: To explore the association between general anesthesia and the occurrence of cerebrovascular accidents in hip fracture patients. Methods: The data of 240 hip fracture patients treated in our hospital from February 2017 to February 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were divided into the general anesthesia group (n = 120) and nongeneral anesthesia group (n = 120) according to whether or not they received general anesthesia, so as to compare their incidence rate of cerebrovascular accidents between the two groups, record their hemodynamic changes, and analyze the association between various risk factors under general anesthesia and the occurrence of cerebrovascular accidents. Results: No statistical differences in patients' general information such as age and gender between the two groups were observed (P > 0.05); compared with the nongeneral anesthesia group, the incidence rate of cerebrovascular accidents was significantly higher in the general anesthesia group (P < 0.001); between the two groups, the heart rates and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 15 min after anesthesia, at the time of skin incision, and 15 min before the end of surgery were significantly different (P < 0.05); according to the multiple logistic regression analysis, general anesthesia was a risk factor affecting the occurrence of cerebrovascular accidents in hip fracture patients, and under general anesthesia, age ≥80 years, BMI ≥23 kg/m2, types of anesthetic drugs ≥4, intraoperative blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, and intraoperative heart rate ≥80 bpm were also regarded as the risk factors. Conclusion: General anesthesia is a risk factor affecting the occurrence of cerebrovascular accidents in hip fracture patients, and under general anesthesia, age ≥80 years, BMI ≥23 kg/m2, types of anesthetic drugs ≥4, intraoperative blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, and intraoperative heart rate ≥80 bpm will further increase the possibility of cerebrovascular accidents.

Cardiovascular outcomes associated with SGLT-2 inhibitors versus other glucose-lowering drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes: A real-world systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Glucose lowering agents that reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) would be considered a major advance. The reduction of cardiovascular risk by sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) has been confirmed by some large-scale randomized controlled studies (RCTs) and systematic reviews of RCTs, but exact indicators of cardiovascular risk remained controversial. Whether consistent results can be obtained in clinical practice is unclear. Therefore, in this meta-analysis, we analyzed the real-world effect of SGLT-2i on cardiovascular outcome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: We did a real-world systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome of SGLT-2i in patients with T2DM. We searched PubMed and Embase for trials published up to October 23, 2019. Data search and extraction were completed with a standardized data form and any discrepancies were resolved by consensus. The primary outcome was MACE and all-cause mortality (ACM). Secondary outcomes were hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, cardiovascular mortality (CVM), unstable angina (UA), heart failure (HF). Odds ratio (OR) with 95% CIs were pooled across trials, and cardiovascular outcomes were stratified by baseline incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), usage rate of cardiovascular benefit drug, follow-up period and region. RESULTS: Fourteen trials enrolling 3,157,259 patients were included. SGLT-2i reduced MACE (OR, 0.71; 95% CI 0.67,0.75, P<0.001) and ACM (OR, 0.53; 95% CI 0.49,0.57, P<0.001) compared to other glucose lowering drugs (oGLD). Compared with oGLD, SGLT-2i had significantly lowered the risk of HHF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.46,0.68, P<0.001), MI (OR, 0.77; 95% CI 0.73,0.81, P<0.001), stroke (OR, 0.75; 95% CI 0.72,0.78, P<0.001), CVM (OR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.49,0.69, P<0.001) and HF (OR, 0.56; 95% CI 0.48,0.67, P<0.001), but there was no benefit from UA or AF. SGLT-2i significantly reduced the risk of severe hypoglycemia (OR, 0.78; 95% CI 0.69,0.90, P<0.001) and lower limb amputation (OR, 0.83; 95% CI 0.71,0.98, P<0.001), but it may increase the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis. Subgroup analysis showed SGLT-2i reduced the risk of MACE, ACM, HHF, MI, stroke, CVM and HF with a similar benefit regardless of the incidence of CVD was (20-30)% or < 15%, (15-30)% or <15% have been treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), >80% or <70% have been treated with statins or both GLP-1RA and statins. SGLT-2i reduced the risk of ACM in low-risk population (P<0.001). No inconsistencies were found when stratification was performed at 1 or (3-4) years of follow-up except for BKA followed up for 1 year. SGLT-2i showed similar cardiovascular benefits in the Nordic countries, Asia and the United States. CONCLUSIONS: The predominant impact of SGLT-2i is on cardiovascular outcome driven predominantly by reduction in MACE, ACM, HHF, MI, stroke, CVM, HF, but not UA or AF. SGLT-2i has robust benefits on reducing MACE, ACM, HHF, MI, stroke, CVM and HF regardless of a history of usage rate of GLP-1RA and/or statins and /or metformin. SGLT-2i does not increase the risk of severe hypoglycemia and lower limb amputation.

Supramolecular nanogels fabricated via host-guest molecular recognition as penetration enhancer for dermal drug delivery.

Nanogels that are assembled by supramolecular interactions as compared to covalent crosslinked nanogels, exhibit new functionalities with potential for easy processability, recycling and self-healing due to the nature of dynamic and reversible non-covalent interactions. Here we design a supramolecular polymer nanogel that utilize host-guest interactions between the groups pillar [5] arene and alkyl chains on hyperbranched polyglycerol backbone as crosslinking agents for a new dermal drug delivery system. The anti-inflammatory drug Dexamethasone (Dexa) can be efficiently loaded into the nanogels and released from the assemblies. Besides, the supramolecular polymer nanogels exhibit better drug loading capacity and skin penetration enhancement than the individual host polymer and guest polymer. In vitro skin permeation studies show that supramolecular polymer nanogels can improve the Nile red penetration through the skin by up to 9 fold, compared to the individual polymers or a conventional cream formulation on a barrier deficient skin model.

Positively Charged Nanoaggregates Based on Zwitterionic Pillar[5]arene that Combat Planktonic Bacteria and Disrupt Biofilms.

Bacterial biofilms are difficult to eradicate because they are less susceptible to antibiotics and more easily develop resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need for new materials that can combat planktonic bacteria and disrupt established biofilms. To tackle this challenge, we design a multifunctional zwitterionic pillar[5]arene, which can self-assemble into weakly positively charged nanoaggregates that exhibit antibacterial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (DH5α) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (SH1000) bacterial strains in solution. In addition, the zwitterionic pillar[5]arene can efficiently disrupt pre-existing Escherichia coli (DH5α) biofilms and kill the biofilm-enclosed bacteria without rapid generation of resistance.

A degradable low molecular weight monomer system with lower critical solution temperature behaviour in water.

A degradable thermo-responsive system was prepared and investigated. The degradation behaviour induced by the cleavage process of the thermo-sensitive crown ethers effectively altered the thermo-responsiveness.

Structural water as an essential comonomer in supramolecular polymerization.

Although the concept of structural water that is bound inside hydrophobic pockets and helps to stabilize protein structures is well established, water has rarely found a similar role in supramolecular polymers. Water is often used as a solvent for supramolecular polymerization, however without taking the role of a comonomer for the supramolecular polymer structure. We report a low-molecular weight monomer whose supramolecular polymerization is triggered by the incorporation of water. The presence of water molecules as comonomers is essential to the polymerization process. The supramolecular polymeric material exhibits strong adhesion to surfaces, such as glass and paper. It can be used as a water-activated glue, which can be released at higher temperatures and reused many times without losing its performance.

Construction of Functional Coatings with Durable and Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Potential Based on Mussel-Inspired Dendritic Polyglycerol and in Situ-Formed Copper Nanoparticles.

A novel surface coating with durable broad-spectrum antibacterial ability was prepared based on mussel-inspired dendritic polyglycerol (MI-dPG) embedded with copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs). The functional surface coating is fabricated via a facile dip-coating process followed by in situ reduction of copper ions with a MI-dPG coating to introduce Cu NPs into the coating matrix. This coating has been demonstrated to possess efficient long-term antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and kanamycin-resistant E. coli through an "attract-kill-release" strategy. The synergistic antibacterial activity of the coating was shown by the combination of two functions of the contact killing, reactive oxygen species production and Cu ions released from the coating. Furthermore, this coating inhibited biofilm formation and showed good compatibility to eukaryotic cells. Thus, this newly developed Cu NP-incorporated MI-dPG surface coating may find potential application in the design of antimicrobial coating, such as implantable devices.

pH-degradable PVA-based nanogels via photo-crosslinking of thermo-preinduced nanoaggregates for controlled drug delivery.

pH-Degradable PVA nanogels, which are prepared by photo-crosslinking thermo-preinduced PVA nanoaggregates in water without any surfactants or toxic organic solvents, are used for intracellular PTX release and anticancer treatment. These nanogels fast degraded at mildly acidic conditions with a pH-triggered PTX release, and the degradation products are only native PVA and poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) as well as acetaldehyde without any toxic byproducts. The nanogel sizes could be tailored by different temperatures during the crosslinking process. The results of confocal microscopy and flow cytometry revealed that smaller nanogels exhibited enhanced internalization with MCF-7 cells than the ones treated with larger nanogels, by which the smaller PTX-loaded nanogels induced a more significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells. GRAPHIC ABSTRACT: pH-Degradable PVA nanogels can be prepared by photo-crosslinking of thermo-preinduced nanoaggregates with tailored nanogel sizes given their pH-triggered PTX release and fast acid-degradation into native PVA and cell-compatible poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) as well as acetaldehyde.

Enzyme-responsive pillar[5]arene-based polymer-substituted amphiphiles: synthesis, self-assembly in water, and application in controlled drug release.

An enzyme-responsive drug delivery system was constructed from a pillar[5]arene-based polyethyleneglycol-substituted amphiphile which self-assembles into micelles in water. These micelles exhibit superior drug encapsulation capability, and display drug release behaviour in response to enzyme catalysis, in particular to L-asparaginase. Doxorubicin-loaded micelles show significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cancer cells.

Construction of supramolecular organogels and hydrogels from crown ether based unsymmetric bolaamphiphiles.

A bolaamphiphilic low-molecular-weight gelator based on crown ether, which could self-assemble into organogels and hydrogels, was prepared. The contribution of each part of the structure to the gelation property was investigated by designing a series of analogues. A simple framework (crown ether-hydrophobic linkage-ammonium salt) was proposed.

Synergistic inhibition of breast cancer by co-delivery of VEGF siRNA and paclitaxel via vapreotide-modified core-shell nanoparticles.

A somatostatin analog, vapreotide (VAP), can be used as a ligand for targeting drug delivery based on its high affinity to somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), which is overexpressed in many tumor cells. RNA interference plays an important role on downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is important for tumor growth, progression and metastasis. To improve tumor therapy efficacy, the vapreotide-modified core-shell type nanoparticles co-encapsulating VEGF targeted siRNA (siVEGF) and paclitaxel (PTX), termed as VAP-PLPC/siRNA NPs, were developed in this study. When targeted via somatostatin receptors to tumor cells, the VAP-PLPC/siRNA NPs could simultaneously delivery siVEGF and PTX into cells and achieve a synergistic inhibition of tumor growth. Interestingly, in vitro cell uptake and gene silencing experiments demonstrated that the targeted VAP-PLPC/siRNA NPs exhibited significant higher intracellular siRNA accumulation and VEGF downregulation in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, compared to those of the non-targeted PEG-PLPC/siRNA NPs. More importantly, in vivo results further demonstrated that the targeted VAP-PLPC/siRNA NPs had significant stronger drug distribution in tumor tissues and tumor growth inhibition efficacy via receptor-mediated targeting delivery, accompany with an obvious inhibition of neovascularization induced by siVEGF silencing. These results suggested that the co-delivery of siRNA and paclitaxel via vapreotide-modified core-shell nanoparticles would be a promising approach for tumor targeted therapy.