Advanced Insights into Walnut Protein: Structure, Physiochemical Properties and Applications.

Facing extreme pressure from an increasing population and climate degeneration, it is important to explore a green, safe and environmentally sustainable food source, especially for protein-enriched diets. Plant proteins have gained much attention in recent years, ascribing to their high nutritional value and environmental friendliness. In this review, we summarized recent advances in walnut protein with respect to its geographical distribution, structural and physiochemical properties and functional attributes. As a worldwide cultivated and largely consumptive crop, allergies and some physicochemical limitations have also led to a few concerns about walnut protein. Through comprehensive analysis and discussion, some strategies may be useful for future research, extraction and processing of walnut protein.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the CAD Gene Family in Walnut (Juglans regia L.).

Lignin deficiency in the endocarp of walnuts causes kernel bare, leads to inconvenient processing and transportation of walnuts, and easily produces insect damage and mildew, thereby affecting the quality of walnuts. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) is one of the key rate-limiting enzymes in lignin synthesis and plays an important role in the synthesis of lignin in the endocarp of walnut. However, knowledge about CAD gene family members and their evolutionary and functional characteristics in walnuts is limited. In this study, all 18 JrCADs were identified, and phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, protein motifs, collinearity analysis, and expression patterns of the JrCADs were also analyzed. All JrCADs could be divided into three groups based on the phylogenetic tree, gene structure, and motif analysis also support this grouping. Transcriptome data demonstrated that JrCADs have different expression patterns in walnut endocarps at different developmental stages. Combined with qRT-PCR data, we finally identified several candidate JrCADs involved in the process of endocarp sclerosis. This study showed that the JrCAD family members are highly conservative in evolutionary characteristics and they might participate in a variety of hormone responses. JrCAD17 and JrCAD18 are highly expressed in all periods of walnut endocarp harding, they are closely related to lignin accumulation.

[Effects of emergency medical service on prognosis of ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of emergency medical service (EMS) on the prognosis of ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis. METHODS: Clinical data of 2123 ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis in 70 hospitals in Zhejiang province were retrospectively analyzed. There were 808 patients sent to the hospital by ambulance (EMS group) and 1315 patients by other transportations (non-EMS group). Good outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤ 2 at 3-month. The onset to needle time (ONT), onset to door time (ODT), door to needle time (DNT) and outcome were compared between EMS group and non-EMS group. Binary logistic regression was used to explore the influencing factors for the outcome at 3-month. RESULTS: Compared with the non-EMS group, patients in the EMS group were older, with higher baseline National Institute of Health Sroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and had a higher proportion of atrial fibrillation (all P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in ONT, ODT and DNT between two groups (all P>0.05). Binary logistic regression showed that EMS was not independently associated with good outcome (OR=0.856, 95%CI:0.664-1.103, P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: EMS had not improve the outcome of patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis in Zhejiang province.

[Advanced treatment time improves outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke undergoing reperfusion therapy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of treatment time on the outcome of patients with ischemic stroke undergoing reperfusion therapy. METHODS: The clinical data of 3229 ischemic stroke patients who received intravenous thrombolysis with or without arterial thrombolysis from 71 hospitals in Zhejiang province from June 2017 to September 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The good outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤ 2. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association of door to needle time (DNT), or door to reperfusion time (DRT) with the outcomes in patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis or bridging arterial thrombolysis, respectively. RESULTS: Binary logistic regression showed that DNT (OR=0.994, 95%CI:0.991-0.997, P<0.01) or DRT (OR=0.989, 95%CI:0.983-0.995, P<0.01) were independently associated with good outcomes, respectively. Every hour decreases in DNT resulted in a 4.7%increased probability of functional independence (mRS 0-2) in patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis; Every hour decreases in DRT was associated with a 11.4%increased probability of functional independence in patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis with arterial thrombolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Good outcomes are associated with lower DNT in ischemic stroke patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis or lower DRT in patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis bridging arterial thrombolysis.

[Analysis of intravenous thrombolysis time and prognosis in patients with in-hospital stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the time delay between in-hospital stroke and out-of-hospital stroke patients, and to explore the influence factors for the prognosis of in-hospital stroke patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis. METHODS: Clinical data of 3050 patients with ischemic stroke who received intravenous thrombolysis in 71 hospitals in Zhejiang province from June 2017 to September 2018 were analyzed. Differences of time delay including door to imaging time (DIT), imaging to needle time (INT) and door to needle time (DNT) between in-hospital stroke (n=101) and out-of-hospital stroke (n=2949) were observed. The influencing factors for the outcome at 3 month after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with in-hospital stroke were analyzed using binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Patients with in-hospital stroke had longer DIT[53.5 (32.0-79.8) min vs. 20.0 (14.0-28.0) min, P<0.01], longer IDT[47.5(27.3-64.0)min vs. 36.0(24.0-53.0)min, P<0.01], and longer DNT[99.0 (70.5-140.5) min vs. 55.0 (41.0-74.0) min, P<0.01], compared with patients with out-of-hospital stroke; patients in comprehensive stroke center had longer DIT[59.5(44.5-83.3) min vs. 37.5(16.5-63.5) min, P<0.01], longer DNT[110.0(77.0-145.0) min vs. 88.0 (53.8-124.3) min, P<0.05], but shorter INT[36.5(23.8-60.3)min vs. 53.5 (34.3-64.8) min, P<0.05], compared with patients in primary stroke center. Age (OR=0.934, 95%CI: 0.882-0.989, P<0.05) and baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score (OR=0.912, 95%CI: 0.855-0.973, P<0.01) were independent risk factors for prognosis of in-hospital stroke patients. CONCLUSIONS: In-hospital stroke had longer DIT and DNT than out-of-hospital stroke, which suggests that a more smooth thrombolysis process of in-hospital stroke should be established.

[Association of atrial fibrillation with hemorrhagic transformation after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of atrial fibrillation (AF) with hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in patients with ischemic stroke treated by intravenous thrombolysis. METHODS: Clinical data of 3272 patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis from 71 hospitals in Zhejiang Province during June 2017 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Intracranial HT was defined as intracranial hemorrhage suggested by imaging examination 24 hours after intravenous thrombolysis. Patients were dichotomized into HT group (n=533) and non-HT group (n=2739). The association of AF and HT was analyzed by univariate analysis and binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Compared with the non-HT group, the HT group were older, had longer onset to needle time (ONT), higher baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, higher baseline glucose level, and higher AF rate (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that AF was independently associated with HT (OR=2.527, 95%CI:2.030-3.146, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: AF is independently associated with the occurrence of HT in ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

[Effect of different working time on the prognosis of ischemic stroke patients undergoing intravenous thrombolysis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of working time on the prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke undergoing intravenous thrombolysis. METHODS: Clinical data of 3050 patients with ischemic stroke received intravenous thrombolysis from 71 hospitals in Zhejiang Province during June 2017 and September 2018 were retrospective analyzed. Whole day of Saturday and Sunday were defined as weekend; whole day of Monday to Friday were defined as weekdays; Monday to Friday 8:00-17:00 were defined as daytime of weekdays; Monday to Friday 17:01-07:59 on next day were defined as nights of weekdays; unconventional working time were defined as weekend and nights of weekdays. Good outcome was defined as mRS 0-2 at 3 months. Univariate analyses of baseline and prognostic variables in group of weekend and weekdays, nights of weekdays and daytime of weekdays, unconventional working time and daytime of weekdays were performed. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate whether weekend, nights of weekdays and unconventional working time were independent predicting factors of outcome after intravenous thrombolysis, respectively. RESULTS: There was no difference in 7-day mortality, 3-month mortality and good outcome at 3-month between weekend group and weekdays group, nights of weekdays group and daytime of weekdays group, unconventional working time group and daytime of weekdays group (all P>0.05). Binary logistic regression results showed that weekends, nights of weekdays and unconventional working time were not independent predicting factors for outcome after intravenous thrombolysis (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The working time has not affected the outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke undergoing intravenous thrombolysis in studied hospitals of Zhejiang province.

Influence of pH and salt concentration on functional properties of walnut protein from different extraction methods.

The effect of pH and NaCl on solubility and functional properties of walnut proteins obtained through AOT reverse micelles, enzyme-assisted reverse micelles and aqueous phase extraction methods was investigated and compared. Extraction yield, foaming properties, water holding capacities of protein obtained through enzyme-assisted reverse micelles at pH 2-12 and NaCl concentration 0.1-1 M were significantly higher than those of the AOT reverse micelles and aqueous phase extracted two. The solubility of proteins by AOT reverse micelles and enzyme-assisted reverse micelles at certain pH and NaCl concentration had no significant difference, but was higher that of the aqueous buffer. Oil holding capacity of three proteins was 2.35, 3.96 and 1.08 cm3/g, respectively. At pH 6-12 and NaCl concentration 0.1-1 M, the emulsifying activity of protein from AOT reverse micelles was higher than those of other two methods, while the emulsifying stability of protein from enzyme-assisted reverse micelles was the highest. The functional properties of walnut proteins were affected by extraction methods. It indicated that the walnut protein might be potentially applied in food industry as a food ingredient.

[Relationship between polymorphism sites of Tim-3 and allergic rhinitis in a population of Uigurs and Hans from Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region of China].

OBJECTIVE: To find the relationship between the polymorphism of the Tim-3 gene mononucleotide site rs10515746 (-574G > T), rs4704853 (-882C > T), rs13170556, rs6555849 and the allergic rhinitis (AR) susceptibility in a population of Uigurs and Hans from Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region of China. METHODS: The two mononucleotide polymorphism site of Uigur and Han AR patients and normal people were analyzed in Xinjiang in terms of SNaPshot SNP typing technique. The gene type and allelomorph frequency were than calculated. According to the Tim-3 gene layout, the gene type and the allelomorph frequency had been calculated. The Hardy-Weinberg balance law had been used for exam ination. RESULTS: There were no statistic differences between the genotype and alleles of each frequency [site rs10515746(-574G > T), rs4704853 (-882C > T), rs13170556 and rs6555849)] of Uighurs, in group AR and matched group (all P > 0.05). There were no statistic differences between the genotype and alleles of each frequency of Han people in group AR and matched group (all P > 0.05). Except Han cases site rs4704853, the distribution of other genotype and alleles of each frequency accord with heredity balance through the Hardy-Weinberg balance law. CONCLUSIONS: In Xinjiang Uigur autonomous region, locus of gene Tim-3, site rs10515746(-574G > T), rs4704853(-882C > T), rs13170556 and rs6555849, has the polymorphism of the Tim-3 gene mononucleotide. There is no correlation between AR susceptibility and Tim-3 gene mononucleotide site of Uigur people and Han people in Xinjiang.

[Study on the relationship between SNP of CD14 gene and allergic rhinitis in Xinjiang Uygurs and Hans].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between CD14 gene rs2569192(C/G), rs3138078 (--1359G/T) and allergic rhinitis (AR) in Xinjiang Uygur and Han populations as well as to determine characteristics of polymorphisms. METHOD: A total of 300 AR and 300 healthy controls subjects were included. The frequencies of genotypes and alleles were detected as well as the levels of tIgE in different genotypes were compared. RESULT: (1) The distribution of genotypes or alleles of CD14 gene rs2569192 (C/G), rs3138078 (--1359G/T) had no differences between the Xinjiang Uygurs and Hans (P > 0.05). The highest frequency of alleles was C, G. (2) The frequencies of genotypes and alleles were not different between the AR and control group in Uygur and Han (P > 0.05). The frequencies of genotypes and alleles of rs2569192 were different between the Uygur AR and Han AR group (P < 0.05). (3) The distribution of genotype frequencies and allele of rs 2569192 in the Xinjiang Uygur and Han population were quite different from Chinese Beijing Han populations, Japanese, European and African (P < 0.05). (4) The serum total IgE level in AR group was higher than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: (1) rs2569192 (C/G), rs3138078 (--1359G/T) polymorphisms were not different between the Chinese Xinjiang Uygur and Han population. The major allele were both C and G. rs2569192 of CD14 in Xinjiang populations was different from that in the other populations. (2) No relationship between rs2569192, rs3138078 and AR was found. (3) The serum total IgE level in AR group was higher than that in healthy control group. No relationship between CD14 two SNP and serum total IgE level was found.