Analysis of Chemical Changes during Maturation of Amomum tsao-ko Based on GC-MS, FT-NIR, and FT-MIR.

Amomum tsao-ko Crevost et Lemaire (A. tsao-ko) is widely grown for its high nutritional and economic value. However, the lack of a scientific harvesting and quality control system has resulted in an uneven product quality. The present study was based on A. tsao-ko from four maturity stages from the same growing area, and its chemical trends and quality were evaluated using a combination of agronomic trait analysis, spectroscopy, chromatography, chemometrics, and network pharmacology. The results showed that A. tsao-ko was phenotypically dominant in October. Spectroscopy showed that the absorbance intensity at different maturity stages showed a trend of October > September > August > July. Further chemical differences between A. tsao-ko at different stages of maturity were found by chromatography to originate mainly from alcohol, aromatic, acids, esters, hydrocarbons, ketone, heterocyclic, and aldehydes. The network pharmacology results showed that the active ingredient for the treatment of obesity was present in A. tsao-ko and had high levels in A. tsao-ko in September and October. The results of this study provide a new idea for the comprehensive evaluation of A. tsao-ko and a theoretical basis for the harvesting and resource utilization of A. tsao-ko.

Effects of Salinity on Physicochemical Properties, Flavor Compounds, and Bacterial Communities in Broad Bean Paste-Meju Fermentation.

Broad bean paste (BBP) is a traditional fermented soy food, and its high salt content not only prolongs the fermentation time but also threatens human health. In this study, three BBP-meju with different salt concentrations were prepared, and the effects of varying salinity on fermentation were comprehensively compared. The results showed that salt-reduced fermentation contributed to the accumulation of amino acid nitrogen, reducing sugars, free amino acids, and organic acids. Alcohols, esters, aldehydes, and acids were the main volatile flavor compounds in BBP-meju, and the highest total volatile flavor compounds were found in medium-salt meju. Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Aspergillus, and Mortierella were the dominant microbial communities during fermentation, and there were also three opportunistic pathogens, Enterobacter, Pantoea, and Brevundimonas, respectively. According to Spearman correlation analysis, Wickerhamomyces, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Mortierella all showed highly significant positive correlations with ≥3 key flavor compounds, which may be the core functional flora. Furthermore, the dominant microbial genera worked synergistically to promote the formation of high-quality flavor compounds and inhibit the production of off-flavors during salt-reduced fermentation. This study provides a theoretical reference for the quality and safety control of low-salt fermented soy foods.

Fluorinated liquid-crystal monomers in infant formulas and implication for health risk.

Fluorinated liquid-crystal monomers (FLCMs), a new class of potential persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) emerging pollutants, are extensively utilized in the display panel of various electronic devices. These compounds have been found in various environmental matrixes and dietary. Our previous studies have documented their ubiquitous occurrence in high fat foodstuffs. Infants, a vulnerable group, are more susceptible to the impacts of these pollutants compared to adults. Herein, we provided an assessment of the health risks posed by FLCMs to infants, focusing on their exposure through infant formula. The presence of FLCMs was detected in all infant formulas, with median concentration of 16.5 ng/g dry weight (dw) and the 95th percentile concentration of 65.7 ng/g dw. The most prevalent pollutant in these formulas was 2-fluoro-4-[4'-propyl-1,1'-bi(cyclohexyl)-4-yl] phenyl trifluoromethyl ether (FPrBP), with median and a 95th percentile concentration of 12.2 ng/g dw and 23.8 ng/g dw, accounting for 55.2% to the total FLCMs. Infants aged 0-6 months had the highest estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of FLCMs, with the EDImedian of 267 ng/kg bw/day. FPrBP and 4-[trans-4-(trans-4-Propylcyclohexyl) cyclohexyl]-1-trifluoromethoxybenzene (PCTB) together made up 83.3% of the total EDIs in median exposure scenario of 0-6 months infant. The highest EDI value was 1.30 × 103 ng/kg bw/day, 77.1% of which was attributed to a combination of FPrBP, 4″-ethyl-2'-fluoro-4-propyl-1,1':4',1″-terphenyl (EFPT), 2-[4'-[difluoro(3,4,5-trifluoro-2-methyl-phenoxy)methyl]-3',5'-difluoro-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl]-5-ethyl-tetrahydro-pyran (DTMPMDP), 4-[Difluoro-(3,4,5-trifluoro-2-methyl-phenoxy)-methyl]-3,5-difluoro-4'-propyl-1,1-biphenyl (DTMPMDB), 2,3-difluoro-1-methyl-4-[(trans, trans)-4'-pentyl[1,1'-bicyclohexyl]-4-yl]benzene (DMPBB) and PCTB. It's worth noting that FLCMs have higher exposure risk. Based on the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) method, the EDImedian of FPrBP (183 ng/kg bw/day) and FPCB (3.27 ng/kg bw/day) were beyond their TTC values (2.5 ng/kg bw/day) in 0-6 months infant, implying their prospective health risk.

Case report: Diagnosis and surgical treatment of delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia with hepatothorax and enterothorax in a small dog.

An 8-year-old castrated male teddy bear dog presented to our clinic with a persistent cough. The sick dog suffered from vehicular trauma 6 months prior to the visit and had imaging and exploratory laparotomy. Imaging and exploratory laparotomy at the time showed no significant damage. We performed contrast radiography (barium gavage) on the sick dog. Based on the results of a complete contrast radiography (barium gavage), tubular shadows in the thoracic cavity were identified as the small intestine and cecum, and delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia with hepatothorax and enterothorax was confirmed with radiographs. Accordingly, the sick dog underwent general anesthesia, manual ventilation and diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy by standard ventral midline abdominal approach. Postoperatively, the dog was given analgesia and antibacterial treatment, and the liver biochemical indexes were monitored to prevent endotoxin. Postoperative radiographs revealed clear contours of thoracic and abdominal organs. The dog moved, ate, and urinated normally within 10 days of the surgery. This case provides a reference for a complete barium meal imaging procedure that clearly shows the position of the organs in the thoracoabdominal cavity after the occurrence of a delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. This paper provides a practical reference for the diagnosis of delayed traumatic diaphragmatic hernia with hepatothorax and enterothorax.

Association analysis of antibiotic and disinfectant resistome in human and foodborne E. coli in Beijing, China.

The widespread use of chemical disinfectants and antibiotics poses a major threat to food safety and human health. However, the mechanisms of co-transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and biocides and metal resistance genes (BMRGs) of foodborne pathogens in the food chain is still unclear. This study isolated 343 E. coli strains from animal-derived foods in Beijing and incorporated online data of human-derived E. coli strains from NCBI. Our results demonstrated a relatively uniform distribution of strains from various regions in Beijing, indicating a lack of region-specific clustering. Additionally, predominant sequence types varied between food- and human-derived strains, suggesting a preference for different hosts and environments. Phenotypic association analysis showed that the chlorine disinfectants peroxides had a significant positive correlation with tetracyclines. Many more ARGs and BMRGs were enriched in human-associated E. coli compared with those in chicken- and pork-origin. The quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) resistance gene qacEΔ1 had a strong correlation with aminoglycoside resistance gene aadA5, folate pathway antagonist resistance gene dfrA17, sul1 and macrolide resistance gene mph(A). The correlation results indicated a significant association between the copper resistance gene cluster pco and the silver resistance gene cluster sil. Coexistence of many resistance genes was observed within the qacEΔ1 gene structure, with qacEΔ1-sul1 being the most common combination. Our findings demonstrated that the epidemiological spread of resistance is affected by a combination of heavy metals, disinfectants and antibiotic use, suggesting that the prevention and control strategies of antimicrobial resistance need to be multifaceted and comprehensive.

Metal-Organic Framework Supported Low-Nuclearity Cluster Catalysts for Highly Selective Carbon Dioxide Electroreduction to Ethanol.

It is still a great challenge to achieve high selectivity of ethanol in CO2 electroreduction reactions (CO2RR) because of the similar reduction potentials and lower energy barrier of possible other C2+ products. Here, we report a MOF-based supported low-nuclearity cluster catalysts (LNCCs), synthesized by electrochemical reduction of three-dimensional (3D) microporous Cu-based MOF, that achieves a single-product Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 82.5% at -1.0 V (versus the reversible hydrogen electrode) corresponding to the effective current density is 8.66 mA cm-2. By investigating the relationship between the species of reduction products and the types of catalytic sites, it is confirmed that the multi-site synergism of Cu LNCCs can increase the C-C coupling effect, and thus achieve high FE of CO2-to-ethanol. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculation and operando attenuated total reflectance surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy further confirmed the reaction path and mechanism of CO2-to-EtOH.

Novel diacylglycerol oil-based nanostructured lipid carriers improves the stability and digestibility of lycopene.

Diacylglycerol (DAG) has garnered attention for its safe and nutritious qualities, and its utilization in emulsion systems to encapsulate hydrophobic bioactives is anticipated to enhance their bioaccessibility. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of DAG oil as a carrier on the stability and digestive characteristics of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) containing lycopene (LYC). The results indicated that DAG oil demonstrated superior storage and heating stability in comparison to triacylglycerol (TAG) oil. Furthermore, NLCs formulated with DAG oil exhibited a faster rate of lipolysis (>76.3%) and higher loading capacity (1.48%), resulting in an approximate 11% enhancement in the bioaccessibility of LYC (reaching up to 31.4%). DAG oils show considerable potential for enhancing and prolonging the properties and bioactivity of NLC carriers, thereby boosting bioaccessibility. The incorporation of DAG oil in food systems holds promise for enriching their functionality over traditional TAG oil.

Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain infection in China: A national multicenter survey of 35,566 individuals.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the epidemiology of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to COVID-19 in China. Methods: This study was conducted by 45 tertiary Grade-A hospitals in China. Online and offline questionnaire data were obtained from patients infected with COVID-19 between December 28, 2022, and February 21, 2023. The collected information included basic demographics, medical history, smoking and drinking history, vaccination history, changes in olfactory and gustatory functions before and after infection, and other postinfection symptoms, as well as the duration and improvement status of olfactory and gustatory disorders. Results: Complete questionnaires were obtained from 35,566 subjects. The overall incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunction was 67.75%. Being female or being a cigarette smoker increased the likelihood of developing olfactory and taste dysfunction. Having received four doses of the vaccine or having good oral health or being a alcohol drinker decreased the risk of such dysfunction. Before infection, the average olfactory and taste VAS scores were 8.41 and 8.51, respectively; after infection, they decreased to 3.69 and 4.29 and recovered to 5.83 and 6.55 by the time of the survey. The median duration of dysosmia and dysgeusia was 15 and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% of patients having symptoms lasting for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate was 59.16%. Recovery was higher in males, never smokers, those who received two or three vaccine doses, and those that had never experienced dental health issues, or chronic accompanying symptoms. Conclusions: The incidence of dysosmia and dysgeusia following infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is high in China. Incidence and prognosis are influenced by several factors, including sex, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, history of head-facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking and drinking history, and the persistence of accompanying symptoms.

Comparison of aqueous and non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis for the determination of four benzalkonium chloride homologues in compound chemical disinfectants.

A new method was established for the simultaneous analysis of four homologous benzalkonium chlorides (dodecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, tetradecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, hexadecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, and octadecyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride) in compound chemical disinfectants using non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis (CE) based on a micellar electrokinetic chromatography mode with direct ultraviolet detection. The separation was performed on an uncoated fused quartz capillary with a total length of 60.2 cm and a diameter of 25 µm. The separation buffer consisted of a mixture of methanol/acetonitrile (60:40, v/v) containing 70 mmol/L sodium acetate, 60 mmol/L trifluoroacetic acid and 20 mmol/L sodium dodecyl sulfate. The sample buffer was a methanol solution containing only 2 mmol/L trifluoroacetic acid. The separation voltage was set at 8 kV with a working current of approximately 2.3 µA. The detection wavelength was 214 nm. Under optimal conditions, the limit of detection and limit of quantification for these four benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) were 1.0 mg/L and 5.0 mg/L, respectively. Good linearities were observed in the concentration ranges from 5.0 to 100.0 mg/L, with correlation coefficients above 0.999 for all compounds. The recoveries of these four BACs ranged from 92.5 % to 109.1 % with relative standard deviations below 4.7 %. With the new method, all four BACs could be analyzed in a single injection. In contrast, the aqueous CE method in the National Standard GB/T 26369-2020 only allowed for the simultaneous analysis of the first three homologous. The new method demonstrated the improved peak shape compared to the aqueous CE method and then was successfully applied to the analysis of 19 commercially available samples, such as object table disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and disinfectant wipes, which claimed to contain quaternary ammonium compound. The results obtained using the new method were compared with those of the aqueous CE of the National Standard Method, and no statistically significant differences were observed. The new method is simple in pre-treatment and provides accurate results, making it highly suitable for routine analysis.

Cevanine-type steroidal alkaloids from the bulbs of Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don.

Eight previously undescribed cevanine-type steroidal alkaloids, cirrhosinones I-N and cirrhosinols A-B, along with five known analogs, were isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive analysis of HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. All compounds revealed weak NO inhibitory activities in the LPS-stimulated NR8383 cells at the concentration of 20 µM, with inhibition ratios ranging from 5.1% to 14.3%.

Predictive potential of preoperative Naples prognostic score-based nomogram model for the prognosis in surgical resected thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients: A retrospective cohort study.

The present study aimed to establish an effective prognostic nomogram model based on the Naples prognostic score (NPS) for resectable thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A total of 277 patients with ESCC, who underwent standard curative esophagectomy and designated as study cohort, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into different groups, including NPS 0, NPS 1, NPS 2, and NPS 3 or 4 groups, for further analysis, and the results were validated in an external cohort of 122 ESCC patients, who underwent surgery at another cancer center. In our multivariate analysis of the study cohort showed that the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, systemic inflammation score, and NPS were the independent prognostic factors for the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) durations. In addition, the differential grade was also an independent prognostic factor for the OS in the patients with ESCC after surgery (all P < .05). The area under the curve of receiver operator characteristics for the PFS and OS prediction with systemic inflammation score and NPS were 0.735 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.676-0.795, P < .001) and 0.835 (95% CI 0.786-0.884, P < .001), and 0.734 (95% CI 0.675-0.793, P < .001) and 0.851 (95% CI 0.805-0.896, P < .001), respectively. The above independent predictors for OS or PFS were all selected in the nomogram model. The concordance indices (C-indices) of the nomogram models for predicting OS and PFS were 0.718 (95% CI 0.681-0.755) and 0.669 (95% CI 0.633-0.705), respectively, which were higher than that of the 7th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging system [C-index 0.598 (95% CI 0.558-0.638) for OS and 0.586 (95% CI 0.546-0.626) for PFS]. The calibration curves for predicting the 5-year OS or PFS showed a good agreement between the prediction by nomogram and actual observation. In the external validation cohort, the nomogram discrimination for OS was better than that of the 7th edition of TNM staging systems [C-index: 0.697 (95% CI 0.639-0.755) vs 0.644 (95% CI 0.589-0.699)]. The calibration curves showed good consistency in predicting the 5-year survival between the actual observation and nomogram predictions. The decision curve also showed a higher potential of the clinical application of predicting the 5-years OS of the proposed nomogram model as compared to that of the 7th edition of TNM staging systems. The preoperative NPS-based nomogram model had a certain potential role for predicting the prognosis of ESCC patients.

The quality of life after keratinized mucosa augmentation around dental implants using xenogenic collagen matrix with or without stent.

BACKGROUND: The substitution of missing teeth with implants is a dependable and anticipated therapeutic approach. Despite numerous studies affirming long-term success rates, there exists a spectrum of potential biological and aesthetic complications. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to assess patient responses subsequent to surgical interventions, with a specific emphasis on the utilization of xenogenic collagen matrix (XCM), both with and without the application of a stent secured over healing abutments, in the context of keratinized gingival mucosa augmentation. The principal aim was to evaluate and draw comparisons between the clinical outcomes resulting from these two procedural approaches, with a particular focus on critical parameters encompassing post-operative complications, patient comfort, and the overall efficacy in achieving successful keratinized tissue augmentation. methods: Sixty patients were selected for this study. The patients were divided into three groups: A, B, and a control group, with each group comprising 20 participants. We used XCM in experimental group A, XCM covered with surgical stent in experimental group B, and free gingival graft (FGG) in the control group. After the surgical procedure, patients were required to complete a visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaire for post-operative complications, and a quality of life (QOL) questionnaire on days 1, 3, and 7. RESULTS: Patients in the experimental groups A and B demonstrated markedly improved outcomes when compared with the control group. Assessments conducted on days 1, 3, and 7 demonstrated diminished levels of pain, bleeding, and swelling in both experimental groups, with experimental group B showing the least discomfort. The incorporation of XCM, either with or without stents, was associated with a reduction in analgesic consumption, underscoring its favorable influence on post-operative comfort, notwithstanding the exception of halitosis in experimental group B. CONCLUSION: Using XCM with or without a stent for keratinized tissue augmentation has better post-operative outcomes associated with reduced swelling, bleeding, and pain based on the QOL survey. This study provides data to support the clinical application of XCM and stents.

State of mental health, sleep status, and the interaction with health-related quality of life in HIV-infected Chinese patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To describe how mental health and sleep status influence the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to apply targeted interventions to improve the HRQOL. METHODS: A web-based online questionnaire survey was administered. Descriptive analysis was used to depict the mental health and sleep status. Correlation analysis and the structural equation model (SEM) method were used to analyze the influence of mental health and sleep status on HRQOL in PLWHA. RESULTS: After excluding 24 unqualified questionnaires, a total of 490 participants in this survey were included in the statistical analysis. Of the participants, 66.1% and 55.1% reported mild or worse symptoms of depression and anxiety, respectively. Overall, 70.0% had varying degrees of sleep problems. Correlation analysis showed that anxiety had the strongest correlation with sleep disturbances and sleep quality (R = 0.588 and 0.551, respectively), while depression had the strongest correlation with the HRQOL psychological and physical domains (R = - 0.759 and - 0.682, respectively). SEM analysis showed that depression, sleep quality, and psychological domains had the greatest item load on mental health, sleep status, and HRQOL (093, 0.82, and 0.89, respectively). Mental health had a more significant influence than sleep status on HRQOL, as indicated by factor loading (- 0.75 and - 0.15, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There were more severe mental health and sleep problems among PLWHA during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus, mental health intervention, especially to relieve depression symptoms, may be the most important approach to improve the HRQOL among PLWHA.

Accurately Modulating Binuclear Metal Nodes of Metal-Organic Frameworks for Oxygen Evolution.

The accurate manipulation of the species and locations of catalytic centers is crucial for regulating the catalytic activity of catalysts, which is essential for their efficient design and development. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with coordinated metal sites are ideal materials for investigating the origin of catalytic activity. In this study, we present a Ni2-MOF featuring novel Ni-based binuclear nodes with open metal sites (OMSs) and saturated metal sites (SMSs). The nickel was replaced by iron to obtain Ni1Fe1-MOF. In the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction, Ni1Fe1-MOF exhibited an overpotential and Tafel slope of 370 mV@10 mA cm-2 and 87.06 mV dec-1, respectively, which were higher than those of Ni2-MOF (283 mV@10 mA cm-2 and 39.59 mV dec-1, respectively), demonstrating the superior performance of Ni1Fe1-MOF. Furthermore, theoretical calculations revealed that iron as an SMS may effectively regulate the electronic structure of the nickel catalytic center to reduce the free energy barrier ΔG*OH of the rate-determining step.

Effects of pH-shifting and ultrasound on the structural and emulsifying properties of peanut globulin fractions.

This work investigated and compared the structural and emulsifying properties of peanut globulin fractions (conarachin and arachin) after ultrasonication (US) and pH2.5-shifting treatments, singly and in combination. Results showed that pH2.5-shifting was more effective in degrading peanut protein subunits and unfolding their structures than US treatment. Conarachin tended to aggregate during US and pH2.5-shifting treatments possibly due to higher free sulfhydryl content, while high molecular weight arachin tended to disaggregate during these treatments. pH2.5-shifting or US+pH2.5-shifting treatments significantly increased the surface hydrophobicity of conarachin (from 72 to 314) and arachin (from 336 to 888), which may be responsible for the enhancement of protein emulsifying activity. All treatments significantly improved the physical stability of arachin-stabilized emulsions with higher absolute potentials but lowered that of conarachin-stabilized emulsions. However, pH2.5-shifting or US+pH2.5-shifting treatments could improve the stability of conarachin-stabilized emulsions in the presence of salts.

Contamination of dairy products with tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite and implications for human exposure.

Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite (AO168), an organophosphite antioxidant, can be oxidized to tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate (AO168 = O) during the production, processing, and application of plastics. AO168 = O can be further transformed to bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol. Here, we discovered the contamination of AO168 and its transformation products in dairy products for the first time. More samples contained AO168 (mean concentration: 8.78 ng/g wet weight [ww]), bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphate (mean:11.1 ng/g ww) and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (mean: 46.8 ng/g ww) than AO168 = O (mean: 40.2 ng/g ww). The concentrations of AO168 and its transformation products were significantly correlated, and differed with the packaging material and storage conditions of the product. Estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of AO168 and its transformation products were calculated. Although the overall dietary risks were below one, transformation products accounted for 96.7% of the total hazard quotients. The high-exposure EDIs of total AO168 were above the threshold of toxicological concern (300 ng/kg bw/day), and deserve continual monitoring.

Emerging organophosphite and organophosphate esters in takeaway food and the implications for human exposure.

Takeaway food has become a prominent component of the diet in urban areas of China, especially for young people. Although dietary intake is a major pathway to contaminants for human exposure, studies on emerging organophosphite antioxidants (OPAs) and organophosphate esters (OPEs) in food are scarce. Here, we investigated four OPAs and 19 OPEs in takeaway foods (n = 99) and paired takeaway food packaging (n = 50) in China. AO168=O (mean: 14.9 ng/g ww), TPPO (mean: 1.05 ng/g ww), and TCIPP (mean: 0.579 ng/g ww) were dominant in the takeaway food. Some OPEs had significant correlations in takeaway food. Emerging OPAs and OPEs in takeaway food varied significantly depending on the packaging materials and food types. AO168 and AO168=O were widespread in the paired takeaway food packaging. The migration efficiencies of emerging OPAs and OPEs were low in takeaway food packaged in aluminum foil. Although the actual contamination of emerging OPAs and OPEs in takeaway food significantly differed from those of in food simulants migrated from paired takeaway food packaging, the results imply that food itself and takeaway food packaging are potential contamination sources of emerging OPAs and OPEs in takeaway food. The average estimated dietary intakes of emerging OPAs and OPEs were 465 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day and 91.9 ng/kg bw/day, respectively. The exposure risk of emerging OPAs and OPEs through takeaway food intake is low in China.

Enhancing enzymatic digestibility of bamboo residues using a combined low severity steam explosion and green liquor-sulfite pretreatment.

In this study, the effect of the green liquor (GL)-sulfite pretreatment on bamboo for enzymatic hydrolysis was investigated. The performance characterization of the pretreated bamboo substrates, including the chemical composition, and the structural characteristics was carried out. The results showed that 91.3% of lignin removal was achieved when the sample was treated with a GL loading of 12.0 mL per g-DS at 120 °C for 1 h. After 120 h hydrolysis with 18 FPU per g-cellulose for cellulase and 27 CBU per g-cellulose for glucosidase, the glucose yield increased from 54.6% to 89.6%. The SE-treated bamboo could bind more easily to cellulase than GL-sulfite treated bamboo could. The structural changes on the surface of the samples were characterized by SEM. The results indicated that the surface lignin could be effectively removed during pretreatment, thereby decreasing the enzyme-lignin binding activity.

The hepatotoxicity of hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid caused by apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondrial crosstalk.

As a ubiquitous pollutant in the environment, hexafluoropropylene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) has been proven to have strong hepatotoxicity. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Consequently, in vivo and in vitro models of HFPO-TA exposure were established to investigate the detrimental effects of HFPO-TA on the liver. In vivo, we discovered that HFPO-TA enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondrial association, caused mitochondrial oxidative damage, activated ER stress, and induced apoptosis in mouse livers. In vitro experiments confirmed that IP3R overexpression on ER structure increased mitochondrial calcium levels, which led to mitochondrial damage and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in HepG2 cells exposed to HFPO-TA. Subsequently, damaged mitochondria released a large amount of mitochondrial ROS, which activated ER stress and ER stress-dependent apoptosis. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that HFPO-TA can induce apoptosis by regulating the crosstalk between ER and mitochondria, ultimately leading to liver damage. These findings reveal the significant hepatotoxicity of HFPO-TA and its potential mechanisms.

Synthesis of Helical-Shaped Axially Chiral Bisoxime Ethers via Chiral Phosphoric-Acid-Catalyzed Sequential Enantioselective Condensations.

A successful synthesis of helical-shaped axially chiral bisoxime ethers is reported. This approach utilized symmetric L-shaped diketone scaffolds as carbonyl components for the enantioselective condensation with hydroxylamines, delivering dual axially chiral oxime ethers with up to 99% ee. Additionally, the axially chiral mono-oxime ethers of azabicyclic ketones with high ee's were also successfully produced. Various chiral bicyclic lactams can be readily synthesized via Beckmann rearrangement, demonstrating a potential application in organic synthetic chemistry.