Monitoring quality changes in green tea during storage: A hyperspectral imaging method.

The quality of green tea deteriorates the longer it is stored. However, there is a lack of accurate and rapid methods for determining the storage period of tea. In this study, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was used to determine the storage period of green teas stored at 4 °C (set 1) and 25 °C (set 2), and to quantify and visualize the main chemical components (e.g. catechins). In this study, three prediction algorithms were compared, in which partial least squares discriminant analysis outperformed the other models in qualitative discrimination, with 98% and 96% correct discrimination for two sets, respectively. Moreover, quantitative models for ester catechins, simple catechins, and total catechins were developed with Rp > 0.90 and RPD > 1.0, indicating that the models were reliable. Further, a more intuitive visualization of catechin content was achieved. In conclusion, the HSI provides a rapid, non-destructive method to determine the freshness of stored green tea.

Data-driven classification of prediabetes using cardiometabolic biomarkers: Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2016.

Background: Cluster analyses have proposed different prediabetes phenotypes using glycemic parameters, body fat distribution, liver fat content, and insulin sensitivity. We aimed at classifying the subjects with prediabetes using cluster analysis and exploring the associations between prediabetes clusters with hypertension and kidney function. Methods: Patients with prediabetes in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) underwent comprehensive phenotyping and physical and laboratory variable assessment. We identified six clusters using consensus clustering analysis based on the measurements representing the body fat, glycemic status, pancreatic islet function, blood lipids, and liver function. Differences in the characteristics and prevalence of hypertension, decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and increased albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) were compared between clusters. Results: A total of 4,385 subjects with prediabetes were classified into six clusters of distinctive patterns by manifesting higher or lower levels of certain metabolic parameters in each cluster. Subjects with prediabetes in cluster 1 had the lowest prevalence of hypertension, decreased eGFR, and increased ACR, whereas these were much higher in cluster 5 and cluster 6. Except for cluster 3, all the other clusters had significantly increased odds ratio (OR) of hypertension as compared with cluster 1. Compared with cluster 1, all the other clusters presented significantly increased ORs of decreased eGFR. There were also significantly higher ORs of increased ACR for cluster 5 (OR 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-3.51) and cluster 6 (OR 2.02, 95%CI = 1.15-3.52) compared with cluster 1. Conclusion: We stratified subjects with prediabetes into six subgroups with different characteristics. With further development and validation, such approaches might guide early intervention on the risk factors for the subjects with prediabetes who would benefit most.

The effects of Alisol B 23-acetate in hepatocellular carcinoma via inducing cell apoptosis and inhibiting cell migration and invasion.

Alisol B 23-acetate (AB23A) is a natural triterpenoid isolated from Chinese herbal medicine and has a variety of biological functions, especially anti-cancer effects. However, the effects and mechanisms of AB23A in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Cell viability, invasion and migration were measured by MTT, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. To detect cell cycle and apoptosis, a flow cytometry assay was used. Tumor xenograft experiment was performed to measure tumor growth. The enzymatic assay was used to determine the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein levels of Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-3/-9, MMP-2/-9 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting assays. AB23A suppressed cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, blocked cell cycle, and induced apoptosis via up-regulating Bax, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9, and down-regulating Bcl-2 in HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, AB23A inhibited cell invasion and migration through down-regulating MMP-2/-9 activities. The effects of AB23A might be associated with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in HCC cells. Taken together, the present data demonstrated that AB23A might play a role in suppressing the progression of HCC, revealing the value of AB23A for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment in clinic.