Real­world evidence of advanced non­small cell lung carcinoma treated with an immune checkpoint inhibitor plus chemotherapy.

Immunotherapy is an effective treatment strategy for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although clinical trials on immunotherapy have provided promising results, real-world research in clinical practice is needed to assess the effectiveness and safety of immunotherapy. The present study aimed to characterize real-world outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based regimens. The medical records of patients with advanced NSCLC, who were treated with programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors, were reviewed for data collection. The primary objectives were to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Therefore, multiple Cox regression models were used to investigate the predictive factors for survival outcomes. Furthermore, survival curves for PFS and OS were created using Kaplan-Meier estimates and compared using the log-rank test. The present study included a total of 133 patients with advanced NSCLC who received therapy with ICIs between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022. The final follow-up date was August 24, 2023. The median PFS and OS times were 9.8 and 27.2 months, respectively. Univariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that sex, clinical stage, PD-L1 status, previous systemic therapy, and brain and liver metastases were associated with PFS, while Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status, clinical stage, PD-L1 status and brain metastasis were associated with OS. Furthermore, multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that a PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) of ≥50% was an indicator of favorable PFS and OS. An ECOG performance status score of ≥1 was also associated with poor OS but not with PFS. Furthermore, brain metastasis was an indicator for poor PFS and OS, while liver metastasis was only associated with a poor PFS. Finally, the results of the present study demonstrated that PD-L1 status was an independent predictor for PFS and OS in patients with advanced NSCLC, especially adenocarcinoma, who were treated with ICIs plus chemotherapy. The results also suggested that patients with a PD-L1 TPS of ≥50% could benefit when the aforementioned regimens were administrated as a first-line or later-line therapy.

A rumen-derived bifunctional glucanase/mannanase uncanonically releases oligosaccharides with a high degree of polymerization preferentially from branched substrates.

Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) are known to depolymerize polysaccharides into oligo-/mono-saccharides, they are extensively used as additives for both animals feed and our food. Here we reported the characterization of IDSGH5-14(CD), a weakly-acidic mesophilic bifunctional mannanase/glucanase of GH5, originally isolated from sheep rumen microbes. Biochemical characterization studies revealed that IDSGH5-14(CD) exhibited preferential hydrolysis of mannan-like and glucan-like substrates. Interestingly, the enzyme exhibited significantly robust catalytic activity towards branched-substrates compared to linear polysaccharides (P < 0.05). Substrate hydrolysis pattern indicated that IDSGH5-14(CD) predominantly liberated oligosaccharides with a degree of polymerization (DP) of 3-7 as the end products, dramatically distinct from canonical endo-acting enzymes. Comparative modeling revealed that IDSGH5-14(CD) was mainly comprised of a (ß/α)8-barrel-like structure with a spacious catalytic cleft on surface, facilitating the enzyme to target high-DP or branched oligosaccharides. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations further suggested that the branched-ligand, 64-α-D-galactosyl-mannohexose, was steadily accommodated within the catalytic pocket via a two-sided clamp formed by the aromatic residues. This study first reports a bifunctional GH5 enzyme that predominantly generates high-DP oligosaccharides, preferentially from branched-substrates. This provides novel insights into the catalytic mechanism and molecular underpinnings of polysaccharide depolymerization, with potential implications for feed additive development and high-DP oligosaccharides preparation.

Anti-tumor therapy of glycyrrhetinic acid targeted liposome co-delivery of doxorubicin and berberine for hepatocellular carcinoma.

During the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hepatic stellate cells undergo activation and transform into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) due to the influence of tumor cells. The interaction between CAFs and tumor cells can compromise the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs and promote tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. This study explores the potential of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)-modified liposomes (lip-GA) as a strategy for co-delivery of berberine (Ber) and doxorubicin (Dox) to treat HCC. The characterizations of liposomes, including particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, stability and in vitro drug release, were investigated. The study evaluated the anti-proliferation and anti-migration effects of Dox&Ber@lip-GA on the Huh-7 + LX-2 cell model were through MTT and wound-healing assays. Additionally, the in vivo drug distribution and anti-tumor efficacy were investigated using the H22 + NIH-3T3-bearing mouse model. The results indicated that Dox&Ber@lip-GA exhibited a nanoscale particle size, accumulated specifically in the tumor region, and was efficiently taken up by tumor cells. Compared to other groups, Dox&Ber@lip-GA demonstrated higher cytotoxicity and lower migration rates. Additionally, it significantly reduced the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) and inhibited tumor angiogenesis, thereby suppressing tumor growth. In conclusion, Dox&Ber@lip-GA exhibited superior anti-tumor effects both in vitro and in vivo, highlighting its potential as an effective therapeutic strategy for combating HCC.

Design and experimental study on closed-loop process of preparing chitosan from crab shells.

The purpose of this article is to design a green and comprehensive utilization process for preparing chitosan from crab shells. Glutamate acid was used as a decalcifying agent for crab shells, and the mixed solution of potassium hydroxide/isopropanol was used for deproteinization and deacetylation to prepare chitosan. Glutamic acid and isopropanol could be recovered for recycling. At the same time, calcium carbonate and protein in crab shells were converted into calcium hydrogen phosphate and compound fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively. The prepared chitosan was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and its deacetylation degree and viscosity average molecular weight were 88.7% ± 0.68% and 792.1 ± 10.82 kDa, respectively. The recoveries of glutamic acid and isopropanol were 95.56% ± 1.39% and 88.14% ± 1.13%, respectively. The prepared chitosan has large molecular weight and deacetylation degree, controllable production cost, comprehensive utilization of crab shell components, and greatly reduced waste emissions.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of two pectate lyases isolated from the sheep rumen microbiome.

Pectate lyases (Pels) have a vital function in degradation of the primary plant cell wall and the middle lamella and have been widely used in the industry. In this study, two pectate lyase genes, IDSPel16 and IDSPel17, were cloned from a sheep rumen microbiome. The recombinant enzymes were expressed in Escherichia coli and functionally characterized. Both IDSPel16 and IDSPel17 proteins had an optimal temperature of 60 ℃, and an optimal pH of 10.0. IDSPel16 was relatively stable below 60 °C, maintaining 77.51% residual activity after preincubation at 60 °C for 1 h, whereas IDSPel17 denatured rapidly at 60 °C. IDSPel16 was relatively stable between pH 6.0 and 12.0, after pretreatment for 1 h, retaining over 60% residual activity. IDSPel16 had high activity towards polygalacturonic acid, with a Vmax of 942.90 ± 68.11, whereas IDSPel17 had a Vmax of only 28.19 ± 2.23 µmol/min/mg. Reaction product analyses revealed that IDSPel17 liberated unsaturated digalacturonate (uG2) and unsaturated trigalacturonate (uG3) from the substrate, indicating a typical endo-acting pectate lyase (EC 4.2.2.2). In contrast, IDSPel16 initially generated unsaturated oligogalacturonic acids, then converted these intermediates into uG2 and unsaturated galacturonic acid (uG1) as end products, a unique depolymerization profile among Pels. To the best of our knowledge, the IDSPel16 discovered with both endo-Pel (EC 4.2.2.2) and exo-Pel (EC 4.2.2.9) activities. These two pectate lyases, particularly the relatively thermo- and pH-stable IDSPel16, will be of interest for potential application in the textile, food, and feed industries. KEY POINTS: • Two novel pectate lyase genes, IDSPel16 and IDSPel17, were isolated and characterized from the sheep rumen microbiome. • Both IDSPel16 and IDSPel17 are alkaline pectate lyases, releasing unsaturated digalacturonate and unsaturated trigalacturonate from polygalacturonic acid. • IDSPel16, a bifunctional pectate lyase with endo-Pel (EC 4.2.2.2) and exo-Pel (EC 4.2.2.9) activities, could be a potential candidate for industrial application.

Study on formulation and preparation technology of the composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shells.

OBJECTIVE: To study the new formulation and technology of composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shell with one-time dipping molding without organic solvent. METHODS: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate-55S (Hp55S) was used as the main film-forming material, agar as gelling agent, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as disintegrating regulator. The preparation technology was as follows: ① Hp55S was dissolved in dilute ammonia solution with pH of 10 ∼ 11 at room temperature to obtain transparent Hp55S solution. ② The mixture of HPMC, KCl, and Tween-80 was fully dispersed in the agar solution at 90 ∼ 100 °C and cooled to 50 ∼ 55 °C under continuous stirring to obtain a transparent agar/HPMC solution. ③The Hp55S solution was heated to 50 ∼ 55 °C and poured into the agar/HPMC solution and stirred evenly to obtain the composite cellulose solution, which was kept at 50 ∼ 55 °C for standby. ④The composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shells were prepared by dipping, spinning, drying, stripping and trimming, and joining. RESULTS: The composite cellulose-based enteric capsule shell prepared according to this formula and process met the quality requirements of 'enterosoluble vacant capsules' in Chinese Pharmacopeia. CONCLUSION: Compared with the traditional formula and preparation technology of enteric capsule shell, the product is a plant type enteric capsule shell, no organic solvent is used in the formula, and the forming steps of multiple dipping solution is not used in the process. The advantages of this study are that the production steps are simplified, the production process is environmentally friendly, and the production cost is reduced.

Emulsions stabilized by cellulose-based nanoparticles for curcumin encapsulations: In vitro antioxidant properties.

To improve the dispersity and antioxidant properties of curcumin, curcumin emulsions covered with cellulose particles (CP) with different structures were successfully prepared, and the structural characteristics, stability, and antioxidant properties of emulsions were investigated. The results showed that the CP obtained by increasing the hydrolysis time had smaller particle size, better water dispersion, and interfacial adsorption capacity. The encapsulation efficiency of curcumin in emulsion stabilized by cellulose particle hydrolyzed for 10 h can reach about 80%. After 9 days, all emulsions showed good stability, and no obvious creamed layer was observed. Compared to cellulose particles hydrolyzed for 2 h (CP2), emulsions stabilized by cellulose particles hydrolyzed for 6 h (CP6) and 10 h (CP10) exhibited better stability and free fatty acid (FFA) release. Meanwhile, the DPPH scavenging activity of curcumin emulsion stabilized by CP significantly increased with increasing the hydrolysis time and was much higher than that of pure emulsion and curcumin/water due to the higher solubility (1,455 times compared with curcumin/water solution) of curcumin, and these results could provide useful data for the stability and encapsulation of curcumin.

Effect of nano-silica coating combined with pressurized Ar treatment on postharvest quality and reactive oxygen species metabolism in sweet cherry fruit.

The mechanisms of effect of nano-silica coating and pressurized Ar on regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and scavenging in the senescence of sweet cherries remains unclear. The amounts of reactive oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide, non-enzymatic antioxidants and antioxidases, and cell membrane lipid peroxidation in sweet cherries were determined. Nano-silica coating, pressurized Ar, and the combination of these two treatments, all significantly delayed senescence by suppressing decay rate, and maintained good sensory quality. In additional, all treatments inhibited the generation and accumulation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, and mitigated the lipid peroxidation of cell membranes of sweet cherries. The combination of these two treatments maintained higher contents of ascorbic acid and glutathione, and enhanced the activities of antioxidases in sweet cherries. It is suggested that nano-silica coating and pressure Ar mediated the ROS metabolism, which might have a role in retaining the quality sweet cherries during cold storage.

BdPUL12 depolymerizes ß-mannan-like glycans into mannooligosaccharides and mannose, which serve as carbon sources for Bacteroides dorei and gut probiotics.

Symbiotic bacteria, including members of the Bacteroides genus, are known to digest dietary fibers in the gastrointestinal tract. The metabolism of complex carbohydrates is restricted to a specified subset of species and is likely orchestrated by polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) in these microorganisms. ß-Mannans are plant cell wall polysaccharides that are commonly found in human nutrients. Here, we report the structural basis of a PUL cluster, BdPUL12, which controls ß-mannan-like glycan catabolism in Bacteroides dorei. Detailed biochemical characterization and targeted gene disruption studies demonstrated that a key glycoside hydrolase, BdP12GH26, performs the initial attack on galactomannan or glucomannan likely via an endo-acting mode, generating mannooligosaccharides and mannose. Importantly, coculture assays showed that the B. dorei promoted the proliferation of Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium adolescentis, likely by sharing mannooligosaccharides and mannose with these gut probiotics. Our findings provide new insights into carbohydrate metabolism in gut-inhabiting bacteria and lay a foundation for novel probiotic development.

Solubility, structural properties, and immunomodulatory activities of rice dreg protein modified with sodium alginate under microwave heating.

This research aims to investigate the solubility, structural properties, and immunomodulatory of rice dreg protein (RDP) modified with sodium alginate. The modification was done by wet heating assisted with microwave treatment. The solubility, emulsifying properties at pH 2-12, amino acid composition, molecular weight distribution, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and FTIR spectra of modified RDP were analyzed and discussed. Results showed that Maillard reaction could significantly enhance the solubility and emulsifying capacity of RDP. Further, an animal model for cyclophosphamide-induced immunodeficiency was designed to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of modified RDP. It is therefore suggested that modified RDP could improve the immunomodulatory effect of immunosuppressed mice, and the immunomodulation was concentration dependent, being generally enhanced by increased concentrations. This research revealed that glycosylation modification of RDP through Maillard reaction by wet heating assisted with microwave treatment may be successfully applied to improve the physicochemical properties and bioactive benefits of the final product.

Characterization of Thermostable and Chimeric Enzymes via Isopeptide Bond-Mediated Molecular Cyclization.

Mannooligosaccharides are released by mannan-degrading endo-ß-1,4-mannanase and are known as functional additives in human and animal diets. To satisfy demands for biocatalysis and bioprocessing in crowed environments, in this study, we employed a recently developed enzyme-engineering system, isopeptide bond-mediated molecular cyclization, to modify a mesophilic mannanase from Bacillus subtilis. The results revealed that the cyclized enzymes showed enhanced thermostability and ion stability and resilience to aggregation and freeze-thaw treatment by maintaining their conformational structures. Additionally, by using the SpyTag/SpyCatcher system, we generated a mannanase-xylanase bifunctional enzyme that exhibited a synergistic activity in substrate deconstruction without compromising substrate affinity. Interestingly, the dual-enzyme ring conformation was observed to be more robust than the linear enzyme but inferior to the single-enzyme ring conformation. Taken together, these findings provided new insights into the mechanisms of molecular cyclization on stability improvement and will be useful in the production of new functional oligosaccharides and feed additives.

Effect of dry heat treatment with xanthan on waxy rice starch.

Waxy rice starch was impregnated with xanthan and heat-treated in a dry state. The effects on the pasting and rheological properties of the treated starch-xanthan mixture were evaluated. Swelling of the granule was restricted, and a continuous rise of the viscosity during pasting was provided for the treated sample. After pasting, the gel forming ability of the treated starch was strengthened, as both storage and loss modulus increased and tan δ decreased. The paste also owned the highest zero order Newtonian viscosity and yield stress. An increase in starch particle size of the dry heated starch-xanthan mixture suggested a cross linking of the starch granules by the xanthan polymers. An increase of crystallinity was observed for the starch after dry heat treatment, but with the addition of xanthan the amorphous region of the granule became more resistant to dry-heating. The melting enthalpy was found to be correlated with the crystallinity.

[Optimization of supercritical fluid extraction of ursolic acid from follum eriobotryae by response surface methodology].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the conditions for extracting ursolic acid from Follum eriobotryae with supercritical fluid extration (SFE). METHODS: The contents of ursolic acid in the extracts were determined by HPLC. Based on single factor experiment and response surface methodology, a mathematical model for SFE of ursolic acid was built. RESULTS: The result showed that the optimum condition paremeters were as follows: temperature 61.6 degrees C, extraction pressure 25.8 MPa, dynamic extraction time 40 min. Under these conditions, theoretical extraction rate of ursolic acid was 3.96 mg/g. CONCLUSION: The eptimal process is reliable.

[Study on the chemical constituents of flavones from corn silk].

The three flavones were isolated from water extracts of corn silk by chromatography on macroporous resin, polyamide, ODS and Sephadex LH-20. Three compounds were identified as formononetin (7-hydroxy-4'-methoxyisoflavone) ( I ) ,2"-O-alpha-L-rham-nosyl-6-C-( 3-deoxyglucosyl) -3 '-methoxyluteolin( II ) ,2"-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl-6-C-( 6-deoxy-ax-5-methyl-xylo-hexos-4-ulosyl) -3'-methoxyluteolin( II ). Compounds ( I ) and ( II ) were isolated from the corn silk for the first time.