Advances in the application of functional nanomaterial and cold plasma for the fresh-keeping active packaging of meat.

The most recent advancements in food science and technology include cold sterilization of food and fresh-keeping packaging. Active packaging technology has received much interest due to the photocatalytic activity (PCA) of functional nanoparticles, including titanium dioxide (TiO2) and ferric oxide (Fe2O3). However, there are still significant concerns about the toxicity and safety of these functional nanoparticles. This review emphasizes the bacteriostatic and fresh-keeping properties of functional nanoparticles as well as their packaging strategies using the ultraviolet photo-catalysis effect. High-voltage electric field cold plasma (HVEF-CP) is the most innovative method of cold-sterilizing food. HVEF-CP sterilizes by producing photoelectrons, ions, and active free radicals on food media, which come into contact with the bacteria's surface and destroy their cells. Next, this review also assesses the photocatalytic activity and bacteriostasis kinetics of nanosized TiO2 and Fe2O3 in poultry, beef, and lamb. In addition, this review also emphasizes the importance of exploiting the complex interaction processes between TiO2 and Fe2O3, along with dietary components and their utilization in the fresh meat industry.

Analysis of nutritional status in 22 609 children and adolescents aged 2-18 years in Southwest China / 国际儿科学杂志

Objective:To investigate the epidemiology, risk factors and biochemical indexes of nutritional status in children and adolescents aged 2~18 years in Southwest China.Methods:Children attending routine health checkups at the Children′s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between April 2017 and March 2021 were enrolled in this study.Nutritional status was defined based on BMI cut-off values, and statistically analyzed based on gender, region and age.Its risk factors were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression.Results:A total of 22 609 cases were recruited and the overall prevalence of wasting, overweight and obesity was 5.87%, 9.81% and 10.50%, respectively.The prevalence of obesity and wasting in boys was higher than that in girls ( χ2=24.79, 12.39, all P<0.05), and the prevalence of overweight in boys was lower than that in girls( χ2=4.32, P<0.05). The prevalence of overweight among boys in urban regions was higher than that in rural regions( χ2=4.68, P<0.05). Compared in three age groups, boys aged 12~18 years had the highest prevalence of obesity( χ2=12.49, P<0.01), while girls had the lowest prevalence of wasting( χ2=6.18, P<0.05). Compared with boys, girls had a lower risk of obesity and wasting ( OR=0.80, 95% CI: 0.73~0.87), ( OR=0.80, 95% CI: 0.71~0.90). Compared to children aged 12~18 years, children aged 2~<6 years had a lower risk of obesity ( OR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.46~0.67), while children aged 6~<12 years had a higher risk of wasting ( OR=1.70, 95% CI: 1.25~2.33). Significant differences were reported in ALT, AST, ALP, UA, UN, CRE, TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C levels in obese children (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The nutritional status of children and adolescents in Southwest China is comparable to that at the national level.The prevalence of obesity and wasting is associated with gender and age.Obese children are more likely to have biochemical abnormalities.

Natural Compound 2-Chloro-1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene, Isolated from Hericium Erinaceus, Inhibits Fungal Growth by Disrupting Membranes and Triggering Apoptosis.

In this study, 2-chloro-1,3-dimethoxy-5-methylbenzene (CDM), a natural product with anti-Candida albicans activity, was discovered from the Hericium erinaceus mycelium. The minimum inhibitory concentration of CDM was 62.5 µg/mL. Moreover, structural analogues of CDM obtained from chemical synthesis were applied to explore the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of CDM against C. albicans. It was found that methoxy groups, halogen atoms (except fluorine atoms), and methoxy-meta-position methyl groups in the structure of CDM were the key active groups. Furthermore, we investigated the anti-C. albicans mechanism of CDM. Experiments suggested that CDM destroyed the cell membrane of C. albicans, including the cytoplasmic membrane and mitochondrial membrane, and caused the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction, which ultimately led to apoptosis of C. albicans. In addition, CDM had no toxicity on human normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells exposed to a concentration of 125 µg/mL. Experiments showed that CDM reduced the damage of C. albicans to the visceral tissue of infected mice and improved the survival rate of mice. Our research provides a scientific basis for the discovery of effective and safe anti-C. albicans drugs from H. erinaceus.

Ammonium Sulfate Addition Reduces the Need for Guanidinium Isothiocyanate in the Denaturing Transport Medium Used for SARS-COV-2 RNA Detection

Rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals through viral RNA detection followed by effective personal isolation remains the most effective way to prevent the spread of this virus. Large-scale RNA detection involves mass specimen collection and transportation. For biosafety reasons, denaturing viral transport medium has been extensively used during the pandemic. But the high concentrations of guanidinium isothiocyanate (GITC) in such media have raised issues around sufficient GITC supply and laboratory safety. Here, we tested whether supplementing media containing low concentrations of GITC with ammonium sulfate (AS) would affect the throat-swab detection of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus or a viral inactivation assay targeting both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. Adding AS to the denaturing transport media reduced the need for high levels of GITC and improved SARS-COV-2 RNA detection without compromising virus inactivation.

Hypolipidemic activity of total phenylpropanoid glycosides fromLigustrum robustum(Roxb.) Blume and its mechanisms on AMPK pathway / 中国药理学通报

Aim To evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of total phenylpropanoid glycoside extracted from Ligustrum robustum(Roxb.)Blume(CNTG)and its mecha-nisms.Methods The 60 hamsters were randomly divided into six groups,namely the control group,the model group,the positive control group(fenofibrate,150 mg·kg-1),the high(1 200 mg·kg-1),medium(600 mg·kg-1)and low(300 mg·kg-1)doses of CNTG groups.Only the control group was given control diet and other groups received high-fat diet.The changes of serum lipid were measured and analyzed in 1st week to ensure the successful establishment of the model.The drugs were administered daily for four weeks and the concentrations of lipids were determined in the 2nd week,3rd week and 4th week respectively.Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to assay the mRNA and protein expression of related signaling enzymes and proteins.Results Compared with the model group,the concentrations of serum TG,TC,LDL-C(P<0.05,P<0.01)and hepatic TG,TC(P<0.01)were effectively reduced in hamsters in CNTG-treated groups.Mechanism research found that CNTG increased the levels of phospho-AMPKα,LKB1 and phospho-LKB1 in liver(P<0.05).Conclusion CNTG prevents hyperlipidemia via activation of hepatic LKB1-AMPK pathway.

Effect and Underlying Mechanism of Sulfur-fumigation and Water-soaking on Total Ash of Dioscoreae Rhi-zoma / 中国药师

Objective:To study the effect and underlying mechanism of sulfur-fumigation and water-soaking on total ash of Di-oscoreae Rhizoma, find the key factor( s) affecting the total ash of Dioscoreae Rhizoma, and explore the rationality of ash limits of Di-oscoreae Rhizoma described in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Methods:Dioscoreae Rhizoma was respectively dealt with sulfur-fumigation and water-soaking. The changes in total ash content of Dioscoreae Rhizoma was detected by the ash determination methods for total ash and SO2 described in the pharmacopoeia, and then the ash content change of inorganic salts was used to study the mechanism. Results:Sulfur-fumigation could slightly reduce the total ash content of Dioscoreae Rhizoma, while significantly reduce the ash content of calcium oxalate and calcium sulfate with the reduction degree of 7. 20% and 9. 90%, respectively. Calcium phosphate and calcium chloride were slightly affected by sulfur-fumigation, and the results indicated that the effect of sulfur-fumigation on ash content was mainly real-ized by increasing the decomposition rate of calcium oxalate and calcium sulfate. Water-soaking could decline the ash content of Di-oscoreae Rhizoma, and the phenomenon was common in the rhizome medicinal materials. The influence of water-soaking on total ash was more significant than that of sulfur fumigation. Conclusion:Sulfur-fumigation can reduce the total ash content of Dioscoreae Rhizo-ma by increasing the decomposition rate of calcium oxalate and calcium sulfate, however, the effect is mild and the process isn't the key influencing factor in the total ash content of Dioscoreae Rhizoma. During the preparation of Dioscoreae Rhizoma medicinal slices, water-soaking can cause the great loss of water-soluble mineral salts, such as Cl-, C2 O4 2-, NO3 - and SO4 2-, which leads to the reduction of total ash content, therefore, water-soaking is the key influencing factor in the total ash content of Dioscoreae Rhizoma.