Anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoarthritis effects of tectorigenin.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and dynamic disease of the joints, including the articular cartilage, underlying bones and synovium. In particular, OA is considered as the degeneration of the cartilage. Tectorigenin (Tec) is known to affect many biological processes; however, its effects on articular chondrocytes remain unclear.

Investigation on water status and distribution in broccoli and the effects of drying on water status using NMR and MRI methods.

Many quality attributes of food products are influenced by the water status and the microstructure. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods are applied to non-destructively monitor the water status and structure of food. The aim of this study is to investigate the water status and distribution inside broccoli tissues and the effects of hot-air drying on the water status by using NMR and MRI methods.

PEG-lipid-PLGA hybrid nanoparticles loaded with berberine-phospholipid complex to facilitate the oral delivery efficiency.

The natural product berberine (BBR), present in various plants, arouses great interests because of its numerous pharmacological effects. However, the further development and application of BBR had been hampered by its poor oral bioavailability. In this work, we report on polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PEG-lipid-PLGA NPs) loaded with BBR phospholipid complex using a solvent evaporation method for enhancing the oral BBR efficiency.

Oxidative stress affects retinal pigment epithelial cell survival through epidermal growth factor receptor/AKT signaling pathway.

Aim: To investigate the cross-talk between oxidative stress and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/AKT signaling pathway in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells.

Methods: Human RPE cell lines (ARPE-19 cell) were treated with different doses of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hydrogen peroxide (HO). Cell viability was determined by a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay.

Enhancement of Digestibility of Casein Powder and Raw Rice Particles in an Improved Dynamic Rat Stomach Model Through an Additional Rolling Mechanism.

Previously, a dynamic in vitro rat stomach system (DIVRS-I) designed based on the principles of morphological bionics was reported. The digestibilities of casein powder and raw rice particles were found to be lower than those in vivo due to perhaps the less efficient compression performance and lower mixing efficiency. In this study, a 2nd version of the rat stomach system (DIVRS-II) with an additional rolling extrusion type motility on the wall of the soft-elastic silicone rat stomach model is introduced.

Use of the combination of the preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and tumor characteristics to predict peritoneal metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the predictive value of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio for peritoneal metastasis in patients with gastric cancer and to construct an available preoperative prediction system for peritoneal metastasis. A total of 1080 patients with gastric cancer were enrolled in our study. The preoperative platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and other serum markers and objective clinical tumor characteristics were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves.

Comparative effectiveness of different wound dressings for patients with partial-thickness burns: study protocol of a systematic review and a Bayesian framework network meta-analysis.

Introduction: Selecting a suitable wound dressing for patients with partial-thickness burns (PTBs) is important in wound care. However, the comparative effectiveness of different dressings has not been studied. We report the protocol of a network meta-analysis designed to combine direct and indirect evidence of wound dressings in the management of PTB.

Deletion Of XIAP reduces the severity of acute pancreatitis via regulation of cell death and nuclear factor-κB activity.

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) still remains a clinical challenge, not only for its high mortality but the uncontrolled inflammatory progression from acute pancreatitis (AP) to SAP. Cell death, including apoptosis and necrosis are critical pathology of AP, since the severity of pancreatitis correlates directly with necrosis and inversely with apoptosis Therefore, regulation of cell death from necrosis to apoptosis may have practicably therapeutic value. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is the best characterized member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) family, but its function in AP remains unclear.

A new model to predict diffusive self-heating during composting incorporating the reaction engineering approach (REA) framework.

During composting, self-heating may occur due to the exothermicities of the chemical and biological reactions. An accurate model for predicting maximum temperature is useful in predicting whether the phenomena would occur and to what extent it would have undergone. Elevated temperatures would lead to undesirable situations such as the release of large amount of toxic gases or sometimes would even lead to spontaneous combustion.

Early osseointegration of implants with cortex-like TiO coatings formed by micro-arc oxidation: A histomorphometric study in rabbits.

In our previous studies, a novel cortex-like TiO coating was prepared on Ti surface through micro-arc oxidation (MAO) by using sodium tetraborate as electrolyte, and the effects of the coating on cell attachment were testified. This study aimed to investigate the effects of this cortex-like MAO coating on osseointegration. A sand-blasting and acid-etching (SLA) coating that has been widely used in clinical practice served as control.

Cyclic compressive stress-induced scinderin regulates progress of developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a common musculoskeletal disorder characterized by a mismatch between acetabulum and femoral head. Mechanical force plays an important role during the occurrence and development of abnormities in acetabulum and femoral head. In this study, we established a mechanical force model named cyclic compressive stress (Ccs).

Thermal inactivation kinetics of β-galactosidase during bread baking.

In this study, β-galactosidase was utilized as a model enzyme to investigate the mechanism of enzyme inactivation during bread baking. Thermal inactivation of β-galactosidase was investigated in a wheat flour/water system at varying temperature-moisture content combinations, and in bread during baking at 175 or 205°C. In the wheat flour/water system, the thermostability of β-galactosidase increased with decreased moisture content, and a kinetic model was accurately fitted to the corresponding inactivation data (R=0.

A novel scoring system associating with preoperative platelet/lymphocyte and clinicopathologic features to predict lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer.

Background: Precise determination of the lymph node status is critical for determining appropriate treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC). This study attempted to establish a simple, effective risk scoring system to predict lymph node metastasis (LNM) in EGC by investigating the relationship between platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and EGC LNM.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 312 operable patients with EGC.

Umbilical cord blood-derived non-hematopoietic stem cells retrieved and expanded on bone marrow-derived extracellular matrix display pluripotent characteristics.

Background: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) not only contains hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but also non-hematopoietic stem cells (NHSCs) that are able to differentiate into a number of distinct cell types. Based on studies published to date, the frequency of NHSCs in UCB is believed to be very low. However, the isolation of these cells is primarily based on their adhesion to tissue culture plastic surfaces.

Valley photonic crystals for control of spin and topology.

Photonic crystals offer unprecedented opportunity for light manipulation and applications in optical communication and sensing. Exploration of topology in photonic crystals and metamaterials with non-zero gauge field has inspired a number of intriguing optical phenomena such as one-way transport and Weyl points. Recently, a new degree of freedom, valley, has been demonstrated in two-dimensional materials.

EGFL7-overexpressing epidermal stem cells promotes fibroblast proliferation and migration via mediating cell adhesion and strengthening cytoskeleton.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like family members mediate a wide range of biological activities including cell proliferation and migration. Increasing evidence indicated that EGF plays an important role in the process of wound healing by stimulating fibroblast motility. The aim of this study was to see whether EGF-like domain 7 (EGFL7)-overexpressing epidermal stem cells (EGFL7-ESCs) would promote fibroblast proliferation and migration.

Preparation and characteristic of gelatine/oxidized corn starch and gelatin/corn starch blend microspheres.

Combinations of gelatin (G) and oxidized corn starch (OCS) were explored as a new microcapsule composite for single droplet spray drying. The blending solutions property, gel time, transparency and viscosity of G/CS (corn starch) and G/OCS blend solutions were compared at different ratios (10:0;9:1;8:2;7:3;6:4;5:5) and concentrations(1%wt; 3%wt; 5%wt). The drying and dissolution behaviors of composite droplet have been studied using the single droplet drying technique.

Effect of N-Ethylmaleimide as a Blocker of Disulfide Crosslinks Formation on the Alkali-Cold Gelation of Whey Proteins.

N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) was used to verify that no new disulfide crosslinks were formed during the fascinating rheology of the alkali cold-gelation of whey proteins, which show Sol-Gel-Sol transitions with time at pH > 11.5. These dynamic transitions involve the formation and subsequent destruction of non-covalent interactions between soluble whey aggregates.

Determination of ultra-low milk fat content using dual-wavelength ultraviolet spectroscopy.

A precise determination of milk fat content in dairy products is of great practical importance. Several studies have reported methods to determine the milk fat content in commercial dairy products. However, very few of them validated or tested cases where the fat milk fat content was ultra-low.

Risk factors for nosocomial nontraumatic coma: sepsis and respiratory failure.

Background: Coma's are a major cause of clinical deterioration or death. Identification of risks that predispose to coma are important in managing patients; however, the risk factors for nosocomial nontraumatic coma (NNC) are not well known. Our aim was to investigate the risk factors in patients with NNC.

Metabolic Syndrome Is a Strong Risk Factor for Minor Ischemic Stroke and Subsequent Vascular Events.

Background: Minor ischemic stroke (MIS) represents a major global public health problem worldwide due to high incidence. The aim of this study was to investigate whether metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a strong risk for MIS and subsequent vascular events (SVE).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed examining symptomatic MIS in a Chinese neurologic outpatient population aged over 25 years without history of stroke.

Thermal Aggregation of Calcium-Fortified Skim Milk Enhances Probiotic Protection during Convective Droplet Drying.

Probiotic bacteria have been reported to confer benefits on hosts when delivered in an adequate dose. Spray-drying is expected to produce dried and microencapsulated probiotic products due to its low production cost and high energy efficiency. The bottleneck in probiotic application addresses the thermal and dehydration-related inactivation of bacteria during process.

Gremlin2 Suppression Increases the BMP-2-Induced Osteogenesis of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Via the BMP-2/Smad/Runx2 Signaling Pathway.

Osteoblasts are essential for maintaining skeletal architecture and modulating bone microenvironment homeostasis. From numerous associated investigations, the BMP-2 pathway has been well-defined as a vital positive modulator of bone homeostasis. Gremlin2 (Grem2) is a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists.