Identifi cation and characterization of a novel tetrapeptide from enzymatic hydrolysates of Baijiu byproduct

In order to prepare angiotensin I-converting enzyme(ACE)inhibitory peptides,distilled spent grains of Chinese strong-flavor Baijiu were hydrolyzed by alcalase followed by papain under optimized conditions.A superior ACE inhibitory peptide was separated and purifi ed by ultrafi ltration and high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC),and its amino acid sequence was further identified as Gln-Gly-Val-Pro(QGVP)by electrospray mass spectrometry(ESI-MS).QGVP formed 6 hydrogen bonds with the active site of ACE,which is responsible for reducingα-helix structure content of ACE causing subsequent inactivation.M oreover,it showed no significant cytotoxicity toward human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs),a nd signifi cantly i nduced phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(p-e NOS)and decreased endothelin 1(END1)expression in angiotensin I(Ang I)-treated HUVECs,demonstrating the potential antihypertensive effect.The peptide QGVP hydrolyzed from distilled spent grain proteins of Chinese strong-fl avor Baijiu was expected to be used as a food ingredient to prevent or co-treat hypertension with other chemical drugs.

Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration/biopsy-based pancreatic organoids establishment:an alternative model for basic and preclinical research

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC),as one of the malignant cancers with the worst prognosis,is becoming the most urgent clinical problem.Due to the lack of early diagnosis and curable therapeutic methods,it is critical to exploit proper models that can capture the overall attributes of the primary tumor.Recently,organoid technology has emerged and flourished as a powerful tool to enable long-termculture of pancreatic tissues,including PDAC.As accumulating studies suggest,organoids can retain morphological,genetic,and behavioral traits,and have tremendous value in predicting the therapeutic response to conventional chemotherapy drugs or newfangled agents.Herein,this review comprehensively summarizes the tissue source including human fetal and adult pancreatic tissue to generate a pancreatic organoid as well as current organoids cultivate system.As PDAC organoids can be established from a small number of samples derived from endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration/biopsy(EUS-FNA/FNB),we also review the literature to date on EUS-FNA/FNBbased organoid constitution and its implementation in inquiring tumor behavior and evaluating therapeutic responses.By enabling the alignment of basic and clinical research platforms,the application of organoids would open up new avenues for drug discovery and maximally benefit translational medicine in the near future.

A Case of A Middle-Aged Woman with Cor Triatriatum Dexter and Sick Sinus Syndrome: Comprehensive Cardiovascular Evaluation

This case study discusses a 51-year-old woman with a complex cardiovascular condition,cor triatriatum dexter,complicated by sick sinus syndrome.The patient presented with a history of bradycardia,dizziness,and amaurosis,and was admitted to the emergency department due to numbness in her right limb.Diagnostic examinations,including computed tomography(CT)and cardiac color-ultrasound screening,revealed cor triatriatum dexter along with an enlarged left atrium and ventricle.Additional findings included the absence of the inferior vena cava and polysplenic syndrome.Based on these results,double-chamber pacemaker surgery was recommended,supported by cardiac and thoracic-abdominal CT angiography and three-dimensional vascular reconstruction.This case underscores the importance of comprehensive examinations in identifying associated cardiovascular abnormalities.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease:recent innovations in endoscopic assessment and treatment

Innovations in endoscopy have brought about some impressive improvements in diagnosing and treating gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD).GERD,as one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders in the world,has always been on the cutting edge of endoscopic interventions.A primary diagnosis of GERD is based on symptoms and an initial trial of proton-pump inhibitor(PPI)therapy,which is devoid of adequately instructive value for therapeutic strategies.Endoscopy and optional biopsies can be used to directly observe and determine the abnormal structural and pathophysiological damage in the esophagus.The emergence of minimally invasive endoscopic therapyfills the gap between patients who are reluctant or insensitive to PPIs and candidates who are not indicated for surgical anti-reflux fundoplication.In this review,we discuss the utility of endoscopy and biopsy in patients with persistent GERD-related manifestations after proper medical anti-reflux treatment.Moreover,we portray a landscape of four current endoscopic GERD therapies and clarify the merits and disadvantages of each technique.Future research needs to concentrate on stratifying GERD patients based on personal conditions and elucidating the primary pathophysiology of GERD.