Physiological and genome-wide gene expression analyses of cold-induced leaf rolling at the seedling stage in rice(Oryza sativa L.)

Leaf rolling and discoloration are two chilling-injury symptoms that are widely used as indicators for the evaluation of cold tolerance at the seedling stage in rice. However, the difference in cold-response mechanisms underlying these two traits remains unknown. In the present study, a cold-tolerant rice cultivar, Lijiangxintuanheigu, and a cold-sensitive cultivar, Sanhuangzhan-2, were subjected to low-temperature treatments and physiolog-ical and genome-wide gene expression analyses were conducted. Leaf rolling occurred at temperatures lower than 11℃, whereas discoloration appeared at moderately low temperatures such as 13℃. Chlorophyll contents in both cultivars were significantly decreased at 13℃, but not altered at 11℃. In contrast, the relative water content and relative electrolyte leakage of both cultivars decreased significantly at 11℃, but did not change at 13℃. Expression of genes associated with calcium signaling and abscisic acid (ABA) degradation was significantly altered at 11℃ in comparison with 25℃ and 13℃. Numerous genes in the DREB, MYB, bZIP, NAC, Zinc finger, bHLH, and WRKY gene families were differentially expressed. Many aquaporin genes and the key genes in trehalose and starch synthesis were down regulated at 11℃ in comparison with 25℃ and 13℃. These results suggest that the two chilling injury symptoms are temperature-specific and are controlled by different mechanisms. Cold-induced leaf rolling is associated with calcium and ABA signaling pathways and is regulated by multiple transcriptional regulators. The suppression of aquaporin genes and reduced accumulation of soluble sugars under cold stress results in a reduction in cellular water potential and consequently leaf rolling.

Dose-dependent neuroprotective effect of enoxaparin on cold-induced traumatic brain injury

Recent evidence exists that enoxaparin can reduce brain injury because of its anticoagulant activity. To investigate the potential therapeutic effect of enoxaparin on cold-induced traumatic brain injury, at 20 minutes after modeling, male BALB/c mouse models of cold-induced traumatic brain injury were intraperitoneally administered 3 and 10 mg/kg enoxaparin or isotonic saline solution. Twenty-four hours later, enoxaparin at 10 mg/kg greatly reduced infarct volume, decreased cell apoptosis in the cortex and obviously increased serum level of total antioxidant status. By contrast, administration of enoxaparin at 3 mg/kg did not lead to these changes. These findings suggest that enoxaparin exhibits neuroprotective effect on cold-induced traumatic brain injury in a dose-dependent manner.

Pang Anshi, a famous great master of school of cold-induced diseases

Pang Anshi (courtesy name:Pan Anchang,styled himself Qishui Taoist,1042-1099) was from Qizhou Prefecture (present Hubei Province).He was a famous scholar of the school of cold-induced diseases in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127).His works Supplement to the Herbals (Ben Cao Bu Yi),Pulse Study (Mai Fa),Zhu Dui Ji,etc.are all lost.His only remaining one is the General Treatise on Cold-induced Diseases (Shang Han Zong Bing Lun).

sweetening的最新含义

当今大量新的词汇不断涌现,而赋予现有词汇全新含义则是科技英语的特色之一。如 sweetening 一词在《朗曼现代英语词典》中的释义是:any substance which makes foodsweeter(使食物更甜的东西),其动词原形 sweeten 在《英汉科技词典》中的释义有:加糖,变甜;使悦耳,缓和;使清洁,去臭;脱硫。而近年来 sweetening

Sweetening the Pot

AFTER a three-decade surge of impressivegrowth, foreign direct investment （FDI） in China has showed definite signs of slowing down. Experts observe that this can be attributed to the profound changes that have taken place in the global industria chain along with the challenge of China losing its competitive edge in terms of labor, land and natural resources.

Neuroprotective effects of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein during mild hypothermia on traumatic brain injury

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein（CIRP）, a key regulatory protein, could be facilitated by mild hypothermia in the brain, heart and liver. This study observed the effects of mild hypothermia at 31 ± 0.5℃ on traumatic brain injury in rats. Results demonstrated that mild hypothermia suppressed apoptosis in the cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus, facilitated CIRP m RNA and protein expression in these regions, especially in the hypothalamus. The anti-apoptotic effect of mild hypothermia disappeared after CIRP silencing. There was no correlation between mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and CIRP silencing. CIRP silencing inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 activation. These indicate that CIRP inhibits apoptosis by affecting extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 activation, and exerts a neuroprotective effect during mild hypothermia for traumatic brain injury.

Report on Childhood Obesity in China (9): Sugar-sweetened Beverages Consumption and Obesity

Objective To explore the associations between sugar-sweetened beverage （SSB） consumption and obesity as well as obesity-related cardiometabolic disorders among children in China. Methods A total of 6974 （boys 3558, girls 3412） children aged 6-13 years participated in the study. Each participant’s height, weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high- density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured. The type of beverage consumption was determined using a self-administered questionnaire. Results SSBs were consumed regularly by 46.1% of the children. The prevalence [adjusted odds ratio （95% confidence internal （CI）] of obesity was 7.6% [as the reference group （ref.）], 10.1% [1.36（1.07, 1.74）], and 11.6% [1.46（1.21, 1.75）], among children who regularly drank milk, other beverages and SSBs, respectively. Regularly drinking SSBs elevated the likelihood of abdominal obesity [adjusted odds ratio （95% CI）： 1.36 （1.17, 1.59）]. The prevalence [adjusted odds ratio （95% CI）] of obesity among children who regularly drank sports/caloric beverages, carbonated beverages, sweet tea, and plant protein beverages was 16.8% [2.00（1.31, 3.07）], 12.7% [1.52（1.23, 1.88）], 11.5% [1.52（1.18, 1.95）], and 10.4% [1.41（1.03, 1.94）], respectively, which was higher than that of regular milk drinkers [7.6 % （ref.）]. The prevalence [adjusted odds ratio （95% CI）] of abdominal obesity among children who regularly drank sweet tea, fruit/vegetable juices, and carbonated beverages was 17.7% [1.55（1.26, 1.90）], 16.2% [1.36（1.09, 1.70）], and 15.3% [1.24（1.03, 1.50）], respectively, which was much higher than that of regular milk drinkers [12.8% （ref.）]. Conclusions Regular SSB consumption was positively related to obesity and abdominal obesity. This relationship should be investigated further using a longitudinal study design.

Downregulation of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein activates mitogen-activated protein kinases and impairs spermatoRenic function in mouse testes

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein （CIRP） is an RNA-binding protein that is expressed in normal testes and downregulated after heat stress caused by cryptorchidism, varicocele or environmental temperatures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the functions of CIRP in the testes. We employed RNAi technique to knock down the expression of CIRP in the testes, and performed haematoxylin and eosin staining to evaluate morphological changes following knockdown. Germ cell apoptosis was examined by terminal deoxynucleotidal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling （TUNEL） assay, and mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signalling pathways were investigated by Western blotting to determine the possible mechanism of apoptosis. We found that using siRNA is a feasible and reliable method for knocking down gene expression in the testes. Compared to controls, the mean seminiferous tubule diameter （MSTD） and the thickness of the germ cell layers decreased following siRNA treatment, whereas the percentage of apoptotic seminiferous tubules increased. The p44/p42, p38 and SAPK/JNK MAPK pathways were activated after downregulation of CIRP. In conclusion, we discovered that downregulation of CIRP resulted in increased germ cell apoptosis, possibly viathe activation of the p44/p42, p38 and SAPK/JNK MAPK pathways.

Artificial Sweeteners as a Cause of Obesity: Weight Gain Mechanisms and Current Evidence

The obesity epidemic gathers growing media attention recently, as overweight and obesity’s prevalence keeps rising. This comes along with an increase in the intake of artificial sweeteners in food products. A causal relationship between the consumption of sweeteners and obesity is so far not clear in the medical literature. This paper describes the development of artificial sweeteners in a historical context. It collects epidemiological and experimental evidence that possibly relates the use of artificial sweeteners with weight gain. Finally, these effects are explained based on the neuroscience of food reward, the possible effects of glucose on the metabolism and the association between sweeteners and gut microbiota.

Artificial cold exposure induced stroke in renovascular hypertensive rats and its association with cold-inducible RNA binding protein mRNA expression in brain tissue and blood pressure

BACKGROUND： High incidence of stroke at interchange period of autumn and winter was demonstrated by epidemiological survey, and the specific causes should be further investigated. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the influence of artificial cold exposure on the incidence of stroke in renovascular hypertensive rats （RHR）, and analyze the association with blood pressure and cold-inducible RNA binding protein （CIRP） mRNA expression in brain tissue. DESIGN： A completely randomized grouping design, a randomized control animal trial. SETTINGS： Lab of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; Department of Chemistry, Open laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Molecular Technology for Drug Discovery and Synthesis, University of Hong Kong. MATERIALS： Male SD rats （n=460）, weighing 80 - 100 g were obtained from Guangdong Province Health Animal Unit. A modified RXZ-300A intelligent artificial climate cabinet （Ningbo Jiangnan Instrument Co. ,Ltd., China）. METHODS： The experiment were processed in the Lab of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and the Open Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Institute of Molecular Technology for Drug Discovery and Synthesis, University of Hong Kong from October 2004 to November 2005. Rats （n = 400） were operated to establish 2-kidney 2-clip RHR model as described previously. The sham-operated rats （n =60） served as normotensive controls. Eight weeks later, 300 of RHR were randomly selected according to their systolic blood pressure （SBP） and divided into 3 sub-groups （n =100 per group）： mild hypertensive group （SBP of 160 - 200 mm Hg）, moderate hypertensive group （SBP of 200 - 220 mm Hg） and severe hypertensive group （SBP 〉 220 mm Hg）. Each group was further divided into two groups （n =50） under ACE and non-ACE. Normal sham-operated SD rats （n =60）, SBP 〈 140 mm Hg, were randomly divided into two groups： Sham-operated control group （n =30） under ACE and non-ACE. To establish the ACE and non-ACE treatment, rats were housed individually in artificial climate cabinet, and ACE was designed as three cycles of 12-hour light of 22℃ （7 ： 00 - 19 ： 00） and 12-hour dark of 4℃（19 ： 00 - 7 ： 00）. The non-ACE group was kept at 22℃ throughout the experiment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Blood Pressure changes were measured and stroke symptom were observed; Expression of the CIRP were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS： Finally 360 rats were involved in the analysis of results. ①Incidence of stroke： The incidence of stroke in 2k2c RHR was significantly higher after a three-day intermittent （12-hour） ACE （29.3%） as compared with that in non-ACE （17.3%） （P 〈 0.05）. Furthermore, the severe hypertensive 2k2c RHR （BP 〉 220 mm Hg） was found to have much higher incidence of stroke （66%, 33/50） than the mild （8%, 4/50） and moderate （18%） hypertensive 2k2c RHR. ②CIRP mRNA in brain tissue： ACE treatment stimulated the mRNA expression of CIRP in non-stroke 2k2c RHR but not in stroke 2k2c RHR （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： High blood pressure and low expression of CIRP are associated with ACE induced stroke.

Using Response Surface Methodology and High-Intensity Sweeteners’ Positive Synergy to Optimize Peach Nectar Acceptability

Combining the high-intensity sweeteners’ positive synergy with response surface methodology (RSM), it is possible to optimize food and beverage products liking, masking undesired sensory attributes and reducing costs and consumers’ additives intake (up to 50%). A RSM based on a five-level, two variable central composite rotatable designs (CCRD) was applied, varying aspartame and acesulfame-K concentrations in order to optimize consumers’ sensory liking (n = 118) for peach nectar in terms of appearance, aroma, flavor, and overall liking. Statistically valid models were found for flavor and overall liking attributes and highest liking values were found for samples combining the two sweeteners (therefore overcoming acesulfame-K’s sensory limitations) in lower concentrations, confirming the synergetic effect and allowing cost reduction and less additives intake, without losing sensory quality.

Commercial Artificial Sweeteners Might Affect Pregnant and Nursing Mice Mammary Gland. A Histological Study

The use of artificial sweeteners as non-nutritive food additive is becoming very common nowadays. The aim of this research was to study the effect of commercial artificial sweeteners consumption on the adult mouse mammary gland in pregnancy (18-day pregnancy) and 3 weeks nursing. A commercial artificial sweetener solution was given to pregnant mice of treated groups 50 mg/kg body weight, from day one of pregnancy till the end of 3 weeks nursing. Controls were given distilled water. The histological studies of the mammary gland of treated animals showed some changes. In treated 18-day pregnant mothers;the amount of adipose cells seemed to increase and the amount of lipid droplets within the alveoli seemed to increase compared to the controls. Also alveoli in the treated mammary gland sections appeared to be larger and less in number compared to the controls. In 3 weeks treated nursing mothers the amount of milk and lipid droplets in the alveoli decreased compared to the controls. The mammary gland circumference of treated 18-day pregnant mothers was significantly smaller compared to the controls, while it was significantly larger in 3 weeks treated nursing mothers compared to the controls. These results show that artificial sweeteners disturbed the arrangement of the histological structure in the mammary gland of pregnant and nursing mice. Awareness should be raised to restrict the use of artificial sweeteners to people with diabetes or who are in medical need.

Thermal Studies of Commercial Low Calorie Sweeteners

This paper presents the thermal analysis of artificial sweeteners, and natural sugar substitutes. Thermal analysis was done on commercial compositions of sweeteners using simultaneous DSC/TGA (SDT). Heat flow, and mass vs. temperature and time thermograms, along with DSC peak enthalpies and transition temperatures are reported. A number of the sweeteners were found to undergo transitions and reactions before or at 190°C (375°F, normal baking temperatures) and all dextrose containing sweeteners show an endothermic peak around 80°C due to the liberation of bound water molecules. The major components of sweeteners studied were found to be generally thermostable at or below 100°C.

Edema, Enigma: 11 B-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 Inhibition by Sweetener “Stevia”

Intrduction: Edema, Hypertension and Hypokalemia occur with inhibition of 11 B-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 (11B-HSD2) by chronic Licorice ingestion. However, a similar presentation following a chronic use of another commonly used sweetener “Stevia” is not reported. Objective: To document a first case report of a subject presenting with Edema, Prehypertension and Hypokalemia induced by 11B-HSD2 inhibition induced by chronic ingestion of sweetener stevia. Case Report: 32 year old Caucasian woman presented with generalized edema (feet, hands and face) of over 6 months. She was noted to also manifest Prehypertension (138/88 mmHg) and Hypokalemia (3.4 mM/l). Laboratory tests revealed decline in serum aldosterone and plasma renin activity, an increase in plasma cortisol/cortisone ratio. On persistent interrogation, patient admitted to daily consumption of sweetener stevia for over 9 months. All the presenting manifestations resolved with normalization of the laboratory tests on withdrawal of stevia. Conclusion: This case report indicates that chronic ingestion of sweetener stevia may induce edema, hypertension and hypokalemia via reduced conversion of cortisol into cortisone by inhibition of 11 B-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2.

食品中合成甜味剂的检测方法研究进展

人工合成甜味剂因热量低、甜度高,在食品中被广泛使用。但过量使用会增加许多健康风险,对人体造成伤害。近年来,人们对使用食品添加剂的重视程度与日俱增。而食品中甜味剂的检测也成为食品添加剂检测领域的重点工作。食品中合成甜味剂的检测手段较多,包括光谱检测技术、电化学检测技术、色谱检测技术等。凭借简单方便的前处理技术以及可以与不同检测器串联等特点,液相色谱法成为最常用的检测手段。本文汇总了当前我国食品中常见人工合成甜味剂的国家标准检测方法,综述了近年来国内外检测方法的研究进展,并对其发展趋势作了展望。还针对液相色谱前处理方法的优化、检测条件的优化以及串联质谱检测方面的拓展做了介绍,为相关研究提供参考。

赤藓糖醇的生物学功能及临床应用研究进展

赤藓糖醇作为一种甜味剂,目前广泛应用于食品添加行业。它不仅天然存在于水果和蔬菜中,近期研究揭示其也是一种内源性代谢物。赤藓糖醇在调节糖脂代谢、氧化应激和胃肠道功能等方面发挥着重要的作用。同时,赤藓糖醇还可以作为一种新型疾病生物标志物,预测肥胖、糖尿病、癌症等多种疾病的发生风险。该文系统梳理了赤藓糖醇的相关研究,在介绍其基本特征和代谢途径的基础上,综述其生物学功能和临床应用前景,以期为赤藓糖醇在不同健康或疾病状态人群中的应用提供新思路。

炼乳生产现状及其减糖策略研究

随着高糖饮食造成的健康问题日益突显,降糖已经成为乳品行业发展的必然趋势。特别是含糖量高达40%的炼乳,是乳制品减糖的重点关注领域和新的技术挑战。针对炼乳生产工艺特点及成分特征,该文重点阐述了炼乳减糖的现有策略,包括乳糖水解、糖替代、超滤、直接减糖等方式,以及炼乳减糖技术的发展方向。该文在综述了现有减糖策略的基础上,分析了炼乳减糖所面临的挑战,并对炼乳减糖技术发展趋势进行预测与建议。

糖类与甜味剂的肠-脑轴效应研究进展及评估方法分析

尽管甜味剂能够提供类似糖类的风味感受和远高于糖类的甜味强度,但仍旧不能完全替代糖类所带来的满足感,明确该现象的生物学机制对于完善甜味剂的功能评估体系和指导甜味剂的创新发展方向都具有十分重要的意义。本文系统综述了糖类与甜味剂引发的动物行为偏好差异、动物脑区活动差异和肠-脑轴神经激活模式差异3个方面的研究进展,揭示了大脑可以辨别糖和甜味剂,从而产生个体行为偏好差异的深层原因,提出动物行为学、脑区神经活动和关键受体激活能力可用于评估甜味剂肠-脑轴效应,可为甜味剂领域的创新发展提供参考。

甜味剂与人体健康的研究进展

该文系统地综述了甜味剂的分类、代谢特点和优势,并重点探讨了各类甜味剂与人体健康之间的关系。甜味剂根据来源和化学结构可分为天然和人工两大类,其代谢特点因具体类型而异。研究表明,过度摄入人工甜味剂可能与肥胖、糖尿病等疾病风险相关;而天然甜味剂(如糖醇类和甜菊糖苷等)可能具有调节肠道菌群、抗炎抗氧化、保肝等有益作用。该文为后续甜味剂加工方向提供参考,尤其为甜味剂与人体健康研究方向提供理论依据。