Effect of different drying methods on the amino acids,α-dicarbonyls and volatile compounds of rape bee pollen

The significant demand for high quality food has motivated us to adopt appropriate processing methods to improve the food nutritional quality and flavors.In this study,the effects of five drying methods,namely,pulsed vacuum drying(PVD),freeze drying(FD),infrared drying(IRD),hot-air drying(HAD)and sun drying(SD)on free amino acids(FAAs),α-dicarbonyl compounds(α-DCs)and volatile compounds(VOCs)in rape bee pollen(RBP)were determined.The results showed that FD significantly released the essential amino acids(EAAs)compared with fresh samples while SD caused the highest loss.Glucosone was the dominantα-DCs in RBP and the highest loss was observed after PVD.Aldehydes were the dominant volatiles of RBP and SD samples contained more new volatile substances(especially aldehydes)than the other four drying methods.Comprehensively,FD and PVD would be potential methods to effectively reduce the quality deterioration of RBP in the drying process.

Comparative evaluation of commercial Douchi by different molds:biogenic amines,non-volatile and volatile compounds

To provide new insights into the development and utilization of Douchi artificial starters,three common strains(Aspergillus oryzae,Mucor racemosus,and Rhizopus oligosporus)were used to study their influence on the fermentation of Douchi.The results showed that the biogenic amine contents of the three types of Douchi were all within the safe range and far lower than those of traditional fermented Douchi.Aspergillus-type Douchi produced more free amino acids than the other two types of Douchi,and its umami taste was more prominent in sensory evaluation(P<0.01),while Mucor-type and Rhizopus-type Douchi produced more esters and pyrazines,making the aroma,sauce,and Douchi flavor more abundant.According to the Pearson and PLS analyses results,sweetness was significantly negatively correlated with phenylalanine,cysteine,and acetic acid(P<0.05),bitterness was significantly negatively correlated with malic acid(P<0.05),the sour taste was significantly positively correlated with citric acid and most free amino acids(P<0.05),while astringency was significantly negatively correlated with glucose(P<0.001).Thirteen volatile compounds such as furfuryl alcohol,phenethyl alcohol,and benzaldehyde caused the flavor difference of three types of Douchi.This study provides theoretical basis for the selection of starting strains for commercial Douchi production.

Bioactive compounds in Hericium erinaceus and their biological properties:a review

Hericium erinaceus is a nutritious edible and medicinal fungi,rich in a variety of functional active ingredients,with various physiological functions such as antioxidation,anticancer,and enhancing immunity.It is also effective in protecting the digestive system and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.In this review paper,we summarize the sources,structures and efficacies of the main active components in H.erinaceus fruiting body,mycelium,and culture media,and update the latest research progress on their biological activities and the related molecular mechanisms.Based on this information,we provide detailed challenges in current research,industrialization and information on the active ingredients of H.erinaceus.Perspectives for future studies and new applications of H.erinaceus are proposed.

Density functional theory study of B- and Si-doped carbons and their adsorption interactions with sulfur compounds

Understanding the adsorption interactions between carbon materials and sulfur compounds has far-reaching impacts,in addition to their well-known important role in energy storage and conversion,such as lithium-ion batteries.In this paper,properties of intrinsic B or Si single-atom doped,and B-Si codoped graphene(GR)and graphdiyne(GDY)were investigated by using density functional theory-based calculations,in which the optimal doping configurations were explored for potential applications in adsorbing sulfur compounds.Results showed that both B or Si single-atom doping and B-Si codoping could substantially enhance the electron transport properties of GR and GDY,improving their surface activity.Notably,B and Si atoms displayed synergistic effects for the codoped configurations,where B-Si codoped GR/GDY exhibited much better performance in the adsorption of sulfurcontaining chemicals than single-atom doped systems.In addition,results demonstrated that,after B-Si codoping,the adsorption energy and charge transfer amounts of GDY with sulfur compounds were much larger than those of GR,indicating that B-Si codoped GDY might be a favorable material for more effectively interacting with sulfur reagents.

Antidiabetic Properties of Bidens pilosa and Its Polyacetylenic Compounds for Management of Diabetes: Systematic Review

Bidens pilosa is a member of the Asteraceae family that is widely distributed across the tropics. It has been utilized by different communities both as food and medicinal herb. This plant and its polyacetylenic compounds hold potential as a natural antidiabetic intervention that can be used to combat this global public health problem. Bioactive compounds found in this plant constitute promising interventions for combating obesity which is a major risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. These phytocompounds can work independently or synergistically to modulate appetite, lipase activity, adipogenesis and adipocyte apoptosis. However, the efficacy, mode of action and scope of management of diabetes by these compounds remains elusive. The current review aims to summarize data on efficacy in the management of diabetes, an antidiabetic candidate polyacetylenic compound and possible biological activities as an antidiabetic agent from the available literature. Much emphasis has been directed to cytopiloyne as a representative of polyacetylenic compounds extracted from Bidens pilosa and its activity on diabetic animal models. The majority of the studies conducted on animal models described antidiabetic mechanisms that range from hypoglycemic to secretagogue activity of cytopiloyne in a dose-dependent manner. A clinical trial pilot indicated improved glycemic control of Bidens pilosa formulation among diabetic patients in the study. Bidens pilosa and its compounds are highly potent antidiabetic agent(s) that should be graduated to an intervention for management of diabetes through pre-clinical and clinical trials to elucidate its efficacy and safety.

Protective mechanism of quercetin compounds against acrylamide-induced hepatotoxicity

Quercetin compounds have antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and anticancer pharmacological functions.Longterm exposure to acrylamide(AA)can cause liver injury and endanger human health.However,whether quercetin compounds can attenuate AA-induced liver injury and the specific mechanism are not clear.Here,we studied the mechanism and structure-activity relationship of quercetin compounds in reducing AA-induced hepatotoxicity in vivo and in vitro.In vivo studies found that quercetin-like compounds protect against AAinduced liver injury by reducing oxidative stress levels,activating the Akt/m TOR signaling pathway to attenuate autophagy,and improving mitochondrial apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis.In vitro studies found that quercetin compounds protected Hep G2 cells from AA by attenuating the activation of AA-induced autophagy,lowering reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels by exerting antioxidant effects and thus attenuating oxidative stress,increasing mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),and improving apoptosis-related proteins,thus attenuating AA-induced apoptosis.Furthermore,the conformational differences between quercetin compounds correlated with their protective capacity against AA-induced hepatotoxicity,with quercetin showing the best protective capacity due to its strongest antioxidant activity.In conclusion,quercetin compounds can protect against AA-induced liver injury through multiple pathways of oxidative stress,autophagy and apoptosis,and their protective capacity correlates with antioxidant activity.

Identification of breath volatile organic compounds to distinguish pancreatic adenocarcinoma,pancreatic cystic neoplasm,and patients without pancreatic lesions

BACKGROUND Volatile organic compounds(VOCs)are a promising potential biomarker that may be able to identify the presence of cancers.AIM To identify exhaled breath VOCs that distinguish pancreatic ductal adenocar-cinoma(PDAC)from intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm(IPMN)and healthy volunteers.METHODS We collected exhaled breath from histologically proven PDAC patients,radiological diagnosis IPMN,and healthy volunteers using the ReCIVA®device between 10/2021-11/2022.VOCs were identified by thermal desorption-gas chromatography/field-asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry and compared between groups.RESULTS A total of 156 participants(44%male,mean age 62.6±10.6)were enrolled(54 PDAC,42 IPMN,and 60 controls).Among the nine VOCs identified,two VOCs that showed differences between groups were dimethyl sulfide[0.73 vs 0.74 vs 0.94 arbitrary units(AU),respectively;P=0.008]and acetone dimers(3.95 vs 4.49 vs 5.19 AU,respectively;P<0.001).After adjusting for the imbalance parameters,PDAC showed higher dimethyl sulfide levels than the control and IPMN groups,with adjusted odds ratio(aOR)of 6.98(95%CI:1.15-42.17)and 4.56(1.03-20.20),respectively(P<0.05 both).Acetone dimer levels were also higher in PDAC compared to controls and IPMN(aOR:5.12(1.80-14.57)and aOR:3.35(1.47-7.63),respectively(P<0.05 both).Acetone dimer,but not dimethyl sulfide,performed better than CA19-9 in PDAC diagnosis(AUROC 0.910 vs 0.796).The AUROC of acetone dimer increased to 0.936 when combined with CA19-9,which was better than CA19-9 alone(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Dimethyl sulfide and acetone dimer are VOCs that potentially distinguish PDAC from IPMN and healthy participants.Additional prospective studies are required to validate these findings.

Hollow ZIF-67-derived Co@N-doped carbon nanotubes boosting the hydrogenation of phenolic compounds to alcohols

The selective hydrogenation of highly toxic phenolic compounds to generate alcohols with thermal stability,environmental friendliness,and non-toxicity is of great importance.Herein,a series of Co-based catalysts,named Co@NCNTs,were designed and constructed by direct pyrolysis of hollow ZIF-67(HZIF-67)under H_(2)/Ar atmosphere.The evolution of the catalyst surface from the shell layer assembled by ZIF-67-derived particles to the in situ-grown hollow nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes(NCNTs)with certain length and density is achieved by adjusting the pyrolysis atmosphere and temperature.Due to the synergistic effects of in situ-formed hollow NCNTs,well-dispersed Co nanoparticles,and intact carbon matrix,the as-prepared Co@NCNTs-0.10-450 catalyst exhibits superior catalytic performance in the hydrogenation of phenolic compounds to alcohols.The turnover frequency value of Co@NCNTs-0.10-450is 3.52 h^(-1),5.9 times higher than that of Co@NCNTs-0.40-450 and 4.5 times higher than that of Co@NCNTs-0.10-550,exceeding most previously reported non-noble metal catalysts.Our findings provide new insights into the development of non-precious metal,efficient,and cost-effective metal-organic framework-derived catalysts for the hydrogenation of phenolic compounds to alcohols.

Role of methoxy and C_(α)-based substituents in electrochemical oxidation mechanisms and bond cleavage selectivity of β-O-4 lignin model compounds

In order to better understand the specific substituent effects on the electrochemical oxidation process of β-O-4 bond, a series of methoxyphenyl type β-O-4 dimer model compounds with different localized methoxyl groups, including 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1-phenylethanone, 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1-phenylethanol, 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone, 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanol, 2-(2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone, 2-(2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanol have been selected and their electrochemical properties have been studied experimentally by cyclic voltammetry, and FT-IR spectroelectrochemistry. Combining with electrolysis products distribution analysis and density functional theory calculations, oxidation mechanisms of all six model dimers have been explored. In particular, a total effect from substituents of both para-methoxy(on the aryl ring closing to Cα) and Cα-OH on the oxidation mechanisms has been clearly observed, showing a significant selectivity on the Cα-Cβbond cleavage induced by electrochemical oxidations.

Qualitative analysis of aromatic compounds via 1D TOCSY techniques

The aromatic compounds,including o-xylene,m-xylene,p-xylene,and ethylbenzene,primarily originate from the catalytic reforming of crude oil,and have a wide variety of applications.However,because of similar physical and chemical properties,these compounds are difficult to be identified by gas chromatography(GC)without standard samples.With the development of modern nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)techniques,NMR has emerged as a powerful and efficient tool for the rapid analysis of complex and crude mixtures without purification.In this study,the parameters of one-dimensional(1D)total correlation spectroscopy(TOCSY)NMR techniques,including 1D selective gradient TOCSY and 1D chemicalshift-selective filtration(CSSF)with TOCSY,were optimized to obtain comprehensive molecular structure information.The results indicate that the overlapped signals in NMR spectra of nonpolar aromatic compounds(including o-xylene,m-xylene,p-xylene and ethylbenzene),polar aromatic compounds(benzyl alcohol,benzaldehyde,benzoic acid),and aromatic compounds with additional conjugated bonds(styrene)can be resolved in 1D TOCSY.More importantly,full molecular structures can be clearly distinguished by setting appropriate mixing time in 1D TOCSY.This approach simplifies the NMR spectra,provides structural information of entire molecules,and can be applied for the analysis of other structural isomers.

The mechanism of Callistephus chinensis flavonoid compounds in the treatment of diabetes using network pharmacology and molecular docking

The purpose of this project is used for exploring the mechanism of Callistephus chinensis in the treatment of diabetes by network pharmacology and molecular docking methods.The target of Callistephus chinensis was obtained from SwissTargetPrediction database,while the target related to diabetes was obtained from GeneCards and OMIM databases.The target was added in String database to build the protein interaction network.GO biological process enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were carried out by Metascape software,then the target-pathway network was constructed.Molecular docking was carried out in Discovery Studio 2016 Client software to verify the binding force of Callistephus chinensis flavonoid compounds with key targets.In this study,10 potential active components were selected from the flavonoid monomer compounds of Callistephus chinensis.1847 biological processes(BP),126 cell compositions(CC)and 256 molecular functions(MF)were obtained by GO enrichment analysis;a total of 194 pathways were involved in KEGG enrichment analysis of 192 cross targets.Network analysis showed that quercetin was the main active component of flavonoids in the treatment of diabetes,AKT1,TNF,VEGFA,EGFR,SRC and other related signals were in relation to the treatment of diabetes.This study showed that Callistephus chinensis flavonoid compounds play a role in the treatment of diabetes by regulating multi-target and multi-pathway.

Predicting bioactive compounds and cancer-related molecular targets of lotus seedpod (Receptaculum Nelumbinis) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

Background:Lotus seedpod(Receptaculum Nelumbinis)is the abundant by-products produced during lotus seed processing,and the sources are usually considered to be wastes and are abandoned outdoors or incinerated.This study aims at predicting its bioactive compounds and cancer-related molecular targets against six cancers,including lung cancer,gastric cancer,liver cancer,breast cancer,ovarian cancer and cervical cancer.Methods:Network pharmacology and molecular docking methods were performed.Results:Network pharmacology results indicated that 14 core compounds(liensinine,tetrandrine,lysicamine,tricin,sanleng acid,cireneol G,ricinoleic acid,linolenic acid,5,7-dihydroxycoumarin,apigenin,luteolin,morin,quercetin and isorhamnetin)and 10 core targets(AKT1,ESR1,HSP90AA1,JUN,MAPK1,MAPK3,PIK3CA,PIK3R1,SRC and STAT3)were screened for lotus seedpod against the six cancers.Molecular docking analysis suggested that the binding abilities between the core compounds and the core targets were mostly strong.GO analysis revealed that the intersected targets between the bioactive compounds of lotus seedpod and the six cancers were significantly related to biological processes,cell compositions and molecular functions.KEGG analysis showed that PI3K-Akt,TNF,Ras,MAPK,HIF-1 and C-type lectin receptor signaling pathways were notably involved in the anti-cancer activities of lotus seedpod against the six cancers.Conclusions:14 core compounds and 10 core targets were screened for lotus seedpod against lung cancer,gastric cancer,liver cancer,breast cancer,ovarian cancer and cervical cancer.This study supports the application of lotus seedpod in treating cancers,and promotes the recycling and the high-value utilization.

TCD监测颅内血流动力学参数评估脑血管病患者颈动脉狭窄程度及神经功能恶化的风险

目的探讨经颅射绝超声多普勒系统(TCD)监测颅内血流动力学对脑血管病患者颈动脉狭窄严重程度和神经功能恶化风险的评估价值。方法前瞻性纳入122例脑血管病患者为病例组,根据患者颈动脉狭窄程度分为轻度狭窄组(n=43)、中度狭窄组(n=47)、重度狭窄组(n=32),并纳入同期健康体检者60例为对照组,比较4组颅内血流动力学指标,并采用Pearson分析其与患者颈动脉狭窄严重程度的相关性;根据患者神经功能恶化程度分为神经功能恶化组(n=55)和神经功能未恶化组(n=67),采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析明确影响患者发生神经功能恶化的高危因素,并采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线进一步分析独立危险因素对神经功能恶化的诊断效能。结果轻、中、重度狭窄组舒张期峰值血流速度(EDV)、收缩期峰值血流速度(PSV)及平均血流速度(MV)水平均较对照组偏低,搏动指数(PI)和阻力指数(RI)较对照组偏高,有统计学差异(P<0.05);重度狭窄组PSV、MV、EDV水平较轻、中度狭窄组显著偏低,PI及RI水平显著偏高(P<0.05)。Pearson相关性分析结果显示,PSV、EDV及MV与颈动脉狭窄程度呈显著正相关(r=0.541,0.763,0.822,均P<0.05),PI及RI与颈动脉狭窄程度呈显著负相关(r=-0.133,-0.375,均P<0.05)。神经功能恶化组平均年龄、入院GCS评分、ICU停留时间及住院时长等临床指标均明显高于神经功能未恶化组(P<0.05);两组大脑中动脉血流动力学参数对比,神经功能恶化组收缩期血流速度(FVs)、PI显著高于神经功能未恶化组,FVd、平均流速(FVm)明显低于神经功能未恶化组(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析结果显示,ICU停留时间、住院时间、FVs、舒张期血流速度(FVd)、PI均是影响脑血管病患者神经功能恶化的独立危险因素(P<0.05)。ROC曲线分析结果显示,FVs、FVd、FVm及PI对预测脑血管病患者发生神经功能的ROC曲线下面积(AUC)分别为0.643、0.834、0.336、0.866(均P<0.05)。诊断效能:PI>FVd>FVs>FVm。结论应用TCD对脑血管病患者颅内血流动力学参数进行监测可辅助临床评估患者的颈动脉狭窄程度,对此类患者发生神经功能病变具有较高的预测价值。

Characterization of the key aroma compounds in four varieties of pomegranate juice by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS),gas chromatography-olfactometry(GC-O),odor activity value(OAV),aroma recombination,and omission tests

P omegranate(Punica granatum L.)has attracted considerable attention in world markets due to its valuable nutrients and highly appreciated sensory properties.The aroma profiles of 4 varieties of pomegranate juice,including Dahongtian(DP),Jingpitian(JP),Luyudan(LP),and Tianhonngdan(TP),were investigated via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)and gas chromatography-olfactometry(GC-O)analyses.A total of 43 volatile compounds were identified by using GC-MS.Among these compounds,16 were considered as potential aroma-active compounds as detected by GC-O.These compounds belonged to the classes of terpinenes,alcohols,and aldehydes.Eleven volatile compounds were defined as the main contributors to the overall aroma of pomegranate juice due to their high odor activity values(OAVs≥1).Aroma recombination and omission tests confirmed thatβ-myrcene,1-hexanol,and(Z)-3-hexen-1-ol were the key aroma compounds,and limonene,1-octen-3-ol,linalool,and hexanal were important aroma-active compounds in DP samples.

Correlation between dominant bacterial community and non-volatile organic compounds during the fermentation of shrimp sauces

Shrimp sauce,one of the traditional salt-fermented food in China,has a unique flavor that is influenced by the resident microflora.The quality of salt-fermented shrimp sauce was evaluated in this work by determining the total volatile basic nitrogen(TVB-N),the amino acid nitrogen(AAN),organic acid,5’-nucleotide and free amino acids(FAA).Moreover,the dynamics of microbial diversity during processing was investigated by using high-throughput sequencing technology.The results showed that the AAN,TVB-N,organic acid,5’-nucleotide and FAA content were in range of 0.93-1.42 g/100 mL,49.91-236.27 mg/100 mL,6.65-20.68 mg/mL,3.51-6.56 mg/mL and 81.27-102.90 mg/mL.Among the microbial diversity found in the shrimp sauce,Tetragenococcus,Flavobacterium,Polaribacter,Haematospirillum and Staphylococcus were the predominant genera.Correlation analysis indicated that the bacteria Tetragenococcus and Staphylococcus were important in the formation of non-volatile compounds.Tetragenococcus positively correlated with a variety of FAAs;Staphylococcus positively correlated with 5’-nucleotides.The analysis indicated that Tetragenococcus and Staphylococcus were the core genera affecting non-volatile components.These findings indicate the dynamics of the bacterial community and non-volatile components inter-relationships during shrimp sauce fermentation and provide a theoretical basis for improving the fermentation process of shrimp sauce.

Grafting effects on bioactive compounds,chemical and agronomic traits of‘Corbarino’tomato grown under greenhouse healthy conditions

In tomatoes,grafting onto resistant rootstocks represents an effective strategy to control several soil-borne diseases that reduce crop profitability,especially for landraceswith little or no resistance tomultiple pathogens/pests.In this study,the high-value‘Corbarino’tomato landrace was grafted onto seven commercial Solanum interspecific rootstocks to evaluate graft compatibility,yield performance,and qualitative characteristics under greenhouse healthy conditions.Three rootstocks were themost effective in improving fruit yield without negatively affecting the carpometric,technological,and health-related traits of the traditional tomato.‘Dinafort’rootstock increased fresh and dry yield,harvest index,and fruit/clusters,while mean fruit weight,shape index,total and soluble solid content,simple sugars,organic acids,flavonoids,ascorbic acid,and trans-lycopene content did not differ with respect to the ungrafted‘Corbarino’.‘Interpro’rootstock also showed promising results for the overall yield and quality traits,although it reduced the trans-lycopene content in the fruit.‘Silex’rootstock showed the highest harvest index as result of decreased vigour.The fruit quality induced by‘Silex’was satisfactory and high levels of simple sugars,flavonoids,ascorbic acid,and trans-lycopene were also observed.However,graft success,especially for‘Dinafort’and‘Silex’,needs to be improved by investigating more suitable methods for seedling production,grafting,acclimatization,etc.

Corrosion resistance of Mg-Al-LDH steam coating on AZ80 Mg alloy:Effects of citric acid pretreatment and intermetallic compounds

In this study,the effects of intermetallic compounds(Mg_(17)Al_(12)and Al_(8)Mn_(5))on the Mg-Al layered double hydroxide(LDH)formation mechanism and corrosion behavior of an in-situ LDH/Mg(OH)_(2)steam coatings on AZ80 Mg alloy were investigated.Citric acid(CA)was used to activate the alloy surface during the pretreatment process.The alloy was first pretreated with CA and then subjected to a hydrothermal process using ultrapure water to produce Mg-Al-LDH/Mg(OH)_(2)steam coating.The effect of different time of acid pretreatment on the activation of the intermetallic compounds was investigated.The microstructure and elemental composition of the obtained coatings were analyzed using FE-SEM,EDS,XRD and FT-IR.The corrosion resistance of the coated samples was evaluated using different techniques,i.e.,potentiodynamic polarization(PDP),electrochemical impedance spectrum(EIS)and hydrogen evolution test.The results indicated that the CA pretreatment significantly influenced the activity of the alloy surface by exposing the intermetallic compounds.The surface area fraction of Mg_(17)Al_(12)and Al_(8)Mn_(5)phases on the surface of the alloy was significantly higher after the CA pretreatment,and thus promoted the growth of the subsequent Mg-Al-LDH coatings.The CA pretreatment for 30 s resulted in a denser and thicker LDH coating.Increase in the CA pretreatment time significantly led to the improvement in corrosion resistance of the coated AZ80 alloy.The corrosion current density of the coated alloy was lower by three orders of magnitude as compared to the uncoated alloy.

Exhaled volatile organic compounds for diagnosis and monitoring of asthma

The asthmatic inflammatory process results in the generation of volatile organic compounds(VOCs),which are subsequently secreted by the airways.The study of these elements through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS),which can identify individual molecules with a discriminatory capacity of over 85%,and electronic-Nose(e-NOSE),which is able to perform a quick onboard pattern-recognition analysis of VOCs,has allowed new prospects for non-invasive analysis of the disease in an"omics"approach.In this review,we aim to collect and compare the progress made in VOCs analysis using the two methods and their instrumental characteristics.Studies have described the potential of GC-MS and e-NOSE in a multitude of relevant aspects of the disease in both children and adults,as well as differential diagnosis between asthma and other conditions such as wheezing,cystic fibrosis,COPD,allergic rhinitis and last but not least,the accuracy of these methods compared to other diagnostic tools such as lung function,FeNO and eosinophil count.Due to significant limitations of both methods,it is still necessary to improve and standardize techniques.Currently,e-NOSE appears to be the most promising aid in clinical practice,whereas GC-MS,as the gold standard for the structural analysis of molecules,remains an essential tool in terms of research for further studies on the pathophysiologic pathways of the asthmatic inflammatory process.In conclusion,the study of VOCs through GC-MS and e-NOSE appears to hold promise for the noninvasive diagnosis,assessment,and monitoring of asthma,as well as for further research studies on the disease.

Neural progenitor cells derived from fibroblasts induced by small molecule compounds under hypoxia for treatment of Parkinson’s disease in rats

Neural progenitor cells(NPCs) capable of self-renewal and differentiation into neural cell lineages offer broad prospects for cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. However, cell therapy based on NPC transplantation is limited by the inability to acquire sufficient quantities of NPCs. Previous studies have found that a chemical cocktail of valproic acid, CHIR99021, and Repsox(VCR) promotes mouse fibroblasts to differentiate into NPCs under hypoxic conditions. Therefore, we used VCR(0.5 mM valproic acid, 3 μM CHIR99021, and 1 μM Repsox) to induce the reprogramming of rat embryonic fibroblasts into NPCs under a hypoxic condition(5%). These NPCs exhibited typical neurosphere-like structures that can express NPC markers, such as Nestin, SRY-box transcription factor 2, and paired box 6(Pax6), and could also differentiate into multiple types of functional neurons and astrocytes in vitro. They had similar gene expression profiles to those of rat brain-derived neural stem cells. Subsequently, the chemically-induced NPCs(ciNPCs) were stereotactically transplanted into the substantia nigra of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned parkinsonian rats. We found that the ciNPCs exhibited long-term survival, migrated long distances, and differentiated into multiple types of functional neurons and glial cells in vivo. Moreover, the parkinsonian behavioral defects of the parkinsonian model rats grafted with ciNPCs showed remarkable functional recovery. These findings suggest that rat fibroblasts can be directly transformed into NPCs using a chemical cocktail of VCR without introducing exogenous factors, which may be an attractive donor material for transplantation therapy for Parkinson’s disease.

TCD发泡试验在诊断隐源性脑卒中相关危险因素PFO中的应用研究

研究TCD发泡试验在隐源性脑卒中中相关危险因素PFO应用效果开展诊断评估。方法 选择我院2019-2023年所接受到的80名隐源性脑卒中患者为分析对象,比较患者经颅多普勒超声(TCD)发泡试验和经胸心脏超声心动图(TTE)检查结果阳性率和影像学特征。结果 TCD发泡试验在隐源性脑卒中相关危险因素卵圆孔未闭(PFO)阳性率检出率和TTE阳性检出率检查方面,检查具备统计学意义。在TCD发泡试验对隐源性脑卒中脑卒中相关危险因素中PFO阳性和阴性患者检查内,阳性患者梗死病大部分出现在皮层、皮层下区域,阴性患者主要出现深部灰质区域。结论 TCD发泡试验可以有效检测出由于PFO该危险因素造成隐源性脑卒中,PFO阳性病灶大部分位于皮层、皮层下区域,就隐源性脑卒中相关危险因素PFO筛查、诊断、病因研究等角度具备关键意义,适宜临床推广与应用。