Human intestinal Caco-2 cell model to evaluate the absorption of 7-ketophytosterols and their effects on cholesterol transport

7-Ketophytosterols are the major oxidation products of phytosterols in foods, which have been associated with atherosclerosis. However, their absorption mechanism remains unclear. The aim of our work was to investigate the absorption mechanism of 7-ketophytosterols and their effects on the cholesterol transport using Caco-2 cell model. The absorption percentage of 7-ketositosterol and 7-ketocampesterol was 1.16%-1.68% and 1.18%-2.23% respectively in the Caco-2 model, which is higher than that of their parent phytosterols, but lower than cholesterol-d7. The apparent permeability of 7-ketositosterol and 7-ketocampesterol at 30 μmol/L in the basolateral(BL)-to-apical(AP)direction were 0.42-and 0.55-fold of that in the AP-to-BL direction, indicating an active intake in the permeation mechanism of 7-ketophytosterols. Ezetimibe could significantly inhibit the transport of 7-ketophytosterols(P < 0.05), which means that their transport depends on niemann-pick c1-like 1(NPC1L1)protein. The transport of cholesterol-d7 was significantly inhibited by 7-ketophytosterols(P < 0.05). Taken together, this study deepened our understanding of the absorption mechanism of common food-born 7-ketophytosterols and provides useful information on the inhibition of 7-ketophytosterols absorption.

Multiple action sites of ultrasound on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Ultrasound,is thought to a potential non-thermal sterilization technology in food industry.However,the exact mechanisms underlying microbial inactivation by ultrasound still remain obscure.In this study,the action modes of ultrasound on both Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms were estimated.From colony results,ultrasound acted as an irreversible effect on both Eshcerichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus without sublethal injury.The result in this study also showed that a proportion of bacteria subpopulation suffered from serious damage of intracellular components(e.g.DNA and enzymes)but with intact cell envelopes.We speculated that the inactivated effects of ultrasound on microbes might more than simply completed disruption of cell exteriors.Those microbial cells who had not enter the valid area of ultrasonic cavitation might be injected with free radicals produced by ultrasound and experienced interior injury with intact exterior structure,and others who were in close proximity to the ultrasonic wave field would be immediately and completely disrupted into debris by high power mechanic forces.These findings here try to provide extension for the inactivation mechanisms of ultrasound on microorganisms.

Tomato SlPti5 plays a regulative role in the plant immune response against Botrytis cinerea through modulation of ROS system and hormone pathways

While SlPti5 has been shown to play a crucial role in the regulation of antagonistic genes in Solanum lycopersicum and Arabidopsis against pathogen infection,there have been no comprehensive studies on the effects of SlPti5 on the regulatory response mechanism of reactive oxygen species(ROS) system and hormone pathways during growth and disease resistance of tomato plants.Here,we investigated the function of SlPti5 in the defense response of tomato against Botrytis cinerea utilizing a virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS)-based system.Expression profile analysis showed that SlPti5 was significantly induced upon B.cinerea infection,with high expression levels in the leaves and fruit of tomato.VIGS-based silencing of SlPti5 inhibited early vegetative growth,increased the plant’s susceptibility to infection,promoted the development of ROS,affected the expression of genes involved in the ROS scavenging system,and attenuated the expression of genes associated with pathogenesis and the ethylene/jasmonic acid signaling pathways.In sum,our data demonstrated that SlPti5 stimulates the immune response of tomato plant to Botrytis cinerea infection by involving the ethylene(ET)-and jasmonic acid(JA)-mediated pathways and modulating the expression of some key pathogenesis-related(PR) genes.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis ofβ-sitosterol marker in virgin camellia oil and virgin olive oil

Camellia oil and olive oil with superior economic value are easily adulterated with other,cheaper oils.It is difficult to identify both oils by traditional methods because of their similar fatty acid profiles.In the present study,a novel method for qualitative and quantitative analysis ofβ-sitosterol using GC/MS and GC/FID was developed to identify camellia oil and olive oil.The method validation ofβ-sitosterol analysis showed good linearity and satisfactory values for recovery,accuracy,precision,and repeatability.The linear regression coefficient(R^(2))of the calibration curve was 0.9985.An acceptable limit of detection(0.36 mg/100 g)and limit of quantification(1.20 mg/100 g)were achieved.The spiked recoveries were 95.0%to 100.3%.The relative standard deviation(RSD)of within-day precision was less than 3.26%,and the RSD of retention times and peak areas for repeatability were within 0.03%and 1.08%,respectively.The contents ofβ-sitosterol in virgin camellia oil and virgin olive oil were in the range of 14.1–30.2 mg/100 g and 94.3–173.2 mg/100 g,respectively,indicating that theβ-sitosterol content in the former is seven times that in the latter,andβ-sitosterol could be a potential marker for the authentication and adulteration detection of both oils.

Retraction Note to: Effects of dietary glycerol monolaurate on productive performance, egg quality, serum biochemical indices, and intestinal morphology of laying hens

Retraction Note to: J Zhejiang Univ-Sci B(Biomed & Biotechnol) 2019 20(11):877-890 https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1800530The authors have retracted this article(Zhao et al., 2019) due to significant overlap with a previously published Chinese language article(Liu et al., 2017), including overlap in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3, Table 6, Fig. 4, and part of the results(Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.5, and 3.7).