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The electrocatalytic 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) oxidation reaction (HMFOR) toward 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) has been considered a promising approach for the substitution of the energy-consuming and hazardous oxygen evolution reaction and for the valorization of renewable biomass. However, it is limited by the susceptibility of HMF to the oxidative environment and requires efficient electrocatalysts. Herein, a NiMo complex (NiMo-N) is provided as the precatalyst for the HMFOR, exhibiting favorable performances with a current density of 450 mA·cm -2 achieved at an anodic potential of 1.4 V vs RHE (similarly hereinafter) with 50 mmol/L (mM) HMF and over 95% HMF conversion and FDCA FE for at least five cycles. Combined with quasi situ and in situ analysis, it is confirmed that the extensive lattice distortions in the precatalyst facilitate the in-depth reconstruction, increasing the accessible Ni sites and defective oxygen vacancies (O v ), which would promptly convert to high-valence Ni and active O species during the reaction. The improved performance is then attributed to the incorporation of the improved chemisorption and dehydrogenation ability of HMF by the as-evolved active sites.

γ-l-Glutamyl-S-allyl-l-cysteine (GSAC) is renowned for its flavor-modifying effects and beneficial biological activities. However, the level of GSAC decreases significantly during the processing of black garlic, and the pathways and degradation products resulting from this decline remain unclear. To investigate the potential transformation mechanisms of GSAC in black garlic, simulation systems for thermal decomposition, Maillard reactions, and enzymatic hydrolysis were established. In addition to GSAC and fructose, a total of 6 products were identified and confirmed. Findings indicate that thermal decomposition and enzymatic hydrolysis are the two primary pathways through which GSAC is transformed, whereas the Maillard reaction between fructose and GSAC is unlikely to occur. GSAC can be converted into S-allylcysteine and glutamic acid through thermal processing and the action of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase. Notably, the majority of Glu transformed into pyroglutamic acid via intramolecular dehydration at 75 °C, whereas in enzymatic hydrolysis simulation systems, it is converted into glutamine. Additionally, alliin, S-allylcysteine, and S-allylmercaptocysteine were detected, suggesting new pathways for the production of these compounds during the processing of black garlic.

This study applied program temperature-controlled drying (PTCD) to optimize the hot-air drying process for shiitake mushrooms, adjusting the drying temperature based on activity changes of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTase) and cysteine sulfoxide lyase (C-S lyase). Compared with constant temperature drying, PTCD (ST_75 and ST_150) significantly enhanced the umami and aroma profiles and sulfur compounds, increasing the levels of key flavor compounds such as glutamic acid and 5'-GMP. Moreover, PTCD improved rehydration capacity (515.17%) and reduced shrinkage (12.43%) for ST_150 samples, achieving superior texture and color retention. Nutritional analysis indicated that PTCD better preserved nutrients such as ergothioneine, ergosterol, and purines, with ergosterol content reaching 9953.22 µg/g in the ST_150 group. This study provides theoretical support for improving the quality of hot-air-dried shiitake mushrooms in industrial applications. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Although hot air drying is widely used for mushrooms, it is typically conducted using constant temperature methods. The application of PTCD and its effects on mushroom product quality have been scarcely studied. This study proved that compared with constant drying temperature, PTCD could significantly improve the flavor, texture, and nutrition retention of dried products. This may provide scientific foundation for the industrial application of hot air drying of shiitake mushrooms with improved quality., (© 2025 Institute of Food Technologists.)

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the progressive deterioration of articular cartilage, leading to joint pain and functional impairment. OA severely impacts quality of life and presents a substantial societal burden. Currently, effective treatment options remain limited. Morinda officinalis (MO), a traditional Chinese herb, is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and alleviate joint pain. M13, an anthraquinone extracted from MO, has shown significant anti-inflammatory properties, making it a promising candidate for the treatment of OA. However, its role in inhibiting OA progression and the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood., Purpose: The objective of this study is to examine the impact of M13 on osteoarthritis and uncover the mechanisms., Methods: The effects of M13 on OA were assessed using TNF-α induced chondrocyte models and mice with destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). Celecoxib was used as a positive control. We evaluated the expression of factors related to chondrocyte degeneration and inflammation through qRT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence. Chondrocyte viability was measured using CCK-8 assays, EdU staining, and flow cytometry. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) were performed to evaluate the binding efficacy of target proteins. Additionally, the therapeutic effects of M13 in OA mice were confirmed through in vivo experiments., Results: In primary murine chondrocytes, M13 rescued TNF-α-induced matrix degradation and loss of vitality while suppressing ROS generation. Mechanistically, STAT3 was identified as a target protein of M13, through which M13 mitigated OA by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling pathway. Further in vivo experiments demonstrated that M13 reduced the scores of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI), alleviating cartilage impairment. M13 enhanced levels of collagen II and aggrecan in cartilage tissue while decreasing the amounts of cartilage-degrading proteins ADAMTS-5 and MMP13., Conclusion: This is the first study to validate that M13 mitigates the inflammation and damage in cartilage tissue by blocking the STAT3 signaling pathway. These findings hold promise for enhancing innovative clinical interventions targeting OA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

A noninvasive test for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer in individuals at higher risk is currently unavailable. We devised PancSure, a laboratory-developed test based on the protein biomarkers lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE1) and regenerating family member 1 β (REG1B), measured in urine by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and commonly used serum/plasma carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA19.9), with an updated PancRISK algorithm for data interpretation. The test was validated in 565 patients: 117 asymptomatic patients without any known pancreatic condition or malignancies (21%), 242 symptomatic patients with benign pancreatic diseases (43%), and 206 patients with confirmed cancers (36%); 161 (77.5%) had stage I to II disease, and 45 (22.5%) had stage III to IV disease. PancSure passed all specifications during analytical validation and distinguishes early-stage resectable cancer from asymptomatic individuals with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.89-0.97) and 85% to 90% sensitivity (SN) and 78% to 87% specificity (SP); from symptomatic patients with AUC of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.81-0.91) and 83% to 85% SN and 72% to 83% SP; and from all noncancer patients (pooled controls) with AUC of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.84-0.93) and 83% to 85% SN and 78% to 87% SP. PancSure is a noninvasive clinical-grade test with a 48-hour turnover, ready for implementation, providing a viable solution for the earlier detection of pancreatic cancer in at-risk groups for improved patient care., Competing Interests: Disclosure Statement T.C.-J. is a co-inventor of the relevant patent US10782301B2, licensed by Cedars-Sinai. 3rd Street Diagnostics is a business development unit for diagnostic tests within Cedars-Sinai Technology Ventures., (Copyright © 2025 Association for Molecular Pathology and American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)