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A total of 294 edible protein sequences and 5 commercial proteases listed in the BIOPEP database were analyzed in silico. The frequency (A), a parameter in silico described previously, was examined further to calculating the ratio of truncated peptides with Xaa-proline and/or Xaa-alanine to all peptide fragments in a protein hydrolyzed with a protease, using the BIOPEP database. Then the in vitro DPP-IV inhibitory activity was determined using the same 15 protein and protease combinations to evaluate their relationship. The result shows that A values considering the number of Xaa-proline+Xaa-alanine exhibited a strong correlation with in vitro DPP-IV inhibition rates by Pearson's correlation analysis (r=0.6993; P0.05). Therefore, the in silico approach is effective to predict DPP-IV inhibitory activities in vitro of protein hydrolysates.

Following the core food (CF) models of the USA and France reported in the 2000s, this study presents the first oriental CF model, for total diet studies in Taiwan. First, we combined the four latest national dietary recall surveys from 2005 to 2012, data sets from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) covering all ages (1 to 65+ years old). In total, 3,098 NAHSIT food codes from 349,497 records of responses from 7,580 individuals were aggregated within a three-tiered scheme into 237 CFs in 54 subcategories and 16 categories. As with Western foods, Taiwanese foods were mainly aggregated by food type and major ingredient, processing method, cooking method or serving habit. In addition, we propose several categories typical to Taiwanese foods: (1) processed foods (e.g. rice paste, rice noodle, bean curd); (2) mixed foods (e.g. tomato fried with egg, Guangdong porridge) and stuffed staple foods (e.g. rice cake, zongzi); (3) Chinese Dim Sum (e.g. dumpling, salted bun); and (4) animal offal (e.g. pig liver, chicken kidney) and by-products (e.g. chicken head, pig foot). Systematic nomenclature and coding methods are also proposed. A computerised web model was developed using a graphical user interface (GUI) for automatic CF aggregation and inquiry of various consumption estimates according to the residing area, age group, and gender of consumers. Point estimates of weighted means were calculated for consumption rates (CR) based on the whole group (WG) or consumers only (CO). The CR and body weight (BW) of each individual were matched to calculate mean intake per unit body weight (g/kg bw/day). A general sample design procedure with the CF model is suggested for a total diet study (TDS) on target hazards. Strategies are also discussed for improving the quality of food matching in sample designs.

Various warm- and cold-water fish skins were used to prepare gelatin hydrolysates and compare their in vitro dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activity. The DPP-IV inhibitory activity of gelatin hydrolysates from warm-water fish was greater than that from cold-water fish. The

The peptides (PGH) in the

The frequency (A), a novel in silico parameter, was developed by calculating the ratio of the number of truncated peptides with Xaa-proline and Xaa-alanine to all peptide fragments from a protein hydrolyzed with a specific protease. The highest in vitro DPP-IV inhibitory activity (72.7%) was observed in the hydrolysate of sodium caseinate by bromelain (Cas/BRO), and the constituent proteins of bovine casein also had relatively high A values (0.10-0.17) with BRO hydrolysis. 1CBR (the

Prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) has been associated with neurodegenerative disorders, and the PEP inhibitors can restore the memory loss caused by amnesic compounds. In this study, we investigated the PEP inhibitory activity of the enzymatic hydrolysates from various food protein sources, and isolated and identified the PEP inhibitory peptides. The hydrolysate obtained from sodium caseinate using bromelain (SC/BML) displayed the highest inhibitory activity of 86.8% at 5 mg mL(-1) in the present study, and its IC50 value against PEP was 0.77 mg mL(-1). The F-5 fraction by RP-HPLC (reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography) from SC/BML showed the highest PEP inhibition rate of 88.4%, and 9 peptide sequences were identified. The synthetic peptides (1245.63-1787.94 Da) showed dose-dependent inhibition effects on PEP as competitive inhibitors with IC50 values between 29.8 and 650.5 μM. The results suggest that the peptides derived from sodium caseinate have the potential to be PEP inhibitors.

One of the new approaches to the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) consists of orally administered dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors. These synthetic drug inhibitors are reported to have some side effects and that subsequently limits their applications. There is a growing interest to develop natural DPP-IV inhibitors that will be potent without undesirable side effects. Many in vitro and some in vivo studies have highlighted the potential of food-derived peptides functioning as effective DPPIV inhibitors. Bioactive peptides within original food-derived proteins are inactive but can be activated by being released during food processing (by enzymatic hydrolysis or fermentation) or during gastrointestinal digestion. Hence, the utilization of computer-aided techniques as screening tools may be helpful in predicting the potential of food proteins as precursors of DPP-IV inhibitory peptides. This paper reviews the current literature on DPP-IV inhibitory peptides, focusing on their in vitro activity and in vivo antidiabetic effects. In addition, the feasibility of various in silico approaches is also summarized in this review.

A 67-year-old woman presented with a protruding mass in the umbilical region. The patient had a history of hepatitis virus C related liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) post resection. In addition, one episode of HCC rupture occurred 1 year ago. Physical examination was unremarkable except a palpable mass without tenderness over the umbilicus. Bedside abdominal ultrasonography showed a liver-like …

In our previous study, Atlantic salmon skin gelatin hydrolysed with flavourzyme possessed 42.5% dipeptidyl-peptidase (DPP)-IV inhibitory activity at a concentration of 5 mg mL(-1). The oral administration of the hydrolysate (FSGH) at a single dose of 300 mg per day in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats for 5 weeks was evaluated for its antidiabetic effect. During the 5-week experiment, body weight increased, and the food and water intake was reduced by FSGH in diabetic rats. The daily administration of FSGH for 5 weeks was effective for lowering the blood glucose levels of diabetic rats during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). After the 5-week treatment, plasma DPP-IV activity was inhibited; the plasma activity of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), insulin, and the insulin-to-glucagon ratio were increased by FSGH in diabetic rats. The results indicate that FSGH has the function of inhibiting GLP-1 degradation by DPP-IV, resulting in the enhancement of insulin secretion and improvement of glycemic control in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

Background β-amino acids play important biological roles as precursors in the biosynthesis of antibiotics, anticancer agents, neurotransmitters, and other high molecular weight polymers. Microbial cells and enzymes from extreme environments offer new opportunities for biocatalysis and biotransformations as a result of their extreme stability. Lysine 2,3-aminomutase catalyzes the interconversion of L-α-lysine and L-β-lysine. L-β-lysine is a precursor in the bacterial biosynthesis of several antibiotics, and also is a precursor in the biosynthesis of osmolyte N e -acetyl-β-lysine for salt stress and adaptation in methanoarchaea. Methods Lysine 2,3-aminomutase (AblA) genes from the marine Methanosarcina mazei N2M9705, halotolerant Methanocalculus chunghsingensis K1F9705b T , and halophilic Methanohalophilus portucalensis FDF1 T were cloned by PCR and southern hybridization. Both nucleotide and amino acid sequences of AblAs were analyzed and phylogenetic comparisons performed. Additionally, the functional motifs and 3D structure of aminomutases were aligned and compared. Results The deduced amino acid sequences of AblAs from methanoarchaea share high identity with the known clostridial and Bacillus lysine 2,3-aminomutase. The conserved amino acid residues for cofactors, such as the iron-sulfur cluster, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and zinc-binding sites in methanoarchaeal AblAs suggested that they were lysine 2,3-aminomutases. Conclusion AblAs from methanoarchaea are lysine 2,3-aminomutases that may function as potential biocatalysts for the synthesis of β-lysine in vivo and in vitro .

Aims and objectives. To expand the theoretical understanding of fatigue, this study used in-depth interview to explore the fatigue experience from haemodialysis patients’ perspectives. Background. Fatigue is a common symptom experienced by the people with chronic diseases including those with renal failure requiring haemodialysis. Methods. Data were collected in a haemodialysis unit of a hospital in South Taiwan. Purposive samples of 14 participants were interviewed in-depth. Colaizzi's methods were used to analyse transcripts of the interviews. Results. Ten themes were delineated and classified into three domains. The first domain ‘physical fatigue’ consists of four themes: (1) habitual fatigue, (2) experiencing the uraemic symptoms (3) suffering from sleeping disturbance, (4) insufficient physical energy. The second domain ‘affective fatigue’ contains three themes: (5) detesting long-term treatment, (6) perceiving depression (7) and feeling exhausted. The third domain ‘cognitive fatigue’ includes three themes: (8) regretting lost cognition, (9) intentional isolation and (10) coping with fatigue. Conclusions. The findings identify that fatigue is a multi-dimensional concept. By understanding the various aspects of fatigue, nurses may be better able to plan and provide fatigue-relieving strategies for haemodialysis patients. Relevance to clinical practice. The results can provide a direction for interventional studies designed to reduce the patients’ fatigue.

Mycobacterium scrofulaceum is one of the slowly growing scotochromogenic non-tuberculous mycobacterium. In adult, the clinical manifestations of M. scrofulaceum infections include pulmonary disease, hepatitis, osteomyelitis, and cutaneous infection. Herein, we report a rare case of disseminated M. scrofulaceum infection in a patient with lymphoma. The patient had the M. scrofulaceum infections that involved lung and joint, and the clinical condition responded to antimycobacterial agent and surgical debridement well.

Purpose: This study is conducted to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with bacteremia caused by non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS). Methods: Patients with bacteremia caused by NTS during the period 2010 to 2014 were identified from a computerized database of a regional hospital in southern Taiwan. The medical records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of the 85 patients with NTS bacteremia were identified and 66% of them were classified as elderly patient with age ≥ 65 years. In addition to 30 (35.3%) cases of primary bacteremia, the most common source of secondary infection is acute gastroenteritis (n = 29, 34.1%). Group B was the most common NTS serogroup, followed by group D and C. More than 75% of the cases of NTS bacteremia developed in patients with immunocompromised conditions, which was defined as the patient had any one of the following conditions – cancer, liver cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal disease, connective tissue diseases, HIV infections, and receiving immunosuppressant or steroid. Clinical outcomes, including rate of ICU admission, acute respiratory failure, and mortality were 21.2%, 14.1%, and 11.8%, respectively. In-hospital mortality was significantly associated with shock as the initial presentation (odds ratio, 5.25, 95% confidence interval: 1.31-20.97). 94-98% of clinical isolates were susceptible to third-generation cephalosporin, but ciprofloxacin resistant rate was 17.6%. Conclusions: NTS bacteremia is not uncommon, especially in immunocompromised and elderly patients, and shock as the initial presentation is significant risk factors for mortality of patients with NTS bacteremia. Third-generation cephalosporin remains good in vitro activity against NTS.