Search

Response surface methodology was used to optimize the fermentation factors of blackened jujube vinegar (BJV). Physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, sensory evaluation, and volatile compounds were studied with the methods of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results indicated that the optimal fermentation conditions was the acetic acid inoculation amount of 15%, the fermentation temperature of 30.44°C, and the initial alcohol content of 6.45% vol. During fermentation processing, there was a delay in the start of BJV fermentation and the fermentation rate was lower than red jujube vinegar (RJV). There was a significant difference in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content between these two (P < .05), and BJV is 3.55 times that of RJV. The content of polysaccharides in BJV and RJV decreased significantly and the trend was the same. The 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) content of BJV decreased rapidly with the process and reached a very low level finally. The antioxidant activity of BJV was significantly higher than that of RJV in terms of 2,20 -azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (P < .05). From sensory evaluation, the aroma and taste of BJV were better than those of RJV. There were no significant differences in the categories and quantities of volatile compounds between them. Volatile acid of BJV was less than that of RJV with the value of 72.91% and 81.15%, respectively, meanwhile, volatile esters of BJV (19.11%) was significantly higher than that of RJV (9.28%), for these reasons, sensory of BJV was softer, richer ester fragrance, and RJV was more stimulating.

We report on changes in the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) concurrent with the recovery of impaired consciousness following rehabilitation and cranioplasty in a patient with traumatic brain injury (TBI), which were demonstrated on diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). A 34-year-old male patient was diagnosed with a traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage after falling from a height of approximately 7 m and underwent a right frontoparietotemporal decompressive craniectomy and hematoma removal. At 5 months after onset, when starting rehabilitation, the patient showed impaired consciousness, with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 4. Comprehensive rehabilitative therapy was provided until 14 months after onset, and his GCS score improved to 8. Cranioplasty was performed using auto-bone at 14 months after onset. One month after cranioplasty, his GCS score improved to 12. On the 15-month DTT, the deviated lower dorsal ARAS was restored on both sides, and the right side had become thicker. The right lower ventral ARAS was reconstructed, and increased neural connectivity of the upper ARAS was detected in both the prefrontal cortices. Thus, changes in the ARAS were demonstrated in a patient with TBI during recovery of consciousness following rehabilitation and cranioplasty.

Background: Chitosan is a cationic biopolymer obtained from deacetylating chitin, a natural compound present in crustacean shell, fungi and exoskeleton of insects. Chitosan involves various applications, including as drug and gene delivery systems, as wound dressing material and scaffolds for tissue engineering, agriculture, textile, food and feed nanotechnology, and in wastewater treatments. Chitosan-TPP particle has been figured out as the most important and sta-ble nanoparticle for chitosan application in various fields. Objective: In this study, chitosan was chemically modified by sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Af-terward, TPP-chitosan was radiolabeled with the gallium-67 radionuclide. The effect of several factors on labeling yield, such as chitosan solubility, acidity and concentration of TPP-chitosan so-lution, and incubation time with gallium-67, were investigated. Methods: To prepare [67Ga] gallium-chitosan complex, chitosan (0.5 ml) was dissolved in 2.2 mCi of [67Ga] gallium chloride solution. The obtained solution was stirred for 5 min and then kept for 30 min at room temperature. The radiochemical purity and radiolabeling yield were measured via radiochromatography, which was performed by using a radio thin-layer chromatography (TLC) scanner instrument. To investigate the effect of chitosan kind and concentration on the labeling yield, two kinds of chitosan (acid-soluble chitosan and water-soluble chitosan) at two different concentrations (1% and 0.5%) and different pH were used. In addition, labeling efficiency and sta-bility of the 67Ga-TPP-chitosan complex (acidic/water soluble chitosan) at both concentrations (0.5 and 1%) and at room temperature were assessed for 30, 45 and 60 min. Results: The incubation time did not have any significant effect on labeling yield. The acidic solu-ble chitosan exhibited the highest radiolabeling yield at pH=9.3-10.4, while water-soluble chitosan showed the highest radiolabeling yield at pH > 5. Also, the prepared complex was stable in the fi-nal solution at room temperature and could even be used 24 hours after preparation for further ap-plication. Conclusion: Taken together, the TPP-modified water-soluble chitosan at the concentration of 0.5 % depicted the highest radiochemical yield (>95 %) in the optimized condition (pH= 6.2–7.6). Therefore, TPP modified water-soluble chitosan can prove to be an effective carrier for therapeutic radionuclides in tumor treatment.

Background. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a nonselective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. ADMA is thought to inhibit the production of nitric oxide (NO) by neurons after oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The gap junction protein Connexin-36 (cx-36) is involved in the pathophysiology of stroke. We investigated whether ADMA could protect neurons from OGD insults by regulating the expression of cx-36. Methods. Cultured rat cortical neuronal cells were used. Neurons were treated with OGD with or without ADMA pretreatment. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release rate was used to assess neuronal injury. Intracellular NO levels were determined using 4-amino-5-methylamino-2 ′ ,7 ′ -difluorofluorescein diacetate. Western blotting was performed to detect cx-36 expression. Results. The LDH release rate increased in the supernatant of neurons after the OGD insult, whereas ADMA treatment reduced the LDH release rate. Intracellular NO levels increased following OGD treatment, and this increase was not inhibited by ADMA treatment. Expression of cx-36 was upregulated in neurons under OGD conditions, and treatment with ADMA downregulated the expression of cx-36. Conclusions. ADMA protects neurons from OGD insult, and cx-36 downregulation may be a possible pathway involved in ADMA-mediated neuronal protection.

ADAM-17 is a type I transmembrane protein, and its abnormal expression affects the body development and tumor growth. BMSCs act as a target gene carrier in tumor tissues. This study mainly aims to explore the role of ADAM-17 and BMSCs in drug-resistant cervical cancer (CC). BMSCs were transfected with ADAM-17 or empty vectors and then co-cultured with cisplatin-resistant CC cells followed by analysis of cell morphology. The in vivo effect of ADAM-17-modified BMSC was evaluated using animal model of CC. The protein expression of ADAM-17, EGFR, PI3K, and Akt was detected using Western blot and RT-qPCR. Transfection of ADAM-17 significantly facilitated tumor growth at different time points (4 d, 7 d, 10 d, 14 d), accompanied with the upregulation of ADAM-17, EGFR, PI3K, and Akt expression (p < 0.05) without differences between empty vector group and blank group (p > 0.05). Mechanistically, ADAM-17 directly targets EGFR in CC. In conclusion, ADAM-17-modified BMSC enhances the growth of drug-resistant CC cell and tumor growth through EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which may contribute to a novel therapy for treating CC.

Amphiregulin (AREG) is a transmembrane protein which, following TACE/ADAM17-dependent cleavage, releases a soluble Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor ligand domain that promotes proliferation of normal and malignant cells. Expression of Amphiregulin has been described by immunohistochemistry in several tumor types, including lung, prostate, head and neck, gastric, pancreatic and breast cancers but evidence for a functional requirement for Amphiregulin in these malignancies is more limited. We have previously described the development of a monoclonal antibody, GMF-1A3, that selectively recognizes the Amphiregulin epitope that is revealed following cleavage by TACE/ADAM17 and demonstrated that drug conjugates of this antibody have anti-tumor activity in mouse models. By directly evaluating Amphiregulin cleavage, immunohistochemistry on tissue specimens using this antibody can be used to evaluate the extent to which Amphiregulin is being proteolytically processed in cancer, which is a more direct measure of Amphiregulin activity. As a potential companion diagnostic for this antibody-drug conjugate, this immunohistochemistry assay allows identification of tumors with high levels of the cleaved Amphiregulin target. Here we evaluate levels of cleaved Amphiregulin in 370 specimens from 10 tumor types and demonstrate that it is widely expressed in solid tumors and is especially common (more than 50% of cases) in breast, prostate, liver and lung cancer.

Reversal of cancer drug resistance remains a critical challenge in chemotherapy. Mitochondria-targeted drug delivery has been suggested to mitigate drug resistance in cancer. To overcome the intrinsic limitations in conventional mitochondrial targeting strategies, we develop mitochondrial temperature-responsive drug delivery to reverse doxorubicin (DOX) resistance in lung cancer. Results demonstrate that the thermoresponsive nanocarrier can prevent DOX efflux and facilitate DOX accumulation and mitochondrial targeting in DOX-resistant tumors. As a consequence, thermoresponsive nanocarrier enhances the cytotoxicity of DOX and reverses the drug resistance in tumor-bearing mice. This work represents the first example of mitochondrial temperature-responsive drug delivery for reversing cancer drug resistance.

The concept of “ethno-microbiology” is to understand the indigenous knowledge of the Indian people for production of culturally and organoleptically acceptable fermented foods by natural fermentation. About 1000 types of common, uncommon, rare, exotic and artisan fermented foods and beverages are prepared and consumed in different geographical regions by multi-ethnic communities in India. Indian fermented foods are mostly acidic and some are alkaline, along with various types of alcoholic beverages. A colossal diversity of microorganisms comprising bacteria mostly belongs to phylum Firmicutes, filamentous moulds and enzyme- and alcohol-producing yeasts under phyla Ascomycota and Mucoromycota, and few bacteriophages and archaea have been reported from Indian fermented foods. Some microorganisms associated with fermented foods have functionalities and health promoting benefits. “Ethno-microbiology” of ethnic Indian people has exhibited the proper utilisation of substrates either singly or in combination such as fermented cereal-legume mixture (idli, dosa and dhokla) in South and West India, sticky fermented soybean food (kinema and related foods), fermented perishable leafy vegetable (gundruk and related foods), fermented bamboo shoots (soibum and related foods) and fermented fish (ngari and others) in North East India, and fermented meat and sausage-like products in the Indian Himalayas, fermented coconut beverage (toddy) in coastal regions, and various types of naturally fermented milk products (dahi and related products) in different regions of India. This review has also highlighted the “ethno-microbiology” knowledge of the people involving the consortia of essential microorganisms in traditionally prepared amylolytic starters for production of cereal-based alcoholic beverages. The novelty of this review is the interpretation of ethno-microbiological knowledge innovated by ethnic Indian people on the use of beneficial microorganisms for food fermentation to obtain the desired fermented food products for consumption.

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg, which is called “plant antibiotic”, possesses attractive effects including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antioxidant, and its efficacy is attributed mainly from flavonoids. However, the flavonoid composition and the expression of flavonoid-related genes are rarely studied in T. hemsleyanum. In this study, differences in flavonoids were observed between leaves and root tubers in T. hemsleyanum. A total of 22 flavonoids were detected, among them, luteolin, luteoloside, hesperidin, rutin, lonicerin, baicalin, and apigenin-7-O-glycoside were only contained in leaves, while kaempferol was only contained in root tubers. Concentrations of vitexin, orientin, lonicerin, rutin, isoquercitrin, luteolin, luteoloside, hesperidin, and naringin in leaves were higher than those in root tubers; concentrations of astragalin and kaempferol in root tubers were higher than those in leaves. Transcriptome analysis revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the two different medicinal portions were enriched in Photosynthesis-antenna proteins. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the expression of chalcone isomerase (CHI) and UDP-glycose flavonoid glycosyltransferase (UFGT) was highly correlated with the concentrations of most flavonoids. The study revealed that DEGs in Photosynthesis-antenna protein essentially contributed to the difference in flavonoids in leaves and root tubers. CHI and UFGT were the potential key genes of accumulation of most flavonoids in T. hemsleyanum.

Nucleotide sugars, the activated forms of monosaccharides, are important intermediates of carbohydrate metabolism in all organisms. Here, we describe a method for the detection and quantification of UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose in maize in order to compare their metabolism in both wild-type and mutated plants. Triple quadrupole operating in a multiple reaction monitoring mode was used to quantify nucleotide sugars. The limits of detection for UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose were 0.50 and 0.70 ng·mL−1, respectively. The recoveries of the method ranged from 98.3% to 103.6% with the relative standard deviations less than 6.3%. To prove the applicability of this method, we analyzed several sets of maize extracts obtained from different cultivars grown under standardized greenhouse conditions. All the results demonstrated the suitability of the developed method to quantify UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose in maize extracts.

The development of a facile cysteine-directed S-glycosylation strategy would facilitate the intensive investigation of the effect of glycosylation on protein translational modification. Herein, we ...

Nanoscale coordination polymers (nCP) have exhibited a great potential in designing of the theranostic platforms in the latest years. However, they have low selectivity for cancerous tissues and require to be modified for becoming effective cancer therapeutics. In this study, a novel nanoscale pH and redox-responsive coordination polymer with high selectivity was synthesized. The nCP was synthesized by iron(III) chloride and dithiodiglycolic acid. After loading the prepared nCP with doxorubicin (DOX), nCP was coated with an amphiphilic copolymer composed of α-tocopheryl succinate-polyethylene glycol (VEP). Next, AS1411 aptamer was decorated on the VEP shell of the DOX-loaded nCP (Apt-VEP-nCP@DOX) to provide a guided drug delivery platform. The prepared platform demonstrated high DOX loading capacity and pH and redox-responsive DOX release. Apt-VEP-nCP@DOX displayed greater DOX internalization and toxicity toward breast cancer cells of 4T1 and MCF7 compared with that of non-targeted VEP-nCP@DOX. Also, the intravenous injection of Apt-VEP-nCP@DOX (a single dose) considerably suppressed the 4T1 tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, Apt-VEP-nCP@DOX showed outstanding magnetic resonance (MR) imaging capability for 4T1 adenocarcinoma diagnosis in ectopic 4T1 tumor model in mice. The developed innovative intelligent Apt-VEP-nCP@DOX could serve as a safe and biocompatible theranostic platform appropriate for further translational purposes against breast cancer.

Perlecan, a basement membrane-type heparan sulfate proteoglycan, is an important molecule in the functional diversity of organisms because of the diversity of its glycan chains and the multifunctionality of its core proteins. Human diseases associated with perlecan have been identified using gene-deficient mice. Two human diseases related to perlecan have been reported. One is Silverman–Handmaker type dyssegmental dysplasia, resulting from the complete loss of function of the HSPG2 gene that encodes perlecan core protein, which is mapped to chromosome 1p36. The other is Schwartz–Jampel syndrome resulting from the partial loss of function of the HSPG2 gene. Subsequent in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed the organ-specific functions of perlecan, suggesting its involvement in the pathogenesis of various human diseases. In this review, we discuss the role of perlecan in human diseases and summarize our knowledge about perlecan as a future therapeutic target to treat related diseases and for healthy longevity.

Lignocellulose is an abundant xylose-containing biomass found in agricultural wastes, and has arisen as a suitable alternative to fossil fuels for the production of bioethanol. Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been thoroughly used for the production of bioethanol, its potential to utilize lignocellulose remains poorly understood. In this work, xylose-metabolic genes of Pichia stipitis and Candida tropicalis, under the control of different promoters, were introduced into S. cerevisiae. RNA-seq analysis was use to examine the response of S. cerevisiae metabolism to the introduction of xylose-metabolic genes. The use of the PGK1 promoter to drive xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) expression, instead of the TEF1 promoter, improved xylose utilization in ?XR-pXDH? strain by overexpressing xylose reductase (XR) and XDH from C. tropicalis, enhancing the production of xylitol (13.66 ? 0.54 g/L after 6 days fermentation). Overexpression of xylulokinase and XR/XDH from P. stipitis remarkably decreased xylitol accumulation (1.13 ? 0.06 g/L and 0.89 ? 0.04 g/L xylitol, respectively) and increased ethanol production (196.14% and 148.50% increases during the xylose utilization stage, respectively), in comparison with the results of XR-pXDH. This result may be produced due to the enhanced xylose transport, Embden?Meyerhof and pentose phosphate pathways, as well as alleviated oxidative stress. The low xylose consumption rate in these recombinant strains comparing with P. stipitis and C. tropicalis may be explained by the insufficient supplementation of NADPH and NAD+. The results obtained in this work provide new insights on the potential utilization of xylose using bioengineered S. cerevisiae strains.

Heparan sulfate is a widely expressed polysaccharide in the extracellular matrix and on the cell surface. 3- O-sulfated heparan sulfate represents only a small percentage of heparan sulfate from biological sources. However, this subpopulation is closely associated with biological functions of heparan sulfate. The 3- O-sulfated heparan sulfate is biosynthesized by heparan sulfate 3- O-sulfotransferase, which exists in seven different isoforms. This review article summarizes the recent progress in the substrate specificity studies of different 3- O-sulfotransferase isoforms involving the use of homogeneous oligosaccharide substrates and crystal structural analysis. The article also reviews a newly developed liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based method to analyze the level of 3- O-sulfated heparan sulfate with high sensitivity and quantitative capability. This newly emerged technology will provide new tools to study the structure and function relationship of heparan sulfate.

Background: Due to the short biological half-life and serious side effects (especially for heart and kidney), the application of Doxorubicin (Dox) in clinical therapy is strictly limited. To overcome these shortcomings, a novel sustained release formulation of doxorubicin-loaded dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Dox-DSPIONs) was prepared. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intracellular uptake behavior of Dox-DSPIONs and to investigate their pharmacokinetics and biodistribution properties. Method: Confocal laser scanning microscopy was employed to study the intracellular uptake and release properties of Dox from Dox-DSPIONs in SMMC-7721 cells. Simple high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) method was established to study the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution properties of Dox-DSPIONs in vivo after intravenous administration and compared with free Dox. Results: Intracellular uptake experiment indicated that Dox could be released sustainedly from Dox-DSPIONs over time. The pharmacokinetics parameters displayed that the T1/2and AUC0-24h of Dox-DSPIONs were higher than those of free Dox, while the Cmax of Dox-DSPIONs was significantly lower than that of free drug. The biodistribution behaviors of the drug were altered by Dox-DSPIONs in mice, which showed obvious liver targeting, and significantly reduced the distribution of the drug in the heart and kidney. Conclusion: Dox-DSPIONs have the sustained-release property in vitro and in vivo, which could significantly prolong blood circulation time, improve bioavailability, and reduce the side effects of Dox. Therefore, the novel formulation of the Dox-DSPIONs has the potential as a promising drug delivery system in cancer therapy.

Here, cell wall of a zygomycete fungus, Rhizopus delemar, grown on bread waste was wet spun into monofilaments. Using the whole cell wall material omits the common chitosan isolation and purification steps and leads to higher material utilization. The fungal cell wall contained 36.9% and 19.7% chitosan and chitin, respectively. Solid state NMR of the fungal cell wall material confirmed the presence of chitosan, chitin, and other carbohydrates. Hydrogels were prepared by ultrafine grinding of the cell wall, followed by addition of lactic acid to protonate the amino groups of chitosan, and subsequently wet spun into monofilaments. The monofilament inhibited the growth of Bacillus megaterium (Gram+ bacterium) and Escherichia coli (Gram- bacterium) significantly (92.2% and 99.7% respectively). Cytotoxicity was evaluated using an in vitro assay with human dermal fibroblasts, indicating no toxic inducement from exposure of the monofilaments. The antimicrobial and biocompatible fungal monofilaments, open new avenues for sustainable biomedical textiles from abundant food waste. © 2022 The Authors

Antibody glycosylation has received considerable attention in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections and recently also in vaccination. Antibody glycosylation and in particular immunoglobulin G1 fucosylation levels influence effector functions and are therefore key parameters for assessing the efficacy and safety of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) directed immune responses. This review article summarizes and interprets recent research into antibody glycosylation in COVID-19. Experimental approaches for analyzing the glycosylation of SARS-CoV-2-directed antibody responses are evaluated. The pronounced dynamics, effector functions, clinical utility, and regulation of antibody glycosylation in COVID-19 are assessed. Future research on the role of antibody glycosylation in COVID may cover the glycosylation of other antibody classes beyond immunoglobulin G, the regulation of antibody glycosylation, and the role of non-canonical antibody receptors in determining effector functions. Graphical abstract

The Response of African Yam Bean to charcoal and calcium chloride treatment in a crude oil polluted soil was carried out. 10kg of soil was polluted with 600ml of crude oil and was remediated with 500g of charcoal; the germinated seeds were pre-treated with 25g/l of Calcium chloride for 15mins before it was sown. The different treatments were: Control, 6% pollution, 6% pollution and charcoal, Charcoal only, Pre-treatment with calcium chloride, Pre-treatment with calcium chloride and 6% pollution, Pre-treatment with calcium chloride and 6% pollution and charcoal, Pre-treatment with calcium chloride and charcoal. Results showed that crude oil pollution impacted negatively on the parameters studied, the addition of materials (Charcoal and Calcium chloride) to the crude oil polluted soil improved the growth of African yam bean. Calcium chloride pre- treatment inhibited the emergence of AYB in a polluted soil. There was a significant difference (P>0.05) in the plant height, leave area, number of leaves, carbohydrate content, stem girth and root length, while treatments had no significant difference in the chlorophyll content and number of roots. The combined treatment (CaCl2 + Charcoal + pollution) did not show any significant impact on the growth and biochemical parameters when compared to the single treatments therefore; Charcoal and Calcium chloride are very good biostimulants but are more effective when they are applied separately.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of the co-treatment with apigenin and doxorubicin (DOX) on K562 cells. Our results show that apigenin (0, 40, 60, 80 ,100 µM) and DOX (0–10 µM) as single therapy, could decrease K562 cell viability (after 24 h of treatment) in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the co-treatment with apigenin (60, 80 µM) and 10 µM of DOX led to a greater reduction in cell growth (CI: 0.92 and 0.97) after 24 h of treatment compared to the single DOX treatment (p p

Aggrecan (Acan) and versican (Vcan) are large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans of the extracellular matrix. They share the same structural domains at both N- and C-termini. The N-terminal G1 domain binds hyaluronan (HA), forms an HA-rich matrix, and regulates HA-mediated signaling. The C-terminal G3 domain binds other extracellular matrix molecules and forms a supramolecular structure that stores transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and regulates their signaling. EGF-like motifs in the G3 domain may directly act like an EGF ligand. Both Acan and Vcan are present in cartilage, intervertebral disc, brain, heart, and aorta. Their localizations are essentially reciprocal. This review describes their structural domains, expression patterns and functions, and regulation of their expression.

Background: The identification of N-glycans in plant glycoproteins or plant-made pharmaceuticals is essential for understanding their structure, function, properties, immunogenicity, and allergenicity (induced by plant-specific core-fucosylation or xylosylation) in the applications of plant food, agriculture, and plant biotechnology. N-glycosidase A is widely used to release the N-glycans of plant glycoproteins because the core-fucosylated N-glycans of plant glycoproteins are hydrolyzed by N-glycosidase A but not by N-glycosidase F. However, the efficiency of N-glycosidase A activity on plant glycoproteins remains unclear. Objective: To elucidate the efficient use of N-glycosidases to identify and quantify the N-glycans of plant glycoproteins, the identification of released N-glycans by N-glycosidase F and their relative quantities with a focus on unidentified N-glycans by N-glycosidase A in plant glycoproteins, Phaseolus vulgaris lectin (PHA) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP), were investigated. Methods: Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze and compare the N-glycans of PHA and HRP treated with either N-glycosidase A or F under denaturing conditions. The relative quantities (%) of each N-glycan (>0.1%) to the total N-glycans (100%) were determined. Results: N-glycosidase A and F released 9 identical N-glycans of PHA, but 2 additional core-fucosylated N-glycans were released by only N-glycosidase A, as expected. By contrast, in HRP, 8 N-glycans comprising 6 core-fucosylated N-glycans, 1 xylosylated N-glycan, and 1 mannosylated N-glycan were released by N-glycosidase A. Moreover, 8 unexpected N-glycans comprising 1 core-fucosylated N-glycan, 4 xylosylated N-glycans, and 3 mannosylated N-glycans were released by N-glycosidase F. Of these, 3 xylosylated and 2 mannosylated N-glycans were released by only N-glycansodase F. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that N-glycosidase A alone is insufficient to release the N-glycans of all plant glycoproteins, suggesting that to identify and quantify the released N-glycans of the plant glycoprotein HRP, both N-glycosidase A and F treatments are required.

ADAM-17 is a membrane-bound protease and highly expressed in multiple tumors. BMSCs carrying target genes are delivered to damaged sites. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism underlying BMSCs with ADAM-17 in cervical cancer (CC). BMSCs were transfected with ADAM-17 mimics and co-cultured with CC cells followed by analysis of cell proliferation and migration by MTT assay and scratch assay, ADAM-17 and target genes (LAMB3, Robol) level by Western blot and RT-qPCR. As the effectiveness of ADAM-17 transfection was confirmed by its increased level, the presence of empty vector rarely affected ADAM-17 expression and biological activities of CC cells compared to control group (p > 0.05). BMSCs with ADAM-17 overexpression increased CC cell proliferation and enhanced scratch healing rate (p < 0.05), accompanied with upregulated LAMB3 and Robol. The difference in LAMB3 and Robol expression between empty vector group and control group did not reach a significance. In conclsuion, this study elucidates that BMSCs with ADAM-17 overexpression promotes CC cell progression through up-regulation of LAMB3 and Robol and activation EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling, providing a novel BMSC-based targeted therapy.

The syndecans are a family of transmembrane proteoglycans that are widespread in mammalian tissues. Located at the cell surface membrane, they contribute to modulating the composition of the extracellular matrix via glycosaminoglycan chains (GAGs) attached to their extracellular domains. Syndecans can interact with a variety of extracellular ligands through their core proteins and GAGs, and may also transmit signals through their transmembrane domain to regulate intracellular functions. These properties enable syndecan to modulate glycocalyx formation, epithelial cell-to-cell connections for cell barrier formation, and epithelial cell-lamina propria interactions in the colon epithelium, all of which are crucial for the homeostasis of this tissue. Inflammation induces structural alterations of the colon epithelium, and accumulating evidence suggests that syndecan expression might play important regulatory functions during inflammation. This review summarizes the possible roles of syndecans in maintaining tissue homeostasis in the colon epithelium, especially under inflammation.

Plant lectins, a natural source of glycans with a therapeutic potential may lead to the discovery of new targeted therapies. Glycans extracted from plant lectins are known to act as ligands for C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) that are primarily present on immune cells. Plant-derived glycosylated lectins offer diversity in their N-linked oligosaccharide structures that can serve as a unique source of homogenous and heterogenous glycans. Among the plant lectins-derived glycan motifs, Man9GlcNAc2Asn exhibits high-affinity interactions with CLRs that may resemble glycan motifs of pathogens. Thus, such glycan domains when presented along with antigens complexed with a nanocarrier of choice may bewilder the immune cells and direct antigen cross-presentation - a cytotoxic T lymphocyte immune response mediated by CD8+ T cells. Glycan structure analysis has attracted considerable interest as glycans are looked upon as better therapeutic alternatives than monoclonal antibodies due to their cost-effectiveness, reduced toxicity and side effects, and high specificity. Furthermore, this approach will be useful to understand whether the multivalent glycan presentation on the surface of nanocarriers can overcome the low-affinity lectin-ligand interaction and thereby modulation of CLR-dependent immune response. Besides this, understanding how the heterogeneity of glycan structure impacts the antigen cross-presentation is pivotal to develop alternative targeted therapies. In the present review, we discuss the findings on structural analysis of glycans from natural lectins performed using GlycanBuilder2 - a software tool based on a thorough literature review of natural lectins. Additionally, we discuss how multiple parameters like the orientation of glycan ligands, ligand density, simultaneous targeting of multiple CLRs and design of antigen delivery nanocarriers may influence the CLR targeting efficacy. Integrating this information will eventually set the ground for new generation immunotherapeutic vaccine design for the treatment of various human malignancies.

Receptor-ligand interactions play an important role in many biological processes by triggering specific cellular responses. These interactions are frequently regulated by coreceptors that facilitate, alter, or inhibit signaling. Coreceptors work in parallel with other specific and accessory molecules to coordinate receptor-ligand interactions. Cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) function as unique coreceptors because they can bind to many ligands and receptors through their HS and core protein motifs. Cell surface HSPGs are typically expressed in abundance of the signaling receptors and, thus, are capable of mediating the initial binding of ligands to the cell surface. HSPG coreceptors do not possess kinase domains or intrinsic enzyme activities and, for the most part, binding to cell surface HSPGs does not directly stimulate intracellular signaling. Because of these features, cell surface HSPGs primarily function as coreceptors for many receptor-ligand interactions. Given that cell surface HSPGs are widely conserved, they likely serve fundamental functions to preserve basic physiological processes. Indeed, cell surface HSPGs can support specific cellular interactions with growth factors, morphogens, chemokines, extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and microbial pathogens and their secreted virulence factors. Through these interactions, HSPG coreceptors regulate cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation, and impact the onset, progression, and outcome of pathophysiological processes, such as development, tissue repair, inflammation, infection, and tumorigenesis. This review seeks to provide an overview of the various mechanisms of how cell surface HSPGs function as coreceptors.

Agricultural waste is an excellent source of renewable organic matter and its main compound is lignocellulose which is made up of lignin, pectin, cellulose and hemicelluloses. Xylan is the main component of hemicelluloses and is the second most abundant natural renewable polysaccharide available on earth. It is a complex heteropolysaccharide formed by different monosaccharides such as D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-galactose, D-mannose and organic acids such as acetic acid, ferulic acid, glucuronic acid interlinked with the help of ester and glycosidic bonds. Xylan biodegradation is a complex process that requires the participation of a series of esterases and glycosyl hydrolases. The suitability of glycosyl hydrolases for applications in paper and pulp, feed, and biorefinery has led to increasing demand for these enzymes worldwide. The present review provides an insight into the biochemistry and use of fungal glycosyl hydrolases in the industry as an emerging ecological tool., Los desechos agrícolas son una excelente fuente de materia orgánica renovable y su principal compuesto es la lignocelulosa formada por lignina, pectina, celulosa y hemicelulosas. El xilano es el principal componente de las hemicelulosas y es el segundo polisacárido renovable natural más abundante disponible en la tierra. Es un heteropolisacárido complejo formado por diferentes monosacáridos como D-xilosa, L-arabinosa, D-galactosa, D-manosa y ácidos orgánicos como ácido acético, ácido ferúlico, ácido glucurónico entrelazados con la ayuda de enlaces éster y glicosídico. La biodegradación del xilano es un proceso complejo que necesita la participación de una serie de esterasas y glicosil hidrolasa. La idoneidad de las glicosil hidrolasa para su aplicación en papel y pulpa, alimentos, biorrefinería ha llevado a un aumento en la demanda de estas enzimas a nivel mundial. La presente revisión da una idea de la bioquímica y el uso de las glicosil hidrolasas fúngicas en la industria como una herramienta ecológica emergente.

Pigmented rice is known to have nutritional and bioactive compounds which commonly concentrated in the bran layers. Solid-state fermentation is known to enhance the bioactive compounds of rice bran. The study aims to identify fermented rice bran’s volatile compounds and aroma attributes from some pigmented rice (Inpari 24, Saodah, Cempo Ireng and Jeliteng). The rice brans were sterilized at 121oC for 15 minutes and produced non-fermented rice bran and some of them were fermented for 72 hours at 30ºC using Rhizopus oligosporus. Both non-fermented and fermented rice brans were analysed using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and qualitative descriptive analysis (QDA). The result showed that a total 114 of volatile compounds were identified from fermented and non-fermented rice bran. They consisted of 14 aldehydes, 12 ketones, 14 alcohols, 15 hydrocarbons, 8 acids, 23 esters, 9 benzenes, 5 phenols, 6 furans, 2 lactones, 1 monoterpene, 1 sesquiterpene, 1 thiazole, 1 pyrazine and 1 pyridine. The aroma attributes of fermented rice brans obtained by 10 trained panellists in QDA were sweet, caramel, vanilla, grass, milky, fatty, nutty, smokey, rancid, acid, cereal, pungent, earthy and fermented. The non-fermented rice bran has the same aroma as the corresponding fermented rice bran except fermented aroma. Furthermore, Pearson’s correlation test has resulted in several positive correlations between GC-MS results and QDA. These studies indicated that fermented rice bran might increase the volatile compound of rice bran; thus, it may provide opportunities to develop the production of fermented rice bran as a functional ingredient.

Background: Pain during active orthodontic treatment is a common experience. Orthodontic treatment involves active and passive stretching and compression of periodontal ligaments as well as of adjacent soft tissues which is the basic cause of pain. Pain is one of the important factors which have impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) because it hinders the proper plaque control by the patient. Aim: To ascertain the efficacy of xylitol chewing gums on the reduction in pain levels during the first week of orthodontic treatment. Methods: This is a case control study in which 60 orthodontic patients were selected and randomly allocated into two groups. 30 patients were in control group and 30 were treated with Xylitol gum. Patients were advised to take xylitol chewing gum 3-5 times per day and not to take any analgesics. 2 weeks follow up is advised with filled Visual Analog Scale form. Results: The average age of patients was 19.93±3.04 years. There were 39(65%) male and 21(35%) female. At 24 hours and at 7 days, the mean pain score was significantly low in Xylitol gum groups as compare to control groups. Conclusion: In present study, Xylitol gum had higher analgesic efficacy than control group. So Xylitol gums can be good replacement for orthodontic pain relief that has an advantage of minimum side effects in contrast to ibuprofen. Keywords: Analgesics, Orthodontic treatment, Pain, Xylitol gum

Background: Syndecans are type-1 heparan sulphate proteoglycans which play significant role in cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interaction. Syndecans are involved in tooth development and differentiation of mesenchymal cells. Amongst odontogenic lesions, ameloblastomas and dentigerous cysts are routinely encountered lesions with difference in treatment modality based on its aggressiveness. The objective of the present research was to study and compare immunohistochemical expression of syndecan-1 in ameloblastoma and dentigerous cyst. Method: 40 retrospectively diagnosed cases of ameloblastomas and dentigerous cysts were immunohistochemically stained against syndecan-1. The intensity of immunostaining and percentage of positive cells was assessed by three independent blind observers. Weighted kappa test was used to find out inter-observer reliability. Comparative evaluation of syndecan-1 expression between the two lesions was done using student t-test. Results: There was statistically significant difference between the mean of score for intensity, mean of score for percentage of positive cells and total mean score of syndecan-1 between ameloblastoma and dentigerous cyst. Conclusion: Syndecan-1 may be involved in aetiopathogenesis of odontogenic lesions like ameloblastoma and dentigerous cyst. Also, weak expression in ameloblastoma indicates that tumor invasion and aggressiveness is related to cell adhesion molecule like syndecan-1.

Biowaste originating from aquaculture sector represents a potential feedstock to produce value-added substances and materials like chitin and chitosan. They are the long chain polymers of N-acetylglucosamine polymers with huge industrial and biomedical significance. Chitin has long been recognized as a useful biomaterial for drug delivery and neurological therapy. Similarly, chitosan oligosaccharide, a short chain polymer derived from chitin/chitosan, has been identified for its potential biomedical applications, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-Alzheimer action. Chitosan nanoparticles are also used extensively in biomedical applications. Here we have critically summarized various methods for the extraction of chitin, chitosan, and chitooligossacharides and chitosan nanoparticle preparation and their diverse biomedical applications.

Inflammation in subclinical Hypothyroidism (SCH) imposes a significant cardiovascular risk. The aim of the present study was to assess the elevated levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in SCH patients. In this study, 50 cases of SCH and 50 cases of euthyroid were selected. The complete history of the subjects were taken and demographic , biochemical parameters like age, BMI, thyroid profiles, lipid profiles and hsCRP were estimated. The mean TSH levels were significantly (p Thus, increased level of hs-CRP in SCH highlights the inflammatory status and thus associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases in SCH.

Lymphoma is one of the most common malignancies of blood system, and drug resistance is an important cause of treatment failure. Multidrug resistance gene P-glycoprotein (P-gp) plays an important role in lymphoma chemotherapeutic drug resistance. Our previous studies have found that P-gp is highly expressed in doxorubicin-resistant lymphoma cells (Daudi/R). With the development of nanotechnology, a large number of nanomaterials have been applied in various biomedical fields. Therefore, in this study, P-gp inhibitor tariquidar (TAR) and chemotherapy drug doxorubicin were loaded onto gold nanoshells (AuNSs) to construct TAR-AuNSs/Dox nanodrug system. TAR and Dox were slowly released from TAR-AuNSs/Dox in an acidic tumor microenvironment. TAR-AuNSs/Dox increased the uptake of Dox by drug-resistant lymphoma cells and inhibited P-gp expression to reduce Dox pumping. Compared to the free Dox, TAR-AuNSs/Dox had a stronger killing effect on Daudi/R cells, which provided a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of drug-resistant lymphoma.

Hyaluronan is a structural component of the expanded cumulus matrix, and hyaluronan synthase 2 is the major enzyme for the synthesis of hyaluronan in humans. Versican cross-links the hyaluronan-rich matrix to cumulus cells and is critical for successful ovulation. Activin A is a critical intrafollicular regulator of ovarian function. Although activin A has been shown to promote cumulus matrix expansion in mice, the functional role of activin A in the regulation of cumulus expansion in the human ovary remains to be elucidated. Using primary and immortalized human granulosa-lutein cells as study models, we provide the first data showing that activin A increased the production of hyaluronan by upregulating the expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 in these cells. Additionally, activin A also promoted the expression of the hyaluronan-binding protein versican. Moreover, using inhibitor- and small interfering RNA-mediated inhibition approaches, we found that these stimulatory effects of activin A are most likely mediated through the type I receptor activin receptor-like kinase (ALK4)-mediated Sma- and Mad-related protein (SMAD2)/SMAD3-SMAD4 signaling pathway. Notably, the chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses demonstrated that SMAD4 could bind to human hyaluronan synthase 2 and VERSICAN promoters. The results obtained from this in vitro study suggest that locally produced activin A plays a functional role in the regulation of hyaluronan production and stabilization in human granulosa-lutein cells.

This study explored the role of mannosylation in the pathogenesis of AD through a mannosyltransferase-POMGnT1. Results demonstrated that target gene overexpression could ameliorate pathologies of Aβ and τ hyperphosphorylation. This study is the first to examine the relationship between mannosylation and AD.

Objective Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) is used to mimic ischemia in vitro to observe whether endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) after OGD and to better understand the regulatory mechanism of hDPCs in ischemia. Methods hDPCs were cultured in glucose-free DMEM and hypoxia (volume fraction 2% O2) to establish an hDPCs OGD model in vitro, which mimics hDPCs ischemia in vitro. hDPCs were divided into a control group (normal culture) and an experimental group (OGD 0 h, 2 h, 4 h and 8 h groups). After pretreatment with OGD for 0, 2, 4 and 8 h, hDPC viability was measured by methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay. qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of ER stress markers [splicing x-box binding protein1 (sXBP1), activating transcription Factor 4 (ATF4) and C/EBP homologous protein (chop)]. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of ER stress markers [phosphorylated RNA-activated protein kinase-like ER-resident kinase (p-perk) and phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (p-eIF2α)]. Results Compared with OGD 0 h group, cell viability of hDPCs decreased when exposed to OGD treatment for 2 h, 4 h and 8 h. Compared with the control group, mRNA expressions of ER stress makers (sXBP1, ATF4 and chop) and the protein expressions of ER stress protein markers (p-perk andp-eIF2α) increased in OGD treatment cells after 4 h were higher in OGD cells. The differences were statistically significant (P

Explorations in CPS education and related research projects over the past two decades unveil where CPS learning is headed.

Introduction: This research was conducted to assess the effect of myo-inositol (MYO) in the freezing extender on the semen quality and oxidative stress parameters of frozen–thawed bull sperm. Mater...

In the last decade, it was discovered that protein mucin-type O-glycosylation and O-GlcNAcylation modify Tyr residues besides the well explored Thr and Ser amino acids. Several glycoproteomic studies have identified α-GalNAc-O-Tyr modifications, and studies propose that β-GlcNAc-O-Tyr also exists as a new group of posttranslational modifications (PTMs). Specific bacterial toxins have further been identified to modify host GTPases with α-GlcNAc-O-Tyr to promote bacterial virulence. Despite being identified on numerous proteins, the biological roles, biosynthesis and expression of GalNAc- and GlcNAc-O-Tyr modifications are poorly understood. A major obstacle is the lack of tools to specifically detect and identify proteins containing these modifications. With this in mind, we prepared vaccine constructs and raised antibodies to enable selective detection of proteins carrying these new PTMs. The obtained polyclonal antibody sera were evaluated using ELISA and glycopeptide microarrays and were found to be highly selective for GlcNAc- and GalNAc-O-Tyr glycopeptides over the corresponding Ser- and Thr-modifications. For microarray analysis, synthetic GlcNAc- and GalNAc-O-Tyr Fmoc-amino acids were prepared and applied in Fmoc-SPPS to obtain an extensive O-glycopeptide library. After affinity purification, the antibodies were applied in western blot analysis and showed specific detection of α-GlcNAc-O-Tyr modified RhoA GTPase. Originally included in thesis in manuscript form.

Chitosan is natural, biodegradable, and biocompatible hydrophilic polysaccharide of â(1-4)-linked Dglucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine prepared from chitin. The remarkable biological properties have paved the way for the introduction of chitosan in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Chitosan, a bio-based polymer which has similar characteristics to those of cellulose, exhibits cationic behaviour in acidic solutions and strong affinity for metals ions. Various chemical modifications have been investigated to improve the properties of chitosan and thus to increase its range of applications. The antimicrobial activity of chitin , chitosan and their derivatives against different groups of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast and fungi has received considerable attention in the present time. Keeping in view the ample potentials of the antimicrobial activity of chitosan, we have made an attempt to prepare, a Chitosan-base Schiff-based (CSB) compound with an aromatic substituent group. This was synthesized by the reaction of Chitosan with an aromatic aldehyde p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde. The Chitosan-based Schiff base metal complexes were subsequently obtained through the reaction of newly synthesized Schiff bases with metal chlorides. The obtained products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The antifungal activity of Chitosan Schiff base and its metal complexes were measured against Rhizopus fungus and antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. These results show that it has both antifungal and antibacterial activity. Chitosan Schiff metal complex have higher antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.

Biobutanol is gaining much attention as a potential biofuel due to its superior properties over ethanol. Butanol has been naturally produced via acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation by many Clostridium species, which are not very user-friendly bacteria. Therefore, to improve butanol titers and yield, various butanol synthesis pathways have been engineered in Escherichia coli, a much more robust and convenient host than Clostridium species. This review mainly focuses on the biosynthesis of n-butanol in engineered E. coli with an emphasis on efficient enzymes for butanol production in E. coli, butanol competing pathways, and genome engineering of E. coli for butanol production. In addition, the use of alternate strategies for butanol biosynthesis/enhancement, alternate substrates for the low cost of butanol production, and genetic improvement for butanol tolerance in E. coli have also been discussed.

Glucose is a cheap and readily available substrate for production of large-scale chemicals. Synthesis of xylitol, a high demand chemical in global market is currently done by using xylose, which contributes to its high operational cost. Studies on production of xylitol from glucose have explored several approaches, from sequential fermentation to multiple and single gene expression. Xylitol-5-phosphate dehydrogenase (XPDH), is an enzyme that enables conversion of glucose to xylitol in a single step fermentation. This study explores conversion of xylitol from glucose in E. coli by the expression of xpdh from Clostridium difficile with modifications in metabolic pathways to enhance xylitol production. The xpdh gene was carried by pACYC-Duet-1 expression vector and induced by the addition of IPTG. Initial screening of E. coli expressing xpdh (NA116) was done by shake-flask fermentation for 24 hours and its metabolites were analyzed by HPLC. NA116 was able to produce 0.273 g/L xylitol from 4.33 g/L consumed glucose in 24 hours. Further metabolic pathway modification to eliminate competing pathways yielded four mutants, NA207 (∆rpiA), NA208 (∆rpiB), NA209 (∆pgi) and NA211 (∆rpi∆Apgi). Screening of mutants for xylitol production showed that highest xylitol production from glucose was achieved by NA211 with almost double the amount of the original strain, 0.585 g/L. This showed successful xylitol conversion from glucose in a single fermentation in E. coli with improved yield through metabolic pathway modification.

Annotation. On the territory of Ukraine there is an increase in tumors of the central nervous system. Oncological processes are accompanied by disruption of glycosylation processes as well as changes in the configuration of the carbohydrate part of glycoconjugates. Glycosylation of proteins is a posttranslational modification that affects more than half of all known proteins. Glycans covalently linked to biomolecules modulate their functions through both direct interactions, such as the recognition of glycan structures by binding partners, and indirect mechanisms that control conformation, stability, and protein metabolism. The purpose of this review was to discuss aberrant glycosylation associated with brain cancer. For this purpose, 42 sources from the main databases (Elsevier, Pubmed, Web of Science, Google Scholar) for 2016-2022 were used. Altered sialylation and fucosylation of N- and O-glycans play a certain role in the development and progression of brain cancer. Glycans affect various aspects of tissue development, storing a large amount of biochemical information that can be used to discover new biomarkers. The development of universal and accurate glycoanalytical platforms is crucial to provide the scientific community with reliable tools for disclosing biochemical information encoded by glycans.

A breakthrough in oncology research was the discovery of doxorubicin (Dox) in the 1960’s. Unlike other chemotherapy drugs, Dox was determined to have a greater therapeutic index. Since its discovery, Dox has, in part, contributed to the 5–10-year survival increase in cancer patient outcomes. Unfortunately, despite its efficacy, both in adult and pediatric cancers, the clinical significance of Dox is tainted by its adverse side effects, which usually manifest as cardiotoxicity. The issue stems from Dox’s lack of specificity which prevents it from accurately distinguishing between cancer cells and healthy cell lines, like cardiomyocytes. In addition, the high binding affinity of Dox to topoisomerases, which are abundantly found in cancer and cardiac cells in different isoforms, potentiates DNA damage. In both cell lines, Dox induces cytotoxicity by stimulating the production of pro-oxidants whilst inhibiting antioxidant enzymatic activity. Given that the cardiac muscle has an inherently low antioxidant capacity makes it susceptible to oxidative damage thereby, allowing the accumulation of Dox within the myocardium. Subsequently, Dox drives the activation of cell death pathways, such as ferroptosis, necroptosis and apoptosis by triggering numerous cellular responses that have been implicated in diseases. To date, the exact mechanism by which Dox induces the cardiotoxicity remains an aspect of much interest in cardio-oncology research. Hence, the current review summarizes the proposed mechanisms that are associated with the onset and progression of DIC.

Fermented foods and beverages are the product of the enzymaticcally transformed food components which are acived by different microorganisms. Fermented foods have grown in popularity in recent years because of their alleged health benefits. Biogenic amines, bioactive peptides, antinutrient reduction, and polyphenol conversion to physiologically active chemicals are all possible health benefits of fermentation process products. In Ethiopian-fermented foods, which are mostly processed using spontaneous fermentation process. Injera is one of the fermented food products consumed in all corners of the country which sourdough fermentation could be achieved using different LAB and yeast strains. Moreover, the kind and concentration of the substrate and the type of microbial flora, as well as temperature, air supply, and pH, all influence the fermentation process of injera. This review article gives an overview of factors influencing the fermentation process of teff ('Eragrostis tef.') and other cereal-based Ethiopian injera.

Functional materials with anti-aging properties that prevent aging in the human body in advance have been attracting attention in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, and active research regarding cosmetic ingredients employing flavonoids among such substances is underway. Therefore, this general review assessed previous studies regarding the effect of various flavonoids on the skin according to their structural characteristics. In this study, the antioxidant, whitening, and antiinflammatory effects of flavonoids present in natural extracts were analyzed. Among the flavonoids, the collagen activity enhancing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and whitening effects of apigenin, baicalein, genistein, naringenin, hesperetin, proanthocyanidins, quercetin, and kaempferol were evaluated. In addition, a study conducted to increase the bioavailability of flavonoids by converting them into clathrates using the structural characteristics of β-cyclodextrin, which further analyzed the difference in the effects of glycoside-containing and non-glycoside flavonoids, was reviewed. Another study reported that the 3'-hydroxyl functional group of flavonoids plays an important role in their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities; hence, effects consequent to the modification of their molecular structure were expected. Therefore, the studies that suggest that structural modifications can supplement the efficacy of verified flavonoids are considered to be valid. In future, flavonoids may be used as a stable anti-aging material on the basis of this study on their effects on the skin according to their structural characteristics.

Segmental bony defects of the mandible constitute a complete loss of the regional part of the mandible. Although several types of customized three-dimension-printed mandible prostheses (CMPs) have been developed, this technique has yet to be widely used. We used CMP with a pressure-reducing device (PRD) to investigate its clinical applicability. First, we used the finite element analysis (FEA). We designed four models of CMP (P1 to P4), and the result showed that CMP with posterior PRD deployment (P4 group) had the maximum total deformation in the protrusion and right excursion positions, and in clenching and left excursion positions, posterior screws had the minimum von Mises stress. Second, the P4 CMP-PRD was produced using LaserCUSING from titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). The fracture test result revealed that the maximum static pressure that could be withstood was 189 N, and a fatigue test was conducted for 5,000,000 cycles. Third, animal study was conducted on five male 4-month-old Lanyu pigs. Four animals completed the experiment. Two animals had CMP exposure in the oral cavity, but there was no significant inflammation, and one animal had a rear wing fracture. According to a CT scan, the lingual cortex of the mandible crawled along the CMP surface, and a bony front-to-back connection was noted in one animal. A histological examination indicated that CMP was significantly less reactive than control materials ( p = 0.0170 ). Adequate PRD deployment in CMP may solve a challenge associated with CMP, thus promoting its use in clinical practice.

Modern fermentation processes include a variety of fermentation methods, such as fed batch fermentation and continuous fermentation. This paper will focus on the principles and case studies of these two methods. Fed batch fermentation originates from fractionation fermentation with closed culture and adjustment of the pH value of the carbon source, to which the process of feeding the carbon source to the cell culture in a controlled manner has been added. This type of fermentation is more commonly used compared to the other. Continuous fermentation is also a closed fermentation system, which can operate without restrictions by continuous or intermittent addition of fresh nutrient media to the fermenter; however, it is susceptible to contamination by stray bacteria and metabolic inconvenience.

O-GlcNAc modification of Notch receptors regulates Notch ligand interactions in a manner distinct from other forms of O-glycans on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats of Notch receptors. Although many proteins, besides Notch receptors, are expected to be O-GlcNAcylated by EGF domain-specific O-GlcNAc transferase (EOGT), only a small number of proteins have been reported to be modified in vivo, and elongated O-GlcNAc glycans have not been extensively explored. To extend our view of the specificity and variety of the glycan modification, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of O-GlcNAc glycans on NOTCH1 in mammals. Mass spectrometric analysis of NOTCH1 fragments expressed in HEK293T cells revealed that several EGF domains with putative O-GlcNAcylation sites were hardly modified with O-GlcNAc. Although amino acid residues before the modification site are preferentially occupied with aromatic residues, Phe and Tyr are preferable to Trp for the apparent modification with O-GlcNAc. Furthermore, a minor form of fucosylated O-GlcNAc glycans was detected in a subset of EGF domains. Fucosylation of O-GlcNAc glycans was enhanced by FUT1, FUT2, or FUT9 expression. The FUT9-dependent Lewis X epitope was confirmed by immunoblotting using an anti-Lewis X antibody. As expected from the similarity in the extended structures between O-Fuc and O-GlcNAc glycans, the Lexis X antigen was detected on NOTCH1 fragments co-expressed with L-Fringe, which mediates elongation of O-Fuc glycans. Our results refined the putative consensus sequence for the EOGT-dependent O-GlcNAc modification in mammals and revealed the structural diversity of functional Notch O-glycans.

Preparation and Biological Activities of Novel Tetra-arylidene Barbituric Acids Containing Ether Spacers