Search

The effect of combined treatment of different mass fractions (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1.0%) L-lysine and 0.5% transglutaminase (TGase) on the water-holding capacity (WHC), texture, water mobility and distribution, microstructure and protein conformation of low-salt chicken meat batter (LCMB) gels was studied. The results showed that TGase alone had no significant effect on the WHC (P > 0.05), but significantly increased the hardness of LCMB gels (P < 0.05). In the presence of TGase, the hardness, springiness, cohesiveness and chewiness of LCMB gels showed an increasing trend with increased content L-lysine. The results of low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy indicated that L-lysine combined with TGase could increase the relative content of immobilized water (P21) and decrease the relative content of free water (P22) in LCMB gels, promote the formation of a three-dimensional ordered, compact and continuous gel network structure, and enhance the exposure of tryptophan, tyrosine and aliphatic amino acid residues in meat proteins. In conclusion, L-lysine combined with TGase treatment can improve the gel quality of LCMB by affecting its water distribution, microstructure and protein conformation.

The differences in physicochemical properties of oat, pea and apple dietary fibers and the effects of their addition on gel properties of low-salt (1% NaCl, m/m) chicken breast surimi were studied. The results showed that the water-holding capacity and swelling power of the three dietary fibers in descending order were pea dietary fiber > apple dietary fiber > oat dietary fiber. The addition of each of these dietary fibers could significantly improve the cooking yield, hardness and chewiness of low-salt chicken breast surimi (P < 0.05), and the effect of pea and apple dietary fibers was more pronounced than that of oat dietary fiber. All the dietary fibers could increase the storage modulus (Gʹ), shorten the transverse relaxation time of free water (T22), increase the relative contents of weakly bound water (P2b) and immobilized water (P21) in the gel, and promote the formation of a compact and dense three-dimensional network structure. Pea dietary fiber significantly increased the relative content of β-sheet structure (P < 0.05), whereas apple and oat dietary fibers significantly increased the relative content of β-turn (P < 0.05). In conclusion, oat, pea and apple dietary fibers can significantly improve the water-holding capacity and texture properties of low-salt chicken breast surimi gel by changing the rheological properties, water mobility and distribution, microstructure and protein secondary structure.

Although recent years have seen considerable interest in stimuli‐responsive hydrogels, their strict preparation conditions and narrow applicability limit their use as diverse sensors and soft robots. Herein, a versatile Agar‐Zwirrions hybrid hydrogel actuator (Agar/PSBMA) integrated with simultaneous temperature self‐sensing and wide‐range electrical response is developed. To prepare the Agar/PSBMA hydrogel, a simple and controllable preforming post‐enhancing and mechanical pressing method is used by introducing zwitterions materials into a temperature‐sensitive Agar matrix. Owing to the design, the compact multiplex complementary structure generated by this method and the materials can facilitate the improvement of flexibility, stretchability, and toughness while providing mechanical dissipation and adhesion properties. Importantly, the visible detected temperature self‐sensing ability during 10–40 °C, and quick and wide‐range bending responses of both high‐voltage and low‐voltage electric fields make it unique over other actuators. Furthermore, the electrical response behavior of the hydrogel is found to be impacted by mechanical characteristics and charge polarization based on the finite element Abaqus simulations analysis. The prepared versatile hydrogels show the potential for applications as soft robotics and controlled transportation of adhered substances while simultaneously monitoring their working temperature, which expands the response range of hydrogel actuators and broadens the scope of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep is crucial for human health, insufficient sleep or poor sleep quality may negatively affect sleep function and lead to a state of sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation can result in various health problems, including chronic pain. The intricate relationship between sleep and pain is complex and intertwined, with daytime pain affecting sleep quality and poor sleep increasing pain intensity. The article first describes the influence of sleep on the onset and development of pain, and then explores the impact of daytime pain intensity on nighttime sleep quality and subsequent pain thresholds. However, the primary emphasis is placed on the pivotal role of oxidative stress in this bidirectional relationship. Although the exact mechanisms underlying sleep and chronic pain are unclear, this review focuses on the role of oxidative stress. Numerous studies on sleep deprivation have demonstrated that it can lead to varying degrees of increased pain sensitivity, while chronic pain leads to sleep deprivation and further exacerbates pain. Further research on the role of oxidative stress in the mechanism of sleep deprivation-induced pain sensitization seems reasonable. This article comprehensively reviews the current research on the interrelationship between sleep deprivation, pain and the crucial role of oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the survival outcomes of neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (NARCT) for early breast cancer. Female patients ≤ 80 years old with unilateral T1-T4 invasive ductal breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and radiation therapy (RT) between 2006 and 2015 were enrolled from SEER database. Baseline differences in clinical and pathological characteristics were evaluated using chi-square test. The survival outcomes were estimated by Kaplan–Meier analysis and compared using Cox hazards models. The effects of baseline differences on survival outcome in patients treated with neoadjuvant radiation therapy (NART) and post-operation radiation therapy (PORT) were circumvented by propensity score matching (PSM). Altogether 14,151 patients receiving NAC and RT were enrolled, among whom 386 underwent NART. Based on a 1:4 PSM cohort, NART was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) for the whole cohort. However, among patients receiving breast conserving surgery (BCS) (HR 1.029, P = 0.915 for BCSS; HR 1.003, P = 0.990 for OS) or implant-based immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) (HR 1.039, P = 0.921 for BCSS; HR 1.153, P = 0.697 for OS), those treated with NART had similar survival outcomes compared with patients treated with PORT. In conclusion, NARCT was a safe and feasible approach for patients undergoing BCS and IBR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the significance of chemotherapy (CT) among metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC), and to compare the survival outcomes between triple negative MpBC (MpBC-TNBC) and triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC-TNBC). SEER database was indexed to identify female unilateral primary MpBC diagnosed from 2010 to 2017. Patients were classified into neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with response (NAC-response), NAC-no response, adjuvant chemotherapy, and no CT. Breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Cox regression was used to evaluate the independent prognostic factors. A 1:4 propensity score matching method was adopted to balance baseline differences. Altogether 1186 MpBC patients were enrolled, among them 181 received NAC, 647 received adjuvant CT and 358 did not receive any CT. Chemotherapy was an independent favorable prognostic factor. NAC-response and adjuvant CT had a significant or an obvious trend of survival improvement compared with NAC-no response or no CT. MpBC-TNBC was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor compared with IDC-TNBC. Among them, there was significant or trend of survival improvement among all TNBCs receiving NAC or adjuvant CT compared with no CT. Chemotherapy was of important significance to MpBC prognosis and should be integrated in comprehensive treatment for MpBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central nervous system(CNS)is a complex system closely related to anesthesiology. The molecular biological mechanisms of many CNS diseases were not exactly clear. Long noncoding RNA(lncRNA) H19 is abundant in human brain and plays an important role in the regulation of various CNS diseases. Besides, lncRNA H19 is also involved in the mechanism of several anesthetics. In this review, we emphasized the role and addressed the specific mechanisms of lncRNA H19 in CNS diseases and anesthetics, hoping to provide a new theoretical basis for future researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]