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Bioactive peptides are small molecular peptides with some physiologically active functions. These peptides have been shown to possess antibacterial, antioxidant, and blood pressure lowering activities. Although walnuts are rich in high-quality plant proteins, the extracted walnut dregs have low utilization by the walnut industry chain. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the nutritional value and antioxidant activity of walnut dregs in order to increase the added value of walnut by-products. Using the response surface methodology, the optimum process parameters of purification and stability for walnut polypeptide liquid were determined as follows: pH 4.5, 8 column/hours (h) column speed and 3:2 ratio of anion to cation. The scavenging reaction rates for hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion by 3, 5, 10 u ultrafiltration membrane fractionation screening were found to be 73.3% and 64.4%, 66.1% and 58.9%, 59.2%, and 51.6%, respectively. After comparison, walnut polypeptide liquid showed some degree of antioxidant capacity. The stability of walnut polypeptide liquid was optimized by the response surface. Under the homogeneous pressure of 35 Mpa, the use of a certain amount of stabilizers improved the stability of walnut polypeptide liquid. In conclusion, with the addition of additives, the optimum values of parameters for walnut polypeptide liquid obtained using response surface methodology were determined as follows: the ratio of solid to liquid was 15%; the amount of protein sugar was 0.2%; the amount of citric acid was 0.25%; and the addition of walnut powder flavor was 0.15%. Also, the study has provided a theoretical basis for the waste utilization of walnut by-products, and partial support for the intensive processing of the walnut industry chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, edible walnuts are either eaten fresh or being processed as walnut oil. However, the walnut dregs produced after the oil is pressed from the walnuts cannot be used for comprehensive utilization. Instead, they are often used as animal feed after simple treatment or directly used as waste landfill. The walnut dregs contain >20% of high-quality plant protein. Walnut protein consists of gluten, prolamin, albumin, and globulin. Poor function of walnut protein has been reported. Therefore, the gluten in walnut cake protein was modified by enzymatic method and the microstructure of walnut protein was changed, thereby improving the functional properties of walnut protein. It is generally believed that walnut protein modified by enzymatic method might be more suitable for industrial production. Our study showed that the modified walnut glutelin (WG) increased the solubility by ~1.33 times, the water holding capacity by ~0.23 times, the emulsifiability by ~0.32 times, and the emulsion stability by ~0.75 times. The oiliness was slightly lowered and the foaming characteristics were not greatly changed. Therefore, our study concluded that the microscopic structure of the protein had undergone certain changes based on the spectrum and electron microscopy. The modification of the microstructure also provides a theoretical basis for the comprehensive utilization of walnut protein, which could broaden the application of walnut protein in the industrial food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the development process of a healthy nutritional product containing black wheat granules (BWGP), which was based on Xinjiang characteristics of miscellaneous grains and nuts. BWGP was designed and developed as a local characteristic of nutritious food, which is produced from wheat, black sesame seeds, flour, corn flour, chickpeas, walnuts, peanuts, melon seeds, red dates, and brown sugar. The product was then underwent sterilization process followed by the inflated or vacuum quantitative packing as an instant ready-to-eat food. The best formula (%) was determined as follows: black wheat 30, corn flour 20, flour 15, chickpeas 15, black beans 2, peanuts 3, melon seeds 3, walnut 3, black sesame seeds 4, red date powder 15, sugar powder 15, maltodextrin 15, and sunflower oil 20. BWGP has several advantages, which include: a regional characteristic, simple production methods, and rich flavors. Overall, our study focused on the nutritional, flavor, and compositional effects and how a food product can be made healthier, more sustainable or more acceptable to the consumer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common chronic complications of diabetes, which is associated with an increased oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia and alterations in DJ-1/NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) pathway. In the present study, we investigated the role and the proper time nodes of DJ-1/Nrf2 pathway in the pathogenesis of DN. Diabetes mellitus (DM) model of rats was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) on male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Then, the diabetic rats were divided into 4, 8 and 12 weeks groups. As early at 4 weeks of diabetes, renal histologic evaluation score, cystatin C (Cys C), β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were increased, and total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) level was decreased as compared with that in the control group. The protein expressions of DJ-1, NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were upregulated compared with the control group from 4 weeks and further increased with the progression of DM. The protein expressions of DJ-1, Nrf2 and HO-1 in renal tissues have good line correlations with renal histologic evaluation score, respectively. Taken together, these results suggested that the activation of DJ-1/Nrf2 pathway was involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Esophageal cancer is a highly aggressive neoplasm. Targeted therapy has been proven to be a promising way for cancer therapy. Here, we report a novel anti-CD147 antibody for esophageal cancer therapy, which is a chimeric antibody with modified glycoform in Fc region. Methods: ADCC assay was used to explore the antitumor efficacy of Metuzumab against esophageal cancer in vitro. Wound healing assay and Boyden Chamber invasion assay were performed to explore whether Metuzumab could inhibit migration and invasion of esophageal cancer in vitro. Insulin-like growth factors 1 (IGF-1) and PI3k/Akt was assayed for elaborating antagonistic mechanism of Metuzumab in migration and invasion of esophageal cancer cells. Subcutaneous xenograft nude mouse model was used to investigate the antitumor efficacy of Metuzumab against esophageal cancer in vivo. The esophageal cancer tissue microarrays (TMA) was examined for identification of association of CD147 with lymph node metastasis, and the footpad xenograft nude mouse model was used to explore whether Metuzumab could inhibit lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer in vivo. Results: The results showed that Metuzumab exhibited higher ADCC compared to the wild type antibody cHAb18. Metuzumab inhibited migration and invasion of esophageal cancer through blockade of CD147 in vitro. The results of Western blot showed Metuzumab might inhibit migration and invasion of esophageal cancer cells through suppressing activation of PI3k/Akt and expression of IGF-1. Experiments in vivo showed that Metuzumab exhibited significant antitumor efficacy and inhibited lymph node metastasis of esophageal cancer in xenograft models. The immunochemical staining of TMA showed CD147 was high-expressed on various kinds of esophageal cancer tissues and associated with the grade of lymph node-metastasis. Conclusions: The in vitro and in vivo study demonstrated dual effects of Metuzumab in effectively mediating ADCC by activating effector cells, and inhibiting metastasis of esophageal cancer through blockade the function of CD147, providing justification for moving Metuzumab forward to clinical development in esophageal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of Limosilactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) on the intestinal barrier function and mucosal immunity of piglets at different suckling phase. In this study, fifty-four neonatal piglets (Rongchang × Yorkshire) were orally administered with 1.0 × 1010 CFU L. reuteri I5007 (dissolved in 2 ml 0.1% peptone) or 2 ml 0.1% peptone by gavage every day. The experiment had lasted for 20 days from the birth. Six piglets from each group were slaughtered at 10- and 20-day-old, respectively. Intestinal samples were collected for the evaluation of target genes by real-time PCR and western blot. The results showed that L. reuteri I5007 significantly increased the average daily gain, decreased the diarrhoea incidence, and improved the intestinal morphology of piglets (p <.05). Oral administration of L. reuteri I5007 also elevated the mRNA and protein level of jejunal and ileal Zonula Occludens-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin to enhance the intestinal mucosal barrier function. Additionally, L. reuteri I5007 treatment modulated toll-like receptors (TLRs) and porcine host defense peptides (HDPs) expression, such as increased the mRNA levels of ileal TLR9 and PBD2 at 10-day-old, jejunal TLR9 and ileal PG1-5 at 20-day-old, the protein level of ileal TLR2 at 20-day-old, and influenced the protein and mRNA level of ileal TLR4. These findings indicated that oral administration of L. reuteri I5007 could improve the intestinal mucosal barrier and enhance the intestinal innate immunity of piglets during suckling period. L. reuteri increased the average daily gain and decreased the diarrhoea incidence of piglets. L. reuteri increased the expression of Zonula Occludens-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin in jejunal and ileal mucosal. L. reuteri influenced the expression of toll-like receptors and porcine host defense peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]