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Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and hepatic steatosis (HS) are two prevalent chronic liver diseases in Asia. The incidence of CHB combined with HS is increasing due to the rising obesity rates. However, the impact of HS on CHB remains a topic of debate. Hereby, this meta‐analysis aims to examine the effect of HS on Asian patients with CHB. Searches were conducted on four databases to identify articles published from 2005 to 2023. The random‐effects or fixed‐effects model was used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs), weighted mean difference (WMD), and confidence intervals (CIs) for the included articles. Of the 15,959 records screened, 88 studies were included in the analysis of HS prevalence in Asian CHB patients with a prevalence of 36.5% (95% CI: 33.7%–39.3%). In addition, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and combined metabolic diseases have varying degrees of impact on HS in CHB patients. Furthermore, the coexistence of HS was negatively associated with the response to antiviral therapy, including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.53–0.89) and ALT normalization (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61–0.92) in CHB patients after 48 weeks of treatment. Regarding disease prognosis, HS was not significantly associated with fibrosis or cirrhosis in CHB patients, while an inverse association was observed between HS and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.23–6.99). This implies that the coexistence of HS in CHB patients may exacerbate the progression of HCC, which needs to be verified by further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Condensed tannins, responsible for berry and wine astringency, may have been selected during grapevine domestication. This work examines the phylogenetic distribution of condensed tannins throughout the Vitaceae phylogenetic tree. Methods Green berries and mature leaves of representative true-to-type members of the Vitaceae were collected before 'véraison', freeze-dried and pulverized, and condensed tannins were measured following depolymerization by nucleophilic addition of 2-mercaptoethanol to the C4 of the flavan-3-ol units in an organic acidic medium. Reaction products were separated and quantified by ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography/diode array detection/mass spectrometry. Key Results and Conclusions The original ability to incorporate epigallocatechin (EGC) into grapevine condensed tannins was lost independently in both the American and Eurasian/Asian branches of the Vitaceae, with exceptional cases of reversion to the ancestral EGC phenotype. This is particularly true in the genus Vitis , where we now find two radically distinct groups differing with respect to EGC content. While Vitis species from Asia are void of EGC, 50 % of the New World Vitis harbour EGC. Interestingly, the presence of EGC is tightly coupled with the degree of leaf margin serration. Noticeably, the rare Asian EGC-forming species are phylogenetically close to Vitis vinifera , the only remnant representative of Vitis in Eurasia. Both the wild ancestral V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris as well as the domesticated V. vinifera subsp. sativa can accumulate EGC and activate galloylation biosynthesis that compete for photoassimilates and reductive power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gloeostereum incarnatum is a precious edible mushroom that is widely grown in Asia and known for its useful medicinal properties. Here, we present a high-quality genome of G. incarnatum using the single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing platform. The G. incarnatum genome, which is the first complete genome to be sequenced in the family Cyphellaceae, was 38.67 Mbp, with an N50 of 3.5 Mbp, encoding 15,251 proteins. Based on our phylogenetic analysis, the Cyphellaceae diverged ~174 million years ago. Several genes and gene clusters associated with lignocellulose degradation, secondary metabolites, and polysaccharide biosynthesis were identified in G. incarnatum, and compared with other medicinal mushrooms. In particular, we identified two terpenoid-associated gene clusters, each containing a gene encoding a sesterterpenoid synthase adjacent to a gene encoding a cytochrome P450 enzyme. These clusters might participate in the biosynthesis of incarnal, a known bioactive sesterterpenoid produced by G. incarnatum. Through a transcriptomic analysis comparing the G. incarnatum mycelium and fruiting body, we also demonstrated that the genes associated with terpenoid biosynthesis were generally upregulated in the mycelium, while those associated with polysaccharide biosynthesis were generally upregulated in the fruiting body. This study provides insights into the genetic basis of the medicinal properties of G. incarnatum, laying a framework for future characterization of bioactive proteins and pharmaceutical uses of this fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) is one of most extensively cultivated mushrooms in Asia with a delicious taste and high nutritional value. However, its special physiological features lead to the rapid loss of its overall quality and marketability during 2-day storage. The present study proposed an accessible and low-cost strategy with industrial-scale potency for long-time postharvest and long-distance distribution by designing a temperature and humidity-controlled walk-in equipment and optimizing the working conditions. The optimized conditions for postharvest with the designed equipment were obtained as pre-cooling treatment at 20 ℃, small size of plastic basket, one-layer stack mode, storage temperature of 15 °C and relative humidity of 90%. Under these conditions, the straw mushrooms maximally maintained the overall sensory/physical/chemical postharvest quality including highest firmness, soluble protein and soluble sugar contents. Further results proved that the optimized conditions maintained the quality by retaining free water, down-regulating the respiration rate and activities/transcriptional levels of key enzymes associated with respiratory metabolism, and maintaining the energy balance in fruiting bodies. [Display omitted] • A low-cost walk-in equipment was designed for postharvest of straw mushroom. • An economical and industrially applicable postharvest strategy was finally proposed. • The strategy extends straw mushroom's storage period to 4 days. • Moderately regulating respiration and energy balance are the potential mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]