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Objective : This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of doxorubicin-loaded drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) with CalliSpheres microspheres (CSM) in treating unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Methods : 88 unresectable ICC patients who received DEB-TACE treatment with CSM were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Information about treatment response, survival and adverse events were collected. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and factors affecting OS were determined by Cox's proportional hazards regression model. Results : Tumor response of the whole sample of 88 patients was partial response (PR) in 58 (65.9%) patients, stable disease (SD) in 19 (21.6%) and progressive disease (PD) in 11 (12.5%) at one month after therapy, with no complete responses (CR). The median PFS and OS were 3.0 months and 9.0 months respectively. Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis disclosed that subsequent treatment was an independent favorable prognostic factor, while cholangiectasis, extensive intrahepatic tumor burden and extrahepatic metastasis were the three prognostic factors associated with poor survival in ICC patients. Besides, common adverse events included nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain and transient elevation of liver transaminase in patients treated by DEB-TACE with CSM. Conclusion : DEB-TACE with CSM is safe and well-tolerated for unresectable ICC patients, with a low complication rate and a relative benefit in terms of survival. Subsequent treatments including systemic/loco-regional treatments is an independent favorable prognostic factor, but cholangiectasis, extensive intrahepatic tumor burden and extrahepatic metastases are the three prognostic factors associated with poor survival., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

In the present study, a kind of Eu(III) post-functionalized Zr(IV)-based metal-organic framework (UiO-66(COOH) 2 , Zr-MOF: Eu 3+ ) was synthesized and utilized as an independently luminescent probe for sensing bilirubin (BR) in human serum, a biomarker of jaundice hepatitis. It can be served as a turn-off fluorescent switch for BR because its red emission from Eu 3+ can be easily quenched by BR through a fluorescent resonant energy transfer (FRET) process between BR and its ligands, and as a result, BR is recognized successfully. Particularly, Zr-MOF: Eu 3+ has shown many appealing properties, such as high sensitivity, quick response (less than 1 min), broad response window (0-15 μM), and excellent selectivity. Most importantly, a kind of portable test paper based on Zr-MOF: Eu 3+ probe has been developed for directly assessing the level of BR in real human serum and further diagnosing bilirubin-related diseases via visually observing the luminescent color variation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Although there have been tremendous achievements ever since the first work on an organic electroluminescent (EL) device that emitted polarized light, the development of flexible polarized emission organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) is not without hurdles, and the challenge towards real-world applications still requires tremendous effort. In this paper, we proposed highly linearly polarized light-emission from flexible green OLEDs capitalized on integrated ultrathin metal-dielectric nanograting. The acquired polarized device with meticulously optimized geometric parameters yields an angle-invariant average extinction ratio beyond 20.0 dB within a viewing angle range of ± 60°. The detailed analysis illustrates that surface plasmons and cavity modes are simultaneously contributed to the TM-polarized light selection. We hope that the presented approach will open new opportunities for designing flexible polarized light sources.

This research aimed to explore the role of protein S-nitrosylation in regulating the tenderness of postmortem beef, from the perspective of μ-calpain autolysis and protein proteolysis. Five bovine semimembranosus muscles were incubated with three treatments including S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO, nitric oxide donor), normal saline and Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor). The results showed that the level of protein S-nitrosylation was improved by GSNO treatment and reduced by L-NAME treatment (p < 0.05). Compared to the control, GSNO treatment had higher shear force while L-NAME treatment presented lower shear force at 7 d postmortem (p < 0.05). In addition, μ-calpain autolysis, myofibrillar protein and desmin degradation were reduced by GSNO treatment and accelerated by L-NAME treatment (p < 0.05). Therefore, it can be speculated that protein S-nitrosylation could affect beef tenderization by regulating the autolysis of μ-calpain and the degradation of myofibrillar proteins., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study focused on sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar protein degradation and the formation of peptides with antioxidant activity by mixed starters (Lactobacillus plantarum CD101 and Staphylococcus simulans NJ201). Gel electrophoresis indicated that the mixed starters can hydrolyze both sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins, and the concentration of peptides increased (P < .05). Compared with the control group, using mixed starters led to a significant increase (P < .05) in the DPPH radical scavenging activity, Fe 2+ chelating activity, and ABTS radical scavenging activity of sarcoplasmic proteins, but demonstrated no significant difference in myofibrillar proteins. Two hydrophobic fractions (C2, C5) separated by RP-HPLC in the inoculation groups with sarcoplasmic proteins showed high DPPH radical scavenging activity (66.60%, 60.50%). Eighteen peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS, which mainly arose from triosephosphate isomerase, creatine kinase M-type, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Hydrophobic amino acids accounted for a large proportion. Our results indicate that mixed starters affect proteolytic characterization and contribute to the formation of peptides with antioxidant capacity in sarcoplasmic proteins., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Wooden breast (WB) has emerged as a dramatically increasing myopathy in the poultry industry over the past few years. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of WB in a Chinese commercial broiler processing plant, and the consequences on quality attributes, textural properties, and sensory traits. A total of 1,135 breast fillets were collected at the deboning line and assigned to normal, mild, moderate, and severe WB categories by tactile evaluation. The proportion affected by WB was approximately 61.9%. WB fillets appeared heavier and thicker than normal fillets. The degree of WB myopathy was highly correlated with fillet weight and thickness. The meat quality characteristics of cooking loss and purge loss increased along with increasing severity of WB myopathy. Compression tests of raw meat revealed higher cutting strength and shear values for WB. In cooked meat, only severe WB fillets exhibited elevated hardness and chewiness. Finally, moderate and severe WB fillets affected the sensory evaluation by consumers owing to their impaired general appearance, texture, and drip loss. The results suggested that a high proportion of WB broiler fillets would cause detrimental losses to the poultry meat retailing and processing industry., (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study was aimed to assess the protective effects of γ-irradiated Astragalus polysaccharides (IAPS) on the development of small intestine and intestinal mucosal immunity of immunosuppressed broilers induced by cyclophosphamide (CPM). A total of 384 one-day-old broiler chicks with similar initial weight were randomly assigned into 6 groups: non-treated group (control), and CPM-treated groups fed either a basal diet or the diets containing 900 mg/kg APS, or 900, 600, 300 mg/kg IAPS, respectively. On days 16, 18, and 20, all broilers except for control group were intramuscularly injected with 0.5 mL CPM (40 mg/kg of BW). Broilers in the control group were intramuscularly injected with 0.5 mL sterilized saline (0.75%, wt/vol). This trial was lasted for 21 d. The results revealed that both APS and IAPS treatment elevated the duodenal IgA-producing cells number and the jejunal mRNA expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interferon γ of CPM-injected broilers (P < 0.05). The decreased jejunal villus height (VH), the ratio of VH to crypt depth (V/C), as well as the intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and goblet cells number in CPM-injected broilers were elevated by dietary supplementation with 900 mg/kg APS or 900, 600 mg/kg IAPS (P < 0.05). The CPM-induced decrease in jejunum index, the duodenal VH and the jejunal IgA-producing cells number were only improved in the 900 mg/kg IAPS group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the number of IELs and IgA-producing cells in duodenum, VH, V/C, the number of goblet cells, and mRNA expression of IL-2 and IL-10 in jejunum were higher in the 900 mg/kg IAPS group than those in the 900 mg/kg APS group (P < 0.05). In summary, IAPS possessed stronger immunomodulatory effect than APS at the same supplementation level. Therefore, gamma irradiation can be used as an alternative treatment to enhance the immunomodulatory activity of APS., (© 2019 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

Homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), induces the injury of vascular endothelial cells via oxidative stress. Oxymatrine (OMT), one of the main components of Sophora flavescens, has displayed anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic activity. However, the effect of OMT on the Hcy-induced endothelial injury is not clearly defined yet. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of OMT on the Hcy-induced endothelial injury and its mechanisms involved. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay (MTT), fluorescence staining, flow cytometry and western blotting were used in this study. OMT prevented the Hcy-induced toxicity and apoptosis in HUVECs. Moreover, OMT suppressed Hcy-induced increases in reactive oxygen species, lactate dehydrogenase, malondialdehyde levels and increased superoxide dismutase levels. OMT reversed the Hcy-induced decrease in the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). In addition, OMT reversed the Hcy-induced apoptosis related biochemical changes such as decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and Bcl-2/Bax protein ratio, and increased protein expression of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Furthermore, OMT elevated the phosphorylation levels of Akt and eNOS, and the formation of nitric oxide (NO) in injured cells. These results suggest that OMT prevents Hcy-induced endothelial injury by regulating mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis and Akt-eNOS-NO signaling pathways concomitantly with accentuation of Nrf2 expression., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To obtain better understanding of the formation mechanisms of bitterness and adhesiveness, protease activities, proteolysis index and protein degradation were investigated among raw, normal and defective hams. Normal and defective hams both showed a decrease in cathepsin B and B + L activities compared with raw ham, while higher residual activities were observed in defective ham. Approximate 1.2-fold values of proteolysis index were observed in defective ham than in normal ham, indicating that cathepsin B and B + L activities were key contributors in degrading muscle proteins of dry-cured ham. 322 proteins were identified by label-free proteomics, and 49 down-regulated proteins were found in the comparison between normal and defective hams. Creatine kinase, myosin, α-actinin and troponin-T showed the most intense response to bitterness and adhesiveness of dry-cured ham, confirmed by partial least squares regression analysis. Myosin could be a suitable biomarker to monitor bitterness and adhesiveness of dry-cured ham., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Herbivory tolerance can offset the negative effects of herbivory on plants and plays an important role in both immigration and population establishment. Biomass reallocation is an important potential mechanism of herbivory tolerance. To understand how biomass allocation affects plant herbivory tolerance, it is necessary to distinguish the biomass allocations resulting from environmental gradients or plant growth. There is generally a tight balance between the amounts of biomass invested in different organs, which must be analyzed by means of an allometric model. The allometric exponent is not affected by individual growth and can reflect the changes in biomass allocation patterns of different parts. Therefore, the allometric exponent was chosen to study the relationship between biomass allocation pattern and herbivory tolerance. We selected four species ( Wedelia chinensis , Wedelia trilobata , Merremia hederacea , and Mikania micrantha ), two of which are invasive species and two of which are accompanying native species, and established three herbivory levels (0%, 25% and 50%) to compare differences in allometry. The biomass allocation in stems was negatively correlated with herbivory tolerance, while that in leaves was positively correlated with herbivory tolerance. Furthermore, the stability of the allometric exponent was related to tolerance, indicating that plants with the ability to maintain their biomass allocation patterns are more tolerant than those without this ability, and the tendency to allocate biomass to leaves rather than to stems or roots helps increase this tolerance. The allometric exponent was used to remove the effects of individual development on allocation pattern, allowing the relationship between biomass allocation and herbivory tolerance to be more accurately explored. This research used an allometric model to fit the nonlinear process of biomass partitioning during the growth and development of plants and provides a new understanding of the relationship between biomass allocation and herbivory tolerance., Competing Interests: None delared., (© 2019 The Authors. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Defects with textures and flavors are a common problem, causing many economic losses in the dry-cured ham industry. To obtain a better understanding of the defects of dry-cured ham, texture, protein denaturation, protein structure, and water distribution of normal and defective hams were investigated. Compared with normal ham, more than 1.5-fold values in adhesiveness and bitterness, and less than 0.8-fold values in hardness were found in defective ham. The intense denaturation of sarcoplasmic proteins and actin, and the dramatic transformation of α-helix to β-sheet were the key modification of proteins; a high proportion (92.39%) of immobile water contributed to the excessive softness and adhesiveness of defective hams. Furthermore, high denaturation of proteins could accelerate the degradation of proteins, which further developed the bitterness and adhesiveness of defective hams. Partial least squares regression demonstrated that the discrepancies in protein denaturation, protein structure and water distribution were related with bitterness and adhesiveness of Jinhua ham., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chronic heat stress can enhance fat synthesis in broilers, and excessive triglyceride (TG) synthesized by the liver needs to be transported to extrahepatic tissues by very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) otherwise will accumulate in the liver, which may even result in hepatic steatosis. To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which chronic heat stress enhances fat synthesis and results in lipid accumulation in the liver of chickens, 144 broilers (Arbor Acres, 28-day-old) were randomly allocated to the normal control (NC, 22°C), heat stress (HS, consistent 32°C), or pair-fed (PF, 22°C) groups for a 14-D trial. The 7 D of heat exposure significantly increased the respiratory rate, relative weight of abdominal fat, the levels of glucose, TG, corticosterone, insulin, and VLDL in plasma, as well as the levels of TG, total cholesterol, acyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) in the liver, and mRNA expression levels of carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP), ACC, FAS, and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP) in comparison with the other 2 groups. After 14 D of heat exposure, the relative weights of abdominal fat and liver and levels of TG and FAS in the liver were significantly higher in the HS group than in the other 2 groups, and there were no significant differences in the respiratory rate, plasma corticosterone concentration, apolipoprotein B (ApoB) level in the liver, and mRNA expression levels of key genes of fat synthesis among the 3 groups. In conclusion, chronic heat exposure activated LXRα pathway and enhanced fat synthesis in the liver after 7 D of heat exposure. After 14 D of heat exposure, heat-stressed broilers exhibited an adaptation to the high temperature in parameters of stress and fat synthesis gene expression levels. Moreover, chronic heat stress resulted in lipid accumulation in the liver of broilers, which is probably because the limited ApoB was not enough to transport the excessive TG synthesized by the liver in chronic heat-stressed broilers., (© 2019 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

Pseudomonas spp. have emerged as the main spoilage bacteria, with many strains easily forming biofilms on food-contact surfaces and causing cross-contamination. The efficacy of disinfectants against bacteria is usually tested with planktonic cells; however, the disinfection tolerance of biofilms, especially detached biofilms, remains unknown. Here, we investigated the tolerance responses of detached and adhered biofilms of Pseudomonas fluorescens to acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) by determining tolerance responses by plate counting, comparing them using a Weibull model, and verifying changes in bacterial morphology by scanning electron microscopy. The experimental data and the responses calculated using Weibull a (scale) and b (shape) parameters agreed well (R 2 values: 0.974-0.999), and we found that AEW exhibited effective antimicrobial activity against P. fluorescens, with adhered biofilms were more resistant than detached biofilms and planktonic cells. Additionally, AEW increased the bacterial membrane permeability and decreased the membrane potential, intracellular ATP concentrations, and intracellular pH while also triggering the disruption of extracellular polymeric substances. These results demonstrated that the morphophysiological responses of detached and adhered biofilms differed significantly and provided information on disinfectant-resistance strategies potentially beneficial to the development of novel disinfection approaches., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study evaluated the effects of dietary guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation on growth performance, plasma variables, muscle energy status, glycolytic potential, and meat quality of broilers experiencing transport stress during the summer. A total of 320 28-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allotted to 3 dietary treatments, including a GAA-free basal control diet (160 birds) and basal diet supplementation with 600 (80 birds) or 1,200 mg/kg (80 birds) GAA for 14 D. On the morning of day 42, after an 8-h fast, the birds fed basal diets were divided into 2 equal groups, and all birds in the 4 groups of 80 birds were transported according to the following protocols: 1) a 0.5-h transport of birds on basal diets (as a lower-stress control group), 2) a 3-h transport of birds on basal diets, and a 3-h transport of birds on basal diets supplemented with either 3) 600 or 4) 1,200 mg/kg GAA. The results revealed that dietary supplementation with GAA at 600 and 1,200 mg/kg for 14 D prior to slaughter did not affect growth performance, carcass traits, and most textural characteristics and chemical composition of the pectoralis major (PM) muscle (P > 0.05). In the GAA-free group, a 3-h transport increased the broiler live weight loss, elevated the plasma corticosterone concentration, decreased the plasma glucose concentration, muscle concentrations of ATP, creatine and energy charge value, increased the muscle AMP concentration and AMP/ATP ratio, and accelerated glycolysis metabolism, which resulted in inferior meat quality (lower pH and higher drip loss, P < 0.05). However, dietary addition of GAA at 1,200 mg/kg increased the mRNA expression of S-adenosyl-l-methionine: N-guanidino-acetate methyltransferase in the liver and creatine transporter in both the liver and PM muscle. It also elevated muscle concentrations of creatine and phosphocreatine (P < 0.05), which helps improve meat quality by ameliorating the 3-h transport-induced muscle energy expenditure and delaying anaerobic glycolysis of broilers., (© 2019 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

Rapid detection of pathogenic microorganisms is key to the epidemiologic identification, prevention and control of disease in the field of public health. PCR-based pathogen detection methods have been widely used because they overcome the time-consuming issues that traditional culture-based methods required including the limited window required by immunological detection. However, the requirement on precision temperature-controlled thermal cyclers severely limits their use in resource-limited areas. The detection methods of pathogenic microorganisms based on isothermal amplification of nucleic acids are free of dependence on high-precision temperature control equipment, but requirements for nucleic acids extraction, amplification and detection must be defined. In recent years, a number of alternative methods for pathogenic microorganism detection have been developed by combining microfluidic technology with nucleic acid isothermal amplification technology. By designing the chip structures, optimizing the injection modes, and utilizing multiple detection and quantitative methods, the integration of pathogen nucleic acid extraction, amplification and detection is achieved. The method provides advantages of less instrument dependence, decreased operator requirements, smaller sample size, and higher automation which are suitable for the rapid detection of pathogenic microorganisms in various environments. In this review, we summarize several microfluidic detection methods based on nucleic acid isothermal amplification for pathogens including amplification principles, injection methods and detection methods. These methods provide more capability for the rapid screening of pathogenic microorganisms which enhances the management of infectious diseases in the field of public health.

Purpose: MicroRNA-182 (miR-182) is abundantly expressed in mammalian retinas; however, the association between miR-182 and retinal function remains unclear. In this study, we explored whether miR-182 contributes to functional decline in retinas using a miR-182 depleted mouse., Methods: Electroretinogram (ERG) amplitudes at different ages were measured in miR-182 knockout (KO) mice. The thickness and lamination of retinas were assessed using a color fundus camera and high-resolution optical coherence tomography. Expression levels of key photoreceptor-specific genes and the miR-183/96/182 cluster (miR-183C) were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR. RNA sequencing and light-induced damage were carried out to observe the changes in the retinal transcriptome and sensitivity to light damage in the miR-182 KO mice., Results: The ERG recording reveals that the ERG response amplitude decreased both at early and later ages when compared with control littermates. The expression of some key photoreceptor-specific genes was down-regulated with deletion of miR-182 in retina. RNA sequencing indicated that some biological processes of visual system were affected, and the numbers of potential target genes of miR-182 were presented in the mouse retina using bioinformatics analysis. The miR-182 KO mice were characterized by progressively losing the outer segment after being treated with light-damage exposure. The thickness and lamination of retina as well as compensatory expression of miR-183C showed no apparent changes in retina of miR-182 KO mice under normal laboratory lighting condition., Conclusions: Our findings provided new insights into the relationship between the miR-182 and retinal development and revealed that miR-182 may play a critical role in maintaining retinal function.

The effects of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) on heat-induced gelation properties, such as microstructural changes and the molecular conformation of myofibrillar proteins (MP), were analyzed by image analyses and Raman spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that pure MP gelation contained a loose and dispersed network with interconnected water channels. With IDF addition, the lacunarity and the particle size of water pores both significantly decreased (P < 0.05) and fractal dimension significantly increased (P < 0.05), which indicated the formation of a homogenous and compact three-dimensional network. Through Raman spectra, IDF addition resulted in modification of amide I and III regions, by a significant decrease in α-helix content, accompanied by an increase of β-sheets, β-turns, and random coil content (P < 0.05); the intensity of CU+005CH stretching vibrations bending vibrations bands were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Principal component analyses showed significant correlations between textual property, microstructure and molecular conformations. Cluster analyses indicated IDF improved the functionality of MP gel by 1): IDF stable the moisture phase 2) "concentrated" MP promoted structural integrity and compact gelation., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To investigate the alleviative effects and molecular mechanisms of taurine supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers exposed to chronic heat stress, 144 male Arbor Acres broilers (28 d old) were randomly distributed to positive control (PC, 22°C, basal diet), heat stress (HS, consistent 32°C, basal diet), or heat stress + taurine (HS + T, consistent 32°C, basal diet + 5.00 g/kg taurine) groups, with 6 cages per group and 8 birds per cage. Chronic heat stress significantly decreased body weight, average daily gain, and average daily feed intake, and increased cloacal temperature and feed conversion ratio (FCR, P < 0.05). Though taurine supplementation tended to decrease the FCR in the HS + T group compared with the HS group after 14 d of heat exposure (P = 0.071), there were no significant alleviative effects of taurine supplementation on the increased cloacal temperature and decreased growth performance in chronic heat-stressed broilers (P > 0.05). After 7 and 14 d of heat exposure, taurine supplementation significantly increased the proportion of breast muscle and hormone-sensitive lipase activity in the abdominal fat (P < 0.05), and decreased the mRNA expressions of muscle atrophy F-box protein (MAFbx) and muscle ring-finger protein-1 (MuRF1) in breast muscle compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). After 7 d of heat exposure, taurine supplementation significantly increased serum non-esterified fatty acid concentration (P < 0.05), and decreased the mRNA expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1c (ACC) and muscular isoform of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (M-CPT1) compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA expressions of M-CPT1 and ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70 kDa (p70S6K) in the HS + T group were significantly higher than those of the other two groups after 14 d of heat exposure (P < 0.05). In conclusion, taurine supplementation can improve carcass characteristics of chronic heat-stressed broilers by facilitating lipolysis for energy, enhancing protein synthesis, and suppressing protein degradation of the breast muscles., (© 2018 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in liver cancer patients with different times of previous conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE) treatments., Methods: 367 liver cancer patients about to receive DEB-TACE treatment were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. All patients were divided into no previous cTACE group (NPC group), 1-2 times previous cTACE group (PC group) and triple or above previous cTACE group (TPC group) according to the times of previous cTACE treatments., Results: There was no difference in complete response (CR) (P = 0.671) and objective response rate (ORR) (P = 0.062) among three groups. Additionally, no difference in overall survival (OS) among groups (P = 0.899) was found. As to liver function, most liver function indexes were deteriorative at 1 week after DEB-TACE operation, but returned to baseline at 1-3 months after DEB-TACE operation in all three groups, while percentage of abnormal total bile acid (TBA) patients was higher in TPC group than NPC and PC groups at 1-3 month post-DEB-TACE (P = 0.018). As for safety profiles, the incidence of pain during DEB-TACE operation was lower in TPC group compared to NPC and PC groups (P = 0.005), while no difference of other adverse events was found during and 1 month post-DEB-TACE treatment among three groups., Conclusion: DEB-TACE treatment was equally efficient and tolerated in liver cancer patients with different times of previous cTACE treatments.

Background: This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of transcatheter chemoembolization with drug eluting beads (DEB-TACE) and compared it to the conventional TACE (cTACE) therapy method for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Chinese patients., Methods: Seventy-four patients were treated with DEB-TACE using the DC bead, and 80 patients were treated with cTACE for HCC. The modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) criteria were used to evaluate clinical response, with adverse events assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)., Results: Post-TACE, 9 patients (12.2%) achieved complete response (CR) and 44 (59.5%) achieved partial response (PR), with an overall tumor response rate (ORR) of 71.6% in the DEB-TACE group. Twelve patients (15%) achieved CR, and 38 (47.5%) achieved PR, with an ORR of 62.5% in the cTACE group. However, there was no significant difference in ORR between the two groups (P=0.229). Univariate logistic regression analysis determined that more than 3 nodules, higher Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage, portal vein invasion, previous chemotherapy (cTACE), and previous surgery were correlated with a worse ORR. Most common adverse events were not severe., Conclusions: DEB-TACE by DC bead was efficient and well-tolerated compared to cTACE in Chinese HCC patients. However, the present study showed no significant difference in ORR between the DEB-TACE and cTACE in the patient group with HCC. The BCLC stage, number of nodules, portal vein invasion, cTACE, and surgery history could possibly be a predictive factor for HCC treatment response., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tcr.2019.01.36). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (2019 Translational Cancer Research. All rights reserved.)

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most fatal types of cancer with significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRs) have been confirmed to have positive functions in NSCLC. In the present study, we try to explore the role of miR-758 in proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of NSCLC cells by regulating high-mobility group box (HMGB) 3 (HMGB3.) NSCLC and adjacent tissues were collected. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was employed to detect expression of miR-758 and HMGB3 in NSCLC and adjacent tissues, in BEAS-2B cells and NSCLC cell lines. The targetted relationship between miR-758 and HMGB3 was identified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. The effects of miR-758 on proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis of A549 cells. MiR-758 expression was lower in NSCLC tissues, which was opposite to HMGB3 expression. The results also demonstrated that miR-758 can target HMGB3. The cells transfected with miR-758 mimic had decreased HMGB3 expression, proliferation, migration, and invasion, with more arrested cells in G 1 phase and increased apoptosis. Our results supported that the overexpression of miR-758 inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promotes apoptosis of NSCLC cells by negative regulating HMGB2. The present study may provide a novel target for NSCLC treatment., (© 2019 The Author(s).)

The effects of samarium (Sm) on the microstructure and corrosion behavior of AZ91 magnesium alloy treated by ultrasonic vibration were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and electrochemical measurements. The results showed that the addition of Sm resulted in the formation of Al₂Sm, which reduced the volume fraction of the β-Mg 17 Al 12 phase and changed its morphology to fine granular. The AZ91⁻Sm alloys treated by ultrasonic vibration revealed relatively lower weight loss, hydrogen evolution, and corrosion current density values compared to the ultrasonic-treated AZ91 alloy prepared without Sm. Locally, a coarse β phase in the ultrasonic-treated AZ91 alloy accelerated the possibility of micro-galvanic corrosion growing into the matrix. In the prepared AZ91⁻Sm alloys treated by ultrasonic vibration, the fine β and Al₂Sm phases reduced the probability of micro-galvanic corrosion growth and, therefore, formed a uniform corrosion layer on the surface of the alloys.

In ovo feeding (IOF) of l-arginine (Arg) can affect growth performance of broilers, but the response of IOF of Arg on breast muscle growth is unclear, and the mechanism involved in protein deposition remains unknown. Hense, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of IOF of Arg on breast muscle growth and protein-deposited signalling in post-hatch broilers. A total of 720 fertile eggs were collected from 34-week-old Arbor Acres breeder hens and distributed to three treatments: (1) non-injected control group; (2) 7.5 g/l (w/v) NaCl diluent-injected control group; (3) 0.6 mg Arg/egg solution-injected group. At 17.5 days of incubation, fertile eggs were injected 0.6 ml solutions into the amnion of the injected groups. Upon hatching, 80 male chicks were randomly assigned to eight replicates of 10 birds each and fed ad libitum for 21 days. The results indicated that IOF of Arg increased relative breast muscle weight compared with those of control groups at hatch, 3-, 7- and 21-day post-hatch (P<0.05). In the Arg-injected group, the plasma total protein and albumen concentrations were higher at 7- and 21-day post-hatch than those of control groups (P<0.05). The alanine aminotransferase activity in Arg group was higher at hatch than that of control groups (P<0.05). The levels of triiodothyronine at four time points and thyroxine hormones at hatch, 7- and 21-day post-hatch in Arg group were higher than those of control groups (P<0.05). In addition, IOF of Arg increased the amino acid concentrations of breast muscle at hatch, 7- and 21-day post-hatch (P<0.05). In ovo feeding of Arg also enhanced mammalian target of rapamycin, ribosomal protein S6 kinase-1 and eIF4E-bindingprotein-1 messenger RNA expression levels at hatch compared with those of control groups (P<0.05). It was concluded that IOF of Arg treatment improved breast muscle growth, which might be associated with the enhancement of protein deposition.

Background: In order to evaluate the effect of cooking temperature on the nutrition quality of dry-cured hams, 60 biceps femoris samples from 16 Jinhua hams were divided into four groups (control, 70, 100 and 120 °C) and cooked for 30 min. Carbonyl content, sulfhydryl groups, surface hydrophobicity, microstructure, protein aggregation and digestibility of myofibrillar proteins were investigated., Results: Cooking promoted carbonylation and decreased sulfhydryl groups in a temperature-dependent way. Scanning electron microscopy and Nile Red revealed that protein aggregation became a main phenomenon at 120 °C; it coincided with surface hydrophobicity. The increased carbonyl content and decreased sulfhydryl groups contributed to the formation of aggregates. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles showed the initial difference in proteolysis rate among four groups. The in vitro digestibility of pepsin and of trypsin and α-chymotrypsin increased from the control to 100 °C and decreased from 100 to 120 °C., Conclusion: The increased digestibility could be attributed to the oxidation of proteins and exposing recognition sites of digestive enzymes, while the decreased digestibility was due to the formation of aggregates. Cooking was a main factor that affected the digestibility of Jinhua ham, and cooking at 100 °C could be an ideal way to gain the highest digestibility of Jinhua ham. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of drug eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) treatment by CalliSpheres® in Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as the predicting factors for response., Methods: 99 patients with HCC were consecutively enrolled in this study. All participants were treated by CalliSpheres® DEB-TACE. Clinical response was evaluated according to modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) criteria. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) was used to assess the adverse events and liver dysfunction during and after the operation., Results: Post treatment, 16 patients (16.2%) achieved CR and 59 (59.6%) achieved PR, the ORR was 75.8%. Subgroup analysis showed that patients with higher BCLC stage were of worse CR and ORR rates, and the CR as well as ORR between patients with cTACE history and patients without cTACE history were similar. Univariate logistic regression analysis displayed that number of nodules > 3, higher BCLC stage and previous cTACE might be correlated with worse ORR but with no statistical significance. As to liver function, CTCAE grades of laboratory indexes for liver function were increased at 1 week compared to baseline and recovered to the baseline grades at 1-3 months post operation. Besides, most of the common adverse events were light and moderate in our study., Conclusions: In conclusion, DEB-TACE by CalliSpheres® was efficient and well tolerated in Chinese HCC patients, and BCLC stage, number of nodules and cTACE history were possibly correlated with treatment response.

Soups and broths are popular in the world due to their nutrition and flavor, and flavor compounds tend to be bound by the proteins in the soups and broth, influencing the flavor perception. Thus, identification of the major proteins in meat-based broth may present a basis for understanding protein adsorption of flavor compounds. The present study aimed to identify the major proteins in traditional Chinese chicken broth and to describe the structural changes of proteins during stewing (1, 2, or 3 h). As stewing time increased, protein content in the broth significantly increased. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) indicated that the macro-molecule proteins (>10 kDa) in the broth were mainly gelatin and actin and that the micro-molecule proteins fractions (<10 kDa) increased substantially. The gelatin had an ordered structure even after 3 h of stewing, as seen by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The presence of reactive sulfhydryl groups increased remarkably with stewing time. The surface hydrophobicity of the proteins significantly increased within 2 h then deceased slightly after 3 h. The intermolecular crosslinks, as indicated by dispersion index, increased remarkably, consistent with the result of atomic force microscopy (AFM), which together suggested that protein aggregation increased during stewing. These findings suggested that gelatin was the structural protein in the broth system and that intermolecular crosslinks functioned to maintain the broth system.

The effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of creatine pyruvate (CrPyr) on the growth performance, energy reserves and mRNA expression levels of gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis enzymes in liver of late-term embryos and neonatal broilers were investigated. After candling on 16 day of incubation, a total of 960 eggs were randomly assigned to three treatments: (i) non-injected control, (ii) saline group injected with 0.6 ml of 0.75% physiological saline and (iii) Creatine pyruvate group injected with 0.6 ml of physiological saline containing 12 mg CrPyr/egg. After hatching, 120 male chicks with average body weight (BW) were randomly allocated into each treatment group for a 7-day feeding trial. The results showed that broilers subjected to CrPyr treatment had higher BW than those of the control and saline groups on 1, 3 and 7 day post-hatch, as well as the yolk sac weight on 19 day of incubation (19 E), the day of hatch and 3 day post-hatch (p < .05). Compared with the control and saline groups, IOF of CrPyr increased the plasma creatine concentration on the day of hatch, and the plasma pyruvate concentration on the day of hatch and 3 day post-hatch (p < .05). Moreover, IOF of CrPyr increased the liver pyruvate and glucose concentrations on 19 E and the day of hatch, and the liver glycogen concentration during the experiment (p < .05). Broilers in the CrPyr group showed increased mRNA expression levels of pyruvate carboxylase (PC), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glycogen synthase 2 (GYS2) on 19 E and the day of hatch (p < .05). These results indicated that IOF of CrPyr increased energy reserves in liver of embryos and neonatal broilers possibly through upregulating the mRNA expression levels of PC, PEPCK and GYS2, which could benefit the increase of BW in broilers on 7 day post-hatch., (© 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17450.].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14642.].

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) creates permanent pores in the cell membrane, leading to irreversible cell death. In this study, the impact of IRE on bronchial injury was comprehensively examined in a timed series study. Altogether, 8 Bama miniature pigs were included in this study and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent IRE that was guided and monitored by spiral computed tomography (CT). The monopole probe of the IRE was positioned at the right pulmonary hilum. Specimens were collected at 0 h, 2 h, 2 d, 7 d, and 14 d after the IRE procedure for a pathological examination. A small amount of needle-tract bleeding occurred in two animals, and mild pneumothorax occurred in another. IRE can elicit acute bronchial inflammation, bleeding, and mucosal injury, but severe complications were not found. Pathological examinations and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed dead vascular epithelium cells in the region of the ablation, while the bronchioli and the vascular extracellular matrix were preserved. At 2 hours post-IRE, there were marked increases in bronchoalveolar macrophages (P<0.001), but the inflammation could recover after 14 days and showed no statistical significance when compared with the control group at the same time. In conclusion, CT-guided IRE ablation can elicit acute but recoverable bronchial inflammation, bleeding, and mucosal injury in porcine lung tissues. However, longer follow-up is still required to establish an evaluation of the long-term safety., Competing Interests: None., (IJCEP Copyright © 2018.)

Despite increasing evidence indicating the essential involvement of selenium (Se) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and meat quality of commercial broilers, the effects of different Se sources on local Chinese Subei chickens is unclear. A total of 360 50-day-old male chickens were individually weighed and randomly allocated to four treatment groups. Chickens in each of the four groups were fed diets supplemented with 0.3 mg Se/kg as sodium Se (SS), Se-enriched yeast (SY), selenomethionine (Met-Se), or nano red element Se (Nano-Se) for 40 days. At the end of the experiment, one bird of approximately average weight from each cage was selected and slaughtered, and blood and breast muscles samples were collected. The results showed that there was no significant difference in feed intake, body weight gain, or feed to gain ratio among treatments (P > 0.05). Dietary SY, Met-Se, and Nano-Se supplementation increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase in serum and breast muscles and decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde in serum and carbonyl in breast muscles compared with the SS group (P < 0.05). Moreover, SY, Met-Se, and Nano-Se supplementation increased pH 45min , total protein solubility, and myofibrillar protein solubility, as well as decreased the shear force value compared with the SS group (P < 0.05). In addition, birds in the SY and Met-Se groups exhibited lower cooking loss compared with the SS group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, organic Se and Nano-Se supplementation resulted in an improvement of antioxidant capacity and meat quality in local Chinese Subei chickens relative to inorganic Se.

This study was to investigate the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) L-arginine (Arg) solution on the development of digestive organs, the duodenal mucosa of broiler embryos and hatchlings, and the growth performance of chicks during the first week post-hatch. A total of 720 fertilized eggs with similar weight were randomly allocated to three groups, consisting of eight replicates of 30 eggs each. Three treatments were arranged as non-injected control, diluent-injected (0.75% NaCl solution) group and Arg solution-injected group containing 1% Arg, dissolved in diluent. At 17.5 days of incubation, 0.6 ml of IOF solution was injected into amniotic fluid of each egg of injected groups. Results showed IOF of Arg solution increased (p < .05) the chick embryo weight at 19 days of incubation; the body weight gain of post-hatch broilers during 1-7 days; the weights of liver, pancreas, proventriculus and gizzard; the concentrations of duodenal ghrelin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and glucagon-like peptide 2; and the duodenum mucosal enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase, maltase, sucrase and inducible nitric oxide synthase of 7-day-old post-hatch broilers compared with other groups. The IOF of Arg solution also increased (p < .05) the villus height (VH) and the ratio of VH to crypt depth (CD) and decreased (p < .05) the CD in duodenum of broiler embryos and post-hatch hatchlings, except for the CD at 19 days of incubation. In conclusion, IOF of 1% Arg solution into the amnion at 17.5 days of incubation could improve the development of digestive organs, the duodenal morphology, the releasing of gastrointestinal hormones and mucosal enzyme activities of broiler embryos and hatchlings and finally the growth performance of chicks during the first week post-hatch. Therefore, IOF of appropriate Arg solution could be an effective technology for regulating early nutrition supply and subsequent growth development in poultry industry., (© 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) induces compensatory hyperplasia of the future liver remnants (FLR), thus increasing resectability in the non-cirrhotic patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). However, it is unclear if it is similar in patients with liver cirrhosis. Therefore, the present study investigated the PVE value prior to liver resection in patients with PLC, and the liver cirrhotic effects on the compensatory hypertrophy of FLRs following PVE. In the present study, 21 patients with PLC who successfully underwent hepatic resection subsequent to PVE, were retrospectively examined. The patients were divided into a non-cirrhosis group and a cirrhosis group according to the absence or presence of cirrhosis, respectively. The FLR volume between the two groups of patients was compared. There was a significant difference in the FLR volume for all patients prior to, and 4-6 weeks following, PVE (P<0.001). PVE induced significant compensatory hypertrophy in the FLRs whether in the non-cirrhosis group (P=0.002) or cirrhosis group (P<0.001). However, no significant difference was identified between the two groups with respect to FLR volume enlargement 4-6 weeks following PVE (P=0.373). In conclusion, PVE prior to hepatectomy may promote FLR compensatory hypertrophy and an increase in the resectability of PLC tumors. No significant effects of liver cirrhosis were identified on liver lobe hyperplasia following PVE.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of L-arginine (Arg) on energy metabolism in post-hatch broilers. A total of 720 eggs was randomly assigned to 3 treatments: 1) non-injected control group, 2) 0.75% NaCl diluent-injected control group, and 3) 1.0% Arg solution-injected group. At 17.5 d of incubation, 0.6 mL of each solution was injected into the amniotic fluid of each egg of injected groups. After hatching, 80 male chicks were randomly assigned to each treatment group with 8 replicates per group. The results showed that IOF of Arg increased glycogen and glucose concentrations in the liver and pectoral muscle of broilers at hatch (P < 0.05). The plasma glucose and insulin levels were higher in the Arg group than in the non-injected and diluent-injected control groups (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, IOF of Arg enhanced the hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P) activity at hatch (P < 0.05). There was no difference in hexokinase (HK) or phosphofructokinase (PFK) enzyme activities in the pectoral muscle in all groups. Further, IOF of Arg increased the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP) mRNA expressions at hatch (P < 0.05). In addition, broilers in the Arg group had a higher mRNA expression of glycogen synthase and a lower expression of glycogen phosphorylase in the liver and pectoral muscles than in the non-injected controls at hatch (P < 0.05). In conclusion, IOF of Arg solution enhanced liver and pectoral muscle energy reserves at hatch, which might be considered as an effective strategy for regulating early energy metabolism in broilers., (© 2017 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

A DNA logic sensor was constructed for gene mutation analysis based on a novel signal amplification cascade by controllably extending a hairpin-structured flap to bridge two invasive reactions. The detection limit was as low as 0.07 fM, and the analytical specificity is high enough to unambiguously pick up 0.02% mutants from a large amount of wild-type DNA. Gene mutations related to the personalized medicine of gefitinib, a typical tyrosine kinase inhibitor, were analyzed by the DNA logic sensor with only a 15 minute response time. Successful assay of tissue samples and cell-free plasma DNA indicates that the new concept we proposed here could benefit clinicians for straightforward prescription of a mutation-targeted drug.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether serum miR-661 could serve as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)., Patients and Methods:   The expression of serum miR-661 was detected in 150 cases of NSCLC and 114 cases of normal healthy controls by Real-time PCR. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to analyze diagnostic value of serum miR-661. The relationship between serum miR-661 expression and clinicopathological characteristics was investigated. Overall survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. Moreover, Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses were performed to determine the prognostic value of serum miR-661 in NSCLC patients., Results: We found that the expression of serum miR-661 was significantly upregulated in NSCLC compared with healthy controls (p < 0.01). The expression level of serum miR-661 was positively correlated with histological grade (p = 0.011), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.003), distant metastasis (p = 0.021) and clinical stage (p = 0.005). Then, ROC curve analysis showed that serum miR-661 has considerable diagnostic accuracy, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.726 (p = 0.001). Moreover, NSCLC patients with serum miR-661 higher expression have shown significantly poorer overall survival than those with lower serum miR-661 expression (p = 0.004). Furthermore, multivariate analyses showed that serum miR-661 expression levels were an independent prognostic factor for survival in NSCLC patients., Conclusions: Overall, these findings indicate that serum miR-661 may be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of NSCLC.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different dietary starch types on early postmortem muscle energy metabolism in finishing pigs. Ninety barrows (68.0±2.0kg) were randomly allotted to three experimental diets with five replicates of six pigs, containing pure waxy maize starch (WMS), nonwaxy maize starch (NMS), and pea starch (PS) (amylose/amylopectin were 0.07, 0.19 and 0.28 respectively). Compared with the WMS diet, pigs fed the PS diet exhibited greater creatine kinase activity, higher adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate contents, lower phosphocreatine (PCr), adenosine monophosphate and glycogen contents, and lower glycolytic potential (P<0.05). Moreover, the PS diet led to reduced percentage of bound hexokinase activity, decreased level of phosphorylated AKT (P<0.05) and increased level of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (P<0.05). In conclusion, diet with high amylose content might promote PCr degradation and inhibit the rate of glycolysis, followed by attenuation of early postmortem glycolysis in finishing pigs., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The effects of sugarcane dietary fiber (SDF) on the gelation properties of porcine myofibrillar proteins (MP) were studied to understand its mechanism of action in improving gel functionality. Rheological tests on all composite gels (MP with SDF) showed the visco-elastic nature of MP, but the G' significantly increased with contents of SDF and with particle size (P<0.05). However, the δ exhibited the opposite effect. Light microscopy suggested that SDF affected moisture distribution in the gel by drawing water from MP and homogenously embedded in gelation. It is proposed that during the heating the more concentrated MP promoted the unfolding of MP chains and facilitated the formation of β-sheet instead of α-helices, leading to a compact and homogenous three-dimensioned network. These results indicated that the SDF changed the water distribution and resulted in the enhanced gelation which reacted to firmly bind SDF and form a synergistic interaction system., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Protein oxidation is widespread in biochemical systems. The objective of the study was to investigate the differences in protein oxidation, μ-calpain activity, desmin proteolysis and protein solubility of beef psoas major (PM) and semi-membranosus (SM) muscles under three packaging systems during postmortem ageing. At 24 h postmortem, beef muscles were packaged respectively in air-permeable film overwrap (AP), vacuum pack (VP) or modified atmosphere (MAP, 80% O 2 + 20% CO 2 ), and then displayed for 10 days at 4 °C., Results: Carbonyl group values and thiol group content were significantly influenced by packaging type and storage time. The SM muscles from AP and MAP showed greater μ-calpain activity compared to VP. Desmin of PM and SM from AP and MAP samples showed decreased proteolysis compared with VP., Conclusion: The results suggested that the inhibition of μ-calpain activity of beef samples from AP and MAP could be closely associated with protein oxidation which further lowered the level of desmin degradation compared to VP. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of creatine pyruvate (CrPyr) on the hatchability, growth performance and energy status of embryos and broilers (Arbor Acres) were investigated. Five treatments were arranged as non-injected treatment (Control), 0.6 ml physiological saline (0.75%) injected treatment (Saline), and IOF treatments injected with 0.6 ml physiological saline (0.75%) containing 3, 6 or 12 mg CrPyr (CrPyr3, CrPyr6 or CrPyr12) into the amnion per fertile egg on day 17.5 of incubation. After hatching, 80 male chicks from each treatment with similar weight close to the average BW of their pooled group were selected and randomly assigned into eight replicates of 10 chicks each. The results showed that the hatchability was not affected among groups, whereas the hatching weight of broilers in CrPyr12 was significantly higher than the control and saline groups (P0.05). Irrespective of dosage, the concentrations of creatine and phosphocreatine, and activities of creatine kinase in embryos were enhanced in CrPyr treatments at 19 E when compared with the control and saline groups (P<0.05). The activities of glucose-6-phosphatase in liver in CrPyr6 and CrPyr12 treatments were higher than the control and saline groups at 19 E (P<0.05). In conclusion, these results indicated that IOF of CrPyr, especially at the level of 12 mg/egg, could improve energy status of embryos and hatchlings, which was useful for enhancing hatching weight, BW and pectoral muscle weight until the end of the experiments at 21 days post-hatch in broilers.

To investigate the effects of dietary starch types on growth performance and meat quality of finishing pigs, ninety barrows (68.0±2.0kg) were randomly allotted to three experimental diets with five replicates of six pigs, containing pure waxy maize starch (WMS), nonwaxy maize starch (NMS) and pea starch (PS) (amylose/amylopectin were 0.07, 0.19 and 0.28 respectively). Compared with WMS diet, PS diet increased the average daily gain, loin eye area, pH 45 value, NMR transverse relaxation (T 2 ) 2 peak area ratio and sarcoplasmic protein solubility, decreased the feed to gain ratio, back fat, drip loss, cooking loss and T 23 peak area ratio (P<0.05). Moreover, PS diet increased the myosin heavy-chain (MyHC)-I and IIa levels, decreased the MyHC-IIb level, decreased the miR23a level and increased its target gene level, increased the miR499 level and decreased its target gene level (P<0.05). Diet with high amylose content might be beneficial to the growth performance and meat quality of finishing pigs., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to explore the mechanisms of power ultrasound (PUS, 150 and 300W) and treatment time (30 and 120min) on the water-holding capacity (WHC) and tenderness of beef during curing. Beef muscle at 48h post mortem was subjected to PUS treatment at a frequency of 20kHz. Analysis of compression loss and shear force showed that PUS-assisted curing significantly increased the WHC and the tenderness of beef compared to static brining (p<0.05). According to the analysis of LF-NMR, PUS treatment could increase the P 21 values which indicated an improvement in water-binding ability of beef muscle. SDS-PAGE and LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis suggested that PUS induced moderate oxidation of myosin causing polymerization, which may contribute to increased water retention. On the other hand, an increased tenderness of beef is suggested by the increased MFI values and proteolysis of desmin and troponin-T. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) further supported the effects of PUS on WHC and tenderness changes due to the swelling and disruption of myofibrils. Thus, these results provide knowledge about the mechanism for improving WHC and tenderness of beef by PUS curing, which could be employed as an emerging technology for various meat curing processes., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Omics research has indicated that heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a potential biomarker of meat quality. However, the specific changes and the potential role of HSP70 in postmortem meat quality development need to be further defined. In this study, Arbor Acres broiler chickens (n=126) were randomly categorized into three treatment groups of unstressed control (C), 0.5-h transport (T) and subsequent water shower spray following transport (T/W). Each treatment consisted of six replicates with seven birds each. The birds were transported according to a designed protocol. The pectoralis major (PM) muscles of the transport-stressed broilers were categorized as normal and pale, soft and exudative (PSE)-like muscle samples according to L* and pH24 h values to test the expression and location of HSP70. Results revealed that the activities of plasma creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase increased significantly (P<0.05) in normal and PSE-like muscle samples after transportation. The mRNA expression of HSP70 in normal muscle samples increased significantly (P<0.05) compared with that in the controls after stress. The protein expression of HSP70 increased significantly in normal muscle samples and decreased significantly (P<0.05) in PSE-like muscles. Immuno-fluorescence showed that HSP70 was present in the cytoplasm and on surface membranes of PM muscle cells in the normal samples following stress. Meanwhile, HSP70 was present on the surface membranes and extracellular matrix but was barely visible in the cytoplasm of the PSE-like samples. Principal component analysis showed high correlations between HSP70 and meat quality and stress indicators. In conclusion, this research suggests that the variation in HSP70 expression may provide a novel insight into the pathways underlying meat quality development.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play an important role in bacterial biochemical properties. The characteristics of EPS from 2 strains of Pseudomonas fragi cultured in meat aerobically (control) and in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) were studied. The amount and components of EPS, the surface properties, and the effect on biofilm formation of several spoilage organisms were evaluated. The results showed that MAP inhibited the growth of the P. fragi strains. Compared with the control, more loose and less bound EPS (containing protein and carbohydrate) were produced by P. fragi in MAP samples. MAP also caused increased cell autoaggregation and surface hydrophobicity. After the removal of the EPS, the surface property changes were strain-dependent, suggesting that membrane compositions were also changed. In addition, the EPS displayed significant antibiofilm activity on Pseudomonas fluorescens and Serratia liquefaciens. In conclusion, P. fragi strains not only modified the amount, components, and surface properties of EPS but also changed the cell membrane compositions to adapt to MAP stress. Moreover, EPS may play an important role in microbial community competitions., (© 2017 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The traditional recipe for Chinese chicken soup creates a popular taste of particular umami and aroma. The present study investigated the effects of stewing time (1, 2, and 3 h) on the principal taste-active and volatile compounds and the overall flavor profile of traditional Chinese chicken soup by measuring the contents of free amino acids (FAAs), 5'-nucleotides, minerals and volatile compounds and by evaluating the taste and aroma profiles using an electronic nose, an electronic tongue and a human panel. Results showed that the major umami-related compounds in the chicken soup were inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP) and chloride, both of which increased significantly (P < 0.05) during stewing. The taste active values (TAVs) of the equivalent umami concentration (EUC) increased from 4.08 to 9.93 (P < 0.05) after stewing for 3 h. Although the FAA and mineral contents increased significantly (P < 0.05), their TAVs were less than 1. The volatile compounds were mainly hexanal, heptanal, octanal, nonanal, (E)-2-nonanal, (E)-2-decenal, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, 1-hexanol, and 2-pentyl furan. With the prolonged stewing time, the aldehydes first increased and then decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while 1-hexanol and 2-pentyl furan increased steadily (P < 0.05). The aroma scores of the chicken soup reached the maximum after stewing for 3 h. The discrepancy in overall flavor characteristics tended to stabilize after 2 h of stewing. In general, stewing time has a positive effect on improving the flavor profiles of chicken soup, especially within the first 2 h., (© 2017 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

We investigated the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) of creatine pyruvate (CrPyr) on energy reserves, satellite cell mitotic activity (SCMA) and myogenic gene expression in breast muscle of embryos and neonatal broilers. A total of 960 eggs were randomly allocated into three treatments: 1) non-injected control group, 2) saline group injected with 0.6 mL of physiological saline (0.75%), and 3) CrPyr group injected with 0.6 mL of physiological saline (0.75%) containing 12 mg CrPyr/egg at 17.5 d of incubation. After hatching, a total of 120 male chicks were randomly assigned to each treatment group, with eight replicate sets per group. Selected chicks had body BW close to the average of their pooled group. Our results showed that the total and relative breast muscle weights of broilers subjected to CrPyr treatment were higher than those in the control and saline groups on 19 d of incubation (19 E), the day of hatch, 3 and 7 d post-hatch (P < 0.05). The myofiber diameter and cross-sectional area of individuals in the CrPyr group were higher than those in other treatments on 3 and 7 d post-hatch (P < 0.05). Moreover, IOF of CrPyr increased (P < 0.05) creatine concentrations on 19 E, the day of hatch and 3 d post-hatch, the same treatment increased phosphocreatine concentrations on 19 E. Broilers in the CrPyr group showed higher expression of myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD) (P < 0.05), myogenin and paired box 7 (Pax7), as well as higher index of SCMA on 3 d post-hatch. However, myostatin mRNA expression in CrPyr-treated broilers was down-regulated on 3 d post-hatch (P < 0.05). These results indicated that IOF of CrPyr increased energy reserves of embryos and SCMA of broilers on 3 d post-hatch, which led to enhanced muscle growth in the late embryos and neonatal broilers. Additionally, IOF of CrPyr increased the activity of satellite cells possibly through up-regulating MyoD, myogenin, and Pax7 mRNA expression and down-regulating myostatin mRNA expression., (© 2017 Poultry Science Association Inc.)

This study was designed to compare the effects of different stunning frequencies of pulsed direct current on meat quality of broilers. This was achieved by investigating plasma parameters, blood loss, carcass damage, meat water-holding capacity, meat color, meat shear value, muscle pH, and protein solubility. A total of 400 broilers was divided into 5 treatment groups and stunned with 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 Hz at 15 V for 10 seconds. Blood samples were collected immediately after cutting the neck. Pectoralis major muscles were removed from the carcass after chilling and placed in ice. Breast muscle pH and meat color were determined at both 2 and 24 h postmortem. Drip loss, cooking loss, pressing loss, and cooked breast meat-shear values were determined at 24 h postmortem. Treatment at 500 and 900 Hz significantly increased (P < 0.05) blood plasma corticosterone and lactate concentrations compared with the 700 Hz group. The wing damage of carcasses was significantly serious in the 500, 800, and 900 Hz groups. The Pectoralis minor damage of carcesses in the 700 Hz group was significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared to the other stunning groups. The pH at 2 h postmortem in the 500 and 900 Hz groups was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than in other groups. However, the final pH and meat color were not affected by stunning frequency. In the 500 and 900 Hz groups, the protein solubility and shear force values were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and drip loss was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in the 700 Hz group. This study indicates that the waveform of the pulsed direct current is acceptable for stunning broilers at a stunning frequency of 700 Hz., (© 2017 Poultry Science Association Inc.)