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BACKGROUND: Black cumin seeds (black seed; BS) contain various bioactive compounds, such as thymoquinone (TQ). Roasting and ultrasound‐assisted enzymatic treatment (UAET) as pre‐treatments can increase the phytochemical content in the BS oil. This study aimed to investigate the effects of pre‐treatments on the TQ content and the yield of the BS oil and to profile the composition of defatted BS meal (DBSM), followed by evaluating antioxidant properties of the DBSM. RESULTS: The extraction yield of crude oil from BS was not affected by the roasting time. The highest extraction yield (47.8 ± 0.4%) was obtained with UAET cellulase‐pH 5 (enzyme concentration of 100%). Roasting decreased the TQ content of the oil, while the UAET cellulase‐pH 5 treatment with an enzyme concentration of 100% yielded the highest TQ (125.1 ± 2.7 μg mL−1). Additionally, the UAET cellulase‐pH 5 treatment increased total phenolics and flavonoids of DBSM by approximately two‐fold, compared to roasting or ultrasound treatment (UT) alone. Principal component analysis revealed that the UAET method might be more suitable for extracting BS oil with higher TQ content than roasting and UT. CONCLUSION: Compared to roasting or UT, using ultrasound along with cellulase could improve the oil yield and TQ in the oil from BS and obtain the DBSM with higher phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study aimed to develop fermented spinach juice with enhanced γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) level and angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity and reduced oxalic acid level. We cofermented spinach juice with Levilactobacillus brevis GABA100 and oxalic acid‐degrading bacteria (Lactobacillus gasseri HHuMin D, Lactobacillus sakei RH1114, Lactobacillus acidophilus 19L5, or Limosilactobacillus fermentum BH03). GABA levels were not different among all the fermented juices except for the juice cofermented with L. brevis GABA100 and L. fermentum BH03. Oxalic acid decreased in the cofermented juices. The most increase in ACE inhibitory activity was observed in the juice cofermented with L. brevis GABA100 and L. sakei RH1114. Peptides (IVVGPPPP, PQTETKASVGFKAG and QIIGPVLD) produced during the cofermentation showed a positive correlation with the ACE inhibitory activity of the juice. These results suggest that spinach juice cofermented with L. brevis GABA100 and L. sakei RH1114 may have potential applications for the management of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have evaluated the impact of air pollution levels on the severity of exacerbations. Thus, we compared the relative risks posed by air pollutant levels on moderate and severe exacerbations. Methods: Exacerbation episodes of 618 from 143 adult asthmatics were retrospectively collected between 2005 and 2015 in a tertiary hospital of Korea. Air pollution GPS data for the location closest to each patient's home were obtained from the national ambient monitoring station. The relative impacts of air pollutants on asthma exacerbations were evaluated via a time-trend controlled symmetrical, bidirectional, case-crossover design using conditional logistic regression models on the day of the exacerbation (T-0) and up to 3 days before the exacerbation (T-1–T-3). Results: Overall asthma exacerbation were associated with O3 levels in summer and winter (OR: 1.012[1.003–1.02] and 1.009[1.003–1.016]), SO2 levels in spring and summer (OR: 1.009[1–1.018] and 1.02[1.006–1.035]) and NO2 levels in winter (OR: 1.007[1.003–1.011]). Analyses of the temporal relationship between O3 concentrations and exacerbations demonstrated that 63.2% of episodes in the summer occurred when the O3 concentrations on T-1 were significantly higher than those on control days, while 51% of exacerbation episodes in the winter occurred. Severe and moderate exacerbations were similarly associated with O3 levels in winter (OR: 1.012 [1.003–1.02] vs. 1.01 [0.999–1.021], p > 0.05) and in summer (OR: 1.006 [1.002–1.009] vs. 1.009 [1.003–1.016], p > 0.05). Conclusions: Asthma exacerbations may be associated with the seasonal elevation of O3, SO2 and NO2 levels in summer and winter with the similar relative risk between moderate and severe exacerbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although multi-organ dysfunction is associated with the survival rate following cardiac arrest (CA), the majority of studies to date have focused on hearts and brains, and few studies have considered renal failure. The objective of the present study, therefore, was to examine the effects of therapeutic hypothermia on the survival rate, pathophysiology and antioxidant enzymes in rat kidneys following asphyxial CA. Rats were sacrificed one day following CA. The survival rate, which was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, was 42.9% one day following CA. However, hypothermia, which was induced following CA, significantly increased the survival rate (71.4%). In normothermia rats with CA, the serum blood urea nitrogen level was significantly increased one day post-CA. In addition, the serum creatinine level was significantly increased one day post-CA. However, in CA rats exposed to hypothermia, the levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine significantly decreased following CA. Histochemical staining revealed a significant temporal increase in renal injury after the normothermia group was subjected to CA. However, renal injury was significantly decreased in the hypothermia group. Immunohistochemical analysis of the kidney revealed a significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes (copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, manganese superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) with time in the normothermia group. However, in the hypothermia group, these enzymes were significantly elevated following CA. Collectively, the results revealed that renal dysfunction following asphyxial CA was strongly associated with the early survival rate and therapeutic hypothermia reduced renal injury via effective antioxidant mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although multi‑organ dysfunction is associated with the survival rate following cardiac arrest (CA), the majority of studies to date have focused on hearts and brains, and few studies have considered renal failure. The objective of the present study, therefore, was to examine the effects of therapeutic hypothermia on the survival rate, pathophysiology and antioxidant enzymes in rat kidneys following asphyxial CA. Rats were sacrificed one day following CA. The survival rate, which was estimated using Kaplan‑Meier analysis, was 42.9% one day following CA. However, hypothermia, which was induced following CA, significantly increased the survival rate (71.4%). In normothermia rats with CA, the serum blood urea nitrogen level was significantly increased one day post‑CA. In addition, the serum creatinine level was significantly increased one day post‑CA. However, in CA rats exposed to hypothermia, the levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine significantly decreased following CA. Histochemical staining revealed a significant temporal increase in renal injury after the normothermia group was subjected to CA. However, renal injury was significantly decreased in the hypothermia group. Immunohistochemical analysis of the kidney revealed a significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes (copper‑zinc superoxide dismutase, manganese superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) with time in the normothermia group. However, in the hypothermia group, these enzymes were significantly elevated following CA. Collectively, the results revealed that renal dysfunction following asphyxial CA was strongly associated with the early survival rate and therapeutic hypothermia reduced renal injury via effective antioxidant mechanisms.