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Homoisoflavanone‑1 is a natural compound that may be extracted from the Chinese medicinal herb Polygonatum odoratum, which has pronounced antioxidant activities. The present study reports that homoisoflavanone‑1 significantly inhibited tumor cell growth and induced apoptosis in A549 non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in a dose‑dependent manner. Homoisoflavanone‑1 arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M stage, which was associated with an increase in the accumulation of phosphorylated (p‑)p38, p38, p53, and p‑cyclin dependent kinase (Cdc)2 proteins, as well as a decrease in Cdc2 expression. In addition, treatment with homoisoflavanone‑1 increased the levels of active caspase‑3 and decreased Poly ADP‑ribose polymerase, which was accompanied by a reduction in the B‑cell lymphoma‑2/Bak ratio and consequently, apoptosis. Furthermore, homoisoflavanone‑1 increased the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress‑related proteins, including PERK, ATF4 and GADD34 in a dose‑dependent manner. In conclusion, homoisoflavanone‑1 induced apoptosis in A549 cells by regulating the mitochondria‑caspase‑dependent and ER stress pathways and resulted in G2/M arrest by activating the p38/p53 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that homoisoflavanone‑1 extracted from Polygonatum odoratum may function as a cancer‑suppressing agent and has potential as a novel therapeutic method against NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe properties of NaGdF4:Yb, Er nanomaterials tuned by synthesis conditions have always been one of the research hotspots in the field of upconversion nanomaterials. In this work, NaGdF4:Yb, Er upconversion nanomaterials capped with oleic acid (OA) molecules were prepared by one-step hydrothermal method. Controlling the fluorescence properties of NaGdF4:Yb, Er nanomaterials by changing the synthesis conditions were principally investigated. The results showed that the crystalline state of the as-prepared upconversion nanomaterials tended to be intact and fluorescence emission capability enhanced when the reaction temperature increased from 140 °C to 160 °C, 180 °C and the reaction time extended from 6 h to 18 h. From 0.00 mmol to 0.75, 2.25, 5.00, 8.75, 12.50, 17.50 mmol of sodium hydroxide amount, the synthesized upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) transferred from orthorhombic GdF3 to hexagonal β-NaGdF4. And when the amount of sodium hydroxide was 2.25 mmol, the as-prepared nanoparticles exhibited stronger luminescence intensity. The ratio of Re3+ (Gd3+:Yb3+:Er3+) could also affect the properties of the as-prepared UCNPs. The nanomaterials emitted relatively stronger fluorescence when the ratio among Gd3+, Yb3+, Er3+ was 78:20:2. This work provides solid foundation for further theoretical study and practical application of NaGdF4:Yb, Er nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAs the world population rises, the demand for protein increases, leading to a widening gap in protein supply. There is an unprecedented interest in the development of alternative proteins, but their allergenicity has raised consumer concerns. This review aims to highlight and correlate the current research status of allergenicity studies on alternative proteins based on previously published studies. Current research keywords, hotspots and trends in alternative protein sensitization were analyzed using a mixed-method approach that combined bibliometric analysis and literature review. According to the bibliometric analysis, current research is primarily focused on food science, agriculture, and immunology. There are significant variations in the type and amount of allergens found in alternative proteins. A significant amount of research has been focused on studying plant-based proteins and the cross-reactivity of insect proteins. The allergenicity of alternative proteins has not been studied extensively or in depth. The allergenicity of other alternative proteins and the underlying mechanisms warrant further study. In addition, the lack of a standardized allergy assessment strategy calls for additional efforts by international organizations and collaborations among different countries. This review provides new research and regulatory perspectives for the safe utilization of alternative proteins in human food systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]