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Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant cetuximab, capecitabine, and radiotherapy for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Methods: Sixty-three eligible patients were selectively enrolled in this study. Neoadjuvant treatment consisted of cetuximab and capecitabine for 6 weeks and radiotherapy for 5 weeks. Surgical resection was performed 6-8 weeks after the completion of neoadjuvant treatment. KRAS mutation statuses were analyzed retrospectively after the cetuximab treatment. All the patients underwent a standardized postoperative follow-up for at least 3 years. Results: A pathological complete response (pCR) was achieved in eight patients (12.7 %). Overall down-staging was found in 49 patients (77.8 %). The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate was 76.2 % and 81.0 %, respectively. The most common adverse events during neoadjuvant treatment were acneiform skin rash (82.5 %), radiodermatitis (46.0 %), and diarrhea (36.5 %). KRAS mutations were detected in 19 of 63 (31.2 %) tumors. The down-staging rate in patients with KRAS wild-type (WT) was significantly higher than patients with KRAS mutation ( P = 0.020). There was no significant difference in the pCR rate, 3-year DFS rate or 3-year OS rate between KRAS WT patients and KRAS-mutated patients. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant treatment with cetuximab and capecitabine-based chemoradiotherapy is safe and well tolerated. The pCR rate, 3-year DFS rate and OS rate are not superior to the rate of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy using two or more cytotoxic agents. The KRAS WT is highly associated with tumor down-staging to cetuximab plus capecitabine-based CRT in patients with LARC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) belongs to the lentivirus genus. The first successful lentiviral vaccine was developed for EIAV. Thus, EIAV may serve as a valuable model for HIV vaccine research. EIAV glycoprotein 45 (gp45) plays a similar role to gp41 in HIV by mediating virus-host membrane fusion. The gp45 ectodomain was constructed according to the structure of HIV gp41, with removal of the disulfide-bond loop region. The protein was expressed in Escherichia coli and crystallized following purification. However, most of the crystals grew as aggregates and could not be used for data collection. By extensively screening hundreds of crystals, a 2.7 Å resolution data set was collected from a single crystal. The crystal belonged to space group P63, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 46.84, c = 101.61 Å, α = β = 90, γ = 120°. Molecular replacement was performed using the coordinates of various lengths of HIV gp41 as search models. A long bent helix was identified and a well defined electron-density map around the long helix was obtained. This primary model provided the starting point for further refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 1.94×104 Da, HEPF1, was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus. It is composed of fucose, galactose and glucose in the ratio of 1:4:1, as well as a minor proportion of 3-O-methyl rhamnose. Sugar analyses, methylation analysis, together with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy established that HEPF1 has a (1→6)-linked α-d-galactopyranosyl backbone with branches that are composed of fucose attached to O-2; it also contains 6-O-substituted-β-d-oligoglucosyl units and a minor terminal 3-O-methyl rhamnose residue. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Unique plant-derived cyclic peptides family exhibiting various key biological activities has great possibility for anticancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the effects of orbitides isolated from flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) on the growth of SGC-7901 cancer cells and the potential mechanism. Results showed that flaxseed orbitides killed off cancer cells by inducing apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, which was confirmed by the appearance of nuclear shrinkage and DNA fragmentation, and the inhibitory effect was stronger than that of pure orbitide [1–9-NαC]-linusorb B2 or [1–9-NαC]-linusorb B3. Besides, the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway-related protein cytochrome C (Cyt C) was released from mitochondria to cytosol, associated with the activation of caspases 9 and 3, and the cleavage of PARP. Taken together, these results indicated that flaxseed orbitides induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway, releasing Cyt C, increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and elevating the expression of cleaved caspase 9 and 3 in SGC-7901 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides are a major class of biomacromolecules. Their bioactivities depend on chemical structure, which includes monosaccharide composition, linkages below sugar residues, and solution conformation. Many researchers report that chemical modifications of polysaccharides lead to a significantly increase in the structural diversity, promoting bioactivity and even add new bioactivities, including antioxidant and anti-tumor properties as well as anticoagulant and immunoregulatory activities. This paper reviews the recent progress of chemical modification of polysaccharides, including i) the common synthetic methods of chemical modification; ii) their structural characterization; iii) their bioactivities; and iv) the structure activity relationships of these modified polysaccharides. This review also suggests future directions for researchers and new applications for chemically modified polysaccharide derivatives in the pharmaceutical and food industries. • Chemically modified polysaccharides of the past two decades of online review research. • These generalizations are better for people to understand the research status of chemical modified polysaccharides. • This review suggests future directions and new applications for researchers and in the pharmaceutical and food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antrodia camphorata (A. camphorata) is an edible fungus containing various bioactive compounds generally used for health benefits. This study aimed to explore the potential neuroprotective activities of solid‐state‐cultured mycelium of A. camphorata (SCMAC) against Parkinson's disease (PD), as well as the underlying mechanism using an in vitro 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA)‐induced PC12 cell model. The results showed that SCMAC extracts alleviated cell toxicity induced by 6‐OHDA and the loss of dopaminergic neurons, which was confirmed by the increase of cell viabilities, inhibition of cell apoptosis, the upregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine transporter (DAT) levels and the downregulation of α‐Synuclein level. After purification, 11 compounds were identified by the NMR technique, including a quinone, four phenolic acid derivatives, three ubiquinone derivatives, two alkaloids, and a triterpenoid. The present study suggests that SCMAC could be an attractive candidate for the prevention or treatment of PD. Practical applications: Parkinson's disease seriously affects the lifetime and quality of the elder population for a long history. Long‐term consumption of L‐DOPA will result in side effects, such as developing abnormal involuntary movements called dyskinesia. This study showed that natural SCMAC extracts could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coix seed polysaccharides had received increasing attention due to their diverse biological activities. In this study, a homogeneous polysaccharide (CSPW) was extracted and purified from coix seed. Furthermore, the saliva-gastrointestinal digestion and fecal fermentation behavior of CSPW were simulated in vitro. The results showed that CSPW was mainly composed of glucose. It cannot be degraded by the simulated salivary and intestinal digestive system, but can be degraded by the simulated gastric digestive system. After fermentation for 24 h, CSPW promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), with acetic acid, propionic acid and n-butyric acid being the main metabolites. In addition, CSPW could significantly regulate the composition and microbial diversity of gut microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Limosilicactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Collinsella. Finally, further analysis of functional prediction revealed that amino acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism were the most important pathways for CSPW to promote health. In summary, our findings suggested that CSPW could potentially be used as a good source of prebiotics because it can be used by gut microbiota to produce SCFAs and regulate the gut microbiota. • CSPW was a homogeneous polysaccharide from coix seed and can be consumed by gut microbiota. • CSPW was beneficial for the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibited harmful microbiota. • The gut microbiota produced more beneficial metabolites by CSPW modulated. • CSPW showed the potential of prebiotics and had beneficial effects on the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel water-soluble heteropolysaccharide termed PBF2 was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Phellinus baumii Pilát using hot water extraction and purified on Sephacryl S-1000. PBF2 was shown to be composed of l-fucose, d-mannose and d-glucose. Its structural characteristics were further investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy, sugar analysis, methylation analysis and NMR spectroscopy. Based on the data obtained, PBF2 was found to be a heteropolysaccharide containing a β-(1→6)-d-glucopyranose backbone with a fucosyl unit on O-3 of the 3,6-di-O-substituted-d-glucosyl units and it also contained a minor (1→3, 6)-β-d-mannose residue and terminal glucose residues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of the study was to investigate the antioxidant effect of seleno-amino-oligosaccharide (Se-AOS) on intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-1). MTT assay showed that Se-AOS had no effect on the viability of IPEC-1 cells up to a concentration of 9200 μg/L and Se-AOS significantly increased the viability of IPEC-1 cells compared to cells exposed to H 2 O 2 alone. Se-AOS significantly increased the level of superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and decreased the levels of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in IPEC-1 cells. The gene expression levels of different antioxidant enzymes dramatically increased by the pretreatment of Se-AOS compared to H 2 O 2 treatment. In addition, the results indicated that Se-AOS up-regulated the intracellular Nrf2 and down-regulated the level of Keap1 by western blot. Taken together, these findings suggested that Se-AOS can protect IPEC-1 cells from oxidative damage through activating the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Tremella fuciformis is an important edible mushroom that has been widely cultivated and used as food and medicinal ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. In the past decades, many researchers have reported that T. fuciformis polysaccharides (TPS) possess various bioactivities, including anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, repairing brain memory impairment, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic. The structural characteristic of TPS has also been extensively investigated using advanced modern analytical technologies such as NMR, GC–MS, LC-MS and FT-IR to dissect the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of the TPS biomacromolecule. This article reviews the recent progress in the extraction, purification, structural characterization and applications of TPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, various surfactants and cosurfactants were selected to develop nanoemulsions of finger citron essential oil (FCEO). Five suitable mixtures of surfactants were obtained: Cremophor EL/1, 2-propanediol (1:1, m/m), Cremophor EL/glycerol (1:1, m/m), Tween 80/ethanol (3:2, m/m), Tween 80/PEG-400 (3:2, m/m) and Tween 80/1, 2-propanediol (3:1, m/m). These five nanoemulsions showed a good stability with average droplet sizes kept below 20 nm for at least 28 days. All of them had low polydispersity index. Antimicrobial activities of these five nanoemulsions against bacteria ( E. coli , B. subtilis and S. aureus ) and molds ( A. niger and P. citrinum ) were tested, in which the nanoemulsion with Cremophor EL enhanced the antibacterial ability. However, the antifungal activities of these nanoemulsions were weaker than expected. These developed FCEO loaded nanoemulsions have good physical stability and antibacterial activity, suggesting their potential application in food and beverage fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A water-soluble heteropolysaccharide (PUP60W-1) was purified from the hot water extract of sclerotia of P. umbellatus by chromatography with DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephacryl S200 High-Resolution. The primary structure of PUP60W-1 was elucidated by GC, GC–MS and NMR. PUP60W-1 was identified as a highly branched polysaccharide composed of fucose, glucose and galactose in a ratio of 1.0:0.9:13.3. The main repeating unit was identified as α-(1 → 6)- d -galactopyranan backbone with substitution of terminal α-galactopyranosyl residues at O -2 for two out of every three main chain galactose residues. Its chain conformation was studied by atom force microscopy and size exclusion chromatography coupled with multiple detectors. The results revealed that PUP60W-1 had a molecular weight of 2.47 × 10 4 Da with a polydispersity index of 1.04, and existed in water as compact sphere structures which could be disrupted into smaller spherical chain blocks after dispersion with sodium dodecyl sulfate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel water-soluble polysaccharide PUP60S2, with a molecular weight of 1.44 × 10 4 Da, was obtained from the sclerotia of Polyporus umbellatus by hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. PUP60S2 was a polysaccharide comprised of about 22.3% glucuronic acid. Monosaccharide composition analysis showed that PUP60S2 was only comprised of glucose and glucuronic acid. Reduction of carboxyl groups, sugar analysis, methylation analysis, together with one and two dimension NMR spectra disclosed that the backbone of PUP60S2 consisted of (1 → 6)-β- d -glucopyranosyl, every second of which was substituted at O -3 by side chains consisting of terminal β- d -Glc p , (1 → 3)-β- d -Glc p , (1 → 3)-β- d -Glc p A, (1 → 4)-β- d -Glc p and (1 → 4)-β- d -Glc p A units. The antioxidant activity assay in vitro showed that PUP60S2 exerted a significant scavenging effect on DPPH, hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical in a dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan was prepared by alkaline N -deacetylation of β-chitin from squid pens, and N -(2-hydroxy) propyl-3-trimethyl ammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC) derivatives, with different degrees of quaternization (DQ) ranging from 0.77 to 1.06, were synthesized. It was identified by FT-IR, 1 H NMR and XRD analysis. All of the HTCC showed good water solubility in a wide pH range. The moisture absorption and retention abilities of all the HTCC were much better than that of the chitosan. The moisture absorption and retention values of all the HTCC at 43% RH for 24 h were above 49% and 92%, respectively. The scavenging ability of HTCC against hydroxyl and ABTS radicals improved with increasing concentration. The effectiveness of HTCC against hydroxyl radicals was lower than that of chitosan. These results indicated that HTCC, which has a much better moisture absorption and retention capacity, may act as a potential moisturizer in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Chitosan was prepared by alkaline N-deacetylation of β-chitin and hydroxypropyl derivatives with different degrees of substitution (DS) were synthesized. It was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and elemental analysis. The DS of hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCS) calculated by an element analyzer were 0.42, 0.75, 1.20, 1.82 and 2.25. HPCS showed better foam capacity and stability than that of chitosan, and the effectiveness correlated well with the DS of HPCS. The highest bile acid-binding capacity of all five HPCS reached 56.02mg/g, which was 4.0-fold higher than that of chitosan. The scavenging ability of HPCS against hydroxyl and ABTS radicals improved with increasing concentration. The correlation between the hydroxypropyl content (DS) of HPCS and scavenging ABTS radical ability was positive. The hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity of HPCS correlated well with its increasing concentration, and EC50 values were below 12.5mg/mL. These results indicated that hydroxypropylation is a possible approach to obtain chitosan derivatives with desirable physiochemical properties. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] It was isolated and purified by columns of DEAE-Sepharose F. F. and Sephacryl S H.R. [•] It was a homogeneous polysaccharide and the molecular weight was estimated to be 1.08×104 Da by HPLC. [•] The composition of it was determined as l-fucose, d-mannose, d-glucose and d-galactose by GC analysis. [•] Its structure was determined by MS, along with 1H, 13C and 2D NMR spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We purified a novel water-soluble polysaccharide from Wedelia prostrata called WPP60A. [•] Homogeneity and molecular weight (2.40×103 Da) of WPP60A were determined by HPLC. [•] Its structure was established by GC–MS, 1H, 13C, and 2D NMR analysis. [•] The repeating unit consists of [β-d-Fruf-(6→2)-β-d-Fruf-]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel water-soluble heteropolysaccharide (PEPS1), with a molecular weight of 1.88×104 Da as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), specifically size exclusion chromatography, was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus eryngii by hot water extraction and further purification by DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow and Sephacryl S-300 and S-100 High-Resolution chromatography. By use of compositional analysis, methylation analysis, together with 1H, 13C NMR and 2D NMR spectroscopy including COSY, TOCSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY experiments, the PEPS1 was identified as a heteropolysaccharide that consists of a α-d-(1→6)-Galactopyranan backbone with a β-d-Mannosyl unit on O-2 of the 2,6-di-O-substituted-d-Galactosyl units, α-(1→6)-3-O-Me-d-Galactopyranan backbone with a terminal α-3-O-Me-d-Galactosyl unit and it also contained a minor 2,3,6-α-d-Galatopyranan units and 4-β-d-Mannopyranan residues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel water-soluble polysaccharide named PGPB-1, with a molecular weight of 1.3×104 Da as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus geesteranus by boiling water as well as DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow and High-Resolution Sephacryl S-300. On the bases of compositional analysis, methylation analysis and NMR spectroscopy (1H NMR, 13C NMR, 2D-COSY, TOCSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY spectra) analysis, the structural elucidation of PGPB-1 consisted of a α-d-(1→6)-galactopyranan and a α-d-3-O-Me-d-galactosyl unit backbone with a α-d-Mannosyl unit on O-2 of the 2,6-di-O-substituted-d-galactosyl units. The repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established as: Display Omitted PGPB-1 also contains a minor proportion of 6-linked-d-Glcp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new heteropolysaccharide (HEPF4), with a molecular weight of 2.03×104 Da as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), was obtained from the fruiting bodies of Hericium erinaceus. It is composed of 3-O-methylrhamnose, l-fucose, d-galactose and d-glucose in the ratio of 0.12:1.00:3.27:0.28. Its chemical structure was characterized by sugar and methylation analysis, along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including NOESY and HMBC experiments for linkage and sequence analysis. The polysaccharide is composed of a tetrasaccharide repeating unit (described in the results section). HEPF4 also contains a minor proportion of glucose and 3-O-methylrhamnose which is believed to terminate the polymer main chain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A novel water-soluble heteropolysaccharide FVP60-B was extracted from the fruiting bodies of Flammulina velutipes with boiling water and purified by Sephacryl S-300 and S-400, which molecular weight was estimated to be 1.3×104 Da by HPLC. It is composed of l-fucose, d-mannose, d-glucose and d-galactose in a ratio of 1.16:0.82:1.00:3.08. Sugar analysis, methylation analysis together with 1H, 13C and 2D NMR spectroscopy disclosed that FVP60-B is consisted of a α-(1→6)-d-galactopyranan backbone with a terminal fucosyl, terminal glucosyl and α-(1→6)-d-mannopyranan units on O-2 of 2,6-O-substituted-d-galactosyl units. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Cold-pressed sesame cake protein removing lignans was obtained by ultrasonic pre-treatment (UPT). • UPT significantly increased protein yield. • UPT slightly reduced the solubility, foaming capacity and stability of protein. • UPT could disorder and loose protein molecular structure to some extent. • This work provides a guide for comprehensive utilization of lignans and proteins from sesame cake in separate. Sesame is an oil crop with high nutritional value. Protein is one of the main ingredients of sesame, however research on protein of cold-pressed sesame cake is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ultrasonic pre-treatment (UPT) on physicochemical properties of proteins (yield, solubility, amino acid composition, surface properties, structural and thermal stability) extracted from the cold-pressed sesame cake, after removing lignans by ultrasonic-assisted extraction. By comparison, the extraction yield of protein was significantly (p ＜ 0.05) increased from 22.24% (without UPT) to 25.95% (with UPT), while the purity (54.08% without UPT, 55.43% with UPT), total amount of essential amino acids (22.48% without UPT, 23.10% with UPT) and non-essential amino acids (37.48% without UPT, 36.54% with UPT) were not significantly influenced. Besides, UPT slightly reduced the solubility, foaming capacity and stability (FC and FS) of protein. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermal stability (TG) analysis demonstrated that UPT could disorder and loose protein molecular structure, resulting in the change of morphology, secondary structure and thermal stability. In conclusion, this study provides a way for the separation and future application of sesame cake protein. UPT is a good option to remove the lignans from sesame cake proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, antibacterial activity of finger citron essential oil (FCEO, Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis) and its mechanism against food-borne bacteria were evaluated. A total of 28 components in the oil were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in which limonene (45.36%), γ-terpinene (21.23%), and dodecanoic acid (7.52%) were three main components. For in vitro antibacterial tests, FCEO exhibited moderately antibacterial activity against common food-borne bacteria: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus. It showed a better bactericidal effect on Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative. Mechanisms of the antibacterial action were investigated by observing changes of bacteria morphology according to scanning electron microscopy, time-kill analysis, and permeability of cell and membrane integrity. Morphology of tested bacteria was changed and damaged more seriously with increased concentration and exposure time of FCEO. FCEO showed a significant reduction effect on the growth rate of surviving bacteria and lead to lysis of the cell wall, intracellular ingredient leakage, and consequently, cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]