Search

This study compared the effect of various freezing set‐ups [freezing in the walk‐in freezer (WF), blast freezing and liquid nitrogen freezing (LNF)] on the textural properties of goat cheeses. The influences of freeze–thaw cycles (1, 3 and 5) and storage time (1, 7 and 14 days) at 4°C on the hardness and visual appearance were investigated. The results showed that freezing damaged the cheese structure, particularly for WF. Frozen samples were not suitable for 4°C storage. Freeze–thaw cycles further damaged the texture of both cheese logs and crumbles, resulting in increased dryness. The development of the dry structure was faster for the LNF‐treated sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In this study, the foamability and foam stability of nitrogen‐infused cold brew coffee, as affected by coffee variety (Arabica and Robusta), degree of roast (light, medium, dark), brewing temperature (4, 20, 35 °C), brew ratio (1:5–1:15 w/w; coffee/water), ground particle size (712, 647 and 437 μm volume mean diameter) and beverage temperature (4, 20 and 35 °C), were investigated. RESULTS: Dynamic surface tension of cold brew, as determined from bubble tensiometry, decreased from 65–70 mN m−1 to about 60 mN m−1 as the bubble lifetime increased from 0.1 s to 1 s. Infusing the cold brew coffee (70 mL) with nitrogen gas for 30 s at 50 mL min−1 generated 30–40 mL of foam head. At the same degree of roast, brews prepared from Arabica beans had more stable foam than those from Robusta. Foam stability increased with increasing degree of roast, increasing brewing temperature, decreasing particle size, and decreasing the beverage temperature. By contrast, brew ratio had relatively less effect on foaming properties. Nitrogen‐containing constituents present in the 80% (v/v) ethanol‐soluble fraction (55.9% of total dissolved solids) of the brew samples were important contributors to foaming, while the 80% (v/v) ethanol‐insoluble fraction (42.3% of total dissolved solids) that contained polysaccharides was important in stabilizing the foam. CONCLUSION: The foamability and foam stability of cold brew coffee are significantly affected by coffee variety, degree of roast, brewing temperature, ground particle size, and beverage temperatures. The foam properties are dictated by the low‐molecular‐weight nitrogen‐containing compounds and high‐molecular‐weight polysaccharides present in the cold brew coffee. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Disparities in multiple myeloma (MM) prognosis based on sociodemographic factors may exist. We investigated whether education level at diagnosis influenced Chinese MM patient outcomes.Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of data from 773 MM patients across 9 centers in China from 2006 to 2019. Sociodemographic and clinical factors at diagnosis and treatment regimens were recorded, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.Results: Overall, 69.2% of patients had low education levels. Patients with low education levels differed from those with high education levels in that they were more likely to be older, and a higher proportion lived in rural areas, were unemployed, had lower annual incomes and lacked insurance. Additionally, compared to patients with high education levels, patients with low education levels had a higher proportion of international staging system (ISS) stage III classification and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and underwent transplantation less often. Patients with high education levels had a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 67.50 (95% confidence interval (CI): 51.66-83.39) months, which was better than that of patients with low education levels (30.60 months, 95% CI: 27.38-33.82, p < 0.001). Similarly, patients with high education levels had a median overall survival (OS) of 122.27 (95% CI: 117.05-127.49) months, which was also better than that of patients with low education levels (58.83 months, 95% CI: 48.87-62.79, p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, patients with high education levels had lower relapse rates and higher survival rates than did those with low education level in terms of PFS and OS (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.50 [95% CI: 0.34-0.72], p < 0.001; HR = 0.32 [0.19-0.56], p < 0.001, respectively).Conclusions: Low education levels may independently predict poor survival in MM patients in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adverse effects of high concentration of phenolic compounds in wastewater on aquatic organisms are a major environmental issue. In recent years, treating organic wastewater by algae has attracted attention because this treatment is economic, efficient and eco-friendly. Here we review the use of algae in removing phenol and phenolic derivatives. We discuss phenolic wastewater treatment, mechanisms of adsorption and degradation, and effects of excessive phenols on algal cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study investigated the effects of key brewing parameters (basket size, particle size, temperature, brewing ratio, coffee freshness, bean variety, and degree of roast) on the crema volume and stability of espresso coffees. Moreover, the brewing time and pressure, as well as brew total solid and extraction yield were characterized. The results show that the crema volume was mainly affected by the coffee variety and freshness. A larger crema volume was generated from Robusta than Arabica beans. Moreover, the fresher the coffee, the greater the crema volume. Crema stability was strongly affected by basket size, with double- and triple-shot baskets producing more stable crema than that from the single-shot basket. Arabica beans resulted in brews with a more stable crema than Robusta, attributable to the higher lipids content in the former. In comparison, crema volume and stability were less affected by the particle size, brewing ratio, and brewing temperature. Besides elucidating the parameters that affect the crema volume and stability of espresso coffee, findings from this study are expected to be useful for café barista and coffee connoisseurs in preparing espresso coffee with consistent crema quality. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Double basket brewing produced more stable crema than single one. • Robusta coffee produced more crema than Arabica. • Crema from Arabica coffee was more stable than that from Robusta. • Larger volume of crema was generated from fresh coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Direct steam injection heating (DSIH) heat foods more rapidly than indirect heating. • DSIH modifies the functionality of proteins in a positive manner. • DSIH minimizes the denaturation of both dairy and plant proteins. • DSIH can be potentially used to improve the functionality of plant proteins. The world's requirement for plant protein consumption is increasing. However, their application in different foods is limited due to their low techno-functionality. Heating is the most widely used method to improve the functionality of proteins. Compared to indirect tubular or plate heating methods, direct steam injection heating (DSIH) can heat the sample much faster, thus modifying the structure and functionality of protein differently. It is used in the sterilization of milk to minimize the heat-induced denaturation of whey proteins and the loss of volatiles. By contrast, its application in producing plant protein ingredients is seldom. This review summarizes recent research using DSIH to process dairy- and plant-based proteins and proposes future research perspectives. DSIH is a promising technique for producing functional protein ingredients. It is of particular interest to overcome the techno-functional hurdles of plant protein blends using DSIH to improve their behavior in different food matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexavalent chromium is one of the main heavy metal pollutants. As the environmental legislation becomes increasingly strict, seeking new technology to treat wastewater containing hexavalent chromium is becoming more and more important. In this research, a novel modified ultrafiltration membrane that could be applied to adsorb and purify water containing hexavalent chromium, was prepared by polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) blending with 2-aminobenzothiazole via phase inversion. The membrane performance was characterized by evaluation of the instrument of membrane performance, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and water contact angle measurements. The results showed that the pure water flux of the PVDF/2-aminobenzothiazole modified ultrafiltration membrane was 231.27 L/m2·h, the contact angle was 76.1°, and the adsorption capacity of chromium ion was 157.75 μg/cm2. The PVDF/2-aminobenzothiazole modified ultrafiltration membrane presented better adsorption abilities for chromium ion than that of the traditional PVDF membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two CO 2 formation pathways (chlorogenic acid (CGA) degradation and Maillard reaction) during coffee roasting were investigated. CGA is shown not a major contributor to CO 2 formation, as heating of this compound under typical roasting conditions did not release a large quantity of CO 2 . However, heating of a CGA moiety, caffeic acid, resulted in high yield of CO 2 (>98%), suggesting that CGA hydrolysis could be the rate limiting step for CO 2 formation from CGA. A large amount of CO 2 was detected from glycine-sucrose model system under coffee roasting conditions, implying the importance of Maillard reactions in CO 2 formation. Further studies on the heating of various components isolated from green coffee beans showed that CO 2 was generated from various green coffee components, including water insoluble proteins and polysaccharides. Around 50% of CO 2 was formed from thermal reactions of lower molecular weight compounds that represent ∼25% by weight in green coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by low platelet count and bleeding, and is usually triggered by viral infections. We previously reported that 14 viral microRNAs of megakaryocytes cultured with serum from patients with ITP, including ebv-miR-BART6, are up-regulated. Previous research has reported that ebv-miR-BART6 down-regulated the expression of miR-185-5p. We therefore predicted that the ABCG4 gene, which is highly expressed in megakaryocyte progenitor cells, is a direct target of miR-185-5p. We hypothesized that ebv-miR-BART6 may play a role in development and differentiation of megakaryocytes. First, we verified the negative regulation of ABCG4 by miR-185-5p through luciferase assay analysis. Second, after transfection of ebv-miR-BART6 into megakaryocytes developing from normal cord blood mononuclear cells (MNCs), we found that the level of miR-185-5p in the ebv-miR-BART6 group was reduced to almost a third of that in the control groups, accompanied by up-regulation of ABCG4 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Meanwhile, proliferation of megakaryocytes was significantly repressed in the ebv-miR-BART6 group compared with the blank and negative control groups (14.89% ± 3.13%, 34.15% ± 2.42% and 30.96% ± 4.37%, respectively; P < 0.001). Our results further revealed that ebv-miR-BART6 inhibited megakaryocyte colony unit formation, decreased CD41 expression and inhibited megakaryocyte polyploidization. These data suggest a new paradigm to explain the mechanisms underlying ITP, involving the regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis by viral microRNAs through the intronic hsa-microRNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of particle size (222 to 1085 μm), packing amount (7.1 to 10.7 g), and brewing volume (113 to 226 mL) on physiochemical properties of coffee brews, prepared using a commercial single-serve brewer, were investigated. The results show that decreasing particle size increased the extraction yield by about 63% without changing the extraction of acidic and phenolic compounds, implying finer grinds potentially could be used to reduce the use of coffee ground. Increasing packing amount had no effect on the extraction yield, but did increase the concentration ratio of acidic to phenolic compounds, thus changing the flavor profile of the brew. > 80% of the soluble solids were extracted within the first 113 mL, while further brewing diluted the brew and introduced more bitter and astringent compounds. This study increased the understanding of single-serve brewing process, which is important to optimize brew quality and minimize production cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casein micelles (CM) can encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic bioactive compounds due to their amphiphilic nature. However, the microstructure of CM is sensitive to environmental changes which further influence their encapsulation capacity. Therefore, it is essential to understand their structural changes and their relationship to the encapsulation capacity. This review summarizes the influence of different environmental modification methods on the structure and encapsulation capacity of CM. The encapsulation capacity of CM is improved by increasing the accessibility of targeted compounds (pH cycles, β-casein removal, and enzymatic treatment) or by increasing their binding with the protein matrix (ultrasonication, heating, and homogenization). The combination of the above strategies can be beneficial. A further comprehensive investigation of the binding mechanisms between CM and carried substances and their digestion behavior is essential. This review can provide innovative insights into producing functional ingredients through better utilization of the unique structural properties of CM. • Casein micelles (CM) is a natural and biodegradable carrier of bioactive compounds. • Encapsulation capacity of CM can be enhanced by manipulating its structure. • Binding between bioactive compounds and CM is influenced by environmental changes. • Digestion of compounds can be controlled by changing structure of CM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: CO2 is one of the major gases formed during coffee roasting, which has important implications on coffee's quality and packaging requirements. In this study, the residual CO2 content and CO2 degassing behavior of an Arabica coffee processed using a fluidized bed roaster, as affected by the roasting temperature–time conditions, were investigated. The results showed that positive correlations existed between the degree of roast (expressed as lightness value) and residual CO2, implying that lightness could be used as an indicator of initial CO2 content in roasted coffee. At the same degree of roast, coffee roasted with high-temperature–short-time process had significantly higher CO2 degassing rate than those with low-temperature–long-time process. Moreover, the CO2 releasing rate increased with the degree of roast. The degassing rate of CO2 in ground coffee was highly dependent on the grind size and roasting temperature, but less dependent on the degree of roast. The different degassing behaviors observed between roasted coffee samples were explained on the basis of chemical composition and microstructural differences. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, changes in lightness, roast loss, residual CO, and total volatiles of an Arabica coffee were investigated under isothermal conditions at 220, 230, 240, and 250 °C. The lightness of the roasted coffee, expressed as L* value, followed two-stage processes that could be modeled using pseudo first-order reaction models, giving activation energies of 59.7 and 170.2 kJ/mol for the first and second stages, respectively. Roast loss data also exhibited two-stage behavior, but followed zero-order reaction kinetics, with activation energies of 52.9 and 181.3 kJ/mol for the first and second stage, respectively. The first-to-second stage transition for L* value and roast loss occurred at light-medium roast. Residual CO in the coffee beans correlated negatively with L* value below medium-dark roast degree. However, a reversed correlation was observed above dark roast degree. The volatile compounds generated in roasted coffee were highly dependent on roasting temperature and roast degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the preparation and characterisation of MIL-53(Fe) and its effect on the performance of forward osmosis (FO) membranes. The cellulose acetate (CA)/MIL-53(Fe) hybrid membranes were fabricated using the method of phase inversion by dispersing MIL-53(Fe) in a CA casting solution. To improve the selectivity and permeability performance of FO membranes, the effects of MIL-53(Fe) content, casting solution temperature, coagulation bath temperature, and annealing temperature were studied. Results from scanning electron microscopy, membrane porosity, atomic force microscopy, and water contact angle tests of all the membranes show that the structural properties of the CA/MIL-53(Fe) hybrid membranes were optimised. The results of the FO performance tests, including the values of water flux and reverse salt flux, indicate improvement in the selectivity and permeability properties of the CA/MIL-53(Fe) hybrid membranes. Under the conditions of deionised water as the feed solution and 1 M NaCl solution as the draw solution, the water flux and reverse salt flux of the CA/MIL-53(Fe) hybrid membranes reached 34.9 L/(m2·h) and 2.02 g/(m2·h), respectively, in comparison with CA membranes. This study demonstrates that MIL-53(Fe) can improve the desalination performance and structural properties of FO membranes. • MIL-53(Fe) with high porosity was used to fabricate cellulose acetate (CA)/MIL-53(Fe) hybrid membranes for the first time. • Optimal experimental conditions of CA/MIL-53(Fe) hybrid membranes were conducted. • The water flux and reverse salt flux of CA/MIL-53(Fe) hybrid membranes were improved compared to CA membranes. • Effect of MIL-53(Fe) on structural properties of CA membranes was widely discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It would be very helpful to stratify patients and direct patient selection if risk factors for quality of life were identified in a particular population. Nonetheless, it is still challenging to forecast the health-related quality of life among individuals with spinal metastases. The goal of this study was to stratify patient's populations for whom the assessment of quality of life should be encouraged by developing and validating a nomogram to predict the quality of life among advanced cancer patients with spine metastases.Methods: This study prospectively analyzed 208 advanced cancer patients with spine metastases, and collected their general characteristics, food preferences, addictions, comorbidities, therapeutic strategies, and mental health status. The functional assessment of cancer therapy-general (FACT-G) and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) were used to assess quality of life and mental health, respectively. The complete cohort of patients was randomly divided into two groups: a training set and a validation set. Patients from the training set were conducted to train and develop a nomogram, while patients in the validation set were performed to internally validate the nomogram. The nomogram contained significant variables discovered using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) approach in conjunction with 10-fold cross-validation. The nomogram's predictive ability was assessed utilizing discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness. Internal validation was also completed using the bootstrap method after applying 500 iterations of procedures. A web calculator was also developed to promote clinical practice.Results: Advance cancer patients with spinal metastases had an extremely low quality of life, as indicated by the average FACT-G score of just 60.32 ± 20.41. According to the LASSO and 10-fold cross-validation, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, having an uncompleted life goal, preference for eating vegetables, chemotherapy, anxiety status, and depression status were selected as nomogram predictors. In the training set, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.84-0.96), while in the validation set, it was 0.85 (95% CI: 0.78-0.93). They were 0.50 (95% CI: 0.41-0.58) and 0.44 (95% CI: 0.33-0.56), respectively, for the discrimination slopes. The nomogram had favorable capacity to calibrate and was clinically useful, according to the calibration curve and decision curve analysis. When compared to patients in the low-risk group, patients in the high-risk group were above four times more likely to experience a poor quality of life (82.18% vs. 21.50%, P < 0.001). In comparison to patients in the low-risk group, patients in the high-risk group also exhibited significant higher levels of anxiety and depression. The webpage for the web calculator was https://starshiny.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp-lys/ .Conclusions: This study suggests a nomogram that can be applied as a practical clinical tool to forecast and categorize the quality of life among patients with spine metastases. Additionally, patients with poor quality of life experience more severe anxiety and depression. Effective interventions should be carried out as soon as possible, especially for patients in the high-risk group, to improve their quality of life and mental health condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minor histocompatibility antigen HA-1-specific cytotoxic lymphocyte (CTL) clones have apparent anti-leukaemic efficacy, and the AML/ETO gene is a special fusion gene in leukaemic cells. Thus, we hypothesised that a vaccine targeting HA-1 and AML/ETO could stimulate NK cells to target leukaemia cells. Furthermore, we packaged the vaccine using attenuated Salmonella to enhance its immuno-activity. Expression of the NK cell-activating ligand ULBP2 was notably elevated upon packaging in a co-recombinant group. An AML/ETO single plasmid gave the weakest vaccine. The level of miR-182, which targets ULBP2, significantly decreased with increasing IFN-γ and granzyme B in a co-recombinant group. In summary, DNA vaccines including AML/ETO and HA-1 fragments significantly enhance the innate immunity of NK cells in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response surface methodology was employed to model and optimize the electrodialysis process for Reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) reclamation in coal-fired power plants. Predictive models were developed for simulation of different input parameters and responses of ED process. The model for responses was statistically verified by analysis of variance which generated a high coefficient of determination value. Moreover, regression analysis showed a good repeatability and agreement of the experimental data to a quadratic model. The optimum operating parameters were found to be 5.9 V of operational voltage, 1.19 m/s of flow rate and 74 min of time. And the corresponding energy consumption and desalination rate were 0.11 Wh/L and 75.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Many studies have demonstrated that the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), NEAT1_1, plays critical roles in various human tumor entities and is related to the survival of patients with malignancies. However, the role of NEAT1_1 in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of NEAT1_1 in DLBCL. METHODS: The expression of NEAT1_1 was evaluated in paraffin-embedded tissues from 64 DLBCL patients and 15 lymphnoditis patients using the ISH method. The correlations between the expression levels of NEAT1_1 and clinical-pathological features and patients' survival were also analyzed. After knocking down NEAT1_1 using shRNA in the DLBCL cell lines OCI-Ly1 and SUDHL-4, cell viability, apoptosis and migration were assessed by performing CCK8 assays, annexin V-FITC/PI double staining assays and migration filter assays, respectively. RESULTS: NEAT1_1 expression was increased in DLBCL tissue compared to lymphnoditis tissue samples (P < 0.001). The NEAT1_1 level was positively related to stage (P = 0.031), IPI (P = 0.017), extranodal site involvement (P = 0.042) and drug response (P = 0.040). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high expression levels of NEAT1_1 were correlated with a poor prognosis in DLBCL patients. After shRNA-NEAT1_1 was transfected into OCI-Ly1 and SUDHL-4 for 24 h, the NEAT1_1 level decreased to approximately one-third the level of the control. Moreover, the viability and migration ability of the DLBCL cell lines were significantly suppressed. shRNA-NEAT1_1 induced apoptosis in both DLBCL cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that NEAT1_1 plays an oncogenic role in DLBCL. NEAT1_1 expression may serve as a predictive marker for DLBCL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:The improved passive immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) mouse model has been extensively utilized for the study of ITP. However, how closely this model matches the human inflammation state and immune background is unclear. Our study aimed to explore the profile of Th cytokines and Th17/Treg cells in the model. Methods:We induced the ITP mouse model by dose-escalation injection of MWReg30. The serum levels of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17A, and TGF-β1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the frequency of Th17 and Treg cells was measured by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression of Foxp3 and RORrt was measured by real-time PCR. Results:The serum levels of cytokines IFN-γ, TGF-β1, IL-4, and IL-10 were significantly lower in ITP mice. The secretion of serum proinflammatory cytokines IL-2 and IL-17A and the percentage of Th17 cells showed no statistically significant increase. In ITP mice the frequency of Treg cells and mRNA expression of Foxp3 was significantly lower in splenocytes. Conclusion:Our data suggest that the improved passive ITP mouse model does not mimic the autoimmune inflammatory process of human ITP. Compared with human ITP, this model has a similar change in frequency of Treg cells, which may directly or indirectly result from antibody-mediated platelet destruction due to attenuated release of TGF-β. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

AZD6244, an ATP-uncompetitive inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2), has shown activity in several malignant tumours. However, whether AZD6244 has a function in lymphoma cells is not known. We report that AZD6244 treatment represses the growth of Raji and MOLT4 cells by inducing apoptosis and G1-phase arrest. Using miRNAs array and quantitative RT-PCR, miR-92a was downregulated byAZD6244 treatment through the ERK1/2-AP1 signalling pathway. Overexpression of miR-92a abrogated AZD6244-induced apoptosis and G1-phase arrest, indicating that it is involved in the cytotoxicity of AZD6244 in lymphoma cells. A luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-92a directly targetsthe 3′-UTRs of Bim. Overexpression of miR-92a mimics downregulated Bim mRNA and protein expression level, indicating that miR-92a negatively regulates its expression at both levels. Silencing Bim decreases AZD6244-induced apoptosis and G1-phase arrest, suggesting that Bim contributes to the growth arrest. Thus, miR-92a mediates AZD6244-induced cytotoxicity of lymphoma cells by targeting Bim. Downregulation of miR-92a by AZD6244 is mediated by the ERK1/2-AP1 signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Toll-like receptors have been found to be associated with immune-mediated diseases but it is still not clear whether they play a role in immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), especially TLR4. CD4+ T-lymphocyte abnormalities, including Th17, Th1, Th2, and regulator T cell (Treg), are considered important in ITP. There have been few studies regarding the expression of TLR4 and the relationships between TLR4 and Th17 levels in ITP. Materials and Methods: In this study, we evaluated the expression of TLR4 in monocytes, the plasma concentrations of IL-23, IL-17 and the profiles of Th17, Th1, Th2 cells in 70 patients with ITP and 31 healthy controls. In addition, we evaluated IL-2 and Treg cells in 46 cases of 70 patients with ITP and the same 31 controls. Results: Higher levels of TLR4 expression, higher relative numbers of Th17 and Th1 cells and lower levels of Treg cells were observed in patients when compared with controls (p =0.001 for TLR4; p <0.001 for Th17; p =0.014 for Th1; p =0.001 for Treg). The levels of IL-23 and IL-2 were increased (p =0.022 for IL-23; p =0.025 for IL-2), the relative levels of Th2 and concentrations of IL-17 were similar across both groups (p =0.446 for Th2; p =0.316 for IL-17). A significant negative correlation was observed between levels of TLR4 and Treg(r =-0.544, p <0.001), but a significantly positive correlation was observed between IL-2 and IL-23 concentration in patients (r =0.441, p =0.004). Neither the correlation between TLR4 and the other CD4+ T cells and cytokines nor the correlation between the three cytokines and CD4+ T cells was found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: Our data showed that TLR4, CD4+ T cells (Th1, Th17 and Treg cells) and related cytokines (IL-23, IL-2) may take part in the pathogenesis of ITP. TLR4 may play a role through the TLR4-cytokine-CD4+ T lymphocyte cell pathway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Resistance to chemotherapy is still a challenge for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Combination use of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) and proteasome inhibitors may provide a potential way to overcome drug resistance. One of the HDACIs, valproic acid (VPA), and a proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib (BOR), were assessed. Co-exposure of cells to VPA and BOR inhibited proliferation, arrested the cell cycle in G0-G1 phase and induced apoptosis in both HL60 and HL60A cells. These events were accompanied by the inhibition of cyclin D1 and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) as well as telomerase activity. Moreover, synergism of proliferation inhibition was found in HL60A, superior to the additivity in HL60. The effects of combination treatment on cell cycle arrest and telomerase activity inhibition in HL60A were also more striking than those in HL60. In summary, our findings provide an insight into future clinical applications of the VPA-BOR combination regimen for AML, especially in those cases which are resistant to conventional chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spacer geometries have a crucial effect on the hydrodynamics of spacer-filled channels in electrodialysis (ED) process, which are beneficial to mass transfer enhancement. Herein, a three-dimensional, isothermal, and steady flow model was developed by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to illuminate the impacts of the spacer geometrical configurations on hydrodynamic behaviors in the spacer-filled channel for ED applications. Simultaneously, the finite element analysis method was employed to investigate the effects of spacer geometries on the velocity and pressure profiles. Furthermore, the normalized expenditure (NEXP) was introduced to acquire one comparable cost estimation index, which determined the optimal spacer geometries subserving the efficiency and economic competitiveness of ED process. Theoretical and techno-economic analysis validated that the optimal mesh parameters within the range of the test parameters were a cylindrical mesh, a filament diameter of 0.8 mm, a filament interval of 1.0 mm, a flow attack angle of 30°. Therefore, this work can provide a feasible strategy to visualize and quantitate the hydrodynamics in the spacer-filled channel and insight into the optimization of ED stack, potentially reducing the expenditure related to materials usage, energy consumption and test time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]