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Objective: To determine the extent to which Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) improves 60Co γ-ray radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) by regulating the gut microbiota. Methods: The RIBI model of mice was established with the appropriate dose of 60Co γ-ray to identify the changes in the body weight, behaviors, gut microbiota, and inflammatory reactions of mice. Mice were randomly divided into healthy, RIBI model, and LBP groups. The related inflammatory cytokines were determined using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit. Then, 16S rRNA sequencings of feces were carried out to evaluate the differences in intestinal flora. Results: Compared with the spontaneous activity and exploratory spirit of the healthy group, those traits in the RIBI model mice in the open field significantly decreased, the freezing time in the elevated plus maze (EPM) significantly increased, and the number of times the mice discriminated the novel object was significantly lower. Hematoxylin-eosin slides showed that the main histopathological changes of RIBI occurred in the hippocampus. In addition, the diversity and relative abundances ratio of the gut bacterial phylum, order, family, and genus in the model group varied widely. Changes in Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were the most obvious after head radiation exposure. In comparison, LBP could accelerate the recovery of weight loss in RIBI mice. The frequency that mice entered the center of the open field, facing the open arm in the EPM, and the number of times they discriminated the novel object were significantly increased with LBP administration. LBP could also reduce the levels of inflammatory factor caused by RIBI. LBP increased the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota in RIBI model mice. In addition, LBP increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes but decreased the levels of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria for irradiated mice. Conclusion: LBP can improve depression and tension by regulating the composition of gut microbiota, including lowering the relative abundance of Clostridia and Burkholderiales and raising that of Lactobacillales. Thus, LBP provides a new strategy for improving the protective effects of RIBI.

Radiation–induced enteritis is an unavoidable complication associated with pelvic tumor radiotherapy, significantly influencing the prognosis of cancer patients. The limited availability of commercial gastrointestinal radioprotectors in clinical settings poses a substantial challenge in preventing radiation enteritis. Despite the inherent radioprotective characteristics of Cur in vitro, its poor solubility in water, instability, and low bioavailability lead to inferior therapeutic effects in vivo. Herein, we developed novel ROS-responsive micelles (CTI) from inulin and curcumin, aimed at mitigating radiation enteritis. CTI micelles had excellent solubility and stability. Importantly, CTI improved the cytotoxicity and bioavailability of curcumin, thereby showing enhanced effectiveness in neutralizing ROS induced by radiation, safeguarding against DNA damage, and reducing radiation-induced cellular mortality. Moreover, in a radiation enteritis mice model, CTI not only alleviated severe radiation-induced intestinal injury but also improved redox-related indicators and reduced inflammatory cytokine expression. Furthermore, CTI effectively increased gut microbiota abundance and maintained gut homeostasis. In conclusion, CTI could be a promising candidate for the clinical management of radiation enteritis. Our study provides a new perspective for radioprotection using natural antioxidants.

In this study, the spoilage fungi were isolated and identified from “Cuihong” plum, “Qingcui” plum, and “Yinhong” plum. Then the antifungal effect of ε-polylysine, natamycin, and sodium dehydroacetate on the isolated plum spoilage fungus was studied by disc diffusion method. The results showed that, seven kinds of fungus (Pichia occidentalis, Pichia kluyveri, Pichia terricola, Candida sp., Saturnispora diversa, Saccharomycopsis crataegensis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were isolated. The antifungal activity was gradually enhanced with the increase of the concentration of the antifungal agents. Among them, the highest tolerance to natamycin was showed in Saccharomycopsis crataegensis with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.4 mg/mL. Besides, the tolerance of Pichia occidentalis to ε-polylysine and sodium dehydroacetate were higher than that of the other spoilage fungus, and the corresponding MIC were 0.06 and 0.10 g/mL, respectively. Therefore, the spoilage fungus with the highest tolerance to antifungal agents could be selected as the indicator fungus according to the type of antifungal agents and plums, which would provide a theoretical basis for further application of chemical methods and compound film methods on preservation of plums.

This article mainly reviewes the effects of ultrasound (US) on the quality of fruit and vegetable juices, discusses the current effects of ultrasound on the microorganisms, enzyme activities, nutrients and sensory characteristics of fruit and vegetable juices. US treatment can inactivate microorganism and enzymes to a certain extent in fruit and vegetable juices, and have little influence on the physical, chemical and nutritional properties. However, the microbial and enzyme inactivation effect is limited, besides, high-power, long-term US treatment may have adverse effects on the sensory properties and nutritional components of fruit and vegetable juices. Therefore, this article mainly summarizes the influence of US on the above-mentioned various qualities of fruit and vegetable juice, proposes the problems of US in the research of fruit and vegetable juice processing, and prospects the further research of ultrasonic technology in fruit and vegetable juice in the future.

Radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) is a serious adverse effect of radiotherapy. RIBI has garnered considerable clinical attention owing to its powerful effects on brain function and cognition; however, no effective treatment is available. The microbiota–gut–brain axis theory is a novel concept of treating RIBI by regulating gut microbiota. Quercetin, a particularly common flavonoid compound, has a wide range of biological activities and can regulate gut microbiota; however, it has poor solubility and dispersibility. In the present study, oral gels of inclusion complex comprising quercetin and HP-β-CD were prepared, which increased quercetin dispersion and extended its release time in the intestinal tract. First, the relative abundance and diversity of gut microbiota in RIBI mice changed after oral administration of quercetin inclusion complex gels (QICG). Second, the spontaneous activity behavior and short-term memory ability as well as anxiety level were improved. Third, changes in physical symptoms were observed, including a decrease in TNF-α and IL-6 levels. H&E staining revealed that gut epithelial injury and intestinal inflammation as well as hippocampal inflammation were ameliorated. Antibiotics treatment (Abx) mice were developed to disrupt the mice's original gut microbiota composition. No significant improvement was observed in behavior or histopathology after oral administration of QICG in Abx mice of RIBI, indicating that the effect of QICG on improving RIBI was regulated by intestinal microbiota. Finally, the QICG preparation is efficient, exerting a protective effect on RIBI by regulating gut microbiota via the microbiota–gut–brain axis, which provides a novel idea for RIBI treatment.

Microwave is commonly used in the life, manufacturing and military fields, which may induce body injuries. Brain is the major target organ of microwave radiation and microwave-induced brain injury (MIBI) can lead to insomnia, dreaminess, and a decline in learning and memory. However, there is no clinical medications are available currently. Calcium channel blockers may protect the brain tissue from microwave but most of them cannot enter the brain. Here, we selected a calcium channel blocker-cinnarizine to prepare its dissolving microneedles (MNs) for the therapy of MIBI. The cinnarizine MNs was composed of polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) K90 as the tip, the photopolymerized PVP as the base and the drug, which owned high mechanical strength, leading to easily piecing the skin on the neck and high drug release in vivo. The cinnarizine MNs markedly improved the recovery of spatial memory and spontaneous exploratory behavior of the rats after microwave radiation by inhibiting the expression of calcineurin and calpain-1. The dissolving MN technique is a promising method to improve drugs into the body and perform the anti-microwave radiation action.