Griffithwarren7757
Previous studies found variations in the health-promoting effects of consuming different dairy products. This study aims at investigating the chemical composition of microbial fermented yogurt, chemically acidified yogurt and whole milk to understand the differences in the effects these products exert on human health. For this purpose, peptides and small compounds present in the products were examined using a combination of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. Results revealed that each product had its own characteristic peptide, free amino acid and small compound profile, and database search for bioactivity disclosed that fermented yogurt manufactured using a starter culture is associated with a higher bioactivity potential than chemically acidified yogurt or whole milk. Additional cold storage (14 days) further enhances the bioactivity potential of fermented yogurt while heat-inactivation, ensuring long shelf-life, modulates the proteins available for proteolysis and thereby the peptide profile generated.Lutein is an important functional food ingredient. However, its recovery processes developed so far seem to fail in sustainability criteria, regarding the urgent need for improved extraction ability while maintaining stability. This work aimed to study the design and application of natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) for lutein recovery from Scenedesmus sp with the aid of COSMO-RS. The performance of the novel fenchyl alcohol/thymol-based system was studied comprehensively under different extraction parameters. Furthermore, thermal, light and storage stability of lutein in NADES were investigated. It was found that lutein recovery from microalgae should be performed using equimolar hydrogen-bond acceptor/donor at 60 °C within 70 min. The NADES could increase lutein yield compared with the conventional methodology using organic solvents. Besides, it significantly enhanced the lutein stability under various conditions. Hydrogen bond and Van der Waals interaction play crucial roles during target processing, elucidated by theoretical calculations and nuclear magnetic resonance.Psyllium husk (PH) is an excellent source of dietary fiber with strong water-absorption and viscosity. This work systemically investigated the regulation mechanism of myofibrillar protein (MP) emulsification mode by adding psyllium husk as composite emulsifiers to prepare O/W emulsions. UBCS039 mw The results showed that the physical stability of emulsions was improved by adding PH (0.1%-0.8%). The results of contact angle, interfacial tension and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) indicated that the stability mechanism of emulsions was affected by the addition of PH. At a low PH addition (0.1%), the adsorption of MP at the oil-water interface was enhanced, thus forming an elastic interfacial film that improves the stability of emulsions. However, when the PH addition increased to 0.8%, excess addition of pH even hindered the interfacial adsorption of MP. Notably, the pseudoplasticity and viscosity of emulsions increased due to the addition of PH, thus inhibiting the migration and aggregation of droplets.Functionalized magnetic nanoporous carbon derived from banana peel was synthesized through carbonization, porogenesis, carboxylation and magnetization using banana peel and was successfully used as a magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) material for the enrichment of six bisphenols (BPs) from beverage and water samples. After the optimization of MSPE process, the enrichment factors of six target analytes were in the range of 74-112 for water samples, and 15-22 for beverage samples. Then, high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q Orbitrap-HRMS) was used for the separation and determination of the target analytes. Results showed that the extraction recoveries for 6 BPs were in the range of 71.9-108.4% with an RSD of 2.5-7.5% (n = 6). These results demonstrated that the as-prepared material could efficiently enrich some aromatic compounds and the proposed method is reliable and robust for the determination of BPs in water and beverage samples.Seven new (1-4, 6-8) diterpenoids with rare skeletons and seven known ones (9, 12, 17, 18 and 23-25) were isolated from roasted beans of Coffea arabica L. Together with previously obtained diterpenoids, a total of 26 molecules (1-25, 4a) were evaluated their activities on Cav3.1 low voltage-gated Ca2+ channel. Compounds 1, 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 17, 19 and 24 exhibited noticeable Cav3.1 inhibitions (41.2%-96.1%) at 10 μM. The IC50 values of 1, 6, 7, 12, 13, 17 and 24 are 2.9, 2.3, 0.68, 14.8, 11.6, 6.1 and 6.8 μM, respectively. The ring moiety at C-18 and C-19, and esterification of OH-17 with long-chain fatty acids seem important for their activities. Further studies indicated that 1 and cafestol may act on different binding sits with the Cav3.1 blocker Z944, which is in clinical trial. Significantly, the present study initially shows that coffee diterpenoids are potential natural resources for Cav3.1 inhibitors.In this work, we design a sensitive and quantitative on-site detecting solution for Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), Ochratoxin A (OTA) and Zearalenone (ZEN) as often found in moldy grains and harmful to human health. Using quantum dot microsphere-based immunochromatography test strip, the proposed method can sensitively detect AFB1, OTA and ZEN in low detection limits of 0.01 ng/mL, 0.2 ng/mL and 0.032 ng/mL, and quantitatively measure their concentrations from 0.01 ng/mL to 1 ng/mL, from 0.2 ng/mL to 200 ng/mL and from 0.032 ng/mL to 32 ng/mL in high accuracy and good selectivity. More importantly, these multiple mycotoxin detections only relying on simple manual operations and portable handheld test strip reader can be finished on site within 45 min. Therefore, the proposed method is a promising solution supporting sensitive and quantitative on-site detections for multiple mycotoxins.The molecular mobility of amorphous excipients is important for the stability of biomaterials during preservation, facilitating matrix formulation and product design. Phosphorescence spectroscopy is a sensitive optical method to study molecular mobility. However, there is a need to expand the pool of probes available for analysis since molecules differ in sensitivity. This research explored the feasibility and limitations of using riboflavin as a phosphorescent probe for monitoring matrix molecular mobility. Phosphorescence decays of riboflavin in four amorphous cryosolvents (aqueous solutions of glycerol, ethanol, sucrose, and dextran) were collected at 77 K to capture its natural phosphorescence lifetime (estimated at 170 ms). Decays were also collected during ballistic heating to assess the sensitivity of riboflavin towards changes in matrix molecular mobility. Riboflavin exhibited good sensitivity towards matrix secondary relaxations in the glass, indicating that riboflavin has excellent potential as an edible phosphorescent probe for molecular mobility in food and pharmaceutical products.Celastrol, a quinone methide triterpenoid, possesses potential anti-glioma activity. However, its relatively low activity limit its application as an effective agent for glioma treatment. In search for effective anti-glioma agents, this work designed and synthesized two series of celastrol C-3 OH and C-20 COOH derivatives 4a-4o and 6a-6o containing 1, 2, 3-triazole moiety. Their anti-glioma activities against four human glioma cell lines (A172, LN229, U87, and U251) were then evaluated using MTT assay in vitro. Results showed that compound 6i (IC50 = 0.94 μM) exhibited substantial antiproliferative activity against U251 cell line, that was 4.7-fold more potent than that of celastrol (IC50 = 4.43 μM). In addition, compound 6i remarkably inhibited the colony formation and migration of U251 cells. Further transmission electron microscopy and mitochondrial depolarization assays in U251 cells indicated that the potent anti-glioma activity of 6i was attributed to necroptosis. Mechanism investigation revealed that compound 6i induced necroptosis mainly by activating the RIP1/RIP3/MLKL pathway. Additionally, compound 6i exerted acceptable BBB permeability in mice and inhibited U251 cell proliferation in an in vivo zebrafish xenograft model, obviously. In summary, compound 6i might be a promising lead compound for potent celastrol derivatives as anti-glioma agents.
A novel two-part protective system consisting of a modified thyroid collar and a head protection is intended to reduce the radiation dose to the examiners head during fluoroscopy-guided interventions. In this pilot study, we tested this protection system under real-life conditions in general radiological and neuroradiological interventions.
Two sets of the protection system (set A and B) were equipped with 12 thermoluminiscence detectors (TLD). For simultaneous measurement of radiation exposure and dose-reduction, each six TLDs were fixed to the inner side and on the corresponding outer side of the protection system. Set A was used exclusively for general radiological interventions and set B exclusively for neuroradiological interventions. To compare the staff exposure in general radiology and neuroradiology, dose values were normalized to a DAP of 10 000µGy∙m
.
The sets were tested during 20 general radiological interventions and 32 neuroradiological interventions. In neuroradiology, the mean normalized radiation exposure was 13.44±1.36 µSv/10000µGy∙m
at the head protection and 22.27±2.09 µSv/10 000µGy∙m
at the thyroid collar. In general radiology, the corresponding results were 29.91±4.19 µSv/10 000µGy∙m
(head protection) and 68.07±17.25 µSv/10 000µGy∙m
(thyroid collar). Thus, mean dose exposure was 2.5 times higher in general radiological interventions (p=0.016). The use of the protection system resulted in a mean dose reduction of 81.2±11.1 % (general radiology) and 92.1±4.2 % (neuroradiology; p=0.016).
Fluoroscopy-guided interventions lead to significant radiation exposure of the head area for the examiner. The novel protection system tested led to a significant dose reduction of 80-90%, depending on the type of intervention.
Fluoroscopy-guided interventions lead to significant radiation exposure of the head area for the examiner. The novel protection system tested led to a significant dose reduction of 80-90%, depending on the type of intervention.
Systematic program evaluation of the Queen's University diagnostic radiology residency program following transition to a competency-based medical education (CBME) curriculum.
Rapid Evaluation methodology and the Core Components Framework were utilized to measure CBME implementation. A combination of interviews and focus groups were held with program leaders (n=6), faculty (n=10), both CBME stream and traditional stream residents (n=6), and program staff (n=2). Interviews and focus groups were transcribed and analyzed abductively. Study team met with program leaders to review common themes and plan potential adaptations.
Strengths of CBME implementation included more frequent and timely feedback as well as the role of the Academic Advisor. However, frontline faculty felt insufficiently supported with regards to the theory and practical implementation of the new curriculum and found assessment tools unintuitive. The circumstances surrounding the curricular implementation also resulted in some negative sentiment.
