Structure and physicochemical properties of a new variety of purple rice (Oryza sativa L. indica) starch

Xiaoqi Tao,Qiqi Su,Hai Wu,Lei Zhan,Wei Huang,Jingshao Zheng,Qingling Zhong,Pei Chen 한국식품과학회 2023 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.32 No.6

The investigation of the structure and physicochemical properties of starch extracted from a new variety of purple rice was the aim of this study. Starch extracted from a new variety of purple rice named Tianzi No. 1 (PRS) is different in structure and physicochemical properties compared with waxy rice starch (WRS), japonica rice starch (JRS), and indica rice starch (IRS). PRS granules were diversified in shape, and the birefringence of starch particles were clearly observed. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy exhibited the degree of double helix and low short-range order structure of PRS differed from IRS, JRS and WRS. X-ray diffraction analysis shows that PRS presented a typical A-type XRD pattern and possessed lower crystallinity. Based on rheological experiment results, PRS had the highest apparent viscosity, storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″). According to textural experiments, PRS gels had higher textural paraments before and after retrogradation.

Evaluation of antifatigue and antioxidant activities of the marine microalgae Isochrysis galbana in mice

Wenjie Li,Chaodan Luo,Yongmei Huang,Jingting Zhan,Jinli Lei,Ning Li,Xiaoqi Huang,Hui Luo 한국식품과학회 2020 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.29 No.4

The present work aimed to estimate the possible anti-fatigue effect and potential mechanism of Isochrysis galbana (IG) in mice. The anti-fatigue activity of IG (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) was elucidated by a weight-loaded forced swimming test, and the potential mechanism was explored by determination of fatigue-related biochemical parameters. The results showed that pretreatment with IG significantly extended the exhaustive swimming time and increased the levels of liver glycogen, muscle glycogen and blood glucose in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, the increased levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood lactic acid, lactic dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, and blood urea nitrogen by exhausted swimming, were dramatically attenuated by pretreatment with IG. Furthermore, supplementation with IG significantly enhanced the glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels, while attenuated the level of malonaldehyde. Taken together, IG possessed appreciable efficacy to alleviate fatigue, and the mechanism might be associated with favorably modulating the process of energy consumption, metabolism, and attenuating oxidative stress injury.

Protective Effects of Gypenosides against Fatty Liver Disease Induced by High Fat and Cholesterol Diet and Alcohol in Rats

Renan Qin,Hong Nie,Jianyu Zhang,Chuyuan Li,Xiaoqi Zhang,Aihua Xiong,Feng Huang,Zhen Yin,Kongyan Li,Wenyu Qin,Mingzhen Chen,Shubing Zhang,Lingyi Liang,Huiye Zhang,Wencai Ye 대한약학회 2012 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.35 No.7

In the present study, the protective effects of gypenosides from Gynostemma pentaphyllum on fatty liver disease (FLD) were examined in rats treated with high fat and cholesterol diet and alcohol. Male SD rats were divided into seven groups: control, model, lovastatin, silymarin, gypenosides high-, medium- and low-treatment groups. The latter 6 groups were fed high-fat and cholesterol diet and administered alcohol intragastricly once a day. Body weight was measured every week for 10 weeks, and the hepatic index was measured after 10 weeks. Compared with model group, levels of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acid (FFA), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level, malondialdehyde (MDA), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, and hepatocyte apoptosis were significantly decreased in gypenosides groups; while serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in both serum and hepatic tissue and mRNA and protein level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α) were significantly increased. Moreover, hepatic steatosis and mitochondrial damage were improved. These results suggested that gypenosides could prevent liver fatty degeneration in fatty liver disease through modulating lipid metabolism, ameliorating liver dysfunction and reducing oxidative stress.

Analysis of Altered Baseline Brain Activity in Drug-Naive Adult Patients with Social Anxiety Disorder Using Resting-State Functional MRI

Changjian Qiu,Yuan Feng,Yajing Meng,Wei Liao,Xiaoqi Huang,Su Lui,Chunyan Zhu,Huafu Chen,Qiyong Gong,Wei Zhang 대한신경정신의학회 2015 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.12 No.3

ObjectiveaaWe hypothesize that the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) is involved in the altered regional baseline brain function in social anxiety disorder (SAD). The aim of the study was to analyze the altered baseline brain activity in drug-naive adult patients with SAD. MethodsaaWe investigated spontaneous and baseline brain activities by obtaining the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 20 drug-naïve adult SAD patients and 19 healthy controls. Voxels were used to analyze the ALFF values using one- and two-sample t-tests. A post-hoc correlation of clinical symptoms was also performed. ResultsaaOur findings show decreased ALFF in the bilateral insula, left medial superior frontal gyrus, left precuneus, left middle temporal gyrus, right middle temporal pole, and left fusiform gyrus of the SAD group. The SAD patients exhibited significantly increased ALFF in the right inferior temporal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, bilateral middle occipital gyrus, orbital superior frontal gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, right medial superior frontal gyrus, and left parahippocampal gyrus. Moreover, the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale results for the SAD patients were positively correlated with the mean Z values of the right middle occipital and right inferior occipital but showed a negative correlation with the mean Z values of the right superior temporal gyrus and right medial superior frontal gyrus. ConclusionaaThese results of the altered regional baseline brain function in SAD suggest that the regions with abnormal spontaneous activities are involved in the underlying pathophysiology of SAD patients.

Advanced glycation end products promote meniscal calcification by activating the mTOR-ATF4 positive feedback loop

Yang Sheng,Xie JiaJun,Pan ZhiJie,Guan HongMei,Tu YueSheng,Ye YuanJian,Huang ShouBin,Fu ShiQiang,Li KangXian,Huang ZhiWei,Li XiaoQi,Shi ZhanJun,Li Le,Zhang Yang 생화학분자생물학회 2024 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.56 No.-

The meniscus is vital for maintaining knee homeostasis and function. Meniscal calcification is one of the earliest radiological indicators of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and meniscal calcification is associated with alterations in biomechanical properties. Meniscal calcification originates from a biochemical process similar to vascular calcification. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptors (RAGEs) reportedly play critical roles in vascular calcification. Herein, we investigated whether targeting AGE-RAGE is a potential treatment for meniscal calcification. In our study, we demonstrated that AGE-RAGE promotes the osteogenesis of meniscal cells and exacerbates meniscal calcification. Mechanistically, AGE-RAGE activates mTOR and simultaneously promotes ATF4 accumulation, thereby facilitating the ATF4-mTOR positive feedback loop that enhances the osteogenic capacity of meniscal cells. In this regard, mTOR inhibits ATF4 degradation by reducing its ubiquitination, while ATF4 activates mTOR by increasing arginine uptake. Our findings substantiate the unique role of AGE-RAGE in the meniscus and reveal the role of the ATF4-mTOR positive feedback loop during the osteogenesis of meniscal cells; these results provide potential therapeutic targets for KOA.

Feasibility of Free-Breathing, Non-ECG-Gated, Black-Blood Cine Magnetic Resonance Images With Multitasking in Measuring Left Ventricular Function Indices

Peng Pengfei,Yue Xun,Tang Lu,Wu Xi,Deng Qiao,Wu Tao,Cai Lei,Liu Qi,Xu Jian,Huang Xiaoqi,Chen Yucheng,Diao Kaiyue,Sun Jiayu 대한영상의학회 2023 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.24 No.12

Objective: To clinically validate the feasibility and accuracy of cine images acquired through the multitasking method, with no electrocardiogram gating and free-breathing, in measuring left ventricular (LV) function indices by comparing them with those acquired through the balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) method, with multiple breath-holds and electrocardiogram gating. Materials and Methods: Forty-three healthy volunteers (female:male, 30:13; mean age, 23.1 ± 2.3 years) and 36 patients requiring an assessment of LV function for various clinical indications (female:male, 22:14; 57.8 ± 11.3 years) were enrolled in this prospective study. Each participant underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the multiple breath-hold bSSFP method and free-breathing multitasking method. LV function parameters were measured for both MRI methods. Image quality was assessed through subjective image quality scores (1 to 5) and calculation of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between the myocardium and blood pool. Differences between the two MRI methods were analyzed using the Bland–Altman plot, paired t-test, or Wilcoxon signed-rank test, as appropriate. Results: LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was not significantly different between the two MRI methods (P = 0.222 in healthy volunteers and P = 0.343 in patients). LV end-diastolic mass was slightly overestimated with multitasking in both healthy volunteers (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 60.5 ± 10.7 g vs. 58.0 ± 10.4 g, respectively; P < 0.001) and patients (69.4 ± 18.1 g vs. 66.8 ± 18.0 g, respectively; P = 0.003). Acceptable and comparable image quality was achieved for both MRI methods (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 4.5 ± 0.7 vs. 4.6 ± 0.6, respectively; P = 0.203). The CNR between the myocardium and blood pool showed no significant differences between the two MRI methods (18.89 ± 6.65 vs. 18.19 ± 5.83, respectively; P = 0.480). Conclusion: Multitasking-derived cine images obtained without electrocardiogram gating and breath-holding achieved similar image quality and accurate quantification of LVEF in healthy volunteers and patients.