A cinnamon and clove essential oil mix microencapsulated with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin: Study on physicochemical, antibacterial, and low salt pickles preservation properties.

In order to overcome the technical challenges of poor stability and weak antibacterial effects of individual essential oil in food preservation applications, the present study aimed to encapsulate cinnamon and clove essential oil compound by using spray-drying technique. The combination of cinnamon and clove essential oils was determined to have good synergistic bacteriostatic effects by the checkerboard dilution method, and the best bacteriostatic effect could be obtained when the volume ratio was 7:3 for compounding. Microcapsules were prepared using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) as wall material and compound essential oil as core material, the optimal conditions for the microcapsule preparation process through a one-way test were: homogenizing speed of 8000 r/min, wall material addition of 2 %, HPCD to EO ratio of 1:3, EO to T-80 ratio of 1.

A protectant for Lactobacillus rhamnosus based on whey protein isolate and isomalt: Stress resistance and underlying mechanisms.

Probiotics are exposed to a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses during food fermentation and production, such as acidity, heat, osmolality, and oxidation, which affect their metabolic activity and efficiency. Therefore, it is essential to develop new protective agents to maintain the activity and stability of probiotics. This study introduces a new protectant, spray-dried whey protein isolate (WPI) and isomaltose (ISO).

Genome-wide identification of ZmMYC2 binding sites and target genes in maize.

Background: Jasmonate (JA) is the important phytohormone to regulate plant growth and adaption to stress signals. MYC2, an bHLH transcription factor, is the master regulator of JA signaling. Although MYC2 in maize has been identified, its function remains to be clarified.

Pectin-coated whey protein isolate/zein self-aggregated nanoparticles as curcumin delivery vehicles: Effects of heating, pH, and adding sequence.

In this work, pectin was employed as a coating material to fabricate zein/whey protein isolate (WPI)/pectin complex nanoparticles via a pH-adjusted and heat-induced electrostatic adsorption process for potential oral administration applications of curcumin. Factors such as the order of raw material addition, heating temperature and pH, and zein concentration were comprehensively examined. In addition to electrostatic interactions, Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds were also involved in the development of complex nanoparticles.

Analysis of Risk Factors for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Coronary Stent Restenosis after Revascularization.

Background: To investigate the risk factors for myocardial infarction, recurrent in-stent restenosis (ISR) and target vessel revascularization (TVR) in patients with coronary ISR within 4 years after revascularization.

Methods: A total of 1884 patients who were hospitalized at Fuwai Hospital for ISR and successfully treated with coronary intervention between January 2017 and December 2018 were included to determine whether there were myocardial infarction, recurrent ISR, TVR and other major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) within 4 years after intervention. The patients were divided into the MACE group (215 patients) and the non-MACE group (1669 patients).

Metal-coordinated polybenzimidazole membranes with preferential K transport.

Membranes with fast and selective ion transport are essential for separations and electrochemical energy conversion and storage devices. Metal-coordinated polymers are promising for fabricating ion-conducting membranes with molecular channels, however, the structures and ion transport channels remain poorly understood. Here, we reported mechanistic insights into the structures of metal-ion coordinated polybenzimidazole membranes and the preferential K transport.

Sodium alginate/gum arabic/glycerol multicomponent edible films loaded with natamycin: Study on physicochemical, antibacterial, and sweet potatoes preservation properties.

Sweet potato (Ipomonea batatas Lam) is easily damaged due to its thin skin, which is limited in shelf life and causes enormous economic losses in the food industry. A new type of safe, non-toxic, and edible antibacterial functional film was developed with sodium alginate (2.5 %), gum arabic (1 %), glycerol (2 %), and natamycin as an antimicrobial agent in this study.

Association of dietary cholesterol and dyslipidemia in Chinese health examinees.

Background: The association between dietary cholesterol consumption and dyslipidemia is still in controversy. The study aims to evaluate whether dietary cholesterol intake associated with dyslipidemia and its components in Chinese health examinees.

Methods: A large-scale cross-sectional study was conducted among health examinees of in Shaanxi province.

Dendrite-Free Zinc-Based Battery with High Areal Capacity via the Region-Induced Deposition Effect of Turing Membrane.

Zinc-based batteries are promising for use as energy storage devices owing to their low cost and high energy density. However, zinc chemistry commonly encounters serious dendrite issues, especially at high areal capacities and current densities, limiting their application. Herein, we propose a novel membrane featuring ordered undulating stripes called "Turing patterns", which can effectively suppress zinc dendrites and improve ion conductivity.

Osteoprotegerin SNP associations with coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke risk: a meta-analysis.

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is involved in the development of atherosclerosis and cardio-cerebrovascular disease. The goal of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association of OPG single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke. A total of 15 eligible studies were extracted from electronic databases.

Trends in the incidence of diabetes mellitus: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 and implications for diabetes mellitus prevention.

Backgroud: Diabetes mellitus is a common chronic disease and a severe public health issue. The incidence trends for type 1 diabetes (TIDM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) have rarely been studied on a global scale. We aimed to determine the temporal and geographical trends of diabetes globally.

Repression of deoxynivalenol-triggered cytotoxicity and apoptosis by mannan/β-glucans from yeast cell wall: Involvement of autophagy and PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most common trichothecene distributed in food and feed. So far, much work has focused on investigating the cytotoxicity of DON, while there is few researches aimed at intervening in the toxic impacts on humans and livestock posed by DON. The objective of this study is to investigate the underlying mechanism of biomacromolecules mannan/β-glucans from yeast cell wall (BYCW) for their potency to impede the cytotoxicity and apoptosis caused by DON with porcine jejunum epithelial cell lines (IPEC-J2) used as a cell injury model.

Recent Development in Composite Membranes for Flow Batteries.

Flow batteries (FBs) are one of the most attractive candidates for stationary energy storage and vital in realizing the wide application of renewable energies. Membranes play an important role in isolating redox couples while transporting ions to close the internal electrical circuit. Therefore, membranes with high selectivity and conductivity are highly important.

The prevalence of fragmented QRS and its relationship with left ventricular systolic function in chronic kidney disease.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) on electrocardiograms (ECG) in patients with different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to examine the association between fQRS and left ventricular systolic function.

Methods: This retrospective study analysed clinical and laboratory data from consecutive patients with CKD. The relationship between fQRS and left ventricular systolic function was evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Deoxynivalenol-Induced Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis in IPEC-J2 Cells Through the Activation of Autophagy by Inhibiting PI3K-AKT-mTOR Signaling Pathway.

With the purpose to explore the relationship between deoxynivalenol (DON)-induced apoptosis and autophagy and provide mechanistic explanations for the toxic effects of DON on IPEC-J2 cells, we determined the cell viability, cell morphology, apoptosis, and autophagy by using autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), PI3K pathway inhibitor LY294002, and activator 740Y-P. It turned out that 3-MA was able to attenuate the reduction of cell viability induced by DON. Moreover, 3-MA was capable of upregulating the expression of DON-induced autophagic protein p62 and downregulating the expressions of DON-induced autophagic protein LC3-II and apoptotic protein Bax, suggesting that autophagy is a driving mechanism for this apoptotic induction.

Clinical characteristics of patients with atrial fibrillation suffering from pulmonary vein stenosis after radiofrequency ablation.

Objective: Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a serious complication in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). We therefore examined these patients' clinical characteristics in relation to PVS occurrence.

Method: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and treatment strategies in patients with AF who developed PVS after RFCA.

QT interval prolongation in patients with acute ischemic stroke: a report in northwest China.

Aims: QT interval prolongation is common in patients with stroke and increases the risk of malignant arrhythmia and sudden death. Our aim was to analyze differences in the QT interval and electrocardiogram abnormalities between acute ischemic stroke patients and controls.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 273 patients with acute ischemic stroke from the neurological intensive care unit and 495 controls from other departments.

Potential of modified puncture method to decrease intravenous indwelling needle-related complications in inpatients with cardiovascular disease.

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the potential of a modified puncture method to decrease the incidence of intravenous indwelling needle-related complications in inpatients with cardiovascular disease.

Methods: From February 2017 to July 2017, 436 consecutive inpatients with cardiovascular disease requiring infusion treatment were recruited and randomly divided into the control group and the treatment group. The standard infusion puncture method was applied in the control group, and a modified puncture method was applied in the treatment group.

Protective effects of mannan/β-glucans from yeast cell wall on the deoxyniyalenol-induced oxidative stress and autophagy in IPEC-J2 cells.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of biomacromolecules mannan/β-glucans from yeast cell wall (BYCW) to alleviate Deoxynivalenol(DON)-induced injury. Considering that DON has strong oxidizing effect and stimulates autophagy and apoptosis, we examined the effects of BYCW on consequent oxidative stress damage indicators, cells autophagy and apoptosis induced by DON using the porcine jejunum epithelial cell lines (IPEC-J2) as a cell culture model. The results showed that application of BYCW could reverse the decrease of cell viability by DON significantly, and suppress the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 and -6 (IL-8 and IL-6), except IL-1β.

Identification of atrial fibrillation-associated lncRNAs in atria from patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease.

Objective: We analysed lncRNA expression profiles in atrial samples from patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease (RMVD) to identify the potential differences in atrial fibrillation (AF)-associated lncRNAs between RMVD patients with AF and sinus rhythm (SR).

Methods: Masson's trichrome staining and scanning electron microscopy were performed to evaluate the tissue morphology. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of fibrosis-related proteins.

Atrial dysplasia in the atria of humans without cardiovascular disease.

Research on atrial histology of humans without cardiovascular disease is scarce. Therefore, our aim was to study human atrial histology in subjects without cardiovascular disease. Histology of the right atrium, left atrium or atrial septum was studied in eight patients (one newborn infant and seven adults) who died of a non-cardiac cause and who were not known to suffer from any cardiovascular pathology.

F463L increases the potential of dofetilide on human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels.

Mutations in genes related to long QT syndrome (LQTS) is recognized as an independent risk of drug-induced LQTS. We previously screened a mutation F463L in a Chinese patient with LQT2, syncope, and epilepsy. Here, we planned to illustrate how F463L influences the action of dofetilide on hERG channels.

Efficacy and safety of cryoballoon ablation versus radiofrequency catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation: an updated meta-analysis.

Introduction: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and irrigated radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) are the main treatments for drug-refractory symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF).

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety between CBA and RFCA for the treatment of AF.

Material And Methods: We searched the Embase and Medline databases for clinical studies published up to December 2016.

Exposure to a chronic high-fat diet promotes atrial structure and gap junction remodeling in rats.

Obesity has been demonstrated to be linked to atrial fibrillation (AF) with atrial enlargement and tissue fibrosis. Long-term high calorie intake is the main reason for the prevalence of obesity. To investigate the possible causes of AF, such as chronic high-fat diet (HFD), and to identify the underlying mechanisms, the present study analyzed a variety of structural and gap junctional electrophysiological alterations in the atria of female rats fed an HFD.