Gender-Specific Toxic Effects of S-Metolachlor and Its Metabolite on Hibernating Lizards: Implications for Reproductive Health and Ecosystem Vulnerability.

Reptiles rely on hibernation to survive harsh winters, but climate change and pesticide use in agriculture jeopardize their survival, making the ecosystem vulnerable. S-metolachlor (SM), a commonly found herbicide in soil, and its metabolite metolachlor oxanilic acid (MO) induce oxidative stress and disrupt reproductive hormones. In this study, lizards were exposed to SM- and MO-contaminated soil for 45 days during hibernation.

A study to reveal the synergistic bacteriostatic potential of egg white lysozyme with carvacrol at the molecular level.

The modification of proteins by bioactive molecules may have a synergistic enhancement effect on their respective functional properties. In this study, carvacrol (Car) was used to modify egg white lysozyme (LYZ) to improve its bacteriostatic ability. The results of microbiological experiments suggested that LYZ modified with Car had enhanced bacteriostatic activity against Escherichia coli (E.

CRISPR/dCas9-based hotspot self-assembling SERS biosensor integrated with a smartphone for simultaneous, ultrasensitive and robust detection of multiple pathogens.

Accurate detection of multiple pathogens in the early stages of infection is critical for guiding treatment and saving patients' lives, but current methods are still challenged by low sensitivity, poor robustness and long turnaround times. Here, we report a CRISPR/dCas9-based hotspot self-assembling surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor (called dCasSERS) and its integration with a smartphone to address these challenges. In this design, bacterial DNA was pre-amplified by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and the repeat sequences of the amplicons were recognized by CRISPR/dCas9, providing abundant sites for the assembly of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and forming numerous hotspots for SERS analysis.

Extracts Exert Antiaging Effects by Activating the AMPK/SIRT1 Pathway in d-Galactose-Induced Aging Rats.

, a valuable traditional edible and medicinal resource, is recognized for its potential in slowing aging but has not been effectively exploited. This study aimed to explore antiaging activity and mechanisms of extracts (CCe). We used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify 23 CCe compounds and focused on quantifying six nucleoside components as quality markers.

Recovery effects of sodium carboxymethylcellulose-xanthan gum hydrogels containing peptide‑iron complexes against iron deficient anemia in vivo.

In this study, the sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and xanthan gum (XG) were used to prepare the CXM-Fe hydrogels (CMC: 20 mg/mL, XG: 10 mg/mL) with the addition of Mytilus edulis protein hydrolysate‑iron (MEPH-Fe) complexes. The incorporation of MEPH-Fe complexes formed a denser network structure and the CXM-Fe hydrogels had better pH stability as well as gastrointestinal retention ability. Compared with ferrous sulfate and MEPH-Fe complexes, the CXM-Fe hydrogels at moderate doses (Fe:2 mg/kg) showed impressive recovery effects on iron deficiency anemia (IDA) mice in terms of hematological indices, organ coefficients and iron content, antioxidant capacity, and remarkedly attenuated the infiltration of inflammatory cells as well as the levels of inflammatory factors in iron deficiency-induced colonic inflammation.

Solubilization effects of egg yolk granules induced by weakly alkaline treatment.

Egg yolk granules (EYGs) are water-insoluble components of egg yolk that are rich in protein and phospholipids. Improving the solubility of EYGs is crucial for their development and utilization. The solubilization of EYGs in a weak alkaline environment (pH 7.

A Self-Reporting Nanosensor for Detecting Bacterial Exploitation in Plants through Extracellular DNA.

Detection of extracellular DNA (exDNA) released by invasive pathogens is crucial for understanding biotic stress in plants but remains challenging due to the lack of practical sensing tools. This study introduces a fluorescent nanosensor for remote, noninvasive detection of exDNA in plant tissues. Comprising GelGreen and polyethylenimine-modified silica nanoparticles, the nanosensor forms a self-reporting nanoplatform that simultaneously captures exDNA and generates signals.

Hydrogel design and applications for periodontitis therapy: A review.

Periodontitis is a prevalent oral disease characterized by microbial infection, inflammation, and damage to periodontal tissues. Hydrogels have emerged as promising carriers and regenerative biomaterials in periodontitis therapy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in hydrogel applications for treating periodontitis.

Sturgeon-derived peptide LLLE alleviates colitis via regulating gut microbiota and its metabolites.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease, entails chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The pathogenesis of IBD implicates genetic factors, gut microbiome alterations, and immune dysregulation, contributing to its increasing global prevalence. The sturgeon-derived peptide, which exhibits promising anti-inflammatory effects, provides potential therapeutic insights for managing IBD symptoms.

Glycemic impact of cereal and legume-based bakery products: Implications for chronic disease management.

This review examines the glycemic impact of cereal and legume-based bakery products and their potential role in chronic disease management, particularly in type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The primary objective is to assess the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of bakery products made from cereals such as wheat and barley, and legumes like chickpeas, and to explore their effects on postprandial blood glucose response. Cereal-based products typically exhibit higher GIs (55-80), while legume-based bakery products demonstrate lower GIs (40-50), potentially contributing to better glycemic control.

Stabilizing effect of Leuconostoc mesenteroides Lm10 produced dextran in situ on stirred soy yogurt: Structure-function relationship.

Stirred soy yogurt as a dairy alternative is widely accepted among consumers, but its poor stability has been an urgent problem. We found that Leuconostoc mesenteroides Lm10 produced dextran reduced water mobility and improved the water holding capacity of stirred soy yogurt, especially with over 4 % sucrose added which could completely prevent whey separation. With the increase of dextran content, the particle size of stirred soy yogurt was significantly decreased, accompanied by the improvement of viscoelastic behaviors and resistance to deformation.

Mechanism underlying V-type structure formation in maize starch through glycerol-ethanol thermal substitution method.

V-type starches have been widely used in food science, agriculture, and biomedical science, but their mechanism of formation in nonaqueous solvents remains unclear. This study performed glycerol-ethanol thermal substitution to prepare V-type starch at atmospheric pressure. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that breakage of starch particles began in the hilum region and rapidly spread to the periphery with the temperature increased from 100 °C to 130 °C.

Mussel-inspired highly adhesive carrageenan-based coatings with self-activating enhanced activity for meat preservation.

In order to solve the problem of poor adhesion of polysaccharide coatings in meat storage and inconvenient secondary spraying, which leads to poor preservation effect, this study was inspired by the property of mussels to adhere firmly to surfaces and design a bioactive composite coating. Here, curcumin-loaded zein nanoparticles (CZ NPs) were successfully prepared and incorporated into carrageenan-based biocomposite coatings for chilled meat preservation. The prepared curcumin-zein-riboflavin-carrageenan (CZRC) coating featured smooth spherical morphology and the solubility of hydrophobic substances, the adhesion and stability of the composite coating were respectively improved to 3.

Preparation of photo-crosslinked microalgae-carboxymethyl chitosan composite hydrogels for enhanced wound healing.

Integrating microalgae into wound dressings has proven effective in promoting chronic wound healing through photosynthesis-induced oxygen release. However, challenges such as high crosslinking temperatures and prolonged gel molding processes limit microalgae growth and reduce the overall therapeutic impact. In this work, inspired by cell-symbiotic photo-crosslinked hydrogels, we present a novel photo-crosslinked microalgae carboxymethyl chitosan composite hydrogel.

Exploring the dual role of anti-nutritional factors in soybeans: a comprehensive analysis of health risks and benefits.

Soybeans (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) are a globally significant crop, valued for their high protein content and nutritional versatility.

EGCG-enabled Deep Tumor Penetration of Phosphatase and Acidity Dual-responsive Nanotherapeutics for Combinatory Therapy of Breast Cancer.

The presence of dense collagen fibers is a typical characteristic of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Although these fibers hinder drug penetration and reduce treatment efficacy, the depletion of the collagen matrix is associated with tumor metastasis. To address this issue, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is first exploited for disrupting the dense collagenous stroma and alleviate fibrosis by specifically blocking the TGF-β/Smad pathway in fibroblasts and tumor cells when intraperitoneally administrated in TNBC tumor-bearing mice.

pH-activated metal-organic layer nanozyme for ferroptosis tumor therapy.

Nanozymes have made great achievements in the research of tumor therapy. However, due to the complex tumor microenvironment, the catalytic activity and biosafety of nanozymes are limited. High catalytic efficiency is a relentless pursuit for the preparation of high-performance nanozymes.

Structural and functional optimization of egg white protein hydrogels by succinylation: Gel properties and mineral enrichment.

The development of novel gel-mineral supplements is important for improving the health of patients with dysphagia. In this study, we used natural egg white protein (NEWP) and phosphorylated egg white protein (STEWP) as controls. We modified NEWP with succinic anhydride to produce varying degrees of succinylated egg white protein (SAEWP).

Hypoglycemic activity of enzymatically extracted Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharide (EUL-w1) on IR-HepG2 cell via the AMPK/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

This study devised optimal conditions to extract Eucommia ulmoides leaf (EUL) polysaccharides using a cellulase and pectinase composite enzyme system based on one-way experiments and response surface methodology. Crude EUL polysaccharides (EULPs) were extracted and purified using a DEAE chromatography column. The polysaccharides EUL-w, EUL1, EUL2, and EUL3 were obtained by elution with water, 0.

Monolithic gold saturated on nanoporous gold@mirror template for highly reliable and fast surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection.

The primary challenge hindering the broad application of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is the variability in substrate performance due to site differences, leading to unstable detection results. Thus, the current work reports the constant potential deposition of gold (Au) nanostructure on a hybrid nanoporous gold (npAu)-Au mirror template to generate highly stable monolithic Au-saturated npAu@Au-mirror substrate. By systematically adjusting electrochemical variables, different sizes, shapes, and nanogaps of Au nanostructure are generated with high-intensity electromagnetic field regions (hot junctions) for enhanced SERS response.

Curcumin-incorporated EGCG-based nano-antioxidants alleviate colon and kidney inflammation via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory therapy.

Natural remedies are gaining attention as promising approaches to alleviating inflammation, yet their full potential is often limited by challenges such as poor bioavailability and suboptimal therapeutic effects. To overcome these limitations, we have developed a novel nano-antioxidant (EK) based on epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) aimed at enhancing the oral and systemic bioavailability, as well as the anti-inflammatory efficacy, of curcumin (Cur) in conditions such as acute colon and kidney inflammation. EK is synthesized using a straightforward Mannich reaction between EGCG and L-lysine (K), resulting in the formation of EGCG oligomers.

A new S1 subunit truncation vaccine induces effective protection against porcine deltacoronavirus in suckling piglets.

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is a novel porcine intestinal coronavirus that causes diarrhea in pigs of various ages, especially in suckling pigs. Developing effective treatments and vaccines is crucial to preventing PDCoV transmission and infection. This study evaluated the immune response elicited by the PDCoV S1 subunit and an inactivated PDCoV vaccine in mice.

Temporal analysis of non-targeted flavor component variation in green tea storage and rapid prediction of storage duration.

The precise changes in the flavor quality of green tea before and after the optimal consumption period remain elusive. This study used HS-SPME-GC-MS to carefully examine the volatile compounds of green tea samples from multiple storage periods and simultaneously detected changes in taste and color during tea infusion. Notably, 16 compounds with VIP > 1.