Effect of pH and heating conditions on the properties of Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) surimi gel fortified with fish oil.

To improve the quality and functionality of emulsified surimi gels, the effect of pH and heating conditions on the properties of surimi gel fortified with fish oil was investigated. Results showed that pH conditions influenced the solubility and emulsifying properties of surimi proteins and that the gel properties were associated with the protein properties. Under direct heating, the highest gel strength was achieved at pH 8.

Effect of emulsifying stability of myofibrillar protein on the gel properties of emulsified surimi gel.

Several kinds of emulsified surimi gels were prepared from different quality levels of Alaska Pollack surimi, and the relationship between the emulsifying stability (ES) of myofibrillar protein and the properties of the emulsified surimi gels was investigated. Fish oil emulsified into surimi gels enhanced the breaking strength, but this was decreased by denaturation of the surimi protein, and the rate of enhanced gel-forming ability with emulsification decreased with decreasing ES. Expressible drip also decreased with emulsification; however, increasing amounts of lipid in the expressible drip were separated out from the gel upon protein denaturation of the source surimi.

Thermal degradation kinetics and morphology of natural rubber/silica nanocomposites.

A novel natural rubber/silica (NR/SiO2) nanocomposite with a SiO2 loading of 4 wt% is developed by incorporating latex compounding with self-assembly techniques. The SiO2 nanoparticles are homogenously distributed throughout the NR matrix as spherical nano-clusters with an average size of 75 nm. In comparison with the host NR, the thermal resistance of the nanocomposite is significantly improved.

Potent protection of ferulic acid against excitotoxic effects of maternal intragastric administration of monosodium glutamate at a late stage of pregnancy on developing mouse fetal brain.

The present study was conducted to investigate a possible protection of ferulic acid against excitotoxic effects of maternal intragastric (ig) administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) at a late stage of pregnancy on developing mouse fetal brain. [(3)H]-labeled glutamate was used as radiotracer to study the effect of ferulic acid on distribution of MSG in mouse fetal brain. MSG dissolved in distilled water (2.

Role of mitochondria and mitochondrial cytochrome c in tubeimoside I-mediated apoptosis of human cervical carcinoma HeLa cell line.

Background: Tubeimoside I (TBMS1), a triterpenoid saponin, isolated from the tubers of Bolbostemma paniculatum, showed potent antitumor and antitumor-promoting effects. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of mitochondria and mitochondria cytochrome c in TBMS1-mediated apoptosis of human cervical carcinoma HeLa cell line.

Methods: Viability of HeLa cells was measured by MTT assay.

[Aromatase inhibitor letrozole induces sex inversion in the protogynous red spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara).].

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the aromatase inhibitor (AI) letrozole on gonadal development, serum steroids and aromatase activities in 2-year-old female red spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara) during reproductive season. Groupers were divided into two groups, one implanted with aromatase inhibitor (AI, 5 mg/kg body weight) and the other elastomer without AI into peritoneal cavity once every four weeks for 8 weeks. Spermiation was checked through gentle abdominal pressure every 2 weeks.

[Separation of aromatic amines by capillary zone electrophoresis with lower electroosmotic flow].

It is effective to restrain the electroosmotic flow (EOF) with lower pH value (pH < or = 2.0). As a result, a capillary zone electrophoretic (CZE) system of lower electroosmotic flow was established.

[Apoptosis of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE-2Z cells induced by tubeimoside I].

Background & Objective: Tubeimu, Bolbostemma pani- culatum(Maxim.) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae), is a kind of traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Our previous studies revealed that tubeimoside I, a triterpenoid saponin isolated from the tubers of Bolbostemma paniculatum, showed potent antitumor effect.

[Study on the toxicity of horseshoe crabs in mice].

In order to study the toxicity of horseshoe crabs(tachypleus tridentatus and carcinoscorpius rotundicauda) in the sea of China, the extracts of tissues from tachypleus tridentatus and carcinoscorpius rotundicauda were injected into the abdominal cavity of mice for testing their poisoning effects. The results showed that the toxicity of carcinoscorpius rotundicauda was much higher than that of tachypleus tridentatus. The length of time from the injection to the death was much shorter for Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda than that for tachypleus tridentatus.

[Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by tubeimoside in HeLa cell].

Background & Objective: Tubeimoside, which is composed of tubeimoside I (79%) and II (21%), was isolated from the tubers of Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim) Franquet (Cucurbitaceae), a traditional Chinese medicine, "Tu-Bei-Mu". This study was designed to investigate the anti-tumor mechanism of tubeimoside.

Methods: Growth inhibition was measured by MTT assay.

[Poisoning from eating horseshoe crab and its prevention and treatment].

During the past three years on investigating and studying the poisoning of eating Horseshoe crab, it has been discovered that the major cause of the poisoning on eating Horseshoe crab in south region along the seacoast of China was taking tetrodotoxin from Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda by mistake; the symptoms of some others from eating Horseshoe crab were the result of allergic reactions from eating Tachypleus tridentatuscause, similar to the reactions from eating shrimp or crab, and which could be cured with chlorpheniramine. The effective prevention measures are not eating Horseshoe crab, especially the young ones. The size of young Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda is similar to the size of the nonpoisonous Tachypleus tridentatuscause.