Open Life Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Enhanced osmotic dehydration of watermelon rind using honey-sucrose solutions: A study on pre-treatment efficacy and mass transfer kinetics.","authors":"Jaspreet Kaur, Sawinder Kaur, Amine Assouguem, Sara El Kadili, Riaz Ullah, Zafar Iqbal, Vikas Nanda","doi":"10.1515/biol-2022-0946","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2022-0946","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the osmotic dehydration process of watermelon rind using a solution composed of honey and sucrose. The impact of the ratio of rind-to-solution and temperature on the process is illustrated. Pre-treatments such as blanching, microwaves, and ultrasonication were utilized. Ultrasonication reduces the time needed for osmosis in a sample, resulting in increased fluid loss and solute uptake; therefore, it was selected as the method to investigate the kinetics and modelling of mass transfer. The effective diffusivities for water loss (ranging from 3.02 × 10^-5 to 4.21 × 10^-4 m² s^-1) and solid gain (ranging from 1.94 × 10^-6 to 3.21 × 10^-6 m² s^-1) were shown to increase with process variables such as temperature and the rind-to-solution ratio. The activation energy decreased as the process temperature increased, ranging from 3.723 to 0.928 kJ mol^-1 for water loss and from 1.733 to 0.903 kJ mol^-1 for solid gain, respectively. The sample treated with microwaves exhibited the maximum dehydration coefficient, rendering it appropriate for producing dehydrated products. Five empirical models were utilized, with the power law model (<i>R</i> ² = 0.983) and the Magee model (<i>R</i> ² = 0.950) being the most suitable for water loss data and solid gain, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":19605,"journal":{"name":"Open Life Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11426385/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142351346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Macrofungal sporocarp community in the lichen Scots pine forests.","authors":"Barbara Grzesiak, Michał Hubert Węgrzyn, Agnieszka Turowska, Magdalena Twarużek","doi":"10.1515/biol-2022-0973","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2022-0973","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The lichen-rich pine forests of <i>Cladonio-Pinetum</i> represent special habitats protected under the Natura 2000 scheme. A rapid decline in their density has been observed in recent years. Macrofungi are an important component of the community and sensitive bioindicators; therefore, observations of the response of their sporocarps can be used to draw conclusions about changes induced in habitats. In our study, we tried to detect differences in species richness, composition, and biomass of the ectomycorrhizal fungal communities in areas rich in lichens indicating the good state of the community, and rich in bryophytes signaling its progressive degradation. The influence of precipitation and temperature on species richness and biomass was checked, and the possibility of using the sporocarps-based method to assess the effectiveness of active protection treatments, which are a form of partial protection carried out to maintain specific natural habitats. For detailed studies, six plots were selected from which sporocarps were collected, dried and weighed. A total of 1,575 sporocarps, representing 49 taxa were collected. A higher number of taxa (39) in lichen-rich plots were found. In bryophyte-rich areas, 27 taxa were recorded. The total yield was 13,151 g dry weight ha^-1. In lichen-rich plots, the biomass was almost half lower.</p>","PeriodicalId":19605,"journal":{"name":"Open Life Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11426384/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142351347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The expression and clinical significance of syncytin-1 in serum exosomes of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.","authors":"Xuewei Zhuang, Xiao Shi, Hui Zhao, Shuai Shang, Xinyu Xu, Xiaomin Wang, Xin Zheng, Jing He","doi":"10.1515/biol-2022-0930","DOIUrl":"10.1515/biol-2022-0930","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of syncytin-1 in the serum exosomes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Serum samples were collected from 61 patients with newly diagnosed HCC and 61 healthy individuals. Exosomes were extracted from serum samples and identified using transmission electron microscopy and Western blot. The relative expression levels of syncytin-1 in exosomes were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. The protein expression levels of alpha-fetoprotein and syncytin-1 in HCC patients were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of serum exosomal syncytin-1 in diagnosing HCC. The relationships between syncytin-1 expression and clinical pathological features were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The results showed that the expression level of syncytin-1 in the serum of patients with newly diagnosed HCC was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (<i>P</i> < 0.0001). Using pathological diagnosis as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of syncytin-1 for the auxiliary diagnosis of HCC were 91.3% and 75.5%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of alpha-fetoprotein <i>(P</i> < 0.0001). The relative expression level of serum exosomal syncytin-1 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, degree of differentiation, and CNLC staging of HCC patients <i>(P</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, syncytin-1 in serum exosomes has high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing HCC and can serve as a novel tumor marker for early screening, detection, and staging of HCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":19605,"journal":{"name":"Open Life Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11416070/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142292800","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Knockdown of USP7 alleviates atherosclerosis in ApoE-deficient mice by regulating EZH2 expression.","authors":"Yu Zhang, Yanchun Zhang","doi":"10.1515/biol-2022-0929","DOIUrl":"10.1515/biol-2022-0929","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic vascular disease associated with lipid accumulation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of AS is essential. Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) is a deubiquitination enzyme involved in various cellular processes, including lipid metabolism. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of USP7 in AS progression and its underlying mechanism using ApoE-deficient mice. We found that USP7 ablation improved the morphological characteristics of AS in these mice. USP7 knockdown reduced inflammation, evidenced by decreases in inflammatory markers IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β by 35, 40, and 38%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Additionally, USP7 depletion reduced oxidative stress, indicated by a 30% reduction in malondialdehyde levels and increases in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels by 25 and 28%, respectively (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Moreover, USP7 knockdown blocked lipid accumulation in aortic tissue cells. Mechanistically, USP7 knockdown inhibited enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) expression, thereby suppressing AS progression. In conclusion, USP7 depletion alleviated AS progression in ApoE-deficient mice by targeting EZH2 expression. USP7 may serve as a therapeutic target for AS.</p>","PeriodicalId":19605,"journal":{"name":"Open Life Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11416069/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142292799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comparative analysis of dendrometric, macromorphological, and micromorphological characteristics of Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica and Pistacia terebinthus in the middle Atlas region of Morocco","authors":"Mohammed Bassouya, Mohamed Chedadi, Jawhari Fatima Zahra, Mohammed Kara, Amine Assouguem, Riaz Ullah, Mohamed A. Ibrahim, Ahmed Bari, Hafize Fidan, Lafraxo Soufyane, Abdellatif Alami, Amina Bari","doi":"10.1515/biol-2022-0941","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2022-0941","url":null,"abstract":"The genus <jats:italic>Pistacia</jats:italic>, with its species having notable ecological, economic, and medicinal implications, demonstrates remarkable environmental adaptability. The central objective of the study is to analyze interspecific variations between <jats:italic>Pistacia atlantica</jats:italic> subsp. <jats:italic>atlantica</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Pistacia terebinthus</jats:italic> across three distinct bioclimatic zones in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco. The methodology includes collecting dendrometric measurements and conducting macromorphological examinations on these two taxa, with a detailed analysis of 27 qualitative and quantitative variables. A micro-morphological analysis of leaves, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), is employed to explore specific features such as size and stomatal density, as well as qualitative aspects like epidermal cell shape and trichomes. Dendrometric measurements have revealed that the canopy surface and the number of trunks per tree can serve as distinctive features between the two species. Regarding the sex ratio of <jats:italic>Pistacia atlantica</jats:italic> subsp. <jats:italic>atlantica</jats:italic>, 59% of the examined trees are males, primarily associated with the jujube tree in arid zones and the dwarf palm in humid areas. In contrast, female <jats:italic>Pistacia terebinthus</jats:italic> exhibit a similar percentage, predominantly associated with oak groves and cade juniper in their distribution areas. Principal component analysis of biometric measurements emphasized a significant disparity between the two species, representing 60.25% of the total variance. The use of SEM unveiled new features facilitating the identification of the two species. By leveraging the macromorphological and micromorphological variability of pistachio trees, we can qualify those best suited to diverse bioclimates. In this regard, we suggest incorporating them into reforestation and rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring our declining ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":19605,"journal":{"name":"Open Life Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142247516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Profile and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacteria isolated from effluents of Kolladiba and Debark hospitals","authors":"Tamene Milkessa Jiru, Ewunetu Ayanaw","doi":"10.1515/biol-2022-0960","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2022-0960","url":null,"abstract":"This study aimed to investigate the presence of antibiotic susceptibility patterns and bacterial profiles of some multi-drug-resistant bacteria isolated from the effluents of Kolladiba and Debark Hospitals. Sixteen samples were collected from Kolladiba and Debark Hospitals in North Gondar, Ethiopia, to investigate the presence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. To assess susceptibility patterns, well-isolated bacterial colonies were subjected to seven antibiotics. The selected resistant isolates were characterized using morphological and biochemical tests. Plasmid DNA analysis of the isolates was also performed. Out of a total of 28 bacterial isolates, 12 were found to be multi-drug resistant. Among the tested antibiotics, erythromycin was the most resistant antibiotic, while novobiocin was the most effective antibiotic. A plasmid profile study of the isolates revealed both the presence and absence of plasmids. The number of plasmids ranged from zero to four, with plasmid sizes of 100, 900, 1,000, 1,400, 1,500, and 1,800 base pairs. This study concluded that effluents from both hospitals have high number of multi-drug-resistant isolates. The genes responsible for multi-drug resistance in bacterial isolates under this study could be either plasmid-mediated or chromosomal DNA-mediated. The presence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria in these effluents should not be overlooked.","PeriodicalId":19605,"journal":{"name":"Open Life Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"TAK-242 alleviates diabetic cardiomyopathy via inhibiting pyroptosis and TLR4/CaMKII/NLRP3 pathway","authors":"Xiaolong Zhao, Jing Zhang, Feng Xu, Longqi Shang, Qingquan Liu, Chunjian Shen","doi":"10.1515/biol-2022-0957","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2022-0957","url":null,"abstract":"Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is identified as a progressive disease that may lead to irreparable heart failure. Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is believed to be implicated in the pathogenesis of DCM. This study intended to explore the potential impact of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on DCM <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic>. Streptozotocin and HG medium were utilized to induce diabetes in animal and cell models, respectively. Selective TLR4 inhibitor TAK-242 and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II (CaMKII) inhibitor KN-93 were employed to explore the involvement of TLR4/CaMKII in DCM. TLR4 expression was increased in DCM hearts, while inhibition of TLR4 activation by TAK-242 improved cardiac function, attenuated heart hypertrophy, and fibrosis, as well as reduced oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine levels in rats, which were confirmed by Doppler echocardiography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and Masson Trichome staining and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Besides, the expression of hypertrophy-related molecules and oxidative stress damage were also inhibited by TAK-242. Furthermore, TAK-242 treatment reduced CaMKII phosphorylation accompanied by decreased expression of NOD-like pyrin domain-containing protein 3, gasdermin D (GSDMD), The N-terminal domain of Gasdermin D (GSDMD-N), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (ASC) and Caspase-1 both <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>in vitro.</jats:italic> Similar positive impacts on HG-induced pyroptosis were also observed with KN-93 treatment, and this was achieved without affecting TLR4 expression. Collectively, our work suggested that TAK-242 demonstrated substantial benefits against DCM both <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic>, potentially attributed to the suppression of the TLR4-mediated CaMKII/NLRP3 pathway activity.","PeriodicalId":19605,"journal":{"name":"Open Life Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hypomethylation in promoters of PGC-1α involved in exercise-driven skeletal muscular alterations in old age","authors":"Qiaowei Li, Qin Liu, Zhong Lin, Wenwen Lin, Feng Huang, Pengli Zhu","doi":"10.1515/biol-2022-0959","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2022-0959","url":null,"abstract":"Exercise training can significantly improve skeletal muscle mitochondrial function and has been proven to be highly relevant to alterations in skeletal muscle DNA methylation. However, it remains unclear whether late-in-life exercise has an effect on promoter methylation of PGC-1α, a key regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. Here we employed two distinct exercise modalities, constant medium intensity exercise training (CMIT) and high-intensity interval exercise training (HIIT), to investigate their impacts on PGC-1α expression and methylation regulation in skeletal muscle of aged mice. The results revealed a notable decrease in PGC-1α expression in skeletal muscle of aged mice, accompanied by elevated methylation levels of the PGC-1α promoter, and increased DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) protein expressions. However, both forms of exercise training significantly corrected PGC-1α epigenetic changes, increased PGC-1α expression, and ameliorated skeletal muscle reduction. Furthermore, exercise training led to elevated expression of proteins related to mitochondrial biogenesis and energy metabolism in skeletal muscle, improving mitochondrial structure and function. In conclusion, late-in-life exercise improved skeletal muscle function, morphology, and mitochondria biogenesis, which may be associated with hypomethylation in promoters of PGC-1α and increased content of skeletal muscle PGC-1α. Notably, there was no clear difference between HIIT and CMIT in PGC-1α expression and skeletal muscle function.","PeriodicalId":19605,"journal":{"name":"Open Life Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-linear associations between cardiovascular metabolic indices and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study in the US population (2017–2020)","authors":"Meimei Xu, Sibo Han, Qiaomei Wu, Shihong Ma, Huiying Cai, Mengqi Xue, Fengling Liu, Xiaozhen Xiao, Xiaoshuang Chen, MeiZhen Lin","doi":"10.1515/biol-2022-0947","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2022-0947","url":null,"abstract":"The cardiometabolic index (CMI) is an emerging and effective indicator for predicting the presence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This study aims to investigate the relationship between CMI and MAFLD using data from NHANES 2017–2020. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 3,749 subjects were included. The study conducted a thorough analysis of CMI with three multivariate logistic regression models, subgroup analyses, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were utilized. Using multifactorial logistic regression as the primary method of analysis, we found that a higher CMI was also significantly associated with an increased risk of MAFLD (OR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.05–2.01)). This result was further visualized by the RCS curve: There was a non-linear positive correlation between CMI and MAFLD incidence (the turning point is CMI = 0.4554). These findings were strongly reinforced by subsequent subgroup and sensitivity analyses. There is a robust positive relationship between the CMI and the risk of MAFLD, providing valuable clinical benefits for early detection and screening of MAFLD. It is important to highlight the presence of a non-linear association between CMI and MAFLD, with an inflection point identified at CMI = 0.4554.","PeriodicalId":19605,"journal":{"name":"Open Life Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overview of dendritic cells and related pathways in autoimmune uveitis","authors":"Fan Zhao, Jing-Sheng Yu","doi":"10.1515/biol-2022-0887","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2022-0887","url":null,"abstract":"Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in bridging innate and adaptive immune responses. They are widely distributed in various tissues and organs, including the eyes. In the ocular context, permanent DCs are present at the peripheral edge of the retina and the peripapillary area in an immature state. However, during the inflammatory process, DCs become activated and contribute to the development of uveitis. This review focuses on introducing the characteristics and status of DC-induced uveitis, exploring factors that can influence the status of DCs, and discussing feasible methods for treating DCs in both experimental autoimmune uveitis animal models and humans. It emphasizes the importance of further research on molecular pathways and signaling pathways that regulate the function of DCs. For example, investigating molecules such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, which inhibits the B7-CD28 co-stimulatory interaction, can help improve immune homeostasis. The aim is to identify new therapeutic targets and develop targeted strategies for DCs, such as DC vaccine therapy or the use of immune modulators. These approaches can be tailored to the immune characteristics and disease manifestations of individual patients, enabling personalized treatment strategies. This may include the personalized design and precise medication of DC therapy, with the ultimate goal of improving treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse reactions.","PeriodicalId":19605,"journal":{"name":"Open Life Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142195253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}