Effect of phospholipid n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on rat lipid metabolism

It has been demonstrated that the amount and type of dietary fat are factors involved in the risk of arteriosclerosis and coronary or cerebral artery disease through lipid metabolism. In this study, we investigated the effects of phospholipids (PLs) containing n‐3PUFAs on lipid metabolism in rats. PLs containing n‐3PUFAs were prepared from squid (Todarodes pacificus) mantle muscle. Groups of male Wistar rats were fed AIN93G diet containing soybean oil (SO, 7%), fish oil (1.2%) + SO (5.8%), soybean PLs (1.8%) + SO (5.2%), or PLs containing n‐3PUFAs (1.8%) + SO (5.2%). The following indicators were assayed as indexes of lipid metabolism: TAG and cholesterol in serum and liver, fecal cholesterol, bile‐acid excretion, and liver mRNA expression levels of genes encoding proteins involved in cholesterol homeostasis. Serum and liver TAG contents decreased significantly in the group fed PLs containing n‐3PUFAs as compared to other groups, accompanied by a significant decline in the expression level of sterol regulatory element binding protein‐1c. The decrease in cholesterol content in the group fed PLs containing n‐3PUFAs was due to the increase in fecal cholesterol excretion and the increase of mRNA expression levels of ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) G5 and ABCG8 in liver. Practical applications : PLs containing n‐3PUFAs decreased serum and liver TAG contents compared with that induced by soybean PLs. Further, PLs containing n‐3PUFAs can induce a reduction in serum and liver cholesterol concentrations as well as the triglyceride‐reducing effect of conventional n‐3PUFAs containing TAG. In other words, dietary n‐3PUFAs contained in PLs can prevent life‐style diseases such as hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis and coronary, or cerebral artery disease more effectively than TAG containing n‐3PUFAs. Therefore, it is expected that the risk of lifestyle diseases would be decreased if PL containing n‐3PUFAs can be supplied routinely. In this study, PLs containing n‐3PUFAs were prepared from squid mantle muscle. On an industrial scale, such PLs can be produced from various unused resources and waste materials of fisheries. We conclude that highly functional foods could be developed based on the findings of this study, and would be available for health promotion worldwide.     

Ameliorative Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum HAC01 Lysate on 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Differentiation via AMPK Activation and MAPK Inhibition

Lactobacillus plantarum HAC01 has been shown to effectively treat metabolic diseases. However, the precise pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of L. plantarum HAC01 remain unclear. In this study, we investigate the anti-adipogenic effects of L. plantarum HAC01 lysate and its associated mechanism of action. To induce lipid accumulation, 3T3-L1 cells were incubated in differentiation media with or without L. plantarum HAC01 lysate. Our results show that L. plantarum HAC01 lysate treatment not only reduced lipid accumulation during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, but also decreased the expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes involved in lipid metabolism in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, L. plantarum HAC01 lysate inhibited CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) beta within 4 h of differentiation induction and inhibited peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, C/EBP alpha, and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins within 2 d. Moreover, treatment with L. plantarum HAC01 lysate increased the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, an important regulator of energy metabolism, and decreased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. These results indicate that L. plantarum HAC01 lysate may have anti-adipogenic effects and support its potential as a useful agent for the treatment of obesity.     

Lactic acid production from dining‐hall food waste by Lactobacillus plantarum using response surface methodology

BACKGROUND: Food waste generally has a high starch content and is rich in nutritional compounds, including lipids and proteins. It therefore represents a potential renewable resource. In this study, dining‐hall food waste was used as a substrate for lactic acid production, and response surface methodology was employed to optimise the fermentation conditions. RESULTS: Lactic acid biosynthesis was significantly affected by the interaction of protease and temperature. Protease, temperature and CaCO₃ had significant linear effects on lactic acid production, while α‐amylase and yeast extract had insignificant effects. The optimal conditions were found to be an α‐amylase activity of 13.86 U g^?1 dried food waste, a protease activity of 2.12 U g^?1 dried food waste, a temperature of 29.31 °C and a CaCO₃ concentration of 62.67 g L^?1, which resulted in a maximum lactic acid concentration of 98.51 g L^?1 (88.75% yield). An increase in inoculum size would be appropriate for accelerating the depletion of initial soluble carbohydrate to enhance the efficiency of α‐amylase in dining‐hall food waste fermentation. CONCLUSION: A suitable regression model for lactic acid production was developed based on the experimental results. Dining‐hall food waste was found to be a good substrate for lactic acid fermentation with high product yield and without nutrient supplementation. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Protective Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum Lac16 on Clostridium perfringens Infection-Associated Injury in IPEC-J2 Cells

Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) causes intestinal injury through overgrowth and the secretion of multiple toxins, leading to diarrhea and necrotic enteritis in animals, including pigs, chickens, and sheep. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) Lac16 on C. perfringens infection-associated injury in intestinal porcine epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2). The results showed that L. plantarum Lac16 significantly inhibited the growth of C. perfringens, which was accompanied by a decrease in pH levels. In addition, L. plantarum Lac16 significantly elevated the mRNA expression levels of host defense peptides (HDPs) in IPEC-J2 cells, decreased the adhesion of C. perfringens to IPEC-J2 cells, and attenuated C. perfringens-induced cellular cytotoxicity and intestinal barrier damage. Furthermore, L. plantarum Lac16 significantly suppressed C. perfringens-induced gene expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in IPEC-J2 cells. Moreover, L. plantarum Lac16 preincubation effectively inhibited the phosphorylation of p65 caused by C. perfringens infection. Collectively, probiotic L. plantarum Lac16 exerts protective effects against C. perfringens infection-associated injury in IPEC-J2 cells.     

Effects of spray drying on Lactobacillus plantarum BM-1 viability,resistance to simulated gastrointestinal digestion,and storage stability

The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of spray drying in the production of high-viability powder of L. plantarum BM-1. Firstly, in order to improve the survival of L. plantarum BM-1 during spray drying, different protectants were added before drying. The results showed that the highest survival rate of 75.70% and the lowest moisture content of 3.67% were achieved with the combination of reconstituted skim milk (RSM) and equal weight sucrose as protective agent. The cell counts reduction of free L. plantarum BM-1 was 2.58 log CFU/ml after exposure to 60°C for 1 min, whereas the reduction in spray-dried cells protected by RSM and sucrose was only 0.08 log CFU/ml. After 120-min incubation in simulated gastric condition, cell counts of free L. plantarum BM-1 decreased approximately 1.4 log CFU/ml, whereas no significant (p > 0.05) reduction in spray-dried cells was observed. Compared to the free cells, the spray-dried cells also showed higher survival under bile salts stress. In addition, the bacteriocin production of L. plantarum BM-1 was not affected during spray drying. Furthermore, the survival rate of spray-dried powder reached 98% after storage for 2 months at 4°C, and a nitrogen replacement package was shown to be better than a vacuum package and air-sealed package at room temperature. Therefore, the combination of equal weight RSM and sucrose is a promising protective agent for L. plantarum BM-1 during spray drying.     

Effect of classic sterilization on lipid oxidation in model liquid milk‐based infant and follow‐on formulas

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of classic sterilization on lipid oxidation of liquid infant and follow‐on formulas by analyzing formation of oxidized and dimeric TAGs. Model systems containing similar components and proportions to those normally found in manufactured samples and a mixture of high‐oleic sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, and fish oil were used to obtain a fatty acid composition profile in accordance with the EU regulations. For comparative purposes, some samples were prepared with high‐oleic sunflower or fish oil and others without the protein components and added Tween‐20. Quantification of total oxidized TAGs provided complete information of the oxidation state and showed clear advantages versus the other methods used, i.e., loss of PUFA and peroxide value. The results showed that the heat treatment used for sterilization did not lead to significant lipid oxidation, but the tocopherol concentration decreased significantly. The marked tocoherol losses found in protein‐free formulas together with the significantly lower tocopherol concentrations in infant formulas (80% whey in protein fraction) compared to follow‐on formulas (80% caseinate in protein ratio) showed the protective effect of the protein fraction, specially sodium caseinate. Practical applications: This study provides useful information on the utility of different methods used to evaluate oxidation in infant and follow‐on formulas. Quantification of total oxidized TAGs standed out because it is a direct and sensitive method and provides complete information at any stage of the oxidative process. Also, this study shows that important decreases of tocopherols may occur during formula processing and special cautions should therefore be taken during storage and commercialization to avoid additional antioxidant losses.     

Biosynthesis of Oxylipins by Rhizoctonia solani with Allene Oxide and Oleate 8S,9S‐Diol Synthase Activities

Oxylipin biosynthesis by fungi is catalyzed by both the lipoxygenase (LOX) family and the linoleate diol synthase (LDS) family of the peroxidase‐cyclooxygenase superfamily. Rhizoctonia solani, a pathogenic fungus, infects staple crops such as potato and rice. The genome predicts three genes with 9–13 introns, which code for tentative dioxygenase (DOX)–cytochrome P450 fusion enzymes of the LDS family, and one gene, which might code for a 13‐LOX. The objective was to determine whether mycelia or nitrogen powder of mycelia oxidized unsaturated C₁₈ fatty acids to LDS‐ or LOX‐related metabolites. Mycelia converted 18:2n‐6 to 8R‐hydroxy‐9Z,12Z‐octadecadienoic acid and to an α‐ketol, 9S‐hydroxy‐10‐oxo‐12Z‐octadecenoic acid. In addition to these metabolites, nitrogen powder of mycelia oxidized 18:2n‐6 to 9S‐hydroperoxy‐10E, 12Z‐octadecadienoic, and 13S‐hydroperoxy‐9Z,11E‐octadecadienoic acids; the latter was likely formed by the predicted 13‐LOX. 18:1n‐9 was transformed into 8S‐hydroperoxy‐9Z‐octadecenoic and into 8S,9S‐dihydroxy‐10E‐octadecenoic acids, indicating the expression of 8,9‐diol synthase. The allene oxide, 9S(10)epoxy‐10,12Z‐octadecadienoic acid, is unstable and decomposes rapidly to the α‐ketol above, indicating biosynthesis by 9S‐DOX‐allene oxide synthase. This allene oxide and α‐ketol are also formed by potato stolons, which illustrates catalytic similarities between the plant host and fungal pathogen.     

Free‐radical copolymerization and kinetic treatment of methyl methacrylate with N‐P‐tolylmaleimide

The free‐radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with N‐P‐tolylmalemide (NPTMI) at 77°C in cyclohexanone solution initiated by AIBN was studied. The copolymer composition was calculated from the nitrogen content estimated by the Mico–Kijedldahl's method and by elemental analysis. The reactivity ratios have been calculated by Fineman and Ross method. The monomer reactivity ratios were r_NPTMI = 1.24, r_MMA = 2.1. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the copolymers were determined by torsion braid analysis (TBA). The thermal stability was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). T₅₀, temperature at which the weight loss reaches 50%, was abstained. The results showed that the M _n and M _w increased, whereas the NPTMI feed content increased. The T_g and T₅₀ increased dramatically. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 867–870, 2004     

P‐V‐T measurements on PMMA : PbTiO3 polymer‐ceramic composites with tunable thermal expansion

Results of Pressure‐Volume‐Temperature measurement on Poly(methyl methacrylate) : Lead Titanate, PMMA : PbTiO₃, composite system in the pressure and temperature range 0–200 MPa and 300–473 K, respectively, are presented. The thermal expansion coefficient in PMMA : PbTiO₃ composite is expected to be quite complex because the polymer has positive thermal expansion coefficient, whereas the filler has a negative thermal expansion coefficient. In this present article, the effect of pressure on the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient in PMMA : PbTiO₃ composite system is presented. It is shown that thermal expansion coefficient of the polymer can be tailored by adding filler which has negative thermal expansion coefficient. Theoretically, a simple additive rule is formulated which can predict the variation of expansion coefficient in the PMMA : PbTiO₃ composite system. The limitation of the additive rule is also discussed. It is also shown that the glass transition temperature depends on filler concentration and also has strong pressure dependence. The reasons for large pressure dependence are discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

甘油添加策略对罗伊氏乳杆菌代谢特性的影响

罗伊氏乳杆菌(Lactobacillus reuteri)是一种新型的益生菌,为深入了解该菌代谢葡萄糖和甘油特性,采用发酵初期、对数期、静止期不同甘油添加策略,对发酵罐中L.reuteri CG001利用葡萄糖/甘油共底物发酵过程中代谢产物变化情况进行了探讨.结果表明,无论在何时加入甘油均会引起细胞代谢途径的迁移.初始时加入甘油,葡萄糖主要走乳酸和乙酸途径,净生成的NADH主要用于甘油代谢途径,因此会生成较多的1,3-丙二醇;对数期加入甘油,细胞同样会缓慢从乙醇途径向乙酸途径迁移,并在初期积累一定的3-羟基丙醛,继续加入葡萄糖后3-羟基丙醛迅速转化成1,3-丙二醇,最终发酵液中几乎检测不到3-羟基丙醛;静止期加入甘油,细胞能够积累较多的3-羟基丙醛,较高浓度3-羟基丙醛会导致细胞自身的死亡,同时观察到细胞具有利用自身代谢产物乳酸逆向生成乙酸,从而调节代谢过程中NADH/NAD的能力.     

Selective Oxidation of Methanol to Dimethoxymethane over Mesoporous Al‐P‐V‐O Catalysts

The synthesis and application of bifunctional mesoporous Al‐P‐V—O catalysts with both acidic and redox sites for selective oxidation of methanol to dimethoxymethane (DMM) is described. The catalysts were characterized by N₂ adsorption/desorption, X‐ray diffraction, temperature‐programmed desorption, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. It is shown that porosity; redox property and surface acidity of the catalysts were greatly influenced by the Al/V/P ratio. The synergistic effect of phosphorus and vanadium was investigated. Al‐P‐V—O catalysts exhibited good catalytic activity because of the controlled reducibility and the acidic sites. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 2587–2593, 2013     

Unstructured kinetic model for reuterin and 1,3‐propanediol production by Lactobacillus reuteri from glycerol/glucose cofermentation

BACKGROUND: Lactobacillus reuteri is unable to grow on glycerol as sole carbon and energy source hence, glycerol is used as an alternative hydrogen acceptor during growth on available carbohydrates. Thus, glycerol is converted to reuterin and 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PDL), both products with interesting industrial applications. These compounds are commonly produced by using resting cells in two‐step fermentation processes. RESULTS: The glycerol/glucose cofermentation by L. reuteri yields reuterin and 1,3‐PDL at a glycerol concentration higher than 100 mmol L⁻¹. An increase of glycerol concentration from 200 to 400 mmol L⁻¹ showed no additional stimulatory effect on ethanol and acetate production but consistently reduced the lactate concentration. It was also found that reuterin concentration reached a maximum value and subsequently decreased due to its conversion to 1,3‐PDL. An unstructured kinetic model was proposed to describe simultaneously microbial growth, substrates consumption and products formation. A multi‐response nonlinear regression analysis based on Marquardt algorithm combined with a Runge‐Kutta integration method was used to obtain the values of the fitting parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The optimum concentration of glycerol for maximum reuterin and 1,3‐PDL production was 200 mmol L⁻¹. The complete process was satisfactorily described by the kinetic model proposed. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of the ZIF‐8 Distribution in Mixed‐Matrix Membranes Based on Matrimid® 5218‐PEG on CO2 Separation

In theory, the combination of inorganic materials and polymers may provide a synergistic performance for mixed‐matrix membranes (MMMs); however, the filler dispersion into the MMMs is a crucial technical parameter for obtaining compelling MMMs. The effect of the filler distribution on the gas separation performance of the MMMs based on Matrimid®‐PEG 200 and ZIF‐8 nanoparticles is demonstrated. The MMMs were prepared by two different membrane preparation procedures, namely, the traditional method and non‐dried metal‐organic framework (MOF) method. In CO₂/CH₄ binary mixtures, the MMMs were tested under fixed conditions and characterized by various methods. Finally, regardless of the MMM preparation procedure, the incorporation of 30 wt % ZIF‐8 nanoparticles allowed to increase the CO₂ permeability in MMMs. The ZIF‐8 dispersion influenced significantly the separation factor.     

Production of olefins from ethanol by Fe and/or P‐modified H‐ZSM‐5 zeolite catalysts

BACKGROUND: Much attention has been paid to the catalytic conversion of ethanol to olefins, since biomass resources such as ethanol are carbon‐neutral and renewable, and olefins are useful as both fuels and chemicals. It has been reported that zeolite H‐ZSM‐5 is effective for converting ethanol to hydrocarbons, with the chief products being aromatic compounds. RESULTS: Successive addition of Fe and P to the H‐ZSM‐5 improved the initial selectivity for propylene, while the sole addition of Fe or P and co‐addition of Fe and P showed medium initial selectivity. In general, catalysts showing higher initial selectivity for propylene exhibited a steeper decrease in propylene selectivity with time on‐stream. The cause of the change in product selectivity may be carbon deposition during reaction. Addition of Fe and P can improve catalytic stability when processing both neat and aqueous ethanol. The catalytic performance was regenerated by calcination in flowing air. CONCLUSION: Fe‐ and/or P‐modified H‐ZSM‐5 zeolite catalysts efficiently produced olefins (especially propylene) from ethanol. Effective catalyst regeneration was achieved by calcination in flowing air. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Structure‐Based Design of Novel Human Toll‐like Receptor 8 Agonists

Toll‐like receptor (TLR)‐8 agonists activate adaptive immune responses by inducing robust production of T helper 1‐polarizing cytokines, suggesting that TLR8‐active compounds might be promising candidate vaccine adjuvants. Recently, a C2‐butyl furo[2,3‐c]quinoline was reported with purely TLR8 agonistic activity. This compound was successfully co‐crystallized with the human TLR8 ectodomain, and the co‐crystal structure revealed ligand‐induced reorganization of the binding pocket of TLR8. The loss of a key hydrogen bond between the oxygen atom of the furanyl ring of the agonist and Thr 574 in TLR8 suggested that the furan ring is dispensable. Employing a disconnection strategy, 3‐ and 4‐substituted aminoquinolines were investigated. Focused structure‐based ligand design studies led to the identification of 3‐pentyl‐quinoline‐2‐amine as a novel, structurally simple, and highly potent human TLR8‐specific agonist (EC₅₀=0.2 μM ). Preliminary evaluation of this compound in ex vivo human blood assay systems revealed that it retains prominent cytokine‐inducing activity. Together, these results indicate the suitability of this compound as a novel vaccine adjuvant, warranting further investigation.     

Preparation of nano‐ZIF‐8 in methanol with high yield

This article systematically presented analysis results of factors affecting the preparation of nano‐ZIF‐8 in methanol for high yield. Samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) adsorption, and thermogravimetry‐differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA). Synthesized nano‐ZIF‐8 had advantages over commercial ZIF‐8 (Basolite^® Z1200 from Sigma‐Aldrich) such as a higher surface area, consisting of not only micropores like Basolite^® Z1200 but also subordinate mesopores, formed by an assembly of nano‐ZIF‐8 crystals, which was 30 nm. Specifically, for the first time, nano‐ZIF‐8 was prepared in methanol with the yield of 61.2 %.