Functional role of bioactive peptides with special reference to cheeses

Growing perception about diet in relation to health has extended the necessity to explore the biologically active components present in native foods. In this review, bioactive peptides released from cheeses that may have important physiological functions are discussed. Bioactive encrypted peptides can be generated from precursor milk proteins during food processing via enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Generally, biofunctionalities of peptides are latent within precursor proteins. Bioactive peptides liberated from cheeses exhibit numerous potential therapeutic roles: for example, angiotensinogen‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, antioxidant, anti‐thrombotic, anti‐microbial, anti‐cancer and anti‐inflammatory. This article critically focuses on the functional roles of bioactive peptides derived from different cheeses.     

Identifying Novel Osteoarthritis-Associated Genes in Human Cartilage Using a Systematic Meta-Analysis and a Multi-Source Integrated Network

Osteoarthritis, the most common joint disorder, is characterised by deterioration of the articular cartilage. Many studies have identified potential therapeutic targets, yet no effective treatment has been determined. The aim of this study was to identify and rank osteoarthritis-associated genes and micro-RNAs to prioritise those most integral to the disease. A systematic meta-analysis of differentially expressed mRNA and micro-RNAs in human osteoarthritic cartilage was conducted. Ingenuity pathway analysis identified cellular senescence as an enriched pathway, confirmed by a significant overlap (p < 0.01) with cellular senescence drivers (CellAge Database). A co-expression network was built using genes from the meta-analysis as seed nodes and combined with micro-RNA targets and SNP datasets to construct a multi-source information network. This accumulated and connected 1689 genes which were ranked based on node and edge aggregated scores. These bioinformatic analyses were confirmed at the protein level by mass spectrometry of the different zones of human osteoarthritic cartilage (superficial, middle, and deep) compared to normal controls. This analysis, and subsequent experimental confirmation, revealed five novel osteoarthritis-associated proteins (PPIB, ASS1, LHDB, TPI1, and ARPC4-TTLL3). Focusing future studies on these novel targets may lead to new therapies for osteoarthritis.     

Scalable platforms using ant colony optimization

Mass customization necessitates increased product variety at the customers’ end but comparatively lesser part variety at the manufacturer’s end. Product platform concepts have been successful to achieve this goal at large. One of the popular methods for product platform formation is to scale one or more design variables called the scaling variables. Effective optimization methods are needed to identify proper values of the scaling variables. This paper presents a graph-based optimization method called the scalable platforms using ant colony optimization (SPACO) method for identifying appropriate values of the scaling variables. In the graph-based representation, each node signifies a sub-range of values for a design variable. This application includes the concept of multiplicity in node selection because there are multiple nodes corresponding to the discretized values of a given design variable. In the SPACO method, the overall decision is a result of the cumulative decisions, made by simple computing agents called the ants, over a number of iterations. The space search technique initially starts as a random search technique over the entire search space and progressively turns into an autocatalytic (positive feedback) probabilistic search technique as the solution matures. We use a family of universal electric motors, widely cited in the literature, to test the effectiveness of the proposed method. Our simulation results, when compared to the results reported in the literature, prove that SPACO method is a viable optimization method for determining the values of design variables for scalable platforms.     

Changes in body composition and dietary intake induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha and corticosterone--individually and in combination

Previous studies have shown that anorexia and reduced food intake are the main causes of weight loss in rats infused with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), with no influence on corticosterone concentrations. In contrast, in clinical sepsis, muscle wasting due to increased catabolism is associated with increased corticosteroid concentrations. We hypothesized that in the rat model, corticosterone potentiates the catabolic effect of TNF-alpha in amounts that by itself does not influence muscle catabolism. Orally fed rats were divided into 3 treatment groups: continuous infusion of TNF-alpha (TNF; 100 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), corticosterone (Cort; 50 microg x g(-1) x d(-1)), or both (TNF+Cort). Each group was compared with a respective pair-fed (PF) group. In addition an ad libitum (AL)-fed group receiving an infusion of physiologic saline was studied to observe unrestricted food intake and weight gain. After 4 d of infusion, dietary intake and weight gain were significantly higher in the Cort and AL groups than in the TNF and TNF+Cort groups. Although wet liver weights and protein contents were significantly higher in the Cort, TNF, and TNF+Cort groups than in their respective PF group, the TNF and TNF+Cort groups had lower relative carcass weights. The weight and protein content of the diaphragm were lower and nitrogen excretion was higher in the TNF+Cort group than in the respective PF group. The results suggest that TNF-alpha plus corticosterone had a specific catabolic effect on the diaphragm. In addition, together they increased overall nitrogen excretion.     

Sterol lipids in finger millet(Eleusine coracana)

Neutral lipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids (1.3%, 0.25%, and 0.10% of seed weight) were isolated from the total lipids (chloroform-methanol) of finger millet seeds(Eleusine coracana), and four sterol-containing lipids further isolated from neutral and glycolipids by preparative column and thin layer chromatography. On seed weight, these comprised: free sterols (S) 0.091%, sterol esters (SE) 0.013%, sterol glycosides (SG) 0.025%, acyl sterol glycosides (ASG) 0.020%, and total 0.149%. The major fatty acids, totaling 85-90%, were the same in both esterified sterols, but the proportions varied: 16:0, 18:1, and 18:2 comprising 24, 49, and 17% in SE (calculated iodine value 75) and 43, 36, and 7% in ASG (calculated iodine value 46). All four sterol lipids contained 80-84% of β-sitosterol, the remainder being stigmasterol. The only sugar in SG and ASG was D-glucose. It is deduced that the major representative species are: SE, β-sitosterol oleate/palmitate; SG, β-D-glucopyranosyl-(l → 3)-β-sitosterol; and ASG, 6-0-palmitoyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(l → 3)-β-sitosterol.     

A coding theorem for multiple access channels using a maximum likelihood list decoding scheme

Bounds on the probability of error for list decoding, in which the receiver lists L messages rather than one after receiving a message, have been obtained by Elias, Ebert, and Shannon, Gallager and Berlekemp. In the present paper the problem of list decoding has been considered for a multiple access channel. The paper contains an upper bound on the probability of error for list decoding in this case.     

转移到眼前房的转移性乳腺癌病例报道及讨论

Intraocular metastases are the most common malignancies of the eye. Carcinoma of the breast is the most common malignancy to metastasize to the uvea usually posterior uvea. Anterior chamber metastasis is extremely rare. We describe a patient of breast cancer who presented with pain and impaired vision in right eye 8.5 months after metastasis to bone and other viscera were detected and more than 10 years after her primary disease was diagnosed. Multiple yellowish white deposits were noted scattered in anterior chamber giving rise to symptoms of acute narrow angle glaucoma. Metastatic deposits of duct cell carcinoma cells were found by fine needle aspiration cytology. Patient received local external beam radiotherapy to right eye with moderate improvement in her symptoms. The rare features in this case were clinical presentation of acute glaucoma and anterior chamber as the site of metastasis.     

Challenges of long-term vascular access in pediatric hemodialysis: Recommendations for practitioners

Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment of end-stage renal disease in children. However, time to transplant varies, making a well-functioning long-term vascular access essential for performing hemodialysis efficiently and without disruption until a kidney becomes available. However, establishing long-term vascular access in pediatric patients can present distinct challenges due to this population's unique characteristics, such as smaller body size and lower-diameter blood vessels. There are three main pediatric long-term vascular access options, which include central venous catheters (CVC), arteriovenous fistula (AVF), and arteriovenous graft (AVG). CVC are currently the most widely used modality, although various studies and guidelines recommend AVF or AVG as the preferred option. Although AVF should be used whenever possible, it is crucial that clinicians consider factors such as patient size, physical exam findings, comorbidities, predicted duration of treatment to decide on the most optimal long-term vascular access modality. This article reviews the three long-term vascular access methods in children and the benefits and complications of each.