In Vitro Inhibitory Effects of Viburnum opulus Bark and Flower Extracts on Digestion of Potato Starch and Carbohydrate Hydrolases Activity

One of the effective treatments for diabetes is to reduce and delay the absorption of glucose by inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in the digestive tract. Currently, there is a great interest in natural inhibitors from various part of plants. In the present study, the phenolic compounds composition of V. opulus bark and flower, and their inhibitory effects on in vitro potato starch digestion as well as on α-amylase and α-glucosidase, have been studied. Bark and flower phenolic extracts reduced the amount of glucose released from potato starch during tree-stage simulated digestion, with IC₅₀ value equal to 87.77 µg/mL and 148.87 µg/mL, respectively. Phenolic bark extract showed 34.9% and 38.4% more potent inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively, but the activity of plant extracts was lower than that of acarbose. Chlorogenic acid (27.26% of total phenolics) and (+)-catechin (30.48% of total phenolics) were the most prominent phenolics in the flower and bark extracts, respectively. Procyanidins may be responsible for the strongest V. opulus bark inhibitory activity against α-amylase, while (+)-catechin relative to α-glucosidase. This preliminary study provides the basis of further examination of the suitability of V. opulus bark compounds as components of nutraceuticals and functional foods with antidiabetic activity.     

Chemometric Analysis of Urinary Volatile Organic Compounds to Monitor the Efficacy of Pitavastatin Treatments on Mammary Tumor Progression over Time

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urine are potential biomarkers of breast cancer. Previously, our group has investigated breast cancer through analysis of VOCs in mouse urine and identified a panel of VOCs with the ability to monitor tumor progression. However, an unanswered question is whether VOCs can be exploited similarly to monitor the efficacy of antitumor treatments over time. Herein, subsets of tumor-bearing mice were treated with pitavastatin at high (8 mg/kg) and low (4 mg/kg) concentrations, and urine was analyzed through solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Previous investigations using X-ray and micro-CT analysis indicated pitavastatin administered at 8 mg/kg had a protective effect against mammary tumors, whereas 4 mg/kg treatments did not inhibit tumor-induced damage. VOCs from mice treated with pitavastatin were compared to the previously analyzed healthy controls and tumor-bearing mice using chemometric analyses, which revealed that mice treated with pitavastatin at high concentrations were significantly different than tumor-bearing untreated mice in the direction of healthy controls. Mice treated with low concentrations demonstrated significant differences relative to healthy controls and were reflective of tumor-bearing untreated mice. These results show that urinary VOCs can accurately and noninvasively predict the efficacy of pitavastatin treatments over time.     

Discriminating between Parallel,Anti-Parallel and Hybrid G-Quadruplexes: Mechanistic Details on Their Binding to Small Molecules

G-quadruplexes (G4) are now extensively recognised as a peculiar non-canonical DNA geometry that plays a prime importance role in processes of biological relevance whose number is increasing continuously. The same is true for the less-studied RNA G4 counterpart. G4s are stable structures; however, their geometrical parameters may be finely tuned not only by the presence of particular sequences of nucleotides but also by the salt content of the medium or by a small molecule that may act as a peculiar topology inducer. As far as the interest in G4s increases and our knowledge of these species deepens, researchers do not only verify the G4s binding by small molecules and the subsequent G4 stabilisation. The most innovative studies now aim to elucidate the mechanistic details of the interaction and the ability of a target species (drug) to bind only to a peculiar G4 geometry. In this focused review, we survey the advances in the studies of the binding of small molecules of medical interest to G4s, with particular attention to the ability of these species to bind differently (intercalation, lateral binding or sitting atop) to different G4 topologies (parallel, anti-parallel or hybrid structures). Some species, given the very high affinity with some peculiar G4 topology, can first bind to a less favourable geometry and then induce its conversion. This aspect is also considered.     

双"单电桥"法测量低电阻中的实用技巧例举

主要介绍了双"单电桥"法测量低电阻的基本原理与双"单电桥"法测量低电阻的几种实用技巧.     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱联用测定人血液中的全氟化合物

采用HPLC-ESI-MS/MS联用技术,建立了分析血样中9种全氟化合物(PFCs)的方法.以13C4标记的PFOS (MPFOS)作为内标物.以C18反相柱为分析柱,甲醇、醋酸铵为梯度洗脱淋洗液,9种分析物包括全氟己烷磺酸(PFHxS)、全氟庚酸(PFHpA)、全氟辛酸 (PFOA)、全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)、全氟壬酸(PFNA)、全氟癸酸(PFDA)、全氟十一酸(PFUnDA)、全氟十二酸(PFDoDA)和全氟十四酸(PFTA),在15 min内即可达到良好的分离.在血样前处理中,采用MTBE液-液萃取和固相萃取相结合的方法,进一步净化样品以延长色谱柱寿命;比较了4种固相萃取小柱对全氟化合物的萃取性能,最终选定HLB柱(Waters).本研究还讨论了两种C18反相柱Acclaim 120(50 mm×4.6 mm, 3 μm)和Acclaim120 (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm)(Dionex) 对PFCs的分析性能,在本实验条件下,两种色谱柱具有相似的分离性能及检出限,线性范围在0.1～50 μg/L之间 (r≥0.9957);对于血液样品该方法的检出限在0.03～0.8 μg/L之间.本研究将该方法成功地应用于血样实际样品中全氟化合物的测定,加标回收除PFTA较低外,其它化合物均在74.2%～118.1%之间.     

Insights on the Modulation of SIRT5 Activity: A Challenging Balance

SIRT5 is a member of the Sirtuin family, a class of deacetylating enzymes consisting of seven isoforms, involved in the regulation of several processes, including gene expression, metabolism, stress response, and aging. Considering that the anomalous activity of SIRT5 is linked to many pathological conditions, we present herein an overview of the most interesting modulators, with the aim of contributing to further development in this field.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Human Body Odor Analysis Method Using GO:PANI/ZNRs/ZIF−8 Adsorbent Followed by GC/MS

Among various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from human skin, trans-2-nonenal, benzothiazole, hexyl salicylate, α-hexyl cinnamaldehyde, and isopropyl palmitate are key indicators associated with the degrees of aging. In our study, extraction and determination methods of human body odor are newly developed using headspace-in needle microextraction (HS-INME). The adsorbent was synthesized with graphene oxide:polyaniline/zinc nanorods/zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (GO:PANI/ZNRs/ZIF−8). Then, a wire coated with the adsorbent was placed into the adsorption kit to be directly exposed to human skin as in vivo sampling and inserted into the needle so that it was able to be desorbed at the GC injector. The adsorption kit was made in-house with a 3D printer. For the in vitro method, the wire coated with the adsorbent was inserted into the needle and exposed to the headspace of the vial. When a cotton T-shirt containing body odor was transferred to a vial, the headspace of the vial was saturated with body odor VOCs. After volatile organic compounds were adsorbed in the dynamic mode, the needle was transferred to the injector for analysis of the volatile organic compounds by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The conditions of adsorbent fabrication and extraction for body odor compounds were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). In conclusion, it was able to synthesize GO:PANI/ZNRs/ZIF−8 at the optimal condition and applicable to both in vivo and in vitro methods for body odor VOCs analysis.     

热丝和射频等离子体化学气相沉积法制备定向碳纳米管薄膜

采用热丝和射频等离子体复合化学气相沉积设备(PE-HF-CVD),以CH4、H2和N2为反应气体.在较低衬底温度下(500℃),用简单的催化剂制备方法--旋涂法在硅片上涂覆Ni(NO3)2溶液,经热处理及H2还原后的Ni颗粒为催化剂,在硅衬底上制备出了垂直于硅片且定向生长的碳纳米管薄膜.扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)结果显示,1 mol/l的硝酸镍溶液旋涂硅片所得催化剂制得的碳纳米管管径为30～50 nm,长度超过4μm,定向性好.并用拉曼光谱(Raman)对不同摩尔浓度Ni(NO3)2溶液条件下制备的碳纳米管薄膜样品进行了表征.     

Feasibility of Defatted Juice from Sea-Buckthorn Berries (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) as a Wheat Beer Enhancer

Juice made from sea-buckthorn berries (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a valuable source of bioactive compounds, vitamins, as well as micro- and macronutrients. By applying defatted sea-buckthorn juice, it is possible to enhance wheat beer and change its sensory properties and the contents of bioactive compounds in the finished product. A sensory assessment showed that wheat beers with a 5% v/v addition of sea-buckthorn juice were characterised by a balanced taste and aroma (overall impression). Physicochemical analyses showed that, compared to the control samples, wheat beers enhanced with defatted sea-buckthorn juice at a rate of 5% v/v or 10% v/v had high total acidity with respective mean values of 5.30 and 6.88 (0.1 M NaOH/100 mL), energy values lower on average by 4.04% and 8.35%, respective polyphenol contents of 274.1 mg GAE/L and 249.7 mg GAE/L, as well as higher antioxidant activity (measured using DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays). The findings show that the samples of wheat beer enhanced with sea-buckthorn juice had average ascorbic acid contents of 2.5 and 4.5 mg/100 mL (in samples with 5% v/v and 10% v/v additions, respectively) and contained flavone glycosides, e.g., kaempferol-3-O-glucuronide-7-O-hexoside. Based on the current findings, it can be concluded that wheat beer enhanced with sea-buckthorn juice could emerge as a new trend in the brewing industry.     

低功耗CMOS同或门的设计

讨论了现有异或门／同或（XOR／XNOR）门的设计,指出了基于不同逻辑类型设计的门电路的优缺点．考虑到基于CMOS设计的XNOR门相对于其他逻辑门在各方面的优点,重点分析了CMOSXNOR门结构对门电路性能的影响．提出了一个新颖的CMOS同或门电路．经PSPICE仿真模拟表明,新设计在没有增加管子数的前提下,改善了门电路的性能．将新设计应用到全加器的设计中,其功耗和功耗延迟积的改进分别达到了9．9％和11．6％．