Citric Acid Research Articles

Wood-Derived Hydrogels for Osteochondral Defect Repair.

Repairing cartilage tissue is a serious global challenge. Herein, we focus on wood skeletal structures that are highly porous for cell penetration yet have load-bearing strength, and aim to synthesize wood-derived hydrogels with the ability to regenerate cartilage tissues. The hydrogels were synthesized by wood delignification and the subsequent intercalation of citric acid (CA), which is involved in tricarboxylic acid cycles and essential for energy production, and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG), which is a cartilage glycosaminoglycan, among cellulose microfibrils. CA and NAG intercalation increased the amorphous region of the cellulose microfibrils and endowed them with flexibility while maintaining the skeletal structure of the wood. Consequently, the CA-NAG-treated wood hydrogels became twistable and bendable, and the acquired stiffness, compressive strength, water content, and cushioning characteristics were similar to those of the cartilage. In rabbit femur cartilage defects, CA-NAG-treated wood hydrogels induced the differentiation of surrounding cells into chondrocytes. Consequently, the CA-NAG-treated wood hydrogels repaired cartilage defects, whereas the collagen scaffolds, delignified wood materials, and CA-treated wood hydrogels did not. The CA-NAG-treated wood hydrogels exhibit superior structural and mechanical characteristics over conventional cellulose-fiber-containing scaffolds. Furthermore, the CA-NAG-treated wood hydrogels can effectively repair cartilage on their own, whereas conventional natural and synthetic polymeric materials need to be combined with cells and growth factors to achieve a sufficient therapeutic effect. Therefore, the CA-NAG-treated wood hydrogels successfully address the limitations of current therapies that either fail to repair articular cartilage or sacrifice healthy cartilage. To our knowledge, this is the pioneer study on the utilization of thinned wood for tissue engineering, which will contribute to solving both global health and environmental problems and to creating a sustainable society.

Development of instant jelly powder from elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus oncophyllus) and roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) as a functional food for diabetes mellitus patients

Elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus oncophyllus) is one of Indonesia’s most widely grown agricultural commodities. It has a myriad of benefits, especially as a functional food for people with diabetes mellitus. Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is a flowering herb rich in polyphenols and anthocyanins with antioxidant and antidiabetic potentials. Therefore, the aim of this study was to create a functional food that is suitable for diabetes mellitus patients. In this study, a functional food product in the form of instant jelly powder was developed from the yam and roselle. Glucomannan extract, obtained from the yam flour by leaching, was tested using a Fourier-transformed infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer (qualitative) and determined the content. Three formulas with different amounts of glucomannan and iota carrageenan were developed to determine the most optimized formulation. The most optimized formulation was determined based on organoleptic characteristics and the results of the gel strength and hardness, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity tests using the ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3 ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay. Glucomannan extraction produced a 92.40% yield, with 46.32% glucomannan content. The spectrophotometric analysis indicated the presence of glucomannan in the extract, and further tests showed it increased with the decrease in gel strength and hardness. It was found that formula I produced the best jelly texture with a total phenolic content of 0.30% GAE (formula II 0.13% GAE; formula III 0.27% GAE) and an ABTS radical scavenging activity of 90.51% (II: 73.49%; III: 88.16%). In conclusion, formula I containing 6.35 g of carrageenan, 2.12 g glucomannan, 1.5 g roselle, 0.03 g citric acid, and 0.003 g sucralose has the best composition to create the most elastic and firm jelly texture with the highest phenolic content and radical scavenging activity.

Influence of Different Taste Feed Additives on Feed Intake and Growth Performance in Growing Goats

ABSTRACTThe present study was carried out to evaluate the influence of different taste feed additives on feed intake and growth performance in Alpine × Beetal growing goats. For this, a 90‐day growth trial was conducted on 36 growing goats of 3–4 months age which were divided into six groups of six animals each. Animals in all groups were fed individually to meet the requirement for both maintenance and growth as per ICAR 2013. Individual taste feed additives were added in their concentrate mixture of total mixed ration (TMR) as food‐grade sucrose (sweet) at the rate of 75 g/kg DM (SWE), NaCl (salt) at the rate of 15 g/kg DM (SAL), food‐grade citric acid (sour) at the rate of 10 g/kg DM (SOU), urea (bitter) at the rate of 5 g/kg DM (BIT) and food‐grade monosodium glutamate (umami) at the rate of 10 g/kg DM (UMA). The study revealed significantly higher (p < 0.01) average dry matter intake (DMI) (kg/day) in SWE (0.541 ± 0.034) and SAL (0.560 ± 0.041) groups compared to CON (0.476 ± 0.039). Average daily body weight gain (g/d/animal) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in sweet and salt taste‐supplemented groups compared to control. Body measurements including heart girth, withers height, body length and hip height were similar among six treatments. Feed conversion efficiency (kg live weight gain/100 kg DMI) and feed conversion ratio (kg DMI/kg live weight gain) were unaffected due to taste supplementation. While supplementation of sweet taste increased the digestibility of NDF and ADF, sweet‐ and salt‐supplemented groups increased DCP as well as TDN intake. It was concluded that addition of sweet and salt taste in TMR had a positive impact on feed intake and growth performance in growing goats.

Comprehensive evaluation of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) tablets as a novel solid-state alternative to conventional membrane cleaning agents in gravity-driven filtration systems.

Gravity-driven membrane (GDM) systems are increasingly recognized as sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for decentralized water treatment. However, membrane fouling, particularly by organic matter, remains a significant operational challenge, necessitating regular chemical cleaning to maintain performance. The present study was undertaken to investigate the cleaning efficiency of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) tablets, a novel solid-state alternative to conventional liquid cleaning agents such as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), acetic acid, and citric acid. NaDCC tablets, originally developed for drinking water disinfection, offer advantages in terms of transport, storage, and safety compared with conventional liquid formulations. A comparative evaluation of cleaning agents was conducted on hollow fiber membranes used in GDM systems, with the concentration and contact times optimized for each chemical. NaOCl demonstrated the highest permeability recovery, reaching 48.29% at 500 mg L-1 after 12 h, followed closely by NaDCC, with a recovery of 46.55% under similar conditions. Conversely, SLS, acetic acid, and citric acid presented significantly lower recovery rates, with maximum flux restorations of 14.57%, 14.90%, and 16.73%, respectively. These results highlight the comparable performance of NaDCC and NaOCl in addressing organic fouling while offering practical advantages such as greater stability and reduced chemical handling risks. This study highlights the efficacy of NaDCC as a viable detergent for GDM systems, and also provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of the water permeability performances of commercial detergents such as NaOCl, which cause various ecotoxicities, and suggests the feasibility of NaDCC as a chemical detergent in practical membrane processes. Our findings contribute to the development of more sustainable and cost-effective membrane-cleaning protocols that enhance long-term operational efficiency and minimize environmental impacts.

Ethanol and citric acid: an efficient alternative for extracting anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, and co-pigments associated with thermostability from Syrah grape pomace

Ethanol and citric acid: an efficient alternative for extracting anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, and co-pigments associated with thermostability from Syrah grape pomace

Screening and Identification of Cold-Tolerant Phosphorus and Potassium Solubilizing Bacteria and Their Growth-Promoting Effects on Soybean in Cold Regions

In this study, we collected soybean inter-root soil (clay soil) from the cold region of Heilongjiang Province, China, screening for cold-tolerant phosphorus- and potassium-solubilizing bacteria by the gradient-cooling-directed screening and design of mixed bacterial agents. This study screened cold-tolerant phosphorus-solubilizing and potassium-solubilizing bacteria by gradient-cooling-directed screening and constructed mixed bacterial agents. We analyzed the strain’s phosphorus/potassium solubilizing capacity, as well as its organic acid secretion ability, to reveal its mechanism of detoxification of phosphorus and potassium. Clay soil from the cold region of Heilongjiang, China, was collected for soybean potting trials. The soybean pot experiment was used to investigate the growth-promoting effects of cold-tolerant strains applied to soybeans and to analyze the effects of changes in soil bacterial activity on soybean growth. A dominant phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria strain P-5 (Pantoea ananatis) was screened, and the amount of phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria was 34.94 mg/L with a PSI (Phosphorus Solubilization Index) of 1.80 for 7 days of incubation at 15 °C. The OD600 value (optical density of 600 nm) on the 10th day was 0.61. The dominant potassium-solubilizing bacteria, K-1 (Rahnella aquatilis), solubilized 23.02 mg/L of potassium under the same culture conditions, with a KSI (Potassium Solubilization) of 1.51 and an OD600 value of 0.59 on day 10. The dominant mixed bacterial agents H-5 (25% P-5 and 75% K-1), designed with the above two, detoxified phosphorus at 62.58 mg/L and potassium at 37.59 mg/L under the same culture conditions. It was shown that P-2 secretes gluconic acid and P-5 secretes lactic acid to degrade insoluble phosphorus at low temperatures and that K-1 secretes citric acid to degrade insoluble potassium. The soybean pot experiment study showed that the application of phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), potassium-solubilizing bacteria (KSB), and mixed bacterial agents (MSB) alone could enhance the relative abundance of Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and other bacterial genera in the soybean planting soil, compared with the control treatment without bacterial agents (BLK). Indirectly, they can enhance the accumulation of phosphorus and potassium in various organs of soybean, promote the development of soybean leaves and stems, and achieve the effect of promoting production and increasing income. This study has important theoretical value for the replacement of chemical fertilizer application by microbial agents in the cold region of China, and it has important practical and strategic significance for the promotion of income green safety in China’s main grain-producing areas.

Control of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Seafood Using the Combination of Lytic Phages and Citric Acid.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a key foodborne pathogen in seafood that poses health risks to consumers. The application of phages and organic acids is considered an alternative strategy for controlling bacterial contamination in foods. In the present study, the genome features of five previously isolated virulent V. parahaemolyticus phages (VPpYZU64, VPpYZU68, VPpYZU81, VPpYZU92, and VPpYZU110) were characterized, and their bacteriostatic effects in combination with citric acid were analyzed. Genome sequencing of the five phages showed a total genome length of 76,153-144,768 bp. No virulent or drug-resistant genes were detected in the five phages. Bacterial inhibition testing of salmon fillets stored at 25 °C for 12 h showed that the number of V. parahaemolyticus decreased by 2.02 and 3.84 log CFU/g after treatment with a phage mixture, VPpMIx, and the combination of phage mixture VPpMIx and citric acid. In addition, phage VPpYZU64 combined with 600 μg/mL citric acid exhibited the highest biofilm reduction rate for V. parahaemolyticus. Collectively, our results show that combining phages and citric acid is a natural and efficient method of controlling V. parahaemolyticus growth in seafood.

Energy-efficient Carbon-doped TiO2 for Visible Light Degradation of Methyl Orange: Preparation, Performance, and Mechanism

Water pollution caused by textile dyes has become a serious issue, making the treatment of sewage urgent. Carbon-doped TiO2 (C-doped TiO2), using alkanes and polyols as carbon sources, has been found to be light-responsive in degrading dyes. However, there is a lack of studies on the interfacial interaction between carboxylic acids and TiO2. Therefore, citric acid, a triprotic, hexadentate carboxylic acid, was used to dope TiO2 through solvothermal-calcination. The effects of carbon content and calcination temperature on the photodegradation performance of C-doped TiO2 were investigated. The band gap energy of C-doped TiO2 was found to be narrower (2.67 eV) than that of undoped TiO2 (2.88 eV). After carbon doping, the absorption band extended from the UV to the visible regions, lowering the energy required for electron excitation. The functional groups present on C-doped TiO2 assisted in the adsorption of methyl orange (MO), assisting in photodegradation. Only the anatase phase of TiO2 was observed at calcination temperatures between 250 and 400 °C. Photoluminescence analysis revealed that a lower carbon content and slightly higher calcination temperature resulted in better interfacial charge separation and transfer efficiency. The 10 wt% C-doped TiO2 calcined at 300 °C demonstrated the best MO photodegradation efficiency of 62.1% under visible light illumination. Copyright © 2024 by Authors, Published by BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Comparative analysis of clinico-metabolic profiles between St Thomas and del Nido cardioplegia solutions: A pilot study.

Cardioplegia (CP) is integral to myocardial protection during cardiac surgery. Two standard cardioplegic solutions viz. Del Nido solution (DNS) and St Thomas solution (STS) are widely used in cardiac surgeries. The DNS is a single-dose CP that offers superior myocardial protection in adults, and studies have claimed myocardial injury in STS patients. The elevated circulatory level of citric acid cycle intermediate, succinate is a metabolic hallmark of ischemia. Its rapid oxidation after reperfusion causes ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury through mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. Succinate has been identified as an early marker of IR injury through blood plasma/serum-based clinical metabolomics studies. The primary objective of the study was metabolomic profiling of succinate from the coronary sinus and venous blood. Two blood samples each were obtained from coronary sinus (CS) & venous reservoir from patients before the application of aortic cross-clamp and after the release of aortic cross-clamp from 22 patients divided into two groups. The blood-serum metabolic profiles were measured by 800 MHz NMR spectrometer and compared using univariate statistical analysis methods. The study also compared the two groups' cardiopulmonary bypass variables and left ventricle functions. DNS leads to increased serum levels of succinate in the coronary sinus blood after the reperfusion compared to STS. The results of our study are consistent with a previous study that found DNS administration (90minutes) increases the inflammatory response in the myocardium. NMR-based serum metabolomics revealed significantly increased circulatory succinate in coronary sinus blood of patients administered with DNS cardioplegia in comparison to STS cardioplegia. URL- https://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/login.php.

Optimization of Pectin Extraction from Watermelon Rind and Characterization of the Extracted Pectin

Watermelon rind, comprising approximately 30% of the fruit weight, is commercially discarded as waste. This study explored the extraction of pectin from watermelon rind using citric acid, examining the effects of acid concentration, pH, and extraction temperature on yield using a Central Composite Design approach. The optimized conditions comprising of 3% citric acid, pH 1.28, 90°C extraction temperature, and a solid-to-extractant ratio of 1:25 for 1 hour, yielded a maximum pectin of 20.09%, closely matching the experimental yield of 19.02%, with an R2 value of 99.8%. Vacuum drying at 40°C and 550 mmhg-1 was determined to be ideal for drying the precipitated pectin. The extracted pectin exhibited high purity with a moisture content of 7.90%, methoxyl content of 6.86%, anhydrouronic acid content of 71.25%, ash content of 2.05%, and a degree of esterification (DE) of 55.24%, categorizing it as moderately high methoxyl pectin. The pectin could successfully be stored in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pouches and borosilicate glass containers under ambient and refrigerated conditions for up to six months without significant quality degradation. The process outlined in this study provides a sustainable method for valorizing watermelon rind, demonstrating its potential as a raw material for high-quality pectin production.

Acid‐Enhanced Photoiniferter Polymerization under Visible Light

Photoiniferter (PI) is a promising polymerization methodology, often used to overcome restrictions posed by thermal reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization. However, in the overwhelming majority of reports, high energy UV irradiation is required to effectively trigger photolysis of RAFT agents and facilitate the polymerization, significantly limiting its potential, scope, and applicability. Although visible light PI has emerged as a highly attractive alternative, most current approaches are limited to the synthesis of lower molecular weight polymers, and typically suffer from prolonged reaction times, extended induction periods, and higher dispersities. Herein, an acid‐enhanced PI RAFT polymerization is introduced that efficiently operates under visible light irradiation. The presence of small amounts of biocompatible citric acid fully eliminates the lengthy induction period by enhancing photolysis, rapidly consumes the CTA, and accelerates the reaction rate, yielding polymers with narrow molar mass distributions, near‐quantitative conversions, and high end‐group fidelity. Ultra‐high molecular weight polymers can also be synthesized within short timescales without compromising the control over the dispersity (Ð ~1.1). The versatility of the technique is further demonstrated through the synthesis of well‐defined diblock copolymers and its compatibility to various polymer classes (i.e. acrylamides, acrylates, methacrylates), thus establishing visible‐light PI as a robust tool for polymer synthesis.

Biochemical profiling and byproduct utilization of Garcinia aril

Garcinia gummi-gutta, commonly known as Malabar Tamarind, is a fruit crop of significant economic value, extensively grown in the southern regions of the Western Ghats. The economically valuable part is the fruit peel or rind, which is used as a seasoning in its dried form, imparting a distinct flavour and taste to food preparations. During processing of the rind, the edible aril, a whitish pulp attached to the seed, is discarded. The aril of G. gummi-gutta fruits has a unique flavour with a sweet-acidic blend. Biochemical profiling of the aril is essential for developing food products with enhanced nutritional benefits. The present study reports the quantification of its biochemical components. Identification and quantification of various sugars and acids were performed using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Fructose (47.44 mg/g) emerged as the predominant sugar, while Hydroxy Citric Acid (522.99 mg/g) was identified as the principal organic acid. Biochemical profiling of the aril revealed its potential for functional food development. The aril contained significant amounts of Hydroxy Citric Acid (2.64 %), known for anti-obesity properties, along with calcium (756.67 ppm), potassium 649.52 ppm, phenols 382.25 mg GAE/g , flavonoids 6.58 mg QE/g, and exhibited 87.32 % antioxidant activity. Ready-to-serve blended fruit beverages were developed using the pulp of G. gummi-gutta aril combined with pomegranate, watermelon or dragon fruit juice. Sensory analysis indicates higher consumer acceptance and enhanced nutritional qualities. The utilisation of G. gummi-gutta byproducts can contribute to food product diversification, providing innovative options for novel products with enhanced taste and health benefits.

Advancing anthocyanin extraction: Optimising solvent, preservation, and microwave techniques for enhanced recovery from merlot grape Marc.

Grape marc, a by-product of winemaking, is a rich source of bioactive compounds, yet efficient extraction methods suitable for industrial application remain underexplored. This study presents an integrated, three-stage approach to optimise the extraction of anthocyanins, phenolics, and tannins from Merlot grape marc. In the first stage, 12 solvents were evaluated using conventional solvent extraction, with 50% ethanol (EtOH) acidified with hydrochloric acid (HCl) achieving the highest anthocyanin recovery after eight extraction cycles (0.66g/kg of grape marc), followed by formic acid (0.59g/kg) and citric acid (0.58g/kg) treatments. The second stage assessed drying methods across eight temperatures combined with a single extraction cycle using 50% EtOH HCl, identifying 70°C as the optimal heat-drying condition (1.23g/kg total anthocyanins, 0.4g/kg monomeric anthocyanins). Freeze-drying at -105°C (TN105) with a prewash step (SRT105) further enhanced anthocyanin yields (2.24g/kg total anthocyanins, 0.69g/kg monomeric anthocyanins). In the final stage, microwave-assisted extraction significantly increased recovery, with SRT105-MW in 50% EtOH HCl yielding 8.07g/100g total phenolics, 5.76g/100g tannins, 3.7g/kg total anthocyanins, and 2.8g/kg monomeric anthocyanins. This optimised method preserved anthocyanin composition, including malvidin- and peonidin-3-glucosides (585 and 560mg/kg, respectively), along with cyanidin-, delphinidin-, and petunidin-3-glucosides (463, 360, and 257mg/kg, respectively), as well as 66-99mg/kg of acylated and 37-60mg/kg of coumaroylated anthocyanins. Citric acid (50% EtOH CA) demonstrated potential as a sustainable alternative, achieving ∼90% of the anthocyanin yield of HCl treatments. These findings offer a practical, scalable framework for industrial anthocyanin recovery, advancing sustainable utilisation of grape marc.

A Sustainable Approach for the Development of Cellulose-Based Food Container from Coconut Coir.

The increasing demand for sustainable resources has revived the research on cellulose over the last decades. Therefore, the current research focused on the synthesis of biopolymers for the development of viable tableware utensils from cellulose of coconut coir. The synthesized biopolymer was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), tensile strength, and contact angle. The synthesized biopolymer was converted to workable conditions through incorporation of starch, as a binder, at various ratios with cellulose, ranging from 1:9 to 10:0. Moreover, the most prominent features of the synthesized biopolymer were obtained by the addition of glycerin as a plasticizer and citric acid as a cross-linker. At 6:4 ratio of cellulose and binder showed excellent mechanical properties, and with the incorporation of cross-linker, the biopolymer possessed high tensile strength (18.6 MPa) and elongation (3.5%) in comparison to commercially available polystyrene polymer (1.5 MPa) and (2.6%), respectively. Furthermore, the cross-linker citric acid bestows with network structure that was confirmed with the change of contact angle (81°), FT-IR spectra, surface morphology, crystallinity index, and water vapor transmission rate (573 g/m2/d). TGA data revealed the improved thermal properties of the biopolymer, and the decomposed temperature was elevated from >223 to 238 °C in the presence of network structure proved by cross-linker. The degree of deterioration was assessed by soil burial test, highlighting the environmental compatibility of the tableware. The purpose of the study was to synthesize sustainable tableware from waste source coir fiber for the reduction of harmful effects of synthetic counterpart.

Addressing of Aluminum Anode Based Battery Challenges: Electrochemical Effect of Zn-Mn Electrodeposition

Aluminum (Al) has emerged to become one of the potential anode materials candidates in metal-based batteries due to its abundant resource, inexpensive cost, good safeness and high theoretical energy density. However, thoughtful challenges have been barrier towards huge progress, including easy aluminum hydroxide formation, low practical voltage, and high corrosion rate. To approach those problems, this article proposes to enhance the electrochemical performance of anode side through electrodeposition of Zn-Mn on aluminum surface. The deposition of Zn-Mn consists of citrate and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as complexing agent to control the process rate. The effect of various deposition time, 0, 10, and 30 minutes, will be investigated by linear polarization, linear sweep voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. The electrochemical measurement exhibits the deposition effect, minimized the impedance of Al surface and improved the electrochemical reactions. Moreover, the appearance of Zn-Mn layer has prolonged the discharge performance with battery analyzer measurements. Therefore, energy density increased from 1270.52 to 3327.68 mWh g-1Al and the specific capacity enhances from 2779.908 to 7291.651 mAh g-1. All the measurements applied 3.5% sodium chloride (NaCl). These results pose the electrical performance enhancement from the anode side, but the development of other sides is also necessary.

Hydrolysis of the acetyl-CoA allosteric activator by Staphylococcus aureus pyruvate carboxylase.

Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) catalyzes the carboxylation of pyruvate to oxaloacetate which serves as an important anaplerotic reaction to replenish citric acid cycle intermediates. In most organisms, the PC-catalyzed reaction is allosterically activated by acetyl-coenzyme A. It has previously been reported that vertebrate PC can catalyze the hydrolysis of acetyl-CoA, offering a potential means for the enzyme to attenuate its allosteric activation. However, in the years since this initial report, there has been no further investigation of this phenomenon. The allosteric binding site for acetyl-CoA is now well characterized, enabling more detailed studies on acetyl-CoA hydrolysis at the allosteric site. Here, we confirm that slow acetyl-CoA hydrolysis is catalyzed by a bacterial PC from Staphylococcus aureus, indicating that this phenomenon is a broad feature of PC enzymes spanning the domains of life. Surprisingly, the enzyme can hydrolyze acetyl-CoA even when the binding site for the acetyl moiety is eliminated through truncation of the biotin carboxylase domain. This suggests that an alternative site for acetyl-CoA binding and hydrolysis may be present in the carboxyltransferase domain of S. aureus PC. We conclude that PC has evolved to minimize the rate of acetyl-CoA hydrolysis at the allosteric site and update the description of PC-catalyzed acetyl-CoA hydrolysis to suggest that this reaction is unlikely to play a significant physiological, metabolic or catalytic role.

Phenolic, Organic Acid and Sugar Content of Garlic Genotypes (Allium sativum L.) Grown in Different Regions of Türkiye

In this study, the biochemical profiles of five different genotypes of garlic (Allium sativum L.) harvested in different regions of Türkiye were investigated in detail, focusing on phenolic compounds, organic acids and sugar components. The analyses were carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and showed that there were significant biochemical differences between the genotypes. A total of 18 phenolic compounds, 12 organic acids and 3 sugar components were determined in the samples. With the phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity, while Genotype 4 had the highest chlorogenic acid (174.99 mg kg-1), Gentype 5 had the highest catechin hydrate (158.77 mg kg-1), gallic acid (22.35 mg kg-1) and p-coumaric acid (12.78 mg kg-1). The profile of organic acids was also presented, where Genotype 2 was the richest genotype for citric acid (7374.66 mg kg-1). Other significant organic acids, succinic (12747.34 mg kg-1) and isobutyric acid (149.54 mg kg-1) which were identified the highest in Genotype 5. As far as sugar components are concerned, sucrose levels showed a significant variation between the genotypes, where Genotype 5 had 3197.79 mg kg-1 and Genotype 4 had 1950.93 mg kg-1. There were statistically significant differences between the genotypes in terms of phenolic compounds, organic acids and sugar components (p

Integrative analysis of the transcriptome, proteomics and metabolomics reveals key genes involved in the regulation of breast muscle metabolites in capons

Abstract Castration is widely used in poultry and livestock to enhance fat metabolism and improve the flavor, tenderness and juiciness of meat. However, the genetic regulatory mechanism underlying castration consequences have not been clarified. To investigate the key metabolites affecting the quality of capons and the key regulatory mechanisms, Qingyuan partridge roosters were subjected to castration. Metabolic profiling was used to detect differential metabolites in the breast muscle of both capon and control groups. Additionally, an integrative analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics was conducted to explore the genetic regulation mechanisms influencing meat quality. The results indicated that the muscle fiber density and shear force of capons was lower than that of normal chickens, and the fat percentage of capon group (CAM) was higher than control group (COM). The expression of the metabolite inostine-5’-monophosphate (IMP) was lower in capons, and lipid metabolites (PC (10:0/10:0), PC (6:0/13:1), LPC 22:6, LPC 18:2, LPE 18:1, LPE 20:4) were higher in capons. Metabolic pathways were found to be a common signaling pathway in all omics. Glutamate-ammonia ligase (GLUL), acetyl-CoA carboxylase beta (ACACB), 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 2 (AGPAT2), 4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutarate aldolase 1 (HOGA1) and glutathione S-transferase alpha 2 (GSTA2) regulate the expression of citric acid, arachidonic acid, palmitic acid, isocitric acid, and betaine. These findings highlight the key mechanisms contributing to the meat quality differences between capons and normal chickens.

Design and development of Vaginal wall mimicking Poly (ε-caprolactone) based nanofibrous prosthetic mesh for pelvic organ prolapse: Evaluation of biocompatibility and antibacterial ability

Abstract Mechanical non-conformance of conventionally used transvaginal non-degradable meshes has led to complications like organ perforation, dyspareunia caused by mesh stiffness, and stress shielding. In this study, we have solved the dire need of mimicking the mechanical properties of vaginal wall by designing and developing a soft and elastic mesh made of polycaprolactone (PCL), citric acid modified polyethylene glycol (PEGC) and zinc oxide (ZnO) prepared through electrospinning and is tested in-vitro and in-vivo. Mesh containing 90:10:0.1 of PCL, PEGC and ZnO (PEGC-15 0.1ZnO mesh), conformed to the mechanical properties of vaginal wall of pelvic floor, has burst strength of ~35 N even after gamma-sterilization and 28 days of degradation in in-vitro. The in-vitro studies using adipose-derived stem cells revealed that PCL-PEGC-15 0.1ZnO meshes were biocompatible and supported higher collagen production than commercial mesh. In-vitro bacterial adhesion study showed 2-log reduction compared to the commercially available mesh for prolapse treatment. Initial biocompatibility assessment in rabbit model also showed that PCL-PEGC-15 0.1ZnO mesh is biocompatible and supports fibrosis throughout the mesh. The softness and flexibility of PCL-PEGC-15 0.1ZnO mesh based on in-vitro trials and initial in-vivo trials has proved to have a potential clinical impact for pelvic floor repair treatment.

Diagnosis, Severity, and Prognosis from Potential Biomarkers of COVID-19 in Urine: A Review of Clinical and Omics Results.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has spurred an extraordinary scientific effort to better understand the disease's pathophysiology and develop diagnostic and prognostic tools to guide more precise and effective clinical management. Among the biological samples analyzed for biomarker identification, urine stands out due to its low risk of infection, non-invasive collection, and suitability for frequent, large-volume sampling. Integrating data from omics studies with standard biochemical analyses offers a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of COVID-19. This review aims to provide a detailed summary of studies published to date that have applied omics and clinical analyses on urine samples to identify potential biomarkers for COVID-19. In July 2024, an advanced search was conducted in Web of Science using the query: "covid* (Topic) AND urine (Topic) AND metabol* (Topic)". The search included results published up to 14 October 2024. The studies retrieved from this digital search were evaluated through a two-step screening process: first by reviewing titles and abstracts for eligibility, and then by retrieving and assessing the full texts of articles that met the specific criteria. The initial search retrieved 913 studies, of which 45 articles were ultimately included in this review. The most robust biomarkers identified include kynurenine, neopterin, total proteins, red blood cells, ACE2, citric acid, ketone bodies, hypoxanthine, amino acids, and glucose. The biological causes underlying these alterations reflect the multisystemic impact of COVID-19, highlighting key processes such as systemic inflammation, renal dysfunction, critical hypoxia, and metabolic stress.