Ethanol Treatment Research Articles

Crystal Growth Blocking Strategy Enabling Efficient Solvent-Free Synthesis of Hierarchical UiO-66 for Large-Molecule Catalysis

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with rich hierarchical structures have attracted great attention in processes with large molecules, such as catalysis and adsorption. However, efficiently and cost-effectively fabricating hierarchical MOFs with robust stability remains challenging. Herein, we report a crystal growth blocking strategy to prepare hierarchical UiO-66 by a solvent-free method. The addition of FeCl3 to the synthetic system blocks the overgrowth of UiO-66 crystals and limits the particle size to around just 12 nm. After the removal of Fe by ethanol treatment, these small particles loosely aggregate and gain intercrystalline mesopores. The optimal sample Mes-UiO-66 exhibits a well-developed hierarchical structure, the BET surface area reaches 1161.9 m2 g–1, and the mesopore volume attains a state-of-the-art 1.21 cm3 g–1. The superior catalytic performance and the robust stability of Mes-UiO-66 are demonstrated by the oxidation of DBT, in which the DBT conversion surpasses 99% and shows a slight decrease after five cycles. Our finding may provide a novel platform for efficiently fabricating hierarchical MOFs for large-molecule catalysis.

BMSCs-Seeded Interpenetrating Network GelMA/SF Composite Hydrogel for Articular Cartilage Repair.

Because of limited self-healing ability, the treatment of articular cartilage defects is still an important clinical challenge. Hydrogel-based biomaterials have broad application prospects in articular cartilage repair. In this study, gelatin methacrylate (GelMA)and silk fibroin (SF) were combined to form a composite hydrogel with an interpenetrating network (IPN) structure under ultraviolet irradiation and ethanol treatment. Introducing silk fibroin into GelMA hydrogel significantly increased mechanical strength as compressive modulus reached 300 kPa in a GelMA/SF-5 (50 mg/mL silk fibroin) group. Moreover, composite IPN hydrogels demonstrated reduced swelling ratios and favorable biocompatibility and supported chondrogenesis of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) at day 7 and day 14. Additionally, significantly higher gene expressions of Col-2, Acan, and Sox-9 (p < 0.01) were found in IPN hydrogel groups when compared with the GelMA group. An in vivo study was performed to confirm that the GelMA-SF IPN hydrogel could promote cartilage regeneration. The results showed partial regeneration of cartilage in groups treated with hydrogels only and satisfactory cartilage repair in groups of cell-seeded hydrogels, indicating the necessity of additional seeding cells in hydro-gel-based cartilage treatment. Therefore, our results suggest that the GelMA/SF IPN hydrogels may be a potential functional material in cartilage repair and regeneration.

PT150 blocks the rewarding properties of ethanol and attenuates ethanol-induced reduction of egg laying in Coturnix quail.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has been shown to be associated with a dysregulated stress system. Reducing the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT), that binds to glucocorticoid receptors, may attenuate the rewarding properties of drugs of abuse. However, the effect of blocking corticosterone receptors on ethanol reward has yet to be investigated. The current study investigated whether the stress hormone receptor antagonist, PT150, would block the rewarding properties of ethanol via the glucocorticoid receptor system and attenuate other ethanol-induced effects. A conditioned place preference (CPP) procedure was used to examine the rewarding properties of ethanol in an avian preclinical model. Ethanol was paired with the least preferred chamber. On alternate days, water was paired with the preferred chamber. After eight pairings, a place preference test was given that allowed subjects to have access to both chambers. Half of the subjects received PT150 prior to ethanol administration. The other half received vehicle. Time spent in each chamber during the preference tests, locomotor activity during the pairings, and egg production in female birds was recorded. Ethanol treatment resulted in a CPP and pretreatment of PT150 blocked the acquisition of the ethanol-induced place preference. Neither ethanol nor PT150 altered locomotor activity. Pretreatment of PT150 also increased egg production in female quail treated with ethanol. These findings suggest repeated ethanol pairings with visual cues can produce a CPP. Furthermore, pretreatment of PT150 may be a potential pharmacotherapy for blocking the rewarding properties of ethanol and may enhance egg production in female quail treated with ethanol.

Identification of a Diagnosis and Therapeutic Inflammatory Response-Related Gene Signature Associated with Esophageal Adenocarcinoma.

The purpose of this study is to identify the key regulatory genes related to the inflammatory response of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and to find new diagnosis and therapeutic options. We downloaded the dataset GSE72874 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database for this study. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis were used to find common inflammatory response-related genes (IRRGs) in EAC. The relationship between normal and tumor immune infiltration was analyzed using an online database of CIBERSORTx. Finally, 920 DEGs were identified, of which 5 genes were key IRRGs associated with EAC, including three down-regulated genes GNA15, MXD1, and NOD2, and two down-regulated genes PLAUR and TIMP1. Further research found that GNA15, MXD1, and NOD2 were down-regulated, PLAUR and TIMP1 were up-regulated in Barrett's esophagus (BE). In addition, we found that the expression of GNA15 and MXD1 in normal esophageal squamous epithelial cells decreased after ethanol treatment, while the expression of PLAUR and TIMP1 increased after ethanol treatment. Compared with normal esophageal tissue, immune cells infiltrated such as plasma cells, macrophages M0, macrophages M1, macrophages M2, dendritic cells activated, and mast cells activated were significantly increased in EAC, while immune cells infiltrated such as T cells CD4 memory resting, T cells follicular helper, NK cells resting, and dendritic cells resting were significantly reduced. The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that GNA15, MXD1, NOD2, PLAUR and TIMP1 expression had a performed well in diagnosing EAC from healthy control. GNA15, MXD1, NOD2, PLAUR and TIMP1 were identified and validated as novel potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and may be new molecular targets for treatment of EAC.

Role of calcium-sensing receptor in regulating activation susceptibility of postovulatory aging mouse oocytes.

The mechanisms underlying postovulatory oocyte aging (POA) remain largely unknown. The expression of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in mouse oocytes and its role in POA need to be explored. Our objective was to observe CaSR expression and its role in the susceptibility to activating stimuli (STAS) in POA mouse oocytes. The results showed that, although none of the newly ovulated oocytes were activated, 40% and 94% of the oocytes recovered 19 and 25 h after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection were activated, respectively, after ethanol treatment. The level of the CaSR functional dimer protein in oocytes increased significantly from 13 to 25 h post hCG. Thus, the CaSR functional dimer level was positively correlated with the STAS of POA oocytes. Aging in vitro with a CaSR antagonist suppressed the elevation of STAS, and cytoplasmic calcium in oocytes recovered 19 h post hCG, whereas aging with a CaSR agonist increased STAS, and cytoplasmic calcium of oocytes recovered 13 h post hCG. Furthermore, the CaSR was more important than the Na-Ca2+ exchanger in regulating oocyte STAS, and T- and L-type calcium channels were inactive in aging oocytes. We conclude that the CaSR is involved in regulating STAS in POA mouse oocytes, and that it is more important than the other calcium channels tested in this connection.

Inhibition of Ceramide Synthesis Attenuates Chronic Ethanol Induced Cardiotoxicity by Restoring Lysosomal Function and Reducing Necroptosis.

Chronic alcohol misuse could cause alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM), and the specific mechanisms remained largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of endogenous ceramides on chronic ethanol-induced myocardial injury or cell loss (e.g. necroptosis). We established chronic alcohol intoxication models in vivo (male C57BL/6 mice) and in vitro (H9c2 cardiomyoblasts). The ceramide profiles were analyzed in mice myocardium and cultured cardiomyocytes. Further research on the role of ceramides and underlying signaling pathways was carried out in H9c2 cells. The ceramide profiles analysis revealed increased long and very long-chain ceramides in alcoholic myocardium and ethanol-treated cardiomyocytes. Next, we proved that endogenous ceramide inhibition could reduce necroptosis and alleviate cardiomyocytes injury as suggested by decreased levels of p-RIPK1, p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL proteins and cardiac injury factors expression. Furthermore, we found that lysosomal dysfunction also contributed to alcohol-induced cardiac damage and inhibiting ceramide biosynthesis could repaired this to some extent. Cells studies with exogenous C6 ceramide confirmed the pleotropic roles of ceramide in myocardial damage by causing both necroptosis and lysosomal dysfunction. Finally, our data suggested that lysosomal dysfunction could sensitize cardiomyocytes to induction of necroptosis due to the restriction on degradation of RIPK1/RIPK3 proteins. In conclusion, chronic ethanol treatment boosted myocardial ceramide synthesis in animal hearts and cultured cardiomyocytes. Moreover, ceramides exerted crucial roles in the intrinsic signaling pathways of alcohol-induced cardiotoxicity. Targeting ceramide biosynthesis to simultaneously attenuate necroptosis and lysosomal dysfunction might be a novel strategy for preventing alcoholic cardiotoxicity.

Investigation on the applicability of a long-range reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for the rapid detection of active viruses

BackgroundAlthough conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods are widely used in diagnosis, the titer of the pathogenic virus is difficult to determine based on the PCR. In our prior report, a long-range reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (LR-RT-qPCR) assay was developed to assess the titer of UV-irradiated influenza A virus (IAV) rapidly. In this research, we focused on whether the LR-RT-qPCR assay could evaluate the titer of IAV inactivated by other methods.MethodsIAV was inactivated by: heating at 100 °C for periods ranging from 1 to 15 min, treating with 0.12% sodium hypochlorite for periods ranging from 3 to 30 min, or treating with 70% ethanol for periods ranging from 10 to 30 min. Fifty percent tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) assay was performed to confirm the efficacy of the inactivation methods, followed by LR-RT-qPCR to investigate the correlation between infectivity and copy number.ResultsOne minute heating, 3 min sodium hypochlorite treatment, or 10 min ethanol treatment was sufficient to deactivate IAV. Changes before and after the inactivations in the copy numbers on LR-RT-qPCR were significantly different among the inactivation methods. Heat-inactivation drastically decreased the copy number to below the cutoff value around 5 copies/μL after 5 min treatment. The inactivation time of heating estimated using LR-RT-qPCR was marginally higher than that determined using TCID50. However, the treatments with sodium hypochlorite or ethanol moderately and minimally affected the copy numbers obtained using LR-RT-qPCR (~ 1 digit or no copy number decrease), respectively.ConclusionsIn addition to good applicability in UV-irradiation previously reported, the LR-RT-qPCR method is suitable for evaluating the effect of heat-inactivation on IAV infectivity. However, minor modifications may be made and investigated in the future to reduce the time intervals with TCID50. Although this method is not applicable for the ethanol inactivation, rapid evaluation of the effects of chlorination on IAV can be determined by comparing copy numbers before and after treatment using the LR-RT-qPCR method.

Sodium Butyrate Supplementation Modulates Neuroinflammatory Response Aggravated by Antibiotic Treatment in a Mouse Model of Binge-like Ethanol Drinking.

Growing evidence supports the pivotal role of the bidirectional interplay between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system during the progression of alcohol use disorder (AUD). In our previous study, supplementation with sodium butyrate (SB) in C57BL/6J mice prevented increased ethanol consumption in a binge-like drinking paradigm (DID) as a result of treatment with a non-absorbable antibiotic cocktail (ABX). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that SB protection against enhanced ABX-induced ethanol consumption in mice is partially due to modulation of neuroinflammatory responses. Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as changes in microglia and astrocytes were analyzed in hippocampus tissues from ABX-, SB-, ABX+SB-treated mice subjected to 4-week DID. We found that ethanol without or with ABX treatment increased mRNA levels of key brain cytokines (MCP-1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10) while SB supplementation prevented these changes. Additionally, SB supplementation prevented changes in microglia, i.e., increase in Iba-1 positive cell number and morphology, and in astrocytes, i.e., decrease in GFAP-positive cell number, induced by combination of ethanol and ABX treatments. Our results suggest that gut microbiota metabolites can influence drinking behavior by modulation of neuroinflammation, highlighting the potential for microbiome-targeting strategies for treatment or prevention of AUD.

The Effect of Arabica Coffee Fruit Skin Extract (Coffea arabica L.) on the Histopathology of Mice (Mus musculus L.) Liver Induced by Ethanol

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to serious live injury. Alcohol is a source of free radicals that can cause oxidative stress. The provision of antioxidants can counter the effects of free radicals that enter the body. The skin of the Arabica coffee fruit contains antioxidant compounds that can be used as a hepatoprotective in the liver. The skin of the Arabica coffe fruit contains antioxidant compounds that may have a hepatoprotective effect on the liver. This study aimed to determine the effect of extract of arabica coffee fruit skin on necrosis, infiltration and haemorrhage in the liver tissue of 15% EtOH-induced mice for 15 days. The animals used for this study were eight weeks old male Balb/c strain mouse weighing approximately 30-40 grams. This research is an experimental study. There were five groups: the control group (K), the 15% ethanol treatment group (E), and the ethanol-induced group and given different doses of arabica coffee skin extract: 125 mg/kg BW. (A), 250 mg / kg BW (B) and 500 mg / kg BW (C). Observation and identification of necrosis, hepatocyte infiltration and haemorrhage were carried out by using Hematoxylin-eosin staining. The data analysis used was One way ANOVA and continued by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The histopathological observations showed that the extract of arabica coffee fruit skin at a 250 mg/kg BW dose reduced the number of cell necrosis. There was no infiltration of inflammatory and hemorrhagic cells in the liver of 15% EtOH-induced mice. This study concludes that the extract of the skin of the Arabica coffee fruit has hepatoprotective potential in 15% EtOH-induced mice.

Effects of sterilization methods on gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel properties and macrophage gene expression in vitro

To assure the long-term safety and functional performance after implantation, it is of critical importance to completely sterilize a biomaterial implant. Ineffective sterilization can cause severe inflammation and infection at the implant site, leading to detrimental events of morbidity and even mortality. Macrophages are pivotal players in the inflammatory and foreign body response after implanting a biomaterial in the body. However, the relationship between the sterilization procedure and macrophage response has not been established. In this study, three commonly used sterilization methods, including autoclaving, ethylene oxide gas and ethanol treatment, were used to sterilize a gelatin methacryloyl hydrogel. The impacts of different sterilization methods on the structure and physical properties of the hydrogel were compared. Macrophage responses to the sterilized hydrogel were analyzed based on their morphology, viability and in vitro gene expression. It was found that the sterilization methods only marginally altered the hydrogel morphology, swelling behavior and elastic modulus, but significantly impacted macrophage gene expression within 48 h and over 7 d in vitro. Therefore, when selecting sterilization methods for GelMA hydrogel, not only the sterility and hydrogel properties, such as material destruction and degradation caused by temperature and moisture, should be taken into consideration, but also the cellular responses to the sterilized material which could be substantially different.

Doxycycline Attenuated Ethanol-Induced Inflammaging in Endothelial Cells: Implications in Alcohol-Mediated Vascular Diseases.

Excess alcohol consumption is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and is linked to accelerated aging. Drug discovery to reduce toxic cellular events of alcohol is required. Here, we investigated the effects of ethanol on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and explored if doxycycline attenuates ethanol-mediated molecular events in endothelial cells. Initially, a drug screening using a panel of 170 drugs was performed, and doxycycline was selected for further experiments. HUVECs were treated with different concentrations (300 mM and 400 mM) of ethanol with or without doxycycline (10 µg/mL). Telomere length was quantified as telomere to single-copy gene (T/S) ratio. Telomere length and the mRNA expression were quantified by qRT-PCR, and protein level was analyzed by Western blot (WB). Ethanol treatment accelerated cellular aging, and doxycycline treatment recovered telomere length. Pathway analysis showed that doxycycline inhibited mTOR and NFκ-B activation. Doxycycline restored the expression of aging-associated proteins, including lamin b1 and DNA repair proteins KU70 and KU80. Doxycycline reduced senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in ethanol-treated HUVECs. In conclusion, we report that ethanol-induced inflammation and aging in HUVECs were ameliorated by doxycycline.

Protective effects of thiamine on Wickerhamomyces anomalus against ethanol stress.

Wickerhamomyces anomalus (W. anomalus) is widely reported in the brewing industry and has positive effects on the aromatic profiles of wines because of its unique physiological characteristics and metabolic features. However, the accumulation of ethanol during fermentation inhibits the growth of W. anomalus. Thiamine is involved in the response against various abiotic stresses in microorganisms. Therefore, we used transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to study the effect of thiamine on ethanol-stressed W. anomalus. The results indicate that thiamine could alleviate the inhibitory effect of ethanol stress on the survival of W. anomalus. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) caused by the thiamine intervention were identified as oxidative phosphorylation through integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. In addition, ethanol treatment decreased the content of intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), while thiamine partially alleviated this phenomenon. The present comprehensive transcriptional overview and metabolomic analysis provide insights about the mechanisms of thiamine protection on W. anomalus under ethanol stress and promote the potential applications of W. anomalus in the fermentation industry.

Dynamics of ethanol and its metabolites in fruit: The impact of the temperature and fruit species

The objectives of this study were to: i) determine the effect of temperature on the ethanol vaporization rate, ii) determine the effect of temperature on the uptake rate of fruit species and cultivars, iii) understand the relationship between the temperature that ethanol is applied, ethylene metabolism, and respiration rate of fruit, and iv) evaluate the interaction between temperature that fruit are submitted to ethanol treatment on the metabolites produced by them as a response to ethanol treatment. The ethanol vaporization rate was performed in an empty container experiment at 2, 10, and 20 °C. Four experiments were conducted to identify the ethanol uptake rate in ‘Maxi Gala’ and ‘Cripps Pink’ apples, ‘BRS Isis’ table grapes, and ‘Rojo Brillante’ persimmons at 2, 10, and 20 °C. The metabolites produced by the fruit as a response to the ethanol treatment were determined using HS-SPME-GC/MS analysis. Our findings showed that the ethanol vaporization rate increases exponentially with the temperature and has a linear relationship with time. Moreover, the temperature and fruit species/cultivar affected the ethanol uptake rate, with the highest uptake rate at 20 °C. Furthermore, ethanol vapor uptake rate was positively correlated to respiration rate when all fruit species/cultivars were evaluated together, showing that fruit metabolism affects ethanol uptake rate. The temperature impacted the metabolite produced by fruit from ethanol application, evidencing the possibility of managing the volatile compounds produced from ethanol based on the ethanol treatment temperature. The fruit species has a decisive impact if ethanol is esterified or transformed to acetaldehyde, being predominantly esterified in apples and grapes, and converted to acetaldehyde in persimmons. Ethanol vapor treatment reduced the ethylene metabolism in apples at 20 °C, although ethanol increased ethylene in persimmons at 2 °C. Moreover, the respiration rate was generally unaffected or reduced in ethanol-treated fruit compared to untreated fruit of the same species/cultivar.

Mechanisms of ethanol treatment on controlling browning in fresh-cut lotus roots

This study evaluated the changes in phenolic and reactive oxygen species metabolism, and microbial diversity in fresh-cut lotus roots following ethanol treatment to elucidate the potential mechanisms of ethanol in controlling microbial growth and browning. Activity suppression and gene expression downregulation of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase took place with ethanol treatment, resulting in the decreased accumulation of total phenols and soluble quinones. The total phenol and soluble quinone contents of ethanol-treated slices were 12.63% and 30.22% lower than those in the control group, respectively, after 12 d of storage. Ethanol treatment changed the level of eleven individual phenols, two of which were associated with antioxidant ability. Besides, the ethanol-treated slices exhibited the reduced production of reactive oxygen species, increased activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, improved ascorbic acid contents and 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging rate, and the upregulated transcriptional levels of NnGR and NnGST. Moreover, the integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses show the biosynthesis of syringin (an antioxidant in various medicinal plants) might be stimulated by ethanol treatment. Ethanol treatment inhibited the abundance of Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Tolumonas and Stenotrophomonas. These findings suggested ethanol treatment is a simple and potential technology for preserving the quality and antioxidant ability of fresh-cut products.

Effects of ethanol treatment on the physicochemical properties, microstructure and protein structures of egg yolk gels

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethanol treatment on the properties of egg yolk gels (EYG). The hardness of EYG showed an increasing trend, and the changes in free sulfhydryl groups manifested that ethanol treatment facilitated the formation of disulfide bonds. Environment scanning electron microscopy revealed that the degree of protein aggregation increased. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance results indicated that ethanol treatment promoted the conversion of immobile water or lipids to free water or lipids. Moreover, the increase in the absolute of zeta potential was accompanied by the decrease in surface hydrophobicity, and the secondary structure of native egg yolk (EY) proteins underwent changes with ethanol treatment. Overall, these results demonstrated that ethanol treatment induced the structural unfolding and aggregation of EY proteins, and facilitated the better stability of the gel structures. The impact of the ethanol on the EYG increased with the concentration.

Attenuation of the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines prevents depressive-like behavior during ethanol withdrawal in mice

Clinical studies indicate that alcohol-dependent patients may develop depressive symptoms during abstinence, which may increase the likelihood of relapse. It is known that both in alcohol exposure and depression, there is an increase in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain. However, the putative contribution of increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the development of depressive-like behavior during ethanol withdrawal has not been evaluated. In the present study, we aimed to investigate if ethanol withdrawal-induced depressive-like behavior is related to increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the brain. Male mice were treated with vehicle (saline 0.9%, v.o.) or ethanol (2 g/kg, v.o.) for 14 days. After 5 days of cessation of the ethanol treatment, mice were subjected to the forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), and open field test (OFT) and then sacrificed. Their brains were analyzed for the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Ethanol withdrawal mice showed increased immobility time in the FST and TST than by the control group, indicating increased depressive-like behavior. No alterations in OFT were observed. Ethanol withdrawal increased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the hippocampus and striatum, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in the hippocampus, and IL-6 in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Treatment of mice with nimesulide (5 or 10 mg/kg/day), a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, during ethanol withdrawal prevented the increase in immobility time in the TST. Similar results were observed in the FST upon nimesulide treatment, although with a higher dose. Nimesulide treatment (10 mg/kg) prevented the ethanol withdrawal-induced alterations in the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and striatum. Treatment of mice with an atypical antidepressant drug, vilazodone (0.3 or 1 mg/kg) prevented the increase in depressive-like behavior induced by ethanol withdrawal in the TST. In the FST, the increase in immobility time was prevented only by 1 mg/kg vilazodone treatment. Vilazodone prevented the increase in the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the hippocampus, IL-6 in the prefrontal cortex, and TNF-α in the striatum. In conclusion, these data indicate that increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines may play a role in the development of depressive-like behavior during ethanol withdrawal in mice.

Green production of lignocellulose nanofibrils by FeCl3-catalyzed ethanol treatment

The traditional strategy for isolating cellulose nanomaterials requires various chemicals and a high energy input, while achieving a low product yield owing to lignin removal during pulping and bleaching. Here, we propose a green ethanol pretreatment process with a synergistic effect using ultrasound and FeCl3 to produce lignocellulose nanofibrils (LCNF) with a high yield (over 67 %) from thermomechanical pulp. Notably, a high-aspect-ratio LCNF with uniformly distributed lignin nanoparticles, a high lignin content, and excellent thermostability (Tmax > 330 °C) with a typical cellulose I crystalline structure were successfully obtained. In addition, reduced distillation can easily retrieve the FeCl3 solution and ethanol, reducing reagent waste. In general, FeCl3-catalyzed ethanol pretreatment can serve as a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach for converting sustainable lignocelluloses into high value-added nanomaterials. Moreover, the obtained LCNF can be applied in diverse fields.

Structural Changes Caused by CO2 or Ethanol Deastringency Treatments in Cold-Stored ‘Giombo’ Persimmon

Persimmon cv. Giombo is astringent at harvest and must be subjected to astringency removal treatment. To date, the most widespread treatment for this variety involves applying ethanol instead of high CO2 concentrations, which is the usual treatment with other varieties. This study aims to evaluate the effect of high CO2 or ethanol concentrations as deastringency treatments on the quality and flesh structure of ’Giombo´ persimmon during cold storage. The deastringency process was faster in the fruit treated with CO2 than with ethanol. One day after treatment, the CO2-treated fruit showed lower soluble tannin levels than those detected sensorially for this variety, while with the ethanol-treated fruit, these values were obtained after 25 storage days plus the shelf-life period. The tannin insolubilisation process was observed by light microscopy. Loss of flesh firmness during storage was more pronounced when fruit were previously treated with ethanol than with CO2. This is closely related to greater parenchyma degradation during storage caused by ethanol treatment, which was observed by a microstructural study by cryo-scanning electron microscopy. Therefore, as deastringency treatment for ‘Giombo’, applying CO2 instead of ethanol treatment is recommended for better fruit quality, especially when fruit are to be cold-stored.

Investigation of Carbon Nanostructure Synthesis Pathway with Plasma Treatment of Ethanol

Plasma conversion of ethanol into carbon nanostructures is easily achieved by in-liquid plasmas but also possible with atmospheric pressure plasmas, where plasma forms in the gas phase over the liquid’s surface. Two plasma configurations were used – atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). These plasmas configurations should help reveal synthesis paths of different carbon allotropes. Moreover, this focus is on the determination of the importance of the in-liquid electrode material on nanostructure production and the possibilities of controlling nano-carbon allotropes by controlling plasma parameters. Plasma-liquid interaction was additionally influenced by an electrode placed under the treatment chamber or the addition of a graphite foil in the liquid ethanol. The experiments were conducted in ethanol with argon plasma, indicating an interesting pathway for converting ethanol into nanocarbons. Ethanol solution was analysed with UV-Vis spectroscopy, while carbon nanostructures were more thoroughly investigated with SEM and TEM. In the beginning, obtained carbon allotropes were mostly amorphous, whose size reduced with longer treatment times and structured carbon was synthesised.

Phosphodiesterase 4 mRNA Level Suppression is Important for Extract of Black Carrot to Protect Against Hepatic Injury Induced by Ethanol.

Excessive alcohol use often results in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). An early change in the liver due to excessive drinking is hepatic steatosis, which may ultimately progress to hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Among these debilitating processes, hepatic steatosis is reversible with the appropriate treatment. Therefore, it is important to find treatments and foods that reverse hepatic steatosis. Black carrot has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of black carrot extract (BCE) on hepatic steatosis in in vivo and in vitro ethanol-induced liver injury models. For the in vivo experiments, serum aminotransferase activities enhanced by ethanol- and carbon tetrachloride were significantly suppressed by the BCE diet. Furthermore, morphological changes in the liver hepatic steatosis and fibrosis were observed in the in vivo ethanol-induced liver injury model, however, BCE feeding resulted in the recovery to an almost normal liver morphology. In the in vitro experiments, ethanol treatment induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in hepatocytes at 9 h. Conversely, ROS production was suppressed to control levels and hepatic steatosis was suppressed when hepatocyte culture with ethanol were treated with BCE. Furthermore, we investigated enzyme activities, enzyme protein levels, and messenger RNA levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), cytochrome p450 2E1 (CYP2E1), and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) using enzyme assays, western blot, and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses. We found that the activities of ADH, CYP2E1, and ALDH were regulated through the cAMP-PKA pathway at different levels, namely, translational, posttranslational, and transcriptional levels, respectively. The most interesting finding of this study is that BCE increases cAMP levels by suppressing the Pde4b mRNA and PDE4b protein levels in ethanol-treated hepatocytes, suggesting that BCE may prevent ALD.