Low Molecular Weight Fraction Research Articles

Walnut ( Juglans regia) Peptides Reverse Sleep Deprivation-Induced Memory Impairment in Rat via Alleviating Oxidative Stress.

The aim of this study was to determine the neuroprotective effects of walnut protein hydrolysates (WPH) against memory deficits induced by sleep deprivation (SD) in rat and further to identify and characterize the potent neuroprotective peptides against glutamate-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. Results showed that a remarkable amelioration effect on behavioral performance in Morris water maze test was observed for WPH and its low molecular weight fraction WPHL, especially for WPHL. Additionally, a reduction of antioxidant defense (catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) and an increase of malondialdehyde content induced by SD were normalized in brain of rat after oral administration of WPH and WPHL. Then three neuroprotective peptides including GGW, VYY, and LLPF were identified from WPHL, which could protect PC12 cells against glutamate-induced apoptosis with relative cell viability of 78.29 ± 3.09%, 80.65 ± 1.74%, and 83.97 ± 3.06%, respectively, versus glutamate group 48.61 ± 3.99%. The possible mechanism underlying their protective effects of GGW and VYY could be related to their strong radical scavenging activity as well as their ability to reduce reactive oxygen species production and the depletion of SOD and GSH-px in PC12 cells. Notably, the marked neuroprotective effects of LLPF, which did not show obvious free-radical scavenging activity in vitro, could be attributed to its strong effects on inhibiting Ca2+ influx and mitochondrial membrane potential collapse. Additionally, all these peptides could regulate the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax and Bcl-2). Therefore, walnut peptides might be regarded as the potential nutraceuticals against neurodegenerative disorders associated with memory deficits.

Improving the extractability of arabinoxylans and the molecular weight of wheat endosperm using extrusion processing

Cereal derived arabinoxylans (AXs) are non-starch polysaccharides that have immunomodulatory activities. These activities are thought to be related to the low molecular weight fractions of AXs. Wheat and wheat by-products are rich in AXs, however, the water extractable fraction of AXs in wheat products is low. Water extraction of AXs can be improved by extrusion processing, which increases the extractability of the water soluble fraction. The aim of this study was to determine the extractability and molecular weight of the water soluble fraction of AXs from wheat endosperm after extrusion at screw speeds of 80 and 160 rpm. Extrusion processing significantly (P < 0.05) increased the water extractability of AXs in a screw-speed dependent manner (13.07 ± 0.12% at 80 rpm and 15.45 ± 0.16% at 160 rpm compared to8.95 ± 0.10% in the non-extruded control) due to a significant increase (P < 0.05) in low molecular weight fractions of AXs in extruded samples.

Mucosal immunomodulatory evaluation and chemical profile elucidation of a classical traditional Chinese formula, Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang

Ethnopharmacological evidenceWith fast development and high pace life in modern society, autoimmune diseases like inflammatory bowel disease had become increasingly common. Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BZYQT), a famous traditional Chinese medicine prescription (TCMP), has been used for 700 years mainly in Eastern Asia countries for the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory disorder, and weakness after serious diseases. These diseases were proved to be closely related to human immune system, among which, mucosal immune system is the largest immune system. So it is necessary to discover the mucosal immune related bioactive components of BZYQT. Aim of the studyTo evaluate the mucosal immunomodulatory bioactivity of BZYQT and ingredients. Materials and methodsPeyer's patches were collected from mice administrated orally with BZYQT, its related Octadecylsilane (ODS) fractions and polysaccharide part. Productions of several cytokines including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-γ from T lymphocytes were tested with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) by Peyer's patch cells ex vivo experiments. Chemical profile including low molecular part and polysaccharide part were investigated. Low molecular part of BZYQT and related ODS fractions were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) based on LC-MS information from self-established compound library. exclusion chromatography, and chemical property has been analyzed. ResultThree-days’ administration of BZYQT enhanced productions of IL-4 and IFN-γ in T lymphocytes of Peyer's patches in addition to IL-2. Some hydrophobic low molecular weight fractions (30%, 70% and 100% MeOH ODS fraction), which were fractionated from BZYQT by ODS column chromatography, showed enhancing or suppressive effects on productions of IL-2, IL-4 or IL-5 in T lymphocytes of Peyer's patches after oral administration. Besides, 161 components from hydrophobic low molecular weight fractions of BZYQT were unequivocally identified or tentatively characterized by UPLC-Q/TOF-MS according to retention time behaviors and fragments, and most of them were flavonoids and saponins from Glycyrrhizae Radix, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, and Cimicifugae Rhizoma. Polysaccharide part was separated and purified both by anion-exchange and size. BZYQT also contained at least one neutral and three weakly or strongly acidic polysaccharides, and analysis of their chemical properties indicated that a neutral polysaccharide was glucan, and acidic polysaccharides possessed heteroglycan and pectic arabinogalactan features. Murine administration of polysaccharide fractions of BZYQT induced different changes on functions of T lymphocytes in Peyer's patches from hydrophobic low molecular weight fractions. By experiment using intranasally-immunized mice, BZYQT negatively regulated antibody response in lung as combinatorial actions of its low molecular weight ingredients and polysaccharides. ConclusionBZYQT contains several low and macromolecular weight ingredients, which affect to immune-function of T lymphocytes in Peyer's patches, and the formula expresses its regulative activity on lower respiratory immune system through combinatorial actions of these ingredients on immunocompetent cells in Peyer's patches.

Multi-Parameter Compensation Method for Accurate In Situ Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter Monitoring and Properties Characterization

The recent deployment of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (fDOM) probes in dam catchments and drinking water treatment plants (DWTP) for water quality monitoring purposes has resulted in the production of a large amount of data that requires scientific evaluation. This study introduces a comprehensive, transferable methodological framework for scientists and water professionals to model fluorescence site-specific quenching on fDOM probe readings caused by temperature, suspended particles, and the inner filter effect (IFE) and applies it to an Australian subtropical reservoir. The findings revealed that quenching due to turbidity and IFE effects were best predicted by threshold autoregressive models. Raw fDOM probe measurements were validated as being more reliable if they were systematically compensated using the proposed procedure. The developed fDOM compensation procedure must consider the instrument features (i.e., wavelength broadband and responsiveness) and site-specific conditions (i.e., DOM characteristics and suspended particles). A finding of particular interest was that the compensated normalized fDOM readings had a high correlation with the low (&lt;500 Da) molecular weight fraction of the DOM, which is more recalcitrant to removal by coagulation. As a consequence, there is potential to use compensated fDOM probe readings to provide real-time, in situ information on DOM properties in freshwater systems, which will enable water treatment plant operators to optimize the coagulation process.

Quantification and characterization of dissolved organic carbon from biochars

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in biochars is critical to carbon dynamics and contaminant transport in soils. This study aimed to develop a robust and easy method to characterize and quantify the biochar-DOC, using water-, acid-, and base-extractable DOC samples (WEOC, AEOC, and BEOC respectively) from 46 biochars produced from diverse feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions. BEOC concentrations were the highest (2.3–139 mg-C/g-biochar), followed by WEOC (0.5–40 mg-C/g-biochar) and AEOC (0.2–23 mg-C/g-biochar). Fast-pyrolysis biochars generally had higher DOC concentrations than slow-pyrolysis biochars. DOC concentrations in slow-pyrolysis biochars decreased exponentially with increasing pyrolysis temperature from 300 to 600 °C. The solid-state 13C NMR showed that biochar-DOC had abundant small fused-ring aromatics, aliphatic C, and carboxyl C. Biochar-DOC included an acid-precipitated (AP) fraction of higher molecular weight and aromaticity and an acid-soluble (AS) fraction of lower molecular weight and aromaticity. BEOC generally had a greater AP fraction than WEOC and AEOC. Molecular weight, aromaticity and composition of AEOC and BEOC differed from those of more environmentally-relevant WEOC, suggesting that the acid- and base-extraction may not produce the DOC released in real soils. Finally, a quick, easy and robust UV–vis spectrometric method was developed to measure the composition and concentrations of WEOC in diverse biochar samples (R2 = 0.96, n = 46).

Correlation between solubility parameters and recovery of phenolic compounds from fast pyrolysis bio-oil by diesel extraction

Fast pyrolysis bio-oils (fpBO) were extracted with two alternative commercial transportation fuels, hydrocarbon diesel and bio-diesel. The extraction of fpBO with commercial diesel fuel provided a yield of 4.3 wt%, but the yield increased significantly to 26.6 wt% when bio-diesel was the extractant. The molecular weight of fpBO before and after extraction were consistent with the loss of a more soluble, low molecular weight fraction from the crude fpBO. The relative energy difference (RED), based on the Hansen solubility parameter (HSP), is used to examine the extraction efficiency of specific compounds in the two different ‘solvents’. Differences in the RED values could be used to rationalize differences in the partitioning of common fpBO phenolics.

Pilot-scale iron electrocoagulation treatment for natural organic matter removal

ABSTRACTThe efficacy of electrocoagulation at a pilot-scale as an alternative drinking water treatment technology to conventional coagulation is explored. A novel reactor was integrated into a pilot plant at the surface water supply of a small, remote community. Using iron anodes, the effect of metal loading (ML), current density and inter-electrode gap on the reduction of natural organic matter (NOM) was studied. Dissolved organics were characterized by large fractions of low molecular weight (<750 Da) hydrophilic carbon structures with lower charge density. A greater reduction in UV254 was yielded compared to dissolved organic carbon, indicating better removal of larger molecular weight fractions of NOM. As ML dosages increased from 27.8 to 60.8 mg/L, specific ultraviolet absorbance decreased from 1.92 ± 0.14 to 1.60 ± 0.10 L/m•mg respectively, from an initial raw water value of 2.21 L/m•mg. No clear trend was observed for the effect of current density and inter-electrode gap for NOM, however ML was the primary variable dictating the process’ effectiveness. Energy requirements were observed to vary greatly and were highly dependent on ML, current density and inter-electrode gap; variables that all effect the operating potential and resistance. In general, conditions that yielded the greatest reduction of NOM, a 1 mm gap and 4-cell configuration, had energy requirements between 0.480 and 0.602 kWh/m3 of water treated.

Peptiduria: a potential early predictor of diabetic kidney disease.

To protect the kidney effectively with medication in type 2 diabetics, it is crucial to identify such at-risk patients early for treatment. We investigated whether peptiduria precedes proteinuria (the earliest urinary marker in our model), and thereby serve as an early predictor of diabetic nephropathy. A longitudinal study was performed in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy. Peptides, defined as degradation products of proteins of < 13kD size, were quantified by a previously validated method using a combination of Lowry and Biorad protein assays. Peptides in urine were also confirmed by chromatographically separating low molecular weight fractions from urine and quantifying albumin fragments in these fractions by enzyme immunoassay. Also, the mechanism of peptiduria was addressed by measuring acid phosphatase, a marker of lysosomal activity, in urine and on kidney sections (histochemically). In rats with diabetic nephropathy, proteinuria occurred after 12weeks of diabetes, while peptiduria occurred as early as 2weeks after diabetes. Peptiduria was confirmed by showing that the chromatographically separated low molecular weight fractions of urine containing albumin fragments is in proportion to the level of peptiduria. The time course of peptiduria paralleled the increase in urinary acid phosphatase suggesting that the mechanism of early peptiduria could be due to upregulation of lysosomal enzyme activity in the tubules. Our results showing that peptiduria precedes proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy provide a compelling rationale to perform a prospective human clinical trial to investigate whether peptiduria can serve as an early predictor of diabetic nephropathy.

Assessment of antioxidant properties of membrane ultrafiltration peptides from mungbean meal protein hydrolysates.

BackgroundBioactive peptides can prevent damage associated with oxidative stress in humans when consumed regularly. Recently, peptides have attracted immense interest because of their beneficial functional properties, safety and little or no side effects when used at high concentration. Most antioxidant peptides are small in size, less than 1 kDa, and contains a high proportion of hydrophobic amino acid. Particularly, tyrosine, leucine, alanine, isoleucine, valine, lysine, phenyalanine, cysteine, methionine and histidine in peptide chain exhibited high antioxidant activity. Mungbean meal protein (MMP) is highly abundant in hydrophobic amino acids. It indicated that MMP might be a good source of antioxidants. Therefore, the objectives were to optimize the conditions used to generate mungbean meal protein hydrolysate (MMPH) with antioxidant activity from bromelain and to investigate the antioxidant activities of different molecular weight (MW) peptide fraction.MethodsResponse Surface Methodology (RSM) was used for screening of the optimal conditions to produce MMPH. After that MMPH was fractionated using ultrafiltration membranes with different MW distributions. Crude-MMPH and four fractions were investigated for five antioxidant activities: 2,2,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), hydroxyl, superoxide, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and metal ion chelation activity.ResultsThe optimal condition to produce the MMPH was 15% (w/w) of bromelain and hydrolysis time for 12 h which showed the greatest DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity. After mungbean protein from optimal condition was separated based on different molecular weight, the DPPH radical scavenging activity was the highest for the F4 (less than 1 kDa) peptide fraction. Metal ion chelating activity was generally weak, except for the F4 that had a value of 43.94% at a protein concentration of 5 mg/mL. The F4 also exhibited high hydroxyl and superoxide activities (54 and 65.1%), but moderate activity for ferric reducing antioxidant power (0.102 mmole Fe2+/g protein) compared to other peptide fractions and crude-MMPH. Molecular weight and amino acid were the main factors that determined the antioxidant activities of these peptide fractions. Results indicated that F4 had strong antioxidant potentials.DiscussionThe lowest MW fraction (less than 1 kDa) contributed to the highest DPPH, superoxide, hydroxyl and metal chelation activity because influence of low MW and high content of hydrophobic amino acid in peptide chain. Results from this study indicated that MMPH peptides donate protons to free radicals because they had significantly high DPPH value compared to superoxide, hydroxyl and FRAP, which reactions were electron donation. Moreover, MMPH peptides had the ability to inhibit transition metal ions because of highly abundant glutamic acid and aspartic acid in peptide chain.

Application of Metabolomic Tools for Studying Low Molecular-Weight Fraction of Animal Venoms and Poisons.

Both venoms and poisonous secretions are complex mixtures that assist in defense, predation, communication, and competition in the animal world. They consist of variable bioactive molecules, such as proteins, peptides, salts and also metabolites. Metabolomics opens up new perspectives for the study of venoms and poisons as it gives an opportunity to investigate their previously unexplored low molecular-weight components. The aim of this article is to summarize the available literature where metabolomic technologies were used for examining the composition of animal venoms and poisons. The paper discusses only the low molecular-weight components of venoms and poisons collected from snakes, spiders, scorpions, toads, frogs, and ants. An overview is given of the analytical strategies used in the analysis of the metabolic content of the samples. We paid special attention to the classes of compounds identified in various venoms and poisons and potential applications of the small molecules (especially bufadienolides) discovered. The issues that should be more effectively addressed in the studies of animal venoms and poisons include challenges related to sample collection and preparation, species-related chemical diversity of compounds building the metabolome and a need of an online database that would enhance identification of small molecule components of these secretions.

Effect of selected strains of lactobacilli on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of sourdough

Sourdough fermentation of cereal foods is an excellent source of obtaining peptides due to the ability of lactic acid bacteria to activate cereal proteases and produce strain-specific peptidases. With the aim of identifying the lactic acid bacterial strains potentially most effective in producing bioactive peptides, 131 lactobacilli isolates from Italian sourdoughs, used in baking technology, have been screened for proteolytic and peptidase activity. Of these, 23 strains were selected and singly inoculated in liquid sourdoughs from which a Low Molecular Weight fraction containing peptides was obtained. Evaluation of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts was performed on cultured cells (RAW 264.7 murine macrophage, murine H-end endothelium cells and Human intestinal Caco-2 cells) by assaying Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) content, NFkB/IkB expression level and Interleukin-1β production. As a result, three lactobacilli strains showed a high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ability enabling the development of model sourdoughs that will potentially increase the nutritional benefits of bread.

In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Melipona beecheii honey protein fractions

Proteins extracted from Melipona beecheii honey were assessed for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity by in vitro assays. Protein content was 3.56 mg/mL and after reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography fractionation eight distinctive peaks were detected with molecular weight ranged from 7.04 to 95.35 kDa. Low molecular weight fraction constituted by proteins with weights of 7.04, 14.07 and 24.16 kDa, exhibited the highest antioxidant activities with the lowest IC50 values for radical scavenging activity (0.4262 mg/mL), chelating effects (0.3763 mg/mL), and reducing power (0.3060 mg/mL). Same fraction exhibited the lowest IC50 values for inhibition of protein thermal denaturation (0.4115 mg/mL) and cell membrane stabilization (0.5563 mg/mL). For its part, the complete protein extract exhibited the lowest inhibition of proteolytic activity (4.3548 mg/mL). From the results, it is concluded that proteins of honey produced by Melipona beecheii are partially related with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. These findings validate the use that many Mesoamerican cultures have made of the honey produced by M. beecheii for the healing of lesions and dermic pathologies. Once deeper studies and the pertinent clinical trials have been carried out, the honey of M. beecheii and its proteins could be incorporated into products for pharmaceutical use.

The anti-inflammatory effect of LMWF5A and N-acetyl kynurenine on macrophages: Involvement of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in mechanism of action

After a traumatic insult, macrophages can become activated leading to general inflammation at the site of injury. Activated macrophages are partially regulated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) which when activated suppresses inflammation by limiting the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and promoting the over expression of immuno-modulatory mediators. This study aims to determine whether the low molecular weight fraction of 5% human serum albumin (LMWF5A) and N-acetyl kynurenine (NAK), an N-acetyl tryptophan (NAT) breakdown product in LMWF5A, can regulate inflammation by inhibiting macrophage activation through the AhR since kynurenine is a known AhR agonist. Using LCMS, we demonstrate that NAT is non-enzymatically degraded during accelerated aging of LMWF5A with high heat accelerating degradation. More importantly, NAK is a major degradation product found in LMWF5A. THP-1 monocytes were differentiated into macrophages using phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and pre-treated with 2-fold dilutions of LMWF5A or synthetic NAK with or without an AhR antagonist (CH223191) prior to overnight stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Treatment with LMWF5A caused a 50–70% decrease in IL-6 release throughout the dilution series. A dose-response inhibition of IL-6 release was observed for NAK with maximal inhibition (50%) seen at the highest NAK concentration. Finally, an AhR antagonist partially blocked the anti-inflammatory effect of LMWF5A while completely blocking the effect of NAK. A similar inhibitory effect was observed for CXCL-10, but the AhR antagonist was not effective suggesting additional mechanisms for CXCL-10 release. These preliminary findings suggest that LMWF5A and NAK partially promote the suppression of activated macrophages via the AhR receptor. Therefore, LMWF5A, which contains NAK, is potentially a useful therapeutic in medical conditions where inflammation is prevalent such as trauma, sepsis, and wound healing.

Pigeon pea enzymatic protein hydrolysates and ultrafiltration peptide fractions as potential sources of antioxidant peptides: An in vitro study

Pigeon pea protein isolate was hydrolysed using food grade enzymes (alcalase, pancreatin, pepsin + pancreatin). The resulting hydrolysates were fractionated by membrane ultrafiltration and evaluated for their antioxidant activities. Fraction with molecular weight <1 kDa had the highest peptide yield (36.97%) for pepsin + pancreatin (PPHPp) hydrolysates, whereas fraction 1–3 kDa showed the highest yield (28.84%, 37.27%) for alcalase-derived peptide (PPHA) and pancreatin-derived peptide (PPHPa) respectively. Low molecular weight fractions of PPHPa showed highest inhibitory activity against DPPH•, superoxide (PPHA, PPHPa), and •OH scavenging activities. However, high molecular weight peptides exhibited better radical scavenging activity (DPPH) and reducing property (FRAP) than the low molecular weight peptides. All fractions exhibited higher ferric reducing and ABTS•+ scavenging activity than the crude hydrolysates. All the peptides also had a higher ABTS•+ scavenging activity than GSH. The low MW fractions (<5 kDa) were able to inhibit the progression of lipid peroxidation during the first four days of incubation for most of the peptides. Our findings show that membrane ultrafiltration significantly increased antioxidant properties and the peptides have the potential to be useful as functional ingredient in food and nutraceutical industry to maximise the use of underutilised protein sources.

Umami compounds present in low molecular umami fractions of asam sunti – A fermented fruit of Averrhoa bilimbi L.

Salted fermented fruit known as asam sunti (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) in Indonesia has been used as a source of umami taste. This study was aimed to characterize the three types of asam sunti and their water soluble extracts, and to trace the compounds responsible for umami taste in umami fractions. Umami fractions were obtained by ultrafiltration followed by Sephadex G-15 chromatographic separation. The three types of samples could be differentiated by physicochemical and sensory analyses. Low molecular weight fraction had the highest umami intensity. Further chromatographic separation revealed three umami fractions, F-II, III and IV. Umami taste of F-III was due to the presence of free l-glutamic acid at 6 times, while FII and FIV were due to succinic acid at more than 30 times their respective umami thresholds. Organic acid as well as amino acid seemed to play an important role in the intense umami taste of asam sunti.

Effects of Maillard reaction on bioactivities promotion of anchovy protein hydrolysate: The key role of MRPs and newly formed peptides with basic and aromatic amino acids

Among multiple ways to ameliorate Alzheimer's disease, antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition are considered as two primary approaches. Previous studies have indicated that anchovy protein hydrolysate (APH) exhibited strong antioxidant and AChE inhibitory capacities, and Maillard reaction could significantly (p < 0.05) improve its bioactivities. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between chemical compounds and bioactivities (antioxidant and AChE inhibitory capacities) by analyzing the main components of APH with or without Maillard reaction. GC-MS and UPLC-MS/MS results showed that newly formed heterocyclic components and rearrangement peptides with basic or aromatic amino acids in low molecular weight fraction during Maillard reaction might have contribution to the greater ABTS·+ scavenging and AChE inhibitory capacities of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) derived from APH and ribose (APH-M). Therefore, Maillard reaction could raise the bioactivity of hydrolysates which has important guiding significance for the production of polypeptide health care products.

Влияние низкомолекулярной фракции (до 5 кда) кордовой крови человека на ростовые свойства культуры мезенхимальных стромальных клеток, подвергнутых криоконсервированию

The influence of cryopreservation on growth properties, immune phenotype and differentiation potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) of human and rat was investigated, as well as the ability of human cord blood fractions below 5 kD (hCBF) to affect these indices in thawed cultures. It has been established that introduction of the hCBF with the concentration of 256-400 µg/ml to rat MSCs (rMSCs) culture caused the normalization of the cells growth properties reduced after cryopreservation that was not observed in human MSCs (hMSCs) culture. It has been shown that neither cryopreservation nor hCBF change the immune phenotype and ability for multi-lineage differentiation of hMSCs and rMSCs. The efficiency of low molecular weight fraction dependent on physiological characteristics of cells and its concentration in culture medium was concluded. Probl Cryobiol Cryomed 2018; 28(2): 131–138

The relationship between enzyme hydrolysis and the components of rice starches with the same genetic background and amylopectin structure but different amylose contents

The relationship between starch components and hydrolysis previously focused on starches with different amylose contents (ACs) and amylopectin structures. In this study, starches were isolated from six rice seeds with the same genetic background but different activities of granule-bound starch synthase I. The starch components and enzyme hydrolysis were measured and analysed to reveal their relationships. The results showed that the six rice starches had the same amylopectin structure but different ACs ranging from approximately 1%–15%. The starch component parameters measured by different methods were significantly correlated with each other. The hydrolysis parameters of starch by both α-amylase and amyloglucosidase were analysed using three methods including a non-linear fit to the degree of hydrolysis, a first-order kinetics fit to the degree of hydrolysis, and a first-order kinetics fit to the hydrolysis rate, and they had significant correlation each other. Waxy starch had a fast hydrolysis rate and showed a single hydrolysis phase during early hydrolysis, while starch with a high AC had a bi-phasic hydrolysis process. Starch component parameters including the maximum absorption wavelength, iodine blue, AC, and low molecular weight fraction were significantly negatively correlated to the hydrolysis rate of starch. The above results indicated that starches with different ratios of amylose to amylopectin but the same amylopectin structure had significantly different hydrolysis properties. This study could provide some information for rice quality breeding and starch applications through changing the activity of granule-bound starch synthase I.

Intra-articular injection of the anti-inflammatory compound LMWF-5A in adults with severe osteoarthritis: a double-blind prospective randomized controlled multi-center safety and efficacy trial

BackgroundThere are limited efficacious treatment options for severe osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK). The Low Molecular Weight Fraction of 5% human serum Albumin (LMWF-5A) is in development to treat severe OAK. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of LMWF-5A for the signs and symptoms of OAK.MethodsThis 12-week randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted at thirteen sites across the United States. Patients with symptomatic, severe OAK (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 4 disease) who were fully ambulatory and had no other conditions interfering with the study knee were randomized to a single 4 ml intra-articular injection of LMWF-5A or saline, randomized 6:1. The primary endpoint was Outcome Measures in Rheumatology-Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OMERACT-OARSI) responder rate (%), examined with a one-sided exact binomial test compared to a clinically meaningful response rate of 30%. Efficacy of LMWF-5A was also evaluated as controlled responder (%), defined as 20% improvements in both pain and function, compared to historical saline control from three previous trials. Safety was examined as the incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs). This trial was registered (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03182686).ResultsIn total, 168 patients were randomized; 144 subjects treated with LMWF-5A were analysed. Overall, 71% (95% CI: 63.4%–78.3%) of subjects treated with LMWF-5A met the OMERACT-OARSI responder criteria, exceeding the 30% threshold (p < 0.001). There were also significantly more responders at week 12 in the LMWF-5A arm than historical saline control (65% vs. 43%, p < 0.001). There were no drug-related serious AEs reported and no deaths or withdrawals due to adverse events.ConclusionLMWF-5A provides relief for the signs and symptoms of severe osteoarthritis, and may be an alternative therapeutic treatment option for patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee.

Alternatives to Biologics in Management of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common condition encountered by physicians. KOA is addressed by a wide array of modalities including a number of nonbiological treatments. PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus were searched for level 1 to 4 studies published from inception to August 2017. A total of 18 studies were evaluated and results demonstrated moderate supporting evidence for prolotherapy and limited evidence for botulinum toxin type A, sodium bicarbonate and calcium gluconate, and low-molecular weight fraction of 5% human serum albumin. Evidence for local anesthetic agents was conflicting. There is moderate supportive evidence for the effectiveness of prolotherapy in improving pain and function in both, short-term and long-term. Limited supporting evidence found for botulinum toxin type A, sodium bicarbonate and calcium gluconate, and low-molecular weight fraction of 5% human serum albumin in improving pain and function. There is conflicting evidence for the use of local anesthetic agents in patients with KOA.