The results demonstrated that supplement containing folate, vitamin B, and vitamin B in middle-aged and elderly patients with hyperhomocysteinemia could improve their cognitive function partly and reduce serum tHcy levels.

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effect of ultrasound-ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment on the enzymatic and acid hydrolysis of the sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw. The lignocellulosic biomass was dissociated in ILs ([Bmim]Cl and [Bmim]AOC) aided by ultrasound waves. Sonication was performed at different frequencies (20, 28, 35, 40, and 50kHz), a power of 100W, a time of 30min and a temperature of 80°C. The changes in the structure and crystallinity of the cellulose were studied by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The amounts of the total reducing sugars, glucose, cellobiose, xylose and arabinose in the hydrolysates were determined. The results of FT-IR, XRD and TGA revealed that the structure of cellulose of both biomass samples remained intact after the pretreatment, but the crystallinity decreased. The enzymatic and acid hydrolysis of the biomass samples pretreated with the ultrasound-IL result in higher yields of the reducing sugars compared with the IL-pretreated sample. Enzymatic hydrolysis of bagasse and wheat straw pretreated with [Bmim]Cl-ultrasound resulted in maximal yields of glucose at 20kHz (40.32% and 53.17%) and acid hydrolysis resulted in maximal yields of glucose at 40kHz (33.32% and 48.07%). Enzymatic hydrolysis of bagasse and wheat straw pretreated with [Bmim]OAc-ultrasound show maximal yields of glucose at 28kHz and acid hydrolysis at 50kHz. Combination of ultrasound with [Bmim]OAc is more effective than [Bmim]Cl in terms of the yields of reducing sugar.

No abstract

No abstract

Extracellular enzymes play an important role in the growth and development of edible fungi. Extracellular enzyme activities have also become an important object of measurement. In this study, Agaricus brunnescens Peck, Coprinus comatus, and Pleurotus ostreatus were compared in terms of their enzyme production in liquid-and solid-state fermentation. Differences in the ability of various types of edible fungi to utilize biomass raw materials were analyzed by monitoring the fiber degradation rate during crop straw degradation, and changes in their cellulolytic enzyme systems during growth and metabolism were discussed. This study provided insights into the changes in the lignocellulose degradation ability of edible fungi during their growth and facilitated the discovery of new approaches to accelerate their growth in culture.

No abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to differentiate into osteoblasts and chondrocytes. In vitro osteogenic differentiation is critical but the molecular mechanism has yet to be further clarified. The role of TGF-β activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in MSCs osteogenesis differentiation has not been reported. By adding si-TAK1 and rhTAK1, the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was measured. Expression levels of the osteoblastic marker genes during osteogenic differentiation of MSCs were checked. As well as molecules involved in BMP and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. The phosphorylation of p38 and JNK was also checked. TAK1 is essential for mineralization of MSCs at low concentration, but excessive rhTAK1 inhibits mineralization of MSCs. It up regulates the expression levels of bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteocalcin (OSC), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and RUNX2 during osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. It can also promote TGF-β/BMP-2 gene expression and β-catenin expression, and down regulate GSK-3β expression. Meanwhile, TAK1 promotes the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK. Additionally, TAK1 up regulates the expression of BMP-2 at all concentration under the inhibition of p38 and JNK. Our results suggested that TAK1 is essential in MSCs osteogenesis differentiation, and functions as a double-edged sword, probably through regulation of β-catenin and p38/JNK.

It has been reported that vitexin has anti‐inflammatory effects in osteoarthritis (OA) rats. However, the effects of vitexin on interleukins‐1β (IL‐1β)‐stimulated OA patient‐derived chondrocytes have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti‐inflammatory effects of vitexin on IL‐1β‐stimulated human osteoarthritis chondrocytes and to reveal the involvement of hypoxia‐inducible factor 1α (HIF‐1α) pathway. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real‐time PCR and Western blotting assays were employed. ELISA results demonstrated that the proinflammatory cytokine levels of interleukins‐6 (IL‐6) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) in the serum and synovial fluid and HIF‐1α level in the synovial fluid were significantly elevated in OA patients compared to normal healthy subjects. Moreover, the Western blotting results indicated that the protein expression of HIF‐1α was significantly higher in the cartilage tissues of OA patients. OA patient‐derived chondrocytes were stimulated by IL‐1β and treated with different concentration of vitexin for 24 hours. Vitexin showed no cytotoxicity and increased the survival of chondrocytes under IL‐1β stimulation. Vitexin suppressed IL‐1β‐induced production of NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in chondrocytes culture. The treatment of vitexin significantly inhibited IL‐1β‐induced expressions of proinflammatory cytokine levels of IL‐6, TNF‐α, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1, MMP‐3 and MMP‐13. Furthermore, Western blotting results demonstrated that HIF‐1α is involved in vitexin's protective effects on IL‐1β‐stimulated injuries in OA patient‐derived chondrocytes. Our study demonstrates that vitexin alleviates IL‐1β‐induced inflammatory responses in chondrocytes from osteoarthritis patients, which may be attributed partly to the inhibition of HIF‐1α pathway.