Journal of Food and Drug Analysis最新文献

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) disrupts intestinal cells and causes dysbiosis in the gut microbiota. This study explores the potential of Bacillus coagulans-198 (BC198) to mitigate gut microbiota imbalance and mucositis caused by 5-fluorouracil. L-glutamine is used to alleviate mucositis, and this study found that BC198 exhibits protective effects on the gut, including maintaining a healthy microbiota and reducing intestinal inflammation, regardless of whether L-glutamine is used in combination. Therefore, it can help reduce the deterioration of the gut environment caused by 5-fluorouracil. BC198 can be provided to cancer patients to prevent severe side effects, thereby improving their treatment outcomes and nutritional status.

Xanthohumol (XN) is an isoprene chalcone found in hops (Humulus lupulus L.), a food ingredient with a wide range of pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to reveal the therapeutic effect of XN on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the potential underlying molecular mechanism. Through network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking, and HTRF determination, XN was shown to inhibit the kinase activities of FLT3 and SRPK1 by targeting their ATP-binding domains, with IC₅₀ values of 1.51 ± 0.44 μM and 0.37 ± 0.15 μM, respectively. By inhibiting AML cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis, regulating autophagy, and inhibiting invasion, XN, which targets the unique FLT3/SRPK1 signaling pathway, exerts anti-AML effects. XN also significantly inhibited FLT3 inhibitor-resistant AML cells and exhibited synergistic interactions with gilteritinib. Moreover, XN at 40 mg/kg effectively inhibited the growth of AML subcutaneous tumors with good tolerance. These results suggest that XN could be a promising therapeutic agent for AML treatment. XN effectively targets the FLT3/SRPK1 signaling axis, demonstrating strong anti-AML effects and offering a potent strategy to address AML.

This study investigated the preventive effects of a 40% ethanol extract of Hsian-tsao (40EEHT) on obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Male Wistar rats were administered 0, 100, 200, or 500 mg/kg of 40EEHT, resulting in reduced body weight, total body fat, and hepatic tissue weight after 8 weeks. 40EEHT also decreased adipocyte size, improved lipid profiles, alleviated oxidative stress, and enhanced hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities. Additionally, it regulated fatty acid metabolism by reducing lipogenesis and increasing lipolysis and β-oxidation, suggesting its potential as an anti-obesity dietary supplement.

An M1/M2 macrophage-regulating treatment, ON101 cream, has shown its superior healing efficacy for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) versus standard absorbent dressing, according to a phase III trial. Given its high cost, corroborating the economic value of ON101 treatment can facilitate clinical and policy decision-makings. This study sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ON101 versus an absorbent dressing for patients with DFUs from Taiwan's healthcare sector perspective. This economic evaluation utilized effectiveness and cost data (in 2022 USD) from a randomized controlled trial of ON101, published literature, and Taiwan's National Health Insurance program. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) against willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold was estimated to determine the cost-effectiveness of treatment. Over a mean follow-up of 12.69 weeks in the full analysis set of patients (n = 236), 6 patients would need to be treated with ON101 versus the absorbent dressing to obtain a case of complete healing, which costed US$21,128 per complete-healing case gained. This ICER value was below WTP threshold of US$32,788. Cost-effective findings were consistent across sensitivity analyses, and more remarkable for patients with Wagner grade 2 ulcers, HbA_1c >7%, and plantar ulcers. All these results were similar in modified intention-to-treat set. The high upfront drug cost of ON101 could be offset by its superior healing efficacy. Considering key prognostic factors for DFUs while optimizing the allocation of limited healthcare budgets, ON101 should be prioritized for severe cases with poor ulcer prognosis.

Apples, a ubiquitous and beloved fruit, harbor a treasure trove of bioactive compounds, with apple polyphenols (APs) taking center stage. This review delves into the latest scientific advancements illuminating the anti-cancer and anti-aging properties of APs. We dissect the intricate mechanisms by which APs combat cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis, highlighting their prowess in inducing apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, and modulating cell signaling pathways. Furthermore, we explore the multifaceted ways APs combat aging, including their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, DNA protective effects, and ability to modulate cellular processes like autophagy and metabolism. This comprehensive review underscores the therapeutic promise of APs in promoting healthy aging and combating age-related diseases like cancer.

Phosphine (PH₃) is a fumigant used for pest control of stored products and foods. In Taiwan, PH₃ has the maximum residue level (MRL) in 14 foods, including dried fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts, crops, roots, and tuber vegetables. In this study, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry coupled with a headspace sampler (HS-GC/MS) was used to determine the PH₃ content in foods. The stability of the PH₃ standard was evaluated either directly using the gas standard or indirectly using zinc phosphide (Zn₃P₂) with an acid. The optimal conditions for the headspace agitator were determined to be an incubation temperature of 65 °C, rotation speed of 750 rpm, and shaking time of 20 min. The PH₃ residue in the sample was sufficiently released when 15 mL of 5% sulfuric acid was added. The PH₃ gas standard was applicable for quantification because the correlation coefficients of the standard and matrix-matched calibration curves were greater than 0.99, and the coefficient of variation of the repeatability test was less than 20%. The signal-to-noise ratio was greater than 3 when PH₃ was fortified into the testing matrix at 5 ng/g; therefore, the limit of quantification of PH₃ was determined to be 0.005 ppm. Because of the significant matrix effects and difficulty in obtaining representative matrices, the developed method referred to the EU Reference Laboratory-single residue method to estimate the PH₃ content in the sample using a standard curve and the PH₃ content was accurately quantified using the standard addition method. The proposed method was used to analyze 44 real samples obtained from markets and food factories, including various food commodities. Among these samples, three showed detectable PH₃ residues, with concentrations ranging from 0.006 to 0.066 ppm, which complies with the MRLs in Taiwan. This study successfully utilized HS-GC/MS with a gaseous PH₃ reference standard to develop a facile sample preparation method for detecting PH₃ in foods.

Bitter acids (BA) are main component of Humulus lupulus L. (hops). They are known for beer brewing and have various biological and pharmacological properties, especially the bone-protective effect confirmed by our previous in vivo study. Here we aimed to elucidate the anti-senior osteoporosis (SOP) effect of BA on osteoblasts and explore its underlying mechanism. In vitro SOP model was established by D-galactose (D-gal) injured osteoblasts, and the bone formation markers and apoptosis level were measured. mCherry-EGFP-LC3 adenovirus infection and autophagic markers including beclin1 and LC3 proteins were detected to investigate the autophagy level in osteoblasts. To further verify whether BA play the bone-protective role through regulating autophagy, the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA was used, and the cell proliferation, ALP activity, bone mineralization, apoptosis rate and SA-β-gal staining areas were measured. Finally, the protein expressions of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway were detected by Western blotting, and AKT agonist SC79 and mTOR agonist MHY1485 were used to further study the mechanism of BA on AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy. The results showed that BA stimulated osteoblastic differentiation and inhibited apoptosis proteins Bcl-2/Bax in D-gal-treated osteoblasts. BA also increased the expression of autophagic markers beclin1 and LC3-II/LC3-I in D-gal-treated osteoblasts. mCherry-EGFP-LC3 autophagic double fluorescent adenovirus showed BA promoted the generation of autolysosomes and autophagosomes in D-gal-injured osteoblasts, indicating that BA might prevent osteoblastic bone loss through activating autophagy. Autophagy inhibitor 3-MA was used to further verify whether BA played the bone-protective role via regulating autophagy. The results revealed the promotion effects of BA on proliferation, ALP activity, and mineralized nodule formation in D-gal-injured osteoblasts were eliminated after autophagy blocking with 3-MA, and the inhibitory effects of BA on apoptosis rate and SA-β-gal staining areas were also eliminated. Moreover, BA reduced the phosphorylation levels of AKT, mTOR, p70S6K, and 4EBP in AKT/mTOR pathway, and the promotion of BA on the autophagic markers was blocked after the activation of AKT and mTOR by SC79 and MHY1485. In conclusion, it was the first time to demonstrate that BA improved cell activities and bone formation in aging osteoblasts, and revealed the mechanism of BA against SOP in osteoblasts was activating AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy.

This study was aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy (pembrolizumab combination therapy) and compare it with standard-of-care platinum-based chemotherapy (chemotherapy alone) as a first-line treatment for metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC from the perspective of Taiwan's third-party-payer public health-care system. We used a partitioned survival model with an estimated time horizon of 10 years. The partitioned survival model uses Kaplan-Meier estimates of progression-free and overall survival from the KEYNOTE-189 clinical trial. The quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) values were based on utility values by progression status calculated from the KEYNOTE-189 trial. This study examined costs related to treatment regimens, disease management, second-line therapy, end-of-life care, and adverse event management. Cost and utility were discounted at 3% per year. Probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the results. The willingness-to-pay threshold was set at 3 × Taiwan's gross domestic product (GDP), equivalent to NT$2,788,290. In the base-case scenario, pembrolizumab combination therapy resulted in an expected gain of 0.89 QALYs and an incremental cost of NT$2,201,203 relative to chemotherapy alone. The ICER was NT$2,478,601/QALY. In the analysis of the PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥ 50% subgroup, the patients who received pembrolizumab combination therapy gained 1.12 QALYs more than those who received chemotherapy alone, and the incremental cost was NT$2,522,528. Therefore, the ICER for this subset of patients was NT$2,258,358/QALY. In conclusion, pembrolizumab combination therapy is a cost-effective option for first-line treatment of metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC. The relative cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab combination therapy is greatest for patients with PD-L1 TPS ≥50%.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri is a probiotic bacterium known for its numerous beneficial effects on human health and is commonly utilized in various dietary supplements. Previously, we encountered difficulties in isolating L. reuteri from retail dietary supplements containing complex probiotic compositions by using non-selective media such as de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) agar. Our findings reveal that MRS agar with d-gluconic acid as the carbon source and peptone from soymeal as the nitrogen source provides a growth advantage for L. reuteri. Furthermore, all the tested L. reuteri strains exhibit higher resistance to oxacillin compared with non-L. reuteri strains, and the recovery of L. reuteri is significantly higher than that of non-L. reuteri strains on modified MRS agar (MRS-GSOT agar) supplemented with either 4 or 10 μg/mL oxacillin. Results of spiking tests indicate that MRS-GSOT agar with 10 μg/mL oxacillin can selectively inhibit the growth of species other than L. reuteri in single culture or mixed bacterial broth within food matrices. However, the recovery of L. reuteri is relatively low when subjected to the spiking tests with various ratios of non- L. reuteri. Testing results of 15 retail dietary supplements also show that MRS-GSOT agar could efficiently isolate L. reuteri from retail dietary supplements with complex compositions of probiotic bacteria. In addition, we observe that L. reuteri exhibits two different colony morphologies on MRS-GSOT agar with 10 μg/mL oxacillin, yet they shared a common feature: a noticeable metallic (golden) sheen on the colony surface when the plate is slightly tilted, which can be used to distinguish them from non-L. reuteri species, such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum, Levilactobacillus brevis, and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum. In conclusion, we have developed MRS-GSOT agar containing d-gluconic acid, peptone from soymeal, oxacillin, and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride for efficient isolation of L. reuteri from dietary supplements.

Cordycepin, a key bioactive compound produced by Cordyceps militaris, faces the challenge of low productivity for commercial use. In this study, alanine supplementation in Cordyceps militaris boosted cordycepin production, peaking at 3 mg/g with 12 g/L concentration. Transcriptome analysis revealed 1711 differentially expressed genes, Pathway analysis indicates that protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum was the most affected pathway. In addition, the transcriptome showed that adenylosuccinate lyase is essential for the synthesis of cordycepin. The modulation of four genes (Cns1-4) points to a regulatory mechanism that could increase cordycepin biosynthesis, offering a strategy to overcome low productivity for commercial applications.