Manipulation of the internal structure of starch by propionyl treatment and its diverse influence on digestion and in vitro fermentation characteristics

High amylose maize starch (HAMS) and waxy maize starch (WMS) were modified by propionylation and their corresponding physicochemical characteristics, digestion and fermentation properties were studied. The results indicated that two new peaks related to methylene (2.20 ppm) and methyl (0.97 ppm) in the NMR spectrum were formed, indicating the occurrence of propionylation, and this was further confirmed by the formation of a characteristic absorption at 1747 cm−1 in the FTIR spectrum. The propionylation led the modified starch having a lower electron density contrast between the crystalline and amorphous flakes, resulting in the formation of a more compact structure following the increased degrees of substitution (DS). The propionylated starch also had a higher thermal stability and hydrophobicity. These structural changes increased the content of resistant starch (RS) and reduced the predicted glycemic index. More importantly, the gut microbiota fermentation properties indicated that the propionylation of the starch can not only increase the yield of propionate, but also increase the concentration of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This study highlights a new approach to significantly enhance the RS content in starch, together with an increased SCFA generation capacity

Expression of E-, P- and N-Cadherin and Its Clinical Significance in Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Precancerous Lesions

<div><p>Aberrant expression of classical cadherins has been observed in tumor invasion and metastasis, but its involvement in cervical carcinogenesis and cancer progression is not clear. We investigated E-, P- and N-cadherin expression and its significance in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). This retrospective study enrolled 508 patients admitted to Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University with cervical lesions between January 2006 and December 2010. Immunochemical staining was performed in 98 samples of normal cervical epithelium (NC), 283 of CIN, and 127 of early-stage SCC. The association of cadherin staining with clinical characteristics and survival of the patients was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. We found gradients of decreasing E-cadherin expression and increasing P-cadherin expression from NC through CIN to SCC. Aberrant E-cadherin and P-cadherin expression were significantly associated with clinical parameters indicating poor prognosis and shorter patient survival. Interestingly, we found very low levels of positive N-cadherin expression in CIN and SCC tissues that were not related to CIN or cancer. Pearson chi-square tests showed that E-cadherin expression in SCC was inversely correlated with P-cadherin expression (E-P switch), and was not correlated with N-cadherin expression. More important, patients with tissues exhibiting an E-P switch in expression had highly aggressive phenotypes and poorer prognosis than those without E-P switch expression. Our findings suggest that E-cadherin and P-cadherin, but not N-cadherin staining, might be useful in diagnosing CIN and for predicting prognosis in patients with early-stage SCC.</p></div

Representative immunohistochemical staining showing E-, P- and N-cadherin expression in normal cervical (NC) epithelium, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tissue using serial section technique.

<p>Simultaneously reduced E-cadherin expression, increased P-cadherin expression and negative N-cadherin expression were observed in one representative case with CIN (B) or SCC tissue (C). One representative case with NC tissue (simultaneously increased E-cadherin expression, reduced P-cadherin expression and negative N-cadherin expression) was shown as a control (A). Magnifications, ×200.</p

Kaplan–Meyer curves showing the association of aberrant expression of E-cadherin, P-cadherin, N-cadherin, and the E-P switch with patient disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

<p>Reduced E-cadherin (A) and increased P-cadherin expression (B), as well as the E-P switch (D), were significantly associated with shorter DFS and OS. N-cadherin expression was not significantly associated with DFS or OS (C).</p

Expression of E-, P- and N-cadherin in Normal Cervical Epithelium, CIN and Early-stage Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

<p>Expression of E-, P- and N-cadherin in Normal Cervical Epithelium, CIN and Early-stage Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma.</p

The Correlation of P-cadherin or N-cadherin with E-cadherin Expression in Early-stage Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

<p>The Correlation of P-cadherin or N-cadherin with E-cadherin Expression in Early-stage Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma.</p

The Correlation between Expression of Classical Cadherins and Clinicopathological Characteristics in Patients with Early-stage Cervical Squamous Cell carcinomaCharacteristics.

<p>The Correlation between Expression of Classical Cadherins and Clinicopathological Characteristics in Patients with Early-stage Cervical Squamous Cell carcinomaCharacteristics.</p

Univariate and Multivariate Analysis of the Associations between Prognostic Value and Disease-free and Overall Survival Rates in Patients of Early-stage Cervical Squamous Cell Cancer.

<p>Univariate and Multivariate Analysis of the Associations between Prognostic Value and Disease-free and Overall Survival Rates in Patients of Early-stage Cervical Squamous Cell Cancer.</p

The Correlation of the E-P switch and several clinical variables.

<p>Among 127 early-stage SCC patients, 17 presented with simultaneously reduced E-cadherin expression and increased P-cadherin expression (an E-P switch). The E-P switch was significantly associated with endometrial extension (<i>P</i> = 0.003), lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI) (<i>P</i> = 0.027), surgical margin (<i>P</i> = 0.036), and lymph node metastasis (LNM) (<i>P</i> = 0.001).</p

Human Metabolic Responses to Chronic Environmental Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure by a Metabolomic Approach

The toxicities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been extensively explored due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic potency; however, little is known about the metabolic responses to chronic environmental PAH exposure among the general population. In the present study, 566 healthy volunteers were dichotomized into exposed and control groups to investigate PAH-induced perturbations in the metabolic profiles. Nine urine PAH metabolites were measured by a sensitive LC–MS/MS method to comprehensively evaluate the PAH exposure level of each individual, and the metabolic profiles were characterized via a LC–MS-based metabolomic approach. PAH exposure was correlated to its metabolic outcomes by linear and logistic regression analyses. Metabolites related to amino acid, purine, lipid, and glucuronic acid metabolism were significantly changed in the exposed group. 1-Hydroxyphenanthrene and dodecadienylcarnitine have potential as sensitive and reliable biomarkers for PAH exposure and its metabolic outcomes, respectively, in the general population. These findings generally support the hypothesis that environmental PAH exposure causes oxidative stress-related effects in humans. The current study provides new insight into the early molecular events induced by PAH exposure in the actual environment