Search Results (720)

The increasing demand for sustainable protein sources has stimulated interest in edible insects such as the Mexican grasshopper (Sphenarium purpurascens). This study evaluated grasshopper flour as a substrate for producing protein hydrolysates by ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis (US + EH). The flour was characterized for its proximate composition, soluble protein content, fatty acid profile, and antioxidant capacity. A $3^{3-1}$ fractional factorial design was used to evaluate the effects of enzyme-specific processing conditions, enzyme-to-substrate ratio, and ultrasound treatment time on the degree of hydrolysis (DH) and antioxidant responses. Additional validation experiments enabled the selection of two representative hydrolysates for further characterization. TA, obtained under Alcalase-specific processing conditions, exhibited the highest DH (54.88 ± 1.72%) and ORAC activity (366.24 ± 23.55 µmol TE/g dry basis), whereas TB, obtained under bromelain-specific processing conditions, showed the highest ABTS activity (26.48 ± 1.10 µmol TE/g dry basis). Both hydrolysates exhibited higher soluble protein contents than defatted grasshopper flour and distinct amino acid, molecular weight, and structural profiles. Overall, US + EH effectively modified the compositional, molecular, antioxidant, and structural characteristics of S. purpurascens protein hydrolysates, supporting their potential as protein ingredients for future food applications. Full article

Mitragyna speciosa Korth. (Kratom) is a plant native to Southeast Asia, traditionally used for its stimulant and analgesic properties. Beyond mitragynine, the principal alkaloid dominating M. speciosa research, this study explored the cosmeceutical and nutraceutical potential of its phenolic and flavonoid constituents. Kratom leaf extract (MLE) was obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction optimized by Central Composite Design, yielding high polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity. The optimized MLE showed measurable collagenase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 92.63 ± 7.81 µg/mL) while maintaining fibroblast viability (>80%). UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS tentatively identified chlorogenic acid, rutin, and kaempferol 3-glucosyl-(1→6)-galactoside (K3G). Chlorogenic acid and rutin were quantified by HPLC at 31.37 ± 2.41 and 18.76 ± 1.66 µg/mg extract, respectively, while K3G remained linked to an unidentified peak. Mitragynine was also quantified at an appreciable level (59.38 ± 0.21 µg/mg extract), indicating that removal of the alkaloid fraction is required before application. Molecular docking identified chlorogenic acid as the strongest predicted collagenase binder (−12.82 kcal/mol), though chlorogenic acid and rutin together could not fully account for the extract’s activity, suggesting possible contributions from K3G and other unidentified compounds. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the cosmeceutical potential of kratom leaf extract, pending control of its alkaloid content. Full article

Real-time pH measurement and regulation of microliter-scale liquid samples are critical for microfluidic biochemical applications. However, traditional magnetic stirring for macroscopic systems is not applicable under such microscale conditions. This work develops an ultrasound-assisted screen-printed electrode (SPE) pH sensor integrated with a 3D-printed ultrasonic reflection cell and piezoelectric excitation unit. Ultrasound-induced acoustic streaming accelerates mass transfer inside microliter-scale samples. Upon acid addition, the ultrasonic-assisted system reaches potentiometric equilibrium far more rapidly than the static non-ultrasonic control. Optimized parameters are 30 s ultrasonic duration and 5 Vpp input amplitude. The sensor shows linearity from pH 3.04 to 4.15 with R² = 0.9919. Phenolphthalein visualization directly confirms ultrasound-enhanced molecular diffusion. Its mass transfer efficiency matches traditional magnetic stirring, and stable fast equilibrium is realized in complex cell culture medium. This acoustofluidic micromixing strategy offers a simple integrated route for pH monitoring and the regulation of micro-volume biological samples. Full article

Ultrasound technology has emerged as a promising non-thermal approach for modifying the structural and functional properties of food matrices. However, its impact on starch digestibility remains insufficiently understood, particularly in complex systems such as cereal, legume, and pseudocereal flours. This study evaluated the effect of power ultrasound on the functional properties and in vitro digestibility of durum wheat (DWF), chickpea (CF), and amaranth (AF) flours. Flours were treated using an ultrasonic probe (20 kHz, 60% amplitude) for 10 and 20 min while maintaining the sample temperature at 15 °C. Structural and functional properties were assessed, including color, morphology, water absorption, FT-IR spectra, pasting behavior, thermal properties, and starch fractions. Ultrasound induced structural modifications, including starch granule disruption and increased surface roughness. Lightness increased in DWF, CF, and AF, although the magnitude of the response differed among flour types. Water absorption improved in DWF but decreased in CF and AF. FT-IR spectra suggested molecular rearrangements, while viscoelastic and thermal analyses showed increased viscosity in DWF and CF and reduced viscosity in AF. Ultrasound also modified starch fractions and in vitro starch digestibility in a flour-dependent manner, reflecting the distinct structural responses of cereal, legume, and pseudocereal starches to acoustic cavitation. Overall, ultrasound modified the functionality of flour and starch digestibility in a matrix-dependent manner, supporting its potential as a clean-label technology for tailoring the functional properties of different flour matrices. Full article

Background: Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become an established minimally invasive treatment for selected benign and autonomously functioning thyroid nodules. Although clinical outcomes are well documented, the biological mechanisms underlying tissue remodeling after ablation remain incompletely characterized. The integration of imaging, molecular, and histopathological data may provide a more comprehensive understanding of treatment response. Methods: We conducted a prospective monocentric observational translational cohort study including 60 patients undergoing ultrasound-guided RFA for benign or autonomously functioning thyroid nodules between November 2024 and December 2025. Patients underwent standardized pre-procedural assessment including high-resolution ultrasound with volumetric evaluation, three-dimensional reconstruction, and collection of peripheral blood samples for exploratory extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived microRNA (miRNA) profiling. Clinical outcomes, volumetric changes, vascular remodeling, and procedural complications were assessed during scheduled follow-up visits (mean follow-up duration: 11 months; range: 5–17 months). A subgroup of patients who subsequently required surgery because of insufficient volumetric response underwent thyroidectomy, allowing histopathological evaluation of post-ablation tissue changes. Clinical, imaging, molecular, and pathological data were integrated within a multimodal translational framework. Results: RFA resulted in a mean nodule volume reduction of 56% at early follow-up, with progressive volumetric reduction observed during longitudinal ultrasound evaluation. A clinically relevant improvement in compressive symptoms was observed, with a 44% reduction in symptom burden. Doppler ultrasound demonstrated progressive changes in vascular patterns consistent with post-ablation devascularization and tissue remodeling. Ten patients underwent thyroidectomy after RFA because of insufficient volumetric response, providing histological validation of treatment-induced tissue alterations, including coagulative necrosis, fibrosis, inflammatory changes, and architectural remodeling. Exploratory EV-derived miRNA profiling was incorporated into the translational workflow to investigate potential molecular correlates of treatment response; however, molecular findings require further validation in larger cohorts. Conclusions: This study provides a multimodal translational characterization of tissue response after thyroid RFA by integrating clinical outcomes, ultrasound imaging, histopathology, and exploratory EV-derived miRNA analysis. The proposed framework may contribute to a deeper understanding of biological changes following thermal ablation and support future investigations aimed at identifying reliable biomarkers of treatment response. Full article

Background and Objectives: Superficial peritoneal endometriosis (SPE) remains one of the most difficult endometriosis phenotypes to diagnose non-invasively, because lesions are frequently small, multifocal, and poorly detectable using conventional imaging. Diagnostic laparoscopy therefore remains the reference standard for direct visualization of superficial peritoneal lesions. However, the inconsistent relationship between visible lesion burden and pain severity, together with the multifactorial nature of chronic pelvic pain, highlights the limitations of a purely lesion-based diagnostic model. This narrative review reassesses SPE from a cautious functional and molecular perspective, focusing on clinically established evidence, emerging but incompletely validated tools, and hypothesis-generating concepts. The novelty of this review lies in its specific focus on SPE as an unresolved diagnostic phenotype and in the proposed integration of surgical diagnosis, expert imaging, pain phenotyping, empirical treatment response, and molecular research within a non-replacement framework. Materials and Methods: A narrative literature review was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for English-language articles published between January 2010 and April 2026. The search focused on SPE, diagnostic laparoscopy, dynamic transvaginal ultrasound, sliding sign, chronic pelvic pain, hormonal treatment response, neuroinflammation, liquid biopsy, circulating biomarkers, epigenetics, and microbiome research. Results: Dynamic transvaginal ultrasound, sliding sign assessment, pelvic organ mobility evaluation, and tenderness-guided examination may provide indirect functional information in selected patients with suspected SPE, but they remain operator-dependent and insufficiently standardized for this phenotype. Response to hormonal therapy may support clinical reasoning, but it has low specificity and may also reflect improvement of adenomyosis, primary dysmenorrhea, ovulation-related pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, or other estrogen-sensitive conditions. Liquid biopsy and molecular biomarkers, including circulating microRNAs, extracellular vesicles, cell-free DNA, inflammatory mediators, epigenetic signatures, adipokine-related markers, and microbiome-related signals, remain investigational and require phenotype-specific validation. Conclusions: Functional and molecular stratification of suspected SPE represents a promising research direction rather than a current clinical standard. Laparoscopy remains essential when definitive diagnosis or surgical treatment is required, particularly in patients with infertility, refractory symptoms, suspicious imaging, or suspected complex disease. Future validated models may help integrate clinical phenotype, expert imaging, treatment response, pain mechanisms, and molecular profiles to support more individualized and selective diagnostic pathways. Full article

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) exhibits extensive cultivar diversity in fruit morphology, color, and bioactive compounds. These are closely associated with genetic background, ripening stage, and carotenoid metabolic regulation. Carotenoids, especially lycopene and β-carotene, are major determinants of tomato coloration and are also nutritionally and industrially important high-value-added antioxidants. Carotenoid profiles are regulated by changes in related biosynthetic pathways, including precursor supply, desaturation, isomerization, and cyclization. Key genes such as PSY1, CRTISO, LCY-B and LCY-E play central roles in carotenoid synthesis and accumulation, thereby determining color phenotypes. Mutations and genome-editing (CRISPR/Cas9) approaches can modify carotenoid metabolic flux and develop cultivars with improved nutritional traits. Furthermore, advanced and sustainable recovery strategies for carotenoids (ultrasound-, microwave-, enzyme-, high-pressure-, deep eutectic solvent-, and supercritical fluid-assisted extraction methods) have been developed for efficient pigment extraction. In this review, we compare the physiological and molecular characteristics of diverse cultivars and traits of advanced bioprocesses in terms of carotenoid extraction efficiency and solvent safety. Finally, we discuss various encapsulation techniques that improve product stability and storage performance in industrial applications. Taken together, we review practical strategies combining cultivar-based carotenoid production, sustainable recovery, and product stabilization. Full article

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease characterized by distinct molecular subtypes, dynamic tumor–microenvironment interactions, and variable therapeutic responses. Despite the availability of multiple preclinical platforms, a major challenge remains the lack of a coherent multiscale framework capable of integrating biological complexity across experimental systems. This limitation reduces the predictive power of individual models and highlights the need for complementary strategies that reproduce disease progression across multiple biological scales. In this context, advanced imaging technologies have emerged as essential tools for linking preclinical platforms and enhancing their translational relevance. This review examines how multimodal imaging supports the integration of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo breast cancer models. We discuss how optical imaging, high-frequency ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography/computed tomography, and intravital microscopy provide complementary molecular, functional, anatomical, and cellular information for the longitudinal assessment of tumor growth, metastatic dissemination, microenvironment remodeling, and therapeutic response. Particular attention is given to emerging translational workflows that combine patient-derived models with advanced imaging to investigate drug sensitivity, treatment resistance, and tumor progression within a precision oncology perspective. We also highlight the role of multimodal imaging in biomarker validation across platforms and in the development of clinically relevant preclinical pipelines. Overall, advanced imaging represents a critical translational bridge across breast cancer model systems, improving the predictive value of preclinical studies and supporting imaging-guided precision oncology from bench to bedside. Full article

Plant-based cream cheese alternatives are gaining popularity, yet replicating the sensory and nutritional attributes of dairy cream cheese remains challenging. Plant proteins often impart undesirable flavors and differ structurally from dairy proteins, resulting in weaker emulsifying and gelling properties, as well as compromised product structure and texture. Hydrocolloids are commonly used to improve organoleptic properties and/or spreadability but may introduce gummy textures and conflict with clean-label expectations. Fermentation represents a promising strategy to address these challenges. Exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing starter cultures can naturally enhance texture. Depending on EPS type, concentration, molecular structure, and interactions with the food matrix, fermentation can improve creaminess, viscosity, and water-holding capacity while supporting cleaner-label formulations. In addition, fermentation may improve flavor, protein digestibility, and amino acid bioavailability and reduce antinutritional factors, while EPS may confer health-related benefits. This review examines how fermentation, particularly EPS biosynthesis, can improve the overall quality and texture of plant-based cream cheese alternatives, considering current market formulations. The reviewed literature indicates that fermentation and in situ-formed EPS offer potential, although their effects depend on strain selection, matrix composition, and processing conditions. Pulsed electric fields and ultrasound may enhance EPS production, representing an underexplored field of research. Future studies should assess these strategies in complex plant-based matrices to clarify matrix-specific effects. Full article

Apple pomace is an abundant agro-industrial residue rich in oligosaccharides, whose efficient and sustainable extraction remains challenging. To overcome these limitations, this study delivers a novel biorefinery strategy by coupling ultrasound-assisted extraction pretreatment with optimised microwave-assisted hydrolysis. Through response surface methodology, the optimal microwave hydrolysis extraction conditions were achieved at 20 min and 120 °C. The obtained oligosaccharides presented a molecular-weight of 191,071 Da, a polydispersity index of 2.19 and a high content of galacturonyl groups (9.95 g/L) and arabino substituents (7.27 g/L). Furthermore, a biphasic system was applied at the optimal point obtained for the monophasic system in order to examine its potential for selective oligosaccharide fractionation. In this case, the galacturonic acid did not form part of the obtained oligosaccharides, and instead they were predominantly formed by galactose and arabinose (6.55 and 4.48 g/L respectively). Moreover, this biphasic setup yielded fewer polydisperse fractions with a lower content of degradation products. Overall, this work highlights the promise of optimised microwave-assisted hydrolysis as a sustainable strategy for oligosaccharide valorisation from apple pomace while demonstrating that the extension to a biphasic system represents a promising alternative for improving process selectivity. Full article

Urtica dioica L. (stinging nettle) is a perennial herb with a long ethnomedicinal history and diverse pharmacological potential. This comprehensive review consolidates current knowledge on its phytochemistry, extraction technologies, bioactivities, and molecular mechanisms. However, recent reviews have generally addressed these aspects separately, and an integrated assessment linking green extraction technologies and phytochemical profiles to molecular mechanisms and gene expression modulation is still lacking. U. dioica contains abundant polyphenols (rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and chlorogenic acid), sterols (β-sitosterol and stigmasterol), vitamins, carotenoids, and the antiviral lectin Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA). Advances in green extraction technologies, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pressurized liquid extraction, and natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES)-based systems, have significantly improved yield, purity, and environmental sustainability compared to conventional maceration and Soxhlet methods. Comprehensive chromatographic and spectroscopic profiling (HPLC, GC–MS, FTIR, NMR, and LC–MS/MS) has established detailed chemical fingerprints linking bioactive constituents to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. Mechanistic studies reveal that U. dioica exerts its therapeutic effects through modulation of oxidative stress, inhibition of the NF-κB and COX-2 pathways, enhancement of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, and regulation of apoptotic gene expression. Moreover, NADES–MAE extracts demonstrate potential as sustainable, high-efficacy formulations for nutraceutical and cosmetic applications. Despite extensive preclinical evidence, clinical standardization and dosage optimization remain major challenges. This review underscores U. dioica as a multifunctional medicinal plant with significant promise for next-generation phytotherapeutics and molecular nutrition. Full article

Seed mucilage is a natural hydrophilic polysaccharide gel secreted by seed coat epidermal cells comprising xylan, pectin, glucomannan, and cellulose alongside minor proteins, minerals, and lipids, with its composition varying substantially across plant species. This review critically compares conventional and green extraction technologies, including ultrasound-, microwave-, enzyme-, and subcritical water-assisted extraction, on a seed-mass-normalized yield basis together with their solvent-to-seed ratios and processing times, showing that green technologies can reduce solvent consumption, energy use, and processing time relative to matched conventional controls, though the magnitude of these gains is method and species-specific rather than uniform. We synthesize how molecular weight, uronic acid content, branching pattern, and microfibril organization govern seed mucilage hydration, rheological, emulsifying, and foaming behavior, and link these structure–function relationships to its antioxidant, prebiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial bioactivities. Beyond functional characterization, this review evaluates the translational barriers, extraction standardization, safety and regulatory status, and clinical validation that currently limit seed mucilage adoption in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Unlike previous reviews focused on ecological function or application cataloging, this review uniquely reframes seed mucilage as a structurally programmable bioactive polysaccharide, integrating molecular architecture, green process intensification, and structure–function–application relationships to bridge fundamental chemistry with industrial translation. Full article

Axillary lymph node management in early-stage breast cancer has undergone a fundamental transformation over the past three decades, shifting from routine radical clearance to precision-guided de-escalation. Ultrasound (US) has emerged as the central imaging modality in this paradigm shift, serving as the first-line tool for preoperative nodal assessment, guidance for biopsy and clip placement, monitoring of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and localization of marked nodes for targeted axillary dissection (TAD). This review systematically examines the evolution of axillary management in early-stage breast cancer through a US-centric lens. We summarize the historical transition from Halstedian axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), critically appraise the landmark trials—Z0011, AMAROS, OTOASOR, and SOUND—that have progressively de-escalated axillary surgery, and detail the role of US in preoperative staging (including conventional B-mode, superb microvascular imaging, contrast-enhanced US, elastography, and AI-assisted diagnostics), US-guided biopsy and node marking, and post-NAC TAD. We further explore the integration of US with liquid biopsy, multigene profiling, and molecular subtype-guided systemic therapy to enable individualized decision-making. Finally, we propose a stepwise US-centric clinical algorithm and discuss future directions, including AI-powered real-time interpretation, imaging-omics, and US-guided targeted therapy. This review provides a comprehensive framework for incorporating ultrasound as a key component of multidisciplinary decision-making—alongside pathological, surgical, radiotherapeutic, and molecular inputs—in contemporary axillary management. Full article

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as promising green extraction media for natural bioactive compounds, offering tunable physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and lower toxicity than conventional organic solvents. However, the high viscosity of DESs limits mass transfer efficiency, necessitating integration with auxiliary technologies to overcome this intrinsic constraint. Unlike previous reviews that focus on DESs coupled with a single auxiliary technique, this review for the first time integrates DESs with ultrasound, microwave, enzymatic assistance, and multi-technique hybrid systems into a unified framework, critically comparing their enhancement mechanisms, applicability boundaries, and industrial feasibility. This review systematically examines the non-covalent interactions between DES components and target compounds, including hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and electrostatic interactions, and discusses how these interactions guide the rational selection of hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs) and donors (HBDs) for specific compound classes. We analyze the distinct mechanisms by which ultrasound, microwave, and enzymatic assistance synergistically enhance DES extraction performance, with particular attention to viscosity reduction, cell wall disruption, and biocatalytic compatibility. Recent advances in the extraction of polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and polysaccharides are summarized to illustrate the practical application of these principles. Finally, we discuss current challenges in industrial scale-up, including solvent recovery, equipment adaptation for high-viscosity media, and regulatory considerations, and outline future directions toward intelligent solvent design and continuous processing. By integrating molecular-level mechanistic insights with process engineering perspectives, this review provides a comprehensive framework for the optimization and application of DES-based extraction technologies. Full article

Edible mushroom polysaccharides have attracted considerable attention because of their diverse biological activities, particularly their antioxidant potential. However, efficient extraction of these polysaccharides remains challenging due to the rigid chitin–β-glucan network of fungal cell walls. In this study, polysaccharides from Termitomyces albuminosus were extracted using hot water extraction (HWE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and ultrasound-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction (UA-ATPE). Extraction conditions for each method were optimized using Box–Behnken response surface methodology, and the effects of different extraction strategies on polysaccharide yield, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity were systematically compared. Among the three methods, UAE produced the highest polysaccharide yield (110.32 ± 3.68 mg/g). The extraction strategy significantly influenced the molecular weight distribution and monosaccharide composition of the crude polysaccharides. The crude UAE extract was further purified by DEAE-52 anion-exchange chromatography, yielding the major antioxidant-active fraction eluted with 0.1 M NaCl (designated ATPs-0.1M), which was identified as an acidic heteropolysaccharide with an average molecular weight of 6.37 kDa and composed primarily of glucose, mannose, galactose, xylose, glucuronic acid, rhamnose, and fucose. In vitro antioxidant assays demonstrated that TAPs-0.1M exhibited stronger DPPH radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and ferric reducing activities than the other purified fractions under the tested conditions. The results indicate that different extraction strategies are associated with distinct physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant activities of T. albuminosus polysaccharides. These findings provide a practical basis for selecting appropriate extraction methods and support the further development of T. albuminosus polysaccharides as natural antioxidant ingredients. Full article