[Association between serum sex hormone-binding globulin and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis]

Objective: To investigate the association between serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 371 middle-aged and young obese patients who were hospitalized and underwent liver puncture in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from January 2016 to April 2021 were included. The population was divided into control group (n=43) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) group (n=328) based on the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score. Subjects in NAFLD group were further divided into non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) (n=60), uncertain-NASH (n=172), and NASH (n=96). Serum SHBG was tested in patients with NAFLD who were divided into three subgroups according to tertiles. The liver pathological characteristics in different SHBG level subgroups were compared. The risk factors of NASH were analyzed by logistic regression. The prediction model of NASH noninvasive diagnosis was established by forward stepwise regression, and the diagnostic value of non-invasive model for NASH was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The median age in patients were (32±10) years old with a body mass index of (39.16±6.58) kg/m², including 236 females (63.6%). Serum SHBG level [M (Q₁, Q₃)] in NAFLD group was significantly lower than that in control group [16.90 (11.43, 23.00) vs. (23.45 (15.40, 31.22) mmol/L, P<0.05], and progressively diminished in NAFL, uncertain-NASH and NASH subgroups [(22.24±10.47), (20.57±19.58), (15.80±8.74) mmol; P for trend<0.05]. Compared with the high-leveled SHBG subgroup, the steatosis score (2.09±0.80 vs. 1.51±0.72, P<0.01) and lobular inflammation score (1.10±0.68 vs. 0.85±0.68, P<0.05) were significantly higher in the low-leveled SHBG group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that lower serum SHBG level was an independent risk factor for NASH (OR=2.527, 95%CI: 1.296 to 4.928, P<0.05). The area under ROC curve of SHBG combined with aspartate aminotransferase in predicting NASH in NAFLD patients was 0.752 (95%CI: 0.696 to 0.809). Conclusion: Low serum SHBG level is associated with NASH.

Effects of Gelatin Hydrolysates Addition on Technological Properties and Lipid Oxidation of Cooked Sausage

This study investigated the impacts of gelatin hydrolysate addition on the technological properties and lipid oxidation stability of cooked sausage. Gelatin hydrolysate was prepared from pork and duck skin gelatin, through stepwise hydrolysis using collagenase and pepsin. The cooked sausages were formulated without gelatin (control) or with 1% pork skin gelatin, 1% duck skin gelatin, 1% pork skin gelatin hydrolysate, and 1% duck skin gelatin hydrolysate. The pH, color characteristics, protein solubility, cooking loss, and textural properties of cooked sausages were evaluated, and the 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value was measured weekly to determine lipid oxidation stability during 4 wk of refrigerated storage. Enzymatic hydrolysis of gelatin decreased protein content and CIE L* but increased redness and yellowness (p<0.05). When 1% gelatin or gelatin hydrolysate was incorporated in cooked sausage, however, little to no impacts on pH value, moisture content, protein content, color characteristics, protein solubility, and cooking loss were found (p>0.05). The addition of 1% duck skin gelatin hydrolysate increased the cohesiveness and chewiness of cooked sausages. The inclusion of 1% duck skin gelatin accelerated lipid oxidation of cooked sausages during refrigerated storage (p<0.05), whereas duck skin gelatin hydrolysate caused a lower TBARS value in cooked sausage compared to duck skin gelatin. The results show comparable effects of gelatin and gelatin hydrolysate addition on the technological properties of cooked sausages; however, the oxidative stability of raw materials for gelatin extraction should be evaluated clearly in further studies.