Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disorder caused by abnormal uric acid (UA) metabolism, which is a complex physiological process involving multiple organs (liver, kidney, and intestine). Although UA metabolism in the liver and kidneys has been elucidated, only a few studies have focused on the process in the intestine. With our growing knowledge of the effects of gut microorganisms on health, the gut microbiota has been identified as a new target for HUA treatment. In this review, the relationship between HUA and the gut microbiota is elucidated, and anti-hyperuricemia mechanisms targeting the intestine are discussed, such as the promotion of purine and UA catabolism by the gut microbiota, increases in UA excretion by the gut microbiota and its metabolites, regulation of UA absorption or secretion in the intestinal tract by certain transporters, and the intestinal inflammatory response to the gut microbiota. Additionally, probiotics (Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli) and prebiotics (polyphenols, peptides, and phytochemicals) with UA-lowering effects targeting the intestinal tract are summarized, providing reference and guidance for further research.

The influence of ultrasonics combined with microwave thawing (UMT) and ultrasonics combined with far-infrared thawing (UIT) on the water migration and protein denaturation of red drum were studied. Five treatments were used: ultrasonics thawing (UT), microwave thawing (MT), far-infrared thawing (IT), UIT and UMT were used for thawing red drum filets. Moisture migration and protein aggregation were studied using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and particle size, respectively. Raman spectra and fluorescence spectra were used to study the secondary and tertiary structure of protein. SEM was done to observe the fiber microstructure. The results showed that UMT and UIT can maintained protein stability more than other thawing methods and retained the fiber structure of the muscle. Besides, immobilized water in fiber bundles network also had no significant changes compared with fresh samples. Thus, ultrasonics combined with far infrared or microwave thawing were used to decrease protein denaturation and water migration during the thawing of Red drum fillets.

Serious quality deterioration can occur with suboptimal thawing, and thus innovative thawing technologies may have an important role in improving the final quality of frozen foods. In recent years, although several new thawing technologies have been extensively studied, such as ultra‐high pressure assisted thawing, ultrasound‐assisted thawing, high‐voltage electrostatic field thawing, ohmic thawing, and radio frequency thawing, more research is needed to make them more applicable to thawing of food industrially. A better evaluation of the impact of thawing is needed to help move new thawing technologies forward. This review discusses the principles involved, the applications to different types of foods, modeling of the various processes, new evaluation techniques, and patents obtained for the different systems. The benefits and weaknesses of these systems are also discussed to provide a more complete review of these new thawing techniques. This review will, hopefully, encourage additional work that may help reach the goal of having better food thawing systems.

Ultrasound assisted vacuum thawing (UVT) or microwave vacuum thawing (MVT) with red seabream fillets were compared to fresh, chill storage thawing, vacuum thawing, microwave thawing and ultrasound thawing. The thermal stability and gelation properties were studied with DSC and dynamic rheology, respectively. Raman spectra before and after H/D isotope exchange and intrinsic fluorescence were used to measure protein secondary and tertiary structure. Low-field NMR was done to measure water migration. The two thawing techniques both retained actin thermal stability and generally retained more stable tertiary structures than the other thawing methods. MVT showed a desirable viscoelasticity of muscle proteins and UVT had a relatively stable secondary structure. There were no significant changes in free water. Thus, UVT and MVT could be used to improve the physicochemical properties of proteins during thawing of fillets.