Excessive dietary L-tryptophan regulated amino acids metabolism and serotonin signaling in the colon of weaning piglets with acetate-induced gut inflammation.

L-Tryptophan (Trp) was shown to improve the gut barrier and growth of weaning piglets. However, whether excessive dietary Trp regulates amino acids (AAs) metabolism and gut serotonin (5-HT) homeostasis in piglets with gut inflammation is not clear yet. We hypothesize that excessive dietary Trp alleviates acetate-induced colonic inflammation and gut barrier damage in weaning piglets partially through the regulation of colonic AAs metabolism and 5-HT signaling. Fifty-four 21-day-old weaned piglets were divided into six groups: control, acetate, 0.2%Trp, 0.2%Trp + acetate, 0.4% Trp, and 0.4%Trp + acetate. Piglets were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0%, 0.2%, or 0.4% of Trp throughout the 12-day experiment. During days 0-7, all piglets had free access to diet and drinking water. On day 8, piglets were intrarectal administered with 10 mL of 10% acetate saline solution or 0.9% saline. During days 8-12, all piglets were pair-fed the same amount of feed per kg bodyweight. Results showed that excessive dietary Trp alleviated acetate-induced reductions in daily weight gain and increase in feed/gain ratio. Trp restored (P < 0.05) acetate-induced increase in concentrations of free aspartate, glutamate/glutamine, glycine, 5-HT, and 3-methylindole in the colon, downregulation of zonula occludens-1 and 5-HT reuptake transporter (SERT) expression and upregulation of IL-1ß, IL-8, TLR4, and 5-HT receptor 2A (HTR2A) expression, and the increase in ratios of p-STAT3/ STAT3 and p-p65/p65 in the colon. The above findings suggested that excessive dietary Trp in the proper amount regulated colonic AAs metabolism, 5-HT homeostasis, and signaling that may contribute as important regulators of gut inflammation during the weaning transition.

Efficient HCl leaching of platinum group metals from waste three-way catalysts: A study on kinetics and mechanisms.

Waste three-way catalysts (TWCs) have attracted much attention due to the presence of platinum group metals (PGMs) and hazardous substances such as heavy metals and organic matter. The extraction of PGMs from waste TWCs using hydrochloric acid (HCl) has been extensively researched. However, the addition of oxidizing agents like H2O2 and aqua regia is necessary to facilitate PGMs dissolution, which poses significant environmental and operational hazards. Hence, developing a green PGMs recovery process without oxidants is imperative. Previously, we investigated the process of Li2CO3 calcination pretreatment to enhance the leaching of PGMs from waste TWCs by HCl, focusing on the process and mechanism of Li2CO3 calcination pretreatment. In this study, we focused on the leaching process of HCl after pretreatment. Our investigation includes a detailed examination of leaching kinetics and mechanisms. The optimal leaching conditions were: leaching temperature of 150 °C, leaching time of 2 h, HCl concentration of 12 M, and liquid-solid ratio of 10 mL/g. The experiments resulted in maximum leaching rates of about 96%, 97%, and 97% for Pt, Pd, and Rh, respectively. However, given the presence of heavy metals, attention needs to be paid to the harmless treatment of waste acids and leaching residues. The Pt and Pd leaching process is controlled by a mixture of interfacial chemical reactions and internal diffusion, and dominated by internal diffusion, while the leaching process of Rh is controlled by interfacial chemical reactions. Li+ in Li2PtO3, Li2PdO2, and Li2RhO3 preferentially leached and underwent ion-exchange reactions with H+, promoting the dissolution of Pt, Pd, and Rh in HCl.

A review on management of waste three-way catalysts and strategies for recovery of platinum group metals from them.

Platinum group metals (PGMs), especially platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh), are widely used in automotive three-way catalysts (TWCs). PGM resources are scarce and unevenly distributed, with global reserves of 69,000 t in 2020, of which more than 99% are concentrated in South Africa, Russia, Zambia, and the United States. However, the demand for PGMs worldwide is growing continually, especially in China. The recovery of PGMs from spent TWCs not only can alleviate the contradiction between supply and demand but also have good economic and environmental benefits. This paper briefly analyzes the market demand for Pt, Pd, and Rh in the global automotive industry in recent years, emphasizing the importance of waste TWC recycling. It also presents the current status of waste TWC management in some countries, especially China, and critically reviews the main recycling strategies for waste TWCs. On this basis, suggestions for strengthening the management of waste TWCs in China are put forward, and the future development trend of recycling technology is foreseen. The purpose of this paper is to provide some valuable references for the decision-makers of waste TWC management, and hopefully to provide inspiration for related scholars on the future research direction of waste TWC recycling technology.

The Mechanism of Secretion and Metabolism of Gut-Derived 5-Hydroxytryptamine.

Serotonin, also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a metabolite of tryptophan and is reported to modulate the development and neurogenesis of the enteric nervous system, gut motility, secretion, inflammation, sensation, and epithelial development. Approximately 95% of 5-HT in the body is synthesized and secreted by enterochromaffin (EC) cells, the most common type of neuroendocrine cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, through sensing signals from the intestinal lumen and the circulatory system. Gut microbiota, nutrients, and hormones are the main factors that play a vital role in regulating 5-HT secretion by EC cells. Apart from being an important neurotransmitter and a paracrine signaling molecule in the gut, gut-derived 5-HT was also shown to exert other biological functions (in autism and depression) far beyond the gut. Moreover, studies conducted on the regulation of 5-HT in the immune system demonstrated that 5-HT exerts anti-inflammatory and proinflammatory effects on the gut by binding to different receptors under intestinal inflammatory conditions. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms through which 5-HT participates in cell metabolism and physiology can provide potential therapeutic strategies for treating intestinal diseases. Herein, we review recent evidence to recapitulate the mechanisms of synthesis, secretion, regulation, and biofunction of 5-HT to improve the nutrition and health of humans.

Dietary L-Tryptophan Regulates Colonic Serotonin Homeostasis in Mice with Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis.

BACKGROUND: L-tryptophan (Trp) has been reported to regulate gut immune responses during inflammation. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the role of Trp supplementation on the serotonin receptor (HTR)-mediated immune response in the colon of mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. METHODS: In Experiment 1, male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: Control (Con) or L-Trp supplementation [0.1 mg/(g body weight·d) in drinking water] (Trp) with (+DSS) or without 2% DSS in drinking water from days 8 to 14 of the 17-d study. In Experiments 2 and 3, Trp + DSS (Expt. 2) or DSS (Expt. 3) mice were treated as described above and subcutaneously administered with HTR1A or HTR4 antagonists (or their combination) or an HTR2 agonist from days 8 to 14 of the 15-d study. Changes in immune cell phenotypes, inflammatory mediators, and related cell signaling molecules were assessed by flow cytometry, real-time PCR, or Western blot. The mRNA abundances of Trp hydroxylase (Tph1), serotonin reuptake transporter (Slc6a4), and Htr in the colon were also assessed. RESULTS: Trp supplementation before DSS treatment upregulated the expression of colonic Slc6a4 (0.49 compared with 0.30), Htr1a (1.14 compared with 0.65), and Htr4 (1.08 compared with 0.70), downregulated the expression of Htr2a (1.54 compared with 1.89), and decreased the colonic serotonin concentration (11.5 compared with 14.8 nmol/g tissue) (P < 0.01). Trp regulated the DSS-induced immune response partly through attenuating the activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-STAT3 signaling and nucleus p-65. Either an HTR2 agonist or HTR1A and HTR4 antagonists reversed the effects of Trp. CONCLUSIONS: In mice treated with DSS, Trp supplementation before DSS administration improved colonic immune responses partly by reducing colonic serotonin and subsequent interactions with HTR1A and HTR4, which are known to be present on neutrophils and macrophages.

Maternal L-proline supplementation during gestation alters amino acid and polyamine metabolism in the first generation female offspring of C57BL/6J mice.

We recently reported that dietary supplementation with L-proline (proline) during gestation improved embryonic survival in C57BL/6J mice. The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the effect of maternal proline supplementation on embryonic survival can be carried forward to the first generation female offspring. In the F0 generation, pregnant dams were fed a purified diet supplemented with 0 (control) or 5 g proline/kg diet. The F1 female adult offsprings were bred to fertile males. Fetal survival at embryonic day (E)12.5 and reproductive outcomes at term birth were recorded. The concentrations of amino acids, ammonia, and urea in plasma and amniotic fluid, as well as concentrations of polyamines in placental tissues and amniotic fluid at E12.5 were determined. Results showed that the F1 generation female offspring from proline-supplemented dams had higher (P < 0.05) concentrations of glutamate and taurine in plasma; of putrescine and spermidine in placental tissues; and of glycine, taurine, and spermidine in amniotic fluid at E12.5, as compared with F1 generation female offsprings from dams without proline supplementation. Concentration of proline in the plasma of offspring mice from proline-supplemented dams were lower (P < 0.05), as compared with the control group. No differences in fetal survival, reproductive outcomes, or concentrations of ammonia and urea in plasma and amniotic fluid were observed between the two groups of F1 female offspring. Collectively, our results indicate that the benefits of maternal proline supplementation during gestation on improving embryonic survival and fetal growth in F0 females are not transmitted to their F1 generation females.

[Analysis of meteorological conditions affecting the upper respiratory outpatients in Ningbo City].

OBJECTIVE: To actively and effectively prevent upper respiratory diseases and providing basic research for medical meteorological forecast. METHODS: Using daily upper respiratory outpatients from a third-grade class-A hospital, a children's hospital and meteorological data of 2014 in Ningbo City, to analyze the relationship between upper respiratory outpatients and meteorological factors including emperature, pressure, humidity, sunshine, haze and others by the curve fitting method and principal component analysis method. RESULTS: The upper respiratory outpatient in Ningbo City had a season distribution feature which was significantly more during autumn to early spring. The most was in Dec and Jan, and the secondly in Mar and Nov for children. Temperature was the most obvious impact of upper respiratory outpatients. Children would be ill the next day of temperature changed significantly, and adult would postpone one-two days. In addition, continuous high pressure, low temperature, low humidity and less sunshine obviously influenced on upper respiratory diseases than single day. The longer the time, the greater the impact. Correlation coefficient between minimum temperature of five consecutive days and cough was 0. 555. In winter, outpatients were stable when average temperature was above 8 ℃, or maximum temperature was above 15 ℃, or minimum temperature was above 4 ℃ during five consecutive days. Outpatients were increased significantly to more than 1 times the usual when average temperature was below 5 ℃, or maxinum temperature was below 10 ℃, or minimum temperature was below 0 ℃ during five consecutive days. Outpatients were stability when f_1 was from-2. 5 to 3. 0, which was the first eigenvector of principal component, and outpatients were decreased obviously when f_1 was from-5. 5 to-2. 5, and outpatients were hopping increases to about 2 times the usual when f_1 was below-5. 0. CONCLUSION: Meteorological factors are one of the main causes of upper respiratory diseases, and there will be obvious relationship in continuous haze day.

Application of Single Voxel 1H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy in Hepatic Benign and Malignant Lesions.

BACKGROUND To quantify the metabolite changes in hepatic tumors by single-voxel 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) at 3.0 T and explore the application value of 1HMRS in the diagnosis of hepatic benign and malignant lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 45 patients (55 lesions) diagnosed with hepatic lesions by ultrasound and/or computer topography (CT) from November 2006 to March 2007 were included in this study. All patients underwent 3D-dynamic enhanced scan with liver acquisition with acceleration volume acquisition (LAVA) sequence and single-voxel 1HMRS imaging with PRESS (point-resolved spectroscopy) sequence. The metabolite concentrations such as choline (Cho) and lipids (Lip) were measured. RESULTS There was significant difference regarding the occurrence rate of the obvious elevated Cho peaks between benign and malignant tumors (7/27 vs. 21/28, p=0.000). There was statistical significant differences regarding the Cho/Lip ratios in hepatic benign (0.0686±0.0283, 95% CI: 0.0134-0.1245) and malignant (0.1266 ±0.1124, 95% CI: 0.0937-0.2203) lesions (p<0.05). When compared with the pathological results, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy were 85.7% (24/28), 92.6% (25/27), 92.3% (24/26), 86.2% (25/29), and 89.1% (49/55) respectively for the MRI assessment, and 92.6% (26/28), 88.9% (24/27), 89.7 (26/29), 92.3 (24/26), and 90.9% (50/55) respectively for 1HMRS combined with MRI assessment. CONCLUSIONS Single Cho peaks or Lip peaks cannot be used for the diagnosis of hepatic benign and malignant lesions. Combined use of 1HMRS and MRI can greatly improve the application value of MRI assessment in the diagnosis of hepatic benign and malignant lesions with a higher sensitivity, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy.

[Body composition investigation of 2321 Shenzhen government and enterprise staffs].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the laws of human body composition change and the status of the overweight and obesity of government and enterprise staffs. METHODS: In July 2013 - January 2014, 2321 adults more than 20-year-old healthy check-up crowd with complete human body composition and height as well as weight data in a medical center in Shenzhen were collected by convenience sampling method. RESULTS: The overweight rates of male and female were 46.41% and 18.94% respectively (standardized overweight rates were 44.02% and 14.51%, respectively), and the difference between them was statisically significant (Χ2 = 201.01, P = 0. 000). The obesity rates of male and female were 12.13% and 3.57%, respectively (standardized overweight rates were 11.11% (see symbol) 2.63%, respectively), and the difference between them was statisically significant (X2 = 48.45, P = 0.000). The parameters of bone mineral quality, visceral fat area, body fat, body fat percentage, abdominal obesity, body moisture and free fat weight increased with body weight, and there were statistical significance among normal weight, overweight and obesity groups (P = 0.000). Bone mineral quality was highest at the age of 30 to 40 for men and women, and there was the statistical significance. There was statistical significance in visceral fat area between different ages in the same gender. Body fat percentage (34.24 + 5.39)% of all ages 50 to 59 years old and body moisture (28.53 + 3.77)% of age 40 - 49 group were highest in women. Male body fat percentage (27.08 + 5.01)% at the age of 60-age group was the highest. Male and female visceral fat area increasesd with age, but there was no statistical difference between men and women at the same age. The human body composition had not a statistically significant difference among normal weight and overweight groups, but a significant difference between normal weight and obesity groups (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Overweight and obesity rates in Shenzhen government and enterprise staffs increase with age. Body composition increase with the weight.

Atomically dispersed copper-zinc dual sites anchored on nitrogen-doped porous carbon toward peroxymonosulfate activation for degradation of various organic contaminants.

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been widely studied in Fenton-like reactions, wherein their catalytic performance could be further enhanced by adjusting electronic structure and regulating coordination environment, although relevant research is rarely reported. This text elucidates fabrication of dual atom catalyst systems aimed at augmenting their catalytic efficiency. Herein, atomically dispersed copper-zinc (Cu-Zn) dual sites anchored on nitrogen (N)-doped porous carbon (NC), referred to as CuZn-NC, were synthesized using cage-encapsulated pyrolysis and host-guest strategies. The CuZn-NC catalyst exhibited high activity in activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for degradation of organic pollutants. Based on synergistic effects of adjacent Cu and Zn atom pairs, CuZn-NC (PMS) system achieved 94.44 % bisphenol A (BPA) degradation in 24 min. The radical pathway predominated, and coexistence of non-radical species was demonstrated for BPA degradation in CuZn-NC/PMS system. More importantly, CuZn-NC/PMS system showed generality for degradation of various refractory contaminants. Our experiments indicate that CuZn-N sites on CuZn-NC act as active sites for bonding PMS molecules with optimal binding energy, while pyrrolic N sites are considered as adsorption sites for organic molecules. Overall, this research designs diatomic site catalysts (DACs), with promising implications for wastewater treatment.

Data-Driven Eco-Efficiency Analysis and Improvement in the Logistics Industry in Anhui.

The ecological efficiency (eco-efficiency) of a regional logistics industry (RLI) is widely regarded as a key factor affecting sustainability of economic development, environmental protection, and resources utilization. This study applied a data-driven method to evaluate and increase the eco-efficiency of an RLI. Based on RLI-related data, which were converted into proper dimensionless indices, data envelopment analysis (DEA), which assumes that the decision-making units (DMUs) are in the situation of variable returns to scale, the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper (BCC) model, and Malmquist index model were used to assess the eco-efficiency of the RLI from both static and dynamic viewpoints. Then, a Tobit regression model was built to explore the factors that influence eco-efficiency. The effectiveness of this approach was verified by its application to an example from Anhui Province. This study has theoretical and practical value for the assessment and promotion of the ecological eco-efficiency of the RLI. We believe that our approach offers a powerful tool to assist logistics enterprises and local governments in coordinating the relationship between the RLI economy and the ecological environment, facilitating the drive to carbon neutrality.

Process and mechanism of enhanced HCl leaching of platinum group metals from waste three-way catalysts by Li2CO3 calcination pretreatment.

Recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs) from waste three-way catalysts (TWCs) was usually achieved by dissolving them in an acid solution. However, their dissolution requires the addition of oxidizing agents such as Cl2 and aqua regia, which could cause high environmental risks. Therefore, the development of new methods without the addition of oxidant agents will contribute to the green recovery of PGMs. In this paper, the process and mechanism of PGMs recovery from waste TWCs by Li2CO3 calcination pretreatment-HCl leaching were studied in detail, and molecular dynamics calculations were performed for the formation processes of Pt, Pd, and Rh complex oxides. The results showed that the leaching rates of Pt, Pd, and Rh could reach about 95%, 98%, and 97%, respectively, under the optimal conditions. Li2CO3 calcination pretreatment cannot only oxidize Pt, Pd, and Rh metals to HCl-soluble Li2PtO3, Li2PdO2, and Li2RhO3, but also remove the carbon accumulation in waste TWCs and open the wrapping of PGMs by the substrate and Al2O3 coating. The embedding of Li and O atoms in metallic Pt, Pd, and Rh is an interacting embedding process. Although the Li atoms are faster than O, O will accumulate on the metal surface first before embedding.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Progress and Trends on Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer.

The objective of this work is to present the research progress and applications of fly ash-based geopolymer, and summarize the future research hotpots. Since 1998, scholars have made important contributions to the study of fly ash-based geopolymer, and a large number of research studies have been published. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis for the determination of the research status, trend, and history of fly ash-based geopolymer was conducted in the present study. A total of 4352 publications on fly ash-based geopolymer were collected between 1998 and 2022, with an increasing trend year by year. China and Australia are the largest contributors to the field, and the research institutions in each country cooperate closely. In addition, the most contributing research areas are MATERIALS SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, and CONSTRUCTION & BUILDING TECHNOLOGY. The keywords including fly ash, compressive strength, and mechanical property are the most frequently appearing words. On the whole, the development of fly ash-based geopolymer could be divided into three stages including the replacement of ordinary Portland cement, the development of multifunctional materials, and the reduction of environmental impact by the conversion of solid waste. This overview could provide an important guidance for the development of fly ash-based geopolymer.

Insights into diet-associated oxidative pathomechanisms in inflammatory bowel disease and protective effects of functional amino acids.

There has been a substantial rise in the incidence and prevalence of clinical patients presenting with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Accumulating evidence has corroborated the view that dietary factors (particularly diets with high levels of saturated fat or sugar) are involved in the development and progression of IBD, which is predominately associated with changes in the composition of the gut microbiota and an increase in the generation of reactive oxygen species. Notably, the ecological imbalance of the gut microbiome exacerbates oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, leading to perturbations of the intestinal redox balance and immunity, as well as mucosal integrity. Recent findings have revealed that functional amino acids, including L-glutamine, glycine, L-arginine, L-histidine, L-tryptophan, and hydroxyproline, are effectively implicated in the maintenance of intestinal redox and immune homeostasis. These amino acids and their metabolites have oxygen free-radical scavenging and inflammation-relieving properties, and they participate in modulation of the microbial community and the metabolites in the gut. The principal focus of this article is a review of recent advances in the oxidative pathomechanisms of IBD development and progression in relation to dietary factors, with a particular emphasis on the redox and signal transduction mechanisms of host cells in response to unbalanced diets and enterobacteria. In addition, an update on current understanding of the protective effects of functional amino acids against IBD, together with the underlying mechanisms for this protection, have been provided.

Management status of waste lithium-ion batteries in China and a complete closed-circuit recycling process.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) were used extensively in people's lives, especially with the vigorous promotion of new energy vehicles, which led to the generation of a large number of waste LIBs. In consideration of the enormous quantity, environmental risk, and resource properties, many countries have issued a series of laws and regulations to manage waste LIBs and developed a lot of recycling technologies. As the biggest producer of batteries in the world, China has also taken necessary measures to deal with this situation. This paper presents the latest regulations of waste LIBs in China and reviews the recycling strategies of waste LIBs, especially physical recycling methods. Based on the analysis of the current management status of waste LIBs in China and the recycling technologies, some management suggestions, and a complete closed-circuit recycling process including cascade utilization and resource recovery were put forward. A rough economic evaluation of the process was also conducted to demonstrate the economic feasibility of the proposed process. The purpose of this paper is to provide some valuable references for decision-making bodies in the improvement of waste lithium-ion battery management and to provide an environmentally friendly and industrial feasible recycling process for reference.

Anaerobic digestion: An alternative resource treatment option for food waste in China.

With the implementation of zero-waste city and waste classification in China, a large amount of food waste (FW) began to appear in concentration, and there was an urgent requirement for appropriate and efficient treatment technology. Traditional FW disposal methods (landfill and incineration) could cause several environmental problems, so resource recycling has become the main development trend of FW in China. In recent years, anaerobic digestion (AD) technology for FW resource treatment has attracted much attention due to its advantages such as the ability to obtain clean energy, low carbon emissions, and suitability for large-scale treatment compared with other recycling technologies (composting, feed, and breeding insects). Chinese policy is conducive to the development of AD for FW, which has the potential to produce methane and achieve economic and environmental benefits. This paper presents an overview of the researches, application situations, and perspectives for the AD of FW resource treatment in China. The bibliometric analysis shows that China has the most interest in the AD of FW compared to other countries, and the amount and characteristics analysis of FW indicates that FW is suitable for treatment by AD. At the same time, this review analyzes the influence factors, methods to promote AD, working mechanism, secondary pollution of AD. Besides, the article introduces and analyzes the current policies, application status, economic and environmental benefits, and problems of AD for FW resource treatment in China. AD is considered as an alternative resource treatment technology for FW, although there are still several problems such as odors, digestate, etc. In the future, China should focus on the reform of management policy, the implementation of the AD circular economy model, and the research of the biorefinery model based on AD technology.

The Functional Role of Lactoferrin in Intestine Mucosal Immune System and Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is one of the main types of intestinal inflammatory diseases with intestine mucosal immune disorder. Intestine mucosal immune system plays a remarkable and important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of IBD. Therefore, understanding the intestine mucosal immune mechanism is a key step to develop therapeutic interventions for IBD. Intestine mucosal immune system and IBD are influenced by various factors, such as inflammation, gut permeability, gut microbiota, and nutrients. Among these factors, emerging evidence show that nutrients play a key role in inflammation activation, integrity of intestinal barrier, and immune cell modulation. Lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding glycoprotein belonging to transferrin family, is a dietary bioactive component abundantly found in mammalian milk. Notably, LF has been reported to perform diverse biological functions including antibacterial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, intestinal barrier protection, and immune cell modulation, and is involved in maintaining intestine mucosal immune homeostasis. The improved understanding of the properties of LF in intestine mucosal immune system and IBD will facilitate its application in nutrition, clinical medicine, and health. Herein, this review outlines the recent advancements on LF as a potential therapeutic intervention for IBD associated with intestine mucosal immune system dysfunction. We hope this review will provide a reference for future studies and lay a theoretical foundation for LF-based therapeutic interventions for IBD by understanding the particular effects of LF on intestine mucosal immune system.

Projections of temperature-related cause-specific mortality under climate change scenarios in a coastal city of China.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have been conducted to project temperature-related mortality under climate change scenarios. However, most of the previous evidence has been limited to the total or non-accidental mortality, resulting in insufficient knowledge on the influence of climate change on different types of disease. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to project future temperature impact on mortality from 16 causes under multiple climate change models in a coastal city of China. METHODS: We first estimated the baseline exposure-response relationships between daily average temperature and cause-specific mortality during 2009-2018. Then, we acquired downscaled future temperature projections from 28 general circulation models (GCMs) under two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Finally, we combined these exposure-response associations with projected temperature to estimate the change in the temperature-related death burden in different future decades in comparison to the 2010 s, assuming no demographic changes and population acclimatization. RESULTS: We found a consistently decreasing trend in cold-related mortality but a steep rise in heat-related mortality among 16 causes under climate change scenarios. Compared with the 2010 s, the net change in the fraction of total mortality attributable to temperature are projected to -0.54% (95% eCI: -1.69% to 0.71%) and -0.38% (95% eCI: -2.73% to 2.12%) at the end of the 21st century under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. However, the magnitude of future cold and heat effects varied by different causes of death. A net reduction of future temperature-related death burden was observed among 10 out of 15 causes, with estimates ranging from -5.02% (95% eCI: -17.42% to 2.50%) in mental disorders to -1.01% (95% eCI: -5.56% to 3.28%) in chronic lower respiratory disease. Conversely, the rest diseases are projected to experience a potential net increase of temperature-related death burden, with estimates ranging from 0.44% (95% eCI: -4.40% to 6.02%) in ischemic heart disease and 4.80% (95% eCI: -0.04% to 9.84%) in external causes. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that the mortality burden of climate change varied greatly by the mortality categories. Further investigations are warranted to comprehensively understand the impacts of climate change on different types of disease across various regions.

Analysis of Tryptophan and Its Metabolites by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

Tryptophan is a nutritionally essential amino acid for both humans and animals. Besides acting as a building block for protein synthesis, tryptophan (Trp) and its metabolites are crucial for maintaining neurological function, immunity, and homeostasis in the body. To uncover the regulatory role of Trp and its metabolites in cell nutrition, metabolism and physiology, various analytical methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), have been developed to determine key Trp metabolites. Here we describe a rapid and sensitive method for the simultaneous analysis of Trp and its metabolites along with other amino acids by HPLC involving in-line pre-column derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) and dual-channel fluorescence detection. OPA reacts very rapidly (within 1 min) with Trp, 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and tryptamine at room temperature (e.g., 20-25 °C) in an autosampler. Their derivatives are immediately injected into the HPLC column without the need for extraction. Trp metabolites that cannot react with OPA but are fluorescent can be detected by setting the excitation and emission wavelengths of the fluorescence detector in another detection channel. The autosampler is programmed to mix Trp and its metabolites with OPA for 1 min to generate highly fluorescent derivatives for HPLC separation and detection (Channel A, excitation = 270 nm and emission = 350 nm; Channel B, excitation = 340 nm and emission = 450 nm). The detection limit for Trp and its metabolites is 30 pmol/mL or 150 fmol/injection. The total time for chromatographic separation (including column regeneration) is 55 min for each sample. Our HPLC method can be used for the analysis of amino acids (including Trp) in alkaline protein hydrolysates and of Trp and its metabolites in biological samples.