Vegetable oils: Classification, quality analysis, nutritional value and lipidomics applications.

Lipids are widespread in nature and play a pivotal role as a source of energy and nutrition for the human body. Vegetable oils (VOs) constitute a significant category in the food industry, containing various lipid components that have garnered attention for being natural, environmentally friendly and health-promoting. The review presented the classification of raw materials (RMs) from oil crops and quality analysis techniques of VOs, with the aim of improving comprehension and facilitating in-depth research of VOs. Brief descriptions were provided for four categories of VOs, and quality analysis techniques for both RMs and VOs were generalized. Furthermore, this study discussed the applications of lipidomics technology in component analysis, processing and utilization, quality determination, as well as nutritional function assessment of VOs. Through reviewing RMs and quality analysis techniques of VOs, this study aims to encourage further refinement and development in the processing and utilization of VOs, offering valuable references for theoretical and applied research in food chemistry and food science.

The Prevalence of Sleep Disturbance and Its Socio-demographic and Clinical Correlates in First-episode Individuals With Schizophrenia in Rural China.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the socio-demographic and clinical correlates of sleep disturbance in first-episode individuals with schizophrenia in rural China and the factors that impact sleep among individuals with schizophrenia. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 104 first-episode individuals with schizophrenia were randomly selected in rural areas in Ningxia, China, in 2015 as the study sample. FINDINGS: In first-episode individuals with schizophrenia, the prevalence of sleep disturbance was 78.8% (82/104). Sleep disturbance was significantly associated with economic status, living situation, educational level, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Sleep disturbance is common in first-episode individuals with schizophrenia in rural China and more attention should be paid in clinical practice to improve the sleep quality for individuals with schizophrenia.

Over-expression of P2X7 receptors in spinal glial cells contributes to the development of chronic postsurgical pain induced by skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR) in rats.

Many patients suffer from chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) following surgery, and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present work, with use of the skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR) model, the role of P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) in spinal glial cells in the development of CPSP was evaluated. Consistent with previous reports, we found that SMIR decreased the ipsilateral 50% paw withdrawal threshold (PWT), lasting for at least 2weeks. No injury was done to L3 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and no axonal or Schwann cell damage at the retraction site in the saphenous nerve was observed 7days after SMIR. The results of immunofluorescence showed that both microglia and astrocytes were activated in the spinal dorsal horn following SMIR. In addition, both P2X7Rs and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were up-regulated following SMIR. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed that the up-regulated P2X7R immunoreactivity was mainly located in microglia, and to a lesser extent in astrocytes, but not in neurons. Intrathecal delivery of specific P2X7R antagonist BBG (10µM in 10µl volume) or A438079 (10µM in 10µl volume), started 30min before the surgery and once daily thereafter for 7days, prevented the mechanical allodynia. Intrathecal injection of BBG inhibited the activation of microglia and astrocytes, and the up-regulation of TNF-α induced by SMIR. These data suggest that P2X7Rs in the spinal dorsal horn might mediate the development of CPSP via activation of glial cells and up-regulation of TNF-α.

Model for human milk fat substitute evaluation based on triacylglycerol composition profile.

Being the dominant components in human milk fat (HMF), triacylglycerol (TAG) composition might be the best approximation index to represent the composing characteristics of HMF. In this study, TAG composition of HMF from different lactation stages was analyzed by RP-HPLC-APCI-MS, and the establishment of a model for the precise evaluation of human milk fat substitutes (HMFSs) based on TAG composition was indirectly realized by employment of fatty acid composition and distribution and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and TAG compositions. The model was verified by the selected fats and oils with specific chemical compositions, and the results revealed the degrees of similarity of these fats and oils in different evaluation aspects reflected their differences in corresponding chemical composition with HMF. The newly established evaluation model with TAG composition as a comparison base could provide a more accurate method to evaluate HMFSs and might have some inspirations for HMFS production in the future.

Acute oral toxicity of 3-MCPD mono- and di-palmitic esters in Swiss mice and their cytotoxicity in NRK-52E rat kidney cells.

The acute oral toxicity of 1-palmitoyl-3-chloropropanediol (3-MCPD 1-monopalmitate) and 1,2-bis-palmitoyl-3-chloropropanediol (3-MCPD dipalmitate) in Swiss mice were examined, along with their cytotoxicity in NRK-52E rat kidney cells. LD50 (median lethal dose) value of 3-MCPD 1-monopalmitate was determined 2676.81 mg/kg body weight (BW). The results showed that 3-MCPD 1-monopalmitate dose-dependently decreased the mean body weight, and caused significant increase of serum urea nitrogen and creatinine in dead mice compared to the control and survived mice. Major histopathological changes in mice fed 3-MCPD 1-monopalmitate were renal tubular necrosis, protein casts and spermatids decrease in the seminiferous tubules. According to the limit test for 3-MCPD dipalmitate, LD50 value of 3-MCPD dipalmitate was presumed to be greater than 5000 mg/kg BW. Obvious changes were not observed on mean body weight, absolute and relative organ weight or serum urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in mice fed 3-MCPD dipalmitate. However, renal tubular necrosis, protein casts and spermatids decrease were also observed in the dead mice. In addition, MTT and LDH assay results only showed the cytotoxicity of 3-MCPD 1-monopalmitate in NRK-52E rat kidney cells in a dose-dependent manner. Together, the results indicated a greater toxicity of 3-MCPD 1-monopalmitate compared to 3-MCPD dipalmitate.

Human milk fat globules from different stages of lactation: a lipid composition analysis and microstructure characterization.

The physicochemical properties of human milk fat globules (MFG) at different lactation stages from Danish mothers and the microstructure changes of MFG membrane (MFGM) at varied temperatures were investigated, and the relationship between chemical composition and the microstructure of MFGM was elucidated. The fat content in MFG was found to be significantly increased as lactation progressed, and colostrum MFG had the largest mean diameter of 5.75 ± 0.81 µm and the lowest ζ potential of -5.60 ± 0.12 mV. Chemical composition analyses of MFG revealed the following: (i) Colostrum milk fat constituted higher content in PUFAs (ω-6, and long-chain ω-6 and ω-3) than transitional and mature milk fats, with the corresponding lower content of SFA in its sn-2 position. (ii) The content of polar lipids among total lipids varied during lactation course (maximized at transitional stage); however, in terms of subclasses of polar lipids, no significant change of the relative content of sphingomyelin was observed, while the content of phosphatidycholine in mature milk was higher than that in colostrum and transitional milk. (iii) Inspection of fatty acid composition in phospholipids from different lactation milk revealed no remarkable and regular changes could be generalized; and no obvious difference of the morphologies of MFGM at different lactation stages can be visualized. An investigation of the microstructure change of MFGM vs temperature demonstrated that the segregated domains became larger as temperature decreased to 4 °C, while it became smaller when increased to 37 °C. This phenomenon indicated that, in addition to sphingimyelin and cholesterol, phospholipids might also contribute to increasing the segregated domains at lower temperature, while, at elevated temperature, these domains could be diminished, most likely due to a restructuring or distributing of sphingimyelin and cholesterol.

[Clinical observation on catgut implantation at Shu- and Mu-acupoints for treatment of premature ovarian failure].

OBJECTIVE: To observe clinical therapeutic effect of catgut implantation at Shu- and Mu-acupoints of liver, spleen and kidney on premature ovarian failure. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-two cases of premature ovarian failure were randomly divided into a catgut implantation group and a medication group, 66 cases in each group. The catgut implantation group were treated by catgut implantation at She- and Mu-acupoints of liver, spleen and kidney, and the medication group were treated with oral administration of Estradiol Valerate 2 mg, qd, for 20 days, and 10 days later, Medroxyprogesterone Acetate 4 mg was added, b. i. d, for 10 days, averaging 6 months of medication. The therapeutic effects and changes of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, serum FSH and E2 significantly improved in the two groups (P<0.01), with the serum E2 in the catgut implantation group increased more significantly than that in the medication group (P<0.01). The cured rate and the total effective rate were 84.9% and 97.0% in the catgut implantation group and 31.8% and 84.8% in the medication group, the cured rate in the catgut implantation group being better than that in the medication group (P<0.05). Ten month later, the therapeutic effect in the catgut implantation group was kept. CONCLUSION: Catgut implantation at Shu- and Me-acupoints of liver, spleen and kidney has a good therapeutic effect on premature ovarian failure with no side effect.

[Comparative observation on acupuncture and western medicine for treatment of minimal brain dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of acupuncture and western medicine on minimal brain dysfunction (MBD) and to search for a clinically effective therapy for MBD. METHODS: Sixty-eight cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a western medicine group, 34 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated by acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) and Shenque (CV 8), and the western medicine group by taking Haloperidol orally. One month constituted one course. After treatment, the total effective rate and scores of Connell's scale for diagnosis and behavior of MBD were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate and the score after treatment were 97.1% and 10 +/- 0.37 in the acupuncture group and 82.4% and 15 +/- 0.93 in the western medicine group, with a very significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.000 5), the acupuncture group being better than the western medicine group. Follow-up survey for 2-10 months showed the effects of the acupuncture group still were kept. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at Dazhui (GV 14) and Shenque (CV 8) can effectively cure MBD.