Anti-inflammatory effect of Trichospira verticillata via suppression of the NLRP3 inflammasome in neutrophilic asthma.

Trichospira verticillata is an annual herb that belongs to the family Asteraceae. Trichospira verticillata extract (TVE) elicits anti-plasmodial activity; however, there has been no detailed report about its anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms. In addition, herbal plants exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to examine the effects of TVE on NLRP3 inflammasome activation by measuring interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) secretion. We treated lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-primed J774A.1 and THP-1 cells with TVE, which attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Notably, TVE did not affect nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signalling or intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and potassium efflux, suggesting that it inactivates the NLRP3 inflammasome via other mechanisms. Moreover, TVE suppressed the formation of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) speck and oligomerization. Immunoprecipitation data revealed that TVE reduced the binding of NLRP3 to NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7), resulting in reduced ASC oligomerization and speck formation. Moreover, TVE alleviated neutrophilic asthma (NA) symptoms in mice. This study demonstrates that TVE modulates the binding of NLPR3 to NEK7, thereby reporting novel insights into the mechanism by which TVE inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome. These findings suggest TVE as a potential therapeutic of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated diseases, particularly NA.

Aiouea padiformis extract exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the ATPase activity of NLRP3.

Inflammation is implicated as a cause in many diseases. Most of the anti-inflammatory agents in use are synthetic and there is an unmet need for natural substance-derived anti-inflammatory agents with minimal side effects. Aiouea padiformis belongs to the Lauraceae family and is primarily found in tropical regions. While some members of the Aiouea genus are known to possess anti-inflammatory properties, the anti-inflammatory properties of Aiouea padiformis extract (AP) have not been investigated. In this study, we aimed to examine the anti-inflammatory function of AP through the NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Treatment with AP inhibited the secretion of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome in J774A.1 and THP-1 cells without affecting the viability. In addition, AP treatment did not influence NF-κB signaling, potassium efflux, or intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production-all of which are associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation. However, intriguingly, AP treatment significantly reduced the ATPase activity of NLRP3, leading to the inhibition of ASC oligomerization and speck formation. Consistent with cellular experiments, the anti-inflammatory property of AP in vivo was also evaluated using an LPS-induced inflammation model in zebrafish, demonstrating that AP hinders NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Guarea microcarpa C. DC. extract inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome by suppressing its ATPase activity.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Guarea genus comprises tropical and subtropical terrestrial herbs inhabiting Central and South America. These plants, including Guarea guidonia (L.) Sleumer, have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-enhancing properties. AIM OF THE STUDY: Although various species of the Guarea genus are known for their medicinal properties, comprehensive data on their anti-inflammatory effects remain limited. Therefore, we investigated the NLRP3 inflammasome-inhibiting effects of the Guarea genus in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities of 18 members of the Guarea genus, we treated NLRP3 inflammasome activators with their extracts in LPS-primed J774A.1 and THP-1 cells. Cell viability was determined by water soluble tetrazolium salt (WST) and cytokine production, protein expression, and nuclear fractionation were determined by western blotting. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) oligomerization were measured using confocal microscopic analysis. Inflammation-induced zebrafish was used in the in vivo experiments. RESULTS: Among the 18 Guarea members tested, Guarea microcarpa C. DC. extract (GM) exhibited no cytotoxicity and specifically suppressed the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, but not of the AIM2 or NLRC4 inflammasomes, by inhibiting the ATPase activity of NLRP3. This was achieved without affecting NF-κB signaling, potassium efflux, or intracellular ROS production, all of which are involved in NLRP3 activation. The reduced ATPase activity of NLRP3 led to decreased ASC oligomerization. Furthermore, GM exhibited anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. Additionally, GM treatment alleviated inflammation at the organismal level in an LPS-induced inflammation model using zebrafish embryos. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects of GM via suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome. Therefore, GM can be a potential therapeutic candidate for various inflammatory diseases caused by aberrant NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

ClAg14 (C≡Ct Bu)12 Nanoclusters as Efficient and Selective Electrocatalysts Toward Industrially Relevant CO2 Conversion.

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) have emerged as a promising frontier in the field of electrochemical CO2 reduction reactions (CO2 RR) because of their distinctive catalytic properties. Although numerous metal NCs are developed for CO2 RR, their use in practical applications has suffered from their low-yield synthesis and insufficient catalytic activity. In this study, the large-scale synthesis and electrocatalytic performance of ClAg14 (C≡Ct Bu)12 + NCs, which exhibit remarkable efficiency in catalyzing CO2 -to-CO electroreduction with a CO selectivity of over 99% are reported. The underlying mechanisms behind this extraordinary CO2 RR activity of ClAg14 (C≡Ct Bu)12 + NCs are investigated by a combination of electrokinetic and theoretical studies. These analyses reveal that different active sites, generated through electrochemical activation, have unique adsorption properties for the reaction intermediates, leading to enhanced CO2 RR and suppressed hydrogen production. Furthermore, industrially relevant CO2 -to-CO electroreduction using ClAg14 (C≡Ct Bu)12 + NCs in a zero-gap CO2 electrolyzer, achieving high energy efficiency of 51% and catalyst activity of over 1400 A g-1 at a current density of 400 mA cm-2 is demonstrated.

Effect of Short Bouts of Vigorous Stair Climbing on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Women with Overweight and Obesity: A Pilot Feasibility Study.

Background: We examined the effect of 4 weeks of a brief vigorous stair climbing exercise on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body composition in women with overweight or obesity. Methods: Twenty-six participants (age, 25.4±4.9 years; body mass index [BMI], 25.3±1.8 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to either a stair climbing exercise group (n=13) or a non-exercising control group (n=13). The stair climbing exercise group performed 20 sessions (supervised, five sessions/week over 4 weeks) of brief intermittent stair climbing exercise consisting of a 3-minute warm-up followed by three bouts of 20 seconds of stair climbing (≥80% of age-predicted maximum heart rate) interspersed with 2-minute recovery periods (total exercise duration=10 minutes/session). Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was measured using a graded maximal treadmill test with the use of a standard open-circuit spirometry technique. Body composition was assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results: All participants, except one who dropped out due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, completed the study with 100% attendance rates. There were significant interaction effects (group×time) on body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and CRF such that the stair climbing exercise group had significant (P≤0.01) reductions in body weight (66.5±4.6 to 65.2±4.6 kg), BMI (24.8±1.2 to 24.4±1.1 kg/m2), and waist circumference (78.0±3.7 to 76.5±4.1 cm) and improvements in VO2peak (31.6±2.5 to 34.9±2.6 mL/kg/min) compared with controls. Conclusion: Short bouts of vigorous stair climbing is a feasible and time-efficient exercise strategy for improving CRF in previously sedentary, young women with overweight and obesity.

Social connectedness and mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a community sample in Korea.

This study compared social connectedness patterns and examined the relationships between objective or subjective social connectedness and mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic among community dwelling adults in South Korea. An identical online survey was administered at two time points, in 2019 prior to the onset and again in 2021. Objective (network diversity and network size) and subjective (thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness) social connectedness were measured along with positive and negative indices of mental health (depression, suicidal behavior, happiness, and life satisfaction). The results indicated that among social connectedness indices perceived burdensomeness were significantly higher during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the prior period, while network size was smaller. Subjective social connectedness was associated with all aspects of mental health consequences, either positive or negative. Among objective social connectedness, only network diversity was significantly associated with increased happiness and life satisfaction, and objective social connectedness was not associated with depression and suicidal behavior. These associations did not differ across the two time periods. The findings, both before and during the pandemic, indicated that network diversity is an important factor for positive indices of mental health and that efforts to increase subjective social connectedness are needed to decrease the risk of depression and suicidal behavior.

A Review of Yarn-Based One-Dimensional Supercapacitors.

Energy storage in a one-dimensional format is increasingly vital for the functionality of wearable technologies and is garnering attention from various sectors, such as smart apparel, the Internet of Things, e-vehicles, and robotics. Yarn-based supercapacitors are a particularly compelling solution for wearable energy reserves owing to their high power densities and adaptability to the human form. Furthermore, these supercapacitors can be seamlessly integrated into textile fabrics for practical utility across various types of clothing. The present review highlights the most recent innovations and research directions related to yarn-based supercapacitors. Initially, we explore different types of electrodes and active materials, ranging from carbon-based nanomaterials to metal oxides and conductive polymers, that are being used to optimize electrochemical capacitance. Subsequently, we survey different methodologies for loading these active materials onto yarn electrodes and summarize innovations in stretchable yarn designs, such as coiling and buckling. Finally, we outline a few pressing research challenges and future research directions in this field.

Exploring the Potential of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Relieving Central Post-Stroke Pain: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

The potential of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a non-invasive brain stimulation technique for treating pain has been studied. However, its effectiveness in patients with central post-stroke pain (CPSP) and the impact of lesion location remain unclear. This study investigated tDCS's pain reduction effects in patients with CPSP. Twenty-two patients with CPSP were randomized into the tDCS or sham groups. The tDCS group received stimulation of the primary motor cortex (M1) for 20 min, five times weekly, for two weeks, and underwent evaluations at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and one week after the intervention. The tDCS group had no significant improvement compared to the sham group in pain, depression, and quality of life. Nevertheless, significant changes were identified within the tDCS group, and the pain trends appeared to be influenced by the lesion location. These findings provide important insights into the use of tDCS in patients with CPSP, which could inform further research and development of pain treatment options.

Utilization of nutrition labels and related factors among patients with diabetes in Korea.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of diabetes has continued to increase globally. Changes in eating habits, lack of exercise, increased stress, and aging are major contributors. Glycemic control is the key strategy of diabetes management. The purpose of this study was to analyze the utilization of nutrition labels and related factors among patients with diabetes. MATERIALS/METHODS: Data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. General, health-related, diabetes-related characteristics from 1,587 adults with diabetes history were included. Nutrition label utilization was assessed with awareness and use of nutrition labels and effects on food choice. For statistical analyses, chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of awareness, use, and effects of nutrition labels on food choice among diabetic patients were 48.8%, 11.4%, and 9.6%, respectively. High monthly income, walking frequency, family history of diabetes, younger age at diagnosis, and shorter duration of diabetes were associated with higher nutrition label awareness. Nutrition label use and effect on food choice were higher in women, those with high monthly income, those diagnosed at younger than 45 yrs, those with diabetes for less than 10 yrs, those with meal therapy, or patients who had undergone a fundus examination. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition label utilization status was low in Korean patients with diabetes. Strategies are needed to promote nutrition label use as a diet management tool for patients with diabetes.

Application of tree-based machine learning classification methods to detect signals of fluoroquinolones using the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System (KAERS) database.

BACKGROUND: Safety issues for fluoroquinolones have been provided by regulatory agencies. This study was conducted to identify signals of fluoroquinolones reported in the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System (KAERS) using tree-based machine learning (ML) methods. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: All adverse events (AEs) associated with the target drugs reported in the KAERS from 2013 to 2017 were matched with drug label information. A dataset containing label-positive and -negative AEs was arbitrarily divided into training and test sets. Decision tree, random forest (RF), bagging, and gradient boosting machine (GBM) were fitted on the training set with hyperparameters tuned using five-fold cross-validation and applied to the test set. The ML method with the highest area under the curve (AUC) scores was selected as the final ML model. RESULTS: Bagging was selected as the final ML model for gemifloxacin (AUC score: 1) and levofloxacin (AUC: 0.9987). RF was selected in ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and ofloxacin (AUC scores: 0.9859, 0.9974, and 0.9999 respectively). We found that the final ML methods detected additional signals that were not detected using the disproportionality analysis (DPA) methods. CONCLUSIONS: The bagging-or-RF-based ML methods performed better than DPA and detected novel AE signals previously unidentified using the DPA methods.

Magnolia kobus Extract Inhibits Periodontitis-Inducing Mediators in Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide-Activated RAW 264.7 Cells.

Periodontitis, a disease caused by inflammation of oral bacteria, contributes to the loss of alveolar bone and destruction of connective tissues. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram-negative bacterium, is known to possess important pathogenic factors for periodontal disease. In this study, we investigated the anti-periodontitis effects of Magnolia kobus extract (MKE) and magnolin as a component of Magnolia kobus (MK) in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Effects of MKE and magnolin on the mechanism of RAW 264.7 cellular inflammation were determined by analyzing nitric oxide (NO) production and Western blot protein expression (n = 3). MKE/magnolin inhibited NO production without affecting cell survival. MKE/magnolin treatment inhibited LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs such as MMP-1, 3, 8, 9, and 13), and protein levels of inflammatory mediators (such as TNF-α, IL-1ß, and mPGES-1). MKE/magnolin also suppressed NF-κB activation by inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that MKE has a therapeutic effect on inflammatory periodontal disease caused by oral bacterium P. gingivalis and that magnolin is a major functional component in the anti-inflammatory effect of MKE.

Anthropometric Equations to Predict Visceral Adipose Tissue in European and American Youth.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether prediction equations including a limited but selected number of anthropometrics that consider differences in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue may improve prediction of the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in youth. STUDY DESIGN: Anthropometrics and abdominal adipose tissue by MRI were available in 7-18 years old youth with overweight or obesity: 181 White Europeans and 186 White and Black Americans. Multivariable regressions were performed to develop and validate the VAT anthropometric predictive equations in a cross-sectional study. RESULTS: A model with both waist circumference (WaistC) and hip circumference (HipC) (VAT = [1.594 × WaistC] - [0.681 × HipC] + [1.74 × Age] - 48.95) more strongly predicted VAT in girls of White European ethnicity (R2 = 50.8%; standard error of the estimate [SEE] = 13.47 cm2), White American ethnicity (R2 = 41.9%; SEE, 15.63 cm2), and Black American ethnicity (R2 = 25.1%; SEE, 16.34 cm2) (P < .001), than WaistC or BMI. In boys, WaistC was the strongest predictor of VAT; HipC did not significantly improve VAT prediction. CONCLUSIONS: A model including both WaistC and HipC that considers differences in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue more accurately predicts VAT in girls and is superior to commonly measured anthropometrics used individually. In boys, other anthropometric measures did not significantly contribute to the prediction of VAT beyond WaistC alone. This demonstrates that selected anthropometric predictive equations for VAT can be an accessible, cost-effective alternative to imaging methods that can be used in both clinics and research.

Influence of Waist Circumference Measurement Site on Visceral Fat and Metabolic Risk in Youth.

Although the rate of childhood obesity seems to have plateaued in recent years, the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents remains high. Childhood obesity is a major public health concern as overweight and obese youth suffer from many co-morbid conditions once considered exclusive to adults. It is now well demonstrated that abdominal obesity as measured by waist circumference (WC) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and metabolic dysfunction in youth. Despite the strong associations between WC and cardiometabolic risk factors, there is no consensus regarding the optimal WC measurement sites to assess abdominal obesity and obesity-related health risk in children and adolescents. Currently, the WC measurement site that provides the best reflections of visceral fat and the best correlations with cardiometabolic risk factors is unclear. The purpose of this review is to explore whether WC measurement sites influence the relationships between WC, visceral fat, and cardiometabolic risk factors in children and adolescents.

Predicting preventive travel behaviors under the COVID-19 pandemic through an integration of Health Belief Model and Value-Belief-Norm.

This study developed a conceptual framework for a preventive travel decision-making process amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, combining the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Value-Belief-Norm (VBN). Analyzing 409 responses collected from an online survey, this study verified the integrated model as a salient theory addressing the importance of social components and health belief factors in affecting behavior. The model revealed that altruistic value influences the HBM variables, whereas personal norms mediate preventive behaviors and beliefs in both VBN and HBM. These findings offer new theoretical insights into decision-making process and provide practitioners with effective crisis management strategies concerning pro-social and health beliefs.

Metabolic inflexibility in youth with obesity: Is it a feature of obesity or distinctive of youth who are metabolically unhealthy?

Individuals with obesity have metabolic inflexibility with diminished fasting fat oxidation and blunted increase in respiratory quotient (RQ) in insulin-stimulated states. However, it is unclear if metabolic inflexibility is a characteristic of obesity per se or is unique to youth who have metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) compared with metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). We investigated metabolic flexibility in youth with MUO, MHO and normal weight (NW) and compared their metabolic characteristics. Youth (n = 188) were divided, based on cut-off points for in vivo insulin sensitivity (IS) of adolescents with NW, into 137 with MUO and 51 with MHO. Fasting hepatic IS (HIS) from hepatic glucose production by [6,6-2 H2 ]glucose, adipose tissue IS (ATIS) from whole-body lipolysis by [2 H5 ]glycerol, RQ (indirect calorimetry) during fasting and a hyperinsulinemic (80 mU/m2 /min)-euglycemic clamp were measured. Youth with MUO versus MHO had blunted ΔRQ (p = .035) and lower HIS and ATIS (both p < .0001), while ΔRQ, HIS and ATIS were not different between youth with MHO and NW. In a pair-matched sub-analyses of 30 MUO and 30 MHO the results were similar to the total cohort. Metabolic inflexibility, does not appear to be a feature of obesity per se rather distinctive of youth with MUO, who also have worse HIS and ATIS compared with youth with MHO.

Protective Effect of Polymethoxyflavones Isolated from Kaempferia parviflora against TNF-α-Induced Human Dermal Fibroblast Damage.

Similar to other organs, the skin undergoes a natural aging process. Moreover, constant direct exposure to environmental stresses, including ultraviolet irradiation, causes the signs of skin aging to appear rather early. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory responses accelerate skin damage in extrinsic aging. In this study, we aimed to investigate the skin protective effects of polymethoxyflavones found in Kaempferia parviflora against oxidative stress and inflammation-induced damage in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The experimental data identified 5,7,4' trimethoxyflavone (TMF) as the most potent constituent in preventing TNF-α-induced HDF damage among the tested compounds and it was not only effective in inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) production but also in stimulating collagen, type I, and alpha 1 (COLIA1) expression. TMF suppressed TNF-α-stimulated generation of ROS and pro-inflammatory mediators, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-6 in HDFs. TMF also inhibited the pathways regulating fibroblast damage, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), activator protein 1 (AP-1), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). In conclusion, TMF may be a potential agent for preventing skin aging and other dermatological disorders associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.

Effects of Exercise on Resting Metabolic Rate in Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity.

Background: We examined the effects of exercise training on resting metabolic rate (RMR), and whether changes in body composition are associated with changes in RMR in adolescents with overweight and obesity. Methods: One hundred forty adolescents (12-18 years, BMI ≥85th percentile) participated in randomized exercise trials (3-6 months) at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (18 control, 51 aerobic, 50 resistance, and 21 combined aerobic and resistance exercise). All participants had RMR assessments by indirect calorimetry after a 10-12 hour overnight fast, and body composition by magnetic resonance imaging and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: There were no significant changes in RMR (kcal/day) between exercise groups vs. controls (p > 0.05). All exercise groups decreased visceral fat (-0.2 ± 0.02 kg; p < 0.05) compared to control. Increases in fat-free mass (FFM) were only seen in the combined group (2.3 ± 0.4 kg; p < 0.05), whereas increases in skeletal muscle mass were observed in both resistance (1.2 ± 0.2 kg; p < 0.05) and combined (1.5 ± 0.3 kg; p < 0.05) groups vs. control. Change in FFM, but not fat mass (FM), visceral fat, or skeletal muscle mass (p > 0.05), was a significant determinant of changes in RMR, independent of exercise modality (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Although exercise modality was not associated with changes in RMR, change in FFM, but not skeletal muscle or FM, was a significant correlate of changes in RMR in adolescents with overweight and obesity. Clinicaltrials.gov registration numbers: NCT00739180, NCT01323088, NCT01938950.

Separate and combined relationships for cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength with visceral fat and insulin sensitivity in adolescents with obesity.

We examined the separate and combined associations for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular strength (MS) with total and regional fat, and insulin sensitivity (IS) in 204 adolescents (BMI ≥85th percentile, 12-18 years) at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. CRF was measured by maximum oxygen consumption during a graded treadmill test. MS was quantified by combining 1-repetition maximum test for the leg and bench press. Participants were stratified as having either high or low CRF and MS based on sex-specific median split. Both high CRF and high MS groups had lower (P < 0.05) total fat after adjustment for sex, Tanner stage and ethnicity than the low CRF and MS groups (Difference: 6.6, 2.6-9.6% and 5.4, 2.4-8.3%, respectively). High CRF, but not high MS, had lower visceral (67.5 versus 77.9 cm2, P < 0.01) and intermuscular fat (3.6 versus 4.0 kg, P = 0.01) than the low CRF groups. Differences by CRF remained significant after adjustment for MS. High CRF, but not high MS, was associated (P < 0.05) with lower fasting glucose and higher IS after accounting for sex, Tanner stage and ethnicity than the low CRF group, and high CRF remained associated with these markers after adjustment for MS. High CRF is associated with lower total and regional fat, and higher IS after adjustment for MS. Novelty: CRF is associated with lower total fat, visceral and intermuscular fat, and higher insulin sensitivity adjusting for muscular strength. Muscular strength is not associated with regional body fat and insulin sensitivity after accounting for CRF.

Isolation and Characterization of Effective Bacteria That Reduce Ammonia Emission from Livestock Manure.

Ammonia from livestock manure reacts with chemical components discharged from various emission sources to produce airborne particulate matter. This study aimed to investigate a novel effective microbial agent to suppress ammonia gas emitted from manure. Both isolated L12I and 12III strains, identified as Pediococcus acidilactici (PA), were selected for their superior activity in assays performed with the evaluation criteria such as acid production, ammonia decomposition, and urease inhibition, which are key factors influencing ammonia excretion. The survivability of PA strains was confirmed by an increase in DNA abundance in the manure. PA strains lowered the pH of manure and suppressed the growth of hyper-ammonia-producing bacteria (HAB) possessing urease activity. The L12I and 12III treatment groups showed 23.58% and 38.00% emission reductions, respectively. Especially, the 12III strain was proven to be the more effective strain for reducing ammonia gas emission, with the best ability to reduce pH and inhibit HAB. The strains could have an additive effect in improving the manure quality as a nitrogen fertilizer by preserving the total nitrogen and urea content. These results suggest that PA strains can be used as unprecedented microbial agents to improve manure-derived environmental pollution and improve fertilizer quality.

Assessing the utility of cardiorespiratory fitness, visceral fat, and liver fat in predicting changes in insulin sensitivity beyond simple changes in body weight after exercise training in adolescents.

To examine the utility of changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body composition in response to exercise training in adolescents with obesity beyond simple measures of body weight change. This is a secondary analysis of our previously published randomized trials of aerobic, resistance, and combined training. We included 104 adolescents (body mass index (BMI) ≥85th percentile) who had complete baseline and post-intervention data for CRF, regional body fat, insulin sensitivity, and oral glucose tolerance. Associations between changes in body composition and CRF with cardiometabolic variables were examined adjusted for age, sex, Tanner stage, race, exercise group, and weight loss. At baseline, CRF, visceral fat and liver fat were correlated with insulin sensitivity with and without adjustment for BMI percentile. Training-associated changes in CRF, visceral fat, and liver fat were also correlated with insulin sensitivity changes, but not independent of body weight change. After accounting for body weight change, none of the body composition or CRF were associated with changes in insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, systolic blood pressure, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Although CRF and body composition were strong independent correlates of insulin sensitivity at baseline, changes in CRF and visceral fat were not associated with changes in insulin sensitivity after accounting for body weight change. Clinicaltrials.gov registration nos.: NCT00739180, NCT01323088, NCT01938950. Novelty With exercise training, changes in body weight, CRF, visceral fat, and liver fat were correlated with changes in insulin sensitivity. Changes in body composition or CRF generally did not remain significant correlates of changes in insulin sensitivity after adjusting for body weight changes.