Electrochemical Reconstruction of NiFe/NiFeOOH Superparamagnetic Core/Catalytic Shell Heterostructure for Magnetic Heating Enhancement of Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Although (oxy)hydroxides generated by electrochemical reconstruction (EC-reconstruction) of transition-metal catalysts exhibit highly catalytic activities, the amorphous nature fundamentally impedes the electrochemical kinetics due to its poor electrical conductivity. Here, EC-reconstructed NiFe/NiFeOOH core/shell nanoparticles in highly conductive carbon matrix based on the pulsed laser deposition prepared NiFe nanoparticles is successfully confined. Electrochemical characterizations and first-principles calculations demonstrate that the reconstructed NiFe/NiFeOOH core/shell nanoparticles exhibit high oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalytic activity (a low overpotential of 342.2 mV for 10 mA cm-2 ) and remarkable durability due to the efficient charge transfer in the highly conductive confined heterostructure. More importantly, benefit from the superparamagnetic nature of the reconstructed NiFe/NiFeOOH core/shell nanoparticles, a large OER improvement is achieved (an ultralow overpotential of 209.2 mV for 10 mA cm-2 ) with an alternating magnetic field stimulation. Such OER improvement can be attributed to the Néel relaxation related magnetic heating effect functionalized superparamagnetic NiFe cores, which are generally underutilized in reconstructed core/shell nanoparticles. This work demonstrates that the designed superparamagnetic core/shell nanoparticles, combined with the large improvement by magnetic heating effect, are expected to be highly efficient OER catalysts along with the confined structure guaranteed high conductivity and catalytic stability.

Efficacy and safety of house dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy in polysensitized children with allergic asthma.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of 3 years of HDM subcutaneous immunotherapy (HDM-SCIT) in allergic asthma (AA) children with mono- and polysensitized. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study, 51 AA children (aged 4-14 years) who had completed 3 years of standardized HDM-SCIT were enrolled in. Based on skin prick tests (SPT) and allergen-specific IgE antibody (sIgE) test results, children were classified into two groups: the monosensitized group (n = 31) and the polysensitized group (n = 20). Total asthma symptoms score (TASS), total medication score (TMS), visual analog scale (VAS) scores, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), lung function parameters, and adverse reactions were evaluated before treatment and at 6 months, 1, 2, 3 years of HDM-SCIT. RESULTS: In terms of effectiveness, compared to baseline, TASS, TMS, VAS, FeNO and lung function parameters were significantly improved in both groups after 3 years of HDM-SCIT (all P < 0.05). The comparison between the two groups showed that efficacy indicators were no statistically significant difference at follow-up time points (all P > 0.05) except PEF%pred at 6 months (P = 0.048). In terms of security, the number of adverse reactions in both groups also no statistical difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that no significant difference was observed in the clinical efficacy and safety of HDM-SCIT between mono-and polysensitized children with allergic asthma.

Effect of Mixed Probiotics on Ovalbumin-Induced Atopic Dermatitis in Juvenile Mice.

Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common dermatologic problems, especially in children. Given the ability of symbiotic microorganisms in modulating the immune system, probiotics administration has been studied in previous research in the management of atopic dermatitis. However, there are conflicting results between studies. In this study, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of mixed probiotics as a treatment option for atopic dermatitis induced by ovalbumin. BALB/c juvenile mice were classified and divided into the ovalbumin group, mixed probiotic group (ovalbumin + LK), and control group. Except for the control group, all mice were sensitized with ovalbumin to establish a model of atopic dermatitis. The mixed probiotics were given by gavage for 14 days. Mice body weight, skin lesions, skin inflammation, ovalbumin-specific Ig, the number of Treg and CD103+DC, and the expression level of PD-1/PD-L1 were examined. The results showed that mixed probiotics can improve body weight and alleviate skin symptoms. Mixed probiotics reduced serum Th2 inflammatory factors, eosinophils, mast cell degranulation, mast cell count, and the expression of ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E/G1 and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10, Treg cells, CD103+DC cells, and the expression level of PD-1/PD-L1. These findings suggest that mixed probiotics could be a viable treatment option for atopic dermatitis and provide insight into the underlying mechanisms involved.

Persistent alterations in gray matter in COVID-19 patients experiencing sleep disturbances: a 3-month longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT: Sleep disturbances are among the most prevalent neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals who have recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections. Previous studies have demonstrated abnormal brain structures in patients with sleep disturbances who have recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, neuroimaging studies on sleep disturbances caused by COVID-19 are scarce, and existing studies have primarily focused on the long-term effects of the virus, with minimal acute phase data. As a result, little is known about the pathophysiology of sleep disturbances in the acute phase of COVID-19. To address this issue, we designed a longitudinal study to investigate whether alterations in brain structure occur during the acute phase of infection, and verified the results using 3-month follow-up data. A total of 26 COVID-19 patients with sleep disturbances (aged 51.5 ± 13.57 years, 8 women and 18 men), 27 COVID-19 patients without sleep disturbances (aged 47.33 ± 15.98 years, 9 women and 18 men), and 31 age-and gender-matched healthy controls (aged 49.19 ± 17.51 years, 9 women and 22 men) were included in this study. Eleven COVID-19 patients with sleep disturbances were included in a longitudinal analysis. We found that COVID-19 patients with sleep disturbances exhibited brain structural changes in almost all brain lobes. The cortical thicknesses of the left pars opercularis and left precuneus were significantly negatively correlated with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. Additionally, we observed changes in the volume of the hippocampus and its subfield regions in COVID-19 patients compared with the healthy controls. The 3-month follow-up data revealed indices of altered cerebral structure (cortical thickness, cortical grey matter volume, and cortical surface area) in the frontal-parietal cortex compared with the baseline in COVID-19 patients with sleep disturbances.Our findings indicate that the sleep disturbances patients had altered morphology in the cortical and hippocampal structures during the acute phase of infection and persistent changes in cortical regions at 3 months post-infection. These data improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of sleep disturbances caused by COVID-19.

Alteration of white matter microstructure in patients with sleep disorders after COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND: The pathophysiology of coronasomnia remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate changes in white matter (WM) microstructure and inflammatory factors in patients with sleep disorders (SD) characterized by poor sleep quantity, quality, or timing following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in the acute phase (within one month) and whether these changes could be recovered at 3-month follow-up. METHODS: 29 acute COVID-19 patients with SD (COVID_SD) and 27 acute COVID-19 patients without SD (COVID_NonSD) underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), tested peripheral blood inflammatory cytokines level, and measured Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and matched 30 uninfected healthy controls. Analyzed WM abnormalities between groups in acute phase and explored its changes in COVID_SD at 3-month follow-up by using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). Correlations between DTI and clinical data were examined using Spearman partial correlation analysis. RESULTS: Both COVID_SD and COVID_NonSD exhibited widespread WM microstructure abnormalities. The COVID_SD group showed specific WM microstructure changes in right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF) (lower fractional anisotropy [FA]/axial diffusivity [AD] and higher radial diffusivity [RD]) and left corticospinal tract (CST) (higher FA and lower RD) and higher interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) compared with COVID_NonSD group. These WM abnormalities and IL-1ß levels were correlated PSQI score. After 3 months, the IFOF integrity and IL-1ß levels tended to return to normal accompanied by symptom improvement in the COVID_SD relative to baseline. CONCLUSION: Abnormalities in right IFOF and left CST and elevated IL-1ß levels were important neurophenotypes correlated with COVID_SD, which might provide new insights into the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation in SD patients induced by COVID-19.

Comparison of the clinical efficacy of donafinil and lenvatinib in the treatment of intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effects of donafinil and lenvatinib in the treatment of patients with intermediate--advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 100 patients with intermediate--advanced HCC who received donafinib or lenvatinib treatment in Hechi First People's Hospital, Hechi People's Hospital, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Science and Technology, and other centers from January 2021 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were classified into a donafinil group (n=50) and a lenvatinib group (n=50) according to the treatment method. The therapeutic effects and adverse reactions of the two groups were compared, as well as the changes in alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Golgi glycoprotein 73 (GP-73), and glypican-3 (GPC3) before and after treatment. RESULTS: The objective remission rate in the lenvatinib group was less than that in the donafenib group (20% VS 32%, P > 0.05). Disease control rates were higher in the donafinib group than in the lenvatinib group (70% VS 50%, P < 0.05). A comparison of survival time between the two groups showed that the survival rate and progression-free survival in the Donafenib group were higher than those in the Lunvatinib group (P < 0.05), and the main risk factor affecting the survival rate was the number of multiple tumors. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05). The levels of AFP, GP-73, and GPC3 in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both donafenib and lenvatinib can effectively treat patients with middle and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, and the local control rate of donafenib is higher than that of lenvatinib. The treatment of intermediate--advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients with donafinib has better clinical efficacy than levatinib, which can effectively reduce the severity of patients' disease and prolong their survival time.

Effects of physical activity on lung function and quality of life in asthmatic children: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and objectives: The benefits of physical activity (PA) for asthmatic children were increasingly recognized, and as the design of studies on PA and asthma has become more refined in recent years, the latest evidence needed to be updated. We performed this meta-analysis to synthesize the evidence available from the last 10 years to update the effects of PA in asthmatic children. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in three databases, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Randomized controlled trials were included, and two reviewers independently conducted the inclusion screening, data extraction, and bias assessment. Results: A total of 9 studies were included in this review after 3,919 articles screened. PA significantly improved the forced vital capacity (FVC) (MD 7.62; 95% CI: 3.46 to 11.78; p < 0.001), and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF25-75) (MD 10.39; 95% CI: 2.96 to 17.82; p = 0.006) in lung function. There was no significant difference in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (MD 3.17; 95% CI: -2.82 to 9.15; p = 0.30) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) (MD -1.74; 95% CI: -11.36 to 7.88; p = 0.72). Also, PA significantly improved the quality of life as assessed by the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (all items p < 0.05). Conclusions: This review suggested that PA could improve FVC, FEF25-75, and quality of life in asthmatic children, but there was insufficient evidence of improvement in FEV1 and airway inflammation. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42022338984.

Ternary Ca-Mg-Al layered double-hydroxides for synergistic remediation of As, Cd, and Pb from both contaminated soil and groundwater: Characteristics, effectiveness, and immobilization mechanisms.

Layered double hydroxides (LDH) are the cost-effective and high-efficiency materials for remediation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in contaminated soil and groundwater. Herein, the effectiveness and mechanisms of a ternary Ca-Mg-Al LDH (CMAL) for the synergistic remediation of As, Cd, and Pb were investigated in contaminated soils and simulative groundwaters for the first time. The immobilization efficiencies of As, Cd, and Pb in both black soil (BS) and red soil (RS) amended by CMAL at 5 wt% were all > 75%. CMAL amendment transferred more mobile As, Cd, and Pb fractions in soils to immobile species than did Ca-Al LDH and Mg-Al LDH treatments. Furthermore, using a pump-and-treat technology, 82-98% of these 3 PTEs from contaminated groundwater were successfully immobilized in both CMAL treated BS and RS top-soils. Meanwhile, leaching of Ca, Mg, and Al from CMAL was minimal indicating the material was stable. The excellent immobilization performance of CMAL for these PTEs was attributed to the coating of soil microparticles by CMAL nanosheets that allowed complexation of Ca-O-As/Cd or Mg-O-As/Cd/Pb formation, co-precipitation of Ca/Fe-As and Cd(OH)2, and formation of Ca-bridged ternary complex (FeO-Ca-As/Cd). The adverse effect of oppositive pH/Eh-dependence between As and Cd/Pb was overshadowed by these mechanisms and thus allowed As immobilization. Immobilization of As, Cd, and Pb by CMAL amendment was more favorable for RS soil due to its lower reduction potential and more participation of metal-(hydr)oxides for complexation. Overall, the ternary-LDH is a promising synergistic remediation strategy for multi-PTEs contaminated soil and groundwater.

Enterococcus faecium R-026 combined with Bacillus subtilis R-179 alleviate hypercholesterolemia and modulate the gut microbiota in C57BL/6 mice.

Probiotics have been demonstrated to lower total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in individuals with mild hypercholesterolemia. Our previous study found that intervention with Bacillus subtilis R-179 and Enterococcus faecium R-026, well-known probiotics, improved obesity-associated dyslipidemia through ameliorating the gut microbiota, but similar studies on hypercholesterolemia have not been reported to date. Here, we investigated the therapeutic effect of live combined B. subtilis R-179 and E. faecium R-026 (LCBE) in a C57BL/6 mouse model of hypercholesterolemia. A total of 40 mice were administered with a high-cholesterol diet (containing 1.2% cholesterol) to establish a state of hypercholesterolemia for 4 weeks. Then, mice were divided into one model group (group M) and three treatment groups (n = 10 per group), which were administered with LCBE at 0.023 g/mouse/day (group L) or 0.230 g/mouse/day (group H), or atorvastatin 0.010 g/kg/day (group A), for 5 weeks while on a high-cholesterol diet. LCBE at high doses significantly alleviated the symptoms of group M and reduced serum TC, LDL-C, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LCBE improved liver steatosis and adipocyte enlargement caused by a high-cholesterol diet. In addition, the administration of LCBE regulated the change in gut microbiota and diversity (Shannon index). Compared with group M, the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, Colidextribacter, and Dubosiella dramatically decreased in the treatment groups, which were positively correlated with serum TC and LPS. These findings indicated that the mechanism of action of LCBE in treating hypercholesterolemia may be modulation of the gut microbiota. In conclusion, LCBE ameliorated lipid accumulation, reduced inflammation, and alleviated the gut microbiota imbalance in hypercholesterolemic mice. These findings support the probiotic role of LCBE as a clinical candidate for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

Obesity-related asthma and its relationship with microbiota.

Obesity and asthma are global public health problems. Obesity-related asthma is a special phenotype of asthma with a complex pathogenesis. Its occurrence and development are related to mechanical compression, inflammatory response, metabolic regulation, gene regulation, and vitamin D deficiency. Different treatment strategies used in the process of weight loss have a beneficial impact on asthma. Alterations in gut and airway microbial community structure and their metabolites may also contribute to obesity-related asthma. The role of the Th17/Treg balance in the gut microbiota regulating the immune responses and host metabolism is important. Therapeutic measures associated with the gut microbiota variety may contribute to improving chronic inflammation associated with obesity by regulating the Th17/Treg balance. An early reduction in microbial diversity can predict the development of asthma and lead to allergy through an imbalance of Th2/Th1 responses. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) regulate the differentiation and activation of regulatory T cells, thereby regulating immune homeostasis in the lung to suppress allergic inflammation and weight gain. Therefore, clarifying the microbial mechanism of obesity-related asthma has important guiding significance for clinical treatment. In this review, we used the following terms: "asthma and obesity" and "obesity-related asthma", combining "phenotype", "airway inflammation" and "lung function", and reviewed the characteristics and pathogenesis of obesity-related asthma, the relationship between the gut and airway microbiota and obesity-related asthma, and the current treatment measures for the disease.

Enhancing sorption of layered double hydroxide-based magnetic biochar for arsenic and cadmium through optimized preparation protocols.

The impact of multiple preparation protocols on properties and performance of modified biochar remains unclear. This study prepared layered double hydroxide (LDH)-based magnetic biochars (LMBCs) with different LDH loading rates (LLR), pyrolysis temperatures, and biomass sources to explore their performance-characterization relationships toward As(III) and Cd(II). Higher LLR and pyrolysis temperature enhanced LMBCs᾿ adsorption capacities by increasing specific surface area (SSA) and metal/O-containing groups. Hence, LMBC produced at 2:1 LLR (LDH: magnetic biochar) and 800 ℃ pyrolysis exhibited maximum adsorption over 2 times that of LMBC with 0.5:1 LLR and 400 ℃ pyrolysis. Bamboo-sourced LMBC demonstrated superior adsorption than sewage sludge and garlic-sourced LMBCs due to its increased SSA, enabling a higher loading of nano-LDH. Adsorption of As(III) and Cd(II) onto LMBCs was governed by metal-mineral and metal-containing group through co-precipitation and complexation. This study provides a reference for adjusting the preparation protocols to improve sorption performance of modified biochar toward multiple heavy metals.

Effect of Probiotics on Respiratory Tract Allergic Disease and Gut Microbiota.

Allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction triggered by specific cell or antibody-mediated immune mechanisms. Allergies have increased in industrialized countries in recent decades. The rise in allergic respiratory diseases such as allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic asthma (AA) is a potential threat to public health. Searches were conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar and Medline using the following key terms: allergic rhinitis OR asthma AND probiotics, allergic airway inflammation AND immune disorders, probiotics OR gut microbiota AND allergic disease, probiotics AND inflammatory. Studies from all years were included, specifically those published within the last 10 years. Some review articles and their reference lists were searched to identify related articles. The role of microbiota in respiratory allergic diseases has attracted more and more attention. Pieces of evidence suggested that the development of allergic diseases causes a possible imbalance in the composition of the gut microbiota. Compared to colonized mice, germ-free mice exhibit exaggerated allergic airway responses, suggesting that microbial host interactions play an important role in the development of allergic diseases. Probiotics modulate both the innate and adaptive inflammatory immune responses, often used as dietary supplements to provide health benefits in gastrointestinal disorders. Probiotics may serve as immunomodulators and activators of host defense pathways. Besides, oral probiotics can modulate the immune response in the respiratory system. Recently, studies in humans and animals have demonstrated the role of probiotic in RA and AA. To understand the characterization, microbiota, and the potential role of probiotics intervention of AA/AR, this review provides an overview of clinical features of AA and AR, probiotics for the prevention and treatment of AR, AA, changes in gut microbiota, and their mechanisms of action.

The bs-YHEDA peptide protects the brains of senile mice and thus recovers intelligence by reducing iron and free radicals.

Iron accumulates in the brain with age and catalyzes free radical damage to neurons, thus playing a pathogenic role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To decrease the incidence of AD, we synthesized the iron-affinitive peptide 5YHEDA to scavenge the excess iron in the senile brain. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) blocks the entrance of macromolecules into the brain, thus decreasing the therapeutic effects. To facilitate the entrance of the 5YHEDA peptide, we linked the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-binding segment of ApoB-100 to 5YHEDA (named "bs-YHEDA"). The results of intravenous injections of bs-5YHEDA into senescent mice demonstrated that bs-YHEDA entered the brain, increased ferriportin levels, reduced iron and free radical levels, decreased the consequences of neuronal necrosis and ameliorated cognitive disfunction without kidney or liver damage. bs-5YHEDA is a safe iron and free radical remover that potentially alleviates aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Enterococcus faecium R0026 Combined with Bacillus subtilis R0179 Prevent Obesity-Associated Hyperlipidemia and Modulate Gut Microbiota in C57BL/6 Mice.

Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium are commonly used probiotics. This study aimed to identify the effect of live combined Bacillus subtilis R0179 and Enterococcus faecium R0026 (LCBE) on obesityassociated hyperlipidemia and gut microbiota in C57BL/6 mice. Forty male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: normal group (N group), model group (M group), low-dose group (L group), and high-dose group (H group). Mice were gavaged with LCBE at 0.023 g/mice/day (L group) or 0.23 g/mice/day (H group) and fed with a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. In vitro E. faecium R0026 showed an ability to lower the low-concentration of cholesterol by 46%, and the ability to lower the highconcentration of cholesterol by 58%. LCBE significantly reduced the body weight gain, Lee index, brown fat index and body mass index of mice on a high-fat diet. Moreover, LCBE markedly improved serum lipids (including serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and highdensity lipoprotein) while also significantly reducing liver total cholesterol. Serum lipopolysaccharide and total bile acid in L and H groups decreased significantly compared with M group. PCR-DGGE analysis showed that the composition of gut microbiota in the treatment groups was improved. Akkermansia muciniphila was found in H group. The PCA result indicated a similar gut microbiota structure between LCBE treatment groups and normal group while the number of bands and Shannon diversity index increased significantly in the LCBE treatment groups. Finally, qPCR showed Bifidobacterium spp. increased significantly in H group compared with M group, LCBE alleviated liver steatosis and improved brown adipose tissue index.

Fucoidan Protects Against High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Modulates Gut Microbiota in Institute of Cancer Research Mice.

Fucoidan possesses various biological activities, such as anticoagulant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, potential antioxidant, and others. In this study, we investigated the effect of fucoidan on high-fat diet-induced obesity, inflammation, and gut microbiota in Institute of Cancer Research mice. Mice were gavaged with 50 mg/(kg·d) (Fuc0.5 group) or 250 mg/(kg·d) (Fuc2.5 group) of fucoidan for 5 weeks. Fucoidan alleviated obesity and tissue damage by decreasing body weight and body mass index, decreasing body weight gain, improved organ index, liver steatosis, and improved the structure of the small intestine. In addition, fucoidan decreased total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Moreover, fucoidan reduced serum lipopolysaccharide concentrations, tumor necrosis factor-α, and total bile acid. Furthermore, fucoidan improved the structure of gut microbiota and significantly increased the abundance (Shannon diversity index, evenness, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii) determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative PCR. In conclusion, our study provides a scientific basis for fucoidan as a functional food for modulating the gut microbiota and protecting against obesity.

Sodium Alginate Modulates Immunity, Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Function, and Gut Microbiota in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressed BALB/c Mice.

This study investigated the protective effects of sodium alginate (SA) on the gut microbiota, immunity, and intestinal mucosal barrier function in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressed BALB/c mice. SA alleviated spleen tissue damage and restored impaired immune functions, such as increasing the immune organ index, decreasing splenic T lymphocytes, and markedly increasing the secretion of serum immunoglobulins and cytokines in immunosuppressed mice. In addition, SA reversed the intestinal mucosal injury and increased the intestinal permeability by upregulating the expression of tight junction proteins. Moreover, SA decreased gut inflammation by reducing serum d-lactic acid (D-LA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentrations and downregulating toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (Mapk) pathway expression. Furthermore, SA significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus, Roseburia, and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136) and decreased pathogenic bacteria (Helicobacter, Peptococcus, and Tyzzerella) in the intestine as determined by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. In conclusion, our study provides a scientific basis for SA as a functional food in modulating gut microbiota and protecting against intestinal mucosal injury and indicates that SA has potential application for enhancing immunity.

A prediction model of occupational manganese exposure based on artificial neural network.

Application of two statistical models to reconstruct occupational exposure to manganese (Mn) is discussed. Air monitoring of 635 samples were analyzed by a back-propagation artificial neural network (back-propagation ANN) in comparison with a multiple linear regression (MLR). The stepwise MLR yielded significant results with five selected variables for predicting airborne manganese dioxide (MnO(2)). However, a 6-12-1 back-propagation ANN was superior to the data from MLR. Statistical parameters and non-parametric paired tests indicated that back-propagation ANN represents the more useful and accurate tool. ANN was used to predict missing MnO(2) concentrations in the present study. The median of MnO(2) was 0.445 mg/m(3) (IQR 0.131-1.342). The MnO(2) characteristics of time, distance, and exposure site were defined. Airborne MnO(2) for three previous periods (1978-1988, 1989-1998, and 1998-2007) were 1.228 mg/m(3), 0.664 mg/m(3), and 0.501 mg/m(3), respectively. The medians were 0.350 mg/m(3), 0.281 mg/m(3), and 0.190 mg/m(3) at distances of 5, 10, and 25 m away from the site of exposure. Compared with levels encountered in other studies, mine concentrator sites were more seriously polluted, due to the practices of direct ore processing.

[Feasibility of using NIR spectroscopy to detect melamine in milk].

In the present study, 22 certified milk samples without melamine were collected, then 50 adulterated milk samples with added different content of melamine (0.1-1 500 mg x kg(-1)) were prepared. The near-infrared (NIR) spectra of these milk samples were measured. The possibility of using NIR spectra to detect melamine in milk was studied. Partial least square regression (PLSR) was applied to construct the calibration model between NIR spectra and the content of melamine. The results showed that NIR spectroscopy can not accurately predict the content of melamine because of its poor detection limit. However, the combination of NIR spectra and partial least square-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) was applied to differentiate the certified milk samples and the adulterated milk sample. The classification accuracy was 100%. Therefore, NIR spectra could be used to preliminarily detect whether the milk was adulterated with melamine. As a complementary detecting method to the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), NIR spectra could improve the detecting efficiency of milk

[Determination of soil quality from Chinese apple plant area by NIR spectroscopy].

In the present work, 111 soil samples from 11 different Chinese apple plant areas were used to take the diffuse reflection spectra from 12 500 to 4 000 cm(-1) by FT-NIR. The models of organic substance and pH value of soil samples were built by using partial least square regression (PLSR). The calibration model gave the correlation coefficients of 0.818 and 0.836 for the two values respectively, with the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.377 (%) and 0.251, respectively. In order to improve the robustness and performance of calibration, several spectra preprocessing methods were employed, including standard normalized variate (SNV), multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) and direct orthogonal signal correction (DOSC). Finally, the performance of DOSC was found to be the best for organic substance and pH value with RMSEP of 0.258 (%) an 0.248, respectively. The results showed that the technology of NIR spectroscopy was useful to nondestructive determination of the organic substance and pH value of soil. These research findings provide theoretic base for fertilization and pomiculture by means of NIR diffuse reflection.

Fucoidan and galactooligosaccharides ameliorate high-fat diet-induced dyslipidemia in rats by modulating the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism.

OBJECTIVES: Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Fucoidan (FUC) is a polysaccharide extracted from brown marine algae with various biological activities. Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are important prebiotics that exert benefits on the intestinal microbiota. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of FUC and GOS on dyslipidemia in rats by modulating the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism. METHODS: Twenty-four male inbred Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged 8 wk were fed a normal or high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 wk. During the feeding period, rats were gavaged with normal saline solution, FUC solution (100 mg/kg),or GOS solution (800 mg/kg), or a combination of both once daily. Serum biochemical parameters were determined, and the gut microbiota were analyzed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bile salt hydrolase (BSH) activity in the small intestinal contents was also analyzed. The effects of FUC and GOS on Lactobacillus casei DM8121 were analyzed in vitro. RESULTS: In rats, GOS and FUC supplementation significantly improved serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lipopolysaccharide, serum total bile acid, hepatic tissue steatosis, aortic arch injury, gut microbiota, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase expression in the liver, and BSH activity in the small intestinal contents. In an in vitro experiment, GOS and FUC supplementation significantly increased L. casei DM8121's BSH activity. CONCLUSIONS: In rats, FUC and GOS supplementation improved serum dyslipidemia, gut microbiota, BSH activity, and bile acid metabolism-related pathways. In vitro, GOS and FUC supplementation increased L. casei DM8121's BSH activity.