The effect of sorghum resistance resistant starch-mediated equol on the histological morphology of the uterus and ovaries of postmenopausal rats.

Equol is a metabolite of daidzein and has a higher biological activity than daidzein. Equol, combined with estrogen receptors, can reduce the incidence of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and breast cancer; more effectively alleviate the symptoms of perimenopausal syndrome; and improve age-related decline of the uterus and ovaries. Research has shown that food composition can greatly affect the formation of equol in the intestinal tract. In the intestines, the content of nonstarch polysaccharides that can stimulate fermentation is high, thereby allowing intestinal bacteria to quickly and completely transform the daidzein into equol. This study used Sprague Dawley (SD) rats as a model, where menopause was established through direct intragastric administration of formistan. In the 6-week-long experiment, intragastric administration of RS while feeding bean pulp reduced the body weight of postmenopausal rats, reduced the efficiency of feed utilization of rats, and increased the weight of organs such as the uterus and ovaries. Routine blood indexes showed that no adverse reactions were produced by intragastric administration of RS. 16s rDNA sequencing further verified Lactobacillus and Clostridium XIVa, as the bacteria that converted daidzein into equol.

The resistant starch from sorghum regulates lipid metabolism in menopausal rats via equol.

Equol is a metabolite of daidzein and has a higher biological activity than daidzein. High levels of non-starch polysaccharides can stimulate fermentation in the intestine leading to rapid conversion of daidzein into equol that has great potential to reduce obesity in postmenopausal women. In the present study, female Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish a menopausal model by oral administration of formestane and to compare the protective effect of resistant starch on lipid metabolism, with or without soybean feed. The resistant starch was found to effectively control body weight and adipose tissue quality, while increasing the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration and lowering the glycerol, triacylglycerols (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations with soybean feed. Equol inhibited the expression of SREBPC1 gene by inhibiting SHP in the liver via transcription factor FXR, thereby inhibiting the synthesis of triglyceride and fatty acid in the liver. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Intake of a certain amount of resistant starch while eating the soy product can better regulate lipid metabolism in menopausal obese rats compared to consumption of resistant starch alone. Studies have shown that resistant starch converts daidzein to Equol by regulating the structure of the intestinal flora and acts as an estrogen in menopausal rats. This research will further expand the health applications of resistant starch and provide useful information for the food industry.

[Characteristics and Source Apportionment of Ambient Volatile Organic Compounds in Winter in Jincheng].

Air samples were collected and analyzed by GC-MS to investigate the component characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in winter in Jincheng. PMF, ratio analysis, and the backward trajectory model were used to investigate sources of VOCs. Ozone formation potential and secondary organic aerosol formation potential were calculated, in order to analyze the environmental implications of detected VOCs. Results showed that the average concentration of VOCs was 93.35 µg·m-3 in Jincheng, with the most abundant component being alkane (52.91 µg·m-3 and 56.68% of total VOCs). Based on PMF analysis, five sources of ambient VOCs in Jincheng were identified, namely industrial emission sources (33.71%), fuel combustion sources (30.27%), vehicle emissions (26.28%), solvent evaporation sources (9.00%), and plant emission sources (0.74%). Ratios of B/T and i-pentane/n-pentane were 1.58±0.68 and 2.07±0.43, indicating that VOCs were derived from the mixture of road and coal combustion sources. Clustered analysis of the air mass backward trajectory showed that three air masses cluster, which were accounting for 50%, 25% and 25% of the total back trajectories respectively, all came from the northwest, and industrial pollution from the northwest might therefore significantly influence VOCs in Jincheng. With low wind speed (<3 m·s-1), the air quality index, concentration of total VOCs, and contribution rate of vehicle emissions were 143, 162.48 µg·m-3, and 46.16%, respectively, higher than values at faster wind speeds (3-6.9 m·s-1). Ozone formation potential and secondary organic aerosol formation potential of aromatic hydrocarbons, which had the highest formation potential, were 98.89 µg·m-3 and 1.21 µg·m-3, respectively, accounting for 37.28% and 97.01% of total formation potential. To reduce the pollution of VOCs in Jincheng, it is important to control industrial emissions, vehicle emissions, and fuel combustion emissions.

AntagomiR-27a targets FOXO3a in glioblastoma and suppresses U87 cell growth in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the antagomiR-27a inhibitor on glioblastoma cells. METHODS: The miR- 27a expression level in specimens of human glioblastoma and normal human brain tissues excised during decompression for traumatic brain injury was assessed using qRT-PCR; The predicted target gene of miR-27a was screened out through bioinformatics databases, and the predicted gene was verified using genetic report assays; the effect of antagomiR-27a on the invasion and proliferation of glioma cells was analyzed using MTT assays and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) labeling. A xenograft glioblastoma model in BALB-c nude mice was established to detect the effect of antagomiR-27a on tumour growth. RESULTS: qRT-PCR results showed that miR-27a significantly increased in specimens from glioblastoma comparing with normal human brain tissues. Th miR-27a inhibitor significantly suppressed invasion and proliferation of glioblastoma cells. FOXO3a was verified as a new target of miR-27a by Western blotting and reporter analyzes. Tumor growth in vivo was suppressed by administration of the miR-27a inhibitor. CONCLUSION: MiR-27a may be up-regulated in human glioblastoma, and antagomiR-27a could inhibit the proliferation and invasion ability of glioblastoma cells.