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BACKGROUND: Qingzhuan dark tea polysaccharides (QDTP) have been complexed with Zinc (Zn) to form the Qingzhuan dark tea polysaccharides-Zinc (QDTP-Zn) complex. The present study investigated the protective effects of QDTP-Zn on ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. The UC mouse model was induced using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), followed by oral administration of QDTP-Zn (0.2 and 0.4 g kg-1 day-1). RESULTS: QDTP-Zn demonstrated alleviation of UC symptoms in mice, as evidenced by a decrease in disease activity index scores. QDTP-Zn also regulated colon tissue injury by upregulating ZO-1 and occludin protein expression, at the same time as downregulating tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6ß levels. Furthermore, QDTP-Zn induced significant alterations in the abundance of bacteroidetes and firmicutes and notably increased levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. CONCLUSION: In summary, QDTP-Zn exhibits therapeutic potential in alleviating enteritis by fortifying the colonic mucosal barrier, mitigating inflammation and modulating intestinal microbiota and SCFAs levels. Thus, QDTP-Zn holds promise as a functional food for both the prevention and treatment of UC. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic efficacy and predictive value of combined lipoprotein laboratory indexes for atherosclerosis. METHODS: Clinical data of 250 patients with atherosclerosis admitted to Xianning central hospital, China from January 2015 to December 2018 and 80 healthy subjects on physical examination in the same period were analyzed retrospectively. Serological laboratory indices related to lipid metabolism were measured, and their diagnostic efficacy and predictive value for atherosclerosis were evaluated by univariate and multivariate statistical methods. RESULTS: The levels of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), small dense low density lipoprotein (sd-LDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) of the atherosclerosis group were significantly higher than those of the healthy group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of LP-PLA2, sd-LDL and hs-CRP were independent factors influencing the occurrence of atherosclerosis (P<0.05). Lp-PLA2 combined with sd-LDL had the largest area under ROC curve, and their diagnostic efficiency was higher than that of single serological laboratory indices. There was no significant difference in the levels of Lp-PLA2 and sd-LDL among different types of atherosclerotic diseases (P<0.05). The levels of LP-PLA2 and sd-LDL in triple-vessel or left main coronary artery disease were significantly higher than those of single- or double-vessel disease (P<0.05). The levels of LP-PLA2 and sd-LDL in double-vessel disease were significantly higher than those of single-vessel disease (P<0.05). The level of serum sd-LDL of atherosclerotic patients with alcohol history were significantly higher than those without alcohol history (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: When being used to detect atherosclerosis, Lp-PLA2 combined with sd-LDL has better diagnostic efficacy than separate tests. Meanwhile, there is a correlation between their levels and the severity of disease, which can be used to predict the occurrence of atherosclerosis independently of other risk factors.