Oral Nutritional Supplements Reduce Body Weight Loss after Gastrectomy in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of oral nutritional supplements (ONSs) on body weight loss (BWL) after gastrectomy. A systematic search was conducted across the PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases through May 2023. The study inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) studies on interventions including ONSs after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer; (2) studies in which comparisons were specified according to standard, regular, or usual postoperative diets; and (3) randomized controlled trial studies including outcomes measured as mean differences in BWL. The data were pooled using the random-effects model and expressed as mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Based on data from seven studies including 1743 patients (891 for ONSs and 852 for the control), the overall pooled mean difference was 0.848 (95% CI: 0.466 to 1.230) and the Higgins I2 value was 86.0%. This systematic review and meta-analysis is the first study to show that ONSs are significantly associated with reducing BWL, compared with standard diets, after gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer. Furthermore, we found that ONSs were more effective in patients with lower nutritional kilocalorie intake after gastrectomy.

The Role of Some Vitamins in Respiratory-related Viral Infections: A Narrative Review.

This study aimed to find out the effect of vitamins on respiratory-related viral infections, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), through the literature reviews. From January 2000 to June 2021, the studies (cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, case-control studies, randomized control trials) related to vitamins (vitamin A, D, E, C, B6, folate, and B12) and COVID-19/severe acute respiratory syndrome/Middle East respiratory syndrome/cold/influenza were selected from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane libraries and analyzed. The relationship between vitamins and virus-related respiratory diseases was identified. Through the review, 39 studies were selected on vitamin D, one study on vitamin E, 11 studies on vitamin C, and 3 studies on folate. Regarding COVID-19, 18 studies on vitamin D, 4 studies on vitamin C, and 2 studies on folate showed significant effects of the intake of these nutrients in preventing COVID-19. Regarding colds and influenza, 3 studies on vitamin D, 1 study on vitamin E, 3 studies on vitamin C, and 1 study on folate demonstrated that the intake of these nutrients significantly prevents these diseases. Therefore, this review suggested the intake of vitamins D, E, C, and folate is important for preventing respiratory diseases related to viruses, such as COVID-19, colds, and influenza. The relationship between these nutrients and virus-related respiratory diseases should be continuously monitored in the future.

Egg Yolk Protein Water Extracts Modulate the Immune Response in BALB/c Mice with Immune Dysfunction Caused by Forced Swimming.

The objective of this study was to determine the immunomodulatory effects of egg yolk protein-water extract (EYW) on splenocyte proliferation, cytokine secretion, immunoglobulin production, and NK cell cytotoxic activity in BALB/c mice. The forced swimming test (FST) was used to provide a model for suppressing immune regulation. The proliferation of B cells in the EYW supplementation group was significantly increased from the level to which it was reduced by the FST (from 40.9% to 81.8%, p < 0.05). EYW supplementation affected cytokine secretion of splenocytes. Levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10-as Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively-were decreased after the FST. However, EYW supplementation showed that secretion levels of these cytokines were significantly increased to pre-FST levels (p < 0.05). The production of immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) was increased abnormally after the FST, whereas EYW supplementation significantly decreased it to pre-FST levels (p < 0.05). EYW supplementation also improved NK cell cytotoxic activity against YAC-1 tumor cells compared to the PC group (p < 0.05). These data suggest that EYW has potential as an immunomodulatory agent in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.

In Vivo Evaluation of Immune-Enhancing Activity of Red Gamju Fermented by Probiotic Levilactobacillus brevis KU15154 in Mice.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immune-enhancing effect of red gamju fermented with Levilactobacillus brevis KU15154, isolated from kimchi, as a biofunctional beverage using mice. Thirty-two mice were used, and after a 2-week feeding, the growth, cytokine and immunoglobulin production, and immune-related cell activation (phagocytes and natural killer [NK] cells) of the mice were evaluated. The red gamju- (SR) and fermented red gamju- (FSR) treated groups had 3.5-4.0-fold greater T-cell proliferation ability than the negative control group. IFN-γ production in the FSR group (15.5 ± 1.2 mg/mL) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in the SR group (12.5 ± 1.8 mg/mL). The FSR group (502.6 ± 25.8 µg/mL) also showed higher IgG production levels than the SR group (412.2 ± 44.8 µg/mL). The activity of NK cells treated with FSR was also greater than that of cells treated with SR but it was not significant (p ≤ 0.05). Further, the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was higher in both SR and FSR groups than in the control group but was not significantly different (p < 0.05) between the SR and FSR groups. In conclusion, L. brevis KU15154 may be applied in the fermentation of bioactive food products, such as beverages or pharmaceutical industries, to potentially improve immunity.

Immunomodulatory Effects by Bifidobacterium longum KACC 91563 in Mouse Splenocytes and Macrophages.

The present study evaluates the immunomodulatory effect of Bifidobacterium longum KACC 91563 in murine primary splenocytes and macrophages. B. longum KACC 91563 regulated Tand B-cell proliferation and inhibited the Th1 (IL-2, IFN-γ)/Th2 (IL-4, IL-10) cytokine imbalance and immune cytokine production. Moreover, immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were significantly lower after treatment with B. longum KACC 91563. These findings suggest that B. longum KACC 91563 could modulate the systemic immune system toward both IgE production and regulation of the Th1/Th2 balance.

Comparative Analysis of Ginsenoside Profiles: Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, and Antigenotoxic Activities of Ginseng Extracts of Fine and Main Roots.

The aim of this study was to compare ginsenosides profiles, and antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antigenotoxic activities of ginseng extract derived from fine and main roots. The result of the analysis showed a higher total content of ginsenoside in fine roots than in main roots; differences in levels between the different extracts were also confirmed. The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay showed that H2O main root extract had a significantly higher activity than that from fine roots. MeOH and H2O extracts from the fine and main roots also exhibited stronger cellular antioxidant capacity 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells compared with the positive control. Through calculating the half-maximal inhibitory concentration values, the cytotoxicity of the main root extracts were ranked as follows: MeOH (6.1±1.2 µg/mL)> H2O (6.6±0.1 µg/mL)> ethanol (10.4±0.6 µg/mL); however, the cytotoxicity of all fine root extracts did not significantly differ. All the fine root extracts showed an inhibitory capacity against 4-hydroxynonenal-induced DNA damage, however only the MeOH extract of the main root showed a decrease in DNA damage. All three solvent extracts from the fine roots reduced DNA damage more in the H2O2-treated group, whereas only the MeOH and H2O extracts of the main roots produced a significant reduction. Levels of Rg3 ginsenoside were positively correlated with indices of the ORAC value, and total ginsenoside contents showed a negative correlation with DNA damage induced by H2O2. This study suggests that ginseng and the extraction solvent both affect levels of ginsenoside. Furthermore, the antioxidant potency of ginseng can be attributed to the content of some ginsenosides.

Antioxidant activities of fresh grape juices prepared using various household processing methods.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the antioxidant activities, and their contents, in grape juices prepared by various household juicers, and grape flesh (GF). The grape juices were prepared using a low-speed masticating (LSM) juicer, a high-speed centrifugal (HSC) juicer, and a blender (BLD). The total polyphenol, total flavonoid, total monomeric anthocyanin, and vitamin C contents were highest in the LSM grape juice, and decreased in the order: LSM > BLD > HSC > GF. The antioxidant activities such as DPPH radical scavenging activity, and SOD-like activity were significantly higher in the LSM juice than in other juices and grape flesh. The antioxidant activities and the quality of grape juices were significantly affected by the household juicing method used, and an LSM juicer is strongly recommended for making healthy grape juice, rich in antioxidants.