Anti-inflammatory Fatty Acid Derivatives From Mangrove-derived Actinomycetes Streptomyces sp.

Mangrove-derived actinomycetes are prolific chemical sources of complex and novel natural products, providing an excellent chance for new drug discovery. The chemical investigation of the mangrove-derived Streptomycessundarbansensis 06037, led to the discovery of two previously undescribed enone fatty acids (1-2), one new phenylpropionate derivate (3), along with the isolation of the ten known components (4-13). Those chemical structures of isolates were elucidated on the basis of the analysis of diverse spectroscopic data. Initial anti-inflammatory tests of 1-3 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells revealed that compound 1 possess significant inhibitory effect on the production of Nitro oxidase (NO), with the IC50 value around 15.33 ± 1.32 µM, together with the suppression of NF-κB phosphorylation and reducing the release of oxygen species (ROS) in RAW 264.7 macrophages, those results indicated that compound 1 may exert its anti-inflammatory activity through a reduction in ROS level and the suppression of NF-κB activation pathway.

Preparation and characterization of lactoferrin-polyphenol conjugate with stabilizing effects on fish oil high internal phase Pickering emulsions.

The combination of protein and polyphenol is an effective approach to improve the stability of protein emulsions. The lactoferrin (LF)-(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) covalent complex (LF-EGCG) was first prepared by alkali-induced reaction, then the structure and physicochemical properties between LF-EGCG and non-covalent complex (LF + EGCG) were compared, and finally the stability of complexes to fish oil high internal Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) was tested. Results showed that LF-EGCG had stronger antioxidant activity, higher thermal stability, and better surface wettability than LF + EGCG. Meanwhile, the complexes showed no cytotoxicity within the tested concentration range (12.5-200 µg/mL). The HIPPEs stabilized with LF-EGCG possessed smaller droplet size, higher ζ-potential, and more uniform oil/water proton distribution. Covalent treatment also enhanced the storage, thermal, freeze-thaw and physical stability of LF HIPPEs. Furthermore, due to the higher antioxidant activity and denser microstructure, LF-EGCG HIPPE can more effectively inhibit the oxidation of fish oil.

Gut microbiota is involved in leptin-induced thermoregulation in Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).

Leptin is a hormone that secreted by adipocytes and may promote energy expenditure by increasing thermogenesis. Our previous studies have shown that thermo-transient receptor potentials (thermo-TRPs) and gut microbiota are associated with thermoregulation in Mongolian gerbils, which are characterized by relative high serum leptin concentrations. Here, we test whether leptin can stimulate non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) in Mongolian gerbils, and whether thermo-TRPs and gut microbiota are involved in leptin-induced thermogenesis. First, gerbils were given acute leptin treatment (ALT) with different doses. Results showed that ALT significantly increased the body temperature of gerbils and change the composition of gut microbiota. Moreover, ALT groups showed a trend towards increased expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Then, we investigated the effect of chronic leptin treatment (CLT) on gerbils. Surprisingly, CLT did not affect gerbils' food intake and body weight, but it significantly increased the body temperature at the end. Besides, CLT did not affect the expression of thermogenic markers in BAT, white adipose tissue (WAT) and skeletal muscle. However, CLT increased the expression of leptin receptors and TRPV2 in the small intestine and affected the composition of gut microbiota. Together, our data suggest leptin may increase body temperature by regulating gut microbiota. In conclusion, the Mongolian gerbils with serum hyperleptin is beneficial for adapting the cold living environments, and TRPV2 and gut microbiota are involved.

Stevia rebaudiana Is a New Host of Stagonosporopsis pogostemonis Associated with Leaf Spot Disease in China.

Stevia rebaudiana is a promising medicinal and edible plant, widely cultivated in China. In 2022-2023, a new leaf spot disease occurred in S. rebaudiana in Hongxing country (32°34'55″N, 118°2'12″E), Dingyuan city, Anhui province. Symptoms were observed on 10 to 15% of plants in three S. rebaudiana nursery beds (0.1 ha in total). The typical symptoms included dark brown spots on the leaves and foliar wilting, the development of brown stems with dieback of top buds, and occasional plant death (Fig. 1a). To identify the pathogen, twenty diseased leaves were collected, cut into small pieces, surface sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30 s, in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min, washed three times in sterile water, placed on PDA, and incubated at 25℃ for 5 days. Pure cultures were prepared by subculturing hyphal tips. Twenty-five Stagonosporopsis-like isolates with similar morphology were obtained. After 7 days growth on PDA, colonies had a regular margin, were cottony, and formed concentric circles on the surface that were gray-green. The reverse side of the culture was dark brown with a creme-orange and white, margin. The growth rate was 9.5 mm/day on PDA. Pycnidia were mostly solitary, globose or subglobose, pale to dark brown, thin-walled, glabrous, ostiolate, 95.735~250.851×90.93~266.32 µm (n=50). Conidia were oblong, cylindrical to ellipsoidal, smooth-walled, aseptate, with rounded ends and two polar guttules and measured 3.41 to 5.83 × 1.78 to 3.07 µm (n = 50) (Fig.1 b-d). For molecular identification, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA, large ribosomal subunit (LSU) gene, ß-tubulin (TUB2) gene and RNA polymerase II (RPB2) gene sequences of two representative isolates (TYJ-SP1 and TYJ-SP2) were amplified by PCR (Woudenberg et al. 2009; Dong et al. 2021). The sequences were deposited in GenBank (accession nos.: OR506193 and OR506194 for ITS, OR533526 and OR533527 for LSU, OR545221and OR545222 for TUB; OR545223 and OR545224 for RPB2) and showed 99.60% to 99.2% similarity to ITS (502/504 bp and 507/511 bp; MZ156571), 100% similarity to LSU (857/857 bp and 857/857 bp; MZ191532), 98.67% to 99.3% similarity to TUB2 (296/300 bp and 298/300 bp; MZ203132) and 99.78% (888/890 bp and 868/870 bp; MZ203135) of S. pogostemonis strain ZHKUCC 21-0001. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated sequences of ITS, LSU, TUB2 and RPB2 using MEGA 11.0 showed the strains TYJ-SP1 and TYJ-SP2 formed a clade with S. pogostemonis (Fig. 2). Thus, the strains were identified as S. pogostemonis (Dong et al. 2021). To test pathogenicity, the strain TYJ-SP1 was inoculated onto 30-day-old S. rebaudiana seedlings which were surface sterilized with 70% alcohol and washed 3 times with water and air dried prior to inoculation. Ten seedlings were sprayed with a conidial suspension (105 conidia/mL) and ten seedlings were sprayed with sterile water to serve as the negative control. All seedlings were maintained in a growth chamber (25°C, 90% relative humidity) with a 16 h photoperiod. Brown spots were first observed on inoculated leaves 48 h after inoculation; typical symptoms appeared by 7 days post inoculation. All inoculated plants developed symptoms similar to naturally infected plants in the nursery beds, and the disease incidence reached 100% while control plants remained symptom free (Fig. 1 e-f). The same Stagonosporopsis isolates were reisolated from the inoculated plants and identified based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. S. pogostemonis has been reported to cause leaf spot in Pogostemon cablin and Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (Dong et al. 2021; Habib et al. 2024). To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. pogostemonis causing leaf spot on S. rebaudiana in China. As a medicinal and economic plant, S. rebaudiana is widely planted in China and other Asian countries. The occurrence of this leaf spot disease seriously affects its medicinal and economic value. Therefore, it is crucial to establish and implement effective disease management practices to reduce the impact of the disease.

Sphingomyelin-enriched milk phospholipids offer superior benefits in improving the physicochemical properties, microstructure, and surface characteristics of infant formula.

Phospholipids from different sources have varying chemical compositions, but how they contribute to different properties of infant formula is unclear. In this study, four types of phospholipids, milk phospholipids (MPLs), soybean phospholipids (SBPLs), sunflower phospholipids (SFPLs), and egg yolk phospholipids (EYPLs), were added to infant formula to investigate their physicochemical properties, microstructure, and surface characteristics. MPLs uniquely offer high sphingomyelin and saturated fatty acid levels. The MPL-based emulsion had the smallest particle size (334.50 nm), lowest stability constant (0.30), and highest viscosity among all groups tested. Furthermore, the abundance of sphingomyelin in MPLs allowed for a denser interfacial film and the complete phospholipid-coated structure of lipid droplets in infant formula emulsion. This consequently improved the microstructure and fat encapsulation of the powder, leading to significantly lower surface fat content in the MPL group. Therefore, the proper selection of phospholipids is crucial for modulating the stability and surface characteristics of infant formula.

Comparative transcriptome and hormone analyses of roots in apple among three rootstocks with different rooting abilities.

Background: Root plays an important role in the growth and development of fruit trees; however, the molecular mechanisms behind the differences among rootstock varie-ties remain unclear. Methods: This study examined the effects of different rootstocks on root structure and the endogenous hormone content of 1-year old apple seedlings in combinations of Tianhong 2 (T2)/Malus robusta (HT), T2/G935, and T2/Jizhen 2 (J2). Results: The results showed that the T2/HT treatment had greater root length, surface area, volume, average diameter, tips and forks, followed by G935 and J2. In T2/HT leaves and roots, the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellins (GA3) levels were highest, and the abscisic acid (ABA) levels were the lowest. A root transcriptome analysis detected 10,064, 10,511, and 8,719 differentially expressed genes in T2/HT vs. T2/G935, T2/HT vs. T2/J2, and T2/J2 vs. T2/G935, respectively. The analysis of Gene Ontology (GO) terms indicated a significant enrichment in biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that plant hormone signaling, MAPK signaling pathway-plant, and plant-pathogen interaction played important roles in differences in the rooting ability of different rootstocks. In addition, some key differential genes were associated with root growth and development and were involved in these metabolic pathways. This study is important for enriching theoretical studies of fruit tree roots.

RSBagging: An ensemble classifier detecting the after-effects of ischemic stroke through EEG connectivity and microstates.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke can lead to significant after-effects, including motor function impairments, language impairments (aphasia), disorders of consciousness (DoC), and cognitive deficits. Computer-aided analysis of EEG connectivity matrices and microstates from bedside EEG monitoring can replace traditional clinical observation methods, offering an automatic approach to monitoring the progression of these after-effects. This EEG-based method also enables quicker and more efficient assessments for medical practitioners. METHODS: In this study, we employed Functional Connectivity features that extract spatial representation and Microstate features that focus on the time domain representation to monitor the after-effects of ischemic stroke patients. As the dataset from stroke patients is heavily imbalanced across various clinical after-effects conditions, we designed an ensemble classifier, RSBagging, to address the issue of classifiers often favoring the majority classes in the classification of imbalanced datasets. RESULTS: The experimental results demonstrate that different connectivity matrices are effective for three classification tasks: consciousness level, motor disturbance, and stroke location. Using our RSBagging model, all three tasks achieve over 98% accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score, significantly outperforming the existing classifiers SVM, XGBoost, and Random Forest. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the RSBagging classifier based on connectivity matrices offers an effective method for monitoring the after-effects in stroke patients.

Multi-omics analysis of chemical composition variation among different muscle types in Hu lamb.

BACKGROUND: Consumers' preferences for lamb meat vary greatly depending on the specific cut. Variations in the chemical composition across different muscle types play a crucial role in determining meat quality, particularly with regard to flavor. Therefore, it is essential to study the variations in chemical composition among different muscle types in lamb, as well as the mechanisms behind their formation, aiming to understand the flavor variation across the muscle types. RESULTS: Flank muscles showed significantly higher intramuscular fat content and muscle fiber diameter compared to triceps brachii and biceps femoris (BF), at the same time as displaying a significantly lower percentage of type I muscle fibers. Forty-three differentially abundant volatile compounds (DAVC) were identified across five muscles, with the majority of DAVCs being more abundant in the BF. In total, 161 differentially abundant lipids were identified across five muscles, with triglycerides (TG), phosphatidylcholines (PC), phosphatidyl ethanolamines (PE) and phosphatidylmethanol (PMeOH) showing a strong correlation with DAVCs. A lipid-gene regulatory network was established, encompassing 664 lipids and 11 107 genes, leading to the identification of pathways and genes that regulate the metabolism of PEs, PMeOH, PCs and TGs. CONCLUSION: The present study showed the significant variation in flavor compounds among the five edible muscles, as well as the potential reasons for their formation. The results potentially provide a theoretical foundation for improving the meat quality of lamb. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Residential food environment and dietary antioxidant consumption among pregnant women: Modifying effects of socioeconomic factors and ethnic identity.

BACKGROUND: Residential food environment influences dietary patterns, however the impact of individuals' perceived social identity on their antioxidant intake, an indicator of healthy dietary patterns, remains underexplored. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data collected in a longitudinal cohort. In the study, we aimed to investigate the interactions between the food environment and two indicators of social identity, specifically a subjective ladder measure of socioeconomic status (SES) and the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) score, in relation to dietary antioxidant intake (DAI) among n = 512 Boston and NYC-resident pregnant women. METHODS: The modified Retail Food Environment Index (mRFEI) was calculated using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's equation, with higher scores indicating a healthier food environment. DAI was estimated by summing standardized data from six micronutrients (magnesium, selenium, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E) obtained through the Block98 Food Frequency Questionnaires administered during pregnancy, with higher scores indicating increased intake. The mRFEI and DAI were dichotomized based on a median split. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regressions were used to analyze associations, both with and without considering women's subjective SES or MEIM levels as effect modifiers. RESULTS: Women were racially/ethnically mixed (19.2 % White, 42.7 % Black, and 33.1 % Hispanic) with 32.2 % reporting more than high school education. In the main effect models, no significant association was observed between mRFEI and DAI. Women with higher MEIM scores exhibited higher DAI [Odds ratio (OR) =1.85, 95 % Confidence interval (CI) = 1.26-2.73]. Exploratory interaction models showed that subjective SES significantly modified the association (p-value for interaction = 0.03), specifically, women perceiving themselves to have a lower SES compared to their community (n = 45) exhibited a significantly positive association between mRFEI and DAI. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that women perceiving their SES to be lower than their neighborhoods may benefit from better access to healthy food.

Homoplantaginin alleviates high glucose-induced vascular endothelial senescence by inhibiting mtDNA-cGAS-STING pathway via blunting DRP1-mitochondrial fission-VDAC1 axis.

Vascular endothelial senescence is a major risk factor for diabetic vascular complications. Abnormal mitochondrial fission by dynamically related protein 1 (DRP1) accelerates vascular endothelial cell senescence. Homoplantaginin (Hom) is a flavonoid in Salvia plebeia R. Br. with protecting mitochondrial and repairing vascular properties. However, the relevant mechanism of Hom against diabetic vascular endothelial cell senescence remains unclear. Here, we used db/db mice and high glucose (HG)-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to assess the anti-vascular endothelial cell senescence of Hom. We found that Hom inhibited senescence-associated ß-galactosidase activity, decreased the levels of senescence markers, and senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors. Additionally, Hom inhibited the expression of cGAS-STING pathway and downstream inflammatory factors. STING inhibitor H-151 delayed endothelial senescence, whereas STING overexpression attenuated the anti-endothelial senescence effect of Hom. Furthermore, we observed that Hom reduced mitochondrial fragmentation and inhibited abnormal mitochondrial fission using transmission electron microscopy. Importantly, Hom has a stronger effect on mitochondrial fission protein than mitochondrial fusion protein, especially downregulated the expression of DRP1. DRP1 inhibitor Mdivi-1 suppressed cGAS-STING pathway and vascular endothelial senescence, yet DRP1 agonist FCCP attenuated the effect of Hom. Surprisingly, Hom blunted abnormal mitochondrial fission mediated by DRP1 mitochondrial localization, suppressed interaction of DRP1 with VDAC1 and prevented VDAC1 oligomerization, which was necessary for mtDNA escape and subsequent cGAS-STING pathway activation. These results revealed a previously unrecognized mechanism that Hom alleviated vascular endothelial senescence by inhibited mtDNA-cGAS-STING signaling pathway via blunting DRP1-mitochondrial fission-VDAC1 axis.

Inoculation of Bacillus velezensis Bv-116 and its bio-organic fertilizer serve as an environmental friendly biocontrol strategy against cucumber Fusarium wilt.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Bacillus velezensis Bv-116 and its bio-organic fertilizer on the control of cucumber Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cucumerinum (FOC), the promotion of growth of cucumber seedlings, and the soil microbial community. B. velezensis Bv-116 exhibited an inhibition rate of 84.93% against FOC, as well as broad-spectrum inhibitory activities against other soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi. Fermentation products of B. velezensis Bv-116 destroyed the cell structure of FOC and inhibited the growth of FOC mycelium. These products were identified as volatile antimicrobial gases, proteases and cellulases. In the greenhouse pot experiment, both B. velezensis Bv-116 and its bio-organic fertilizer exhibited significant promoting effects on cucumber growth, and a significant reduction in the incidence and disease severity index of cucumber wilt (p < 0.05). Analysis of the microbial community structure of cucumber rhizosphere soil revealed that inoculation of B. velezensis Bv-116 and its bio-organic fertilizer increased the abundance of genera with biocontrol capabilities against plant pathogens. In addition, inoculation of the bio-organic fertilizer reversed the excessive proliferation of Fusarium and Acidobacteria. Our results suggest the potential of inoculating B. velezensis Bv-116 and its bio-organic fertilizer as an environmentally friendly biocontrol strategy against cucumber wilt.

Correction: A comparative study of the hypolipidemic effects and mechanisms of action of Laminaria japonica- and Ascophyllum nodosum-derived fucoidans in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.

Correction for 'A comparative study of the hypolipidemic effects and mechanisms of action of Laminaria japonica- and Ascophyllum nodosum-derived fucoidans in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice' by Tian Liu et al., Food Funct., 2024, 15, 5955-5971, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO05521C.

Residential land structure affects residential welfare: Linear and non-linear effects.

The non-equilibrium phenomenon of residential land structure should be accorded particular importance when discussing residential welfare. Based on balanced panel data at the provincial level in China from 2009 to 2017, this study constructed an indicator to measure the residential welfare level using a multi-dimensional approach. It explored residential land structure's impact on residential welfare and its mechanism of action under carbon emissions and urbanization from both linear and non-linear perspectives. An orderly residential land structure was found to significantly positively affect residential welfare and this effect varies among provincial cities. Per the mechanism analysis, in the process of the residential land structure's impact on residential welfare, urbanization's mediating effect is influenced by the environment, whereas carbon emissions' moderating effect is partially influenced by urbanization. These insights contribute to the residential welfare literature and provide actionable recommendations for policy implementation in developing regions.

Contrasting Dynamics of Intracellular and Extracellular Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Response to Nutrient Variations in Aquatic Environments.

The propagation of antibiotic resistance in environments, particularly aquatic environments that serve as primary pathways for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), poses significant health risks. The impact of nutrients, as key determinants of bacterial growth and metabolism, on the propagation of ARGs, particularly extracellular ARGs (eARGs), remains poorly understood. In this study, we collected microorganisms from the Yangtze River and established a series of microcosms to investigate how variations in nutrient levels and delivery frequency affect the relative abundance of intracellular ARGs (iARGs) and eARGs in bacterial communities. Our results show that the relative abundance of 7 out of 11 representative eARGs in water exceeds that of iARGs, while 8 iARGs dominate in biofilms. Notably, iARGs and eARGs consistently exhibited opposite responses to nutrient variation. When nutrient levels increased, iARGs in the water also increased, with the polluted group (COD = 333.3 mg/L, COD:N:P = 100:3:0.6, m/m) and the eutrophic group (COD = 100 mg/L, COD:N:P = 100:25:5, m/m) showing 1.2 and 3.2 times higher levels than the normal group (COD = 100 mg/L, COD:N:P = 100:10:2, m/m), respectively. In contrast, eARGs decreased by 6.7% and 8.4% in these groups. On the other hand, in biofilms, higher nutrient levels led to an increase in eARGs by 1.5 and 1.7 times, while iARGs decreased by 17.5% and 50.1% in the polluted and eutrophic groups compared to the normal group. Moreover, while increasing the frequency of nutrient delivery (from 1 time/10 d to 20 times/10 d) generally did not favor iARGs in either water or biofilm, it selectively enhanced eARGs in both. To further understand these dynamics, we developed an ARGs-nutrient model by integrating the Lotka-Volterra and Monod equations. The results highlight the complex interplay of bacterial growth, nutrient availability, and mechanisms such as horizontal gene transfer and secretion influencing ARGs' propagation, driving the opposite trend between these two forms of ARGs. This contrasting response between iARGs and eARGs contributes to a dynamic balance that stabilizes bacterial resistance levels amid nutrient fluctuations. This study offers helpful implications regarding the persistence of bacterial resistance in the environment.

The Individual Division of Food Hoarding in Autumn Brandt's Voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii).

Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii), one of the main non-hibernating rodent species in the typical grassland of Inner Mongolia, live in groups and have the behavioral habit of hoarding food in underground warehouses in autumn to prepare for the winter food shortage ahead. The division of labor and cooperation are typical behavior patterns of gregarious mammals, but it is unclear whether Brandt's voles exercise a division of labor in food hoarding before overwintering. To explore the division of food hoarding in Brandt's voles during the autumn period, three treatments, namely added food, added food + competition, and control, were set up with three replicates. An infrared camera was positioned to observe and record the behavior of Brandt's voles under different treatments. Next, behavioral experiments regarding food-hoarding division were performed on individuals. The results showed that (1) Brandt's voles had two types of hoarding behavior, namely high food hoarding and low food hoarding, but not all individuals displayed hoarding behavior. (2) In all treatments, feeding behavior, which was the most important type of behavior, accounted for the highest proportion of all behaviors. (3) There was no significant difference in body weight and sex between high- and low-food-hoarding individuals of Brandt's voles, and there was no significant difference between high- and low-food-hoarding individuals in other divisions of labor either. (4) There was no significant difference in inquiry ability between high- and low-food-hoarding groups, but there was a significant difference in spatial memory. High-food-hoarding individuals had greater spatial memory. In summary, Brandt's voles had two types of hoarding behavior: high food hoarding and low food hoarding. Furthermore, high-food-hoarding individuals had greater spatial memory.

Effects of phenolic acid grafted-chitosan hydrocolloids on the aldehyde contents from lipid oxidation in golden pompano (Trachinotus blochii) fillets during pan-frying.

The effects of phenolic acid grafted-chitosan hydrocolloids (CS-g-GA/FA) on aldehyde contents from lipid oxidation in golden pompano fillets during pan-frying was investigated with an established high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrum method. Results indicated that pan-frying induced profound lipid oxidation and aldehydes generation with propanal, hexanal, nonanal, trans, trans-2,4-decadienal, and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal as the abundant species. CS-g-FA and CS-g-GA effectively decreased their contents by 23.74-27.42 %, 61.69-67.42 %, 41.83-53.91 %, 29.91-48.79 %, and 61.57-65.39 % after 3 min. Most aldehyde contents decreased with the extension of pan-frying time due to the volatilization and reaction. In terms of substrate depletion, CS-g-phenolic acids effectively inhibited unsaturated fatty acids oxidation due to their decent antioxidant activity than CS. The significant lower retention rates of aldehydes in the CS-g-phenolic acids groups compared with control in chemical mode confirmed the carbonyl ammonia condensation. These results suggested that CS-g-phenolic acids serve as novel coating to reduce hazardous compounds during aquatic products thermal processing.

Time-restricted feeding modulates gene expression related with rhythm and inflammation in Mongolian gerbils.

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) has the potential to modulate circadian rhythm and widely studied in humans and laboratory mice. However, less is known about the physiological responses to TRF in wild mammals. Here, we used Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, to explore the effect of 6-week TRF on gene expression related with circadian rhythm and inflammation. The TRF gerbils had higher cumulative food intake than the ad libitum (AL) group, but body mass, feeding frequency/time and metabolic rate did not differ between groups. In the hypothalamus, downregulation of rhythm-related genes Per3, Cry1 and Dbp was detected in the daytime-restricted feeding (DRF) group and Cry1 was downregulated in the nighttime-restricted feeding (NRF) group. In the liver, the expression of Per1/3, Rev-erbα/ß and Dbp was lower, and Bmal1 was higher in the DRF than in AL group, while NRF gerbils showed no changes. In the colon, the expression of Bmal1 and Cry1 was higher but Per3, Rev-erbα/ß and Dbp were lower in the DRF than in AL group. Further, the expression of inflammation-related genes such as NF-κB, IL-1ß, IL-18 and Nlrp3 was lower in the liver of DRF gerbils, and IL-1ß was lower both in the hypothalamus and liver of NRF gerbils. Moreover, the genes related with inflammation such as NF-κB, Nlrp3, IL-10/18/1ß and Tnf-α were positively or negatively correlated with multiple rhythm-related genes in the central and peripheral organs. In conclusion, TRF, particularly DRF, could modulate rhythm-related genes in the central and peripheral tissues and reduce hepatic expression of inflammation-related genes in gerbils.

Integrated multi-omics approaches reveal the neurotoxicity of triclocarban in mouse brain.

Triclocarban (TCC) is an antimicrobial ingredient that commonly incorporated in many household and personal care products, raising public concerns about its potential health risks. Previous research has showed that TCC could cross the blood-brain barrier, but to date our understanding of its potential neurotoxicity at human-relevant concentrations remains lacking. In this study, we observed anxiety-like behaviors in mice with continuous percutaneous exposure to TCC. Subsequently, we combined lipidomic, proteomic, and metabolic landscapes to investigate the underlying mechanisms of TCC-related neurotoxicity. The results showed that TCC exposure dysregulated the proteins involved in endocytosis and neurodegenerative disorders in mouse cerebrum. Brain energy homeostasis was also altered, as evidenced by the perturbation of pyruvate metabolism, TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, which in turn caused mitochondrial dysfunction. Meanwhile, the changing trends of sphingolipid signaling pathway and overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) could enhance the neural apoptosis. The in vitro approach further demonstrated that TCC exposure promoted apoptosis, accompanied by the overproduction of mROS and alteration in the mitochondrial membrane potential in N2A cells. Together, dysregulated endocytosis, mROS-related mitochondrial dysfunction and neural cell apoptosis are considered to be crucial factors for TCC-induced neurotoxicity, which may contribute to the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative disorders. Our findings provide novel perspectives for the mechanisms of TCC-triggered neurotoxicity.

Comparison of two surgical approaches in treating children with thoracolumbar junction tuberculosis: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis to compare the clinical outcomes and complications associated with the posterior-anterior and posterior-only approaches in treating Thoracolumbar Junction (TLJ) Tuberculosis (TB) in children aged 3-10 years. METHODS: Herein, 52 TLJ TB patients (age range = 3-10 years; mean age = 6.8 ± 2.2 years; females = 22; males = 30) treated with debridement, fusion, and instrumentation were recruited from two hospitals in China between May 2008 and February 2022, and their clinical data were reviewed retrospectively. Among them, 24 group A patients and 28 group B patients underwent the posterior-anterior and posterior-only approaches, respectively. The two groups were assessed for surgical time, blood loss, hospitalization duration, operative complications, inflammatory indicators, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, kyphosis angles, and neurologic functions. Results or differences with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 37.5 ± 23.3 months. Compared to group A patients, group B patients exhibited significantly lower surgical time, blood loss amount, time it took to stand, and hospitalization duration, as well as fewer complications. Notably, the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) values of patients in both groups returned to normal one year post-surgery. Furthermore, compared to the preoperative values, patients' VAS and ODI scores, as well as neurological functions and kyphosis angles, were significantly improved postoperatively and at the final follow-up, but with no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Moreover, there was no internal fixation failure or TB recurrence, and all patients exhibited solid bone fusion at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: For pediatric TLJ TB involving no or at most two segments, both posterior-anterior and posterior-only approaches could effectively remove lesions and decompress the spinal cord, restore spinal stability, correct kyphosis, and prevent deformity deterioration. Nonetheless, the posterior-only approach can more effectively shorten the surgical time, reduce related trauma and complications, and promote rapid recovery, making it a safer and highly preferable minimally invasive approach.

Protective effect of afamin protein against oxidative stress related injury in human ovarian granulosa cells.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) play crucial roles in follicular growth and development. Their normal function is influenced by various factors, including oxidative stress, which is a significant factor. Afamin protein is a vitamin E-specific binding protein that acts as a vitamin E carrier in follicular fluid. Although the mechanism of the protective effect of afamin on human ovarian GCs is still unclear, there is evidence it has an antioxidant effect in neuronal cells. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the protective effects of afamin proteins on testosterone propionate (TP)-induced ovarian GCs using a human ovarian tumor granulosa cell line (KGN). RESULTS: The results showed that afamin reduced TP-induced oxidative stress in KGN cells by decreasing the levels of oxidative damage markers, enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and exerting a protective effect on GCs. Supplementation with afamin repaired mitochondrial dysfunction by improving mitochondrial membrane potential damage and ATP levels. It counteracted TP-induced apoptosis by decreasing the activity of Caspase-3 and upregulating the expression of the anti-apoptotic gene (BCL-2) while downregulating the expression of the pro-apoptotic gene BCL-2-associated X protein (BAX). In addition, afamin regulated the expression of genes related to ovarian steroid hormone synthesis, ameliorating the endocrine dysfunction observed in TP-induced KGN cells. CONCLUSION: Therefore, Afamin proteins may serve as important complementary factors that protect GCs from other types of damage, such as oxidative stress, and may help improve ovarian follicle quality and female reproductive function.