Gut microbiota, inflammatory factors, and scoliosis: A Mendelian randomization study.

Several studies have reported a potential association between the gut microbiota (GM) and scoliosis. However, the causal relationship between GM and scoliosis and the role of inflammatory factors (IFs) as mediators remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between GM, IFs, and scoliosis. We investigated whether IFs act as mediators in pathways from the GM to scoliosis. Additionally, using reverse Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, we further investigated the potential impact of genetic predisposition to scoliosis on the GM and IFs. In this study, we searched for publicly available genome-wide association study aggregate data and utilized the MR method to establish bidirectional causal relationships among 211 GM taxa, 91 IFs, and scoliosis. To ensure the reliability of our research findings, we employed 5 MR methods, with the inverse variance weighting approach serving as the primary statistical method, and assessed the robustness of the results through various sensitivity analyses. Additionally, we investigated whether IFs mediate pathways from GM to scoliosis. Three negative causal correlations were observed between the genetic predisposition to GM and scoliosis. Additionally, both positive and negative correlations were found between IFs and scoliosis, with 3 positive and 3 negative correlations observed. IFs do not appear to act as mediators in the pathway from GM to scoliosis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated a causal association between the GM, IFs, and scoliosis, indicating that IFs are not mediators in the pathway from the GM to scoliosis. These findings offer new insights into prevention and treatment strategies for scoliosis.

Impact of manufacturing processes on glycerolipid and polar lipid composition and ultrastructure in infant formula.

The introduction of exogenous lipids in the production of infant formula induces significant alterations in milk lipid composition, content, and membrane structure, thus affecting the lipid digestion, absorption, and utilization. This study meticulously tracks these changes throughout the manufacturing process. Pasteurization has a significant effect on phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin in the outer membrane, decreasing their relative contents to total polar lipids from 12.52% and 17.34% to 7.72% and 12.59%, respectively. Subsequent processes, including bactericidal-concentration and spray-drying, demonstrate the thermal stability of sphingomyelin and ceramides, while glycerolipids with arachidonic acid/docosahexaenoic acid and glycerophospholipids, particularly phosphatidylethanolamine, diminish significantly. Polar lipids addition and freeze-drying technology significantly enhance the polar lipid content and improve microscopic morphology of infant formula. These findings reveal the diverse effects of technological processes on glycerolipid and polar lipid compositions, concentration, and ultrastructure in infant formulas, thus offering crucial insights for optimizing lipid content and structure within infant formula.

Physical function characteristics of swimmers in pre-competition training / Características da função física dos nadadores em treinamento pré-competição / Características de la función física de los nadadores en el entrenamiento previo a la competición

ABSTRACT Introduction: Swimming is a competitive athletic activity whose fundamental objective is to produce high-performance athletes capable of standing out worldwide. Aerobic balance directly affects the athletic performance of these professionals. Objective: Investigate the changes in the physical composition and functional characteristics of swimmers before the competition. The results can play an important guiding role in the training plan of the Chinese athletics team in the competition. Methods: To explore the relationship between swimmers of different ages, the athletes were trained, and their physiological and chemical changes were monitored before the competition. A statistical, mathematical method was used to analyze the data. Results: After exercise, the swimmers' hemoglobin, red blood cell count, hematocrit, creatine kinase, blood urea, and other indices had changed. The difference between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the swimmers' body function was stable before the competition with better exercise load capacity. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: A natação é uma atividade atlética competitiva cujo objetivo fundamental é produzir atletas de alto rendimento capazes de destacarem-se mundialmente. O equilíbrio aeróbico afeta diretamente o desempenho atlético desses profissionais. Objetivo: Investigar as mudanças na composição física e nas características funcionais dos nadadores antes da competição. Os resultados podem desempenhar um importante papel de orientação no plano de treinamento da equipe de atletismo chinesa na competição. Métodos: Para explorar a relação entre nadadores de diferentes idades, os atletas foram treinados e suas alterações fisiológicas e químicas foram monitoradas antes da competição. Utilizou-se método matemático estatístico para analisar os dados. Resultados: Após exercício físico, a hemoglobina dos nadadores, contagem de glóbulos vermelhos, hematócrito, creatinaquinase, ureia no sangue e outros índices tiveram alterações. A diferença entre os dois grupos foi significativa (P<0,05). Conclusão: Os resultados mostraram que antes da competição, a função corporal dos nadadores foi estável com melhor capacidade de carga de exercício. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: La natación es una actividad atlética competitiva cuyo objetivo fundamental es producir atletas de alto rendimiento capaces de destacarse a nivel mundial. El equilibrio aeróbico afecta directamente al rendimiento deportivo de estos profesionales. Objetivo: Investigar los cambios en la composición física y las características funcionales de los nadadores antes de la competición. Los resultados pueden desempeñar un importante papel de guía en el plan de entrenamiento del equipo de atletismo chino en la competición. Métodos: Para explorar la relación entre nadadores de diferentes edades, se entrenó a los atletas y se controlaron sus cambios fisiológicos y químicos antes de la competición. Para analizar los datos se utilizó el método matemático estadístico. Resultados: Tras el ejercicio, la hemoglobina, el recuento de glóbulos rojos, el hematocrito, la creatina quinasa, la urea en sangre y otros índices de los nadadores presentaron cambios. La diferencia entre los dos grupos fue significativa (P<0,05). Conclusión: Los resultados mostraron que antes de la competición, la función corporal de los nadadores era estable y con mejor capacidad de carga de ejercicio. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.