Association between Dietary Inflammatory Index and Bone Mineral Density Changes among Pregnant Women: A Prospective Study in China.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and bone mineral density (BMD) changes among Chinese pregnant women, offering valuable insights for dietary guidance during pregnancy. METHODS: 289 pregnant women were enrolled in this cohort. Serum inflammatory factors and ultrasonic BMD were measured at the first, second, and the third trimesters. DII scores were calculated based on a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and divided into tertiles. We compared the differences in inflammatory factors in serum across the tertiles of DII and changes in BMD at the second and third trimesters across the tertiles. RESULTS: The participants with higher DII scores had higher total energy intakes than those with lower DII scores. The serum level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was significantly different across the tertiles of the DII. Women who had lower DII scores had higher T-scores and Z-scores in the BMD assessment. In the test of trends, after adjusting potential covariates, including educational level, physical activity, body mass index, and calcium, vitamin D, or multivitamin supplements, DII values were determined to be positively related to the maternal BMD lost. CONCLUSIONS: DII was positively associated with serum IL-6. Meanwhile, higher DII scores were associated with more bone mass loss in pregnant women. We recommend adhering to a lower-DII diet to preserve BMD during pregnancy.

Origin of the multi-phasic quenching dynamics in the BLUF domains across the species.

Blue light using flavin (BLUF) photoreceptors respond to light via one of nature's smallest photo-switching domains. Upon photo-activation, the flavin cofactor in the BLUF domain exhibits multi-phasic dynamics, quenched by a proton-coupled electron transfer reaction involving the conserved Tyr and Gln. The dynamic behavior varies drastically across different species, the origin of which remains controversial. Here, we incorporate site-specific fluorinated Trp into three BLUF proteins, i.e., AppA, OaPAC and SyPixD, and characterize the percentages for the Wout, WinNHin and WinNHout conformations using 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Using femtosecond spectroscopy, we identify that one key WinNHin conformation can introduce a branching one-step proton transfer in AppA and a two-step proton transfer in OaPAC and SyPixD. Correlating the flavin quenching dynamics with the active-site structural heterogeneity, we conclude that the quenching rate is determined by the percentage of WinNHin, which encodes a Tyr-Gln configuration that is not conducive to proton transfer.

Development and Validation of Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument for Chinese Lactating Women: A Preliminary Study.

This study focused on the development and validation of a nutrition literacy assessment instrument for Chinese lactating women (NLAI-L). A comprehensive literature review and group discussion by experts in relevant fields were adopted to determine the dimension, topics and questions of NLAI-L. Content validity was evaluated by a panel of experts. The exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were used to evaluate the construct validity. Cronbach's α and split-half reliability were applied to examine the reliability of NLAI-L. The final NLAI-L consisted of 38 questions covering three dimensions: knowledge, behavior and skill. The EFA revealed four sub-domains for knowledge, one sub-domain for behavior and four sub-domains for skill. The results showed that NLAI-L had satisfactory content validity (CVI = 0.98, CVR = 0.96), good reliability (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.84) and acceptable construct validity (χ2/df = 2.28, GFI = 2.81, AGFI = 0.79, RMSEA = 0.057). In the application part, the average NL score was 46.0 ± 9.3. In multivariate linear regression, education level, age, postnatal period and occupation were the potential influencing factors of NL for Chinese lactating women. The study established an effective and reliable assessment instrument for Chinese lactating women (NLAI-L) through qualitative and quantitative methods. The establishment of NLAI-L will provide an effective tool for exploring the role of NL in health or disease and provide a basis for the formulation of targeted nutrition interventions.

Comparative analysis of oligosaccharides in the milk of human and animals by using LC-QE-HF-MS.

The complex oligosaccharides (OS) in different milk are more difficult to detect and complicated to analyze as their enormous structural complexity. UPLC-QE-HF-MS was supposed to be a highly effective method for OS identification. In present study, 70 human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), 14 bovine milk oligosaccharides (BMOs), 23 goat milk oligosaccharides (GMOs) and 24 rat milk oligosaccharides (RMOs) were detected by using UPLC-QE-HF-MS, respectively. There were highly differences in number and composition between the four milk OS. 14 neutral and 3 acidic OS were firstly found in rat milk. The composition and abundances of RMOs were might more similar to that of HMOs, comparing with BMOs and GMOs. The similarity between HMOs and RMOs might provide theoretical basis for better application of rats in biological/biomedical studies of HMOs as models. The BMOs and GMOs were expected to be suitable for applications in medical and functional foods as a promising bioactive molecular.

Nutrition and Metabolism in the First 1000 Days of Life.

The first 1000 days of life are a critical window period for rapid growth and development during which individuals are more sensitive to the stimulation of environmental factors [...].

High-throughput multitarget quantitative assay to profile the whole grain-specific phytochemicals alkylresorcinols, benzoxazinoids and avenanthramides in whole grain and grain-based foods.

Currently, there is a growing interest in using whole grain (WG)-specific phytochemicals to perform WG research, including research on dietary assessment, health mechanisms, and quality control. However, the current approaches used for WG-specific phytochemical analysis cannot simultaneously achieve coverage, specificity, and sensitivity. In the present study, a series of WG-specific phytochemicals (alkylresorcinols (ARs), benzoxazinoids (BXs) and avenanthramides (AVAs)) were identified, and their mass spectrometry (MS) fragmentation mechanism was studied by TOF MS. Based on diagnostic fragmentation ions and retention time prediction models, a LC-MS/MS method was developed. Through this method, 56 ARs, 13 BXs, and 19 AVAs in WGs and grain-based foods were quantified for the first time. This method was validated and yielded excellent specificity, high sensitivity and negligible matrix effects. Finally, we established WG-specific phytochemical fingerprints in a variety of WG and grain-based foods. This method can be used for WG quality control and WG precision nutrition research.

Boosting HSA Vaccination with Jujube Powder Modulating Gut Microbiota Favorable for Arginine Metabolism.

Whereas vaccination is established as one of the most effective and available methods against seasonal flu and holds high potential for many infectious diseases, immune response may differ among individuals and regions. In this study we examined the effects of gut microbiota on vaccination with human serum albumin (HSA) as the model vaccine in C57BL/6J mice. We observed that a two-week antibiotic cocktail (ABX) treatment hampered HSA-specific IgG1 in serum, whereas fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) restored the gut microbiota impaired by the ABX treatment and consequently increased the proportions of macrophages in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), plasma cells in the peripheral blood, and HSA-specific immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) in the serum. A week of daily application of jujube powder (800 mg/kg) to ABX-treated mice achieved a significantly higher HSA-specific IgG1 concentration in the serum compared with the ABX treatment group. Of particular note was that the administration of the jujube powder did not increase the myeloid cells, indicating a different mechanism of vaccination compared with FMT. More interestingly, daily pre-administration of jujube powder (800 mg/kg) to healthy mice one week ahead of vaccination boosted their immune response, as evidenced by the proportion of macrophages in the MLNs, B cells in the spleen, plasma cells and memory B cells in the peripheral blood, and HSA-specific IgG1 concentration in the serum. The 16S rRNA sequencing of gut microbiota revealed that the administration of jujube powder increased the abundance of Coriobacteriaceae associated with the metabolism of amino acids. The Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis suggested the altered microbiota is more favorable for arginine and proline metabolism, which may promote macrophages in the MLNs. These results indicate a high potential for boosting vaccination by manipulating gut microbiota with natural products.

Dissecting the Ultrafast Stepwise Bidirectional Proton Relay in a Blue-Light Photoreceptor.

Proton relays through H-bond networks are essential in realizing the functionality of protein machines such as in photosynthesis and photoreceptors. It has been challenging to dissect the rates and energetics of individual proton-transfer steps during the proton relay. Here, we have designed a proton rocking blue light using a flavin (BLUF) domain with the flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-glutamic acid (E)-tryptophan (W) triad and have resolved the four individual proton-transfer steps kinetically using ultrafast spectroscopy. We have found that after the photo-induced charge separation forming FMN·-/E-COOH/WH·+, the proton first rapidly jumps from the bridging E-COOH to FMN- (τfPT2 = 3.8 ps; KIE = 1.0), followed by a second proton transfer from WH·+ to E-COO- (τfPT1 = 336 ps; KIE = 2.6) which immediately rocks back to W· (τrPT1 = 85 ps; KIE = 6.7), followed by a proton return from FMNH· to E-COO- (τrPT2 = 34 ps; KIE = 3.3) with the final charge recombination between FMN·- and WH·+ to close the reaction cycle. Our results revisited the Grotthuss mechanism on the ultrafast timescale using the BLUF domain as a paradigm protein.

Comparative Analysis of Oligosaccharides in Breast Milk and Feces of Breast-Fed Infants by Using LC-QE-HF-MS: A Communication.

Currently, it must be acknowledged that little is known about the quantity and make-up of oligosaccharides (OS) found in breast-fed babies' feces as well as their metabolic fate. In the present work, UPLC-QE-HF-MS was successfully adopted to identify the profiles of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in the breast milk of four mothers and fecal OS in the feces of their breast-fed infant. There were significant variations and differences in both number and composition between HMOs and fecal OS. The early-life gastrointestinal microbiota metabolism may be triggered into the advanced breakdown, synthesis, bioconversion, or redesign of HMOs. The fate of HMOs during passage through the gastrointestinal tract may be profoundly informed by the comparison of OS between breast milk and fecal OS profiles. The characterization of fecal OS could be applied as a valuable tool for monitoring the gastrointestinal fate of HMOs and reflecting infant development at different stages of lactation. Further research on the gastrointestinal bioconversion of HMOs profiles is required, including secretor type and the lactation time of milk, as well as baby feeding.

Flavor Wheel Construction and Sensory Profile Description of Human Milk.

To explore the flavor characteristics of human milk, we constructed a three-tiered human milk flavor wheel based on 53 sensory descriptors belonging to different sensory categories. Fifteen sensory descriptors were selected using M-value and multivariate statistical methods, and the corresponding references were set up to realize qualitative and quantitative sensory evaluation of the human milk samples. To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the sensory evaluation, the performance of the sensory panelists was also tested. The sensory profile analysis indicated that the established sensory descriptors could properly reflect the general sensory properties of the human milk and could also be used to distinguish different samples. Further investigation exposed that the fat content might be an important factor that influence the sensory properties of human milk. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the flavor wheel of human milk.

Investigation of Adverse Events Experienced by Healthcare Workers following Immunization with Homologous orHeterologous COVID-19 Booster Vaccinations.

OBJECTIVE: A comparative analysis was performed to investigate the potential risk factors of Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) after receiving different booster vaccines. METHODS: From 18 January 2021 to 21 January 2022, the Health Care Workers (HCWs) of Guizhou Provincial Staff Hospital (Guizhou Province, China) who received a third Booster vaccine, that was either homologous (i.e., (i) a total of three doses of Vero cell vaccine or (ii) three doses of CHO cell vaccine) or (iii) heterologous with two first doses of Vero cell vaccine, being either CHO cell vaccine or adenovirus type-5 (Ad5) vectored COVID-19 vaccine, were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire form to provide information on any AEFI that may have occurred in the first 3 days after vaccination with the booster. The frequency of AEFI corresponding to the three different booster vaccines was compared, and the risk factors for predicting AEFI were determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 904 HCWs who completed the survey, 792 met the inclusion criteria. The rates of AEFI were 9.8% (62/635) in the homologous Vero cell booster group, 17.3% (13/75) in the homologous CHO cell booster group, and 20.7% (17/82) in the heterologous mixed vaccines booster group, and the rates were significantly different (c2 = 11.5, p = 0.004) between the three groups of vaccines. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that: (1) compared to the homologous Vero cell booster group, the risk of AEFI was about 2.1 times higher (OR = 2.095, 95% CI: 1.056-4.157, p = 0.034) in the CHO cell booster group and 2.5 times higher (OR = 2.476, 95% CI: 1.352-4.533, p = 0.003) in the mixed vaccines group; (2) the odds for women experiencing AEFI were about 2.8 times higher (OR = 2.792, 95% CI: 1.407-5.543, p = 0.003) than men; and (3) compared to the non-frontline HCWs, the risk of AEFI was about 2.6 times higher (OR = 2.648, 95% CI: 1.473-4.760, p = 0.001) in the doctors. CONCLUSION: The AEFI in all three booster groups are acceptable, and serious adverse events are rare. The risk of AEFI was higher in doctors, which may be related to the high stress during the COVID-19 epidemic. Support from government and non-governmental agencies is important for ensuring the physical and mental health of HCWs.

Effects of length and type of the alkyl chain on the micellization behavior of mixed systems of HS15 with fatty acids.

Due to volatility, low solubility and instability, the application of SCFAs and MCFAs is limited, which is expected to be solved by micelles. Taking SCFAs and MCFAs as models, this paper aims to research the influences of alkyl chain length and type on HS15 micelles. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of various acid-HS15 systems was determined firstly. Then some air-water interface parameters and thermodynamic parameters were analyzed. Subsequently, particle size, cloud points (CP) and fluorophore release curves were measured. With the increase of CMC and Gmin, the decrease of size and CP, and the rapid quenching of fluorophores, it is more difficult for acids with longer-chain to form stable micelles with HS15 because of the strength of iceberg structure. Showing smaller CMC and Gmin, smaller size, higher CP and slower release of fluorescers, branched molecules can bind more closely to the hydrophobic part of HS15 due to their spatial flexibility.

Development and Validation of Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument for Chinese Pregnant Women.

The study was designed to develop and validate the nutrition literacy assessment instrument for pregnant women in China (NLAI-P). The dimension, components and questions of NLAI-P were identified via literature review and expert consultation. A panel of experts evaluated the content validity. The construct validity was evaluated by using the exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability were applied for examining the reliability. The NLAI-P was divided into 3 dimensions including knowledge, behavior and skill dimension. Findings showed NLAI-P possessed the satisfactory content validity (content validity index = 0.98, content validity ratio = 0.97), acceptable construct validity (χ2/df = 1.82, GFI = 0.86, AGFI = 0.84, RMSEA = 0.046) and good reliability (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.82). The average scores of NLAI-P were 46.59 ± 9.27. With the adjustment of confounding factors, education level presented a significantly positive correlation with NLAI-P scores. In conclusion, NLAI-P were valid and reliable to inspect NL level of pregnant women in China. Poor NL was prevalent among Chinese pregnant women. Based on the education level, taking targeted propaganda and education measures would achieve the optimal effect. NLAI-P can be applied as the tool for monitoring and assessing NL of pregnant women, and facilitate the designation of targeted interventions policies.

The nature of proton-coupled electron transfer in a blue light using flavin domain.

Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is key to the activation of the blue light using flavin (BLUF) domain photoreceptors. Here, to elucidate the photocycle of the central FMN-Gln-Tyr motif in the BLUF domain of OaPAC, we eliminated the intrinsic interfering W90 in the mutant design. We integrated the stretched exponential function into the target analysis to account for the dynamic heterogeneity arising from the active-site solvation relaxation and the flexible H-bonding network as shown in the molecular dynamics simulation results, facilitating a simplified expression of the kinetics model. We find that, in both the functional wild-type (WT) and the nonfunctional Q48E and Q48A, forward PCET happens in the range of 105 ps to 344 ps, with a kinetic isotope effect (KIE) measured to be ∼1.8 to 2.4, suggesting that the nature of the forward PCET is concerted. Remarkably, only WT proceeds with an ultrafast reverse PCET process (31 ps, KIE = 4.0), characterized by an inverted kinetics of the intermediate FMNH˙. Our results reveal that the reverse PCET is driven by proton transfer via an intervening imidic Gln.

The Association of Formula Protein Content and Growth in Early Infancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review aimed to examine differences in growth outcomes between breastfed infants and infants fed with formula with different protein/energy ratios during the first six months of life. We conducted a systematic review in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Springer databases. Twenty clinical trials qualified for inclusion. We extracted data about the growth outcomes of infants who were exclusive breastfed or exclusively infant formula fed in the first six months and used a meta-analysis to pool the finding data. We categorized study formulas into four groups according to their protein content: <1.8, 1.8−2.0, 2.1−2.2, and >2.2 g/100 kcal. In the first month of life, growth was not different between formula- and breastfed infants. During 2−3 months of life, growth was faster in infants who consumed formulas with protein contents higher than 2.0 g/100 kcal. After 3 months, formula-fed infants grew faster than breastfed infants. Our meta-analysis indicated that the growth outcomes of infants fed with infant formula with a relatively low protein/energy ratios, compared with that a relatively high protein/energy ratio, were close to those of breastfed infants.

Effect of Gestational Diabetes on Postpartum Depression-like Behavior in Rats and Its Mechanism.

Recent studies have reported a strong association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and postpartum depression (PPD), but little is known about the underlying physiological mechanism. In this study, a GDM rat model was used to evaluate the direct effect of GDM on PPD and to explore the mechanism. After parturition, the GDM dams were divided into two groups: blood glucose not recovered group (GH group) and blood glucose recovered group (GL group). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), cortisol (COR) and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) metabolism were continuously monitored during the lactation period, until postnatal day 21. PPD was evaluated by behavioral tests. At the endpoint, the expression of the key enzymes of Trp metabolic pathway in colon and brain tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and western blot. The microbe composition of colonic contents was determined by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. The results showed that GDM induced postpartum depression-like behavior in rats. The HPA axis hormone did not show the typical stress state of depression, but the level of 5-HT decreased significantly in serum, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and the Kyn/Trp ratio increased significantly in serum and prefrontal cortex, implying the switch of the tryptophan (Trp) metabolism from the 5-HT pathway to the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway. The expression of Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a key rate-limiting enzyme in Kyn metabolism, was up-regulated in the colon and brain, which was an important reason for this switch. This switch was accelerated by a decrease in the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), a key enzyme of the 5-HT production pathway, in the colon. GDM dams displayed significant changes in gut microbiome profiles, which were correlated with depression. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes decreased. Lactobacillus and Bacteroides were negatively correlated with 5-HT level and positively correlated with Kyn level, whereas Clostridium XlVa and Ruminococcus were positively correlated with 5-HT level. These results suggest that GDM disrupts both the Trp pathway and the composition of the gut microbiota, which provide a putative physiological basis for PPD.

Robotic Manipulation Planning for Automatic Peeling of Glass Substrate Based on Online Learning Model Predictive Path Integral.

Autonomous planning robotic contact-rich manipulation has long been a challenging problem. Automatic peeling of glass substrates of LCD flat panel displays is a typical contact-rich manipulation task, which requires extremely high safe handling through the manipulation process. To this end of peeling glass substrates automatically, the system model is established from data and is used for the online planning of the robot motion in this paper. A simulation environment is designed to pretrain the process model with deep learning-based neural network structure to avoid expensive and time-consuming collection of real-time data. Then, an online learning algorithm is introduced to tune the pretrained model according to the real-time data from the peeling process experiments to cover the uncertainties of the real process. Finally, an Online Learning Model Predictive Path Integral (OL-MPPI) algorithm is proposed for the optimal trajectory planning of the robot. The performance of our algorithm was validated through glass substrate peeling tasks of experiments.

Direct Observation of Ultrafast Proton Rocking in the BLUF Domain.

We present direct observation of ultrafast proton rocking in the central motif of a BLUF domain protein scaffold. The mutant design has taken consideration of modulating the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) driving forces by replacing Tyr in the original motif with Trp, in order to remove the interference of a competing electron transfer pathway. Using femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy and detailed kinetics analysis, we resolved an electron-transfer-coupled Grotthuss-type forward and reverse proton rocking along the FMN-Gln-Trp proton relay chain. The rates of forward and reverse proton transfer are determined to be very close, namely 51 ps vs. 52 ps. The kinetic isotope effect (KIE) constants associated with the forward and reverse proton transfer are 3.9 and 5.3, respectively. The observation of ultrafast proton rocking is not only a crucial step towards revealing the nature of proton relay in the BLUF domain, but also provides a new paradigm of proton transfer in proteins for theoretical investigations.

Serum and Amniotic Fluid Metabolic Profile Changes in Response to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and the Association with Maternal-Fetal Outcomes.

This study was designed to identify serum and amniotic fluid (AF) metabolic profile changes in response to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and explore the association with maternal-fetal outcomes. We established the GDM rat models by combining a high-fat diet (HFD) with an injection of low-dose streptozotocin (STZ), detected the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of pregnant rats in the second and third trimester, and collected AF and fetal rats by cesarean section on gestational day 19 (GD19), as well as measuring the weight and crown-rump length (CRL) of fetal rats. We applied liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the untargeted metabolomics analyses of serum and AF samples and then explored their correlation with maternal-fetal outcomes via the co-occurrence network. The results showed that 91 and 68 metabolites were upregulated and 125 and 78 metabolites were downregulated in serum and AF samples exposed to GDM, respectively. In maternal serum, the obvious alterations emerged in lipids and lipid-like molecules, while there were great changes in carbohydrate and carbohydrate conjugates, followed by amino acids, peptides, and analogs in amniotic fluid. The altered pathways both in serum and AF samples were amino acid, lipid, nucleotide, and vitamin metabolism pathways. In response to GDM, changes in the steroid hormone metabolic pathway occurred in serum, and an altered carbohydrate metabolism pathway was found in AF samples. Among differential metabolites in two kinds of samples, there were 34 common biochemicals shared by serum and AF samples, and a mutual significant association existed. These shared differential metabolites were implicated in several metabolism pathways, including choline, tryptophan, histidine, and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, and among them, N1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide, 5'-methylthioadenosine, and kynurenic acid were significantly associated with both maternal FPG and fetal growth. In conclusion, serum and AF metabolic profiles were remarkably altered in response to GDM. N1-Methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide, 5'-methylthioadenosine, and kynurenic acid have the potential to be taken as biomarkers for maternal-fetal health status of GDM. The common and inter-related differential metabolites both in the serum and AF implied the feasibility of predicting fetal health outcomes via detecting the metabolites in maternal serum exposed to GDM.

Dynamic Changes in Human Milk Oligosaccharides in Chinese Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this systematic review was to summarize concentrations of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in the Chinese population. We searched articles originally published in both Chinese and English. When compiling data, lactation was categorized into five stages. We found that 6'-sialyllactose, lacto-N-tetraose, and lacto-N-neotetraose decreased over lactation. Conversely, 3'-fucosyllactose increased over lactation. Our study represents the first systematic review to summarize HMO concentrations in Chinese population. Our findings not only provide data on HMO profiles in Chinese population but suggest future directions in the study of the metabolism of HMOs.