Effect of refining and pressing temperature on chemical attributes of canola oil produced in Chile

The consumption of vegetable oils is common in our daily diet. Rapeseed oil (canola oil) is the third most consumed edible oil in the world, followed by palm and soybean oils in terms of production. Rapeseed oil has a low proportion of saturated fatty acids, while it is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, as well as in healthy compounds such as phenols, tocopherols, phytosterols, carotenoids, and fat-soluble vitamins. However, processing technologies affect the content and functional activities of bioactive compounds in the oil. Aim: To assess any potential effect of hot or cold pressing and a refining process on the nutritional value and the profile of several bioactive compounds in canola oils produced in Chile. Methods: Canola oils were characterized regarding their fatty acid profile, phytosterol and tocopherol composition, total phenol content, and antioxidant activity, according to the mode of extraction (cold or hot pressed) and before and after bWeing subjected to a refining process. Results: Fatty acid profiles were not significantly different in any of the analyzed canola oils. Refining but not temperature extraction led to a sharp decrease of phytosterols and tocopherols. Hot pressing significantly increased the amount of total phenols (3.1 times) and the antioxidant activity measured by ORAC (3.1 times) and DPPH (8.3 times) compared to the cold extraction. However, phenolic concentration and antioxidant capacity decreased after refining. Conclusions: Refining processes should be adjusted to reduce the loss of bioactive compounds in the oil.

El consumo de aceites vegetales es habitual en nuestra dieta diaria. El aceite de colza (aceite de canola) es el tercer aceite comestible más consumido en el mundo, seguido por los aceites de palma y soja en términos de producción. El aceite de colza tiene una baja proporción de ácidos grasos saturados, mientras que es rico en ácidos grasos insaturados, así como en compuestos liposolubles saludables como fenoles, tocoferoles, fitoesteroles, carotenoides y vitaminas. Sin embargo, las tecnologías de procesamiento afectan el contenido y las actividades funcionales de los compuestos bioactivos en el aceite. Objetivo: Evaluar cualquier efecto potencial del prensado en caliente o en frío y un proceso de refinación sobre el valor nutricional y el perfil de varios compuestos bioactivos en los aceites de canola producidos en Chile. Métodos: Los aceites de canola se caracterizaron en cuanto a su perfil de ácidos grasos, composición de fitoesteroles y tocoferoles, contenido de fenoles totales y actividad antioxidante, según el modo de extracción (prensado en frío o en caliente) y antes y después de ser sometidos a un proceso de refinación. Resultados: Los perfiles de ácidos grasos no fueron significativamente diferentes en ninguno de los aceites de canola analizados. La refinación, pero no la extracción en caliente, condujo a una fuerte disminución de los fitoesteroles y tocoferoles. El prensado en caliente aumentó significativamente la cantidad de fenoles totales (3,1 veces) y la actividad antioxidante medida por ORAC (3,1 veces) y DPPH (8,3 veces) en comparación con la extracción en frío. Sin embargo, la concentración de fenoles y la capacidad antioxidante disminuyeron después del refinado. Conclusión: Los procesos de refinación deben ajustarse para reducir la pérdida de compuestos bioactivos en el aceite.

Potential efficacy and mechanism of eight mild-natured and bitter-flavored TCMs based on gut microbiota: A review / 中草药·英文版

The mild-natured and bitter-flavored traditional Chinese medicines (MB-TCMs) are an important class of TCMs that have been widely used in clinical practice and recognized as safe long-term treatments for chronic diseases. However, as an important class of TCMs, the panorama of pharmacological effects and the mechanisms of MB-TCMs have not been systemically reviewed. Compelling studies have shown that gut microbiota can mediate the therapeutic activity of TCMs and help to elucidate the core principles of TCM medicinal theory. In this systematic review, we found that MB-TCMs commonly participated in the modulation of metabolic syndrome, intestinal inflammation, nervous system disease and cardiovascular system disease in association with promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria Bacteroides, Akkermansia, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Roseburia as well as inhibiting the proliferation of harmful bacteria Helicobacter, Enterococcus, Desulfovibrio and Escherichia-Shigella. These alterations, correspondingly, enhance the generation of protective metabolites, mainly including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acid (BAs), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), indole and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and inhibit the generation of harmful metabolites, such as proinflammatory factors trimethylamine oxide (TAMO) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), to further exert multiplicative effects for the maintenance of human health through several different signaling pathways. Altogether, this present review has attempted to comprehensively summarize the relationship between MB-TCMs and gut microbiota by establishing the TCMs-gut microbiota-metabolite-signaling pathway-diseases axis, which may provide new insight into the study of TCM medicinal theories and their clinical applications.

Effect of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma on Short-chain Fatty Acids and Intestinal Barrier in Mice with Slow-transit Constipation / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma（AMR） in the treatment of slow-transmission constipation（STC） by observing the effects of AMR on short-chain fatty acids and intestinal barries in STC mice. MethodForty-eight male KM mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group， AMR low-， medium-， high-dose groups（2.5， 5， 10 g·kg-1） and mosapride group（2.5 mg·kg-1）. Except for the blank group， all groups were gavaged with loperamide suspension（5 mg·kg-1） twice daily for 14 d to construct the STC mouse model. At the same time， each drug administration group was given the corresponding drug by gavage for consecutive 14 d， the blank and model groups were gavaged with equal volume of distilled water. The effects of the treatment of AMR on body mass， defecation frequency， fecal water content and intestinal propulsion rate of mice were observed， the pathological changes of mouse colon were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining and periodic acid-Schiff（PAS） staining， the levels of gastrin（GAS） and motilin（MTL） in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）， gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（GC-MS） was used to detect the contents of short-chain fatty acids（SCFAs） in mouse feces， real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） and Western blot were used to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of zonula occludens-1（ZO-1）， Occludin， and Claudin-1 in the colon of mice. ResultCompared with the blank group， the body mass， defecation frequency， fecal water content and intestinal propulsion rate of mice in the model group were significantly decreased（P<0.05， P<0.01）， the arrangement of colonic tissues was disordered， and the number of goblet cells was reduced， the levels of GAS and MTL in serum were significantly decreased（P<0.01）， and the levels of SCFAs in the feces were on a decreasing trend， with the contents of acetic acid， propionic acid， butyric acid， isobutyric acid and valeric acid were significantly decreased（P<0.05， P<0.01）， the mRNA and protein expression levels of ZO-1， Occludin and Claudin-1 in the colonic tissues were significantly decreased（P<0.01）. The above results suggested that STC mouse model was successfully constructed. Compared with the model group， the body mass， defecation frequency， fecal water content and intestinal propulsion rate of mice in AMP administration groups all increased significantly（P<0.05， P<0.01）， the mucosal layer of the colonic tissues was structurally intact without obvious damage， and the number of goblet cells increased， serum levels of GAS and MTL were significantly increased（P<0.01）， the contents of SCFAs in the feces were all on a rising trend， with the contents of acetic， propionic， butyric and isobutyric acids rising significantly（P<0.05， P<0.01）， the mRNA and protein expression levels of ZO-1， Occludin and Claudin-1 in the colonic tissues were significantly increased（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionAMR is able to improve the constipation symptoms in STC mice， and its mechanism may be related to increasing the contents of SCFAs in the intestine as well as promoting the mRNA and protein expression levels of ZO-1， Occludin and Claudin-1 in the colon.

Moderating effect of salidroside on intestinal microbiota in mice exposed to PM2.5 / 环境与职业医学

Background Salidroside (SAL) has a protective effect on multiple organ systems. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the atmosphere may lead to disruptions in gut microbiota and impact intestinal health. The regulatory effect of SAL on the gut microbiota of mice exposed to PM2.5 requires further investigation. Objective To evaluate gut microbiota disruption in mice after being exposed to PM2.5 and the potential effect of SAL. Methods Forty male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6 to 8 weeks, were randomly divided into four groups: a control group, an SAL group, a PM2.5 group, and an SAL+PM2.5 group, each containing 10 mice. In the SAL group and the SAL+PM2.5 group, the mice were administered SAL (60 mg·kg−1) by gavage, while in the control group and the PM2.5 group, sterile saline (10 mL·kg−1) was administered by gavage. In the PM2.5 group and the SAL+PM2.5 group, PM2.5 suspension (8 mg·kg−1) was intratracheally instilled, and in the control group and SAL group, sterile saline (1.5 mL·kg−1) was intratracheally administered. Each experiment cycle spanned 2 d, with a total of 10 cycles conducted over 20 d. Histopathological changes in the ileum tissue of the mice were observed after HE staining. Colon contents were collected for gut microbiota sequencing and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) measurements. Results The PM2.5 group showed infiltration of inflammatory cells in the ileum tissue, while the SAL+PM2.5 group exhibited only a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared to the control group, the PM2.5 group showed decreased Shannon index (P<0.05) and increased Simpson index (P<0.05), indicating that the diversity of gut microbiota in this group was decreased; the SAL+PM2.5 group showed increased Shannon index compared to the PM2.5 group (P<0.05) and decreased Simpson index (P<0.05), indicating that the diversity of gut microbiota in mice intervened with SAL was increased. The principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed a significant separation between the PM2.5 group and the control group, while the separation trend was less evident among the control group, the SAL group, and the SAL+PM2.5 group. The unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) clustering tree results showed that the control group and the SAL group clustered together first, followed by clustering with the SAL+PM2.5 group, and finally, the three groups clustered with the PM2.5 group. The PCoA and UPGMA clustering results indicated that the uniformity and similarity of the microbiota in the PM2.5 group were significantly decreased. Compared to the control group, the PM2.5 group showed decreased abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes and Candidatus_Saccharimonas (P<0.05) and increased abundance of phylum Proteobacteria, genus Escherichia, genus Bacteroides, genus Prevotella, genus Enterococcus, and genus Proteus (P<0.05). Compared to the PM2.5 group, the SAL+PM2.5 group showed decreased abundance of phylum Proteobacteria, phylum Actinobacteria, genus Prevotella, and genus Proteus (P<0.05), and increased abundance of Candidatus_Saccharimonas (P<0.05). The PM2.5 group showed reduced levels of propionic acid, valeric acid, and hexanoic acid compared to the control group (P<0.05), while the SAL+PM2.5 group showed increased levels of propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, and hexanoic acid compared to the PM2.5 group (P<0.05). Conclusion Exposure to PM2.5 can cause pathological alterations, microbial dysbiosis, and disturbing production of SCFAs in intestinal tissue in mice. However, SAL can provide a certain degree of protective effect against these changes.

Effect and mechanism of short-chain fatty acids in aged rats with sarcopenia / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)are a potential regulator of skeletal muscle energy metabolism,but the exact mechanism is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of SCFAs on aged rats with sarcopenia and to explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS:Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group,sarcopenia group,and sarcopenia+SCFAs group(SCFAs group).In the latter two groups,rat models of sarcopenia were established using ovariectomized rats injected with 5 mg/kg dexamethasone for 7 days.In the control group,the abdominal cavity was only exposed but not removed,and then sutured.Rats in the SCFAs group were administered drinking water containing 150 mmol/L short-chain fatty acids,600 mg/kg sodium acetate,200 mg/kg sodium propionate,and 200 mg/kg sodium butyrate for 4 weeks.Rats in the control and sarcopenia groups were given the same volume of normal saline.Successful modeling was assessed by measuring the bilateral gastrocnemius muscle mass and body mass to calculate the gastrocnemius index after modeling.Food intake,body mass and grip strength of rats were measured at 0,1,2 and 4 weeks after successful modeling;morphological changes of gastrocnemius muscle were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining;and the expression of p-AMPK and p-ULK1 proteins in gastrocnemius muscle was detected by western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the sarcopenia group showed significantly decreased body mass,food intake,forelimb grip strength(P<0.05),wet mass of gastrocnemius muscle(P<0.05),and protein levels of p-AMPK and p-ULK1(P<0.05).Compared with the sarcopenia group,the SCFAs group showed a significant increase in food intake,body mass,grip strength,wet mass of gastrocnemius muscle,and protein levels of p-AMPK and p-ULK1 in gastrocnemius muscle(P<0.05).All these findings indicate that SCFAs improve symptoms of sarcopenia in the elderly and may be associated with the upregulation of AMPK and ULK1 proteins in skeletal muscle.

Effects of nobiletin on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in rats with simple obesity / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:This study aims to investigate the impact of nobiletin(NOB)on the gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.METHODS:A total of 22 SD rats were randomly di-vided into the control(CON)group and high-fat diet(HFD)group.The HFD induced obesity,upon successful modeling,the rats were further divided into the HFD and NOB group,each group consisting of 6 rats.The NOB group received nobi-letin solution(100 mg·kg-1·d-1)via gavage for 21 consecutive days.Body weight was measured bi-daily,and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was employed to observe pathological changes in adipose tissue and liver.Serum lipid levels were as-sessed using an auto-biochemical analyzer.Analysis of the gut microbiota was performed using 16S ribosomal RNA(rRNA)sequencing,while high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry(LC-MS)was used to determine SCFAs levels in rat feces.RESULTS:Compared with CON group,HFD-fed demonstrated a substantial increase in body weight(P<0.01),accompanied by an augmentation in adipocyte diameter and the presence of hepatic cell vacuolization,indicative of cellular steatosis and inflammation.Moreover,there was a notable elevation in TG and TC levels(P<0.05).At the phylum level,the HFD rats exhibited an altered composition,characterized by an increase in Firmicutes and a con-current decrease in Bacteroidetes.At the genus level,Bacteroides,Lactobacillus and Blautia experienced a significant de-crease,while Colidextribacter showed an increase.Notably,there was a substantial reduction in the expression of propion-ic acid and butyric acid.In comparison to the HFD group,rats administered with NOB demonstrated a marked decrease in body weight(P<0.05),a reduction in adipocyte diameter,and an amelioration in hepatic cell vacuolization and cellular steatosis.Furthermore,TG and TC levels exhibited a significant decrease(P<0.05).At the phylum level,Firmicutes de-creased,and Bacteroidetes increased.At the genus level,Bacteroides,Lactobacillus and Blautia exhibited a significant in-crease,while Colidextribacter displayed a decrease.Additionally,there was an up-regulation of propionic acid and butyric acid levels in the NOB group.CONCLUSION:Nobiletin,through its multifaceted actions,demonstrates a potential anti-obesity effect by effectively reducing body weight in obese rats.This includes the regulation of gut microbiota structure,modulation of SCFAs content,and enhancement of lipid metabolism.

Role and Mechanism of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Potassium Ion Channels / 生物化学与生物物理进展

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have diverse health-promoting effects, such as potentially protecting in immune, nervous, and cardiovascular systems by targeting a variety of sites, including most ion channels. Voltage-gated potassium channels of the KV7 family and large-conductance Ca2+- and voltage-activated K+ (BKCa) channels are expressed in many tissues, therefore, their physiological importance is evident from the various disorders linked to dysfunctional KV7 channels and BKCa channels. Thus, it is extremely important to learn how potassium channels are regulated by PUFAs. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the effects of PUFAs on KV7 channels and BKCa channels functions, as well as the mechanisms underlying these effects. In summarizing reported effects of PUFAs on KV7 and BKCa channels mediated currents, we generally conclude that PUFAs increase the current amplitude, meanwhile, differential molecular and biophysical mechanisms are associated with the current increase. In KV7 channels the currents increasement are associated with a shift in the voltage dependence of channel opening and increased maximum conductance in KV7 channels, while in BKCa channels, they are associated with destabilization the pore domain closed conformation. Furthermore, PUFA effects are influenced by auxiliary subunits of KV7 and BKCa channels, associate with channels in certain tissues. although findings are conflicting. A better understanding of how PUFAs regulate KV7 and BKCa channels may offer insight into their physiological regulation and may lead to new therapeutic strategies and approaches.

Causal Association Between Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Study / 肿瘤防治研究

Objective To explore the causal relationship between Omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of breast cancer via Mendelian randomization analysis. Methods Analysis was conducted on data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on Omega-3 fatty acids and breast cancer. The selected instrumental variables (IVs) comprised genetic loci associated with Omega-3 fatty acids. Various Mendelian randomization analysis methods, including inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method, MR–Egger regression analysis, weighted median, simple models, and weighted models, were used to evaluate the causal relationship between Omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of breast cancer. Results A total of 47 single-nucleotide polymorphisms strongly associated with Omega-3 fatty acids were selected as IVs. The analysis methods, including IVW method, revealed no causal relationship between Omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of breast cancer (P>0.05). Analysis methods, such as MR-Egger regression analysis, did not detect significant gene-level pleiotropy (P=0.319), which indicates the high sensitivity and robustness of analysis results. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest the absence of a causal relationship between Omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of breast cancer.

Amelioration of dextran sulfate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis by fermented Lycium barbarum polysaccharides through modulation of intestinal microecology / 中国药科大学学报

@#Abstract: To explore the mechanism of the intestinal microecology regulation by polysaccharide prebiotics, ELISA, histopathologic analysis, immunohistochemical analysis, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were applied to investigate the effects of fermented polysaccharides on changes in the intestinal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model and their relationship with the level of intestinal inflammation and barrier protein expression. It was found that fermented Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (FLBP) significantly reduced intestinal inflammation level, improved colonic tissue structure, up-regulated the expression of tight junction proteins Claudin-1 and ZO-1, and significantly increased the content of intestinal SCFAs in mice. Gut bacteria analyses showed that FLBP enriched intestinal Dubosiella and Akkermansia in mice and decreased the abundance of Turicibacter, Faecalibaculum, and Escherichia-Shigella. Results showed that remodeled Dubosiella activated by FLBP played a dominant role in ameliorating colitis by significantly increasing SCFAs content, improving intestinal barrier and reducing intestinal inflammation. The study aimed to provide a safer and better option for the amelioration of colitis and to provide a theoretical basis for the development of functional foods with FLBP.

Relationship between short-chain fatty acids in the gingival crevicular fluid and peri-odontitis of stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To analyze the concentration of formic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid in gingival crevicular fluid(GCF)of patients with stages Ⅲ and Ⅳ periodontitis,and their relationship with periodontitis.Methods:The study enrolled 37 systemically healthy patients with periodontitis and 19 healthy controls who visited Department of Periodontology,Peking University School and Hospital of Sto-matology from February 2008 to May 2011.Their GCFs were collected from the mesial-buccal site of one molar or incisor in each quadrant.Periodontal clinical parameters,including plaque index(PLI),probing depth(PD),bleeding index(BI),and attachment loss(AL).Concentrations of formic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid in the supernatant of the GCFs were analyzed by high-performance capil-lary electrophoresis(HPCE).The prediction ability of formic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid with the risk of periodontitis and the differences between grade B and grade C periodontitis were analyzed.Results:In this study,32 patients with stage Ⅲ and 5 patients with stage Ⅳ were enrolled,including 9 patients with grade B and 28 patients with grade C.Clinical periodontal variables in the patients with pe-riodontitis were significantly higher than those in the control group(P＜0.001).Formic acid was signifi-cantly lower in periodontitis than that in the control group[5.37(3.39,8.49)mmol/L vs.12.29(8.35,16.57)mmol/L,P＜0.001].Propionic acid and butyric acid in periodontitis were significantly higher than those in the control group:Propionic acid,10.23(4.28,14.90)mmol/L vs.2.71(0.00,4.25)mmol/L,P＜0.001;butyric acid,2.63(0.47,3.81)mmol/L vs.0.00(0.00,0.24)mmol/L,P＜0.001.There was no significant difference in formic acid,propionic acid and butyric acid concentrations between grade B and grade C periodontitis(P＞0.05).Propionic acid and butyric acid in the deep pocket were significantly higher than in the shallow pocket,while the concentration of formic acid decreased with the increase of PD.Propionic acid(OR=1.51,95％CI:1.29-1.75)and butyric acid(OR=3.72,95％CI:1.93-7.17)were risk factors for periodontitis,while formic acid(OR=0.87,95％CI:0.81-0.93)might be a protective factor for periodontitis.Propionic acid(AUC=0.852,95％CI:0.805-0.900),butyric acid(AUC=0.889,95％CI:0.841-0.937),f(formic acid,AUC=0.844,95％CI:0.793-0.895)demonstrated a good predictive capacity for the risk of periodontitis.Conclusion:The concentration of formic acid decrease in the GCF of periodontitis patients,which is a protective factor for periodontitis,its reciprocal have good predictive capacity.However,propionic acid and butyric acid increase,which are risk factors for periodontitis and have good predictive capacity.The concentration of formic acid,propionic acid,and butyric acid vary with probing depth,but there is no significant difference between grade B and grade C periodontitis.

Gut microbiota and their metabolites and the outcome of ischemic stroke / 国际脑血管病杂志

An increasing number of studies have shown that gut microbiota and their metabolites play an important role in the occurrence, development, and outcome of ischemic stroke. This article reviews the associations of gut microbiota and their metabolites with the outcome of ischemic stroke, in order to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment strategies of ischemic stroke.

Advances on reprogramming of fatty acid metabolism in pulmonary fibrosis / 基础医学与临床

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive interstitial fibrotic lung disease with high mortality.Its pathogenesis is complex and involves the reprogramming of fatty acid metabolism.This reprogramming includes changes in de novo fatty acid synthesis,uptake,oxidation,and derivatives.It crucially influences alveolar epithelial cell survival,macrophage polarization,and fibroblast activation,thereby playing a significant role in either exacerbating or miti-gating the disease.Understanding and intervening in the reprogramming of fatty acid metabolism offers potential strategies for prevention,diagnosing and treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Metabolomics in rosacea / 中华皮肤科杂志

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease whose exact pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Metabolomics has been widely used in the field of life science to provide strong evidence for exploring the pathogenesis and biomarkers of diseases. In recent years, researchers have applied metabolomics to rosacea-related fields using sebum, tear, saliva, and serum samples. This review summarizes research progress on current metabolomics methods and the application of metabolomics in rosacea.

Research progress in the neuroprotective effect of α-linolenic acid on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / 中华神经科杂志

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is currently incurable and treatment drugs are limited and can only delay the condition. The latest research shows that α-linolenic acid can prolong the survival period of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This article reviews the neuroprotective effects of α-linolenic acid on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through different mechanisms of action, aiming at providing some references for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion at Feishu(BL13)on inflammatory responses and intestinal short-chain fatty acids in asthma model rats / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion at Feishu(BL13)on inflammatory responses and intestinal short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)in rats with asthma. Methods:Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group(16 rats)and a modeling group(40 rats).Rats in the modeling group were subjected to establishing asthma models using ovalbumin(OVA).Model evaluation was conducted using 4 rats from each group.The remaining rats that successfully developed asthma were then randomly divided into a model group,an acupuncture group,and a moxibustion group,with 12 rats in each group.Rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture treatments,and those in the moxibustion group received moxibustion treatments,both at Feishu(BL13)for 30 min.Following the treatments,the rats were exposed to atomization excitation with a 1%OVA solution for 20 min daily for 14 consecutive days.At the end of the experiment,inflammatory markers in the rats'peripheral blood were analyzed using a biochemical method.In addition,inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were counted using Wright-Giemsa staining.The lung tissue of rats was examined under a light microscope after staining with hematoxylin-eosin to observe morphological or pathological changes.Furthermore,real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was utilized to measure the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in the lung tissue.Lastly,the concentration of SCFAs in the rat's feces was determined using gas chromatography-hydrogen flame ionization. Results:The levels of eosinophils(Eos),neutrophils(Neu),and lymphocytes(Lym)in the peripheral blood,as well as Eos and Neu in the BALF,and the expression of interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-33,and thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP)mRNAs in the lung tissue were all found to be significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);the lung tissue structure displayed severe injuries;the levels of acetic acid,propionic acid,isobutyric acid,butyric acid,and valeric acid in the feces decreased significantly in the model group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the peripheral blood levels of Eos,Neu,and Lym,as well as Eos in the BALF,and the mRNA expression levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in the lung tissue decreased significantly in both the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).This reduction was accompanied by alleviated pathological damage in the lung tissue.Additionally,there were significant increases in the levels of acetic acid,propionic acid,isobutyric acid,and butyric acid in the feces in both the acupuncture group and the moxibustion group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).In the acupuncture group,the expression levels of Lym in the BALF and IL-13 mRNA in the lung tissue decreased significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01).In the moxibustion group,the mRNA expression levels of IL-33 and TSLP in the lung tissue also reduced significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Furthermore,the level of valeric acid in the feces increased notably in the moxibustion group(P<0.01).Compared with the acupuncture group,it was found that the mRNA levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in the lung tissue,as well as the acetic acid level in the feces,were significantly higher in the moxibustion group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:Both acupuncture and moxibustion were effective in reducing abnormal inflammation and regulating intestinal SCFAs in asthma model rats.Acupuncture demonstrated superiority in inhibiting pro-inflammatory factors,particularly IL-5 and IL-13,while moxibustion exhibited better regulation on intestinal metabolites SCFAs,especially acetic acid.

Effect of Gegen Qinliantang on Fecal Short-chain Fatty Acids in Rats with Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea Based on Targeted Metabonomics / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the impact of Gegen Qinliantang（GQT） on the fecal short-chain fatty acids（SCFAs） metabolism in antibiotic-associated diarrhea（AAD） through targeted metabolomics. MethodA total of 240 SD rats were randomly divided into six groups（n=40， half male and half female）， including blank group， model group， bifidobiogen group（0.15 g·kg-1）， and GQT high-， medium-， and low-dose groups（10.08， 5.04， 2.52 g·kg-1）， except for the blank group， clindamycin（250 mg·kg-1） was given to all groups by gavage for modeling every day for 7 d. After successful modeling， each administered group was gavaged with the corresponding dose of the drug， and the blank and model groups were gavaged with an equal volume of normal saline solution， 1 time/d， for 14 d. At 0， 3， 7， 14 d after the drug intervention， eight rats were randomly selected from each group， respectively. Gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（GC-TOF-MS） was used to perform targeted metabolomic analysis of SCFAs in the feces of rats， and partial least squares-discriminant analysis（PLS-DA） was applied to compare the differences in metabolic profiles between groups at different treatment times， and to compare the changes in the contents of SCFAs in rat feces between groups. ResultPLS-DA results showed that the blank group could be clearly distinguishable from the model group， with GQT exhibiting a closer proximity to the blank group after 7 d of treatment. After further analyzing the composition of SCFAs， it was found that the proportion of acetic acid increased and the proportions of butyric acid， valeric acid， hexanoic acid and isovaleric acid decreased in the model group compared with the blank group. After the treatment with GQT， the proportions of butyric acid， isobutyric acid， valeric acid， and isovaleric acid increased， and the proportions of acetic acid， propionic acid and caproic acid decreased. Subsequent differential analysis revealed that GQT could significantly improve the content of butyric acid， and had a certain retrogressive effect on the contents of valeric acid and hexanoic acid. ConclusionThe medium dose group of GQT can improve the contents of SCFAs in AAD feces after 7 days of treatment， which may be related to the improvement of the composition ratio of SCFAs and the contents of butyric acid， valeric acid and caproic acid.

Excesso de peso pré-gestacional e ácidos graxos poli-insaturados no leite humano: modelo teórico de causalidade / Pre-gestational overweight and polyunsaturated fatty acids in human milk: theoretical causality model

Resumo Inúmeros estudos têm se detido na avaliação da associação entre o excesso de peso pré-gestacional e os ácidos graxos poli-insaturados no leite humano. Todavia, diante da complexidade de fatores de risco potencialmente confundidores, é recomendável a utilização de ferramentas gráficas para identificar possíveis vieses. O objetivo deste artigo é propor um modelo teórico de causalidade utilizando o gráfico acíclico direcionado entre o excesso de peso pré-gestacional e os ácidos graxos poli-insaturados no leite humano. Foi realizada ampla revisão da literatura para identificar as variáveis com relações causais com a exposição e/ou desfecho. A escolha das variáveis para ajuste seguiu o algoritmo gráfico que compreende seis critérios para a seleção de um conjunto mínimo de variáveis potencialmente confundidoras. Condições socioeconômicas, intervalo interpartal, idade materna e padrão de consumo alimentar foram as variáveis ajustadas a fim de se estimar o efeito total do excesso de peso pré-gestacional sobre o conteúdo dos ácidos graxos poli-insaturados no leite humano. O conjunto mínimo de variáveis encontrado pelo presente estudo pode ser utilizado na análise de outros estudos que avaliem essa associação.

Abstract A number of studies have focused on the evaluation of the relationship between pre-pregnancy overweight and polyunsaturated fatty acids content in human milk. However, given the complexity of potentially confounding risk factors, the use of graphical tools is recommended to identify possible biases. This article aims to propose a theoretical model of causality using the directed acyclic graph between pre-pregnancy overweight and polyunsaturated fatty acids content in human milk. Methods: An extensive literature review was performed to identify variables with causal relationships with exposure and/or outcome. The choice of variables for adjustment followed the graphic algorithm that comprises six criteria for selecting a minimum set of potentially confounding variables. Socioeconomic conditions, interpartum interval, maternal age and food consumption pattern were the variables that would have to be adjusted in order to estimate the total effect of pre-pregnancy overweight on polyunsaturated fatty acids content in human milk. The minimum set of variables found in the present study can be used in the analysis of other studies that evaluate this association.

Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway in the ocular cells of rat fetuses exposed to maternal saturated fat ingestion

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze possible alterations (morphological and inflammatory) in the ocular cells of fetuses from mothers with insulin resistance exposed to saturated fatty acids through the period of pregnancy. METHODS: Wistar female rats were induced to develop insulin resistance before pregnancy. Fetuses' skulls were collected on the 20th day of intrauterine life. The rats were separated on the first day of management into two groups according to the diet applied: control group (C): diet containing soybean oil as a source of fat; and saturated fatty acid group (S): diet containing butter as a source of fat. RESULTS: Histological and immunohistochemical analyses have been conducted. The immunohistochemical analyses of interleukin 6, suppressor of cytokine signaling, 3 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 did not demonstrate alterations in the expression of proteins in the fetuses of mothers fed with a saturated fatty diet. Moreover, no histopathological changes were noticed between groups. CONCLUSION: The saturated fatty diet does not induce tissue changes or activate the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway during eye development in the fetuses of mothers with insulin resistance.

Effects of paternal pre-conceptional n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on telomere length in the offspring / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To investigate the effects of paternal pre-conceptional n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) on telomere length (TL) in the offspring. Methods Three to four-week old male C57 BL/6J mice (Father) were randomly divided into three groups and fed either an n-3 PUFA-deficient (n-3 D) (n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio = 47.2:1) diet, a diet with normal n-3 PUFA content (n-3 N) (n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio = 4.3:1), or a diet with high n-3 PUFA content (n-3 H) (n-6:n-3 ratio = 1.5:1), for 12 weeks. Then, the offspring were generated by mating the father mice with 12-week-old virgin female C57 BL/6J mice. The TL, mRNA expression of telomere transcriptase and binding proteins, as well as DNA methylation in the TERT promoter region were determined in adult offspring mice. Results Compared to n-3 N diet, paternal feeding with n-3 D diet during preconception decreased offspring TL in the peripheral blood cells, liver, adipose tissue and brain, accompanied by upregulated hepatic mRNA expression of TIN2 in the female, and downregulated hepatic expression of TERC, and binding proteins TRF2 and POT1a in the male. Meanwhile, paternal n-3 D diet shortened testis TL in offspring instead of themselves, with altered mRNA expression of TERT and binding proteins TRF1, TRF2 and POT1a. Paternal n-3 H diet showed no differences in effects on offspring TL and expressions of TERC and binding proteins with n-3 N diet, but normalized the alterations in associated parameters resulted from paternal n-3 D diet. In addition, although paternal n-3 D or n-3 H diet did not affect testis TL in themselves compared to n-3 N diet, fathers fed n-3 H diet had longer testis TL and higher expression of TRF1, TRF2, POT1a and RAP1 than those fed n-3 D diet. Finally, the DNA methylation fraction in the TERT promoter in offspring testes and male offspring liver was no difference between paternal n-3 D and n-3 N diet groups. CpG sites with altered methylation were less (1 site) between paternal n-3 H and n-3 N diet groups than those (5 sites) between paternal n-3 H and n-3 D diet groups in male offspring liver and testes. Conclusion Maintaining paternal optimal n-3 PUFA status in pre-conception increases offspring TL, probably mediated by inheritance from increased TL in father and regulation on expressions of telomere transcriptase and binding proteins in the offspring, which may be helpful for promoting offspring development and disease prevention in adulthood.