All-trans retinoic acid alleviates collagen-induced arthritis and promotes intestinal homeostasis.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has emerged as a promising adjunctive treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. However, the mechanism by which ATRA mitigates arthritis remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore ATRA alleviation of arthritis and the role of ATRA in regulating intestinal homeostasis. Thus, we established a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model in Wistar rats. After 6 weeks of ATRA treatment, the arthritis index of CIA rats decreased, synovial inflammation was alleviated, and the disruption of Th17/Treg differentiation in peripheral blood was reversed. Additionally, the Th17/Treg ratio in the mesenteric lymph nodes decreased and the expression of Foxp3 mRNA increased and that of IL-17 mRNA decreased in the colon and ileum. Microscopically, we observed reduced intestinal inflammation. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that ATRA could repair tight junctions, which was accompanied by an increase in the expression of Claudin-1, Occludin and ZO-1. Moreover, ATRA regulated the composition of the gut microbiota, as was characterized based on the reduced abundance of Desulfobacterota and the increased abundance of Lactobacillus. In conclusion, ATRA demonstrates the potential to alleviate arthritis in CIA rats, which might be correlated with modulating the gut microbiota and regulating the intestinal immune response. Our findings provide novel insights into ATRA-mediated alleviation of arthritis.

Effects of food-grade iron(III) oxide nanoparticles on cecal digesta- and mucosa-associated microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in rats.

Although iron(III) oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are widely used in diverse applications ranging from food to biomedicine, the effects of IONPs on different locations of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are unclear. So, a subacute repeated oral toxicity study on Sprague Dawley (SD) rats was performed, administering low (50 mg/kg·bw), medium (100 mg/kg·bw), and high (200 mg/kg·bw) doses of IONPs. In this study, we found that a high dose of IONPs increased animal weight, and 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that IONPs caused intestinal flora disorders in both the cecal digesta- and mucosa-associated microbiota. However, only high-dose IONP exposure changed the abundance and composition of the mucosa-associated microbiota. IONPs increased the relative abundances of Firmicutes, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014, Ruminiclostridium_9, Romboutsia, and Bilophila and decreased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium, and many of these microorganisms are associated with weight gain, obesity, inflammation, diabetes, and mucosal damage. Functional analysis showed that changes in the gut microbiota induced by a high dose of IONPs were mainly related to metabolism, infection, immune, and endocrine disease functions. IONPs significantly elevated the levels of valeric, isobutyric, and isovaleric acid, promoting the absorption of iron. This is the first description of intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in SD rats caused by IONPs, and the effects and mechanisms of action of IONPs on intestinal and host health need to be further studied and confirmed.

Astaxanthin Extract from Shrimp (Trachypenaeus curvirostris) By-Products Improves Quality of Ready-to-Cook Shrimp Surimi Products during Frozen Storage at -18 °C.

The effects of astaxanthin extract (AE) from shrimp by-products on the quality and sensory properties of ready-to-cook shrimp surimi products (RC-SSP) during frozen storage at −18 °C were investigated. Changes in 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) value, sulfhydryl groups, carbonyls, salt-soluble protein content, textural properties, color, and sensory quality over specific storage days were evaluated. The AE from shrimp by-products contained 4.49 µg/g tocopherol and 23.23 µg/g astaxanthin. The shrimp surimi products supplemented with 30 g/kg AE had higher redness values and greater overall acceptability and texture properties after cooking (p < 0.05). AE showed higher oxidative stability in RC-SSP than the control, as evidenced by lower TBARS and carbonyl content, and higher sulfhydryl and salt-soluble protein content. AE from shrimp by-products had positive effects on the antioxidant activity and color difference of RC-SSP, and could be used as a potential multifunctional additive for the development of shrimp surimi products.

[Effects of iron supplement intake on gestational diabetes mellitus in early and middle pregnancy in Chengdu City in 2017].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of iron supplement intake on gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) in early and middle pregnancy. METHODS: From February to April 2017, a prospective study was conducted among 807 early pregnant women in a prenatal clinic of a maternal and child medical institution in Chengdu City through purposive sampling. Data on maternal demographic characteristics was collected through questionnaire in early pregnancy. In early and middle pregnancy, the information of iron supplement intake were collected with questionnaire, 3-day 24 hour dietary recall method was used to assess maternal diet. According to the WHO recommendation, 60 mg/d iron supplementation during pregnancy was used as the dividing point, <60 mg/d iron supplementation was used as the low level group, and ≥60 mg/d iron supplementation was used as the high level group. At the 24 th to 28 th pregnant week, the oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) was conducted, and GDM was diagnosed according to the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pregnancy Diabetes in China(2014). Multivariate unconditional Logistic regression model was used to analyze the effect of iron supplement intake on gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) in early and middle pregnancy. RESULTS: A total of 739 valid samples were followed up, the age was(28. 22±3. 75) years old. In early and middle pregnancy, the rate of taking iron supplementation was 5. 0% and 67. 9%, 3. 8% and 47. 1% of them iron supplement intake was more than 60 mg/d. After adjustmenting for body mass index, age, dietary iron, etc. Multivariate unconditional Logistic regression analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between the average intake of iron supplement and the occurrence of GDM in women during the second trimester of pregnancy(OR=1. 059, 95%CI 1. 016-1. 104). Compared with the lower iron supplement intake(<60 mg/d) women in midpregnancy, the risk of GDM was 1. 406 times(95%CI 1. 019-1. 939)in the higher iron supplement intake(≥60 mg/d) women. No correlation was found between iron intake in early pregnancy and the occurrence of GDM. CONCLUSION: Iron supplement intake during pregnancy may increase the risk of GDM. Appropriate intake of iron supplement for pregnant women is worth discussing.

Development of a mesoporous silica based solid-phase extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-MS/MS method for quantifying lignans in Justicia procumbens.

Justicia procumbens is a food and medicine homologous variety, popularly used for making vegetable soups. In this study, a novel mesoporous silica was synthesized and used as the sorbent of SPE for the purification of lignans from J. procumbens. A laboratory-made SPE cartridge was packed with 100 mg of mesoporous silica, which was washed with 10% methanol and eluted using 0.8 mL acetonitrile after sample loading. Afterward, the extract was analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and MS/MS. All the lignans were efficiently separated in 6 min with the noise level in the range of 50-150 cps. 6'-Hydroxy justicidin B, 6'-hydroxy justicidin A, justicidin B, chinensinaphthol methyl ether, justicidin C, and neojusticdin A were identified to be the dominant molecular species in J. procumbens with contents of 0.065-0.37 mg/g in three tested sample batches from different geographic origins. In conclusion, the proposed mesoporous silica based SPE UPLC-MS/MS method is efficient in linearity (R2 = 0.9989-0.9996), sensitivity (LOD ≤0.13 µg/kg and LOQ ≤0.42 µg/kg), precision (RSDintra-day ≤3.12 and RSDinter-day ≤4.56), and recovery (83.42-96.11%, RSD ≤2.88%).

Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, 22:5n-3) ameliorates inflammation in an ulcerative colitis model.

The anti-inflammatory profile of DPA was investigated via a dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model, and was also compared with those of EPA and DHA. The results showed that DPA could significantly reduce (stronger than EPA and DHA) the disease activity index score, macroscopic appearance score, colon shortening, histological assessment, and myeloperoxidase accumulation in the colon. In addition, DPA also inhibited the abnormal production and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 and improved the production and expression of an anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects were also explored through the synthesis pathway of eicosanoids. DPA could inhibit the synthesis of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) more greatly while differences of cyclooxygenase (COX) and 5-lipoxidase (LOX) contents in these three groups were not significant. We ascribed these effects to the easier incorporation of DPA into inflammatory cells leading to the decrease in the substrate for the synthesis of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids (PGE2 and LTB4). Besides, DPA-derived mediators might also be involved.

Plants for health: An ethnobotanical 25-year repeat survey of traditional medicine sold in a major marketplace in North-west Yunnan, China.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Although quantitative surveys of traditional medicine markets are widely used to gain insights into the economic value, popularity or conservation status of traditional medicinal species, there have been very few repeat surveys. This study is an exception. The research was carried out in Sanyuejie Market in North-west Yunnan Province in China for three reasons. Firstly, Sanyuejie Market is large and historically significant, having operated since the Tang Dynasty (794 CE). Secondly, Sanyuejie Market is located along the "Tea-Horse Road" and "Southern Silk Road", and as such the trade from this market radiates widely throughout China and into neighboring countries such as Myanmar, Nepal and India. Thirdly, a comprehensive and systematic survey of the market was completed in 1987/88 and so this provided a unique opportunity to conduct a repeat quantitative survey. The findings, highlighting changes in species sold and the reasons why the changes have occurred, are highly relevant to ethnopharmacology at a time of substantial socio-economic and cultural change throughout China. AIM OF THE STUDY: To understand the changes in the medicinal plants trade at Sanyuejie Market between 1987/88 and 2012/13. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quantitative ethnobotanical re-surveying involving literature review, key informant interviews and visual observations of vendor booths at the market and village investigations, was carried out in Sanyuejie. RESULTS: In 1987/88, 401 types of herbal preparations derived from 505 species in 111 families and 315 genera were sold in the market. In 2012/13, 623 herbal preparations derived from 709 species in 173 families and 451 genera were being sold. There were 105 types of herbal preparations originating from 115 species that were recorded in 1987/88 but are no longer sold at the market 25 years later. In addition, 326 types of herbal medicine preparations originating from 336 species have been added to the market since the original survey. Labor divisions have also appeared in the market. CONCLUSION: This study validates that the diversity of herbal medicines sold at Sanyuejie Market has increased and changed greatly. The growing demands for traditional herbal medicines combined with government initiatives to develop the local economy are drivers of the observed changes.