Oat Dietary Fiber Delays the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Mice by Modulating the Gut Microbiota and Reducing Uremic Toxin Levels.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as a significant public health concern. In this article, we investigated the mechanism of oat dietary fiber in regulating CKD. Our findings indicated that the gut microbiota of CKD patients promoted gut microbiota dysbiosis and kidney injury in CKD mice. Intervention with oat-resistant starch prepared by ultrasonic combined enzymatic hydrolysis (ORSU) and oat ß-glucan with a molecular weight of 5 × 104 Da (OBGM) elevated the levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and regulated gut dysbiosis in the gut-humanized CKD mice. ORSU and OBGM also reduced CKD-related uremic toxins such as creatinine, indoxyl sulfate (IS), and p-cresol sulfate (PCS) levels; reinforced the intestinal barrier function of the gut-humanized CKD mice; and mitigated renal inflammation and fibrosis via the NF-κB/TGF-ß pathway. Therefore, ORSU and OBGM might delay the progression of CKD by modulating the gut microbiota to reduce uremic toxins levels. Our results explain the mechanism of oat dietary fiber aimed at mitigating CKD.

Encapsulation of caffeic acid phenethyl ester by self-assembled sorghum peptide nanoparticles: Fabrication, storage stability and interaction mechanisms.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a naturally occurring phenolic compound with various biological activities. However, poor water solubility and storage stability limit its application. In this context, sorghum peptides were used to encapsulate CAPE. Sorghum peptides could self-assemble into regularly spherical nanoparticles (SPNs) by hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonds. Solubility of encapsulated CAPE was greatly increased, with 9.44 times higher than unencapsulated CAPE in water. Moreover, the storage stability of CAPE in aqueous solution was significantly improved by SPNs encapsulation. In vitro release study indicated that SPNs were able to delay CAPE release during the process of gastrointestinal digestion. Besides, fluorescence quenching analysis showed that a static quenching existed between SPNs and CAPE. The interaction between CAPE and SPNs occurred spontaneously, mainly driven by hydrophobic interactions. The above results suggested that SPNs encapsulation was an effective approach to improve the water solubility and storage stability of CAPE.

Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells-derived conditioned medium and exosomes alleviate oxidative stress-induced retinal degeneration by activating PI3K/Akt/FoxO3 pathway.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly, which is primarily attributed to oxidative stress-induced damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSC) were considered to be one of the most promising stem cells for clinical application due to their low immunogenicity, tissue repair ability, pluripotent potential and potent paracrine effects. The conditional medium (hAMSC-CM) and exosomes (hAMSC-exo) derived from hAMSC, as mediators of intercellular communication, play an important role in the treatment of retinal diseases, but their effect and mechanism on oxidative stress-induced retinal degeneration are not explored. Here, we reported that hAMSC-CM alleviated H2O2-induced ARPE-19 cell death through inhibiting mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis pathway in vitro. The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), alteration in mitochondrial morphology, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and elevation of Bax/Bcl2 ratio in ARPE-19 cells under oxidative stress were efficiently reversed by hAMSC-CM. Moreover, it was found that hAMSC-CM protected cells against oxidative injury via PI3K/Akt/FoxO3 signaling. Intriguingly, exosome inhibitor GW4869 alleviated the inhibitory effect of hAMSC-CM on H2O2-induced decrease in cell viability of ARPE-19 cells. We further demonstrated that hAMSC-exo exerted the similar protective effect on ARPE-19 cells against oxidative damage as hAMSC-CM. Additionally, both hAMSC-CM and hAMSC-exo ameliorated sodium iodate-induced deterioration of RPE and retinal damage in vivo. These results first indicate that hAMSC-CM and hAMSC-exo protect RPE cells from oxidative damage by regulating PI3K/Akt/FoxO3 pathway, suggesting hAMSC-CM and hAMSC-exo will be a promising cell-free therapy for the treatment of AMD in the future.

Bound Polyphenols of Oat Bran Released by Gut Microbiota Mitigate High Fat Diet-Induced Oxidative Stress and Strengthen the Gut Barrier via the Colonic ROS/Akt/Nrf2 Pathway.

Whole-grain foods are rich in bound polyphenols (BPs) whose health benefits were largely underestimated compared with free polyphenols. We first found that DFBP (dietary fiber with BPs from oat bran) exhibited stronger colonic antioxidant activities than DF. 16S rRNA sequencing showed that DFBP selectively changed gut microbial composition, which reciprocally released BPs from DFBP. Released polyphenols from DFBP reduced excessive colonic ROS and exhibited colonic antioxidant activities via the ROS/Akt/Nrf2 pathway revealed by transcriptome and western blot analysis. Colonic antioxidant activities of DFBP mediated by gut microbiota were next proven by treating mice with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Next, Clostridium butyricum, as a distinguished bacterium after DFBP intervention, improved colonic antioxidant capacities synergistically with DFBP in HFD-fed mice. This was explained by the upregulated mRNA expression of esterase, and cellulase of Clostridium butyricum participated in releasing BPs. Our results would provide a solid basis for explaining the health benefits of whole grains.

CircNSD1 promotes cardiac fibrosis through targeting the miR-429-3p/SULF1/Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Cardiac fibrosis is a detrimental pathological process, which constitutes the key factor for adverse cardiac structural remodeling leading to heart failure and other critical conditions. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of various cardiovascular diseases. It is known that several circRNAs regulate gene expression and pathological processes by binding miRNAs. In this study we investigated whether a novel circRNA, named circNSD1, and miR-429-3p formed an axis that controls cardiac fibrosis. We established a mouse model of myocardial infarction (MI) for in vivo studies and a cellular model of cardiac fibrogenesis in primary cultured mouse cardiac fibroblasts treated with TGF-ß1. We showed that miR-429-3p was markedly downregulated in the cardiac fibrosis models. Through gain- and loss-of-function studies we confirmed miR-429-3p as a negative regulator of cardiac fibrosis. In searching for the upstream regulator of miR-429-3p, we identified circNSD1 that we subsequently demonstrated as an endogenous sponge of miR-429-3p. In MI mice, knockdown of circNSD1 alleviated cardiac fibrosis. Moreover, silence of human circNSD1 suppressed the proliferation and collagen production in human cardiac fibroblasts in vitro. We revealed that circNSD1 directly bound miR-429-3p, thereby upregulating SULF1 expression and activating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Collectively, circNSD1 may be a novel target for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis and associated cardiac disease.

L-lysine dietary supplementation for childhood and adolescent growth: Promises and precautions.

BACKGROUND: L-lysine (lysine) is an essential amino acid that plays a vital role in human nutrition. It serves as a key component in protein synthesis and fulfills critical roles in various physiological activities. For decades, lysine supplements have been extensively used to promote the growth and development of children, particularly in developing countries where cereal-based diets are everyday staples. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aims to provide an overview of the overall effectiveness of lysine supplements concerning the growth of children and adolescents. Additionally, it addresses the potential precautions that should be considered when using lysine supplements in this context. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: Receiving lysine oral supplements and lysine-fortified cereal diets were observed to enhance nitrogen retention and improve anthropometric measurements such as height, weight, Z-scores, body mass index, and skinfold thickness. Furthermore, lysine positively influenced the children's developmental quotient and various serological biochemical parameters, such as hormones, immunological indicators, proteins, bone metabolic indicators, and red blood cell parameters. These supplements are generally considered clinically safe, with no reported toxicity where the related side effects are limited to subjective gastrointestinal tract symptoms. It is essential to be cautious about excessive intake of lysine, as it can lead to an imbalance of amino acids, thereby potentially suppressing its intended benefits. When used with appropriate precautions, lysine can serve as a safe supplement with promising benefits for the growth of children and adolescents. Nevertheless, further contemporary research studies on lysine supplementation would be insightful and valuable in better understanding its optimal use, potential benefits, and safety in promoting growth.

Rheological, thermal, and in vitro starch digestibility properties of oat starch-lipid complexes.

The influence of oat lipids on the structural, thermal, rheological, and in vitro digestibility properties of oat starch under heat processing conditions was investigated. X-ray diffraction, fourier infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry revealed the formation of a V-shaped crystal structure between starch and lipid, resulting in enhanced orderliness and enthalpy. Oat lipids decreased the final viscosity and gel strength of oat starch while weakening the trend towards gel network formation. Additionally, oat lipids exhibited enhanced resistance to starch hydrolase, leading to elevated contents of slowly digestible starch and resistant starch. Consequently, this leads to an augmentation in the rate constants for the rapid digestion fraction (k1) and the slow digestion fraction (k2). When the lipid content reached 7.50 %, a significant increase of 42.20 % was observed in the maximum digestibility of slow digestion fraction (C∞2), while a notable decrease of 44.06 % was noted in the maximum digestibility of rapid digestion fraction (C∞1). The correlation analysis revealed that lipid content, final viscosity, and enthalpy exerted significant influences on in vitro starch digestion. These results demonstrate the substantial impact of lipid content on oat starch structure, subsequently affecting its thermal, rheological, and digestive properties.

Relationship between plasma risperidone concentrations and clinical features in chronic schizophrenic patients in China.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have noted great variability in the plasma levels of risperidone (RIS). Plasma concentrations of RIS and its active moiety are highly variable and depend on absorption, metabolism, and other predictors of metabolic dysregulation; however, these factors are poorly understood and the association between metabolic change and change in psychopathology is uncertain. AIM: To ascertain the characteristics of chronic schizophrenic patients treated with RIS, and to assess their relationship with plasma RIS levels. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 50 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis treated with RIS in a psychiatric service. The plasma concentrations of RIS and its metabolite 9-hydroxyrisperidone were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, and psychopathologies were assessed, and the associations between clinical variables and plasma levels of RIS were explored. RESULTS: Male patients received higher doses of RIS than female ones, but plasma concentrations of RIS and risperidone + 9-hydroxyrisperidone (active moiety) were higher in female patients. Age and the mean scores of the general psychopathology subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were significantly positively correlated with plasma concentrations of risperidone + 9-hydroxyrisperidone adjusted for weight and dose in all 50 subjects. In male subjects, we found a statistically significant positive correlation between the concentrations of risperidone + 9-hydroxyrisperidone in plasma/(dose × kg) and age, mean PANSS negative subscale scores, mean PANSS general psychopathology subscale scores, and mean PANSS total scores. CONCLUSION: Long-term use of RIS should be closely monitored in older patients and females to minimize the risk of high concentrations which could induce side effects.

Roles and application of exosomes in the development, diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer.

As important messengers of intercellular communication, exosomes can regulate local and distant cellular communication by transporting specific exosomal contents and can also promote or suppress the development and progression of gastric cancer (GC) by regulating the growth and proliferation of tumor cells, the tumor-related immune response and tumor angiogenesis. Exosomes transport bioactive molecules including DNA, proteins, and RNA (coding and noncoding) from donor cells to recipient cells, causing reprogramming of the target cells. In this review, we will describe how exosomes regulate the cellular immune response, tumor angiogenesis, proliferation and metastasis of GC cells, and the role and mechanism of exosome-based therapy in human cancer. We will also discuss the potential application value of exosomes as biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of GC and their relationship with drug resistance.

Gut microbiota: the indispensable player in neurodegenerative diseases.

As one of the most urgent social and health problems in the world, neurodegenerative diseases have always been of interest to researchers. However, the pathological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches are not achieved. In addition to the established roles of oxidative stress, inflammation and immune response, changes of gut microbiota are also closely related to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Gut microbiota is the central player of the gut-brain axis, the dynamic bidirectional communication pathway between gut microbiota and central nervous system, and emerging insights have confirmed its indispensability in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss the complex relationship between gut microbiota and the central nervous system from the perspective of the gut-brain axis; review the mechanism of microbiota for the modulation different neurodegenerative diseases and discuss how different dietary patterns affect neurodegenerative diseases via gut microbiota; and prospect the employment of gut microbiota in the therapeutic approach to those diseases. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

METTL3 orchestrates glycolysis by stabilizing the c-Myc/WDR5 complex in triple-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The carcinogenic transcription factor c-Myc is the most aggressive oncogene, which drive malignant transformation and dissemination of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Recruitment of many cofactors, especially WDR5, a protein that nucleates H3K4me chromatin modifying complexes, play a pivotal role in regulating c-Myc-dependent gene transcription, a critical process for c-Myc signaling to function in a variety of biological and pathological contexts. For this reason, interrupting the interaction between c-Myc and the transcription cofactor WDR5 may become the most promising new strategy for treating c-Myc driven TNBC. METHODS: Immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry (IP-MS) is used to screen proteins that bind c-Myc/WDR5 interactions. The interaction of METTL3 with c-Myc/WDR5 in breast cancer tissues and TNBC cells was detected by Co-IP and immunofluorescence. Subsequently, we further analyzed the influence of METTL3 expression on c-Myc/WDR5 protein expression and its interaction stability by Western blot and Co-IP. The correlation between METTL3 and c-Myc pathway was analyzed by ChIP-seq sequencing and METTL3 knockdown transcriptome data. The effect of METTL3 expression on c-Myc transcriptional activity was detected by ChIP-qPCR and Dual Luciferase Reporter. At the same time, the overexpression vector METTL3-MUT (m6A) was constructed, which mutated the methyltransferase active site (Aa395-398, DPPW/APPA), and further explored whether the interaction between METTL3 and c-Myc/WDR5 was independent of methyltransferase activity. In addition, we also detected the changes of METTL3 expression on TNBC's sensitivity to small molecule inhibitors such as JQ1 and OICR9429 by CCK8, Transwell and clonal formation assays. Finally, we further verified our conclusions in spontaneous tumor formation mouse MMTV-PyMT and nude mouse orthotopic transplantation tumor models. RESULTS: METTL3 was found to bind mainly to c-Myc/WDR5 protein in the nucleus. It enhances the stability of c-Myc/WDR5 interaction through its methyltransferase independent mechanism, thereby enhancing the transcriptional activity of c-Myc on downstream glucose metabolism genes. Notably, the study also confirmed that METTL3 can directly participate in the transcription of glucose metabolism genes as a transcription factor, and knockdown METTL3 enhances the drug sensitivity of breast cancer cells to small molecule inhibitors JQ1 and OICR9429. The study was further confirmed by spontaneous tumor formation mouse MMTV-PyMT and nude mouse orthotopic transplantation tumor models. CONCLUSION: METTL3 binds to the c-Myc/WDR5 protein complex and promotes glycolysis, which plays a powerful role in promoting TNBC progression. Our findings further broaden our understanding of the role and mechanism of action of METTL3, and may open up new therapeutic avenues for effective treatment of TNBC with high c-Myc expression.

Electrostatic Smart Textiles for Braille-To-Speech Translation.

A wearable Braille-to-speech translation system is of great importance for providing auditory feedback in assisting blind people and people with speech impairment. However, previous reported Braille-to-speech translation systems still need to be improved in terms of comfortability or integration. Here, a Braille-to-speech translation system that uses dual-functional electrostatic transducers which are made of fabric-based materials and can be integrated into textiles is reported. Based on electrostatic induction, the electrostatic transducer can either serve as a tactile sensor or a loudspeaker with the same design. The proposed electrostatic transducers have excellent output performances, mechanical robustness, and working stability. By combining the devices with machine learning algorithms, it is possible to translate the Braille alphabet and 40 commonly used words (extensible) into speech with an accuracy of 99.09% and 97.08%, respectively. This work demonstrates a new approach for further developments of advanced assistive technology toward improving the lives of disabled people.

A Magnetic Beads-Based Sandwich Chemiluminescence Enzyme Immunoassay for the Rapid and Automatic Detection of Lactoferrin in Milk.

Lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding glycoprotein with immunological properties and a high nutritional value, has emerged as a prominent research focus in the field of food nutrition. Lactoferrin is widely distributed in raw milk and milk that has undergone low-temperature heat treatment during pasteurization, making its rapid and accurate detection crucial for ensuring the quality control of dairy products. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based analytical protocol has often been referred to for the detection of LF in real samples. Signal amplification was accomplished using the streptavidin-biotin system. Here, an automated magnetic beads-based sandwich chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (MBs-sCLEIA) system was developed for the quantification of lactoferrin in pasteurized milk. The MBs-sCLEIA system consists of an automated chemiluminescence-based analyzer and a lactoferrin MBs-sCLEIA assay kit. Notably, our proposed method eliminates the need for pretreatment procedures and enables the direct addition of milk samples, allowing for the automatic quantitative detection of lactoferrin within a rapid 17 min timeframe for up to eight samples simultaneously. The MBs-sCLEIA was linear over the range of 7.24-800 ng/mL and displayed a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.85 ng/mL. As its good recovery and CV values indicate, the method exhibited high precision and accuracy. Furthermore, it was verified that it was selective towards five additional common milk proteins. A good correlation was observed between the results from the MBs-sCLEIA and heparin affinity column-HPLC (r2 = 0.99042), which proves to be a useful and practicable way of conducting an accurate analysis of lactoferrin in dairy products.

Fabrication of diosmin loaded food-grade bilayer nanoparticles with modified chitosan and soy peptides and antioxidant properties examination.

Diosmin is a flavonoid derived from plants, possessing anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, neuroprotective and cardiovascular protective properties. However, diosmin has low solubility in water, leading to low bioavailability. In this study, we constructed bilayer nanoparticles with trimethyl chitosan and soy peptides to improve the oral bioaccessibility and bioavailability of diosmin, and determined the characteristics and antioxidant properties of the diosmin-loaded nanoparticles. The results showed that the size of the nanoparticles was around 250 nm with the encapsulation efficiency higher than 97 %, and the nanoparticles were stable under regular conditions. In vitro digestion suggested the nanoparticles could protect diosmin from releasing in gastric digestion but promote the bioaccessibility of diosmin in intestine. Furthermore, the diosmin-loaded nanoparticles presented excellent antioxidant activities in vitro and significantly decreased the Lipopolysaccharides-induced brain Malondialdehyde (MDA) level by oral administration. Therefore, the reported nanoparticles may be an effective platform for improving the oral bioavailability of diosmin.

The role of fruitless in specifying courtship behaviors across divergent Drosophila species.

Sex-specific behaviors are critical for reproduction and species survival. The sex-specifically spliced transcription factor fruitless (fru) helps establish male courtship behaviors in invertebrates. Forcing male-specific fru (fruM) splicing in Drosophila melanogaster females produces male-typical behaviors while disrupting female-specific behaviors. However, whether fru's joint role in specifying male and inhibiting female behaviors is conserved across species is unknown. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to force FruM expression in female Drosophila virilis, a species in which males and females produce sex-specific songs. In contrast to D. melanogaster, in which one fruM allele is sufficient to generate male behaviors in females, two alleles are needed in D. virilis females. D. virilis females expressing FruM maintain the ability to sing female-typical song as well as lay eggs, whereas D. melanogaster FruM females cannot lay eggs. These results reveal potential differences in fru function between divergent species and underscore the importance of studying diverse behaviors and species for understanding the genetic basis of sex differences.

Refining quinoa storage stability through microwave-induced structural alterations and activity suppression of key enzymes.

This study investigated the effects of microwave on preserving the quality of quinoa during storage. Quinoa treated with 9W/60s exhibited a significant decrease in fatty acid values compared to hot air treatment. Microwave effectively delayed lipid oxidation during quinoa storage by suppressing the increase in peroxide values. MDA gradually accumulated from peroxides during storage, reaching its peak at 0.423 µmol/L in the second week. Microwave disrupted the original hydrogen bonds in lipase, causing the unwinding of the α-helix and resulting in the loss of its regular structure. Microwave reduced the stability of the ß-sheet structure in lipoxygenase, breaking the natural secondary structure composition. The observed fluorescence and UV spectra features were similar, indicating that microwave alter the peptide chain of the enzyme's skeletal structure, increasing the exposure of hydrophobic chromophores. These results indicated the potential of microwave to enhance the stability of quinoa during storage.

Benefits of Monascus anka solid-state fermentation for quinoa polyphenol bioaccessibility and the anti-obesity effect linked with gut microbiota.

In our previous study, a polyphenol-utilization targeted quinoa product was developed via solid-state fermentation with Monascus anka. In this study, we investigated the polyphenol-related novel functions of the fermented product further. Compared with unfermented quinoa, M. anka fermented quinoa alleviated the trapping effect of the macromolecules, especially in the colonic fermentation stage, resulting in enhanced polyphenol bioaccessibility. Lachnoclostridium, Megasphaera, Megamonas, Dialister, and Phascolarctobacterium might contribute to polyphenol liberation and metabolism in fermented quinoa. Additionally, fermented quinoa polyphenols presented an efficient anti-obesity effect by enhancing hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, suppressing fatty acid synthesis, accelerating fatty acid oxidation, and improving bile acid synthesis. Moreover, fermented quinoa polyphenol supplementation alleviated gut microbiota disorder induced by a high-fat diet, resulting in a decreased ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidota, and increased relative abundances of Lactobacillus and Lachnoclostridium. The obtained results suggested that the principal anti-obesity effect of fermented quinoa polyphenols might act through the AMPK/PPARα/CPT-1 pathway. In conclusion, M. anka solid-state fermentation effectively enhanced the bioaccessibility of quinoa, and the fermented quinoa polyphenols showed considerable anti-obesity effect. Our findings provide new perspectives for the development of dietary polyphenol-based satiety-enhancing functional foods.

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Royal Jelly in Metabolic Disorders and Gastrointestinal Diseases.

Metabolic disorders, encompassing diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, etc., pose a substantial global health threat, with rising morbidity and mortality rates. Addressing these disorders is crucial, as conventional drugs often come with high costs and adverse effects. This review explores the potential of royal jelly (RJ), a natural bee product rich in bioactive components, as an alternative strategy for managing metabolic diseases. RJ exhibits diverse therapeutic properties, including antimicrobial, estrogen-like, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. This review's focus is on investigating how RJ and its components impact conditions like diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal illnesses. Evidence suggests that RJ serves as a complementary treatment for various health issues, notably demonstrating cholesterol- and glucose-lowering effects in diabetic rats. Specific RJ-derived metabolites, such as 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), also known as the "Queen bee acid," show promise in reducing insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Recent research highlights RJ's role in modulating immune responses, enhancing anti-inflammatory cytokines, and suppressing key inflammatory mediators. Despite these promising findings, further research is needed to comprehensively understand the mechanisms underlying RJ's therapeutic effects.

Human amniotic MSCs-mediated anti-inflammation of CD206hiIL-10hi macrophages alleviates isoproterenol-induced ventricular remodeling in mice.

BACKGROUND: Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) derived from amniotic membrane have multilineage differentiation, immunosuppressive, and anti-inflammation which makes them suitable for the treatment of various diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect and molecular mechanism of hAMSCs in ventricular remodeling (VR). METHODS: hAMSCs were characterized by a series of experiments such as flow cytometric analysis, immunofluorescence, differentiative induction and tumorigenicity. Mouse VR model was induced by isoproterenol (ISO) peritoneally, and the therapeutic effects and the potential mechanisms of hAMSCs transplantation were evaluated by echocardiography, carboxy fluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) labeled cell tracing, histochemistry, qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. The co-culturing experiments were carried out for further exploring the mechanisms of hAMSCs-derived conditioned medium (CM) on macrophage polarization and fibroblast fibrosis in vitro. RESULTS: hAMSCs transplantation significantly alleviated ISO-induced VR including cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis with the improvements of cardiac functions. CFSE labeled hAMSCs kept an undifferentiated state in heart, indicating that hAMSCs-mediated the improvement of ISO-induced VR might be related to their paracrine effects. hAMSCs markedly inhibited ISO-induced inflammation and fibrosis, seen as the increase of M2 macrophage infiltration and the expressions of CD206 and IL-10, and the decreases of CD86, iNOS, COL3 and αSMA expressions in heart, suggesting that hAMSCs transplantation promoted the polarization of M2 macrophages and inhibited the polarization of M1 macrophages. Mechanically, hAMSCs-derived CM significantly increased the expressions of CD206, IL-10, Arg-1 and reduced the expressions of iNOS and IL-6 in RAW264.7 macrophages in vitro. Interestingly, RAW264.7-CM remarkably promoted the expressions of anti-inflammatory factors such as IL-10, IDO, and COX2 in hAMSCs. Furthermore, the CM derived from hAMSCs pretreated with RAW264.7-CM markedly inhibited the expressions of fibrogenesis genes such as αSMA and COL3 in 3T3 cells. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that hAMSCs effectively alleviated ISO-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and improved the cardiac functions in mice, and the underlying mechanisms might be related to inhibiting the inflammation and fibrosis during the ventricular remodeling through promoting the polarization of CD206hiIL-10hi macrophages in heart tissues. Our study strongly suggested that by taking the advantages of the potent immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects, hAMSCs may provide an alternative therapeutic approach for prevention and treatment of VR clinically.

Effect of milling and defatting treatment on texture and digestion properties of oat rice.

Oat rice with great sensory acceptance was developed based on the combination method of milling and defatting (petroleum ether) treatment. In this study, the effect of milling and defatting treatment on the texture and digestion properties of oat rice was investigated. Results showed that milling and defatting treatment enhanced stickiness, enthalpy, and starch digestibility. The pasting temperature and hardness of oat rice were reduced. The lipid content of oat rice was significantly reduced by milling and defatting treatment, leading to a decrease in the formation of starch-lipid complex. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that the application of milling and defatting treatments led to a reduction in the content of starch-lipid complexes in oats during the cooking process. Milling and defatting significantly enhanced both the rapid and slow digestion rates of oat rice. Specifically, the rapid digestion rate was found to be 2.5 times higher than the slow digestion rate. The nutritive components of oat rice were properly preserved, and the viscosity and elasticity of oat rice reached the maximum when milling for 40 s and defatting. This study provides a theoretical basis for oat products.