Untargeted foodomics for authenticating the organic farming of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica).

This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the primary and secondary metabolites of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (HILIC-Orbitrap-HRMS). Certified samples from two cultivars, Green stem water spinach (G) and White stem water spinach (W) cultivated using organic and conventional farming methods, were collected from the Hong Kong market. Multivariate analysis was used to differentiate water spinach of different cultivars and farming methods. We identified 12 metabolites to distinguish between G and W, 26 metabolites to identify G from organic farming and 8 metabolites to identify W from organic farming. Then, two metabolites, isorhamnetin and jasmonic acid, have been proposed to serve as biomarkers for organic farming (in both G and W). Our foodomics findings provide useful tools for improving the crop performance of water spinach under abiotic/biotic stressesand authentication of organic produce.

Insights into serum metabolic biomarkers for early detection of incident diabetic kidney disease in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes by random forest.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide. Early detection is critical for the risk stratification and early intervention of progressive DKD. Serum creatinine (sCr) and urine output are used to assess kidney function, but these markers are limited by their delayed changes following kidney pathology, and lacking of both sensitivity and accuracy. Hence, it is essential to illustrate potential diagnostic indicators to enhance the precise prediction of early DKD. A total of 194 Chinese individuals include 30 healthy participants (Stage 0) and 164 incidents with type 2 diabetes (T2D) spanning from DKD's Stage 1a to 4 were recruited and their serums were subjected for untargeted metabolomic analysis. Random forest (RF), a machine learning approach, together with univariate linear regression (ULR) and multivariate linear regression (MvLR) analysis were applied to characterize the features of untargeted metabolites of DKD patients and to identify candidate DKD biomarkers. Our results indicate that 2-(α-D-mannopyranosyl)-L-tryptophan (ADT), succinyladenosine (SAdo), pseudouridine and N,N,N-trimethyl-L-alanyl-L-proline betaine (L-L-TMAP) were associated with the development of DKD, in particular, the latter three that were significantly elevated in Stage 2-4 T2D incidents. Each of the four metabolites in combination with sCr achieves better performance than sCr alone with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.81-0.91 in predicting DKD stages. An average of 3.9 years follow-up study of another cohort including 106 Stage 2-3 patients suggested that "urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) + ADT + SAdo" can be utilized for better prognosis evaluation of early DKD (average AUC = 0.9502) than UACR without sexual difference.

Vitamin D as an intervention for improving quadriceps muscle strength in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: study protocol for a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The goal of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is to restore the preinjury level of knee function to return to play (RTP). However, even after completing the rehabilitation programme, some patients may have persistent quadriceps muscle weakness affecting knee function which ultimately leads to a failure in returning to play. Vitamin D has been long recognized for its musculoskeletal effects. Vitamin D deficiency may impair muscle strength recovery after ACLR. Correcting vitamin D levels may improve muscle strength. METHODS: This is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation during the post-operative period on quadriceps muscle strength in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured patients. Patients aged 18-50 with serum vitamin D < 20 ng/ml, unilateral ACL injury, > 90% deficit in total quadriceps muscle volume on the involved leg compared with uninvolved leg, Tegner score 7 + , and no previous knee injury/surgery will be recruited. To assess patient improvement, we will perform isokinetic and isometric muscle assessments, ultrasound imaging for quadriceps thickness, self-reported outcomes, KT-1000 for knee laxity, biomechanical analysis, and Xtreme CT for bone mineral density. To investigate the effect of vitamin D status on quadriceps strength, blood serum samples will be taken before and after intervention. DISCUSSION: Patients with low vitamin D levels had greater quadriceps fibre cross-sectional area loss and impaired muscle strength recovery after ACL. The proposed study will provide scientific support for using vitamin D supplementation to improve quadriceps strength recovery after ACLR. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05174611. Registered on 28 November 2021.