Effects of ganciclovir combined with recombinant human interferon-α on clinical efficacy and immune function in children with infectious mononucleosis.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of ganciclovir combined with recombinant human interferon on clinical efficacy and immune function of children with infectious mononucleosis(IM). Methods: This was a retrospective study. Children (n=120) with IM hospitalized in Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University Baoding Hospital from January 2020 to January 2022 were selected and randomly divided into study group and control group((n=60). Patients in the control group were treated with ganciclovir by intravenous infusion, and patients in the study group were given ganciclovir+recombinant human interferon-α1b. The time for eliminating clinical symptoms, the levels of inflammatory cytokines, immune function condition and T-lymphocyte subsets between the two groups were compared and analyzed. Results: After treatment, the time for body temperature returned to normal, time for recovery from cervical lymphadenopathy, time for recovery from hepatosplenomegaly and time for disappearance of angina and oral mucosal congestion in the study group were significantly shorter than those in the control group(p= 0.00); after treatment, the levels of TNF-a and IL-6 in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group; the indexes of CD3+ and CD8+ in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group; after treatment, the levels of CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Conclusion: Ranciclovir combined with recombinant human interferon-α1b, rapid improvements of clinical symptoms, significantly decreased inflammatory cytokines, improved T-lymphocyte function and no significant increase in adverse drug reactions were found in children with IM.

Predictive analysis and risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in Beijing gas station soils using machine learning and two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations.

Gas stations not only serve as sites for oil storage and refueling but also as locations where vehicles frequently brake, significantly enriching the surrounding soil with potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Herein, 117 topsoil samples from gas stations were collected in Beijing to explore the impact of gas stations on PTE accumulation. The analysis revealed that the average Pollution Index (PI) values for Cd, Hg, Pb, Cu, and Zn in the soil samples all exceeded 1. The random forest (RF) model, achieving an AUC score of 0.95, was employed to predict PTE pollution at 372 unsampled gas stations. Additionally, a Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model indicated that gas station operations and vehicle emissions were responsible for 70 % of the lead (Pb) enrichment. Probabilistic health risk assessments showed that the carcinogenic risk (CR) and noncarcinogenic risk (NCR) for PTE pollution to adult females were the highest, at 0.451 and 1.61E-05 respectively, but still within acceptable levels. For adult males at contaminated sites, the Pb-associated CR and NCR were approximately twice as high as those at uncontaminated sites, with increases of 107 % and 81 %, respectively. This study provides new insights for managing pollution caused by gas stations.

New insights into assembly processes and driving factors of urban soil microbial community under environmental stress in Beijing.

Rapid urbanization leads to drastic environmental changes, directly or indirectly affecting the structure and function of soil microbial communities. However, the ecological response of soil microbes to environmental stresses has not yet been fully explored. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to analyze the assembly mechanism and driving factors of soil microbial community under environmental stresses. The results indicated that environmental stresses significantly affected soil properties and the levels of beryllium, cobalt, antimony, and vanadium contamination in soil generally increased from the suburban areas toward the city core. The composition and distribution of soil microbial communities demonstrated clear differences under different levels of environmental stress, but there was no significant difference in microbial diversity. Random forest and partial least squares structural equation modeling results suggested that multiple factors influenced microbial diversity, but antimony was the key driver. The influence of environmental stress led to deterministic processes dominating microbial community assembly processes, which promoted the regional homogenization of soil microbes. Therefore, this study provides new insights into urban soil microbial management under environmental stresses.

Integrative analysis of COL6A3 in lupus nephritis: insights from single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics.

Introduction: Lupus nephritis (LN), a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), presents significant challenges in patient management and treatment outcomes. The identification of novel LN-related biomarkers and therapeutic targets is critical to enhancing treatment outcomes and prognosis for patients. Methods: In this study, we analyzed single-cell expression data from LN (n=21) and healthy controls (n=3). A total of 143 differentially expressed genes were identified between the LN and control groups. Then, proteomics analysis of LN patients (n=9) and control (SLE patients without LN, n=11) revealed 55 differentially expressed genes among patients with LN and control group. We further utilizes protein-protein interaction network and functional enrichment analyses to elucidate the pivotal role of COL6A3 in key signaling pathways. Its diagnostic value is evaluate through its correlation with disease progression and renal function metrics, as well as Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (ROC) analysis. Additionally, immunohistochemistry and qPCR experiments were performed to validate the expression of COL6A3 in LN. Results: By comparison of single-cell and proteomics data, we discovered that COL6A3 is significantly upregulated, highlighting it as a critical biomarker of LN. Our findings emphasize the substantial involvement of COL6A3 in the pathogenesis of LN, particularly noting its expression in mesangial cells. Through comprehensive protein-protein interaction network and functional enrichment analyses, we uncovered the pivotal role of COL6A3 in key signaling pathways including integrin-mediated signaling pathways, collagen-activated signaling pathways, and ECM-receptor interaction, suggesting potential therapeutic targets. The diagnostic utility is confirmed by its correlation with disease progression and renal function metrics of the glomerular filtration rate. ROC analysis further validates the diagnostic value of COL6A3, with the area under the ROC values of 0.879 in the in-house cohort, and 0.802 and 0.915 in tubular and glomerular external cohort samples, respectively. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry and qPCR experiments were consistent with those obtained from the single-cell RNA sequencing and proteomics studies. Discussion: These results proved that COL6A3 is a promising biomarker and therapeutic target, advancing personalized medicine strategies for LN.

Gut microbiome and metabolome to discover pathogenic bacteria and probiotics in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: Previous research has partially revealed distinct gut microbiota in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In this study, we performed non-targeted fecal metabolomics in AS in order to discover the microbiome-metabolome interface in AS. Based on prospective cohort studies, we further explored the impact of the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) on the gut microbiota and metabolites in AS. Methods: To further understand the gut microbiota and metabolites in AS, along with the influence of TNFi, we initiated a prospective cohort study. Fecal samples were collected from 29 patients with AS before and after TNFi therapy and 31 healthy controls. Metagenomic and metabolomic experiments were performed on the fecal samples; moreover, validation experiments were conducted based on the association between the microbiota and metabolites. Results: A total of 7,703 species were annotated using the metagenomic sequencing system and by profiling the microbial community taxonomic composition, while 50,046 metabolites were identified using metabolite profiling. Differential microbials and metabolites were discovered between patients with AS and healthy controls. Moreover, TNFi was confirmed to partially restore the gut microbiota and the metabolites. Multi-omics analysis of the microbiota and metabolites was performed to determine the associations between the differential microbes and metabolites, identifying compounds such as oxypurinol and biotin, which were correlated with the inhibition of the pathogenic bacteria Ruminococcus gnavus and the promotion of the probiotic bacteria Bacteroides uniformis. Through experimental studies, the relationship between microbes and metabolites was further confirmed, and the impact of these two types of microbes on the enterocytes and the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18) was explored. Conclusion: In summary, multi-omics exploration elucidated the impact of TNFi on the gut microbiota and metabolites and proposed a novel therapeutic perspective: supplementation of compounds to inhibit potential pathogenic bacteria and to promote potential probiotics, therefore controlling inflammation in AS.

Photoelectron Migration Boosted by Hollow Double-Shell Dyads Based on Covalent Organic Frameworks for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation.

Photocatalytic hydrogen production based on noble metal-free systems is a promising technology for the conversion of solar energy into green hydrogen, it is pivotal and challenging to tailor-make photocatalysts for achieving high photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, we reported a hollow double-shell dyad through uniformly coating covalent organic frameworks (COFs) on the surface of hollow Co9S8. The double shell architecture enhances the scattering and refraction efficiency of incident light, shortens the transmission distance of the photogenerated charge carriers, and exposes more active sites for photocatalytic conversion. The hydrogen evolution rate is as high as 23.15 mmol g-1 h-1, which is significantly enhanced when compared with that of their physical mixture (0.30 mmol g-1 h-1) and Pt-based counterpart (11.84 mmol g-1 h-1). This work provides a rational approach to the construction of noble-metal-free photocatalytic systems based on COFs to enhance hydrogen evolution performance.

Effects of Doxorubicin, Epirubicin, and Liposomal Doxorubicin (Anthracycline) on cardiac function in patients with osteosarcoma and their influencing factors.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of Doxorubicin, Epirubicin, and Liposomal Doxorubicin (Anthracycline) on cardiac function in osteosarcoma patients and analyze the factors influencing this effect. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 165 osteosarcoma patients admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to December 2022. Based on the chemotherapy regimen, the patients were divided into two groups: the control group (n = 62) treated with Cisplatin and cyclophosphamide, and the observation group (n = 103) treated with Doxorubicin, Epirubicin, and Liposomal Doxorubicin (Anthracycline). The general records of both groups were analyzed, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was evaluated through echocardiography before and after chemotherapy. Blood cTnT and CK-MB levels were measured using immunoluminescence. The incidence of adverse reactions during chemotherapy was also analyzed. Univariate analysis was performed to identify patients with cardiotoxic events, and multiple logistic regression analysis was done to study the effects of Doxorubicin, Epirubicin, Liposomal Doxorubicin, and their dosages on cardiotoxicity in patients. RESULTS: The general records between the two groups showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). However, at the fourth cycle of chemotherapy, the observation group exhibited a lower LVEF (P < 0.05), and a higher percentage of LVEF decrease compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the observation group had higher levels of blood cTnT and CK-MB (P < 0.05). The incidence of cardiotoxicity in the observation group was also higher (P < 0.05), but no significant differences were seen in other adverse reaction rates (P > 0.05). The occurrence of cardiotoxicity was found to be related to the choice and dosage of chemotherapy drugs (P < 0.05), but not significantly correlated with age, sex, and mediastinal irradiation in patients (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the use of Doxorubicin, Epirubicin, and Liposomal Doxorubicin in chemotherapy, as well as an increase in their dosages, was found to elevate the risk of cardiotoxicity in osteosarcoma patients (P < 0.05). However, age, sex, and mediastinal radiation were not significantly associated with cardiotoxicity in osteosarcoma patients (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that Doxorubicin, Epirubicin, Liposomal Doxorubicin (Anthracycline), and other drugs adversely affected cardiac function in osteosarcoma patients, increasing the risk of cardiac toxicity. Therefore, close monitoring of cardiac function during chemotherapy is crucial, and timely adjustments to the chemotherapy regimen are necessary. In addition, rational control of drug selection and dosage is essential to minimize the occurrence of cardiac toxicity.

Phosphorylated vimentin at Ser72 is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the expression of vimentin and its phosphorylated forms in lupus nephritis (LN) and explore their potential role in LN development. METHODS: Lupus renal biopsies from LN patients and normal renal biopsies from kidney transplant donors were collected. The expression of vimentin and its phosphorylated forms (p-vimentin (Ser39, Ser56, Ser72, Ser83, and Tyr117)) were measured by Western blots and immunohistochemistry. To construct stable cell line that overexpress vimentin and its phosphorylated forms, an immortalized proximal tubule epithelial cell line (HK-2 cells) was utilized. The roles of vimentin and its phosphorylated forms on the migration of HK-2 cells were examined by transwell migration assay and wound healing analysis. RESULTS: We first observed a significant upregulation of vimentin protein in TGFß1-induced HK-2 cells. This finding was further confirmed in renal tissues obtained from LN patients and animal model. Interestingly, among the five phosphorylated forms of vimentin, only vimentin phosphorylated at Ser72 was upregulated in LN. Through the establishment of stable vimentin and its phosphorylated forms overexpression in HK-2 cells, we found that the overexpression of vimentin and its phosphorylated forms at Ser72 significantly enhances the cell migration. CONCLUSIONS: Vimentin phosphorylated on Ser72 is important for renal epithelial cell migration, which would enhance the progression of vimentin-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition during LN development.

Tertiary lymphoid structures as local perpetuators of organ-specific immune injury: implication for lupus nephritis.

In response to inflammatory stimuli in conditions such as autoimmune disorders, infections and cancers, immune cells organize in nonlymphoid tissues, which resemble secondary lymphoid organs. Such immune cell clusters are called tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS). Here, we describe the potential role of TLS in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease, focusing on lupus nephritis, a condition that incurs major morbidity and mortality. In the kidneys of patients and animals with lupus nephritis, the presence of immune cell aggregates with similar cell composition, structure, and gene signature as lymph nodes and of lymphoid tissue-inducer and -organizer cells, along with evidence of communication between stromal and immune cells are indicative of the formation of TLS. TLS formation in kidneys affected by lupus may be instigated by local increases in lymphorganogenic chemokines such as CXCL13, and in molecules associated with leukocyte migration and vascularization. Importantly, the presence of TLS in kidneys is associated with severe tubulointerstitial inflammation, higher disease activity and chronicity indices, and poor response to treatment in patients with lupus nephritis. TLS may contribute to the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis by increasing local IFN-I production, facilitating the recruitment and supporting survival of autoreactive B cells, maintaining local production of systemic autoantibodies such as anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm/RNP autoantibodies, and initiating epitope spreading to local autoantigens. Resolution of TLS, along with improvement in lupus, by treating animals with soluble BAFF receptor, docosahexaenoic acid, complement inhibitor C4BP(ß-), S1P1 receptor modulator Cenerimod, dexamethasone, and anti-CXCL13 further emphasizes a role of TLS in the pathogenesis of lupus. However, the mechanisms underlying TLS formation and their roles in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis are not fully comprehended. Furthermore, the lack of non-invasive methods to visualize/quantify TLS in kidneys is also a major hurdle; however, recent success in visualizing TLS in lupus-prone mice by photon emission computed tomography provides hope for early detection and manipulation of TLS.

Fetal mosaicism, should conventional karyotype always be performed?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The application of classical cytogenetic and DNA-based molecular techniques to detect cell lineages of mosaicism derived from cultured or noncultured fetal cells may result in discordant results. This retrospective study aimed to assess the inconsistent diagnostic outcomes, technical availability, and limitations of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and karyotyping for mosaicism. METHODOLOGY: A total of 75 fetuses diagnosed with mosaicism by karyotype analysis or CMA were selected, and the results from both the methods were compared and further analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 42 (56%, 42/75) CMA results were consistent with karyotypes, consisting of 22 cases of mosaic sex chromosomal abnormalities, 8 routine autosomal aneuploidy cases, 8 other autosome aneuploidy cases, 3 large cryptic genomic rearrangements, and 1 small supernumerary marker chromosome. Discrepancy between karyotype analysis and CMA was observed in 33 (44%, 33/75) mosaicisms involving 15 sex chromosomal abnormalities, 1 routine autosomal aneuploidies, 5 other autosome aneuploidy cases, 8 large cryptic genomic rearrangements, and 4 small supernumerary marker chromosomes. CONCLUSION: Considering the disparities between methods as well as the cell populations analyzed, both CMA and karyotype analysis have their own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, CMA should ideally be used in combination with karyotyping to detect more cases of mosaicism than using either test alone.

Single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-array) analysis for fetuses with abnormal nasal bone.

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities found on single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP array) in pregnancies with either an absent or hypoplastic nasal bone. METHODS: This retrospective study included 333 fetuses with either nasal bone hypoplasia or absence identified on prenatal ultrasound. SNP array analysis and conventional karyotyping were performed in all the subjects. The prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities was adjusted for maternal age and other ultrasound findings. Fetuses with either an isolated nasal bone absence or hypoplasia, those that had additional soft ultrasound markers, and those where structural defects were found on ultrasound were divided into three groups: A, B, and C, respectively. RESULTS: Among the total cohort of 333 fetuses, 76 (22.8%) had chromosomal abnormalities, including 47 cases of trisomy 21, 4 cases of trisomy 18, 5 cases of sex chromosome aneuploidy, and 20 cases of copy number variations of which 12 were pathogenic or likely pathogenic. The prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in group A (n = 164), B (n = 79), and C (n = 90) was 8.5%, 29.1% and 43.3%, respectively. The incremental yields by SNP-array compared with karyotyping in group A, B, and C were 3.0%, 2.5% and 10.7%, respectively (p > 0.05). Compared to karyotype analysis, SNP array detected an additional 2 (1.2%), 1 (1.3%), and 5 (5.6%) pathogenic or likely pathogenic CNVs in groups A, B, and C, respectively. In the 333 fetuses, the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in women with advanced maternal age (AMA) was significantly higher than that in non-AMA women, (47.8% vs. 16.5%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In addition to Down's syndrome, many other chromosomal abnormalities are present in fetuses with abnormal nasal bone. SNP array can improve the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities associated with nasal bone abnormalities, especially in pregnancies with non-isolated nasal bone abnormalities and advanced maternal age.

Starch intrinsic crystals affected the changes of starch structures and digestibility during microwave heat-moisture treatment.

The structural and functional changes of starch during hydrothermal treatment are influenced by its intrinsic properties. However, how the intrinsic crystalline structures of starch affect changes in structure and digestibility during microwave heat-moisture treatment (MHMT) has not been well understood. In this study, we prepared starch samples with varying moisture content (10 %, 20 %, and 30 %) and A-type crystal content (4.13 %, 6.81 %, and 16.35 %) and investigated the changes in their structures and digestibility during MHMT. Results showed that starch with a high A-type crystal content (16.35 %) and moisture levels of 10 % to 30 % exhibited less ordered structures after MHMT, while starches with lower A-type crystal content (4.13 % to 6.18 %) and moisture content of 10 % to 20 % showed more ordered structures after treatment; but less ordered structures when the moisture content was 30 %. All starch samples had lower digestibility after MHMT and cooking; however, starches with lower A-type crystal content (4.13 % to 6.18 %) and moisture content of 10 % to 20 % displayed significantly lower digestibility after treatment compared to modified starches. Accordingly, starches contained content of A-type crystals of 4.13 %-6.18 % and moisture of 10 %-20 % potentially had better reassembly behaviors during the MHMT to slow starch digestibility in a larger magnitude.

Fetal genetic findings by chromosomal microarray analysis and karyotyping for fetal growth restriction without structural malformations at a territory referral center: 10-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal invasive genetic testing is commonly recommended to pregnancies of early-onset FGR or FGR combined with a structural defect. Our study aimed to explore the genetic findings for FGR without structural malformations according to cytogenetic karyotyping and single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP array) technology over a 10-year period. METHODS: A total of 488 pregnancies diagnosed with FGR without structural malformation were retrospectively reviewed. Cytogenetic karyotyping was performed on all the subjects, and SNP array was available from 272 of them. Based on the gestational age at onset, the cohort was classified into four groups: ≤ 24, 25-28, 29-32, and > 32 weeks of gestation. According to the ultrasound findings, they were grouped into isolated FGR, FGR with soft markers, and FGR with non-structural anomalies. In pregnancies of young maternal age, based on the results of maternal serum screening (MSS), they were categorized into high-risk and low-risk MSS groups. RESULTS: Nineteen (3.9%) cases of chromosomal abnormalities were detected by cytogenetic karyotyping, including 11 cases of numerical abnormalities, 5 cases of structural abnormalities, and 3 cases of mosaicism. Trisomy 21 was the most frequent abnormality. Abnormal karyotypes were more frequently observed in cases diagnosed at ≤ 24 weeks (7.2%) than those in any other group. Among pregnancies with normal karyotype, an incremental yield of 4.2% were revealed by SNP array technology regarding clinically relevant aberrations. The additional detection rates by SNP array in cases diagnosed at ≤ 24 weeks (6.5%), cases with soft markers (9.5%), and cases with high-risk MSS (12.0%) were higher than those in other groups within each classification. All the cases with abnormal karyotypes and 7 out of 11 pregnancies with clinically relevant anomalies revealed by SNP array alone resulted in pregnancy terminations. CONCLUSION: Chromosome abnormality is an important etiology for FGR with no associated structural malformations, and plays a crucial role in pregnancies decision-making. SNP array improves the detection of genetic anomalies especially in FGR diagnosed at ≤ 24 weeks, FGR combined with soft makers, and FGR combined with high-risk MSS.

Different pregnancy outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with belimumab.

OBJECTIVES: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) predominantly occurs in women of child-bearing age. Selecting drugs for pregnant SLE patients has always been a difficult choice. Although there have been several reports of safety of belimumab in SLE patients during pregnancy, the data are far from sufficient. METHODS: We report on 4 cases of belimumab exposure in pregnant SLE patients. We also summarized 6 case reports and case series which were previously published. Further, we compared the different outcomes among SLE patients and their babies who continued with belimumab during pregnancy with those who discontinued belimumab in early pregnancy. RESULTS: Two cases discontinued belimumab in the early pregnancy, while the other two received belimumab until the late pregnancy. All the four women tolerated belimumab. Newborns have all developed normally and continue without complications during 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: In this small case series, we found that belimumab was well tolerated in pregnant SLE patients. There were no safety signals for the mothers or their babies.

Gastrointestinal microbiome and primary Sjögren's syndrome: a review of the literature and conclusions.

The recognition of the profound impact of the human gastrointestinal microbiome (GM) on human autoimmune diseases has gradually increased thanks to deeper research efforts. As a systemic autoimmune disease, primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) cannot be completely cured. Human studies have revealed that GM species and diversity are altered in patients with pSS compared with healthy individuals. Animal studies have provided possible mechanisms for the association between pSS and GM. The potential role of GM in pSS is exerted through several mechanisms. GM dysbiosis leads to increased intestinal permeability, which increases the risk of GM antigen exposure and activates specific autoreactive T lymphocytes via "molecular mimicry". In addition, GM antigen exposure and intestinal immune tolerance loss caused by GM dysbiosis together induce chronic local gut mucosal inflammation, which deteriorates to systemic chronic non-specific inflammation with the circulation of pro-inflammatory lymphocytes and cytokines. These factors eventually activate autoreactive B lymphocytes and lead to pSS. If GM plays a key role in the pathogenesis of pSS, clarifying the underlying mechanisms will be helpful for the development of new therapies targeting GM for dry eye associated with pSS. This review summarizes the latest knowledge about the relationship between GM and pSS, with the aim of contributing to future research and to the development of new clinical applications.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) oil modulatory effects on ethanol-induced acute injury of the gastric mucosa in rats.

Antarctic krill oil (KO) prepared using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to investigate its preventive effect on ethanol-induced gastric tissue damage in a rat model in vivo. KO characterization showed that 74.96% of the unsaturated fatty acids consist of oleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Rats pre-treated with KO (100, 200, and 500 mg/kg) showed mitigated oxidative stress through enhanced antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reducing enzymes malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in gastric mucosal injury induced by ethanol. Additionally, the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß), the expression of the IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway, and nitric oxide (NO) production was suppressed. The results also demonstrated a significant decrease in histological injury and hemorrhage scores in a dose-dependent manner in the KO range. Therefore, KO has potential as a food supplement to alleviate ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury.

Dietary compounds slow starch enzymatic digestion: A review.

Dietary compounds significantly affected starch enzymatic digestion. However, effects of dietary compounds on starch digestion and their underlying mechanisms have been not systematically discussed yet. This review summarized the effects of dietary compounds including cell walls, proteins, lipids, non-starchy polysaccharides, and polyphenols on starch enzymatic digestion. Cell walls, proteins, and non-starchy polysaccharides restricted starch disruption during hydrothermal treatment and the retained ordered structures limited enzymatic binding. Moreover, they encapsulated starch granules and formed physical barriers for enzyme accessibility. Proteins, non-starchy polysaccharides along with lipids and polyphenols interacted with starch and formed ordered assemblies. Furthermore, non-starchy polysaccharides and polyphenols showed robust abilities to reduce activities of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Accordingly, it can be concluded that dietary compounds lowered starch digestion mainly by three modes: (i) prevented ordered structures from disruption and formed ordered assemblies chaperoned with these dietary compounds; (ii) formed physical barriers and prevented enzymes from accessing/binding to starch; (iii) reduced enzymes activities. Dietary compounds showed great potentials in lowering starch enzymatic digestion, thereby modulating postprandial glucose response to food and preventing or treating type II diabetes disease.

Does noninvasive cerebellar stimulation improve the balance and walking function of patients with stroke: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: Investigating the efficacy and safety of noninvasive cerebellar stimulation in improving the balance and walking function of patients with stroke. METHODS: We searched 7 databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to noninvasive cerebellar stimulation in the treatment of stroke. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and Barthel Index (BI) were used as the outcome indexes to evaluate balance, walking and activities of daily living (ADL). The quality of the research was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the difference between the noninvasive cerebellar stimulation and control groups. Heterogeneity tests were performed to assess differences in treatment effects across noninvasive cerebellar stimulation modalities. A sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the robustness of the results. RESULTS: Seven studies were included, and 5 articles (71.43%) were rated as having a low risk of bias. Among the primary outcome indicators, 4 of the 7 articles were combined into the fixed effect model (I2 = 38%, P = .18). Compared with the control group, noninvasive cerebellar stimulation improved the BBS score, and the difference was statistically significant (mean difference [MD]: 3.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.10-5.40, P = .03); the sensitivity analysis showed that the statistical model was still stable after sequentially eliminating each article. Compared with the control group, noninvasive cerebellar stimulation improved the 6MWT results of patients with stroke (MD: 25.29, 95% CI: 4.86-45.73, P = .02). However, noninvasive cerebellar stimulation did not improve the BI (MD: 15.61, 95% CI: -7.91 to 39.13, P = .19). No safety problems or adverse reactions to noninvasive cerebellar stimulation were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Noninvasive cerebellar stimulation improves balance and walking function of patients with stroke, but its effect on ADL is uncertain. Due to the methodological weaknesses in the included trials, more RCTs are needed to confirm our conclusions.

Impact of combined biological hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion temperatures on the characteristics of bacterial community and digestate quality in the treatment of wastewater sludge.

This work investigated the impact of temperature on the digestate water quality and bacterial community in the treatment of wastewater sludge using biological hydrolysis (BH)-anaerobic digestion (AD). The results showed that the BH 55 °C followed by AD 35 °C or 42 °C was the optimal temperature combination in terms of methane yield and digestate water quality. High-throughput sequencing revealed the key differences in bacterial communities for different BH-AD temperature combinations. Microbial source tracking showed only minor microbial migration from raw sludge and BH pre-treated sludge to the AD stage. Strong correlations between the residual sCOD, BH-AD temperature conditions, and dominant bacteria were identified. Clostridiales, Bacteroidales, Cloacimonadales, Thermotogales, and Anaerolineales were closely related to the digestate water quality and methane yield. Overall, the results showed that AD temperature exerted a dominant impact on methane yield, digestate water quality, and bacterial compositions in the BH-AD of wastewater sludge.