Sucralose regulates postprandial blood glucose in mice through intestinal sweet taste receptors Tas1r2/Tas1r3.

BACKGROUND: Non-nutritive sweeteners (such as sucralose) bind to sweet receptors Tas1r2/Tas1r3 on intestinal endocrine L cells after diets to upregulate blood glucose. However, the mechanism by which sucralose regulates postprandial blood glucose (PBG) has not been clarified to date. We hypothesized that the gut sweet taste receptor was one of the targets for sucralose to regulate PBG. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of sucralose on PBG based on the gut sweet taste receptor signaling pathway and to explore the mechanism. Therefore, we examined PBG, genes, and proteins associated with the gut sweet receptor pathway in sucralose-exposed mice. RESULTS: The results showed that after 12 weeks of sucralose exposure the PBG of mice increased significantly, and the expression of intestinal sweet taste receptors increased correspondingly. Within the concentration range of this experiment, a significant increase of PBG was observed in mice fed on sucralose with a concentration equal to or higher than 0.33 g L-1 . CONCLUSION: Long-term consumption of sucralose may increase body weight and the risk of elevated PBG, resulting in overexpression of sweetness receptors and glucose transporters. The mechanism of these effects might be the result of non-nutritive sweeteners binding to sweetness receptors Tas1r2/Tas1r3 in gut endocrine cells and upregulating Slc5a1 and Slc2a2. But we cannot rule out that the rise in PBG is the result of a combination of sweet receptors and gut microbes. Therefore, the effect of gut microbes on PBG needs to be studied further. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Positive- vs. negative-pressure extubation technique: a scoping review.

Objectives: This review aimed to summarize the recent literature on positive-pressure extubation. Design: A scoping review was conducted under the framework of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Data sources: Web of Science, PubMed, Ovid, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Wan Fang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and China Biology Medicine databases were searched for studies on adults and children. Study selection: All articles describing the use of positive-pressure extubation were considered eligible for inclusion. The exclusion criteria were articles not available in English or Chinese, and those without full text available. Data extraction and synthesis: The database searches identified 8,381 articles, 15 of which could be included in this review, with an aggregated patient number of 1,544. Vital signs, including mean arterial pressure, heart rate, R-R interval, and SpO2 before and after extubation; blood gas analysis indexes, including pH, oxygen saturation, PaO2, and PaCO2 before and after extubation; and incidence of respiratory complications, including bronchospasm, laryngeal edema, aspiration atelectasis, hypoxemia, and hypercapnia, were reported in the included studies. Results: The majority of these studies reported that the positive-pressure extubation technique can maintain stable vital signs and blood gas analysis indices as well as prevent complications during the peri-extubation period. Conclusions: The positive-pressure extubation technique has a safety performance similar to that of the traditional negative-pressure extubation technique and may lead to better clinical outcomes, including stable vital signs, arterial blood gas analysis, and a lower incidence of respiratory complications.

A network pharmacology approach to evaluate the synergistic effect of dihydromyricetin and myricitrin in vine tea on the proliferation of B16F10 cells.

Aim of the study: Although vine tea has demonstrated broad-spectrum anti-cancer properties, its main active compounds, dihydromyricetin (DMY) and myricitrin (MYT), exert weaker effects than the tea extracts. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic inhibitory effects of DMY and MYT on B16F10 cell proliferation and their synergistic inhibitory effects. Methods: The effect of vine tea extracts (VTEs) and their active compounds on B16F10 cells was analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, fluorescence staining, and flow cytometry. The synergistic effects were calculated by the combination index (CI), and its mechanism was discussed by network pharmacology. Results: Different VTEs varied in their inhibition of B16F10 cell growth, with IC50 values ranging from 4.45 to 12.95 µg/mL, Among these, Guangzhou Qingyuan (Level 2), appeared to have the most potent inhibitory effect. The IC50 value of mix-use of DMY and MYT was 19.94∼64.4 µM, of which DMY: MYT = 8:1 had the minimum IC50 value of 19.94 µM. Combinations in the 1:1∼8:1 range had stronger effects than the isolated active compound. When they were mixed at the ratio of 1:4∼8:1, CI < 1, showing a synergistic effect. The combination of DMY and MYT also significantly inhibited the tyrosinase activity in B16F10 cells, consistent with its impact on cell proliferation. The eight potential targets were identified by network pharmacology regulating melanin metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, and melanogenesis signaling. According to the analysis of protein-protein interactions, TP53, TNF, and TYR might be critical targets for preventing and treating melanoma. Conclusion: We found that DMY and MYT induced apoptosis of B16F10 cells, and their combined application had a significant synergistic effect. The present findings indicated that vine tea had a multi-pathway and multi-target impact on the prevention and treatment of melanoma.

Comparative analysis of surface water quality prediction performance and identification of key water parameters using different machine learning models based on big data.

The water quality prediction performance of machine learning models may be not only dependent on the models, but also dependent on the parameters in data set chosen for training the learning models. Moreover, the key water parameters should also be identified by the learning models, in order to further reduce prediction costs and improve prediction efficiency. Here we endeavored for the first time to compare the water quality prediction performance of 10 learning models (7 traditional and 3 ensemble models) using big data (33,612 observations) from the major rivers and lakes in China from 2012 to 2018, based on the precision, recall, F1-score, weighted F1-score, and explore the potential key water parameters for future model prediction. Our results showed that the bigger data could improve the performance of learning models in prediction of water quality. Compared to other 7 models, decision tree (DT), random forest (RF) and deep cascade forest (DCF) trained by data sets of pH, DO, CODMn, and NH3-N had significantly better performance in prediction of all 6 Levels of water quality recommended by Chinese government. Moreover, two key water parameter sets (DO, CODMn, and NH3-N; CODMn, and NH3-N) were identified and validated by DT, RF and DCF to be high specificities for perdition water quality. Therefore, DT, RF and DCF with selected key water parameters could be prioritized for future water quality monitoring and providing timely water quality warning.

Citrus peel flavonoids improve lipid metabolism by inhibiting miR-33 and miR-122 expression in HepG2 cells.

Citrus plants are rich in flavonoids and beneficial for lipid metabolism. However, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Both citrus peel flavonoid extracts (CPFE) and a mixture of their primary flavonoid compounds, namely, nobiletin, tangeretin and hesperidin, citrus flavonoid purity mixture (CFPM), were found to have lipid-lowering effects on oleic acid-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. The carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1α (CPT1α) gene was markedly increased, while the fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene was significantly decreased by both CPFE and CFPM in oleic acid-treated HepG2 cells. Flavonoid compounds from citrus peel suppressed miR-122 and miR-33 expression, which were induced by oleic acid. Changes in miR-122 and miR-33 expression, which subsequently affect the expression of their target mRNAs FAS and CPT1α, are most likely the principal mechanisms leading to decreased lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Citrus flavonoids likely regulate lipid metabolism by modulating the expression levels of miR-122 and miR-33.

AMPK activation is involved in hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of mogroside-rich extract from Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) fruits on high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Previous studies suggested the anti-diabetic effect of mogrosides in type 1 diabetes. To evaluate the potential effect of mogrosides in type 2 diabetes, we herein investigated the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects and the underlying mechanism of mogroside-rich extract (MGE) using a high-fat diet in combination with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic model. MGE feeding for 5 weeks did not result in any obvious impact on the body weight and energy intake, but caused a moderate decrease of organ index in diabetic mice. MGE-supplemented diabetic mice showed a notable reduction of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated serum protein (GSP), serum insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and serum atherogenic lipid profiles in a dose-dependent manner, whereas significant increases in the anti-atherogenic lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, glucose and insulin tolerance capacity with high dose (300 mg kg-1) MGE were observed (P < 0.01). Besides, hepatocyte polymorphism, lipid accumulation and steatosis were ameliorated and restored to near normal at the high dose. Furthermore, hepatic 5'AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling was dose-dependently activated. Accordingly, the mRNA levels of hepatic gluconeogenic and lipogenic genes were downregulated and fat oxidation-associated genes were upregulated. These findings suggest that the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of MGE are probably attributed to the attenuation of insulin resistance and activation of hepatic AMPK signaling.

Antiglycation and antioxidant activities of mogroside extract from Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) fruits.

Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) is one kind of medical and edible plants with various health-promoting properties. Recently, its hypoglycemic and antidiabetic activities have been reported, but the underlying mechanism remains to be explored. The current study was aimed to investigate the antioxidant and antiglycation activities of mogroside extract (MGE) from Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle). The results showed that compared to glycated BSA, MGE at middle (125 µg/mL) and high dose (500 µg/mL) significantly inhibited BSA glycation evidenced by decreased fluorescent AGEs formation, protein carbonyls and Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML) level at 500 µg/mL by 58.5, 26.7 and 71.2%, respectively. Additionally, the antiglycative activity of MGE (500 µg/mL) was comparable to aminoguanidine (AG) at the equal concentration. However, the inhibitory effect of MGE on glycation-induced increase of fructosamine level and decrease of thiol level was not remarkable. MGE was a potent peroxide radicals scavenger (851.8 µmol TE/g), moderate DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenger with IC50 1118.1 and 1473.2 µg/mL, respectively, corresponding to positive controls ascorbic acid of IC50 9.6 µg/mL, and trolox of IC50 47.9 µg/mL, respectively, and mild reducing power. These findings suggest that MGE may serve as a new promising antiglycative agent against diabetic complications by inhibiting protein glycation and glycoxidation.

Pectin plays an important role on the kinetics properties of polyphenol oxidase from honeydew peach.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was purified from peach pulp by a three-step column chromatographic procedure. The kinetics properties of the PPO fractions obtained from different purification steps were compared. All the fractions showed high affinities for (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin. The optimum pHs and optimum temperatures for all the fractions were the same. However, the fraction that contained pectin was more sensitive to the change of pH, and it had a lower affinity for the substrates and a higher thermostability than the fractions without pectin. In addition, the protein impurities in PPO fractions might have no effect on the properties of PPO. l-Cysteine and glutathione were effective for the inhibition of all the PPO fractions, while NaF inhibited moderately. However, the pectin could reduce the inhibition effects of those inhibitors.

Protective effect of flavonoid extract from Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) fruit on alcoholic liver oxidative injury in mice.

To evaluate the beneficial effects of Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) flavonoid extract (CBFE) on chronic alcohol-induced liver oxidative injury in mice, experimental mice were pretreated with different doses of CBFE (50-200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks by gavage feeding. Biochemical markers and enzymatic antioxidants from serum, liver tissue, mitochondria and microsomes were examined. Our results showed that the activities of TC, TG, L-DLC in serum, the activity of CYP2E1 in microsomes, and the levels of MDA in liver tissue and mitochondria, decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the CBFE-treated group compared with the alcohol group. On the contrary, the activities of ALT, AST, and H-DLC in serum, enzymatic antioxidants GSH-Px, SOD and GST in liver tissue and mitochondria, and HO-1 in microsomes rose markedly (P < 0.05). Histopathological examination revealed that CBFE (200 mg/kg) pretreatment noticeably prevented alcohol-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and fatty degeneration. It was suggested that the hepatoprotective effects exhibited by CBFE on alcohol-induced liver oxidative injury may be due to its potent antioxidant properties.

[Case-control study on measurement of coracoclavicular and acromioclavicular ligament injuries during internal fixation operation for the treatment of fresh acromioclavicular joint dislocation of Tossy type III].

OBJECTIVE: To study measurement methods of acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligament injuries,its therapeutic effects and complications during internal fixation operation for the treatment of fresh acromioclavicular joint dislocations of Tossy type III. METHODS: From July 2003 to May 2012,127 patients with acromioclavicular joint dislocations of Tossy type III were treated with wire fixation from coracoid process to clavicle or hook-plate fixation. The patients were divided into group A (63 cases) and group B (64 cases) according to whether acromioclavicular ligament and coracoclavicular ligament were repaired or not. In group A (ligaments repaired), there were 39 males and 24 females with an average age of (33.25 +/- 8.46) years old (ranged from 17 to 59 years). And in group B (no ligaments repaired), there were 41 males and 23 females with an average age of (34.10 +/- 7.19) years (ranged from 19 to 57 years). The operation times, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative infections, internal fixation failure, recurrence and other complications, together with therapeutic effects were compared between two groups. RESULTS: The outcome was analyzed according to Karlsson standard. In group A, 54 patients got an excellent result and 9 good according to Karlsson standard;the average operative time was (55.90 +/- 26.56) min; the average intraoperative bleeding amount was (99.80 +/- 50.30) ml; 1 patient had wire broken without re-dislocation at 16 weeks after operation, 3 patients got wound fat liquefaction and recovered after treatment, 1 patient had pain after shoulder joint motion and pain disappeared after implants were taken out. In group B, 52 patients got an excellent result and 12 good according to Karlsson standard; the average operative time was (49.50 +/- 23.14) min; the average intraoperative bleeding amount was (87.30 +/- 46.41) ml; 2 patients got wound fat liquefaction, and 2 patients had pain after shoulder joint motion. All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 9 to 16 months. All internal steel-wire or hook plate were taken out during 4 to 9 months without acromioclavicular joint re dislocation. There were no significant difference in the average operative time, the average intraoperative blood less, complication recurrence rates of fixation failure, wound fat liquefaction, postoperative infection, acromioclavicular joint re-dislocation, and therapeutic effects between two groups. CONCLUSION: Both wire and clavicular hook plate fixation, performed for fresh acromioclavicular joint dislocation with Tossy type III, are simple, effective, less invasive method with less blood loss. In addition, the treatment without ligaments repaired could not increase incidence of complications.

Reactive oxygen species scavenging activities and inhibition on DNA oxidative damage of dimeric compounds from the oxidation of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate.

The dimeric catechins dehydrotheasinensin A (2) and theacitrin C (3) were prepared from the oxidation of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG, 1), and their antioxidant activity was investigated using a chemiluminescence (CL) method in vitro. Both compounds showed significant inhibitory effects on reactive oxygen species (O(2)(-), H(2)O(2) and *OH) and DNA oxidative damage, with 2 being more potent than 3 and EGCG itself.

[Biodegradation of nicotine in tobacco extracts for making reconstituted tobacco by strain DN2].

The purpose of the study is to use O. intermedium DN2 to degrade nicotine in tobacco extracts for making reconstituted tobacco. Firstly, we studied the effects of various factors on degradation of nicotine in the extracts by strain DN2. When we added 0.1% yeast extract into the extracts, adjusted its pH value to 7.0 by ammonia solution, inoculated 15% cultures and maintained fermentation temperature of 30 degrees C, the degradation rate of nicotine by strain DN2 was the fastest. Furthmore, under these conditions, we studied the degradation rates of nicotine in three fed batches culture which carried out in a 30-L reactor, the result showed that the average degradation rate of nicotine by strain DN2 was 140.55 mg/L/h, which was much higher than that reported in other studies. These results indicated that strain DN2 may be useful for reducing nicotine content of reconstituted tobacco.

Mogrosides extract from Siraitia grosvenori scavenges free radicals in vitro and lowers oxidative stress, serum glucose, and lipid levels in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

This study evaluated the supplementation of a mogrosides extract (MG) from fruits of Siraitia grosvenori on reducing oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. The oxygen free radical scavenging activity of MG was also assessed in vitro. After induction of diabetes, a significant increase in the levels of serum glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as a reduction in the level of hepatic high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) associated with diminution of the corresponding antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase, were observed in all diabetic mice. Treatment of diabetic mice with MG (100, 300, and 500 mg/kg ) for 4 weeks significantly decreased serum glucose, TC, TG, and hepatic MDA levels (P < .05), whereas it increased serum HDL-C level and reactivated the hepatic antioxidant enzymes (P < .05) in alloxan-induced diabetic mice (P < .05). The hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antioxidative activities of MG (100 mg/kg treatment) were all higher compared with all other diabetic groups and were similar to that observed for XiaoKeWan-pill (894 mg/kg; Guangzhou Zhongyi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China), a Chinese traditional antidiabetic drug. Antioxidant capacity evaluated in vitro showed that MG and mogroside V, which was the main component of MG, possessed strong oxygen free radical scavenging activities. These results demonstrate that the extract may have capacity to inhibiting hyperglycemia induced by diabetes, and the data suggest that administration of the extract may be helpful in the prevention of diabetic complications associated with oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia. We conclude that the extract should be evaluated as a candidate for future studies on diabetes mellitus.

Effect of Momordica grosvenori on oxidative stress pathways in renal mitochondria of normal and alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Involvement of heme oxygenase-1.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. Momordica grosvenori (MG), a traditional medicinal herb used as substitute sugar for obese and diabetes, exhibits anti-oxidative activity in vitro. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the effect of MG on renal mitochondrial lipid peroxidation, anti-oxidative defense system, and a potent oxidative stress-responsive protein, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) of nondiabetic and alloxan-diabetic mice in different stages of diabetes. METHODS: Male Balb/c mice were rendered diabetic by a single intra-peritoneal injection of alloxan (200 mg/kg), while control mice received sham saline injection. Control and diabetic mice were further subdivided according to their treatments: control (saline), low dose MG (150 mg/kg) and high dose MG (300 mg/kg), which were administered immediately after confirmation of hyperglycemia by gavage daily over an 8-week period. Mice were killed by cervical dislocation at 4th and 8th week, respectively, and serum and renal tissues were harvested. Serum glucose, lipid profile and renal function were evaluated; renal homogenate were subjected to determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) concentration, manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and HO-1 activities, together with Mn-SOD and HO-1 mRNA expression; paraffin-embedded renal tissues was used for routine histopathological examination. RESULTS: Short-term diabetes caused hyperglycemia and intensified oxidative stress in renal mitochondrial demonstrated by higher MDA and lower GSH levels than control group, accompanied by increased mRNA expression and activity of HO-1 and Mn-SOD, and augmented GSH-Px activity. Low dose of MG administration ameliorated hyperglycemia, inhibited HO-1 and Mn-SOD mRNA expression and reduced HO-1, Mn-SOD, GSH-Px activities. Diabetic mice did not demonstrate early symptoms of diabetic nephropathy until 8th week, characterized by hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and renal damage. A progressive increment in MDA level and decrease in GSH level, as well as reduced mRNA expression and activity of Mn-SOD and HO-1 in the kidney were observed. Low dose of MG attenuated diabetic nephropa- thy symptoms partially, inhibited lipid peroxidation, up-regulated HO-1 and Mn-SOD mRNA expression, and increased HO-1 activity. Conclusions The study confirmed the involvement of oxidative stress in the development of diabetes mediated by the pro- and antioxidant role of HO-1, and pointed to the possible anti-oxidative mechanism of the anti-diabetic and nephroprotective action of MG.

[Concentrations of heavy metals and safe assessments of fishes in main lakes from Wuhan City].

The concentrations of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr and Cd have been measured by ICP-OES in clays, water and fishes from representative lake, including South Lake, East Lake and Yezhi Lake in Wuhan City. The results were obtained as follow: the concentration of Cu from Yezhi Lake and the concentration of Cd from East Lake are respectively 0.010mg/L and 0.0054mg/L, and higher than the standard of water quality in fresh water cultivation. The concentrations of cadmium from three lakes sediments are 0.95mg/L, 1.07mg/L and 1.13mg/L, and also higher than the surroundings requirement of environmentally harmless aquatic products. The variety of concentrations of heavy metals have been observed in different tissues and different families. Heavy metals are mainly accumulated in scales and gills. The concentrations of heavy metals of mussels are much lower than the health standard of consumptions.