Optimization of the fermentation process and antioxidant activity of mixed lactic acid bacteria for honeysuckle beverage.

The aim of the research was to obtain a high healthcare honeysuckle beverage with strong antioxidant activity. Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb) was used as the raw material in this experiment. The effects of fermentation temperature, fermentation time, lactic acid bacteria inoculation amount, and sugar addition amount on the sensory quality of honeysuckle beverage were investigated by single factor test and orthogonal test, and the best process was obtained. The physicochemical indexes and antioxidant activity of honeysuckle beverages fermented with lactic acid bacteria were studied. The results showed that the fermentation temperature of the beverage was 37 °C, the fermentation time was 24 h, the inoculation amount of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus mixed starter (1:1) was 3%, and 8% white granulated sugar was added. The highest sensory score was 87.30 ± 0.17, which was the optimal process. The honeysuckle liquid mixed inoculation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus was fermented for 24 h. The number of viable bacteria reached 9.84 ± 0.02 lg cfu/mL, the pH value was 3.10 ± 0.01, and the total polyphenol content was 7.53 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g. The number of lactic acid bacteria, pH, total polyphenol content, and free radical scavenging rate were significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared with the non-inoculated and single-inoculated lactic acid bacteria. To sum up, it was concluded that a better quality beverage could be obtained by fermenting a solution of honeysuckle with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus mixed fermentation agent, providing a new approach and new ideas for the development of deep processing and fermented beverages using honeysuckle.

Ethanol-Induced Hepatic Ferroptosis Is Mediated by PERK-Dependent MAMs Formation: Preventive Role of Quercetin.

SCOPE: Iron deposition is frequently observed in alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which indicates a potential role of ferroptosis in its development. This study aims to explore the effects of quercetin on ferroptosis in ALD and elucidates the underlying mechanism involving the formation of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) mediated by protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK). METHODS AND RESULTS: C57BL/6J mice are fed either a regular or an ethanol-containing liquid diet (with 28% energy form ethanol) with or without quercetin supplementation (100 mg kg-1 BW) for 12 weeks. Ethanol feeding or treatment induced ferroptosis in mice and AML12 cells, which is associated with increased MAMs formation and PERK expression within MAMs. Quercetin attenuates these changes and protects against ethanol-induced liver injury. The antiferroptotic effect of quercetin is abolished by ferroptosis inducers, but mimicked by ferroptosis inhibitors and PERK knockdown. The study demonstrates that PERK structure, rather than its kinase activity (transfected with the K618A site mutation that inhibits kinase activity-ΔK plasmid or protein C terminal knockout-ΔC plasmid of PERK), mediates the enhanced MAMs formation and ferroptosis during the ethanol exposure. CONCLUSION: Quercetin ameliorates ethanol-induced liver injury by inhibiting ferroptosis via modulating PERK-dependent MAMs formation.

Excess iron accumulation mediated senescence in diabetic kidney injury.

Cellular senescence and iron accumulation were separately observed in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Limited evidence supports that iron was significantly accumulated in senescent cells. We aimed to explore whether iron is involved in the pathogenesis role of senescence in DN. Renal cells were treated with high glucose (HG, 35 mM) for 10 or 15 days, and DN mice were induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin. Gene ontology enrichment, gene set enrichment analysis analysis, ß-galactosidase staining, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine staining, and western blot depicted the upregulated senescence pathway in vitro and in vivo of DN. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was increased by HG and reversed by p16/p21 knockdown, and the supernatant of HG-treated cells caused increased LDH release from normal cells. Iron metabolism-related protein expression was disordered after HG exposure concomitant with senescence. Ferric ammonium citrate (50 µM) upregulated gamma-H2A.X variant histone and increased the senescence markers in HG-treated cells. The treatment of deferoxamine (0.5 µM) had the opposite effect. Compared to the non-DN individual, increased ferritin and senescence markers were verified in DN mice and patients, and the co-localization of ferritin and senescence markers was observed by immunofluorescence. These results suggested that accumulated iron was correlated with aggravated DNA damage and accelerated senescence, and revealed the role of iron in the cellular senescence of diseases.

Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI) and risk of diabetes in Chinese adults: a prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI) is a valid instrument to assess the diet quality of the Chinese population, but evidence regarding the relationship between CHEI and the risk of diabetes remains limited. We aimed to investigate the prospective association of CHEI with diabetes among Chinese adults. METHODS: 1563 adults free of diabetes at baseline and with at least two survey data from 1997 to 2018 were included. Dietary information was collected by three consecutive 24-h recalls combined with household food inventory, and long-term diet quality was evaluated by the CHEI. Diabetes was defined as self-reported physician-diagnosed diabetes and/or fasting blood glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, and/or HbA1c ≥ 6.5%. Cox proportional hazard models and restricted cubic spline analysis were used to estimate the associations between CHEI and diabetes. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 12.0 years, 192 (10.3%) participants developed new-onset diabetes. Generally, a five-point higher CHEI score was significantly associated with a 17% lower risk of diabetes (HR, 0.83; 95%CI 0.71-0.97). In stratified analysis, inverse associations between CHEI and diabetes were more vigorous in females (HR, 0.68; 95%CI 0.54-0.85) than in males (P for interaction = 0.01). In addition, there was an L-shaped association between CHEI and diabetes risk in the whole population (P for non-linearity = 0.026), while no significant non-linear association was observed in females or males, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that a long-term higher-quality diet evaluated by CHEI was significantly associated with lower risks of diabetes, and the favorable associations were more pronounced among females.

Association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D with bone health measured by calcaneal quantitative ultrasound: a large cross-sectional analysis in children and adolescents.

Background: Vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone health; however, findings in children and adolescents remain inconsistent, and few studies have examined its impact on bone health measured by quantitative ultrasound (QUS). This study aims at assessing the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and bone health, as evaluated by QUS, across varying pubertal stages and genders. Methods: A baseline cross-sectional survey of an ongoing cohort study included 4682 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years from Shenzhen, China. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), which is the sum of 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3, were quantified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Bone health was measured through calcaneal QUS, utilizing the speed of sound (SOS) in the heel as a principal measure-a higher SOS indicating a denser bone structure. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate the association of serum 25(OH)D, 25(OH)D2, and 25(OH)D3 levels with the SOS. Results: Forty-one point-one percent of this population was vitamin D deficient (serum 25(OH)D < 20 ng ml-1), with only 11.1% being sufficient. In the fully adjusted model, we observed a significant positive association between increased serum 25(OH)D quartiles and SOS. Compared with the participants in the lowest quartiles of serum 25(OH)D, those in successive quartiles of 25(OH)D were 3.54 (95% CI: 0.81, 6.28) m s-1, 5.74 (95% CI: 2.87, 8.61) m s-1, and 8.83 (95% CI: 5.83, 11.84) m s-1, respectively (P for trend < 0.0001). The correlations observed for serum 25(OH)D2 and 25(OH)D3 with SOS were similar to those of serum 25(OH)D. Importantly, this association was primarily observed in post-pubertal children and adolescents but was absent in pre- and mid-pubertal participants (P for interaction = 0.0004). Conclusion: Elevated serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with better bone health, as measured through calcaneal QUS, in children and adolescents, particularly among those who had reached the post-pubertal stage. These findings highlight the crucial importance of maintaining sufficient vitamin D levels to support optimal bone health in this demographic.

Association between sugar-free beverage intake and childhood obesity among Chinese children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between sugar-free beverage (SFB) intake and childhood obesity among Chinese children is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To describe the status of SFB consumption among children and adolescents in China and assess the association between SFB intake and different types of obesity. METHODS: The study was based on the baseline data of an ongoing cohort project named Evaluation and Monitoring on School-based Nutrition and Growth in Shenzhen (EMSNGS). Food frequency questionnaires were used to collect information on SFB consumption in 3227 students aged 9-17. Physical and clinical examinations were conducted by trained investigators and clinicians. Multivariable binary logistic regression models were performed to assess the association between SFB intake and general obesity, overweight/obesity, abdominal obesity, metabolically unhealthy overweight (MUOW)/metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). RESULTS: The median age of the participants was 13.28 years. Among the participants, 55.2% were boys, and 66.1% were adolescents. The median SFB consumption was 16.67 mL/d. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, each 100 mL increase in daily SFB intake was associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity (OR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.06-1.23), abdominal obesity (OR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.03-1.23), and MUOW/MUO (OR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.02-1.21), respectively. Stratified analyses showed that family income may have an impact on the association between SFB intake and overweight/obesity (P for interaction = 0.021) and abdominal obesity (P for interaction = 0.031). CONCLUSION: SFB intake was positively associated with childhood obesity in Chinese children, particularly among individuals with high-income families.

Associations between biological ageing and the risk of, genetic susceptibility to, and life expectancy associated with rheumatoid arthritis: a secondary analysis of two observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects life expectancy. Accelerated biological ageing is thought to be a major risk factor for age-related diseases, but its role in rheumatoid arthritis remains uncertain. We aimed to assess the associations between biological ageing and risk of rheumatoid arthritis and genetic susceptibility to the disease. We also aimed to assess the effect of biological ageing on the life expectancy of people with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: We calculated the chronological age-adjusted biological age-by both the Klemera-Doubal method (KDMAge) and phenotypic age (PhenoAge)-as a surrogate measure for biological ageing in participants from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and UK Biobank study. KDMAge or PhenoAge acceleration was defined as the residual of the regression of KDMAge or PhenoAge based on chronological age. Participants with accelerated biological ageing had KDMAge or PhenoAge acceleration values greater than 0, whereas those without accelerated ageing had values less than or equal to 0. We did cross-sectional analyses to assess the association between biological ageing and prevalent rheumatoid arthritis in both cohorts and prospective analyses to assess the association between biological ageing and incident rheumatoid arthritis in the UK Biobank. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyse these associations. Polygenic risk scores were used to establish genetic susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis and to analyse the interaction between biological ageing and genetic risk. We also assessed the association between life expectancy and biological ageing status in people with rheumatoid arthritis. FINDINGS: In the cross-sectional analyses, each 1-year increase in age-adjusted biological age was associated with an increase in the risk of rheumatoid arthritis of between 1% and 10%. In the NHANES, individuals with accelerated ageing had a higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis than non-accelerated ageing individuals, with odds ratios of 1·21 (95% CI 1·03-1·42; p=0·018) for KDMAge acceleration and 1·46 (1·26-1·69; p<0·0001) for PhenoAge acceleration. Similarly, in the UK Biobank, the risk of rheumatoid arthritis was increased in individuals with accelerated ageing compared with individuals with no accelerated ageing (KDMAge odds ratio 1·96 [95% CI 1·71-2·24]; PhenoAge 2·71 [2·51-2·92]). In the prospective analyses of the UK Biobank population, accelerated biological ageing was associated with an increased risk of incident rheumatoid arthritis as measured by both KDMAge (hazard ratio 1·27 [95% CI 1·03-1·55]) and PhenoAge (1·70 [1·52-1·92]). Among participants with high genetic predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis, accelerated biological ageing was associated with an increased risk of incident disease, and we noted significant additive interactions between accelerated biological ageing and genetic risk. At age 45 years, people with rheumatoid arthritis had reduced life expectancy compared with those without rheumatoid arthritis. Among people with rheumatoid arthritis, accelerated biological ageing was associated with reduced life expectancy compared with not having accelerated biological ageing. INTERPRETATION: Accelerated biological ageing could increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis, especially among people with high genetic risk, and could reduce the life expectancy of people with rheumatoid arthritis. The identification of populations with accelerated biological ageing has important implications for reducing the risk of rheumatoid arthritis and of lowered life expectancy. FUNDING: National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Glucocorticoid receptor regulates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process through GR/ZEB1/E-cad and is involved in breast cancer endocrine drug resistance-a bioinformatics analysis.

Background: Studies have shown that there is a connection between estrogen receptor (ER) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), which can impact the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and contribute to endocrine resistance in breast cancer. However, the specific mechanism is unclear. It is crucial to investigate this mechanism further. Methods: This study aimed to confirm the role of GR in breast cancer endocrine resistance. Based on our hypothesis, GR is linked to a gene involved in the EMT process, and thus contributes to endocrine resistance in breast cancer. We obtained survival data and GR expression data from Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC). Additionally, we gathered GR expression data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Using Cytoscape, we constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and identified key genes. Data of Vimentin, E-cad, and Wnt/ß-catenin expression were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We used the co-expression method to identify key proteins. UALCAN and cBioPortal were utilized to verify the function of the key protein. Results: In ER+ breast cancer, GR (P=3.12780899271121E-08) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) (P=1.716157E-01) were lowly expressed and down-regulated genes of GR differentially expressed genes were enriched in cell adhesion molecules. We screened for the key protein ZEB1 and found high levels of it was positively associated with prolonged recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients receiving endocrine therapy (P=0.0024), while high levels of E-cad were negatively associated (P=0.0038). GR expression was positively associated with ZEB1 (Spearman =0.29, P=8.50e-21), negatively associated with E-cad (Spearman =-0.13, P=5.17e-5), and negatively associated with the SETD1B (Spearman =-0.14, P=1.527e-5), a gene downstream of ZEB1. In contrast, ZEB1 expression was negatively correlated with E-cad (Spearman =-0.081, P=3.132e-3) and negatively correlated with SET domain-containing 1B (SETD1B) (Spearman =-0.177, P=9.07e-11). Conclusions: In ER+ breast cancers, GR expression is suppressed, and the EMT process is inhibited by suppressing ZEB1 expression and thus promoting E-cad expression. For the investigation of endocrine medication resistance in breast cancer, it is crucial to identify the mechanisms by how GR participates in the EMT process.

Associations between High Protein Intake, Linear Growth, and Stunting in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for linear growth and preventing stunting. Current evidence indicates that dietary protein intake in children and adolescents is often two to three times higher than the recommendations in many regions worldwide. However, few studies have focused on the association between high protein intake and linear growth and stunting in this population. We aim to investigate this association in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years in a population with relatively high protein consumption. METHODS: We conducted a large cross-sectional study involving 3299 participants from Shenzhen, a modern metropolis of China. Protein intake, including total protein, animal protein, and plant protein, was evaluated by a food-frequency questionnaire and expressed as grams per kilogram of body weight per day (g·kg-1·d-1) and as a percentage of total energy intake (%E). The primary outcomes were body height and height-for-age Z score (HAZ). Generalized linear models and logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the associations between protein intake and outcomes. We also conducted stratified analyses across different genders and pubertal stages in the aforementioned associations. RESULTS: The mean protein intake was 1.81 g·kg-1·d-1 (17% E). After adjusting for serum calcium, zinc, vitamin D3, vitamin A levels, birth outcomes, lifestyle, and parental characteristics, each standard deviation increase of 1 in protein intake (0.64 kg-1·d-1) is found to be associated with a -5.78 cm change in body height (95% CI: -6.12, -5.45) and a -0.79 change in HAZ (95% CI: -0.84, -0.74). Consistent results were observed when protein intake was expressed as %E or specifically as animal or plant protein. Moreover, the relationship between protein intake and linear growth remained consistent across genders in different pubertal stages, similar to that of the overall participants. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the potential hazards of high protein intake on linear growth in children and adolescents. Caution should be exercised when promoting increased protein consumption in children and adolescents who already have a high intake of protein.

Associations of Combined Lifestyle Factors with MAFLD and the Specific Subtypes in Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults: The Dongfeng-Tongji Cohort Study.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the crucial pathogenesis for intra-hepatic and extra-hepatic diseases, especially in elderly adults. Lifestyle management may be a modifiable cost-effective measure for MAFLD prevention, but the evidence is limited. A total of 23,408 middle-aged and elderly individuals were included in a longitudinal study from 2008 to 2018. Combined lifestyle scores (range 0-6) were evaluated by BMI, smoking, drinking, diet, physical activity, and sleep. Logistic regression models were used to calculate ORs for the risks of MAFLD and specific subtypes. The mean age of participants was 61.7 years, and 44.5% were men. Compared with poor lifestyle (scores 0-2), ORs (95% CIs) of the ideal lifestyle (scores 5-6) were 0.62 (0.57-0.68) for MAFLD, 0.31 (0.28-0.34) for MAFLD with excess weight and obesity, 0.97 (0.75-1.26) for MAFLD with diabetes, and 0.56 (0.51-0.62) for MAFLD with metabolic dysregulation. Additionally, lifestyle improvement was associated with lower risks of MAFLD (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.68-0.86), MAFLD with excess weight and obesity (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.63-0.81), MAFLD with diabetes (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.54-1.02) and MAFLD with metabolic dysregulation (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.43-0.55), respectively. Our findings suggest that adherence to a combined healthy lifestyle was associated with lower risks of MAFLD, particularly in excess weight/obese individuals or those with metabolic dysregulation.

Associations between dietary patterns and serum uric acid concentrations in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

The serum uric acid (SUA) concentrations in children and adolescents in southeast coastal China are generally high. The relationship between diet and SUA in children and adolescents remains unclear. The objective of the study was to assess the associations between data-driven dietary patterns with SUA concentrations and hyperuricemia in Chinese children and adolescents and to explore the role of food components. This study involved 3383 participants aged 9 to 17 years from a representative nutrition and growth survey conducted in Shenzhen, a southeast coastal city in China. The dietary intake data, obtained from a validated food frequency questionnaire, were categorized into 19 food groups for factor analysis to derive dietary patterns. Weighted least squares regression was performed to examine the associations between dietary patterns and SUA concentrations, logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between dietary patterns and hyperuricemia, and the relationship between food groups and food components with SUA concentrations was further analyzed. The potential dietary factors contributing to the associations between dietary patterns and SUA concentrations were explored by adjusting various food components. Six dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis, including an ultra-processed diet, plant-based nutritious diet, meat-based diet, soup/seafood/egg diet, vegetarian diet, and mushroom/animal organ diet. After adjusting for confounders, the meat-based diet exhibited a positive correlation with SUA concentrations (ß = 4.89; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.60-9.18; P = 0.03), while the vegetarian diet could reduce the risk of hyperuricemia (odds ratio = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80-0.98; P = 0.02). In addition, dietary intake of poultry (g per d) (ß = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.16, P = 0.02), animal organs, blood (g per d) (ß = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.51, P = 0.002) and hypoxanthine (mg per d) (ß = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.06, P = 0.02) showed a significantly positive correlation with SUA concentrations, while that of vegetables (g per d) (ß = -0.02, 95% CI: -0.03, -0.01, P = 0.03) showed a significantly negative correlation. In summary, for children and adolescents, it is recommended to increase vegetable intake and reduce animal-based food intake in order to control SUA concentration and prevent hyperuricemia. This study was registered at the China Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2100051722).

Abdominal obesity mediates the causal relationship between depression and the risk of gallstone disease: retrospective cohort study and Mendelian randomization analyses.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to explore the causal effect of depression on the risk of gallstone disease, and the mediation effects of metabolic traits. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study on Chinese elderly from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort (including 18,141 individuals) was conducted to estimate the adverse effect of probable depression on the risk of gallstone disease. Two-sample Mendelian randomization was performed in European and East-Asian ancestries, to verify the causal relationship between major depression and gallstone disease. We further applied two-step Mendelian randomization to explore the mediation effects of metabolic traits. RESULTS: In the cohort study, probable depression was associated with an increased risk of gallstone disease within 5 years, with RR (95% CI) of 1.33 (1.12, 1.58) in multivariable regression, and 1.34 (1.11, 1.61) following propensity score weighting. Bidirectional Mendelian randomization in European ancestry revealed a positive causal effect (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.37) of genetically predicted major depression liability on gallstone disease, based on the inverse variance weighted method. Little evidence was presented from other complementary approaches, and the analysis in East-Asian ancestry (IVW estimated OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.92 to 1.15). The indirect effect via waist circumference and HDL-C were 1.06 (95% CI: 1.02 to 1.10) and 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00 to 1.01) respectively, which mediated 25.8% and 3.78% of the causal relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggested a higher risk of gallstone disease in the population with probable depression, while the two-sample Mendelian randomization provided weak evidence for the causal relationship, which was moderately mediated by abdominal obesity.

Multifunctional light-controllable nanozyme enabled bimodal fluorometric/colorimetric sensing of mercury ions at ambient pH.

Nanomaterials with enzyme-like catalytic features (nanozymes) find wide use in analytical sensing. Apart from catalytic characteristics, some other interesting functions coexist in the materials. How to combine these properties to design multifunctional nanozymes for new sensing strategy development is challenging. Besides, in nanozymes it is still a challenge to conveniently control the catalytic process, which also hinders their further applications in advanced biochemical analysis. To remove the above barriers, here we design a light-controllable multifunctional nanozyme, namely manganese-inserted cadmium telluride (Mn-CdTe) particles, that integrates oxidase-like activity with luminescence together, to achieve the fluorometric/colorimetric dual-mode detection of toxic mercury ions (Hg2+) at ambient pH. The Mn-CdTe exhibits a light-triggered oxidase-mimicking catalytic behavior to induce chromogenic reactions, thus enabling one to start or stop the catalytic progress easily via applying or withdrawing light irradiation. Meanwhile, the quantum dot material can exhibit bright photoluminescence, which provides the fluorometric channel to sense targets. When Hg2+ is introduced, it rapidly leans toward Mn-CdTe through electrostatic interaction and Te-Hg bonding and induces the aggregation of the latter. As a result, the luminescence of Mn-CdTe is dynamically quenched, and the masking of active sites in aggregated Mn-CdTe leads to the decrease of light-initiated oxidase-mimetic activity. According to this principle, a new fluorometric/colorimetric bimodal method was established for Hg2+ determination with excellent performance. A 3D-printed portable platform combining paper-based test strips and an App-equipped smartphone was further fabricated, making it possible to achieve in-field sensing of the analyte in various matrices.

National Initiatives on Salt Substitutes: Scoping Review.

BACKGROUND: Salt substitutes are edible salts that contain less sodium chloride owing to its partial substitution with other minerals, which serve as an important and effective intervention and public health strategy targeting hypertension and its secondary diseases, despite a small degree of controversy. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the current salt substitute initiatives in various nations and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) worldwide and summarize their types and characteristics. METHODS: A scoping review was performed based on Arksey and O'Malley's framework and the latest guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Searches were conducted on Google; government websites on food, health, and other related topics; PubMed; Web of Science; and Google Scholar from January 2022 to May 2022. Initiatives related to salt substitutes that were included in the study focused on the involvement of governments or IGOs through the publication of standards, actions, collaborations, funding, and so on. Data were extracted into Microsoft Excel (version 2019; Microsoft Corp) based on predefined items and analyzed using narrative synthesis and frequency count methods. RESULTS: A total of 35 initiatives from 11 countries (of which 9 are high-income countries) and 3 IGOs were identified. We classified all salt substitute initiatives into 5 types, namely benefit-risk assessments and cautions; plans and actions; regulations and standards; labels; and food reformulation, cooperation with the food industry, and media. More than half (18/35, 51%) of the salt substitute initiatives were launched within the past 5 years. Except for regulations and standards, salt substitute initiatives are, in general, part of the salt reduction framework. No nation or IGO has yet reported on the monitoring and implications of the use of salt substitutes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited number of salt substitute initiatives worldwide at present, a review on the different types and characteristics of such initiatives could be helpful in providing a reference for policy makers and stakeholders. Given the great potential of salt substitutes in improving hypertension and stroke, we call on more nations to pay attention to these substitutes and propose salt substitute initiatives in line with their national conditions.

Selection and verification of reliable internal reference genes in stem development of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.).

Herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) has emerged in the cut flower market due to its beautiful appearance. The bending flower stems caused by a lack of mechanical strength is the main problem restricting the development of the cut P. lactiflora industry. So it is of great worth to reveal the basis of stem development changes in P. lactiflora to improve its cut flower quality. Quantitative research on gene expression characteristics can provide clues for understanding their biological functions, and the screening of relatively stable expression genes is a prerequisite for the quantitative study of gene expression characteristics. Thus, it is necessary to find appropriate genes during stem development so as to analyze the qRT‒PCR results. In this study, 10 genes were screened, and these genes expressed stably in stems of different stem strengths at three different developmental stages. Then, their expressions were evaluated by RefFinder, BestKeeper, NormFinder, and GeNorm programs. The results demonstrated that γ-tubulin (γ-TUB) was the most suitable gene, followed by α-tubulin (α-TUB) and ß-D-glucosidase (ß-GUS), whereas histone H3 (His) was the least suitable gene. Besides, the temporal and spatial expression characteristics of PlCOMT1, the key gene concerned with the synthesis of cell wall fillers in P. lactiflora, were also used to evaluate the suitability of genes. Consequently, γ-TUB and α-TUB are the two best combinations during stem development, and their combination can be used for the stem development of P. lactiflora. These findings will provide a reference for the selection of genes related to stem development and the study of molecular mechanisms related to stem development in P. lactiflora. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01325-5.

A Simple and Effective Physical Ball-Milling Strategy to Prepare Super-Tough and Stretchable PVA@MXene@PPy Hydrogel for Flexible Capacitive Electronics.

Biomimetic flexible electronics for E-skin have received increasing attention, due to their ability to sense various movements. However, the development of smart skin-mimic material remains a challenge. Here, a simple and effective approach is reported to fabricate super-tough, stretchable, and self-healing conductive hydrogel consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), Ti3 C2 Tx MXene nanosheets, and polypyrrole (PPy) (PMP hydrogel). The MXene nanosheets and Fe3+ serve as multifunctional cross-linkers and effective stress transfer centers, to facilitate a considerable high conductivity, super toughness, and ultra-high stretchability (elongation up to 4300%) for the PMP hydrogel with. The hydrogels also exhibit rapid self-healing and repeatable self-adhesive capacity because of the presence of dynamic borate ester bond. The flexible capacitive strain sensor made by PMP hydrogel shows a relatively broad range of strain sensing (up to 400%), with a self-healing feature. The sensor can precisely monitor various human physiological signals, including joint movements, facial expressions, and pulse waves. The PMP hydrogel-based supercapacitor is demonstrated with a high capacitance retention of ≈92.83% and a coulombic efficiency of ≈100%.

Autophagy and exosomes coordinately mediate quercetin's protective effects on alcoholic liver disease.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a spectrum of liver abnormalities induced by chronic alcohol abuse, continues to be the major cause of life-threatening liver disease in developed countries. Autophagy and exosomes were individually confirmed to be involved in the pathogenesis of ALD. Here, we sought to identify the role of autophagy and exosomes in the liver protective effects of quercetin. We observed decreased hepatic LC3II/LC3I and increased p62 level in ethanol-fed mice, and these changes were alleviated by quercetin. Meanwhile, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) showed elevated serum exosomes numbers in ethanol-fed mice, which was combated by quercetin. Ethanol induced elevated LDH, ALT, and AST in HepG2 supernatant, which was alleviated by cytochalasin D (exosomes uptake inhibitor). Moreover, quercetin reduced ethanol-induced LDH and ALT elevation in vitro, and the effects of quercetin were reversed by Rab27a overexpression (induce exosomes release) or wortmannin treatment (autophagy inhibitor). Transcriptomic analysis supported that quercetin reversed the change of lysosome related genes disturbed by ethanol. Meanwhile, western blot analysis exhibited decreased hepatic expression of LAMP2 and ATPA6V1B2, and active Cathepsin B/Cathepsin B by quercetin treatment, indicating quercetin alleviated lysosome dysfunction in ethanol-fed mice. Baf A treatment or transfection of siTFEB offset quercetin's effects in ethanol-induced LDH and ALT elevation, exosomes release, and autophagy inhibition (LC3II/I and p62 accumulation). Taken together, quercetin coordinately activates autophagy and combats exosomes release by restoring lysosome function, and further mitigates ethanol-induced liver damage.

Iron-loaded extracellular vesicles: angel or demon?

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are identified as a non-classical way to mediate iron efflux except ferroportin. Interestingly, recent studies indicated that EVs pathway is a novel way involved in iron efflux. Mitochondria-derived vesicles (MDVs) are the potential mediator to load mitochondrial iron into EVs. Additionally, iron-replete cells resist excess iron-induced damage by secreting iron-loaded EVs, and the uptake of these EVs induces oxidative damage in the recipient cell. Importantly, iron-loaded EVs play a key role in aberrant iron distribution, which drives the progress of diseases like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we summarize extant research on intracellular iron export with an emphasis on EVs and put our eyes on the relationship between iron-loaded EVs with both parent and target cells. Iron-loaded EVs will be an important avenue for later research on their vital role in iron redistribution.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Glucosinolate Metabolites (mGWAS) in Brassica napus L.

Glucosinolates (GSLs) are secondary plant metabolites that are enriched in rapeseed and related Brassica species, and they play important roles in defense due to their anti-nutritive and toxic properties. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study of six glucosinolate metabolites (mGWAS) in rapeseed, including three aliphatic glucosinolates (m145 gluconapin, m150 glucobrassicanapin and m151 progoitrin), one aromatic glucosinolate (m157 gluconasturtiin) and two indole glucosinolates (m165 indolylmethyl glucosinolate and m172 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin), respectively. We identified 113 candidate intervals significantly associated with these six glucosinolate metabolites. In the genomic regions linked to the mGWAS peaks, 187 candidate genes involved in glucosinolate biosynthesis (e.g., BnaMAM1, BnaGGP1, BnaSUR1 and BnaMYB51) and novel genes (e.g., BnaMYB44, BnaERF025, BnaE2FC, BnaNAC102 and BnaDREB1D) were predicted based on the mGWAS, combined with analysis of differentially expressed genes. Our results provide insight into the genetic basis of glucosinolate biosynthesis in rapeseed and should facilitate marker-based breeding for improved seed quality in Brassica species.

An R2R3-MYB network modulates stem strength by regulating lignin biosynthesis and secondary cell wall thickening in herbaceous peony.

Stem strength is an important agronomic trait affecting plant lodging, and plays an essential role in the quality and yield of plants. Thickened secondary cell walls in stems provide mechanical strength that allows plants to stand upright, but the regulatory mechanism of secondary cell wall thickening and stem strength in cut flowers remains unclear. In this study, first, a total of 11 non-redundant Paeonia lactiflora R2R3-MYBs related to stem strength were identified and isolated from cut-flower herbaceous peony, among which PlMYB43, PlMYB83 and PlMYB103 were the most upregulated differentially expressed genes. Then, the expression characteristics revealed that these three R2R3-MYBs were specifically expressed in stems and acted as transcriptional activators. Next, biological function verification showed that these P. lactiflora R2R3-MYBs positively regulated stem strength, secondary cell wall thickness and lignin deposition. Furthermore, yeast-one-hybrid and dual luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that they could bind to the promoter of caffeic acid O-methyltransferase gene (PlCOMT2) and/or laccase gene (PlLAC4), two key genes involved in lignin biosynthesis. In addition, the function of PlLAC4 in increasing lignin deposition was confirmed by virus-induced gene silencing and overexpression. Moreover, PlMYB83 could also act as a transcriptional activator of PlMYB43. The findings of the study propose a regulatory network of R2R3-MYBs modulating lignin biosynthesis and secondary cell wall thickening for improving stem lodging resistance, and provide a resource for molecular genetic engineering breeding of cut flowers.