Dietary diversity is associated with nutrient adequacy, blood biomarkers and anthropometric status among preschool children in poor ethnic minority area of Northwest China.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the status of dietary diversity, nutrient adequacy, blood biomarkers of nutrients, and anthropometric status, as well as to determine the predictors of dietary diversity score (DDS) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR) among preschool children in poor ethnic minority areas of northwest China. Methods: A total of 578 healthy preschool children aged 3-6 from 17 kindergartens were selected to assess dietary intake, anthropometric status (height-for-age z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), weight-for-height z-score (WHZ), and blood biomarkers. DDS and nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) were adopted to assess dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacy, respectively. Results: The mean DDS (ranging from 1 to 9) was relatively low (4.67 ± 1.56). Most participants consumed starchy staples, but few participants consumed organ meat. DDS was associated with serum potassium, serum iron, WAZ, HAZ, all NARs, and MAR (all p < 0.05). Living in urban areas (ß = 0.158), higher household wealth (ß = 0.116), and more caregivers' nutritional knowledge (ß = 0.022) were positively associated with DDS (all p < 0.01), while living in urban areas (ß = 0.031), higher education of caregivers (ß = 0.0.027), and higher DDS (ß = 0.049) were positively associated with MAR (all p < 0.01). Discussion: In conclusion, dietary diversity was associated with nutrient adequacy and other health outcomes. Nutritional education and poverty alleviation are integral to improving the nutritional status of preschool children.

Alteration in Gut Microbiota Associated with Zinc Deficiency in School-Age Children.

Zinc deficiency could lead to a dynamic variation in gut microbial composition and function in animals. However, how zinc deficiency affects the gut microbiome in school-age children remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to profile the dynamic shifts in the gut microbiome of school-age children with zinc deficiency, and to determine whether such shifts are associated with dietary intake. A dietary survey, anthropometric measurements, and serum tests were performed on 177 school-age children, and 67 children were selected to explore the gut microbial community using amplicon sequencing. School-age children suffered from poor dietary diversity and insufficient food and nutrient intake, and 32% of them were zinc deficient. The inflammatory cytokines significantly increased in the zinc deficiency (ZD) group compared to that in the control (CK) group (p < 0.05). There was no difference in beta diversity, while the Shannon index was much higher in the ZD group (p < 0.05). At the genus level, Coprobacter, Acetivibrio, Paraprevotella, and Clostridium_XI were more abundant in the ZD group (p < 0.05). A functional predictive analysis showed that the metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450 was significantly depleted in the ZD group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, gut microbial diversity was affected by zinc deficiency with some specific bacteria highlighted in the ZD group, which may be used as biomarkers for further clinical diagnosis of zinc deficiency.

Dietary Diversity and Nutrient Intake of Han and Dongxiang Smallholder Farmers in Poverty Areas of Northwest China.

This study aimed to evaluate the status of dietary diversity and nutrient intake among Han and Dongxiang smallholder farmers in poor rural areas of northwest China. In this cross-sectional study, dietary intake was assessed in 499 smallholder farmers aged 18-75 years from two nationally designated impoverished counties in Gansu Province, China, using three consecutive 24 h dietary recalls. The dietary diversity score (DDS) and nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) were adopted to assess dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacy, respectively. The mean DDS (range from 1 to 9) in participants was relatively low (3.81 ± 1.01). Consumption of grains was excessive, while consumption of vegetables, fruits, meat, beans, eggs, fish, and dairy was inadequate. The NAR values were higher in Han Chinese, with the exceptions of vitamin C, potassium, pyridoxine, and selenium (p < 0.05). For each nutrient, the high DDS group had a higher mean NAR (p < 0.05), except for pyridoxine. High household monthly income, being Han Chinese, high DDS, and being aged over 45 years were positively associated with mean adequacy ratio (MAR) of 14 micronutrients evaluated. Lack of dietary diversity and insufficient intake of essential micronutrients are public health concerns in northwest China. Nutrition education and other proper methods to address these issues are needed.

The Effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BX62 Alone or in Combination with Chitosan on the Qualitative Characteristics of Fresh-Cut Apples during Cold Storage.

In order to explore whether beneficial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) could prolong the shelf life and improve the quality of fresh-cut apples, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BX62, which was isolated from traditional fermented yak yogurt, and chitosan (CT), were applied to fresh-cut apples, subsequently stored at 4 °C. On days 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8, apple slices were taken for physicochemical, microbiological analysis, and sensory evaluation. The results showed that apple slices coated with L. plantarum BX62 (8 log CFU/mL) presented lower weight loss and browning rate, higher DPPH scavenging capacity, and achieved more effective inhibition of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities compared to the control samples. The application of CT alone or in combination with L. plantarum BX62 resulted in a significant reduction in aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB), aerobic psychrophilic bacterial (APB), yeast and molds (YAMs) counts (2.31 log CFU/g for AMB, 2.55 for APB, and 1.58 for YAMs). In addition, L. plantarum BX62 coated apples showed acceptable sensory properties in terms of color, flavor, taste, texture, and overall visual quality during 8 d of storage. On this basis, L. plantarum BX62 could be used as an excellent bio-preservative to extend the shelf life and improve the quality of fresh-cut apples.

Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides regulate the innate immunity of colorectal cancer cells by modulating the TLR4 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: It has been well-recognized that the polysaccharides from Atractylodes macrocephala (PAM) are immune system enhancers, which can facilitate the proliferation of lymphocytes and stimulate immune cells. Nevertheless, the antitumor effects of PAM and their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. AIM: Our research aimed to evaluate the anti-cancer effects of PAM on colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: We tested the effects of PAM on the growth and proliferation of CRC cells and macrophages by MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The pro-inflammatory cytokines expression and secretion was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA assay. We also used MC38 cells xenograft model to test the anti-cancer effects of PAM in vivo. RESULTS: We found that although PAM treatment did not significantly affect the growth of CRC cells or enhance the proliferation of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), it could enhance the phagocytosis of BMDMs by CRC cells. Biochemical tests and immunoblotting assays revealed that exposing BMDMs to PAM promoted the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon λ (IFN λ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) through the MyD88/TLR4-dependent signaling pathway. One noteworthy observation is that PAM treatment could significantly prevent tumorigenesis of MC38 cells in C57BL/6J mice and increase the survival duration of mice with tumors, without influence on the weight of those mice. However, the anti-cancer effects of PAM were compromised in TLR4 KO mice, further suggesting that TLR4 signaling plays a vital role in the anti-cancer effects of PAM. CONCLUSION: Therefore, PAM may prove to be a potential candidate in cancer immunotherapy.

Polysaccharide of atractylodes macrocephala inhibits the growth of mice in-situ colon cancer HT-29 cell xenograft via activating immune cells / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@# Objective: To investigate the effect and mechanism of polysaccharide of atractylodes macrocephala (PAM) on the growth of colon cancer cells in mice bearing in-situ colon cancer transplantation tumor. Methods: 1×107 colon cancer HT-29 cells labeled with luciferase were injected into colon serosa of the mice to establish the in-situ colon cancer transplantation tumor model. When the tumor volume reached 230 mm3, the mice were given 30 mg/kg PAM (PAM group) or equal volume of normal saline (Control group) by gavage for 10 consecutive days. The effect of PAM on the growth of colon cancer cells in mice was tested by in vivo tumor imaging technology. The expressions of MHCII and IL-12 in granulocytes, dendritic cells and macrophages, the activation of lymphocytes, and IFN-γ expression in CD4+ and CD8+ cells of tumor tissues were detected by Flow cytometry. Results: PAM significantly inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells in mice bearing in-situ colon cancer transplantation tumor (P<0.01). PAM activated immune cells though increasing the expression levels of MHCII and IL-12 in dendritic cells and macrophages (both P<0.01). PAM significantly increased the frequency of CD8+ cells, NK cells, CD44+/NK cells and CD44+/CD4+ cells in tumor tissues and the number of CD8+ cells and NK cells per unit volume (all P<0.01). PAM significantly increased the IFN-γ secretion of CD4+ and CD8+ cells (both P<0.01), too. Conclusion: PAM inhibits the growth of colon cancer by activating immune cells in tumor tissues of mice bearing in-situ colon cancer transplantation tumor.

Kinetic study on bonding reaction of gelatin with CdS nanopaticles by UV-visible spectroscopy.

The chemical kinetics on gelatin-CdS direct conjugates has been systematically investigated as a function of different temperature and reactant concentration (i.e. Cd(2+), S(2-) and gelatin) by UV-visible spectroscopy, for the first time. The nonlinear fitting and the differential method were used to calculate the initial rate based on the absorbance-time data. A double logarithmic linear equation for calculating the rate constant (k) and the reaction order (n) was introduced. The reaction kinetic parameters (n, k, Ea, and Z) and activation thermodynamic parameters (ΔG(≠), ΔH(≠), and ΔS(≠)) were obtained from variable temperature kinetic studies. The overall rate equation allowing evaluation of conditions that provide required reaction rate could be expressed as: r = 1.11 × 10(8) exp(-4971/T)[Cd(2+)][gelatin](0.6)[S(2-)](0.6) (M/S) The calculated values of the reaction rate are well coincide with the experimental results. A suitable kinetic model is also proposed. This work will provide guidance for the rational design of gelatin-directed syntheses of metal sulfide materials, and help to understand the biological effects of nanoparticles at the molecular level.

Interaction via in situ binding of CdS nanorods onto gelatin.

In situ interaction of CdS nanorods (CdSNRs) with gelatin was investigated at pH 12.0. UV-Visible, FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, synchronous fluorescence, and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy methods were used. It was found that negatively charged CdSNRs quenched the synchronous fluorescence of gelatin by forming a CdS/gelatin complex. The synchronous fluorescence quenching data were analyzed according to Scatchard equation, and the binding constants and corresponding thermodynamic parameters ΔH, ΔG, and ΔS at three different temperatures were calculated. Small positive enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) values indicate that both electrostatic and hydrophobic forces played the major roles in the binding reaction of CdSNRs with gelatin. The effect of CdSNRs on the conformation of gelatin was also analyzed from both synchronous fluorescence and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra. The results provide useful information for exploring the chemical mechanism of interaction between nanomaterials and fibrous protein.

Theoretical examination of ultrasonic pole figures via comparison with the results analyzed by finite element polycrystal model.

The ultrasonic wave velocities in a polycrystalline aggregate are sensitively influenced by texture development due to plastic deformation. According to Sayer's model, it is possible to construct ultrasonic pole figures via the crystallite orientation distribution function (CODF), which can be calculated by using ultrasonic wave velocities. In the previous papers, the theoretical modeling to simulate ultrasonic wave velocities propagating in solid materials under plastic deformation has been proposed by the authors and proved to be a good agreement with experimental results. Generally, wave velocities are dependent upon the propagating wave frequency; hence to evaluate texture development via ultrasonic pole figures it is necessary to examine an influence of frequency dependence on the ultrasonic wave velocities. In the present paper, the proposed theoretical modeling is applied to the texture characterization in polycrystalline aggregates of FCC metals under various plastic strain histories via ultrasonic pole figures, and also the frequency dependence is examined by using Granato-Lücke's dislocation strings model. Then the simulated ultrasonic pole figures are compared with the pole figures analyzed by the finite element polycrystal model (FEPM). The good qualitative agreement between both results suggests the sufficient accuracy of our proposed theoretical modeling.

Luminescence behavior of a water soluble calix[4]arene derivative complex with terbium ion(III) in gelation solution.

The complexation luminescence behavior of a water soluble calix[4]arene derivative, 5,11,17,23-tetra-sulfonate-25,26,27,28-tetra-carboxymethoxycalix[4]arene (L) with lanthanoid ion (Tb(3+)) has been investigated in gelation solution at 25 degrees C by using UV-vis and fluorescence spectra. The results obtained indicated that the water soluble calix[4]arene derivative can form an efficient energy transfer complex with terbium ion(III). The fluorescence of L x Tb(3+)complex is partially quenched by gelatin in gelation solution. The quenching intensity is related to the concentration and the hydrolysis degree of gelatin. Absorption and fluorescence spectra analysis show that the -COO(-) groups on gelatin have a definite binding ability to Tb(3+), and then, gelatin could compete binding with calix[4]arene derivative upon complexation with Tb(3+), leading to the relative fluorescence quenching of the formation complex of terbium(III) ion with calix[4]arene derivative.