Effect of high-intensity ultrasound on the structural and functional properties of proteins in housefly larvae (Musca demestica).

Insect protein has gradually attracted wide attention from the international research community as a promising source of high-quality protein that can replace traditional protein sources. The larvae of the housefly, a prevalent and widespread species, contain high levels of protein with beneficial properties, namely, anti-fatigue, anti-radiation, and anti-aging functions, as well as liver protection and immunity enhancement. This work thoroughly examined the impact of high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) on the structural and functional characteristics of housefly larval concentrate protein (HLCP). HLCP samples were sonicated for 20 min at a frequency of 20 kHz with varying energies (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 W). The findings demonstrated that sonication considerably altered the secondary and tertiary structures of HLCP but had no effect on molecular weight. With an increase in ultrasonic power, HLCP's particle size shrank, more hydrophobic groups were exposed, more free sulfhydryl groups were present, the solution's stability improved, and HLCP's solubility rose. In addition, HLCP's emulsification and foaming abilities were improved by HIUS treatment. It is anticipated that this study's findings will offer fresh insights into the implementation of HLCP in the food sector.

Hydrochemistry, quality, and integrated health risk assessments of groundwater in the Huaibei Plain, China.

Groundwater is an essential freshwater resource utilized in industry, agriculture, and daily life. In the Huaibei Plain (HBP), where groundwater significantly influences socio-economic development, information about its quality, hydrochemistry, and related health risks remains limited. We conducted a comprehensive groundwater sampling in the HBP and examined its rock characteristics, water quality index (WQI), and potential health risks. The results revealed that the primary factors shaping groundwater hydrochemistry were rock dissolution and weathering, cation exchange, and anthropogenic activities. WQI assessment indicated that only 73% of the groundwaters is potable, as Fe2+, Mn2+, NO3-, and F- contents in the water could pose non-carcinogenic hazards to humans. Children were more susceptible to these health risks through oral ingestion than adults. Uncertainty analysis indicated that the probabilities of non-carcinogenic risk were approximately 57% and 31% for children and adults, respectively. Sensitivity analysis further identified fluoride as the primary factor influencing non-carcinogenic risks, indicating that reducing fluoride contamination should be prioritized in future groundwater management in the HBP.

Integrating Transcriptomics and Metabolomics to Explore the Novel Pathway of Fusobacterium nucleatum Invading Colon Cancer Cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy with a very high incidence and mortality rate worldwide. Fusobacterium nucleatum bacteria and their metabolites play a role in inducing and promoting CRC; however, no studies on the exchange of information between Fusobacterium nucleatum extracellular vesicles (Fnevs) and CRC cells have been reported. Our research shows that Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC25586 secretes extracellular vesicles carrying active substances from parental bacteria which are endocytosed by colon cancer cells. Moreover, Fnevs promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells and inhibit apoptosis; they also improve the ability of CRC cells to resist oxidative stress and SOD enzyme activity. The genes differentially expressed after transcriptome sequencing are mostly involved in the positive regulation of tumor cell proliferation. After detecting differential metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, Fnevs were found to promote cell proliferation by regulating amino acid biosynthesis in CRC cells and metabolic pathways such as central carbon metabolism, protein digestion, and uptake in cancer. In summary, this study not only found new evidence of the synergistic effect of pathogenic bacteria and colon cancer tumor cells, but also provides a new direction for the early diagnosis and targeted treatment of colon cancer.

Lactocaseibacillus rhamnosus zz-1 Supplementation Mitigates Depression-Like Symptoms in Chronic Stress-Induced Depressed Mice via the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis.

Accumulating evidence has revealed an association between depression and disordered intestinal microecology. The discovery of psychobiotics has provided a promising perspective for studying the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Here, we aimed to investigate the antidepressant abilities of Lactocaseibacillus rhamnosus zz-1 (LRzz-1) and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The viable bacteria (2 × 109 CFU/day) were orally supplemented to depressed C57BL/6 mice induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and the behavioral, neurophysiological, and intestinal microbial effects were assessed, with fluoxetine used as a positive control. The treatment with LRzz-1 effectively mitigated the depression-like behavioral disorders of depressed mice and reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokine mRNA (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) in the hippocampus. In addition, LRzz-1 treatment also improved tryptophan metabolic disorder in the mouse hippocampus, as well as its peripheral circulation. These benefits are associated with the mediation of microbiome-gut-brain bidirectional communication. CUMS-induced depression impaired the intestinal barrier integrity and microbial homeostasis in mice, neither of which was restored by fluoxetine. LRzz-1 prevented intestinal leakage and significantly ameliorated epithelial barrier permeability by up-regulating tight-junction proteins (including ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1). In particular, LRzz-1 improved the microecological balance by normalizing the threatened bacteria (e.g., Bacteroides and Desulfovibrio), exerting beneficial regulation (e.g., Ruminiclostridium 6 and Alispites), and modifying short-chain fatty acid metabolism. In summary, LRzz-1 showed considerable antidepressant-like effects and exhibited more comprehensive intestinal microecological regulation than other drugs, which offers novel insights that can facilitate the development of depression therapeutic strategies.

Spatial distribution characteristics and prediction of fluorine concentration in groundwater based on driving factors analysis.

Excess fluoride (F-) in groundwater can be hazardous to human health. A total of 360 ground water samples was collected from northern Anhui, China, to study the levels, distribution, and source of F-. And on this basis, predicting the spatial distribution of F- in a wider scale space. The range of F- was 0.1-5.8 mg/L, with a mean value of 1.2 mg/L, and 26.4 % of the samples exceeded the acceptable level of 1.5 mg/L. Moreover, the water-rock interaction (fluorite dissolution) and cation alternate adsorption were considered to be two main driving factors of high F- in groundwater. To further illustrate the spatial effects, the BME-RF model was established by combining the main environmental factors. The spatial distribution of F- was quantitatively predicted, and the response to environmental variables was analyzed. The R2 of BME-RF model reached 0.93, the prediction results showed that the region with 1.0-1.5 mg/L of F- accounts for 47.2 % of the total area. The predicted F- content of nearly 70 % of groundwater in this area has exceeded 1.0 mg/L, which was dominated by Na+ and HCO3- type. The spatial variability of F- in the study area was mainly affected by hydrogeological conditions, and the vertical distribution characteristics were related to the spatial variation of slope, distance from runoff, and hydrochemical types. The results of the study provide new insights into the F- concentration prediction in underground environment, especially in the borehole gap area.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus zz-1 exerts preventive effects on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression in mice via regulating the intestinal microenvironment.

Depression remains one of the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, and it has been confirmed that it is related to the dysfunction of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Manipulation of the gut microenvironment by probiotics might improve mental health and prevent stress-related psychiatric disorders. The present study aimed to determine whether Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) zz-1 could prevent the occurrence of depression and its potential mechanisms using a mouse model with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The results indicated that L. rhamnosus zz-1 intervention ameliorated CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors of mice with reduced body growth rate, lowered sucrose preference, increased immobility time, as well as decreased curiosity and mobility. Moreover, L. rhamnosus zz-1 significantly inhibited hormones released due to hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, alleviated CUMS-induced deficits of monoamine neurotransmitters, and increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB). These benefits were partially linked to the regulation of the intestinal microenvironment. L. rhamnosus zz-1 alleviated intestinal damage and reduced intestinal inflammation of the depressed mice. Meanwhile, L. rhamnosus zz-1 effectively adjusted the dysbiosis of mouse gut microbiota induced by CUMS, such as changes in the abundance of the Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, Bacteroides, and Muribaculum. Taken together, these results demonstrated that L. rhamnosus zz-1 was effective in preventing depression from chronic stress, adding new evidence to support the mental benefits of probiotics.

Task-irrelevant Auditory Event-related Potentials as Mental Workload Indicators: A Between-task Comparison Study.

Real-time monitoring of mental workload (MWL) is a crucial step to build closed-loop adaptive aiding systems for human-machine systems. MWL estimators based on spontaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) have shown great potentials to achieve this goal. However, the previous studies show that the between-task robustness of these EEG/ERP-based MWL estimators is still an unsolved intractable question. This study attempts to examine the task-irrelevant auditory event-related potentials (tir-aERPs) as MWL indicators. A working memory task (verbal n-back) and a visuo-motor task (multi-attribute task battery, MATB), both with two difficulty levels (easy and hard), were used in the experiment, along with task-irrelevant auditory probes that did not need any response from the participants. EEG was recorded from ten participants when they were performing the tasks. The tir-aERPs elicited by the auditory probes were extracted and analyzed. The results show that the amplitudes of N1, early P3a (eP3a) and the late reorienting negativity (RON) significantly decreased with the increasing MWL in both n-back and MATB. Task type has no obvious influence on the amplitudes and topological layout of the MWL-sensitive tir-aERPs features. These results suggest that the tir-aERPs are potentially more constant MWL indicators across very different task types. Therefore, the tir-aERPs should be taken into consideration in future task-independent MWL monitoring studies.

[MicroRNA-29a-3p regulates osteoblast differentiation and peri-implant osseointegration in a rat model of hyperlipidemia by modulating Frizzled 4 expression].

OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to study and identify the influence and target gene of microRNA-29a-3p (miR-29a-3p) in the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in a high-fat environment in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: 1) In vitro: BMSCs were randomly allocated into two groups and were then induced to undergo osteogenic differentiation in a normal or high-fat environment. Next, a miR-29a-3p mimic/inhibitor was transfected into the two groups of cells. The mRNA expression levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Runt related gene 2 (Runx2), and miR-29a-3p and the protein expression levels of ALP and Runx2 were detected before and after transfection through reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analyses. Moreover, Frizzled (Fzd) 4 was predicted as the target gene of miR-29a-3p by using an online database (Target Scan, MiRNA.org). The interactive relationship between miR-29a-3p and Fzd4 was confirmed through dual-luciferase assays. 2) In vivo: Rats were randomly divided into two groups and fed with a standard or high-fat diet. Titanium implants were grown in rats. Then, the expression levels of miR-29a-3p, ALP, and Runx2 were detected in bone tissues surrounding implants. Moreover, hard tissue sections were subjected to methylene blue-acid magenta staining and observed under microscopy to study bone formation around implants. In addition, miR-29a-3p-overexpressing lentiviral vectors were transfected into rats, and the expression levels of ALP, Runx2, and miR-29a-3p in bone tissues surrounding implants were detected at 3 and 10 days after transfection. RESULTS: The expression levels of ALP, Runx2, and miR-29a-3p and the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs were suppressed in high-fat groups in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-29a-3p plays a positive role in the regulation of BMSCs in a high-fat environment. It can increase ALP and Runx2 expression levels in bone tissues surrounding implants in hyperlipidemia models. This result implies that miR-29a-3p can promote implant osseointergration in a rat model of hyperlipidemia.

MicroRNA-29a-3p enhances dental implant osseointegration of hyperlipidemic rats via suppressing dishevelled 2 and frizzled 4.

BACKGROUND: Fine osseointegration is the basis of long-term survival of implant. In our previous study, we observed a strong correlation between hyperlipidemia and compromised osseointegration. MicroRNA-29a-3p (miR-29a-3p) has been discovered to participate in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) differentiation. However, the role and the underlying mechanisms of hyperlipidemia and miR-29a-3p in osseointegration still remain obscure. RESULTS: In peri-implant bone tissues of hyperlipidemia rats, bone mass, mineralization and bone trabecula formation were weakened. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and miR-29a-3p expression were reduced. While in normal rats, implant-bone interfaces were filled with dense new bone and ALP, Runx2 and miR-29a-3p were up-regulated. Overexpressed miR-29a-3p can reverse the adverse effect of hyperlipidemia on osseointegration. Implants were tightly integrated with the surrounding dense new bone tissues, and ALP as well as Runx2 mRNAs were enhanced in miR-29a-3p overexpressed and hyperlipidemia rats, while little peri-implant bone tissue existed, ALP and Runx2 deregulated on miR-29a-3p inhibited rats. Dishevelled 2 (Dvl2) mRNA was declined in peri-implant bone tissue of high-fat (HF) group than normal group, while frizzled 4 (Fzd4) mRNA declined on day 5 and increased from day 10 to day 20 after implantation in hyperlipidemia rats than in normal rats. Next, BMSCs were cultured under HF or normal medium in vitro. In the HF group, ALP activity and mineralization, ALP and Runx2 mRNAs and proteins expression, and miR-29a-3p expression were suppressed, while adipogenesis was increased, as a result, cytoskeletons were sparse and disordered compared to control group. However, when miR-29a-3p was overexpressed in BMSCs, ALP activity, ALP, Runx2, Dvl2 and Fzd4 mRNAs and proteins expressions were up-regulated. As miR-29a-3p was inhibited in BMSCs, the reverse results were obtained. In addition, promoter assay revealed that miR-29a-3p can directly suppress Wnt/ß-catenin pathway related Dvl2 and Fzd4 through binding to their 3'-UTR. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-29a-3p facilitated implant osseointegration via targeting Wnt/ß-catenin pathway-related Dvl2 and Fzd4. MiR-29a-3p/Dvl2/Fzd4 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for hyperlipidemia osseointegration.