Potential nutritional strategies to prevent and reverse sarcopenia in aging process: Role of fish oil-derived ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, wheat oligopeptide and their combined intervention.

INTRODUCTION: Nutritional support is potentially considered an essential step to prevent muscle loss and enhance physical function in older adults. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the role of potential nutritional strategies, i.e., fish oil-derived ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), wheat oligopeptide and their combined intervention, in preventing and reversing sarcopenia in aging process. METHODS: One hundred 25-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 10 groups, and 10 newly purchased 6-month-old rats were included in young control group (n = 10). Fish oil (200, 400 or 800 mg/kg body weight), wheat oligopeptide (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg body weight), fish oil + wheat oligopeptide (800 + 100, 400 + 200 or 200 + 400 mg/kg body weight) or the equal volume of solvent were administered daily by gavage for 10 weeks. The effects of these interventions on natural aging rats were evaluated. RESULTS: All intervention groups had a significant increase in muscle mass and grip strength and reduction in perirenal fat weight when compared to the aged control group (P < 0.05). The results of biochemical parameters, magnetic resonance imaging, proteomics and western blot suggested that the combination of wheat oligopeptide and fish oil-derived ω-3 PUFA, especially group WFM 2 (400 + 200 mg/kg body weight fish oil + wheat oligopeptide), was found to be more effective against aging-associated muscle loss than single intervention. Additionally, the interventions ameliorated fatty infiltration, muscle atrophy, and congestion in the intercellular matrix, and inflammatory cell infiltration in muscle tissue. The interventions also improved oxidative stress, anabolism, hormone levels, and inflammatory levels of skeletal muscle. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of fish oil-derived ω-3 PUFA and wheat oligopeptide was found to be a promising nutritional support to prevent and reverse sarcopenia. The potential mechanism involved the promotion of protein synthesis and muscle regeneration, as well as the enhancement of muscle strength.

Screening the optimal modified biochar for nitrogen retention in black soil.

Reducing the environmental problems caused by nitrogen loss and nitrogen pollution is of great significance. The addition of biochar to soil is a new method for increasing nitrogen interception due to the special structural and physicochemical properties of biochar. The optimal modified biochar was screened out after acid-base modification and batch adsorption test in this paper. And then the effects of different soil and biochar mixing methods on soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen adsorption and retention were explored through soil column leaching test. The results showed that the biochar with a pyrolysis temperature of 700 °C had the best adsorption effect on nitrogen after being modified by 0.1 mol/L HCI, and the adsorption capacity of nitrate nitrogen reached 121.46 mg/g. The adsorption process of ammonia nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen conformed to the Langmuir model and was mainly homogeneous monolayer. After mixing the selected modified biochar with black soil, the pH increased by 4.77%, the content of ammonia nitrogen increased by 4.89%, and the nitrate content increased by 16.62%. In this study, the adsorption effect of biochar on nitrogen in black soil was discussed, so as to explore the optimal use of biochar in soil, which provided some reference basis for the relevant research.

Interaction between the GCKR rs1260326 variant and serum HDL cholesterol contributes to HOMA-ß and ISIMatusda in the middle-aged T2D individuals.

This study aims to investigate the correlations between islet function/ insulin resistance and serum lipid levels, as well as to assess whether the strength of such correlations is affected by the GCKR rs1260326 variant in healthy and T2D individuals. We performed an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) on 4889 middle-aged adults, including 3135 healthy and 1754 T2D individuals from the REACTION population study in the Nanjing region. We also measured their serum lipid levels and genotyped for rs1260326. We found that serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels were independently correlated with indexes of islet function (HOMA-ß and IGI [insulinogenic index]) and insulin resistance (HOMO-IR and ISIMatsuda) in both healthy and T2D individuals. The correlations were significantly decreased in T2D individuals, with significant heterogeneities compared to healthy controls (I2 > 75%, Phet < 0.05). Although no correlation was observed between serum total cholesterol (TC) level and islet function/ insulin resistance in healthy controls, significant correlations were found in T2D individuals, with significant heterogeneity to healthy controls in the correlation with ISIMatsuda(I2 = 85.3%, Phet = 0.009). Furthermore, we found significant interactions of the GCKR rs1260326 variant for the correlations between serum HDL cholesterol and HOMA-ß/ISIMatsuda in T2D subjects (P = 0.015 and 0.038, respectively). These findings illustrate that distinct correlations between serum lipid levels and islet function/ insulin resistance occurred in T2D subjects compared to healthy individuals. Common gene variants, such as rs1260326, might interact substantially when studied in specific populations, especially T2D disease status.

Perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the elderly: results from NHANES 2003-2014.

This study aimed to investigate the association between perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the elderly. Our sample included 1420 participants (≥ 60 years) from the 2003-2014 NHANES study with available serum PFASs, covariates, and outcomes. NAFLD was defined based on the hepatic steatosis index. Weighted binary logistic regression was utilized to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for each chemical. Results suggested that increase in PFOA concentrations was positively associated with risk of NAFLD in adjusted models. PFNA was also significantly associated with NAFLD development in adjusted linear regression. The effect of PFOA or PFNA on NAFLD development was found to be linear in the trend test. This study added novel evidence that exposure to PFASs (PFOA and PFNA) might be associated with NAFLD development.

Improvement in cardiometabolic risk markers following an oatmeal diet is associated with gut microbiota in mildly hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Cardiovascular diseases have been the leading cause of death worldwide for decades. Some animal studies have indicated that oatmeal could improve gut microbiota and cardiometabolic risk markers. However, vivo evidence remained limited, especially in individuals with mild hypercholesterolemia. Our purpose was to explore the beneficial effects of oatmeal on serum lipids, oxidative stress and inflammation levels, and their correlations with gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mildly hypercholesterolemic individuals. The study was a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 62 qualified participants were randomly divided into control group and oatmeal group with a 45-day follow-up. 16S rDNA and Gas-Chromatography Mass Spectrometry were employed respectively to measure the changes in gut microbiota and SCFAs at the start and the end of the intervention period. Cardiometabolic risk markers were assayed via commercial kits. The results suggested that oatmeal could significantly decrease serum total cholesterol (TC) (-8.59 %, p = 0.013), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (-12.97 %, p = 0.004) and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c) (-10.98 %, p = 0.040) level. In terms of oxidative stress, oatmeal significantly increased serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (21.98 %, p < 0.001), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (15.53 %, p = 0.044) levels and decreased concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) (-19.11 %, p = 0.033) compared with control group. While no significant effect was observed in inflammatory factors. SCFAs results indicated that oatmeal could significantly increase serum acetic acid, propionic acid and valeric acid. The results of 16S rDNA showed that there was a significant difference in the alteration of ß-diversity between groups throughout the whole trial. Oatmeal resulted in the increases of Akkermansia, Dialister, Faecalibacterium, Barnesiella, Agathobacter, Lactobacillus and the decrease of Ruminococcaceae-MK4A214-group. Correlation analysis further suggested that the lipids regulation effect of oatmeal may be mainly mediated by Lactobacillus and Dialister, as well as some SCFAs (e.g., acetic acid and propionic acid), while Barnesiella and Akkermansia may play a crucial role in ameliorating oxidative stress level. In conclusion, despite of its small sample size, the present study is the first clinical trial performed in Chinese individuals with mild hypercholesterolemia to explore the effects of oatmeal on serum lipids, oxidative stress, inflammation levels, and gut microbiota. The results demonstrated that oatmeal could induce some beneficial changes in serum lipids, oxidative stress, gut microbiota composition and SCFAs. Correlation analysis further extended our understanding of the role of gut microbiota and SCFAs in improving cardiometabolic risk markers.

Effects of marine-derived and plant-derived omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on erythrocyte fatty acid composition in type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Dietary fatty acids intake affects the composition of erythrocyte fatty acids, which is strongly correlated with glycolipid metabolism disorders. This study aimed at investigating the different effects of marine-derived and plant-derived omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) on the fatty acids of erythrocytes and glycolipid metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: The randomized double-blinded trial that was performed on 180 T2DM patients. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups for the six-month intervention. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups for the six-month intervention. The fish oil (FO) group was administered with FO at a dose of 3 g/day containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the perilla oil (PO) group was administered with PO at a dose of 3 g/day containing α-linolenic (ALA), the linseed and fish oil (LFO) group was administered with mixed linseed and fish oil at a dose of 3 g/day containing EPA, DHA and ALA. Demographic information were collected and anthropometric indices, glucose and lipid metabolism indexes, erythrocyte fatty acid composition were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients finished the trial, with 52 of them in the FO group, 50 in the PO group and 48 in the LFO group. There were significant effects of time × treatment interaction on fast blood glucose (FBG), insulin, HOMA-IR and C-peptide, TC and triglyceride (TG) levels (P < 0.001). Glucose and C-peptide in PO and LFO groups decreased significantly and serum TG in FO group significantly decreased (P < 0.001) after the intervention. Erythrocyte C22: 5 n-6, ALA, DPA, n-6/n-3 PUFA, AA/EPA levels in the PO group were significantly higher than FO and LFO groups, while EPA, total n-3 PUFA and Omega-3 index were significantly higher in the FO and LFO groups compared to PO group. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with perilla oil decreased FBG while fish oil supplementation decreased the TG level. Marine-based and plant-based n-3 PUFAs exhibit different effects on fatty acid compositions of erythrocytes and regulated glycolipid metabolism. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was recorded under Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Center (NO: ChiCTR-IOR-16008435 ) on May 28 2016.

Multi Omics Analysis Revealed a Resistance Mechanism of Tibetan Barley (Hordeum vulgare L., Qingke) Infected by Ustilago hordei.

Tibetan barley (Hordeum vulgare L., qingke) is the principal cereal cultivated on Tibet. Ustilago hordei causing covered smut is a serious disease that limits the yield of qingke. Here, based on multi omics study including metabolome, proteome and transcriptome, we show that during infection, primary metabolisms such as carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipids were significantly changed. Jasmonic acid, which perform as a biotic stress signaler, was significantly repressed, and related genes or proteins also showed different expression in infected qingke. In addition, other defense-related compounds such as riboflavin, ascorbic acid, and protease inhibitors were also detected in omics data. Our results revealed a preliminary biological profile of qingke infected by U. hordei and provide a resource for further research.

The Prebiotic Effects of Oats on Blood Lipids, Gut Microbiota, and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Mildly Hypercholesterolemic Subjects Compared With Rice: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Phytochemicals derived from oats are reported to possess a beneficial effect on modulating dyslipidemia, specifically on lowering total and LDL cholesterol. However, deeper insights into its mechanism remain unclear. In this randomized controlled study, we assigned 210 mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects from three study centers across China (Beijing, Nanjing, and Shanghai) to consume 80 g of oats or rice daily for 45 days. Plasma lipid profiles, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and fecal microbiota were measured. The results showed that total cholesterol (TC) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) decreased significantly with both oats and rice intake after 30 and 45 days. The reduction in TC and non-HDL-C was greater in the participants consuming oats compared with rice at day 45 (p = 0.011 and 0.049, respectively). Oat consumption significantly increased the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Roseburia, and the relative abundance of Dialister, Butyrivibrio, and Paraprevotella, and decreased unclassified f-Sutterellaceae. In the oat group, Bifidobacterium abundance was negatively correlated with LDL-C (p = 0.01, r = -0.31) and, TC and LDL-C were negatively correlated to Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (p = 0.02, r = -0.29; p = 0.03, r = -0.27, respectively). Enterobacteriaceae, Roseburia, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii were positively correlated with plasma butyric acid and valeric acid concentrations and negatively correlated to isobutyric acid. HDL-C was negatively correlated with valeric acid (p = 0.02, r = -0.25) and total triglyceride (TG) was positively correlated to isovaleric acid (p = 0.03, r = 0.23). Taken together, oats consumption significantly reduced TC and LDL-C, and also mediated a prebiotic effect on gut microbiome. Akkermansia muciniphila, Roseburia, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and plasma SCFA correlated with oat-induced changes in plasma lipids, suggesting prebiotic activity of oats to modulate gut microbiome could contribute towards its cholesterol-lowering effect.

Serum Metabolomics Reveals Underlying Mechanisms of Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of Oat Consumption: A Randomized Controlled Trial in a Mildly Hypercholesterolemic Population.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of oat supplementation on serum lipid in a population of adults with mild hypercholesterolemia and reveal the underlying mechanisms with serum untargeted metabolomics. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this placebo-controlled trial, 62 participants from Nanjing, China, with mild elevations in cholesterol are randomly assigned to receive 80 g oats (containing 3 g beta-glucan) or rice daily for 45 days. Fasting blood samples are collected at the beginning, middle, and end of the trial. Compared with the rice group, oat consumption significantly decreases serum total cholesterol (TC) (-8.41%, p = 0.005), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (-13.93%, p = 0.001), and non high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-c) (-10.93%, p = 0.017) levels. There are no significant between-group differences in serum triglyceride (TG), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), glycated albumin, or fasting blood glucose levels. An orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) suggests a clear separation in metabolic profiles between the groups after the intervention. Twenty-one metabolites in the oat group are significantly different from those in the rice group, among which 14 metabolites show a decreased trend. In comparison, seven metabolites show an increased trend. Correlations analysis from both groups indicate that most metabolites [e.g., sphinganine and phosphatidylcholine (PC)(20:5(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)/20:1(11Z))] have positive correlations with serum cholesterol levels. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes pathway analysis suggests that oat consumption regulated glycerophospholipid, alanine, aspartate and glutamate, sphingolipid, and retinol metabolism. CONCLUSION: Oat consumption has beneficial effects on serum lipids profiles. The underlying mechanisms involve glycerophospholipid, alanine, aspartate and glutamate, sphingolipid, and retinol metabolism in adults.

Different effects of high-fat diets rich in different oils on lipids metabolism, oxidative stress and gut microbiota.

The study aimed to investigate the different effects of high-fat (HF) diets rich in different oils on lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and gut mirobiota. C57BL/6 mice were divided into 4 groups: (1) control group (CG) was fed with normal diet, (2) olive oil (OO) group was fed with high-fat diet containing OO, (3) lard oil (LO) group was fed with high-fat diet containing LO, (4) soybean oil (SO) group was fed with high-fat diet containing SO. After 12 weeks, serum lipids, and oxidative stress indices were analyzed. Gut microbiota analysis was carried out based on the sequencing results of 16S rRNA. High fat diet can increase serum and liver lipids and upregulate sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c related genes expression. Serum and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in LO group were significantly higher than those in CG and OO groups. In CG, the family Muribaculaceae, Lactobacillaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Desulfovibrionaceae had the large effect sizes. HF diets resulted in the increase of Actinobacteria and Enterococcaceae abundance, and the decrease of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria Lactobacillales and microbiota diversity. The abundance of Actinobacteria and Lactobacillales is the link to the serum TC and MDA levels. HF diets have the harmful influence on the serum lipids, oxidative stress and endothelial function. They can also cause gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Effects of different delivering matrices of ß-glucan on lipids in mildly hypercholesterolaemic individuals: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

ß-Glucan has been reported for its health benefits on blood lipids in hypercholesterolaemic individuals for years. However, people have paid little attention to the effects of ß-glucan in populations with mild hypercholesterolaemia as well as the various delivering matrices. Our objective was to perform a meta-analysis to analyse the effects of ß-glucan with different delivering matrices in mildly hypercholesterolaemic individuals. After conducting a comprehensive search in Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane Library, a total of twenty-one randomised controlled trials involving 1120 participants were identified to measure the pooled effect. The overall results indicated that consuming a dose of ≥3 g/d of ß-glucan for at least 3 weeks could significantly reduce total cholesterol (TC) (-0·27 mmol/l, 95 % CI -0·33, -0·21, P < 0·001) and LDL-cholesterol (-0·26 mmol/l, 95% CI -0·32, -0·20, P < 0·001) compared with the control group in mildly hypercholesterolaemic individuals, while no significant difference was observed in TAG (-0·03 mmol/l, 95% CI -0·11, 0·06, P = 0·521) and HDL-cholesterol (0·01 mmol/l, 95% CI -0·03, 0·04, P = 0·777). There was evidence for modest unexplained heterogeneity in the meta-analysis. In conclusion, ß-glucan can significantly reduce risk factors like TC and LDL-cholesterol for CVD in mildly hypercholesterolaemic individuals; furthermore, it appears that the effects of food matrices with both 'solid products' and 'liquid products' where ß-glucan was incorporated into were ranked as the best way to exert its beneficial properties, while 'liquid' and 'solid' products were ranked as the second and third positions, respectively.

Management and survival for patients with stage-I hepatocellular carcinoma: An observational study based on SEER database.

It is controversial regarding the treatment allocation for patients with stage I hepatocellular carcinoma (SI-HCC). The aim of the present study was to compare the long-term survival in SI-HCC patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT), liver resection (LR), local tumor destruction (LTD), or none. SI-HCC patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 were extracted from the SEER 18 registry database. Multivariable Cox models and propensity score matching (PSM) method were used to explore the association between surgical methods and long-term prognosis. A total of 5165 patients with stage I (AJCC, 6th or 7th) HCC were included in the study. Only 36.9% of patients diagnosed with HCC in stage I received surgical therapy. The incidence of LT was decreased over time (P < .001). In the multivariable-adjusted cohort (n = 5165), after adjusting potential confounding factors, a clear prognostic advantage of LT was observed in OS (P < .0001) compared with patients after LR. Patients undergoing LTD had a worse OS in comparison with patients who underwent LR (P < .0001). Patients who received no surgical treatment had the worst OS (P < .0001) among 4 treatment groups. In stratified analyses, the salutary effects of LT vs LR on OS were consistent across all subgroups except for a similar result in the noncirrhotic subgroup (P = .4414). The inferior survival effects of LTD vs LR on OS were consistent across all subgroups, and even in the subgroup with tumor size < 3 cm (P = .0342). In the PSM cohort, patients in LT group showed a better OS (P < .001) than patients in LR group (P < .0001) and patients undergoing LTD had a worse OS compared with patients who underwent LR (P = .00059). In conclusion, LT offered a survival advantage compared with LR among patients with Stage I HCC. LT is the best surgical treatment for stage I HCC in patients with advanced fibrosis, whereas LR provides comparable long-term outcomes to LT in patients without advanced fibrosis and should be considered as the first-line surgical option. LTD can be used as an alternative method when LR and LT are unavailable.

[Effects of the mannose, the major component of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, and its potential target metabolite inositol on mouse ß-TC6 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of mannose, the major component of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide, and its potential target metabolite, inositol, on mouse islet ß-TC6 cells. METHODS: Different concentrations(0, 4. 6875, 9. 375, 18. 75, 37. 5, 75 and 150 µg/mL) of mannose or inositol were used to intervene ß-TC6 cells for 24 hours, and the proliferation activity of cells was determined by CCK-8 method. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect insulin secretion after the intervention of the ß-TC6 cells from different concentration of the mannose or inositol(0, 18. 75, 75 and 150 µg/mL) combining with glucose stimulation(20 mmol/L) for 60 minutes. Pioglitazone(3. 92 mg/L) was set up as positive group, and after intervention of the mannose or inositol(0, 9. 375, 18. 75, 75 and 150 µg/mL) for 24 h, the expression levels of insulin, glucose kinase(GK), glucose transporter 4(GLUT4) and glycogen synthase(GS) mRNA were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, mannose and inositol promoted the proliferation of ß-TC6 cells in a concentration-dependent manner(18. 75-150 µg/mL)(P<0. 05). Although the inositol solution of 4. 6875 µg/mL and 9. 375 µg/mL had a tendency to promote cell proliferation, there was no statistical difference(P>0. 05). After stimulation with 20 mmol/L glucose combining with different intervention concentrations(18. 75, 75 and 150 µg/mL) of mannose or inositol, no significant difference was observed in the insulin secretion of each group(P>0. 05) comparing with the control group. RT-qPCR result showed that 150 µg/mL mannose increased the expression level of GLUT4(P<0. 01) and the expression levels of GK and GLUT4 genes in the 75 µg/mL inositol group were significantly increased(P<0. 01). The expression level of GLUT4 was improved only when the concentration was decreased to 18. 75 µg/mL in inositol group(P<0. 01). CONCLUSION: Mannose and inositol can improve the expression of GLUT4 mRNA, which may help to increase glucose uptake by peripheral cells. In addition, inositol can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism by increasing the expression level of GK mRNA.

Excess Body Weight and the Risk of Liver Cancer: Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies.

Objective: To update and expand the previous meta-analysis including all prospective studies on the issue of the associations between overweight, obesity, and liver cancer risk. We also performed a meta-regression to investigate a potential nonlinear and/or linear association between body mass index (BMI) and liver cancer risk.Methods: Literature search was conducted in four libraries from the beginning of indexing for each database to 1st September, 2018.Results: The summary risk estimate was statistically significant on the association between overweight and the risk of liver cancer incidence (relative ratio [RR] = 1.19). The RRs were significantly stronger in people with known liver disease with overweight than in the general population with overweight (RR = 1.50 vs. RR = 1.10; Pdifference = .02). The meta-analysis showed an increase by 87% on the risk of liver cancer incidence in obesity categories, relative to categories of normal BMI (RR = 1.87, P < .01). Moreover, the results showed that, overweight was associated with 9% increased and obesity with 66% increased for risk of liver cancer mortality. In linear model, the relative risks of liver cancer were 1.32 for continuous BMI per 5 kg/m2 increase.Conclusion: This meta-analysis supports the hypothesis that overweight, obesity may significantly increase liver cancer risk.

The Evidence and Controversy Between Dietary Calcium Intake and Calcium Supplementation and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: Our objective was to synthesize both trial and observational studies and undertake a meta-analysis to explore the associations between calcium from dietary and supplemental intakes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks.Methods: Data sources were from PubMed, Cochrane Central, Scopus, and Web of Science, published from the inception dates up to March 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies with data on dietary or supplemental intake of calcium, with or without vitamin D, and cardiovascular outcomes, were included.Results: Of the 1,212 identified studies, 26 prospective cohort studies and 16 RCTs were included. Results of cohort studies reveled that dietary calcium intakes (DCIs) ranging from 200 to 1500 mg/d did not affect the risk of CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke (relative risk (RR) RR for CVD = 0.96, 95% CI, 0.87-1.05; RR for CHD = 0.98, 95% CI, 0.88-1.08; RR for stroke = 0.94, 95% CI, 0.85-1.04). Pooled RR of RCTs showed that the risk of CHD due to calcium supplements (CSs) increased 8% (RR = 1.08, 95% CI, 1.02-1.22; I2 = 0.0%) and increased 20% allocated to CSs alone (RR = 1.20, 95% CI, 1.08-1.33; I2 = 0.0%). CSs increased the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) by 14% (RR = 1.14, 95% CI, 1.05-1.25; I2 = 0.0%), and CSs alone increased the MI risk 21% (RR = 1.21, 95% CI, 1.08-1.35; I2 = 0.0%).Conclusions: We concluded that calcium intake from dietary sources do not adequately increase the risk of CVD including CHD and stroke, while calcium supplements might raise CHD risk, especially MI.

An untargeted metabolomics approach reveals further insights of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in high fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP), as one bioactive macromolecular abstracted from goji berry, has shown an abundance of potential function. The present study aimed to evaluate the metabolic effects of LBP on the urine and liver metabolomics on a high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. After 8 weeks of high-fat diet and streptozotocin induction of diabetes, 24 diabetic rats were randomly allocated to the diabetic control (DC) group, LBP low, moderate, and high dosage (LBP-L, LBP-M, LBP-H) groups and 6 non-diabetic rats were established as the non-diabetic control (NDC) group for 30 days' intervention. Metabolomics was performed on liver and urine. LBP positively regulated fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin-A1c, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, liver glycogen and SOD levels significantly, as compared to the DC group. Liver metabolomics showed higher levels of myo-inositol and lower levels of L-malic acid, fumaric acid, D-arabitol, L-allothreonine 1, xylitol, O-phosphorylethanolamine, ribitol, 5-methoxytryptamine 2 and digitoxose 2 in the LBP-H group vs. the DC group, which indicates that LBP may regulate the citrate cycle, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. Urine metabolomics showed increased levels of creatinine, D-galacturonic acid 2, 2,3-dihydroxybutyric acid and citric acid, and decreased levels of methylmalonic acid, benzoic acid and xylitol between the LBP-H and DC groups. The present study exhibited the effects of LBP on the urine and liver metabolomics in a high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced rat model, which not only provides a better understanding of the anti-diabetic effects of LBP but also supplies a useful database for further specific mechanism study.

Investigation and Comparison of Nutritional Supplement Use, Knowledge, and Attitudes in Medical and Non-Medical Students in China.

The objective of this study is to investigate and compare the prevalence, knowledge, and attitudes of Chinese university students with respect to nutritional supplements. We conducted a cross-sectional study in several universities around China from January to December 2017, and enrolled a total of 8752 students. Of these, 4252 were medical students and 4500 were non-medical students. The use of nutritional supplements was reported by 58.9% in universities students, with a higher rate for medical students as compared to non-medical students. It was found 24.2% of participants had taken supplements in the past year. Medical students had a higher level of knowledge on nutritional supplements than non-medical students (p < 0.001). The most commonly used nutritional supplements were vitamin C, calcium, and vitamin B. Gender (p < 0.001), household income (p < 0.001), and health status (p < 0.001) were related to the nutritional supplement use after adjustment for related factors. In conclusion, in China, nutritional supplement use was found to be more common in medical students than those studying other disciplines, and was associated with sex, income, and health status. The attitude towards nutritional supplements by medical students was positive. Students' knowledge levels about nutritional supplements need to be improved.

[ITS sequences variation and phylogenetic analysis on 31 geographical populations of Notopterygium incisum].

In this study, 31 Notopterygium incisum populations were analyzed using ITS sequences to investigate the genetic structure. The results showed that: the ITS region ranged in size from 634 to 635 bp and base composition was with high G + C content of 57.8%. Thirty-one polymorphic sites were detected from 402 sequences of 31 populations of N. incisum, and the proportion of polymorphic sites was 4.88%, in which parsimony informative sites were up to 12. And 31 haplotypes were identified based on these polymorphic sites. Molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) indicated that high genetic differentiation (57%) existed among population, and gene flow was low (N(m) = 0.38) among populations. Phylogenetic relationships of 31 haplotypes were analyzed using NJ method with N. forbesiias an out-group. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 31 haplotypes from different populations mixed together and did not form distinct geographically separated clades.

Selection, characterization, and biosensing application of high affinity congener-specific microcystin-targeting aptamers.

The efficiency of current microcystin detection methods has been hampered by the low detection limits required in drinking water and that routine detection is restricted to a few of the congeners with high degree of undesired cross-reactivity. Here, we report the development of novel microcystin-targeting molecules and their application in microcystin detection. We have selected DNA aptamers from a diverse random library that exhibit high affinity and specificity to microcystin-LR, -YR, and -LA. We obtained aptamers that bind to all chosen congeners with high affinity with K(D) ranging from 28 to 60 nM. More importantly, we also obtained aptamers that are selective among the different congeners, with selectivity from 3-folds difference in binding affinity to total discrimination (K(D) of 50 nM versus nonspecific binding). Electrochemical aptasensors constructed with the selected aptamers were able to achieve sensitive and congener-specific microcystin detection with detection limit as low as 10 pM.