The Relationship between Burnout and Sense of School Belonging among the Resident Physicians in the Standardization Training in China.

BACKGROUND: As an important part in medical training in graduate school, 33-month medical residency training could be a stressful period inducing burnout (i.e. emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment). Despite that existing literature has found that sense of belonging may have merits for residents' well-being, it has remained unclear how sense of school belonging affects burnout and the potential moderators. To address this question, a cross-sectional survey has been conducted among the residents of the physicians standardized residency training program in China. METHODS: Seven hundred (N = 700) resident physicians from different majors (i.e. clinical medicine, clinical Stomatology, and Chinese medicine) and grades have participated in the survey. Resident's sense of school belonging was assessed with the psychological sense of school membership scale (PSSM, mean = 45.12, SD = 11.14). Burnout was measured by the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS, mean = 65.80, SD = 15.89), including three subscales of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. RESULTS: The results showed that over 80% of the residents reported moderate or high level of emotional exhaustion and reduced personal accomplishment during residency training. Meanwhile, higher level of sense of school belonging was associated with lower overall burnout (B = -0.722, p < 0.001), less emotional exhaustion, reduced depersonalization, and higher personal accomplishment. In particular, the benefits of sense of belonging seem more pronounced among female and those at earlier stage of residency. No interaction effect was found between sense of belonging and major, while those from Chinese medicine reported lower scores in overall burnout and the three dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Burnout was a prevalent issue among the resident physicians, and our findings confirmed the protective effects of sense of school belonging against burnout. Therefore, support service should be developed to cultivate resident's sense of school belonging and social connections, particularly for female and those at earlier stage of residency.

Acupuncture alleviates CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors of rats by regulating oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and ferroptosis.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of depression with acupuncture has been documented. The mechanism behind acupuncture's curative and preventative effects is still unknown. METHODS: The current study examined the effects of acupuncture on depression-like behaviors in a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), while also exploring its potential mechanisms. A total of six groups of rats were randomly assigned: control, CUMS, acupuncture, fluoxetine, acupoint catgut embedding and sham acupoint catgut embedding. Fluoxetine (2.1 mg/kg) and acupoint catgut embedding were used for comparative research to acupuncture. The modelling evaluation is measured by body weight and behavior tests. Western blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the proteins and mRNA expression of Silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1)/ nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/ heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/ Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) pathway in the hippocampus. The expression of oxidative stress (OS)-related proteins and inflammatory cytokines in the serum was detected with ELISA. Immunofluorescence showed microglia and astrocytes activity in the hippocampus. RESULTS: Acupuncture and fluoxetine could alleviate CUMS-induced depression-like behaviors. Acupuncture was also found to effectively reverse the levels of MDA, SOD, GSH, GSH-PX and T-AOC, IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the serum of CUMS-induced rats. Rats with CUMS showed decreased levels of Sirt1, Nrf2, HO-1 and GPX4 in the hippocampus, while acupuncture treatment could partly reverse the diminished effects. In addition, acupuncture treatment significantly reduced the activation of hippocampal microglia and astrocytes in CUMS-induced rats. CONCLUSION: The study's findings indicate that acupuncture has the potential to mitigate depression-like behaviors in rats induced with CUMS by mitigating OS and reducing neuroinflammation.

Electroacupuncture ameliorates chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression-like behavior and cognitive impairment through suppressing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in rats.

BACKGROUND: Depression is associated with lowered mood, anxiety, anhedonia, cognitive impairments, and even suicidal tendencies in severe cases. Yet few studies have directed acupuncture's mechanism toward enhancing axonal repair correlated with synaptic plasticity and anti-inflammatory effects related to oxidative stress in the hippocampus. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group (CON), chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) group, CUMS + electroacupuncture group (EA), and CUMS + fluoxetine group (FLX) (n = 10/group). Rats were given a 28-day treatment at the Shangxing (GV23) and Fengfu (GV16) acupoints with electroacupuncture or fluoxetine (2.1 mg/kg). RESULTS: Rats exposed to CUMS induced depression-like behaviors and spatial learning-memory impairment, changed the ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA-1), Vglut1, myelin basic protein (MBP), and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) level of hippocampal, increased the Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), atypical squamous cell (ASC), Caspase level and hippocampal reactive oxygen species (ROS), and prompted the activation of Epha4-mediated signaling and an inflammatory response. Conversely, electroacupuncture administration reduced these changes and prevented depression-like behaviors and cognitive impairment. Electroacupuncture also promoted hippocampal expression of Sirtuin1(SIRT1), Nuclear factor erythroid 2-like (Nrf2), Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1); reduced the expression of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α); and prevented neural damage, particularly the synaptic myelin sheath, and neuroinflammation by regulating Eph receptor A4 (EphA4) in the hippocampal. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that electroacupuncture prevents depression-like behaviors with cognitive impairment and synaptic and neuronal damage, probably by reducing EphA4, which mediates ROS hyperfunction and the inflammatory response.

A multi-omics analysis strategy reveals the molecular mechanism of the inhibition of Escherichia coli O157:H7 by anthocyanins from Aronia melanocarpa and its application.

Water pollution causes the propagation of pathogenic microorganisms, which poses a serious threat to human life. Escherichia coli O157:H7, as a representative organism that can directly exhibit molecular response to stress, was selected as the indicator bacteria for the study. Tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics and non-targeted metabolomics were used to study the response of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to Aronia melanocarpa anthocyanin (AMA) treatment. The results showed that 628 proteins and 1338 metabolites changed significantly after treatment with AMAs. According to bioinformatics analysis, integrated proteomics and metabolomics analysis differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and metabolites participate in pyruvate metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism and the pentose phosphate pathway. This study preliminarily proposed the inhibition mechanism of AMAs on Escherichia coli O157:H7 from the perspective of multi-omics, providing a theoretical basis for the application of natural preservatives in fresh cut vegetables.

The effect of acupuncture on lateral habenular nucleus and intestinal microflora in depression model rats.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a severe emotional condition that significantly affects the quality of life. Acupuncture exerts preventive effects on depression in rats with post-chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Methods The study involved chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model mice to administer acupuncture as a preventative measure to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture's antidepressant and observe the effect of acupuncture on impact via the Lateral Habenula (LHb) and Gut-Liver-Brain Axis. The researcher investigated molecules correlating with a nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) pathway and assessed inflammation in the LHb and liver. In addition, 16 S rDNA bioinformatics study revealed the quantity and variety of gut microbiota. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (CON), CUMS, CUMS + acupuncture (AP), CUMS + fluoxetine (FX) and CUMS + N(G) -nitro -L- arginine methyl ester (LNAME) group. Except for the CON group, other rats were exposed to CUMS condition for 28 days. Simultaneously, manual acupuncture (at Fengfu and Shangxing acupoints, once every other day) and fluoxetine gavage (2.1 mg/kg, 0.21 mg/mL, daily) were conducted to the groups of AP and FX, respectively, after stressors. Rats in LNAME group were treated with LNAME normal saline (10 mg/kg, 1 mg/mL, i.p.) solution. Behavioural tests and biological detection methods were conducted sequentially to evaluate depressionlike phenotype in rats. RESULTS: The results showed CUMS induced depression-like behaviours, hyper-activation of NO/cGMP signaling pathway, inflammation in serum, LHb and liver, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. These changes could be prevented and ameliorated by acupuncture to varying extents. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture prevented and attenuated depression-like phenotype induced by CUMS, possibly via regulating the NO/cGMP signaling pathway and thus improving inflammation in serum, LHb and liver, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. In addition, these can be evidence of the existence of the gut-liver-brain axis.

Aqueous-Cellulose-Solvent-Derived Changes in Cellulose Nanocrystal Structure and Reinforcing Effects.

Cellulose nanocrystals as reinforcing agents have received considerable interest, and their dimension mainly depends on the original sources of cellulose. We intend to manually modulate the morphology of cellulose nanocrystals by treating them with cellulose solvents so that we can explore their reinforcing capacity. In this work, waste cotton fabric was processed in two aqueous solvents (a sulfuric acid aqueous solution and a NaOH/urea aqueous solution), and the regenerated cellulose was used to produce cellulose nanocrystals using acid hydrolysis. The results revealed that the nanocrystals (RCNC-H) obtained after the treatment in sulfuric acid had a hybrid crystalline structure and a needle-like shape with an aspect ratio of about 15.2, while cotton fabric was completely dissolved in the NaOH/urea aqueous solution, and the regenerated nanocrystals (RCNC-N) displayed a typical crystalline form of cellulose II with a higher crystallinity and a shorter rod-like shape with an aspect ratio of about 6.3. The reinforcing effects of RCNC-H and RCNC-N were evaluated using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films as a model, where the addition of RCNC-H resulted in a relatively better tensile strength and oxygen barrier property, and the PVA/RCNC-N films had a slightly lower water vapor permeability. Therefore, this work suggests a new possibility for altering the naturally formed nanostructure of cellulose for different applications.

The effects of acupuncture on depression by regulating BDNF-related balance via lateral habenular nucleus BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway in rats.

Depression is a major mental disease worldwide, causing dysfunction of Lateral Habenular (LHb). As a non-invasive alternative, acupuncture (AP) has been widely used to treat depression in clinic, yet few basic studies have been focused on the effects and mechanism of acupuncture on synaptic plasticity in LHb. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential mechanism of the antidepressant effect of acupuncture. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), AP, fluoxetine (FLX), acupoint catgut embedding (ACE), sham-ACE groups (n = 9/group). Rats were given a 28-day treatment at the Shangxing (GV23) and Fengfu (GV16) acupoints with acupuncture, ACE, sham-ACE or fluoxetine (2.1 mg/kg). The results showed that AP, FLX and ACE suppressed the behavioral deficits, increased the level of the 5-hydroxytryptamine and FNDC5/IRISIN in serum, also reduced the expression of pro-BDNF impacted by CUMS. Both AP and FLX ameliorated the %area of IBA-1, GFAP, BrdU and DCX in the LHb and increased the expression of BDNF/TrkB/CREB, with non-significant difference between the two groups These findings suggest that AP therapy relieves depression-related manifestations in depressed rats, suggesting a potential mechanism via the BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway in LHb.

Acupuncture Alleviates CUMS-Induced Depression-Like Behaviors by Restoring Prefrontal Cortex Neuroplasticity.

Purpose: To explore the therapeutic efficiency of acupuncture and the related molecular mechanism of neural plasticity in depression. Methods: Chronic unpredictable mild stress- (CUMS-) induced rats were established for the depression animal model. There were a total of four rat groups, including the control group, the CUMS group, the CUMS+acupuncture group, and the CUMS+fluoxetine group. The acupuncture group and the fluoxetine group were given a 3-week treatment after the modeling intervention. The researcher performed the open-field, elevated plus maze, and sucrose preference tests to evaluate depressive behaviors. The number of nerve cells, dendrites' length, and the prefrontal cortex's spine density were detected using Golgi staining. The prefrontal cortex expression, such as BDNF, PSD95, SYN, and PKMZ protein, was detected using the western blot and RT-PCR. Results: Acupuncture could alleviate depressive-like behaviors and promote the recovery of the neural plasticity functions in the prefrontal cortex, showing the increasing cell numbers, prolonging the length of the dendrites, and enhancing the spine density. The neural plasticity-related proteins in the prefrontal cortex, including BDNF, PSD95, SYN, and PKMZ, were all downregulated in the CUMS-induced group; however, these effects could be partly reversed after being treated by acupuncture and fluoxetine (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture can ameliorate depressive-like behaviors by promoting the recovery of neural plasticity functions and neural plasticity-related protein upregulation in the prefrontal cortex of CUMS-induced depressed rats. Our study provides new insights into the antidepressant approach, and further studies are warranted to elucidate the mechanisms of acupuncture involved in depression treatment.

A clinical medicine level test at Jinan University School of Medicine reveals the importance of training medical students in clinical history-taking.

Backgrounds: Training in the basic interview skills of clinical history-taking has always been a significant component of medical education. Purpose: This study was designed to identify the factors influence medical students' history-taking skills learning and develop a way to improve these skills. Methods: We firstly analysed the academic performance of medical students at Jinan University School of Medicine in different disciplines of the Clinical Medicine Level Test (CMLT), to ensure the students have obtained comprehensive medical education prior to beginning their clinical internships. Next, we conducted a survey among the CMLT participants to seek the underlying causes and corresponding measures to improve history-taking in the future. Before these medical students entered their fifth-year clinical practice, we finally provide them with pre-internship training, including the history-taking workshops with standard patients (SP). Results: The analysis of the clinical skill sections of the CMLT revealed that the students performed significantly better on clinical operations from multiple disciplines than on medical history-taking. Principal component analysis of the survey questionnaire indicated that the capability of history-taking, course assessments, and awareness of the value of medical history-taking emerged as the key factors forming a cohesive clue for sustaining history-taking implementation. The intervention workshops of employing SP had a positive impact, as evidenced by the students' feedback and suggestions for improving their ability of history-taking. Conclusions: This study suggests that strengthening of medical history-taking training is indispensable for training qualified medical students. Workshops with SP is a successful teaching strategy for practicing history-taking, allowing students to spot minute errors and training communication skills.

Effects of α-casein on the excretion of blueberry anthocyanins via urine and feces: Analysis of their bioavailability.

Anthocyanins are bioactive compounds found in blueberries. However, their poor bioavailability restricts their functional activities in vivo, which is a challenging issue in the application of blueberry anthocyanins. Our current study utilized α-casein as a carrier and analyzed its influence on the excretion of blueberry anthocyanins in urine and feces in a rat model to reflect the enhanced bioavailability of blueberry anthocyanins by α-casein in vivo. The results showed that α-casein suppressed the excretive content of blueberry anthocyanins (malvidin-3-O-galacoside (M3G), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), and delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (D3G)), increased the content of metabolites in urine (syringic acid, ferulic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and vanillic acid), and reduced metabolite content in feces (syringic acid, ferulic acid, and gallic acid), indicating that α-casein was effective in controlling the excretion of blueberry anthocyanins and their metabolites. In summary, these results provided sufficient evidence for the positive effects of α-casein on the bioavailability of blueberry anthocyanins.

Acupuncture exerts preventive effects in rats of chronic unpredictable mild stress: The involvement of inflammation in amygdala and brain-spleen axis.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has shown the preventive effects on depression in rats with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). However, the mechanisms of acupuncture for preventing depression still need to be explored. In the study, acupuncture was applied to a rat depression model of CUMS, high-mobility group box 1(HMGB1)/toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and brain-spleen axis were assessed. METHODS: Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were exposed to CUMS with two stressors per day for 28 days. In the meantime, manual acupuncture (at GV16 and GV23 acupoints, once every other day) and fluoxetine gavage (2.1 mg/kg, 0.21 mg/mL) were administered daily post CUMS stressors. Behavioral tests and biological detection methods were conducted in sequence to evaluate depression-like phenotypes in rats. RESULTS: The results showed CUMS induced depression-like behaviors, hyper-activation of HMGB1/TLR4 signaling pathway, elevated inflammation in amygdala and peripheral blood, and hyperactivation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These changes could be prevented and reversed by acupuncture to varying extents. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture prevented and ameliorated depression-like symptoms induced by CUMS, possibly via regulating inflammation through brain-spleen axis mediated by HMGB1/TLR4 signaling pathway and HPA axis regulation.

Anthocyanins from Aronia melanocarpa Bound to Amylopectin Nanoparticles: Tissue Distribution and In Vivo Oxidative Damage Protection.

The in vivo applications of anthocyanins are limited by their instability. Nano-encapsulation using amylopectin nanoparticles (APNPs) stabilizes anthocyanins to deliver them to tissues to ameliorate their physiological functions. Herein, rats are fed four Aronia melanocarpa anthocyanins encapsulated with APNPs, and their subsequent distributions and bioactivity in nine tissues are revealed using UHPLC-MS. Among digestive tissues, the concentration of the APNP-protected cyanidin 3-O-arabinoside in the stomach is 134.54% of that of the free anthocyanin, while among non-digestive tissues, the APNP-protected cyanidin 3-O-glucoside concentration in the lungs improved by 125.49%. Concentration maxima "double peaks" in the liver and kidney arise from different modes of transport. Sustained release of anthocyanins from anthocyanin-APNPs and stable concentration curves suggest controlled delivery, with most APNPs consumed in the digestive system. APNPs did not affect the overall anthocyanin absorption time or tissues. The superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde concentrations indicate that APNPs enhance the oxidative damage protection in vivo.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and its phenolic metabolites ameliorate intestinal diseases via modulating intestinal mucosal immune system: potential mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

The incidence of the intestinal disease is globally increasing, and the intestinal mucosa immune system is an important defense line. A potential environmental cause to regulate gut health is diet. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside is a natural plant bioactive substance that has shown rising evidence of improving intestinal disease and keeping gut homeostasis. This review summarized the intestinal protective effect of Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside in vivo and in vitro and discussed the potential mechanisms by regulating the intestinal mucosal immune system. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and phenolic metabolites inhibited the presence and progression of intestinal diseases and explained from the aspects of repairing the intestinal wall, inhibiting inflammatory reaction, and regulating the gut microbiota. Although the animal and clinical studies are inadequate, based on the accumulated evidence, we propose that the interaction of Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside with the intestinal mucosal immune system is at the core of most mechanisms by which affect host gut diseases. This review puts forward the potential mechanism of action and targeted treatment strategies.

Effects of mannoprotein on the stability and in vitro digestion of cyanidin-3-glucoside.

Although mannoprotein (MP) is known to increase the stability of anthocyanins, the MP-anthocyanin interactions and structural changes induced by the same remain underexplored. To bridge this gap, this work examined the complexation of cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) by MP and probed its effect on C3G properties. As a result, this complexation was shown to induce the static fluorescence quenching of MP and increase the thermal stability and antioxidant activity of C3G while decreasing its susceptibility to ascorbic acid, sucrose, and Fe3+-induced degradation and increasing its bioavailability during simulated in vitro digestion. Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions were identified as the main complexation drivers and were demonstrated to change the self-aggregation behavior of both compounds and favor the formation of a cross-linked structure. Thus, our results show that MP addition is an efficient anthocyanin protection method and provide a theoretical basis for the utilization of MP and C3G.

Effect of Heat Treatment on Oxidation of Hazelnut Oil.

Thermal processing, a common processing method of vegetable oil in daily life, is accompanied by the formation of some harmful substances. This study determined the peroxide value, anisidine value, total peroxide value, polar compound content, fatty acid content, and core aldehyde content of hazelnut oil under different thermal processing conditions. The oxidation kinetics equation of fatty acid and temperature of hazelnut oil was established, and the correlation between the contents of fatty acid and core aldehyde and four oxidation indexes was analyzed. The results showed that the TPC of hazelnut oil exceeds 24% when heated for 10 min at 210ºC, indicating that hazelnut oil is not suitable for high temperature and long-time heating. The contents of linoleic acid and oleic acid in hazelnut oil varied significantly at different thermal processing temperatures (p ≤ 0.01). The change of linoleic acid was more consistent with the first-order oxidation kinetics model. Two core aldehydes were detected in hazelnut oil, aldehyde 9-oxo and aldehyde 10- oxo-8. The core aldehyde 9-oxo content changed most obviously with the heating temperature, and it was the main non-volatile aldehydes of hazelnut oil thermal oxidation. Correlation analysis showed that the heating temperature of hazelnut oil had a significant effect on the oxidation index (p ≤ 0.01), and linoleic acid had the strongest correlation with the oxidation index, which could reflect the overall oxidation of hazelnut oil. The total amount of core aldehyde and the content of core aldehyde 9-oxo strongly correlated with the oxidation index (p ≤ 0.01), which can be used as one of the indicators to evaluate the oxidation degree of hazelnut oil. This study is of great significance for promoting the application of hazelnut oil in daily cooking and processing.

Effect of heat-treating methods on components, instrumental evaluation of color and taste, and antioxidant properties of sea buckthorn pulp flavonoids.

Sea buckthorn has strong physiological activities, which might be attributed to its flavonoid compounds. The heat treatment could speed up the transformation of the flavonoids, so it would affect the properties of the flavonoids. To explore the effect of the heat-treating methods on the sea buckthorn pulp flavonoids, the flavonoid compositions, color and taste properties, and antioxidant activity, prepared by three heating methods, were investigated. The results showed that the extractable sea buckthorn flavonoids rose after heat treatment; the high temperature with high-pressure treatment had the largest yield (3.66 ± 0.21 mg/ml). A total of 16 flavonoid monomers were identified in the sea buckthorn, the content of isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside was the highest in the pulp (589.34 ± 4.72 µg/ml), the concentrations of eight monomers increased after heat-treating, and the treating methods could significantly affect the contents of flavonoid monomers (p < 0.05). The difference in color was positively correlated to the heat-treating time and temperature (p < 0.01); the ΔE value in high pressure with high temperature treatment was the largest (10.59). The heat treatment enhanced bitterness and acidity, while it greatly reduced the saltiness, umami, and sweetness (p < 0.01). The stronger antioxidant capacity of the total flavonoids was accompanied by the higher temperature and longer time of heat treatment. The antioxidant capacity was closely correlated to the contents of flavonoid monomers. Therefore, the heat treatment boosted the content of the flavonoids, enhanced the taste, and improved the antioxidant properties. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study can provide suitable a method for improving the extracting efficiency, improving properties and biological activities of sea buckthorn pulp flavonoids, also provide directions for predicting the antioxidant activity by the flavonoid monomer contents.

Electroacupuncture ameliorates peptic ulcer disease in association with gastroduodenal microbiota modulation in mice.

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a common disease and frequently encountered in the clinic. Accumulating evidence suggests that PUD is associated with the gastrointestinal microbiota. Electroacupuncture (EA) is an improved version of acupuncture, which can improve the clinical effect by increasing the stimulation and delivering appropriate electrical pulses to needles. This method has been widely used in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. However, its effect on gastrointestinal microbiota remains unclear. Therefore, in the present study, the ameliorative effect of EA was evaluated on the gastroduodenal mucosa, and the regulatory effect of the gastroduodenal microbiota was assessed in PUD mice. A total of 48 male Kun Ming mice were randomly divided into the following groups: normal control group (NC), PUD model group (PUD), Shousanli group (LI10), and Zusanli group (ST36) (n=12). The mice in groups LI10 and ST36 were treated with EA at LI10 and ST36, respectively. This intervention was continued for 7 days. Subsequently, we evaluated the morphological changes in the gastric and duodenal mucosa, and specific indices were measured, including the contents of serum dopamine (DA), the trefoil factor (TFF), and the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). In addition, the gastric and duodenal microbiota were assessed via 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. The results indicated that EA at LI10 or ST36 significantly reduced the injury of the gastroduodenal mucosa in PUD mice. The gastric microbial community structure of the groups LI10 and ST36 was similar to that of the NC group following comparison with the microbial community structure of the PUD model group. Moreover, the abundance of Firmicutes in the stomach was decreased, whereas that of Bacteroidetes was increased, and the abundance of Firmicutes in the duodenum was decreased. Furthermore, the microbial diversity and richness of the gastric microbiota in group LI10 were also significantly increased, and the serum dopamine and trefoil factor levels in group ST36 were significantly increased. Therefore, it is suggested that EA ameliorating PUD is in association with improving the levels of DA and TFF and regulating the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in the gastric microbiota.

Aronia melanocarpa Anthocyanin Extracts Improve Hepatic Structure and Function in High-Fat Diet-/Streptozotocin-Induced T2DM Mice.

Anthocyanins can prevent and ameliorate type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but its mechanism of action has not been fully established. IKK/NF-κB and JAK/Stat pathways have multiple effects, triggering T2DM. Liver abnormalities in individuals with T2DM are detrimental to glycemic control. We determined whether anthocyanins could improve the liver of individuals with T2DM using IKK/NF-κB and JAK/Stat. We established a T2DM mouse model using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin and then performed Aronia melanocarpa anthocyanin extracts' (AMAEs') administration for 5 weeks. AMAEs improved blood glucose and hyperinsulinemia of T2DM mice. In the liver of AMAE-administered T2DM mice, ROS, IKKß/NF-κB p65, and JAK2/Stat3/5B signalings were down-regulated, thereby reducing the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), iNOS, and inflammatory mediators. AMAE-improved hyperinsulinemia also down-regulated SOCS3 by decreasing p-Stat5B in hepatocytes. AMAEs enhanced glucose uptake and conversion and decreased hepatocyte enlargement and inflammatory cells in the liver of T2DM mice. These indicated that AMAEs could alleviate oxidative stress, insulin resistance, inflammation, and tissue damage in the liver of T2DM mice through inhibiting NF-κB p65 and Stat3/5B.

Proteomic analyses revealed the antibacterial mechanism of Aronia melanocarpa isolated anthocyanins against Escherichia coli O157: H7.

Aronia melanocarpa anthocyanins (AMAs), as a natural plant extract, can control pathogens and are attracting increasing attention. However, at the proteomic level, the antibacterial mechanism of AMAs against Escherichia coli O157: H7 remains unclear. In this study, the tandem mass tag (TMT) quantitative proteomics was used to elucidate the potential antibacterial mechanisms of AMAs against E. coli O157: H7 cells. Ultrastructural observation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels detection showed that AMAs destroyed the integrity of E. coli O157: H7 cell membrane, led to the aggregation of contents and caused the increase of intracellular ROS level. TMT-based proteomic analysis suggested that AMAs can enter cells through mechanosensitive channels and inhibit the activity of heat shock proteins; disturb the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids and lipids in cells. The results of this study provide a reference for the further development of plant-derived antimicrobial agents.

Cyanidin-3-galactoside from Aronia melanocarpa ameliorates silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis by modulating the TGF-ß/mTOR and NRF2/HO-1 pathways.

Cyanidin-3-galactoside (C3G), the most abundant anthocyanin in Aronia melanocarpa, has many beneficial health effects, such as antioxidation. C3G was extracted from A. melanocarpa and applied (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight) to 50-µl silica particles (SP) solution-exposed mice to research its antifibrotic properties using histological analysis, hydroxyproline assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis. The results showed that C3G treatment significantly ameliorated pulmonary fibrosis and cell infiltration into the lungs of mice. It also relieved SP-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), 400 mg/kg C3G treatment increasing epithelial-cadherin mRNA expression and decreasing α-smooth muscle actin mRNA expression to the level of that in the control group. Western blot analysis showed that exposure to SP increased the production of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) by 4.71- and 4.15-fold, respectively, in the lungs of mice, which were significantly inhibited by C3G treatment. Moreover, 400 mg/kg C3G treatment up-regulated two important antioxidant mediators, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2; 4.91-fold) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1; 4.81-fold). The mechanism study indicated that C3G might inhibit the TGF-ß/mTOR signaling via the NRF2/HO-1 pathway and that SP-induced pulmonary EMT was ameliorated by inhibiting the TGF-ß/mTOR signaling pathway. Our findings could provide new avenues for C3G as a functional food for preventing or mediating the progression of SP-induced pulmonary fibrosis.