Quinoa Peptides Alleviate Obesity in Mice Induced by a High-Fat Diet via Regulating of the PPAR-α/γ Signaling Pathway and Gut Microbiota.

SCOPE: The obesity epidemic continues to be a major global public health threat with limited effective treatments. Peptides are a group of promising bioactive molecules. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that quinoa has potential prebiotic benefits. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the influence of quinoa peptides (QP) consumption on obesity and its underlying mechanisms in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mice. METHODS AND RESULTS: QP (1000 mg kg-1  day-1 ) is administered to HFD mice for 8 weeks, and is found to significantly reduce the body weight, and plasma levels of triacylglycerol (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) compare to the HFD group. In addition, QP significantly decreases lipid accumulation in the liver caused by HFD. The liver transcriptome analysis shows that the alleviation of QP on obesity is related to the PPAR signaling pathway. QP upregulates the expressions of PPAR-α and its related genes and downregulates the expressions of PPAR-γ and its downstream genes. Furthermore, QP remodels the community composition of gut microbiota by lowering the ratio of Firmicutes c Bacteroidetes (F/B). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that QP consumption alleviates HFD-induced obesity by regulating the PPAR-α/γ signaling pathway in the liver and community structure of gut microbiota.

Preparation of quinoa protein with ultrasound pretreatment and its effects on the physicochemical properties, structural and digestion characterizations.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ultrasound pretreatment on the yield and the physicochemical properties, structural and digestion characterizations of quinoa protein (QP). Results showed that under the conditions of ultrasonic power density of 0.64 W/mL, ultrasonication time of 33 min, and the liquid-solid ratio of 24 mL/g, the highest yield of QP at 68.403 % was obtained, which was significantly higher than that without ultrasound pretreatment at 51.26 ± 1.76 % (P < 0.05). Ultrasound pretreatment decreased the average particle size and ζ-potential but increased the hydrophobicity of QP (P < 0.05). However, no significant protein degradation and secondary structure changes of QP by ultrasound pretreatment were observed. In addition, ultrasound pretreatment slightly improved the in vitro digestibility of QP and reduced the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory activity of the hydrolysate of QP by in vitro digestion. Overall, this work demonstrates that ultrasound-assisted extraction is appropriate for improving the extraction efficiency of QP.

Biomechanical Performances of an Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion Cage in Models with Different Bone Densities: A Finite Element Analysis.

Study Design: Finite element models of the L3-S1 vertebrae were reconstructed using computed tomography scans. Objective: We compared the biomechanical performances of an oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) cage in different bone density mode. Summary of Background Data: Low bone density is an els.key factor limiting the use of stand-alone OLIF cage. Methods: Four models-intact (M0), normal bone density with OLIF (M1), bone mass loss with OLIF (M2), and osteoporotic with OLIF (M3)-were created based on 3-dimensional scans. Flexion, extension, and lateral bending movements (each lasting 10 N·m) were performed on the superior surface of the L3 vertebra with a compressive preload of 500 N. Range of motion (ROM), peak stresses in the L4-5 cortical endplates, cage stress, and adjacent intervertebral disk stress were evaluated. Results: ROMs during different physiological movements were similar to those reported by previous researchers. Compared with that in M0, L4-5 ROMs of all movements decreased in M1, M2 and M3, most evidently in M3. Stress distribution in the cortical endplates rose to 7.8% in M1 and M2, even 16.2% in M3. Cage stress increased by less than 8.1% in M1 and M2, but by 25.3% in M3, especially in the movements of extension and right rotation. Compared with that in M0, L3-4 and L5-S1 intervertebral disk stress increased with bone density in all the other models, by up to 69.8% and 98.3%, respectively. As osteoporosis worsened, stress in the adjacent intervertebral disk also increased. Conclusion: Stand-alone OLIF in M3 is not recommended because of the risk of cage subsidence. OLIF in M1 and M2 achieved similar results in various lumbar spine movements. In M1 and M2 model (T > - 2.5), the L4-L5 showed reduced mobility in all directions, increased rigidity, limited cage displacement, lessened deformation, and better stability.

Percutaneous cortical bone trajectory screw fixation versus traditional open pedicle screw fixation for type A thoracolumbar fractures without neurological deficit.

Retrospective matched-cohort comparative study. Cortical bone trajectory screw (CBT) technique is a new insertion technique in terms of fixation strength and less invasiveness. The purposes of this study were to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of percutaneous CBT fixation (PCBT) with traditional open posterior pedicle screw fixation (OPPS) technique. Between September 2019 and October 2020, patients undergoing posterior stabilization were matched for age, sex, diagnosis, fractured level, and AO classification. 24 control patients with OPPS were identified and appropriately matched to 24 consecutive patients with PCBT technique. Clinical outcomes and radiographic assessments including vertebral wedge angle (VWA) and sagittal index were recorded and compared between the two groups. Incision length, intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay in the PCBT group were significantly better than the OPPS group (P < 0.05). The VAS scores 5 days after operation for PCBT patients were significantly lower than those for OPPS patients (P = 0.003), but these differences lost significance at last follow-up. There was no significant difference in VWA and sagittal index between OPPS and PCBT group (P > 0.05). While no complications were noted in the PCBT group, there were four cases with complications in the traditional OPPS group. The present study showed that PCBT is a safe and feasible method for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures without neurological deficits. This new surgical treatment was more minimally invasive, yet yielded equivalent or superior clinical and radiographic outcomes compared to the traditional open pedicle screw fixation surgery.

Preparation and identification of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory peptides from quinoa protein.

The objective of this study was to investigate the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory properties of quinoa protein-derived peptides. After germination, quinoa protein was extracted and then hydrolyzed by different enzymes such as papain, Alcalase, Neutrase, and Flavourzyme and pepsin-trypsin digestion. Results showed that the quinoa protein hydrolysates (QPH) by pepsin-trypsin digestion displayed the highest DPP-IV inhibitory activity. When ultrafiltrated, the fraction of quinoa protein hydrolysate with molecular weight less than 1 kDa (QPH1) exhibited a superior DPP-IV inhibitory activity with IC50 of 3.40 ± 0.20 mg/mL in vitro and 2.20 ± 0.29 mg/mL in Caco-2 based in situ. Furthermore, the peptide sequences of QPH1 were identified by UPLC-MS/MS. Twenty quinoa-derived peptides were determined with in vitro DPP-IV inhibitory activities with IC50 values less than 500 µM. The peptides IPI, IPV, VAYPL and IPIN showed the highest in vitro DPP-IV inhibitory activities with IC50 of 5.25 ± 0.16, 26.15 ± 0.58, 42.93 ± 1.15, and 56.58 ± 3.36 µM, respectively. The in situ DPP-IV activities of Caco-2 cells were also attenuated by these four peptides with IC50 of 10.75 ± 0.87, 29.11 ± 1.79, 61.9 ± 4.23, and 92.59 ± 12.89 µM, respectively. Moreover, these four peptides were identified as competitive inhibitors of DPP-IV. Molecular docking showed that quinoa peptides IPI and IPV were predicted to form multiple hydrogen bonds, attractive charge, and hydrophobic interactions with the residues of active site of DPP-IV. This study confirms that quinoa protein is a good source for DPP-IV inhibitory peptides and has potential as ingredients in functional foods for the prevention or management of type 2 diabetes.

Anatomical Study of the Lumbar Segmental Arteries in Relation to the Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion Approach.

OBJECTIVE: To use computed tomography angiography to evaluate the regional anatomy of the lumbar segmental arteries (LAs) associated with the surgical field in oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF). METHODS: Computed tomography angiography images from 50 patients were reviewed. In the sagittal plane, distances from the LA to the upper and inferior edges of the vertebral body were measured in the anterior quarter of the anterior and median lines of the intervertebral disc (IVD). LAs were classified as types I-IV based on the zone in which they passed through the vertebral body. RESULTS: The LA branch angles were acute (<90°) at L1-L3 and blunt (>90°) at L4-L5. The average distances from the LA to the upper and inferior edges of the vertebral body in the anterior quarter position revealed that La1.2 > Lb1.2 and Lb3.4.5 > La3.4.5. For the IVD of L1-L2, Lb1 < La2; IVD of L2-L3, Lb2 < La3; IVD of L3-L4, Lb3 > La4; IVD of L4-L5, Lb4 > La5. In zone I, the most frequent LA type was type IV at L1 (n = 41; 85.4%) and L2 (n = 42; 84.0%), type III at L3 (n = 20; 40.0%), and type II at L4 (n = 36; 80.0%) and L5 (n = 5; 83.3%). In zone II, the most frequent LA type was type III at L1 (n = 38; 79.2%), L2 (n = 39; 78.0%), L3 (n = 43; 86.0%), and L4 (n = 28; 62.2%), whereas type II was the most frequent LA type at L5 (n = 5; 83.3%). In zone III, type III was the most frequent LA type at L1-L4. In zone IV, type IV was the most frequent LA type at L3 (n = 44; 88.0%), L4 (n = 42; 93.3%), and L5 (n = 6; 100%). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of LA injury during OLIF is the least when the cage is placed in zones II and III. Care is required during OLIF in zone IV of L3-L5. The fixation pin should be fixed on the upper edge of the lower vertebral body at L1-L2 and L2-L3, and on the lower edge of the upper vertebral body at L3-L4 and L4-L5.

Sensitive Electrochemical Capsaicin Sensor Based on a Screen Printed Electrode Modified with Poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) Functionalized Graphite.

A sensitive capsaicin sensor was constructed based on a poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) functionalized graphite modified screen printed electrode (PSS-Grp/SPE) in this study. The PSS-Grp and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) functionalized graphite (PDDA-Grp) were easily synthesized by interacting Grp with PSS and PDDA through sonication, and resulted in negative and with positive charges on the surface, respectively. The prepared PSS-Grp and PDDA-Grp were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy (UV-vis). The electrochemical performance of PSS-Grp in a 50 µM capsaicin solution presented a current density of 33 µA cm-2, which was much higher than the PDDA-Grp of 1.5 µA cm-2. Our study showed that capsaicin could interact better with strong negative charges on the PSS-Grp/SPE surface to give a higher electrochemical response. The direct electrochemical sensing of capsaicin was achieved at PSS-Grp/SPE using differential pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV) under the optimized conditions.

Puncture point-traction method: A novel method applied for right internal jugular vein catheterization.

The ultrasound probe and advancement of the needle during real-time ultrasound-assisted guidance of catheterization of the right internal jugular vein (RIJV) tend to collapse the vein, which reduces the success rate of the procedure. We have developed a novel puncture point-traction method (PPTM) to facilitate RIJV cannulation. The present study examined whether this method facilitated the performance of RIJV catheterization in anesthetized patients. In this study, 120 patients were randomly assigned to a group in which PPTM was performed (PPTM group, n=60) or a group in which it was not performed (non-PPTM group, n=60). One patient was excluded because of internal carotid artery puncture and 119 patients remained for analysis. The cross-sectional area (CSA), anteroposterior diameter (AD) and transverse diameter (TD) of the RIJV at the cricoid cartilage level following the induction of anesthesia and during catheterization were measured, and the number with obvious loss of resistance (NOLR), the number with easy aspiration of blood into syringe (NEABS) during advancement of the needle, and the number of first-pass punctures (NFPP) during catheterization were determined. In the non-PPTM group, the CSA was smaller during catheterization compared with that following the induction of anesthesia (P<0.01). In the PPTM group compared with the non-PPTM group during catheterization, the CSA was larger (P<0.01) and the AD (P<0.01) and TD (P<0.05) were wider; NOLR (P<0.01), NEABS (P<0.01) and NFPP (P<0.01) increased significantly. The findings from this study confirmed that the PPTM facilitated catheterization of the RIJV and improved the success rate of RIJV catheterization in anesthetized patients in the supine position.

Modified unilateral transpedicular percutaneous vertebroplasty for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively assess the clinical outcome of modified unilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. METHODS: The clinical outcome and incidence of cement extrusion in a consecutive group of 70 patients at our institution between December 2005 and December 2008 was retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-five patients were randomly distributed to modified percutaneous vertebroplasty (Group A) and 35 to traditional percutaneous vertebroplasty (Group B). A visual analog scale (VAS) was used on the first post-operative day and 1 year later to assess the severity of pain before and after vertebroplasty. The incidence of cement extrusion on CT scan was also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The treatment was successful in all seventy patients. The incidence of cement extrusion was 14.29% (5/35 patients) in group A, and 37.12% (13/35 patients) in group B, this difference being statistically significant (P < 0.05). No patients had serious complications. Complete pain relief was achieved in 50 patients, and significant relief in the other 20 (20/70 patients). There was no statistically significant difference between Groups A and B. CONCLUSION: Modified percutaneous vertebroplasty enhances the accuracy of cement injection into the center of the vertebral body, increasing the safety of the procedure with no increase in cost. It is a safer and more easily performed technique for treating patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures than traditional percutaneous vertebroplasty.

[Relevant imaging and anatomical measurements of presacral space for axial lumbosacral interbody fusion].

OBJECTIVE: To collect the radiological data of the presacral space for axial lumbosacral interbody fusion (AxiaLIF) and to provide theoretic rationales for research work and clinical application of AxiaLIF in China. METHODS: The distance between inner margin of bilateral anterior sacral foramina at the level of S1 was measured radiographically. The distance between iliac vessels and the midline at the level of S1 was measured on enhanced computed tomography (enhanced-CT). The minimum distances between mesorectum and each sacral level or the center of each sacral vertebra were measured on the median sagittal plane of magnetic resonance imaging in order to measure the lengths of relevant instrumentation and fusion device. RESULTS: The distance between inner margin of bilateral anterior sacral foramina at the level of S1 was found to be 34.7 + or - 3.5 and 32.2 + or - 3.0 mm in Chinese males and females respectively (P < 0.05). There was no statistical significance between the design lengths of sleeve and fusion device. The nearest vessel from sacral intervertebral space at the level of S1 was found to be the bilateral internal iliac vein on enhanced-CT with a distance of 57.6 + or - 5.2 and 70.0 + or - 9.1 mm in males and females respectively (P < 0.05). The distance from mesorectum to the center of vertebral body of S2-S5 was found to be statistically significant between males and females (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is feasible to design suitable instrumentation and fusion device for the Chinese. And a safe operating zone has been designated.

[Finite element analysis of screw in percutaneous axial lumbosacral interbody fusion].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a 3D finite element model of L5/S1 motion segment with percutaneous axial lumbosacral interbody fusion (AxiaLIF) screw and conduct a preliminary analysis of biomechanical stress. METHODS: The titanium screw was implanted in L5 and S1 vertebral body. Solid model was established by CAD software according to the actual dimensions of screw. Then computer graphics were obtained from iges format and imported into the finite element analysis software to establish the finite element model. With the aid of Mechanical Virtual Human of China, a 3D finite element model of L5/S1 motion segment with AxiaLIF screw was established. Vertical compression, torque moment and bending moment were loaded respectively on the upper surface of L5 vertebrae to simulate the load stress in human body. Stress distribution of screw was obtained. RESULTS: Generally stress values were relatively low. Peak stresses of screw under three loading conditions were 175.334 Mpa, 183.765 Mpa and 146.237 Mpa respectively. Stress value was relatively high at the central part of interbody fusion. And all the highest values were localized at the first thread below the central part. Result of comparison between three conditions: torque load was the highest, followed by vertical load and lateral bending. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous axial lumbosacral screw can meet the normal loading conditions. Further clinical applications are recommended.

Finite element analysis of the screw in percutaneous axial lumbosacral interbody fusion.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a three-dimensional finite element model of the L(5)/S(1) motion segment with percutaneous axial lumbosacral screw and analyze the biomechanical stress on the screw. METHODS: With the help of related software and the Mechanical Virtual Human of China, a three-dimensional finite element model was established. Three different loading conditions on the screw were analyzed with this model. RESULTS: Peak stresses on the screw under three loading conditions were 175.334 MPa, 183.765 MPa and 146.237 MPa, respectively. Generally, stress values were relatively low. The stress values were relatively high at the point of interbody fusion and middle part of the screw, all the highest values being localized to the upper and lower threads closest to the middle part. Comparison among the three conditions showed that torque load was the greatest, followed by vertical load, with lateral bending being the least. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous axial lumbosacral screw easily meets normal loading conditions and may be an effective method for lumbosacral fusion.