Effects of the Chinese Heart-Healthy Diet (Sichuan Cuisine Version) on the 10-year CVD risk and vascular age: a randomised controlled feeding trial.

Sichuan cuisine was previously fitted into the Chinese Heart-Healthy Diet (CHH) trial to verify the antihypertensive effect. Whether the modified Sichuan diet lessens cardiovascular disease (CVD) is not fully explored. We aimed to estimate the effects of the Sichuan version of CHH diet (CHH diet-SC) on the 10-year risk of CVD and vascular age. A single-blinded randomised controlled feeding trial was conducted. General CVD prediction model was used in manners of intention-to-treat and per-protocol set. After a 7-d run-in period, fifty-three participants with pre- and grade I hypertension from local communities were randomised and provided with either CHH diet-SC (n 27) or a control diet (n 26) for 4 weeks. Mean absolute and relative estimated CVD risks were reduced by 4·5 % and 27·9 % in the CHH diet-SC group, and the between-group relative risk reduction was 19·5 % (P < 0·001) using linear mixed-effects models. The sensitivity analysis with datasets and models showed consistent results, and pre-specified factors were not associated with the intervention effects. The vascular age of CHH-SC group was theoretically 4·4 years younger than that of the control group after intervention. Compared with a typical diet, adopting the CHH diet-SC over 1 month significantly reduced 10-year CVD risks and vascular ages among local adults with mild hypertension.

Healthier diet associated with reduced risk of excessive gestational weight gain: A Chinese prospective cohort study.

Limited studies have examined the associations between diet quality and gestational weight gain (GWG) among Chinese pregnant women, adopting Chinese GWG guidelines. We prospectively investigate the associations of diet quality, using the Chinese Healthy Diet Index for Pregnancy (CHDI-P), which assessed diet quality from 'Diversity', 'Adequacy' and 'Limitation' dimensions with overall 100 points, with GWG among participants enroled in Southwest China. Food consumption was collected by 24 h dietary recalls for three consecutive days and CHDI-P scores were divided into tertiles. GWG was calculated according to the weight measured before delivery and classified into adequate weight gain (AWG), insufficient weight gain (IWG) and excessive weight gain(EWG) following Chinese GWG guidelines. Multinomial regression analyses and stratified analyses by pre-pregnancy body mass index were performed to estimate the association between CHDI-P and GWG. A total of 1416 participants were recruited in early pregnancy, and 971 and 997 participants were respectively followed up in middle and late pregnancy. The mean CHDI-P score was 56.44 ± 6.74, 57.07 ± 7.44 and 57.38 ± 7.94 points in early, middle and late pregnancy, respectively. Women in the lowest CHDI-P scores group had an increased risk of EWG in middle (OR = 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-2.17) and late pregnancy (OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.21-2.41) than women in the highest group, while overweight/obese women had a greater risk of EWG in late pregnancy (OR = 4.25, 95% CI = 1.30-13.90). No association was found between the CHDI-P scores and IWG. Poor diet quality in middle and late pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of EWG.

[Evaluation of calcium intake levels and sources among pregnant women in a Chengdu hospital in 2017].

OBJECTIVE: Investigate and evaluate the levels and sources of calcium intake of pregnant women in Chengdu during three trimesters. METHODS: Use the data of a cohort study in Chengdu in 2017. The healthy singleton pregnant women with 8-14 weeks of pregnancy in an obstetrical clinic of a maternal-and-child health care institution in Chengdu were selected as the object of the study. Data on maternal demographic characteristics and the use information of calcium supplements in the past month of each trimester were collected by questionnaire investigation. The dietary intakes data of pregnant women in each trimester was collected by the 3-day 24-hour dietary recall method. The dietary calcium intake and the contribution of calcium from different foods were calculated based on the Chinese Food Composition Table(2018). The total calcium intake was obtained by adding the dietary calcium and supplement calcium intake. The calcium intake was evaluated with reference to the Chinese Dietary Nutrient Reference Intakes(2013). RESULTS: Valid samples of 1653 cases in early pregnancy, 1024 cases in middle pregnancy and 1017 cases in late pregnancy were finally included. The median intake of total calcium was 523.3, 1280.5 and 1491.3 mg/d in three trimesters, respectively. The adequate rate of total calcium intake was 16.3%, 63.2% and 67.1%, the insufficient rate was 69.0%, 15.7% and 11.2%, the excess rate was 0.2%, 9.1% and 14.4%, respectively. The median intake of dietary calcium was 453.0, 613.0 and 723.0 mg/d in three trimesters respectively. The dietary calcium adequate rates were 7.1%, 9.7% and 16.2%, the dietary calcium deficiency rates were 82.0%, 75.0%, 62.6%, respectively. The main food sources of dietary calcium in each pregnancy were dairy foods, vegetables, tubers and grains. The contribution of dairy foods to the dietary calcium was 33.8%, 37.7% and 40.2%, respectively. The median intake of milk was 125.0, 235.3 and 250.0 g/d, respectively. Among all pregnant women, the calcium supplement use in three trimesters was 36.2%, 93.4% and 91.7%, respectively; the median intake of supplement calcium was 0.0, 625.0 and 750.0 mg/d, respectively. Among pregnant women who met the dietary calcium standard, the use of calcium supplements in the three trimesters was 38.1%, 95.0% and 94.5%, respectively; the median intake of supplemental calcium was 0.0, 725.0 and 750.0 mg/d, respectively. CONCLUSION: The insufficient and excessive total calcium intake coexisted among pregnant women in Chengdu, with the insufficient dietary calcium intake prominent in all trimesters. The use of calcium supplements was common in middle and late pregnancy.

Dietary fat quantity and quality in early pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in Chinese women: a prospective cohort study.

We aimed to examine the association between the quantity and quality of dietary fat in early pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk. In total, 1477 singleton pregnant women were included from Sichuan Provincial Hospital for Women and Children, Southwest China. Dietary information was collected by a 3-d 24-h dietary recall. GDM was diagnosed based on the results of a 75-g, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 gestational weeks. Log-binomial models were used to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% CI. The results showed that total fat intake was positively associated with GDM risk (Q4 v. Q1: RR = 1·40; 95 % CI 1·11, 1·76; Ptrend = 0·001). This association was also observed for the intakes of animal fat and vegetable fat. After stratified by total fat intake (< 30 %E v. ≥ 30 %E), the higher animal fat intake was associated with higher GDM risk in the high-fat group, but the moderate animal fat intake was associated with reduced risk of GDM (T2 v. T1: RR = 0·65; 95 % CI 0·45, 0·96) in the normal-fat group. Vegetable fat intake was positively associated with GDM risk in the high-fat group but not in the normal-fat group. No association between fatty acids intakes and GDM risk was found. In conclusion, total fat, animal and vegetable fat intakes were positively associated with GDM risk, respectively. Whereas when total fat intake was not excessive, higher intakes of animal and vegetable fat were likely irrelevant with increased GDM risk, even the moderate animal fat intake could be linked to lower GDM risk.

A pH-Responsive Phase-Transition Polymer with High Serum Stability in Cytosolic Protein Delivery.

Polymer-mediated intracellular protein delivery systems are important for the development of protein-based biotechnologies and therapeutics. However, intracellular delivery of cargo proteins in the presence of serum remains challenging due to competitive binding of serum proteins with the polymers. Here, we reported a dendrimer engineered with a high density of 4-diethylaminophenyl groups on the surface to address this issue. The dendrimer showed a pH-responsive phase-transition behavior and could assemble with cargo proteins into stable nanoparticles in serum solutions. It efficiently delivered cargo proteins into living cells, and exhibited a pH-responsive disassembly behavior after cell internalization. As a result, various cargo proteins were delivered into the cytosol of living cells with maintained bioactivity. This study provided a convenient and efficient strategy to design polymers with high serum-tolerance in cytosolic protein delivery.

[Intakes and sources of fat and fatty acids among pregnant women in Chengdu in 2017: a longitudinal study].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the intake of fat and fatty acids and their food sources of pregnant women in Chengdu. METHODS: Participants were from a cohort study in 2017, which was conducted among 1652 healthy singleton pregnant women within 6-14 weeks of gestation in a maternity out-patient clinic of maternal-and-child health care institution in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Data on maternal demographic characteristics was collected by questionnaire. In three trimesters, 3-day 24-hour dietary recall method was applied to collect dietary intakes data, with the information of docosahexaenoic acid(DHA) supplement intake being collected by questionnaire. The intakes and sources of daily fat and fatty acids in three trimesters were calculated using the National Nutrient Database of USDA and China Food Composition Tables(6th edition). The intake levels of fat and fatty acids were evaluated according to 2013 Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes. RESULTS: The study showed that the intakes of total fat and fatty acids increased during pregnancy. The mean intake of total daily fat was 64.8 g/d, 81.2 g/d, 88.5 g/d in three trimesters, respectively. The proportion of energy from total fat >30%E during three trimesters were 67.7%, 77.6%, 82.9%, respectively. The proportions of energy from saturated fatty acids(SFA) were 7.9%E, 8.9%E, 9.7%E, and those higher than 10%E were 20.9%, 31.9%, 44.7% in three trimesters, respectively. The proportions of energy from monounsaturated fatty acids(MUFA) were 12.9%E, 13.5%E, 14.2%E, and the proportions of energy from polyunsaturated fatty acids(PUFA) were 8.5%E, 8.4%E, 8.8%E in three trimesters, respectively. The proportion of DHA intake meeting recommendation(200 mg/d) in three trimesters were 3.6%, 21.7%, 21.1%, respectively. The radio of SFA, MUFA and PUFA(S∶M∶P) was 1∶1.6∶1.1 in the early trimester, and S∶M∶P was 1∶1.5∶1 in the second trimester and third trimester. Total fat and MUFA mainly came from edible oil and meat, and PUFA mainly came from edible oil and nuts. SFA mainly came from meat and milk, and the contribution of milk to SFA increased during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The excessive intakes of total fat and SFA and the inadequate intake of DHA among pregnant women in Chengdu deserve attention.

Efficient intracellular and in vivo delivery of toxin proteins by a ROS-responsive polymer for cancer therapy.

Rational design of efficient cytosolic protein delivery carriers holds enormous promise for biotherapeutics development. Several delivery systems have been developed during the past decades, while tailoring the balance between extracellular protein binding and intracellular cargo release is still challenging. In this study, we synthesized a series of oxygen-sensitive reactive polymers, rich in boron, by radical polymerization and post-modification for cytosolic protein delivery in vitro and in vivo. The introduction of boronate building blocks into the polymer scaffold significantly enhanced its protein binding affinity, and the polymer/protein complexes with high stability were obtained by tailoring the molecular ratios between the boronate ligands and the amine groups. The lead material screened from the polymer library exhibited efficient protein delivery efficacy that can release cargo proteins in cytosol in a reactive oxygen species responsive manner, which enables intracellular delivery of proteins with maintained bioactivity. In addition, the polymer-based nanoformulations efficiently delivered saporin, a toxin protein, into osteosarcoma cells and tumor tissues, and exhibited high therapeutic efficacy in an osteosarcoma mouse model. The synthesized polymer in this study can be developed as a promising nanocarrier for cytosolic delivery of protein therapeutics to treat a variety of diseases.

Effect of redox state of Ag on indoor formaldehyde degradation over Ag/TiO2 catalyst at room temperature.

Ag/TiO2 catalysts were prepared via in-situ synthesis and impregnation methods. The effect of redox state of Ag species on catalytic activity of Ag/TiO2 catalysts was studied. The Ag-i-300 catalyst with partially oxidized state of Ag species shows superior catalytic activity, keeping HCHO removal efficiency at an extraordinary level of 100% during the 200 min's reaction. The Ag/TiO2 catalysts were characterized by XPS, UV-Vis, BET, XRD, TEM, and in-situ DRIFTS technologies. XPS and TEM results exhibit that the partially oxidized state of Agδ+ (0 < δ < 1) and high dispersion of Ag species are beneficial for the oxidation of HCHO over Ag/TiO2 catalysts. According to the above results, a reaction pathway for HCHO oxidation over Ag-i-300 catalyst was also proposed.