Silencing of the T-type voltage-gated calcium channel α1 subunit by fungus-mediated RNAi altered the structure of F-actin and caused defective behaviors in Ditylenchus destructor.

BACKGROUND: T-type calcium channels, characterized as low-voltage activated (LVA) calcium channels, play crucial physiological roles across a wide range of tissues, including both the neuronal and nonneuronal systems. Using in situ hybridization and RNA interference (RNAi) techniques in vitro, we previously identified the tissue distribution and physiological function of the T-type calcium channel α1 subunit (DdCα1G) in the plant-parasitic nematode Ditylenchus destructor. METHODS AND RESULTS: To further characterize the functional role of DdCα1G, we employed a combination of immunohistochemistry and fungus-mediated RNAi and found that DdCα1G was clearly distributed in stylet-related tissue, oesophageal gland-related tissue, secretory-excretory duct-related tissue and male spicule-related tissue. Silencing DdCα1G led to impairments in the locomotion, feeding, reproductive ability and protein secretion of nematodes. To confirm the defects in behavior, we used phalloidin staining to examine muscle changes in DdCα1G-RNAi nematodes. Our observations demonstrated that defective behaviors are associated with related muscular atrophy. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the physiological functions of T-type calcium channels in plant-parasitic nematodes. The T-type calcium channel can be considered a promising target for sustainable nematode management practices.

Essence determines phenomenon: Assaying the material properties of biological condensates.

Intracellular spaces are partitioned into separate compartments to ensure that numerous biochemical reactions and cellular functions take place in a spatiotemporally controlled manner. Biomacromolecules including proteins and RNAs undergo liquid-liquid phase separation and subsequent phase transition to form biological condensates with diverse material states. The material/physical properties of biological condensates are crucial for fulfilling their distinct physiological functions, and abnormal material properties can cause deleterious effects under pathological conditions. Here, we review recent studies showing the role of the material properties of biological condensates in their physiological functions. We also summarize several classic methods as well as newly emerging techniques for characterization and/or measurement of the material properties of biological condensates.

Bile acid and its bidirectional interactions with gut microbiota: a review.

Bile acids (BAs) are an important metabolite produced by cholesterol catabolism. It serves important roles in glucose and lipid metabolism and host-microbe interaction. Recent research has shown that different gut-microbiota can secrete different metabolic-enzymes to mediate the deconjugation, dehydroxylation and epimerization of BAs. In addition, microbes mediate BAs transformation and exert physiological functions in metabolic diseases may have a potentially close relationship with diet. Therefore, elaborating the pathways by which gut microbes mediate the transformation of BAs through enzymatic reactions involved are principal to understand the mechanism of effects between dietary patterns, gut microbes and BAs, and to provide theoretical knowledge for the development of functional foods to regulate metabolic diseases. In the present review, we summarized works on the physiological function of BAs, as well as the classification and composition of BAs in different animal models and its organs. In addition, we mainly focus on the bidirectional interactions of gut microbes with BAs transformation, and discuss the effects of diet on microbial transformation of BAs. Finally, we raised the question of further in-depth investigation of the food-gut microbial-BAs relationship, which might contribute to the improvement of metabolic diseases through dietary interventions in the future.

Lonicera caerulea (Haskap berries): a review of development traceability, functional value, product development status, future opportunities, and challenges.

Lonicera caerulea is a honeysuckle plant with a long development history. It is defined as a "homology of medicine and food" fruit because it is rich in bioactive substances. By-products (such as pomace, leaves, stems, and flowers), which also have beneficial values, will be produced during processing. Nevertheless, the reuse of derivatives and the further development of new products of Lonicera caerulea are still a challenge. Firstly, this paper traced the development history of Lonicera caerulea and summarized its primary nutrients and bioactive substances, subsequently discussed the research progress and underlying molecular mechanisms of its functional properties, and introduced the application and potential of Lonicera caerulea in the fields of food, health products, cosmetics, medicine, and materials. Finally, this paper put forward the future research direction to promote the development of the Lonicera caerulea industry. To sum up, Lonicera caerulea, as a potential raw material, can be used to produce more functional products. Besides, more in-depth clinical trials are needed to clarify the specific molecular mechanism of the practical components of Lonicera caerulea and improve the rate of development and utilization.HighlightsThe original species of Lonicera caerulea subgroup had appeared on the earth as early as the end of the third century.Lonicera caerulea has been introduced into North America since the 18th century, but the introduction process has not ended until now.Lonicera caerulea widely exists in Eurasia and North America and it has excellent cold tolerance, early maturity and ornamental.The fruits, stems, leaves and flowers of Lonicera caerulea all have bioactive value, but the specific molecular mechanism and utilization need to be improved.Lonicera caerulea has been widely used in food, medicine, health products, cosmetics and materials, but there are still great challenges.

Ergothioneine: new functional factor in fermented foods.

Ergothioneine (EGT) is a high-value natural sulfur-containing amino acid and has been shown to possess extremely potent antioxidant and cytoprotective activities. At present, EGT has been widely used in food, functional food, cosmetics, medicine, and other industries, but its low yield is still an urgent problem to overcome. This review briefly introduced the biological activities and functions of EGT, and expounded its specific applications in food, functional food, cosmetic, and medical industries, introduced and compared the main production methods of EGT and respective biosynthetic pathways in different microorganisms. Furthermore, the use of genetic and metabolic engineering methods to improve EGT production was discussed. In addition, the incorporation of some food-derived EGT-producing strains into fermentation process will allow the EGT to act as a new functional factor in the fermented foods.

Technology and functional insights into the nicotinamide mononucleotide for human health.

Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), a naturally occurring biologically active nucleotide, mainly functions via mediating the biosynthesis of NAD+. In recent years, its excellent pharmacological activities including anti-aging, treating neurodegenerative diseases, and protecting the heart have attracted increasing attention from scholars and entrepreneurs for production of a wide range of formulations, including functional food ingredients, health care products, active pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical intermediates. Presently, the synthesis methods of NMN mainly include two categories: chemical synthesis and biosynthesis. With the development of biocatalyst engineering and synthetic biology strategies, bio-preparation has proven to be efficient, economical, and sustainable methods. This review summarizes the chemical synthesis and biosynthetic pathways of NMN and provides an in-depth investigation on the mining and modification of enzyme resources during NMN biosynthesis, as well as the screening of hosts and optimization of chassis cells via metabolic engineering, which provide effective strategies for efficient production of NMN. In addition, an overview of the significant physiological functions and activities of NMN is elaborated. Finally, future research on technical approaches to further enhance NMN synthesis and strengthen clinical studies of NMN are prospected, which would lay the foundation for further promoting the application of NMN in nutrition, healthy food, and medicine in the future. KEY POINTS: • NMN supplementation effectively increases the level of NAD+. • The chemical and biological synthesis of NMN are comprehensively reviewed. • The impact of NMN on the treatment of various diseases is summarized.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the role of Zelda in the regulation of embryonic and wing development of Tribolium castaneum.

Zinc finger protein (Zelda) of Tribolium castaneum (TcZelda) has been showed to play pivotal roles in embryonic development and metamorphosis. However, the regulatory mechanism of TcZelda associated with these physiology processes is unclear. Herein, the developmental expression profile showed that Zelda of T. castaneum was highly expressed in early eggs. Tissue expression profiling revealed that TcZelda was mainly expressed in the larval head and adult ovary of late adults and late larvae. TcZelda knockdown led to a 95% mortality rate in adults. These results suggested that TcZelda is related to the activation of the zygote genome in early embryonic development. Furthermore, 592 differentially expressed genes were identified from the dsZelda treated group. Compared with the control group, altered disjunction (ALD) and AGAP005368-PA (GAP) in the dsZelda group were significantly down-regulated, while TGF-beta, propeptide (TGF) was significantly up-regulated, suggesting that TcZelda may be involved in insect embryonic development. In addition, the expression of Ubx ultrabithorax (UBX), Cx cephalothorax (CX), En engrailed (EN), and two Endocuticle structural glycoprotein sgabd (ABD) genes were significantly down-regulated, suggesting that they may cooperate with TcZelda to regulate the development of insect wings. Additionally, Elongation (ELO), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and fatty acyl-CoA desaturase (FAD) expression was inhibited in dsZelda insects, which could disturb the lipase signaling pathways, thus, disrupting the insect reproductive system and pheromone synthesis. These results may help reveal the function of TcZelda in insects and the role of certain genes in the gene regulatory network and provide new ideas for the prevention and control of T. castaneum.

Nutritional screening in a cancer prehabilitation programme: A cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Cancer patients are often malnourished pre-operatively. The present study aimed to establish whether current screening was appropriate for use in prehabilitation and investigate any association between nutritional risk, functionality and quality of life (QoL). METHODS: This cohort study used routinely collected data from September 2020 to August 2021 from patients in a Prehab4cancer programme. Included patients were aged ≥ 18 years, had colorectal, lung or oesophago-gastric cancer and were scheduled for surgery. Nutritional assessment included Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) Short-Form and QoL with a sit-to-stand test. Association between nutritional risk and outcomes was analysed using adjusted logistic regression. RESULTS: From 928 patients referred to Prehab4Cancer service over 12 months, data on nutritional risk were collected from 526 patients. Pre-operatively, 233 out of 526 (44%) patients were at nutritional risk (score ≥ 2). During prehabilitation, 31% of patients improved their PG-SGA and 74% of patients maintained or improved their weight. Odds ratios (OR) with confidence intervals (CI) showed that patients with better QoL using EuroQol-5 Dimensions (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.45, p = 0.01), EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93, 1.00, p = 0.04) or sit-to-stand (OR = 0.96, 95% 0.93, 1.00, p = 0.04) were less likely to be nutritional at risk. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of patients in Prehab4Cancer programme assessed using PG-SGA were at risk of malnutrition. However, almost half of the sample did not have their risk assessed. Patients at risk of malnutrition were more likely to have a poorer QoL and sit-to-stand test than those who were not at risk.

The impact of targeted interventions aimed to improve quality of life in patients receiving home parenteral nutrition: A systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is a specialised therapy offered to people suffering from intestinal failure. Underlying disease, HPN complications and limitations of HPN can significantly impact a person's quality-of-life (QOL). The aim of this review was to evaluate the evidence on existing non-surgical/non-pharmacological interventions aimed at improving QOL, clinical, patient-reported and economic outcomes for patients receiving parenteral nutrition therapy at home across adult and paediatric settings. METHODS: Online databases Medline (Ovid), Embase and Cinahl were searched to identify studies published between 1937 and 31 March 2022. Identified studies were appraised using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool and Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) assessment. RESULTS: Nine studies were included in this review. Interventions were focused on education (n = 4), telemedicine (n = 2), preparation of infusion mixtures (n = 1), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (n = 1) and a multi-modal approach (n = 1). Only one study measured QOL before and after the intervention using a validated QOL tool. All studies were assessed at either some, high or critical risk of bias, resulting in low or very low-quality evidence for the interventions evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this review highlight the lack of high-quality non-surgical/non-pharmacological studies seeking to improve QOL for people on HPN. Because the majority of people receiving HPN are not eligible for surgical or pharmaceutical treatments, higher quality research using clinical trial design, and research focused on improving QOL is needed to inform healthcare managers about the effectiveness (and value) of alternative service delivery models for this vulnerable patient group.

Progress on the Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic Crustaceans: A Review.

It is impossible to overlook the effects of microplastics on aquatic life as they continuously accumulate in aquatic environments. Aquatic crustaceans, as both predator and prey, play an important role in the food web and energy transmission. It is of great practical significance to pay attention to the toxic effects of microplastics on aquatic crustaceans. This review finds that most studies have shown that microplastics negatively affect the life history, behaviors and physiological functions of aquatic crustaceans under experimental conditions. The effects of microplastics of different sizes, shapes or types on aquatic crustaceans are different. Generally, smaller microplastics have more negative effects on aquatic crustaceans. Irregular microplastics have more negative effects on aquatic crustaceans than regular microplastics. When microplastics co-exist with other contaminants, they have a greater negative impact on aquatic crustaceans than single contaminants. This review contributes to rapidly understanding the effects of microplastics on aquatic crustaceans, providing a basic framework for the ecological threat of microplastics to aquatic crustaceans.

The Physiological Function of nNOS-Associated CAPON Proteins and the Roles of CAPON in Diseases.

In this review, the structure, isoform, and physiological role of the carboxy-terminal PDZ ligand of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (CAPON) are summarized. There are three isoforms of CAPON in humans, including long CAPON protein (CAPON-L), short CAPON protein (CAPON-S), and CAPON-S' protein. CAPON-L includes three functional regions: a C-terminal PDZ-binding motif, carboxypeptidase (CPE)-binding region, and N-terminal phosphotyrosine (PTB) structural domain. Both CAPON-S and CAPON-S' only contain the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif. The C-terminal PDZ-binding motif of CAPON can bind with neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and participates in regulating NO production and neuronal development. An overview is given on the relationship between CAPON and heart diseases, diabetes, psychiatric disorders, and tumors. This review will clarify future research directions on the signal pathways related to CAPON, which will be helpful for studying the regulatory mechanism of CAPON. CAPON may be used as a drug target, which will provide new ideas and solutions for treating human diseases.

Quality Chemistry, Physiological Functions, and Health Benefits of Organic Acids from Tea (Camellia sinensis).

Organic acids account for around 3% of the dry matter in tea leaves, and their composition and contents vary in different types of tea. They participate in the metabolism of tea plants, regulate nutrient absorption and growth, and contribute to the aroma and taste quality of tea. Compared with other secondary metabolites in tea, the researches on organic acids are still limited. This article reviewed the research progresses of organic acids in tea, including analysis methods, the root secretion and physiological function, the composition of organic acids in tea leaves and related influencing factors, the contribution of organic acids to sensory quality, and the health benefits, such as antioxidation, promotion of digestion and absorption, acceleration of gastrointestinal transit, and regulation of intestinal flora. It is hoped to provide references for related research on organic acids from tea.

Recent Advances and Future Prospects of Mycosporine-like Amino Acids.

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are a class of water-soluble active substances produced by various aquatic organisms. However, due to the limitations of low accumulation of MAAs in organisms, the cumbersome extraction process, difficult identification, and high cost, MAAs have not yet been widely used in human life. Recently, there has been an emergence of heterologous synthesis for MAAs, making increasing yield the key to the quantification and application of MAAs. This review summarizes the latest research progress of MAAs, including: (1) introducing the biodistribution of MAAs and the content differences among different species to provide a reference for the selection of research subjects; (2) elaborating the species and molecular information of MAAs; (3) dissecting the synthesis mechanism and sorting out the synthesis pathways of various MAAs; (4) summarizing the methods of extraction and identification, summarizing the advantages and disadvantages, and providing a reference for the optimization of extraction protocols; (5) examining the heterologous synthesis method; and (6) summarizing the physiological functions of MAAs. This paper comprehensively updates the latest research status of MAAs and the various problems that need to be addressed, especially emphasizing the potential advantages of heterologous synthesis in the future production of MAAs.

Advances in the Clinical Application of Trendelenburg Position.

The Trendelenburg position and reverse Trendelenburg position are frequently employed during lower abdominal surgery to achieve optimal surgical field visualization and complete exposure of the operative site, particularly under pneumoperitoneum conditions. However, these positions can have significant impacts on the patient's physiological functions. This article overviews the historical background of Trendelenburg position and reverse Trendelenbury position, their effects on various physiological functions, recent advancements in their clinical applications, and strategies for preventing and managing associated complications.

[Effect of High-Concentration Uric Acid on Nitric Oxide].

Uric acid (UA) is the final product of purine metabolism in human body,and its metabolic disorder will induce hyperuricemia (HUA).The occurrence and development of HUA are associated with a variety of pathological mechanisms such as oxidative stress injury,activation of inflammatory cytokines,and activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.These mechanisms directly or indirectly affect the bioavailability of endogenous nitric oxide (NO).The decrease in NO bioavailability is common in the diseases with high concentration of UA as an independent risk factor.In this review,we summarize the mechanisms by which high concentrations of UA affect the endogenous NO bioavailability,with a focus on the mechanisms of high-concentration UA in decreasing the synthesis and/or increasing the consumption of NO.This review aims to provide references for alleviating the multisystem symptoms and improving the prognosis of HUA,and lay a theoretical foundation for in-depth study of the correlations between HUA and other metabolic diseases.

Soy isoflavone-specific biotransformation product S-equol in the colon: physiological functions, transformation mechanisms, and metabolic regulatory pathways.

Epidemiological data suggest that regular intake of soy isoflavones may reduce the incidence of estrogen-dependent and aging-associated disorders. Equol is a metabolite of soy isoflavone (SI) produced by specific gut microbiota and has many beneficial effects on human health due to its higher biological activity compared to SI. However, only 1/3 to 1/2 of humans are able to produce equol in the body, which means that not many people can fully benefit from SI. This review summarizes the recent advances in equol research, focusing on the chemical properties, physiological functions, conversion mechanisms in vitro and vivo, and metabolic regulatory pathways affecting S-equol production. Advanced experimental designs and possible techniques in future research plan are also fully discussed. Furthermore, this review provides a fundamental basis for researchers in the field to understand individual differences in S-equol production, the efficiency of metabolic conversion of S-equol, and fermentation production of S-equol in vitro.

Dietary strategies for remission of type 2 diabetes: A narrative review.

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a growing health issue globally, which, until recently, was considered to be both chronic and progressive. Although having lifestyle and dietary changes as core components, treatments have focused on optimising glycaemic control using pharmaceutical agents. With data from bariatric surgery and, more recently, total diet replacement (TDR) studies that have set out to achieve remission, remission of T2DM has emerged as a treatment goal. A group of specialist dietitians and medical practitioners was convened, supported by the British Dietetic Association and Diabetes UK, to discuss dietary approaches to T2DM and consequently undertook a review of the available clinical trial and practice audit data regarding dietary approaches to remission of T2DM. Current available evidence suggests that a range of dietary approaches, including low energy diets (mostly using TDR) and low carbohydrate diets, can be used to support the achievement of euglycaemia and potentially remission. The most significant predictor of remission is weight loss and, although euglycaemia may occur on a low carbohydrate diet without weight loss, which does not meet some definitions of remission, it may rather constitute a 'state of mitigation' of T2DM. This technical point may not be considered as important for people living with T2DM, aside from that it may only last as long as the carbohydrate restriction is maintained. The possibility of actively treating T2DM along with the possibility of achieving remission should be discussed by healthcare professionals with people living with T2DM, along with a range of different dietary approaches that can help to achieve this.

Group education on the low FODMAP diet improves gastrointestinal symptoms but neither anxiety or depression in irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The low fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet is an effective dietitian-led treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). An increasing demand of IBS patient referrals has warranted group FODMAP education led by specialist dietitians. Psychological co-morbidities are common in IBS, although how the low FODMAP diet influences psychological outcomes is not understood. The present study aimed to evaluate symptom related outcomes of the diet following group education and assess its effect on psychological profiles. METHODS: An observational, prospective study was conducted in 55 IBS patients who attended FODMAP Restriction and FODMAP Reintroduction group sessions. Data were collected at baseline and follow-up after FODMAP Restriction and analysed using descriptive and McNemar's tests. Primary outcome was evaluated by IBS Symptom Severity Score (IBS-SSS). Secondary psychological outcomes included anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and risk of eating disorder questionnaire (SCOFF). RESULTS: After FODMAP Restriction, 27 of 55 (54%) patients reported clinically relevant symptom improvement, as defined by a reduction in the IBS-SSS ≥50 points, whereas no differences were recorded in the proportion of patients identified with clinical anxiety (p = 1.000) or clinical depression (p = 0.375). Positively, no increased risk of an eating disorder was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides data supporting the efficacy of the low FODMAP diet in IBS patients who attended dietitian led group education settings in tertiary care. Clinically significant improvements in gastrointestinal symptoms were observed, although with no impact on clinical levels of anxiety, depression or the risk of an eating disorder.

Whole egg consumption and cognitive function among US older adults.

BACKGROUND: Eggs are an affordable food providing many shortfall nutrients with the potential to improve cognitive health. We assessed the relationship between whole egg consumption and cognitive functioning among a US nationally representative sample of older adults. METHODS: Individual-level data (2816 adults, aged ≥ 60 years) were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 waves. Cognitive assessments included the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease Word List Learning Test (CERAD-WL), Word List Recall Test (CERAD-DR), Animal Fluency Test (AF) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). A composite cognitive z-score was constructed based on the individual tests to represent one's overall cognitive functioning. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were performed to examine the effect of whole egg consumption on cognitive functioning, adjusting for individual characteristics and survey design. RESULTS: Approximately 57% of older adults consumed whole eggs, with an average daily intake of 34 g of whole egg equivalent among consumers. The average z-scores of the CERAD-WL, CERAD-DR, AF and DSST tests were -0.08, 0.23, 0.37 and 0.42, respectively, and the overall composite cognitive z-score was 0.24 among older adults. Regression analyses found that neither whole egg consumption status, nor daily intake quantity was associated with cognitive test scores. CONCLUSIONS: No association was found between whole egg consumption and cognitive functioning among US older adults. Study limitations included cross-sectional study design and measurement errors. Future studies with longitudinal or experimental design are warranted to examine the possible link between egg consumption and cognition in older adults.

Oesophageal reconstruction with a reversed gastric conduit for a complex oesophageal cancer patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The gastric conduit is the best replacement organ for oesophageal reconstruction, but a reversed gastric conduit (RGC) is rare. Oesophageal reconstruction for oesophageal cancer patients with a previous history of complicated gastrointestinal surgery is rather difficult. Here, we report a case in which oesophageal reconstruction was successfully managed using RGC based solely on the left gastroepiploic artery supply. CASE PRESENTATION: A 69-year-old man with oesophageal cancer had a history of endoscopic intestinal polypectomy and pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD). The right gastroepiploic artery and right gastric artery had been completely severed. The only supply artery that could be used for the gastric conduit was just the left gastroepiploic artery. Because of the complex history of abdominal surgery, we had no choice but to use the RGC to complete the oesophageal reconstruction, in which the gastric conduit was passed reversely through the hiatus to the oesophageal bed and layered end-to-side manual intrathoracic anastomosis with the esophagus. The patient had transient feeding problems with postoperative delayed thoracic stomach emptying but no anastomotic stenosis or thoracic stomach fistula. He was satisfied with his life and had no long-term complications. There was no significant effect on gut physiological function, and RGC could work normally. CONCLUSIONS: Oesophageal reconstruction with RGC is a feasible procedure for complex oesophageal carcinoma that can simplify complicated surgical procedures, has less influence on gut function, is less invasive, and is safe.