The key to intestinal health: a review and perspective on food additives.

In this review, we explore the effects of food additives on intestinal health. Food additives, such as preservatives, antioxidants and colorants, are widely used to improve food quality and extend shelf life. However, their effects on intestinal microecology May pose health risks.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the BZR gene family in Zanthoxylum armatum DC and functional analysis of ZaBZR1 in drought tolerance.

In this study, six ZaBZRs were identified in Zanthoxylum armatum DC, and all the ZaBZRs were upregulated by abscisic acid (ABA) and drought. Overexpression of ZaBZR1 enhanced the drought tolerance of transgenic Nicotiana benthamian. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a pivotal class of sterol hormones in plants that play a crucial role in plant growth and development.

Gut microbial signatures of patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and their healthy relatives.

Aims: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder, encompassing diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Here, we utilized 16S rDNA gene sequencing to identify potential microbial drivers of IBS-D.

Methods And Results: A total of 30 healthy relatives and 27 patients with IBS-D were recruited.

Acetylation at the O-6 position of t-Glc improved immunoactivity of α-1,6-glucan from longan by additionally activating Dectin-1 and CD14 receptors.

Acetylation is an important approach to improve the bioactivity of polysaccharides; however, the mechanisms have not been fully understood. As a key component of longan for exerting health promoting function, longan polysaccharide was hypothesized may achieve elevated immunoregulatory activity after acetylation. A bioactive longan polysaccharide (LP) composed of (1 → 6)-α-d-glucan (84.

Effects of simulated digestion on the structural characteristics and dendritic cell activation of longan polysaccharides.

An active polysaccharide (LP) from longan was purified and characterized. LP consisted of galactose and glucose in a molar ratio of 1.5: 98.

A Novel Polysaccharide Isolated From Fresh Longan ( Lour.) Activates Macrophage TLR2/4-Mediated PI3/AKT and MyD88/TRAF6 Pathways.

A novel immunomodulatory polysaccharide (LP4) with a molecular weight 6.31 × 10 g/mol was purified from fresh longan pulp. It was composed of mannose, glucose, glucuronic acid, galactose, xylose, arabinose, galacturonic acid, fucose, and rhamnose in a molar percentage of 36:31:10:7:4:4:3:2:2, and mainly linked by (1→6)--Man, (1→4)--Glc and (1→6)--Glc.

In vitro immunomodulatory activity of water-soluble glucans from fresh and dried Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.).

Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) is a seasonal tropical fruit used by Chinese medicine in both fresh and dried pulp forms. Their polysaccharides have been reported to have biological activity.

Glucose-rich polysaccharide from dried 'Shixia' longan activates macrophages through Ca and CR3- mediated MAPKs and PI3K-AKT pathways.

A water-soluble glucose-rich polysaccharide from dried 'Shixia' longan pulp (LPsx) has been isolated for the first time, and its structure and immuno-regulatory mechanism were studied. LPsx is a hetero-polysaccharide with the average molecular weight 4102 g/mol. It was mainly consisted of glucose (95.

Characterization and Prebiotic Potential of Longan Juice Obtained by Enzymatic Conversion of Constituent Sucrose into Fructo-Oligosaccharides.

The prebiotic potential of longan juice obtained by a commercial Viscozyme L for conversion of constituent sucrose to fructo-oligosaccharide was investigated. The physicochemical properties and carbohydrate composition of the longan juice was evaluated before and after enzymatic treatment. The stimulation effects of the treated longan juice on probiotic bacteria growth were also studied in vitro.

[Study of subtotal colectomy combined with psychological intervention in treating slow transit constipation].

Objective: To investigate the value of psychological intervention in treating slow transit constipation (STC), and to provide the reference to clinical treatment for STC patients with psychological disorder.

Methods: A total of 94 STC patients with psychological disorder admitted to the Anorectal Hospital of Chengdu from June 2010 to August 2012 were prospectively enrolled and divided into psychological intervention group(subtotal colectomy plus postoperative psychological intervention) and control group (subtotal colectomy without postoperative psychological intervention). Scores of Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA), Wexner constipation scale (WCS) and gastrointestinal quality-of-life index(GIQLI) were recorded 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after operation.

[Self-control study of dynamic multiple pelvic angiography and pelvic four-contrast defecography in the diagnosis of functional defecation disorder].

Objective: To evaluate and compare the value of dynamic multiple pelvic angiography and pelvic four-contrast defecography in the diagnosis of functional defecation disorder.

Methods: From September 2014 to July 2015, a prospective controlled trial was carried out in Chengdu Anorectal Hospital. A total of 32 patients met the inclusion criteria of functional defecation disorder simultaneously underwent pelvic four-contrast defecography and dynamic multiple pelvic angiography.

[Laparoscopy-assisted subtotal colectomy with transanal specimen extraction for slow transit constipation].

Objective: To investigate the clinical application of laparoscopy-assisted subtotal colectomy with transanal specimen extraction for slow transit constipation(STC).

Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 8 cases with STC undergoing the procedure mentioned above from February to November 2013. Pre-and post-operative constipation was assessed using Wexner Constipation and Incontinence Scales, and quality of life was assessed using Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index.

A Zinc Finger Protein Regulates Flowering Time and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Chrysanthemum by Modulating Gibberellin Biosynthesis.

Flowering time and an ability to tolerate abiotic stresses are important for plant growth and development. We characterized BBX24, a zinc finger transcription factor gene, from Chrysanthemum morifolium and found it to be associated with both flowering time and stress tolerance. Transgenic lines with suppressed expression of Cm-BBX24 (Cm-BBX24-RNAi) flowered earlier than wild-type plants and showed decreased tolerance to freezing and drought stresses.

[Facial Demodex infection among college students in Tangshan].

A survey indicated that the prevalence of Demodex infection among 512 college students in Tangshan was 36.3% (186/512), that of males and females was 39.3% (81/206) and 34.