Prognostic value of procalcitonin in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: To evaluate the prognostic role of procalcitonin(PCT) on all-cause mortality in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Methods: Database including PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched to find relevant trials. We included studies with patients hospitalized for AECOPD, which assessed procalcitonin levels and reported on the association between procalcitonin and mortality.

Optimization of Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation Processing for Set-Type Oat Yogurt with Favorable Acidity and Coagulated Texture.

The key role of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation in the sensory quality of set yogurt made from whole oats was demonstrated. The optimal process was established by the orthogonal and response surface methodology based on the acidity, textural, and rheological properties. The results indicated that the enzymatic hydrolysis appropriately consisted of liquefaction with 12 U/mL α-amylase at 70 °C and pH 6.

Macrophages promote pre-metastatic niche formation of breast cancer through aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity.

Macrophages that acquire an immunosuppressive phenotype play a crucial role in establishing the pre-metastatic niche (PMN), which is essential for facilitating breast cancer metastasis to distant organs. Our study showed that increased activity of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in lung macrophages plays a crucial role in establishing the immunosuppressive PMN in breast cancer. Specifically, AHR activation led to high expression of PD-L1 on macrophages by directly binding to the promoter of Pdl1.

Soluble and insoluble dietary fiber at different ratios: Hydration characteristics, rheological properties, and ameliorative effects on constipation.

The proportion of soluble components in dietary fiber is an important factor affecting its physicochemical properties and physiological functions. The influence mechanisms of insoluble (IDF) and soluble dietary fiber (SDF) at different ratios on constipation were investigated. Results showed that SDF had higher active groups and water swelling capacity than IDF.

Exploring dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitory peptides from Tartary Buckwheat protein: A study of hydrolysis, fractionation, and molecular interactions.

Tartary buckwheat, a protein-rich pseudocereal with anti-diabetic effects, has not yet been fully explored as a source of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides. This study aims to discover novel DPP-IV inhibitory peptides from tartary buckwheat protein (TBP). Five hydrolysis methods were employed, with simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID) releasing the most active DPP-IV inhibitory hydrolysates, showing both the highest degree of hydrolysis (22.

Anti-oxidative and immunological role of Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharide on the liver injury of diabetic rats.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Cyclocarya paliurus (C. paliurus) polysaccharide on the liver injury of diabetic rats.

Methods: Rats were divided into 6 groups, including normal group, model group, control group, low-dose group of C.

Delayed Effect of Superheated Steam Treatment on Starch Retrogradation of Rice Cake After Storage by Modifying Starch Chain-Length Distribution in Rice Flour.

This study investigated the effects of superheated steam (SS) treatment on the physicochemical properties of rice flour and the subsequent impact on rice cake quality. The SS-180 resulted in higher final viscosity and significantly increased pasting time and the temperature of rice flour ( < 0.05).

Dietary nucleic acids promote oral tolerance through innate sensing pathways in mice.

Oral tolerance is essential for intestinal homeostasis and systemic immune function. However, our understanding of how oral tolerance is maintained is inadequate. Here we report that food-derived nucleic acids promote oral tolerance through innate sensing pathways.

Blocking the HIF-1α/glycolysis axis inhibits allergic airway inflammation by reducing ILC2 metabolism and function.

Background: The role of lung group 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2) activation in allergic asthma is increasingly established. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-mediated glycolysis in ILC2-mediated allergic airway inflammation remain unclear.

Objective: To investigate the role of the HIF-1α/glycolysis axis in ILC2-mediated allergic airway inflammation.

Virulence of Burkholderia pseudomallei ATS2021 Unintentionally Imported to United States in Aromatherapy Spray.

In the United States in 2021, an outbreak of 4 cases of Burkholderia pseudomallei, the etiologic agent of melioidosis and a Tier One Select Agent (potential for deliberate misuse and subsequent harm), resulted in 2 deaths. The causative strain, B. pseudomallei ATS2021, was unintentionally imported into the United States in an aromatherapy spray manufactured in India.

Sensing of Liver-Derived Nicotinamide by Intestinal Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells Links Liver Cirrhosis and Ulcerative Colitis Susceptibility.

The correlation between liver disease and the progression of ulcerative colitis (UC) has remained elusive. In this study, it demonstrates that liver injury is intricately linked to the heightened severity of UC in patients, and causes more profound intestinal damage during DSS-induced colitis in mice. Metabolomics analysis of plasma from liver cirrhosis patients shows liver injury compromising nicotinamide supply for NAD biosynthesis in the intestine.

TNF compromises intestinal bile-acid tolerance dictating colitis progression and limited infliximab response.

The intestine constantly encounters and adapts to the external environment shaped by diverse dietary nutrients. However, whether and how gut adaptability to dietary challenges is compromised in ulcerative colitis is incompletely understood. Here, we show that a transient high-fat diet exacerbates colitis owing to inflammation-compromised bile acid tolerance.

Epigenetic regulation of innate lymphoid cells.

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) lack antigen-specific receptors and are considered the innate arm of the immune system, phenotypically and functionally mirroring CD4 helper T cells. ILCs are categorized into groups 1, 2, and 3 based on transcription factors and cytokine expression. ILCs predominantly reside in mucosal tissues and play important roles in regional immune responses.

Metabolic regulator LKB1 controls adipose tissue ILC2 PD-1 expression and mitochondrial homeostasis to prevent insulin resistance.

Adipose tissue group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) help maintain metabolic homeostasis by sustaining type 2 immunity and promoting adipose beiging. Although impairment of the ILC2 compartment contributes to obesity-associated insulin resistance, the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated. Here, we found that ILC2s in obese mice and humans exhibited impaired liver kinase B1 (LKB1) activation.

LKB1 prevents ILC2 exhaustion to enhance antitumor immunity.

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) play crucial roles in mediating allergic inflammation. Recent studies also indicate their involvement in regulating tumor immunity. The tumor suppressor liver kinase B1 (LKB1) inactivating mutations are associated with a variety of human cancers; however, the role of LKB1 in ILC2 function and ILC2-mediated tumor immunity remains unknown.

Effect of ethanol addition on the physicochemical, structural and in vitro digestive properties of Tartary buckwheat starch-quercetin/rutin complexes.

The effects of ethanol on the physicochemical, structural and in vitro digestive properties of Tartary buckwheat starch-quercetin/rutin complexes (e-TBSQ and e-TBSR) were investigated. Ethanol restricted the gelatinization of Tartary buckwheat starch (TBS), which resulted an increase in ∆H, G' and G" as well as a decrease in apparent viscosity of e-TBSQ and e-TBSR. The particle size, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results showed that ethanol influenced the morphological structure of TBS granules and the starch crystalline structure in e-TBSQ and e-TBSR changed from B-type to V-type when the ethanol concentration was 25%.

GLP-1 receptor agonists alleviate colonic inflammation by modulating intestinal microbiota and the function of group 3 innate lymphoid cells.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), which are drugs used for treating type 2 diabetes, have been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the mechanism of which remains elusive. Here, we report that GLP-1RAs ameliorate dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in both wild-type and T/B-cell-deficient mice through modulating group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s), a subset of innate lymphoid cells that regulate intestinal immunity. GLP-1RAs promote IL-22 production by ILC3, and the protective effect of GLP-1RAs on DSS-induced colitis was abrogated in ILC3-deficient RORgt mice.

Characterization of the evolution of free radicals and TALAs in linseed oil during heat treatment.

Various studies have demonstrated that employing ESR spin trapping to detect free radicals yields valuable insights into the vulnerability of bulk oils to oxidation. Consequently, this method can be employed to assess and compare the oxidative stability of different samples. This study was conducted to investigate the production and transformation of free radicals and trans isomers in linseed oil when subjected to different temperatures and durations of heating.

The Complexity of Chinese Cereal Vinegar Flavor: A Compositional and Sensory Perspective.

With a millennium-long history, traditional Chinese cereal vinegar (CCV) is a significant part of China's cultural heritage. The unique flavor of CCV is derived from the use of cereal and its bran as raw materials and solid-state fermentation as a brewing technique. This paper systemically summarized recent research progress on the aroma compounds in CCV, the biochemical generation of aroma compounds during the brewing process, and the association between sensory perception and the primary aroma compounds.

Blautia Coccoides is a Newly Identified Bacterium Increased by Leucine Deprivation and has a Novel Function in Improving Metabolic Disorders.

Gut microbiota is linked to human metabolic diseases. The previous work showed that leucine deprivation improved metabolic dysfunction, but whether leucine deprivation alters certain specific species of bacterium that brings these benefits remains unclear. Here, this work finds that leucine deprivation alters gut microbiota composition, which is sufficient and necessary for the metabolic improvements induced by leucine deprivation.