In this study, rats were fed a high-fat diet containing calcium alginate (Ca-Alg) for 5 weeks to examine the effects of Ca-Alg on lipid metabolism including triglyceride (TG) levels in the blood. We also investigated the mechanism of the TG-reducing effect of Alg in vitro. Rats were randomized into 5 groups: high-fat diet group (14% (w/w) lard, HF); three Ca-Alg-containing diet groups (2.5, 5 or 10% (w/w) Ca-Alg) and a resistant maltodextrin (RMD) diet group as a positive control (with 5% (w/w) RMD). The 10% Ca-Alg group showed a significant reduction of body weight increase from the 7th day. In addition, the increase of TG in blood was significantly suppressed, and the amount of TG excreted in feces was increased. Increase of body fat mass was in the order HF > RMD > Ca-Alg 2.5% > Ca-Alg 5% > Ca-Alg 10%, while the total weight of the extracted fat tissues was significantly reduced in the RMD, 5% and 10% Ca-Alg groups. Hepatic pathology showed clear circular vacuoles apparently representing TG accumulation in the HF group, while fewer vacuoles were seen in the Ca-Alg groups. The results of in vitro experiments indicated that Ca-Alg does not directly inhibit lipase activity, but may suppress absorption of TG by forming non-absorbable macromolecular micelles containing TG. These results suggest that Ca-Alg promotes excretion and suppresses absorption of TG, leading to reduced blood TG levels, and decreased hepatic and total body accumulation of fat. The findings should be helpful for designing future clinical trials.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/bpb.b18-00530 | DOI Listing |
ACS Macro Lett
January 2025
Materials Science and Engineering Department, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel.
In complex networks and fluids such as the extracellular matrix, the mechanical properties are substantially affected by the movement of polymers both part of and entrapped in the network. As many cells are sensitive to the mechanical remodeling of their surroundings, it is important to appreciate how entrapped polymers may inhibit or facilitate remodeling in the network. Here, we explore a molecular-level understanding of network remodeling in a complex hydrogel environment through successive compressive loading and the role that noninteracting polymers may play in a dynamic network.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Nanomedicine
January 2025
Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
Purpose: Gastrostomy is the commonly used enteral feeding technology. The clinical risks caused by tube dislodgement and peristomal site infection are the common complications before complete tract maturation after gastrostomy. However, there is currently no relevant research to promote gastrostomy wound treatment and tract maturation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Biol Macromol
January 2025
School of Safety Science and Emergency Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China. Electronic address:
Recently, the widespread utilization of combustible materials has increased the risks associated with building fires. Early fire-warning systems represent a pivotal strategy in mitigating losses incurred from fire incidents and offer considerable potential for the enhancement of fire safety management. This study focuses on the synthesis of bio-based ionic hydrogels, specifically calcium alginate/polyacrylamide/glycerol/lithium bromide (CPG-L), as a novel fire sensor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Colloid Interface Sci
January 2025
School of Resources, Environment and Materials, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China. Electronic address:
The limited transport of oxygen at the solid-liquid interface and the poor charge separation efficiency of single catalyst significantly impedes the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby weakening the application potential of photocatalytic technology in water pollution control. Herein, a hollow porous photocatalytic aerogel sphere (calcium alginate/cellulose nanofibers (CA/CNF)) loaded BiOBr/TiC, combining a favourable mass transfer structure with effective catalytic centers was firstly presented. The floatability and hollow pore structure facilitated rapid O transfer via a triphase interface, thereby promoting the generation of ROS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInflamm Res
January 2025
Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, No.127 Changle West Road, Xincheng District, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China.
Background: Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a severe skin fibrosis. Transplanting stem cells carrying anti-fibrotic cytokine genes, like interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), is a novel therapeutic strategy. Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) are ideal seed cells and gene vectors.
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