Targeted modulation of intestinal barrier and mucosal immune-related microbiota attenuates IgA nephropathy progression.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is related to the balance of gut microbiota. However, it is unclear whether changes in the gut microbiota can cause IgAN or attenuate its progression. This study employed IgAN and human microbiota-associated (HMA)-IgAN models to investigate the impact of IgAN on gut microbiota alteration and the mechanisms by which gut microbiota might trigger IgAN.

Dietary protein intake and PM on ovarian cancer survival: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Evolving evidence suggests both protein consumption and particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers (PM) might be related to ovarian cancer (OC) mortality. However, no epidemiological studies have explored their potential interaction.

Can spatial self-organization inhibit evolutionary adaptation?

Plants often respond to drier climates by slow evolutionary adaptations from fast-growing to stress-tolerant species. These evolutionary adaptations increase the plants' resilience to droughts but involve productivity losses that bear on agriculture and food security. Plants also respond by spatial self-organization, through fast vegetation patterning involving differential plant mortality and increased water availability to the surviving plants.

Healthy Lifestyle in the First 1000 Days and Overweight and Obesity Throughout Childhood.

Objectives: Investigate associations of different family healthy lifestyle scores (HLS) during the first 1000 days with childhood overweight and obesity (OWOB).

Methods: Cohort-specific analyses were conducted on participants (n = 25 006) from 4 European birth cohorts (The study on the pre- and early postnatal determinants of child health and development [EDEN], Elfe, France; Generation R, the Netherlands; and Lifeways, Ireland). Three composite HLSs were calculated: a maternal pregnancy HLS based on prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and diet quality, physical activity, smoking status, and alcohol consumption during pregnancy; a parental pregnancy HLS additionally considering paternal BMI and smoking status; and an infancy HLS based on breastfeeding duration, age of solid food introduction, and exposure to passive smoking.

Alternative splicing of vascular calcification: Insights, opportunities, and challenges.

Vascular calcification(VC) significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular events, leading to thickening of the myocardium and arteries, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and potentially triggering myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. Although VC is a reversible process, there are currently no methods or medications in clinical practice that can completely reverse or cure it. The current treatment strategies primarily focus on slowing the progression of VC and exploring new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, making the identification of early diagnostic markers for VC particularly important.

Impact of hydrodynamic cavitation-assisted microbubble with N, CO, and air on pasting, morphological, and thermal properties of starches from different botanical origins.

Microbubble-assisted starch modification (MASM) using different gases (N, CO and air) was employed to assess the effects of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) on various botanical starches, including potato, wheat, corn and rice. SEM showed that N- and CO- microbubbles created more pronounced holes and cracks on the starch surfaces than air-microbubbles. The hydrodynamic cavitation-assisted microbubble (HCAM) treatment significantly reduced the amorphous and crystalline structures in potato and wheat starches, with less impact observed in corn and rice.

Sodium alginate/low methoxyl pectin composite hydrogel beads prepared via gas-shearing technology for enhancing the colon-targeted delivery of probiotics and modulating gut microbiota.

The probiotic encapsulation system has the potential to enhance the prebiotic effects of probiotics. However, challenges arise from the release behavior of this system in vivo and the large size of hydrogel beads. This study aims to address the issues related to the size of previous hydrogel beads and assess the colon-targeted delivery of probiotic polysaccharides composite hydrogel beads (PPHB).

Carbon quantum dots amplify beneficial effects of EGCG against neural injuries by NLRP3 inflammasome after intracerebral hemorrhage.

Neuroinflammation plays an indispensable role in neural damages after ICH, responsible for the induced high mortality and poor prognosis. NLRP3 inflammasome, which is known mediated by ROS, has been widely documented to aggravate brain injuries. Therefore, suppressing neural injuries by ROS/NLRP3 pathway may be beneficial in treating ICH.

Sodium bisulfite boosted exopolysaccharide production by Auxenochlorella protothecoides: Potential mechanisms harnessing HO signaling and carbon reallocation.

Microalgal exopolysaccharides (EPS) possess significant functional benefits across various industrial sectors, but their commercial feasibility is constrained by inefficient synthesis and poorly understood synthesis mechanisms. This study found that 1.25 mmol/L sodium bisulfite promoted EPS accumulation to 224.

Enhanced methanol-xylose co-utilization strategy in Komagataella phaffii.

Bio-manufacturing based on non-food carbon sources is conducive to alleviating the global food crisis and greenhouse effect. However, the mechanism of the utilization of methanol and xylose in Komagataella phaffii based on endogenous metabolic pathways has not been fully explored. In this study, transcriptomics revealed a positive correlation between methanol metabolic efficiency and the transcription level of genes related to xylose metabolism and phosphate metabolism.

Targeted Gut Microbiome Therapy: Applications and Prospects of Probiotics, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Natural Products in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is considered as one of the most pressing public health challenges worldwide. Studies have shown significant differences in the gut microbiota between healthy individuals and T2DM patients, suggesting that gut microorganisms may play a key role in the onset and progression of T2DM. This review systematically summarizes the relationship between gut microbiota and T2DM, and explores the mechanisms through which gut microorganisms may alleviate T2DM.

Flower-like Biomimetic Enzyme for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Zearalenone in Vegetable Oil Deodorizer Distillate.

In order to achieve high quality production of vitamin E and plant sterols, it is necessary to conduct rapid and accurate detection of fungal toxins in their production raw material (vegetable oil deodorizer distillate, VODD). In this study, the flower-like biomimetic enzyme of silver-doped ZnO was synthesized through wet chemical method and in-situ reduction method. Based on above work, a flower-like biomimetic enzyme modified glass carbon electrode was fabricated, and its excellent detection capability against fungal toxins zearalenone was confirmed through electrochemical analysis.

Computational identification and experimental validation of novel microRNAs along with their targets through RT-PCR approach.

Various metabolic and cell signaling processes impact the functions of sugarcane plant cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in enhancing yield and providing protection against various stressors. This study seeks to identify and partially characterize several novel miRNAs in sugarcane using tools, while also offering a preliminary assessment of their functions.

Biogeochemical study of spent gunshot fate in the environment: Influence of aggressive bacterial strain.

The hunting of waterfowl may contribute significantly to environmental contamination through the leaching of highly toxic elements (As, Pb, Sb) from spent gunshot deposited on hunting grounds. It is therefore clearly necessary to develop a biogeochemical protocol that might decipher the fate of spent gunshot in the environment. In that context, we present a study that follows the laboratory simulation approach and discusses the methodical pros and cons of the protocol.

Norharmane prevents muscle aging via activation of SKN-1/NRF2 stress response pathways.

Sarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle mass and function, is a significant contributor to increased frailty and mortality in the elderly. Currently, no FDA-approved treatment exists for sarcopenia. Here, we identified norharmane (NR), a β-carboline alkaloid, as a potential therapeutic agent for mitigating muscle aging.

Cracking the code of acrylamide and Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine: Fish oil use and predictive strategies in potato chips during thermal processing.

Global high consumption of fried potatoes is driven by appealing taste and edible convenience. However, the occurrence of Maillard reaction hazardous products (MRHPs) and joint control recipes have scarcely been concerned. We aim to reveal and predict how fish oil treatment for potato slices reduces simultaneous formation of typical MRHPs in air-based thermal processed potato chips.

Changes of digestive stability and potential allergenicity of high hydrostatic pressure-treated ovalbumin during in vitro digestion.

Food allergens are defined by their stability during digestion, with allergenicity largely influenced by resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis. Ovalbumin (OVA), a major egg protein, is a significant contributor to food allergies, particularly in children. Our previous work demonstrated that high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment reduces OVA allergenicity by disrupting conformational epitopes and altering its structure.

Molecular dynamics simulation revealing the interactions between toxic aldehydes and starch: A case study of malondialdehyde, 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal, and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal in starch-based food during frying.

Toxic compounds in fried food products attract increasing attention, but studies regarding the levels of common toxins, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal (4-HHE), and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE), in fried starch-based food (FSBF) are scarce. Herein, we investigated the formation and distributions of these aldehydes in FSBF, and the frying oil and FSBF retained higher levels of low-molecular-weight aldehydes. The highest aldehyde concentrations were observed in French fries.

Effect of different thermal treatments on starch digestion of Tsamba (Highland barley products): Insights from starch structural properties and enzyme activity.

This study elucidated the mechanisms involved in the impact of Tsamba (a highland barley product) starch digestibility by different thermal treatments. The results demonstrate that different thermal processing methods (microwave, roasting, sand frying, frying, baking, and steaming) significantly alter the polyphenol content of highland barley, which in turn affects its ability to inhibit α-amylase activity. SEM, CLSM, XRD and FTIR were used to evaluate the effects on starch microstructure and digestibility.

Pathways of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP) inhibited by basic amino acids in the glucose/ creatinine/ phenylalanine model system.

This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory pathways of basic amino acids (Histidine, Lysine, and Arginine) on the formation of PhIP in the glucose/creatinine/phenylalanine model system. The inhibitory effects were found to depend on both the chemical structure and concentration of the basic amino acids, with Lysine showing the strongest inhibitory effect. Due to the lower reaction barrier of basic amino acids, their potential inhibitory mechanism is proposed to involve competition with phenylalanine for glucose.

A comprehensive review of the impact of anthocyanins from purple/black Rice on starch and protein digestibility, gut microbiota modulation, and their applications in food products.

This review explores the impact of anthocyanins derived from purple and black rice on starch and protein digestibility, gut microbiota modulation, and their applications in food production. Anthocyanins are shown to reduce starch digestibility by forming complexes with starch, thereby inhibiting key digestive enzymes. Additionally, they can influence protein digestion by inducing structural changes that enhance resistance to digestive processes.

Proteinaceous corals reveal heterogeneity in shifting Southern California oceanographic regimes.

The Southern California Bight is an ecologically important region for many local and migratory fauna. We combine bulk and compound-specific amino acid stable isotope measurements in the skeletons of proteinaceous octocorals with new regional ocean modeling system model output to explore biogeochemical changes at two locations within the Bight - Santa Cruz Basin and Santa Barbara Channel. Separated by the Channel Islands, these sites display distinct oceanographic regimes.

Tracing microplastics in environmental sources and migratory shorebirds along the Central Asian Flyway.

Microplastic pollution poses a significant threat to coastal ecosystems worldwide. Despite its widespread occurrence, knowledge on the prevalence and fate of microplastics across food webs is limited. To bridge this gap, we conducted an extensive study on microplastic contamination in mudflats, mangroves, and sand beaches being key habitats for wintering shorebirds on the west coast of India.

Highly sensitive fluorescent aptasensor based on magnetic metal-organic framework for aflatoxin B1 detection.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has strong carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and teratogenicity even at low concentrations, presenting a major risk to food safety and human health, hence, it is crucial to develop a sensitive detection technique for AFB1. Consequently, cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots conjugated with AFB1 aptamers serve as fluorescent signal probes, whereas FeO@UiO-66-NH nanocomplexes are employed as magnetic carriers and fluorescence quenchers. FeO@UiO-66-NH reduces background signal interference, thereby enhancing detection sensitivity and Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) efficiency.

Research Note: Gut instincts: Salmonella contamination based on monitoring systems in the broiler sector.

Salmonellosis is the second most important zoonosis in Europe, with consumption of contaminated broiler meat and its derivative products as an important source of infection. One of the many measures to prevent Salmonella contamination of poultry meat at the slaughterhouses is logistic slaughter, this means that per day the contaminated flocks are slaughtered after the Salmonella free flocks. However, this principle relies on a monitoring system at farm level that is prone to false negatives.