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1.
Insoluble dietary fibers: structure, metabolism, interactions with human microbiome, and role in gut homeostasis.
Baky, MH, Salah, M, Ezzelarab, N, Shao, P, Elshahed, MS, Farag, MA
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition. 2024;(7):1954-1968
Abstract
Consumption of food rich in dietary fibers (DFs) has been long recognized to exert an overall beneficial effect on human health. This review aims to provide a holistic overview on how IDFs impact human gut health either directly, or through modulation of the gut microbiome. Several databases were searched for collecting papers such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus and Reaxys from 2000 till 2022. Firstly, an overview of the chemical structure of the various IDFs and the pathways employed by gut microbiota for their degradation is provided. The impact of IDFs on microbial community structure and pathogens colonization inside the human gut was discussed. Finally, the impact of IDFs on gut homeostasis and systemic effects at the cellular level, as well as the overall immunological benefits of IDFs consumption were analyzed. IDFs viz., cellulose, hemicellulose, resistant starch, and lignin found enriched in food are discussed for these effects. IDFs were found to induce gut immunity, improve intestinal integrity and mucosal proliferation, and favor adhesion of probiotics and hence improve human health. Also, IDFs were concluded to improve the bioavailability of plant polyphenols and improve their health-related functional roles. Ultimately, dietary fibers processing by modification shows potential to enhance fibers-based functional food production, in addition to increase the economic value and usage of food-rich fibers and their by-products.
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2.
A critical review on correlating active sites, oxidative species and degradation routes with persulfate-based antibiotics oxidation.
Li, N, Ye, J, Dai, H, Shao, P, Liang, L, Kong, L, Yan, B, Chen, G, Duan, X
Water research. 2023;:119926
Abstract
At present, numerous heterogeneous catalysts have been synthesized to activate persulfate (PS) and produce various reactive species for antibiotic degradation from water. However, the systematic summary of the correlation among catalyst active sites, PS activation pathway and pollutant degradation has not been reported. This review summarized the effect of metal-based, carbon-based and metal-carbon composite catalysts on the degradation of antibiotics by activating PS. Metal and non-metal sites are conducive to inducing different oxidation pathways (SO4•-, •OH radical oxidation and 1O2 oxidation, mediated electron transfer, surface-bound reactive complexes and high-valent metal oxidation). SO4•- and •OH are easy to attack CH, S-N, CN bonds, CC double bonds and amino groups in antibiotics. 1O2 is more selective to the structure of the aniline ring and amino group, and also to attacking CS, CN and CH bonds. Surface-bound active species can cleave CC, SN, CS and CN bonds. Other non-radical pathways may also induce different antibiotic degradation routes due to differences in oxidation potential and electronic properties. This critical review clarified the functions of active sites in producing different reactive species for selective oxidation of antibiotics via featured pathways. The outcomes will provide valuable guidance of oriented-regulation of active sites in heterogeneous catalysts to produce on-demand reactive species toward high-efficiency removing antibiotics from water.
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3.
Dendrobium as a new natural source of bioactive for the prevention and treatment of digestive tract diseases: A comprehensive review with future perspectives.
Wu, W, Lin, Y, Farag, MA, Li, Z, Shao, P
Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. 2023;:154784
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of diseases related to the digestive tract is on the rise, with many types of complex etiologies. Dendrobium nobile Lindl. is a famous Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rich in many bioactives proven to be beneficial in several health diseases related to inflammation and oxidative stress. PURPOSE At present, despite the availability of various therapeutic clinical drugs used for the treatment of digestive tract diseases, resistance emergence and existence of several side effects warrant for the developing of novel drugs for improved effects on digestive tract diseases. METHODS "Orchidaceae", "Dendrobium", "inflammation", "digestive tract", and "polysaccharide" were used as search terms to screen the literature. The therapeutic use of Dendrobium related to digestive tract diseases relative to known polysaccharides and other bioactive compounds were derived from online databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier, Science Direct, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, as well as relevant information on the known pharmacological actions of the listed phytochemicals. RESULTS To better capitalize upon Dendrobium for preventing and treating diseases related to digestive tract, this review summarizes bioactives in Dendrobium reported of potential in digestive tract diseases management and their underlying action mechanisms. Studies revealed that Dendrobium encompasses diverse classes including polysaccharides, phenolics, alkaloids, bibenzyls, coumarins, phenanthrene and steroids, with polysaccharide as the major class. Dendrobium exerts various health effects on a variety of disease related to the digestive tract. Action mechanisms involve antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, anticancer, alongside the regulation of some key signaling pathways. CONCLUSION Overall, Dendrobium appears as a promising TCM source of bioactives that has the potential to be further developed into nutraceuticals for digestive tract diseases compared to current drug treatments. This review highlights for Dendrobium potential effects with future perspectives for needed future research to maximize the use of bioactive compounds from Dendrobium for digestive tract disease treatment. A compile of Dendrobium bioactives is also presented alongside methods for their extraction and enrichment for potential incorporation in nutraceuticals.
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4.
Bergapten attenuates microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and ischemic brain injury by targeting Kv1.3 and Carbonyl reductase 1.
Gao, S, Zou, X, Wang, Z, Shu, X, Cao, X, Xia, S, Shao, P, Bao, X, Yang, H, Xu, Y, et al
European journal of pharmacology. 2022;:175242
Abstract
Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke, which serves as a prime target for developing novel therapeutic agent. However, feasible and effective agents for controlling neuroinflammation are scarce. Bergapten were acknowledged to hold therapeutic potential in restricting inflammation in multiple diseases, including peripheral neuropathy, migraine headaches and osteoarthritis. Here, we aimed to investigate the impact of bergapten on microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and its therapeutic potential in ischemic stroke. Our study demonstrated that bergapten significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated primary microglia. Mechanistically, bergapten suppressed cellular potassium ion efflux by inhibiting Kv1.3 channel and inhibits the degradation of Carbonyl reductase 1 induced by LPS, which might contribute to the anti-inflammatory effect of bergapten. Furthermore, bergapten suppressed microglial activation and post-stroke neuroinflammation in an experimental stroke model, leading to reduced infarct size and improved functional recovery. Thus, our study identified that bergapten might be a potential therapeutic compound for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
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Effect of probiotics supplementation combined with WeChat platform health management on nutritional status, inflammatory factors, and quality of life in patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis: a randomized trial.
Ou, Q, Wang, L, Wang, K, Shao, P
Annals of palliative medicine. 2021;(6):6606-6616
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory disease which is difficult to cure, is increasing in incidence, and is expensive to manage. The impact of long-term remission and recurrence in UC patients can cause a loss of confidence in patients regarding the efficacy of treatment and a lack of compliance, which creates a vicious circle. There is a lack of research on the nutritional status and quality of life (QOL) of UC patients in China. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotics supplementation combined with WeChat platform health management on the nutritional status, inflammatory factor levels, and QOL of patients with mild to moderate UC. METHODS We enrolled 150 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate UC in the outpatient and inpatient department of the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University between January 2018 to December 2020. Patients were randomly divided into an intervention group (probiotics supplement combined with WeChat platform) and a control group (routine follow-up). Changes to the nutritional status, inflammatory factor levels, and QOL of patients at discharge and 12 weeks after discharge were compared. RESULTS After 12 weeks of intervention, the nutritional status, inflammatory factor levels, and QOL scores of the two groups were improved compared with those before 12 weeks. Nutritional status related indicators (PA, ALB, and TP) of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05); the inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) of the intervention group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05); the SF-36 scores (PF, RP, and SF) in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05); and the IBDQ scores (BS, SS, and EF) in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Probiotics supplements combined with WeChat platform health management have a better curative effect on UC than conventional treatment by significantly improving the nutritional status of patients, reducing the level of inflammatory factors, and improving the QOL of patients. This intervention adds value to the management of UC patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100046446.
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6.
Within-trial cost-effectiveness of lifestyle intervention using a 3-tier shared care approach for pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women with gestational diabetes.
Li, W, Zhang, C, Leng, J, Shao, P, Tian, H, Zhang, F, Dong, L, Yu, Z, Chan, JCN, Hu, G, et al
PloS one. 2020;(8):e0237738
Abstract
This study assessed within-trial cost-effectiveness of a shared care program (SC, n = 339) for pregnancy outcomes compared to usual care (UC, n = 361), as implemented in a randomized trial of Chinese women with gestational diabetes (GDM). SC consisted of an individualized dietary advice and physical activity counseling program. The UC was a one-time group education program. The effectiveness was measured by number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one macrosomia/large for gestational age (LGA) infant. The cost-effectiveness was measured by incremental cost-effectiveness ratio in terms of cost (2012 Chinese Yuan/US dollar) per case of macrosomia and LGA prevented. The study took both a health care system and a societal perspective. This study found that the NNT was 16/14 for macrosomia/LGA. The incremental cost for treating a pregnant woman was ¥1,877 ($298) from a health care system perspective and ¥2,056 ($327) from a societal perspective. The cost of preventing a case of macrosomia/LGA from the two corresponding perspectives were ¥30,032/¥26,278 ($4,775/$4,178) and ¥32,896/¥28,784 ($5,230/$4,577), respectively. Considering the potential severe adverse health and economic consequences of a macrosomia/LGA infant, our findings suggest that implementing this lifestyle intervention for women with GDM is an efficient use of health care resources.
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7.
Mixed Spices at Culinary Doses Have Prebiotic Effects in Healthy Adults: A Pilot Study.
Lu, QY, Rasmussen, AM, Yang, J, Lee, RP, Huang, J, Shao, P, Carpenter, CL, Gilbuena, I, Thames, G, Henning, SM, et al
Nutrients. 2019;11(6)
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An increasing body of evidence suggests that the gut microbiota has a profound impact on human health. While the microbiome of a healthy individual is relatively stable, gut microbial dynamics can be influenced by host lifestyle and dietary choices. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of mixed spices (cinnamon, oregano, ginger, black pepper, and cayenne pepper) at culinary doses consumed over 2 weeks in a standardized 5g capsule on the production of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids The study is a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot study carried out with a total of 31 healthy women and men aged between 18 and 65. The subjects were randomly allocated to one of the two intervention groups. Results indicate that daily intake of 5g of mixed spices for 2 weeks in healthy subjects resulted in a significant reduction in the relative abundance of the phylum Firmicutes (bacteria), and a trend of increasing in phylum Bacteroidetes (bacteria) as compared with a matched control group. Authors conclude that a mixture of spices at culinary doses affects the composition of gut microbiota.
Abstract
Spices were used as food preservatives prior to the advent of refrigeration, suggesting the possibility of effects on microbiota. Previous studies have shown prebiotic activities in animals and in vitro, but there has not been a demonstration of prebiotic or postbiotic effects at culinary doses in humans. In this randomized placebo-controlled study, we determined in twenty-nine healthy adults the effects on the gut microbiota of the consumption daily of capsules containing 5 g of mixed spices at culinary doses by comparison to a matched control group consuming a maltodextrin placebo capsule. The 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing data were used for microbial characterization. Spice consumption resulted in a significant reduction in Firmicutes abundance (p < 0.033) and a trend of enrichment in Bacteroidetes (p < 0.097) compared to placebo group. Twenty-six operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were different between the spice and placebo groups after intervention. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between fecal short-chain fatty acid propionate concentration and Firmicutes abundance in spice intervention group (p < 0.04). The production of individual fecal short-chain fatty acid was not significantly changed by spice consumption in this study. Mixed spices consumption significantly modified gut microbiota, suggesting a prebiotic effect of spice consumption at culinary doses.
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Probing the structures, electronic and bonding properties of multidecker lanthanides: Neutral and anionic Lnn(COT)m (Ln = Ce, Nd, Eu, Ho and Yb; n, m = 1, 2) complexes.
Shao, P, Ding, LP, Luo, DB, Lu, C
Journal of molecular graphics & modelling. 2019;:226-234
Abstract
The ground state structures of neutral and anionic Lnn(COT)m (Ln = Ce, Nd, Eu, Ho and Yb; n, m = 1, 2) complexes have been identified by density functional theory. Ln(COT)1,20/- and Ln2(COT)20/- complexes are found to possess sandwich ground state structures in which Ln atoms and COT molecules are alternately stacked except for Nd2COT20/-. Our calculated AEA and VDE values show good agreement with the available experimental values, which validates that our obtained ground state structures are credible. Based on the frontier molecular orbitals, we find that the bond formation between the 4f electrons of Ln atoms and the π clouds of COT molecules is weak. Then, the bond strength within these complexes is further analyzed based on the topological analysis of electron density at bond critical point. By analyzing Hirshfeld charge, we find Lnn(COT)m0/- are charge-transfer complexes with weak bonding feature.
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9.
Non-Chloride in Situ Preparation of Nano-Cuprous Oxide and Its Effect on Heat Resistance and Combustion Properties of Calcium Alginate.
Shao, P, Xu, P, Zhang, L, Xue, Y, Zhao, X, Li, Z, Li, Q
Polymers. 2019;(11)
Abstract
With Cu2+ complexes as precursors, nano-cuprous oxide was prepared on a sodium alginate template excluded of Cl- and based on which the calcium alginate/nano-cuprous oxide hybrid materials were prepared by a Ca2+ crosslinking and freeze-drying process. The thermal degradation and combustion behavior of the materials were studied by related characterization techniques using pure calcium alginate as a comparison. The results show that the weight loss rate, heat release rate, peak heat release rate, total heat release rate and specific extinction area of the hybrid materials were remarkably lower than pure calcium alginate, and the flame-retardant performance was significantly improved. The experimental data indicates that nano-cuprous oxide formed a dense protective layer of copper oxide, calcium carbonate and carbon by lowering the initial degradation temperature of the polysaccharide chain during thermal degradation and catalytically dehydrating to char in the combustion process, and thereby can isolate combustible gases, increase carbon residual rates, and notably reduce heat release and smoke evacuation.
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10.
The influence of genetic variants of sorafenib on clinical outcomes and toxic effects in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Qin, C, Cao, Q, Li, P, Wang, S, Wang, J, Wang, M, Chu, H, Zhou, L, Li, X, Ye, D, et al
Scientific reports. 2016;:20089
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether genetic variants that influence angiogenesis and sorafenib pharmacokinetics are associated with clinical outcomes and toxic effects in advanced renal cell carcinoma patients treated with this drug. One hundred patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were enrolled. Forty-two polymorphisms in 15 genes were selected for genotyping and analyzed for associations with progression-free survival, overall survival, and toxic effects. We found that rs1570360 in VEGF and rs2239702 in VEGFR2 were significantly associated with progression-free. Specifically, patients carrying the variant genotypes (AG + AA) of these two polymorphisms both had an unfavorable progression-free. In addition, compared with those with the rs2239702 GG genotype, patients with the AG + AA genotype suffered an unfavorable OS. We found that the VEGF rs2010963 CG + GG genotypes had a significantly increased risk of hand-foot syndrome, and the ABCB1 rs1045642 CT + TT genotypes had an increased risk of high blood pressure. Our results suggest that polymorphisms in VEGF and VEGFR2 are associated with sorafenib clinical outcomes, and polymorphisms in VEGF and ABCB1 are associated with sorafenib-related toxicities. Larger studies are warranted to validate our findings.