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1.
Mediterranean diet intervention among World Trade Center responders with post-traumatic stress disorder: Feasibility and outcomes of a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Arcan, C, Hou, W, Hoffman, K, Reichardt, A, Yang, X, Clouston, SAP, Bromet, EJ, Luft, B
Obesity science & practice. 2024;(1):e725
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Responders of the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster suffer from co-morbidities. A Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) nutrition intervention with physical activity was implemented among WTC responders with overweight/obesity and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS WTC Health Program members (N = 62), 45-65 years, males 87%, body mass index (BMI) 27-45 kg/m2 randomized to MedDiet (n = 31) or usual nutrition counseling (n = 31). The 10-week intervention included online nutrition education, text messages, and group experiential cooking; both groups had three in-person individual nutrition counseling. Anthropometrics, serum biomarkers, psychosocial factors, MedDiet score, and PTSD symptoms were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-months (follow-up). The primary outcome was intervention feasibility and secondary outcomes were within- and between-group changes of all measures at post-intervention and follow-up. Nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum tests for between-group comparisons and Wilcoxon signed rank tests for pre-post within-group comparisons. RESULTS A total of 58(94%) and 46(74%) participants completed the post-intervention and follow-up measurements, respectively. Both groups experienced significant improvements in anthropometrics, MedDiet score, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and PTSD symptoms. Baseline median (range) were weight 100.42 (73.66-135.17) kg, BMI 33.20 (27.50-41.75) kg/m2, and Waist circumference (WC) 109.22 (90.17-150.62) cm. Median % weight loss at post-intervention was MedDiet: -3% (-11%-7%), p = 0.0002; Control: -1% (-13%-4%), p = 0.008 and at follow-up MedDiet: -2% (-14%-12%), p = 0.07; Control: -2% (-20%-3%), p = 0.006. The overall BMI was reduced by -0.68 kg/m2 (-4.61-2.09) kg/m2 p < 0.0001 at post-intervention and by -0.60 kg/m2 (-6.91-3.39) kg/m2, p < 0.0009 at follow-up. Overall, median WC was reduced (p < 0.0001); post-intervention -3.81 cm (-33.00-3.30)cm and follow-up -4.45(-38.10-4.57)cm. There were group differences in HbA1c (p = 0.019) and serum ω6/ω3 (p = 0.029) at post-intervention. CONCLUSION Online intervention with personal counseling was feasible in this population. Improvements in anthropometrics, MedDiet score, selected serum biomarkers and PTSD symptoms were found in both groups; group differences in HbA1c and serum ω6/ω3. A larger study with a delayed control is needed to better assess intervention effects.
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2.
Bioavailability and mechanisms of dietary polyphenols affected by non-thermal processing technology in fruits and vegetables.
Liu, Y, Deng, J, Zhao, T, Yang, X, Zhang, J, Yang, H
Current research in food science. 2024;:100715
Abstract
Plant polyphenols play an essential role in human health. The bioactivity of polyphenols depends not only on their content but also on their bioavailability in food. The processing techniques, especially non-thermal processing, improve the retention and bioavailability of polyphenolic substances. However, there are limited studies summarizing the relationship between non-thermal processing, the bioavailability of polyphenols, and potential mechanisms. This review aims to summarize the effects of non-thermal processing techniques on the content and bioavailability of polyphenols in fruits and vegetables. Importantly, the disruption of cell walls and membranes, the inhibition of enzyme activities, free radical reactions, plant stress responses, and interactions of polyphenols with the food matrix caused by non-thermal processing are described. This study aims to enhance understanding of the significance of non-thermal processing technology in preserving the nutritional properties of dietary polyphenols in plant-based foods. It also offers theoretical support for the contribution of non-thermal processing technology in improving food nutrition.
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3.
Phytochemicals targeting Alzheimer's disease via the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway, effects, and mechanisms of action.
Zhao, Z, Yan, J, Huang, L, Yang, X
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. 2024;:116373
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), characterized by cognitive dysfunction and other behavioral abnormalities, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that occurs due to aging. Currently, effective drugs to mitigate or treat AD remain unavailable. AD is associated with several abnormalities in neuronal energy metabolism, such as decreased glucose uptake, mitochondrial dysfunction, and defects in cholesterol metabolism. Amp-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important serine/threonine protein kinase that regulates the energy status of cells. AMPK is widely present in eukaryotic cells and can sense and regulate energy metabolism to maintain energy supply and demand balance, making it a promising target for energy metabolism-based AD therapy. Therefore, this review aimed to discuss the molecular mechanism of AMPK in the pathogenesis of AD to provide a theoretical basis for the development of new anti-AD drugs. To review the mechanisms of phytochemicals in the treatment of AD via AMPK pathway regulation, we searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Embase databases using specific keywords related to AD and phytochemicals in September 2023. Phytochemicals can activate AMPK or regulate the AMPK pathway to exert therapeutic effects in AD. The anti-AD mechanisms of these phytochemicals include inhibiting Aβ aggregation, preventing Tau hyperphosphorylation, inhibiting inflammatory response and glial activation, promoting autophagy, and suppressing anti-oxidative stress. Additionally, several AMPK-related pathways are involved in the anti-AD mechanism, including the AMPK/CaMKKβ/mTOR, AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α, AMPK/NF-κB/NLRP3, AMPK/mTOR, and PERK/eIF2α pathways. Notably, urolithin A, artemisinin, justicidin A, berberine, stigmasterol, arctigenin, and rutaecarpine are promising AMPK agonists with anti-AD effects. Several phytochemicals are effective AMPK agonists and may have potential applications in AD treatment. Overall, phytochemical-based drugs may overcome the barriers to the effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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4.
pH regulators and their inhibitors in tumor microenvironment.
Liao, S, Wu, G, Xie, Z, Lei, X, Yang, X, Huang, S, Deng, X, Wang, Z, Tang, G
European journal of medicinal chemistry. 2024;:116170
Abstract
As an important characteristic of tumor, acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) is closely related to immune escape, invasion, migration and drug resistance of tumor. The acidity of the TME mainly comes from the acidic products produced by the high level of tumor metabolism, such as lactic acid and carbon dioxide. pH regulators such as monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX), and Na+/H+ exchange 1 (NHE1) expel protons directly or indirectly from the tumor to maintain the pH balance of tumor cells and create an acidic TME. We review the functions of several pH regulators involved in the construction of acidic TME, the structure and structure-activity relationship of pH regulator inhibitors, and provide strategies for the development of small-molecule antitumor inhibitors based on these targets.
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Fluorine Chemistry in Rechargeable Batteries: Challenges, Progress, and Perspectives.
Wang, Y, Yang, X, Meng, Y, Wen, Z, Han, R, Hu, X, Sun, B, Kang, F, Li, B, Zhou, D, et al
Chemical reviews. 2024;(6):3494-3589
Abstract
The renewable energy industry demands rechargeable batteries that can be manufactured at low cost using abundant resources while offering high energy density, good safety, wide operating temperature windows, and long lifespans. Utilizing fluorine chemistry to redesign battery configurations/components is considered a critical strategy to fulfill these requirements due to the natural abundance, robust bond strength, and extraordinary electronegativity of fluorine and the high free energy of fluoride formation, which enables the fluorinated components with cost effectiveness, nonflammability, and intrinsic stability. In particular, fluorinated materials and electrode|electrolyte interphases have been demonstrated to significantly affect reaction reversibility/kinetics, safety, and temperature tolerance of rechargeable batteries. However, the underlining principles governing material design and the mechanistic insights of interphases at the atomic level have been largely overlooked. This review covers a wide range of topics from the exploration of fluorine-containing electrodes, fluorinated electrolyte constituents, and other fluorinated battery components for metal-ion shuttle batteries to constructing fluoride-ion batteries, dual-ion batteries, and other new chemistries. In doing so, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the structure-property interactions, the features of fluorinated interphases, and cutting-edge techniques for elucidating the role of fluorine chemistry in rechargeable batteries. Further, we present current challenges and promising strategies for employing fluorine chemistry, aiming to advance the electrochemical performance, wide temperature operation, and safety attributes of rechargeable batteries.
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6.
Recent advances in the degradation efficacy and mechanisms of mycotoxins in food by atmospheric cold plasma.
Liu, M, Feng, J, Yang, X, Yu, B, Zhuang, J, Xu, H, Xiang, Q, Ma, R, Jiao, Z
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety. 2024;:115944
Abstract
Food contaminated by mycotoxins has become a worldwide public problem with political and economic implications. Although a variety of traditional methods have been used to eliminate mycotoxins from agri-foods, the results have been somewhat less than satisfactory. As an emerging non-thermal processing technology, atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) has great potential for food decontamination. Herein, this review mainly presents the degradation efficiency of ACP on mycotoxins in vitro and agri-foods as well as its possible degradation mechanisms. Meanwhile, ACP effects on food quality, factors affecting the degradation efficiency and the toxicity of degradation products are also discussed. According to the literatures, ACP could efficiently degrade many mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, fumonisin, and T-2 toxin) both in vitro and various foods (e.g., hazelnut, peanut, maize, rice, wheat, barley, oat flour, and date palm fruit) with little effects on the nutritional and sensory properties of food. The degradation efficacy was dependent on many factors including ACP treatment parameter, working gas, mycotoxin property, and food substrate. The mycotoxin degradation by ACP was mainly attributed to the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in ACP, which can damage the chemical bonds of mycotoxins, consequently reducing the toxicity of mycotoxins.
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7.
ZNF217: An Oncogenic Transcription Factor and Potential Therapeutic Target for Multiple Human Cancers.
Wang, Y, Ma, C, Yang, X, Gao, J, Sun, Z
Cancer management and research. 2024;:49-62
Abstract
Zinc finger protein 217 (ZNF217) is one of the well-researched members of the Krüppel-like factor transcription factor family. ZNF217 possesses a characteristic structure of zinc finger motifs and plays a crucial role in regulating the biological activities of cells. Recent findings have revealed that ZNF217 is strongly associated with multiple aspects of cancer progression, impacting patient prognosis. Notably, ZNF217 is subject to regulation by non-coding RNAs, suggesting the potential for targeted manipulation of such RNAs as a robust therapeutic avenue for managing cancer in the future. The main purpose of this article is to provide a detailed examination of the role of ZNF217 in human malignant tumors and the regulation of its expression, and to offer new perspectives for cancer treatment.
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8.
Cuproptosis and copper deficiency in ischemic vascular injury and repair.
Gu, J, Huang, W, Duanmu, Z, Zhuang, R, Yang, X
Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death. 2024
Abstract
Ischemic vascular diseases are on the rise globally, including ischemic heart diseases, ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, and ischemic peripheral arterial diseases, posing a significant threat to life. Copper is an essential element in various biological processes, copper deficiency can reduce blood vessel elasticity and increase platelet aggregation, thereby increasing the risk of ischemic vascular disease; however, excess copper ions can lead to cytotoxicity, trigger cell death, and ultimately result in vascular injury through several signaling pathways. Herein, we review the role of cuproptosis and copper deficiency implicated in ischemic injury and repair including myocardial, cerebral, and limb ischemia. We conclude with a perspective on the therapeutic opportunities and future challenges of copper biology in understanding the pathogenesis of ischemic vascular disease states.
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9.
Combining biomarkers of BNIP3 L, S100B, NSE, and accessible measures to predict sepsis-associated encephalopathy: a prospective observational study.
Zhang, N, Xie, K, Yang, F, Wang, Y, Yang, X, Zhao, L
Current medical research and opinion. 2024;(4):575-582
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate identification of delirium in sepsis patients is crucial for guiding clinical diagnosis and treatment. However, there are no accurate biomarkers and indicators at present. We aimed to identify which combinations of cognitive impairment-related biomarkers and other easily accessible assessments best predict delirium in sepsis patients. METHODS One hundred and one sepsis patients were enrolled in a prospective study cohort. S100B, NSE, and BNIP3 L biomarkers were detected in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid and patients' optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD). The optimal biomarkers identified by Logistic regression are combined with other factors such as ONSD to filter out the perfect model to predict delirium in sepsis patients through Logistic regression, Naïve Bayes, decision tree, and neural network models. MAIN RESULTS Among all biomarkers, compared with BNIP3 L (AUC = .706, 95% CI = .597-.815) and NSE (AUC = .711, 95% CI = .609-.813) in cerebrospinal fluid, plasma S100B (AUC = .729, 95% CI = .626-.832) had the best discrimination performance for delirium in sepsis patients. Logistic regression analysis showed that the combination of cerebrospinal fluid BNIP3 L with plasma S100B, ONSD, neutrophils, and age provided the best discrimination to cognitive impairment in sepsis patients (accuracy = .901, specificity = .923, sensitivity = .911), which was better than Naïve Bayes, decision tree, and neural network models. Neutrophils, ONSD, and cerebrospinal fluid BNIP3 L were consistently the major contributors in a few models. CONCLUSIONS The logistic regression showed that the combination model was strongly correlated with cognitive dysfunction in sepsis patients.
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10.
Effects of early-life gut microbiota on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants: a multi-center, longitudinal observational study in China.
Zhang, D, Lan, Y, Zhang, J, Cao, M, Yang, X, Wang, X
European journal of pediatrics. 2024;(4):1733-1740
Abstract
UNLABELLED To prospectively investigate associations between the features of gut microbiota at the fourth week after birth in preterm infants and neurodevelopment from 1 month of corrected age to 6 months of corrected age (MCA). Seventy-seven preterm infants were recruited from three NICUs of three tertiary hospitals between Apr 2021 to Sep 2022. Stool samples were collected during the fourth week after birth. Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to detect the composition and diversity of gut microbiota. Neurodevelopment assessments of preterm infants were conducted at 1, 3, and 6 MCA using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, the third edition (ASQ-3). Spearman correlation, a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) analysis were used to horizontally and prospectively explore the associations between gut microbial and ASQ-3 dimension scores at each time point. The GLMM showed no significant associations between the alpha diversity and neurodevelopmental trajectory from 1 to 6 MCA. The beta diversity was significantly associated with gross motor scores at 1, 3, and 6 MCA (R2 = 0.067, p = 0.001; R2 = 0.039, p = 0.020; R2 = 0.031, p = 0.047); communication scores at 3 MCA (R2 = 0.030, p = 0.040); and fine motor scores at 6 MCA (R2 = 0.035, p = 0.022). After adjusting for covariates, the GLMM showed that the relative abundance of Klebsiella was negatively associated with gross motor score trajectory from 1 to 6 MCA (β = - 1.449; 95% CI, - 2.275 to - 0.572; p = 0.001), while the relative abundance of Lactobacillus displayed a positive association (β = 1.421; 95% CI, 0.139 to 2.702; p = 0.030). Moreover, the relative abundance of Streptococcus was negatively associated with fine motor trajectory from 1 to 6 MCA (β = - 1.669; 95% CI, - 3.305 to - 0.033; p = 0.046). CONCLUSION Our results suggest a possible association between the neonatal gut microbial diversity; the relative abundance of Klebsiella, Streptococcus, and Lactobacillus; and neurodevelopment from 1 to 6 MCA. In the future, clinical staff can focus on the window period of gut microbiota colonization, and implement probiotics targeted at the dominant genera to improve the neurodevelopment of preterm infants. WHAT IS KNOWN • In the fields of biology and medicine, current studies suggest that gut microbiota may play an important role in the critical window period of neurodevelopment through the gut-brain axis pathway. • Extensive preclinical research has implied the vital role of the initial gut colonization in the long-term neurodevelopment of children. WHAT IS NEW • The early-life gut microbiota was associated with neurodevelopment in preterm infants within 6 months of corrected age (MCA).