Potential prebiotic effects of nonabsorptive components of Keemun and Dianhong black tea:an in vitro study

Black tea is a healthy and popular tea beverage.However,its main bioactive compounds(theaflavins and thearubigins)are not easily absorbed.The aim of this study was to investigate the modulation of intestinal microbiota by the nonabsorptive components of Keemun black tea(KBT)and Dianhong black tea(DBT),and fructooligosaccharide(FOS)was selected for use in the control group.KBT,DBT,and FOS significantly increased total short-chain acid production.Specifically,FOS treatment predominantly increased the production of acetic acids and black tea treatments increased the production of acetic,propionic,and butyric acids at similar rates.Moreover,FOS exerted a strong bifidogenic effect after 24 h of fermentation;KBT and DBT increased the abundance of the beneficial genus Bacteroides and Roseburia.In summary,the nonabsorptive components of KBT and DBT could serve as novel prebiotics,the underlying mechanisms of which are quite different from those of FOS.

Numerical Simulation of Fluid-Structure Interaction Method on Dynamic Movement of Leukocyte in Flow Chamber

Biomechanical properties of cells play a very important role in regulating cells function. Experimental studies found that when Leukocytes move near the vessel wall, the phenomena such as rolling, jumping and adhesion will appear. Based on the non-linear fluid-structure interaction theory, leukocyte’s tiny jumping mechanism and rolling phenomenon were studied. The results were: 1) The choice of time step of leukocyte had a great influence on the movement of leukocyte. Instead of landing on the bottom of flow chamber, leukocyte jumped to a certain height and then moved periodically toward the bottom of the flow chamber again. Leukocyte had the biggest deformation when jumping;2) Adhesion and rolling along the bottom of the flow chamber appeared in the process of moving forward, the scrolling speed was greater than that of pure rolling. Leukocytes’ movement in blood vessels was closely related with body physiological and pathological characteristics. The study of dynamic movement of leukocyte provided theoretical basis for clinical medicine.

Characteristics of gut microbiota determine effects of specific probiotics strains in patients with functional constipation

To the Editor:Probiotics are a promising treatment modality for functional constipation(FC);however,the factors affecting individual responses to probiotics remain unclear.Growing evidence has identified that there is a strong relationship among the gut microbiota and constipation and related gut-brain axis.[1]The gut microbiota may modulate the gut functions via gut metabolites or trigger the release of gut hormones,such as peptide YY,gastric inhibitory polypeptide,and 5-hydroxytryptamine.[2]In turn,gut hormones affect gut secretion,motility,and sensation through their receptors located on epithelial,enteric,and smooth muscle cells.[2]Based on these findings,exogenous probiotics have been used in patients with constipation;however,few have produced consistent results.[3]In this study,we investigated the efficacy and safety of several specific probiotics strains for constipation,and also examined the potential reasons for the individualized effects of probiotics,which may facilitate interventional decisionmaking for FC patients.

Heterogeneity of Surface Heat Exchange of Slopes and Potential Drivers of the Initiation of Thaw Slump,Qinghai‑Tibet Plateau

In the mountainous permafrost area,most thaw slumps are distributed in north or northeast-facing shady slope areas.It is commonly known that there is a heterogeneity in permafrost between diferent slope aspects,but there has been a lack of detailed measured data to quantitatively evaluate their relationships,and in-depth understandings on how the slope aspects are linked to the distribution of thaw slumps.This study examined the heterogenous thermal regime,soil moisture content,and surface radiation at two slope sites with opposing aspects in a warming permafrost region on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP).The results indicate that similar air temperatures(T_(a))were monitored on the two slopes,but there were signifcant diferences in ground temperature and moisture content in the active layer from 2016 to 2021.The sunny slope exhibited a higher mean annual ground surface temperature(T_(s)),and over the fve years the mean annual temperature at the top of permafrost was 1.3–1.4℃warmer on the sunny slope than the shady slope.On the contrary,the near-surface soil moisture content was about 10–13%lower on the sunny slope(~22–27%)than the shady slope(~35–38%)during the thawing season(June–September).Radiation data indicate that signifcantly higher shortwave downward radiation(DR)appeared at the sunny slope site.However,due to the greater surface albedo,the net radiation(Rn)was lower on the sunny slope.Slope aspect also afects the ground ice content due to its infuence on ground temperature,freeze-thaw cycles,and soil moisture.Shady slopes have a shallower burial of ice-rich permafrost compared to sunny slopes.The results highlight greatly diferent near-surface ground thermal conditions at the two slope sites with diferent aspects in a mountainous permafrost region.This helps identify the slope-related causes of increasing thaw slumps and provides a basis for predicting their future development.