Interaction between N-Phospho-Amino Acids and Nucleoside in Aqueous Medium

Nucleosides were phosphorylated with different N- (O, O-diisopropyl) phosphoryl amino acids to give nucleoside mono phosphates in aqueous solution. 2', 3', and 5'-isomers had been confirmed by comparison with authentic samples on the basis of HPLC analysis. The conversion percentage of nucleoside indicated that N- (O, O-diisopropyl) phosphoryl aspartic acid reacted with adenosine and guanosine at a much higher rate than other kinds of N- phosphoryl amino acids. while phosphorylation of cytidine and uridine was relatively easy by using N- (O, O-diisopropyl) phosphoryl threonine. The result could give some clue to the prebiotic code origin of nucleic acid and protein.

Effect of different drying methods on the amino acids,α-dicarbonyls and volatile compounds of rape bee pollen

The significant demand for high quality food has motivated us to adopt appropriate processing methods to improve the food nutritional quality and flavors.In this study,the effects of five drying methods,namely,pulsed vacuum drying(PVD),freeze drying(FD),infrared drying(IRD),hot-air drying(HAD)and sun drying(SD)on free amino acids(FAAs),α-dicarbonyl compounds(α-DCs)and volatile compounds(VOCs)in rape bee pollen(RBP)were determined.The results showed that FD significantly released the essential amino acids(EAAs)compared with fresh samples while SD caused the highest loss.Glucosone was the dominantα-DCs in RBP and the highest loss was observed after PVD.Aldehydes were the dominant volatiles of RBP and SD samples contained more new volatile substances(especially aldehydes)than the other four drying methods.Comprehensively,FD and PVD would be potential methods to effectively reduce the quality deterioration of RBP in the drying process.

Milk fat globule membrane supplementation protects againstβ-lactoglobul-ininduced food allergy in mice via upregulation of regulatory T cells and enhancement of intestinal barrier in a microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids manner

Milk fat globule membrane(MFGM),which contains abundant glycoproteins and phospholipids,exerts beneficial effects on intestinal health and immunomodulation.The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects and possible underlying mechanisms of MFGM on cow’s milk allergy(CMA)in aβ-lactoglobulin(BLG)-induced allergic mice model.MFGM was supplemented to allergic mice induced by BLG at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight.Results demonstrated that MFGM alleviated food allergy symptoms,decreased serum levels of lipopolysaccharide,pro-inflammatory cytokines,immunoglobulin(Ig)E,Ig G1,and Th2 cytokines including interleukin(IL)-4,while increased serum levels of Th1 cytokines including interferon-γand regulatory T cells(Tregs)cytokines including IL-10 and transforming growth factor-β.MFGM modulated gut microbiota and enhanced intestinal barrier of BLG-allergic mice,as evidenced by decreased relative abundance of Desulfobacterota,Rikenellaceae,Lachnospiraceae,and Desulfovibrionaceae,while increased relative abundance of Bacteroidetes,Lactobacillaceae and Muribaculaceae,and enhanced expressions of tight junction proteins including Occludin,Claudin-1 and zonula occludens-1.Furthermore,MFGM increased fecal short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)levels,which elevated G protein-coupled receptor(GPR)43 and GPR109A expressions.The increased expressions of GPR43 and GPR109A induced CD103+dendritic cells accumulation and promoted Tregs differentiation in mesenteric lymph node to a certain extent.In summary,MFGM alleviated CMA in a BLG-induced allergic mice model through enhancing intestinal barrier and promoting Tregs differentiation,which may be correlated with SCFAs-mediated activation of GPRs.These findings suggest that MFGM may be useful as a promising functional ingredient against CMA.

Recovery of Li, Ni, Co and Mn from spent lithium-ion batteries assisted by organic acids: Process optimization and leaching mechanism

The proper recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)can promote the recovery and utilization of valuable resources,while also negative environmental effects resulting from the presence of toxic and hazardous substances.In this study,a new environmentally friendly hydro-metallurgical process was proposed for leaching lithium(Li),nickel(Ni),cobalt(Co),and manganese(Mn)from spent LIBs using sulfuric acid with citric acid as a reductant.The effects of the concentration of sulfuric acid,the leaching temperature,the leaching time,the solid-liquid ratio,and the reducing agent dosage on the leaching behavior of the above elements were investigated.Key parameters were optimized using response surface methodology(RSM)to maximize the recovery of metals from spent LIBs.The maxim-um recovery efficiencies of Li,Ni,Co,and Mn can reach 99.08%,98.76%,98.33%,and 97.63%.under the optimized conditions(the sulfuric acid concentration was 1.16 mol/L,the citric acid dosage was 15wt%,the solid-liquid ratio was 40 g/L,and the temperature was 83℃ for 120 min),respectively.It was found that in the collaborative leaching process of sulfuric acid and citric acid,the citric acid initially provided strong reducing CO_(2)^(-),and the transition metal ions in the high state underwent a reduction reaction to produce transition metal ions in the low state.Additionally,citric acid can also act as a proton donor and chelate with lower-priced transition metal ions,thus speeding up the dissolution process.

Bile acids inhibit ferroptosis sensitivity through activating farnesoid X receptor in gastric cancer cells

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is associated with high mortality rates.Bile acids(BAs)reflux is a well-known risk factor for GC,but the specific mechanism remains unclear.During GC development in both humans and animals,BAs serve as signaling molecules that induce metabolic reprogramming.This confers additional cancer phenotypes,including ferroptosis sensitivity.Ferroptosis is a novel mode of cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation that contributes universally to malignant progression.However,it is not fully defined if BAs can influence GC progression by modulating ferroptosis.AIM To reveal the mechanism of BAs regulation in ferroptosis of GC cells.METHODS In this study,we treated GC cells with various stimuli and evaluated the effect of BAs on the sensitivity to ferroptosis.We used gain and loss of function assays to examine the impacts of farnesoid X receptor(FXR)and BTB and CNC homology 1(BACH1)overexpression and knockdown to obtain further insights into the molecular mechanism involved.RESULTS Our data suggested that BAs could reverse erastin-induced ferroptosis in GC cells.This effect correlated with increased glutathione(GSH)concentrations,a reduced GSH to oxidized GSH ratio,and higher GSH peroxidase 4(GPX4)expression levels.Subsequently,we confirmed that BAs exerted these effects by activating FXR,which markedly increased the expression of GSH synthetase and GPX4.Notably,BACH1 was detected as an essential intermediate molecule in the promotion of GSH synthesis by BAs and FXR.Finally,our results suggested that FXR could significantly promote GC cell proliferation,which may be closely related to its anti-ferroptosis effect.CONCLUSION This study revealed for the first time that BAs could inhibit ferroptosis sensitivity through the FXR-BACH1-GSHGPX4 axis in GC cells.This work provided new insights into the mechanism associated with BA-mediated promotion of GC and may help identify potential therapeutic targets for GC patients with BAs reflux.

Expression and clinical significance of short-chain fatty acids in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

BACKGROUND Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP)is a pregnancy-specific liver condition that typically arises in the middle and late stages of pregnancy.Short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs),prominent metabolites of the gut microbiota,have significant connections with various pregnancy complications,and some SCFAs hold potential for treating such complications.However,the metabolic profile of SCFAs in patients with ICP remains unclear.AIM To investigate the metabolic profiles and differences in SCFAs present in the maternal and cord blood of patients with ICP and determine the clinical significance of these findings.METHODS Maternal serum and cord blood samples were collected from both patients with ICP(ICP group)and normal pregnant women(NP group).Targeted metabolomics was used to assess the SCFA levels in these samples.RESULTS Significant differences in maternal SCFAs were observed between the ICP and NP groups.Most SCFAs exhibited a consistent declining trend in cord blood samples from the ICP group,mirroring the pattern seen in maternal serum.Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between maternal serum SCFAs and cord blood SCFAs[r(Pearson)=0.88,P=7.93e-95].In both maternal serum and cord blood,acetic and caproic acids were identified as key metabolites contributing to the differences in SCFAs between the two groups(variable importance for the projection>1).Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that multiple SCFAs in maternal blood have excellent diagnostic capabilities for ICP,with caproic acid exhibiting the highest diagnostic efficacy(area under the curve=0.97).CONCLUSION Compared with the NP group,significant alterations were observed in the SCFAs of maternal serum and cord blood in the ICP group,although they displayed distinct patterns of change.Furthermore,the SCFA levels in maternal serum and cord blood were significantly positively correlated.Notably,certain maternal serum SCFAs,specifically caproic and acetic acids,demonstrated excellent diagnostic efficiency for ICP.

Standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in soybean meal fed to non-pregnant and pregnant sows

Background Two studies were designed to determine standard ileal crude protein(CP)and amino acid(AA)digestibility of soybean meal(SBM)from different origins fed to non-pregnant and pregnant sows.Seven solvent-extracted SBMs from soybeans produced in the USA,Brazil,and China were selected.In Exp.1,eight different diets were created:a nitrogen(N)-free diet and 7 experimental diets containing SBM from different origins as the only N source.Eight non-pregnant,multiparous sows were arranged in an 8×8 Latin square design(8 periods and 8 diets).In Exp.2,the diet formula was the same as in Exp.1.Eight gestating sows(parity 3)were assigned to 4 different diets in a replicated 4×3 Youden square design(three periods and four diets)in mid-gestation and again in late-gestation stages.Results When fed to non-pregnant and late-gestating sows,the standardized ileal digestibility(SID)of CP and most AAs from different SBM were not significantly different(P>0.05).When fed to mid-gestating sows,the SID values for Arg,His,Lys,Phe,Cys,Gly,Ser,and Tyr in SBM 1 were lower than in SBM 4 and 5(P<0.05),whereas SID for Leu from SBM 5 was higher than in SBM 1 and 4(P<0.05).SID values for Ile,Ala,and Asp from SBM 4 were lower than in SBM 1 and 5(P<0.05).Sows had significantly greater SID values for Lys,Ala,and Asp during mid-gestation when compared with late-gestation stages(P<0.05).Mid-gestating sows had greater SID value for Val and lower SID value for Tyr when compared with non-pregnant and late-gestating sows(P<0.01),whereas non-pregnant sows had significantly greater SID value for Met when compared with gestating sows(P<0.01).Conclusions When fed to mid-gestating sows,the SID values for most AAs varied among SBM samples.The SID values for Lys,Met,Val,Ala,Asp,and Tyr in SBM were affected by sow gestation stages.Our findings provide a cornerstone for accurate SBM use in sow diets.

Bile acids,gut microbiota,and therapeutic insights in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a prevalent and aggressive liver malignancy.The interplay between bile acids(BAs)and the gut microbiota has emerged as a critical factor in HCC development and progression.Under normal conditions,BA metabolism is tightly regulated through a bidirectional interplay between gut microorganisms and BAs.The gut microbiota plays a critical role in BA metabolism,and BAs are endogenous signaling molecules that help maintain liver and intestinal homeostasis.Of note,dysbiotic changes in the gut microbiota during pathogenesis and cancer development can disrupt BA homeostasis,thereby leading to liver inflammation and fibrosis,and ultimately contributing to HCC development.Therefore,understanding the intricate interplay between BAs and the gut microbiota is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying hepatocarcinogenesis.In this review,we comprehensively explore the roles and functions of BA metabolism,with a focus on the interactions between BAs and gut microorganisms in HCC.Additionally,therapeutic strategies targeting BA metabolism and the gut microbiota are discussed,including the use of BA agonists/antagonists,probiotic/prebiotic and dietary interventions,fecal microbiota transplantation,and engineered bacteria.In summary,understanding the complex BA-microbiota crosstalk can provide valuable insights into HCC development and facilitate the development of innovative therapeutic approaches for liver malignancy.

Gut microbiota induced abnormal amino acids and their correlation with diabetic retinopathy

AIM:To explore the correlation of gut microbiota and the metabolites with the progression of diabetic retinopathy(DR)and provide a novel strategy to elucidate the pathological mechanism of DR.METHODS:The fecal samples from 32 type 2 diabetes patients with proliferative retinopathy(PDR),23 with nonproliferative retinopathy(NPDR),27 without retinopathy(DM),and 29 from the sex-,age-and BMI-matched healthy controls(29 HC)were analyzed by 16S rDNA gene sequencing.Sixty fecal samples from PDR,DM,and HC groups were assayed by untargeted metabolomics.Fecal metabolites were measured using liquid chromatographymass spectrometry(LC-MS)analysis.Associations between gut microbiota and fecal metabolites were analyzed.RESULTS:A cluster of 2 microbiome and 12 metabolites accompanied with the severity of DR,and the close correlation of the disease progression with PDR-related microbiome and metabolites were found.To be specific,the structure of gut microbiota differed in four groups.Diversity and richness of gut microbiota were significantly lower in PDR and NPDR groups,than those in DM and HC groups.A cluster of microbiome enriched in PDR group,including Pseudomonas,Ruminococcaceae-UCG-002,Ruminococcaceae-UCG-005,Christensenellaceae-R-7,was observed.Functional analysis showed that the glucose and nicotinate degradations were significantly higher in PDR group than those in HC group.Arginine,serine,ornithine,and arachidonic acid were significantly enriched in PDR group,while proline was enriched in HC group.Functional analysis illustrated that arginine biosynthesis,lysine degradation,histidine catabolism,central carbon catabolism in cancer,D-arginine and D-ornithine catabolism were elevated in PDR group.Correlation analysis revealed that Ruminococcaceae-UCG-002 and Christensenellaceae-R-7 were positively associated with L-arginine,ornithine levels in fecal samples.CONCLUSION:This study elaborates the different microbiota structure in the gut from four groups.The relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae-UCG-002 and Parabacteroides are associated with the severity of DR.Amino acid and fatty acid catabolism is especially disordered in PDR group.This may help provide a novel diagnostic parameter for DR,especially PDR.

Effects of forsythin extract in Forsythia leaves on intestinal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in rats fed a high-fat diet

Forsythia suspensa,belonging to the deciduous shrubs of the Luteaceae family,a traditional Chinese medicine,has effects of alleviating swelling,clearing heat,detoxification and promoting blood circulation.The leaves of F.suspensa contain multiple chemical components and have a long history of use in folk medicines and health foods.The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of forsythin extract from F.suspensa leaves on intestinal microbiota and short-chain fatty acid(SCFA)content in rats with obesity induced by a high-fat diet.Forsythin extract in F.suspensa leaves increased the abundance of the intestinal microbiota,ameliorated intestinal microbiota disorders and inhibited the increase in total SCFA content in the intestinal tract in rats with obesity induced by a high-fat diet.These results suggested that forsythin extract in F.suspensa leaves may slow the development of obesity induced by a high-fat diet;thus,its active components and efficacy are worthy of further study.

Enabling heterogeneous catalysis to achieve carbon neutrality: Directional catalytic conversion of CO_(2) into carboxylic acids

The increase in anthropogenic carbon dioxide(CO_(2))emissions has exacerbated the deterioration of the global environment,which should be controlled to achieve carbon neutrality.Central to the core goal of achieving carbon neutrality is the utilization of CO_(2) under economic and sustainable conditions.Recently,the strong need for carbon neutrality has led to a proliferation of studies on the direct conversion of CO_(2) into carboxylic acids,which can effectively alleviate CO_(2) emissions and create high-value chemicals.The purpose of this review is to present the application prospects of carboxylic acids and the basic principles of CO_(2) conversion into carboxylic acids through photo-,electric-,and thermal catalysis.Special attention is focused on the regulation strategy of the activity of abundant catalysts at the molecular level,inspiring the preparation of high-performance catalysts.In addition,theoretical calculations,advanced technologies,and numerous typical examples are introduced to elaborate on the corresponding process and influencing factors of catalytic activity.Finally,challenges and prospects are provided for the future development of this field.It is hoped that this review will contribute to a deeper understanding of the conversion of CO_(2) into carboxylic acids and inspire more innovative breakthroughs.

Heterogeneously elevated branched-chain/aromatic amino acids among new-onset type-2 diabetes mellitus patients are potentially skewed diabetes predictors

BACKGROUND The lack of specific predictors for type-2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)severely impacts early intervention/prevention efforts.Elevated branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs:Isoleucine,leucine,valine)and aromatic amino acids(AAAs:Tyrosine,tryptophan,phenylalanine)show high sensitivity and specificity in predicting diabetes in animals and predict T2DM 10-19 years before T2DM onset in clinical studies.However,improvement is needed to support its clinical utility.AIM To evaluate the effects of body mass index(BMI)and sex on BCAAs/AAAs in new-onset T2DM individuals with varying body weight.METHODS Ninety-seven new-onset T2DM patients(<12 mo)differing in BMI[normal weight(NW),n=33,BMI=22.23±1.60;overweight,n=42,BMI=25.9±1.07;obesity(OB),n=22,BMI=31.23±2.31]from the First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province,Kunming,China,were studied.One-way and 2-way ANOVAs were conducted to determine the effects of BMI and sex on BCAAs/AAAs.RESULTS Fasting serum AAAs,BCAAs,glutamate,and alanine were greater and high-density lipoprotein(HDL)was lower(P<0.05,each)in OB-T2DM patients than in NW-T2DM patients,especially in male OB-T2DM patients.Arginine,histidine,leucine,methionine,and lysine were greater in male patients than in female patients.Moreover,histidine,alanine,glutamate,lysine,valine,methionine,leucine,isoleucine,tyrosine,phenylalanine,and tryptophan were significantly correlated with abdominal adiposity,body weight and BMI,whereas isoleucine,leucine and phenylalanine were negatively correlated with HDL.CONCLUSION Heterogeneously elevated amino acids,especially BCAAs/AAAs,across new-onset T2DM patients in differing BMI categories revealed a potentially skewed prediction of T2DM development.The higher BCAA/AAA levels in obese T2DM patients would support T2DM prediction in obese individuals,whereas the lower levels of BCAAs/AAAs in NW-T2DM individuals may underestimate T2DM risk in NW individuals.This potentially skewed T2DM prediction should be considered when BCAAs/AAAs are to be used as the T2DM predictor.

Dietary organic acids ameliorate high stocking density stress-induced intestinal inflammation through the restoration of intestinal microbiota in broilers

Background:High stocking density(HSD)stress has detrimental effects on growth performance,intestinal barrier function,and intestinal microbiota in intensive animal production.Organic acids(OA)are widely used as feed addi-tives for their ability to improve growth performance and intestinal health in poultry.However,whether dietary OA can ameliorate HSD stress-induced impaired intestinal barrier in broilers remains elusive.In this study,a total of 528 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allocated into 3 treatments with 12 replicates per treatment including 10 birds for normal stocking density and 17 birds for HSD.The dietary treatments were as follows:1)Normal stocking density+basal diet;2)HSD+basal diets;3)HSD+OA.Results:HSD stress can induce increased levels of serum corticosterone,lipopolysaccharides,interleukin-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α,and down-regulated mRNA expression of ZO-1,resulting in compromised growth performance of broilers(P<0.05).Dietary OA could significantly reduce levels of serum corticosterone,lipopolysaccharides,interleukin-1β,and tumor necrosis factor-α,which were accompanied by up-regulated interleukin-10,mRNA expres-sion of ZO-1,and growth performance(P<0.05).Moreover,OA could down-regulate the mRNA expression of TLR4 and MyD88 to inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway(P<0.05).Additionally,HSD stress significantly decreased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and disturbed the balance of microbial ecosystems,whereas OA significantly increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and restored the disordered gut microbiota by reducing competitive and exploita-tive interactions in microbial communities(P<0.05).Meanwhile,OA significantly increased the content of acetic and butyric acids,which showed significant correlations with intestinal inflammation indicators(P<0.05).Conclusions:Dietary OA ameliorated intestinal inflammation and growth performance of broilers through restor-ing the disordered gut microbial compositions and interactions induced by HSD and elevating short-chain fatty acid production to inhibit the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.These findings demonstrated the critical role of intestinal microbiota in mediating the HSD-induced inflammatory responses,contributing to exploring nutritional strategies to alleviate HSD-induced stress in animals.

Secondary bile acids and the biliary epithelia: The good and the bad

The biliary tract has been considered for several decades a passive system just leading the hepatic bile to the intestine.Nowadays several researches demonstrated an important role of biliary epithelia(i.e.cholangiocytes)in bile formation.The study of biliary processes therefore maintains a continuous interest since the possible important implications regarding chronic cholestatic human diseases,such as primary biliary cholangitis or primary sclerosing cholangitis.Bile acids(BAs),produced by the liver,are the most represented organic molecules in bile.The physiologic importance of BAs was initially attributed to their behavior as natural detergents but several studies now demonstrate they are also important signaling molecules.In this minireview the effect of BAs on the biliary epithelia are reported focusing in particular on secondary(deriving by bacterial manipulation of primary molecules)ones.This class of BAs is demonstrated to have relevant biological effects,ranging from toxic to therapeutic ones.In this family ursodeoxycholic and lithocholic acid present the most interesting features.The molecular mechanisms linking ursodeoxycholic acid to its beneficial effects on the biliary tract are discussed in details as well as data on the processes leading to lithocholic damage.These findings suggest that expansion of research in the field of BAs/cholangiocytes interaction may increase our understanding of cholestatic diseases and should be helpful in designing more effective therapies for biliary disorders.

Study on Optimization of Ethanol Reflux Extraction of Phenolic Acids from Salvia miltiorrhiza

The extraction technology of phenolic acid compounds from Salvia miltiorrhiza by ethanol reflux was studied. In this experiment, salvianolic acid B standard was used to make the standard curve. Single factor experiment and orthogonal experiment were used to study the extraction of different ethanol concentrations, reflux times and material-to-liquid ratios. The OD value of salvianolic acid compounds was measured with a spectrophotometer. The extraction rate of phenolic acid compounds under different extraction conditions was calculated through a regression equation, so as to obtain the optimal conditions for the ethanol reflux extraction process of Salvia miltiorrhiza. The experimental data can provide a reference for the ethanol reflux extraction process of salvianolic acids in the industry. According to the experiment, the extraction rate of phenolic acids in Salvia miltiorrhiza was the highest when the ethanol concentration was 60%, the reflux time was 1.5 hours, and the ratio of material-to-liquid was 1:10.

The role of gut microbiota and its metabolites short-chain fatty acids in food allergy

Emerging evidence indicated that the increase in food allergy(FA)over the past few decades was associated with the abnormal compositional and metabolic changes of gut microbiota.Gut microbiota played a vital role in maintaining the homeostasis of the immune system and the dysbiosis of gut microbiota promoted the occurrence of FA.Recent research suggested that short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs),the main metabolites derived from gut microbiota,contributed to FA protection.Herein,we provided a comprehensive review on the relationship between gut microbiota and FA.The multifaceted mechanisms underlymg beneficial effects of gut microbiota composition/metabolites on the regulation of diverse cellular pathways in intestinal epithelial cells,dendritic cells,innate lymphoid cells,T cells,B cells and mast cells in the immune system were discussed systematically.These findings emphasized the positive function of gut microbiota in FA and provided novel ideas for the treatment or prevention of FA in the future.

Unlocking a novel determinant of athletic performance:The role of the gut microbiota,short-chain fatty acids,and“biotics”in exercise

The gut microbiota refers to the collection of trillions of intestinal microorganisms that modulate central aspects of health and disease through influential effects on host physiology.Recently,a connection has been made between the gut microbiota and exercise.Initial investigations demonstrated the beneficial effects of exercise on the gut microbiota,with cross-sectional studies revealing positive correlations between exerciseassociated states,and healthy gut microbiota and exercise interventions showed post-intervention increases in the abundance of beneficial bacterial taxa.More recent investigations have focused on exploring the reverse relationship:the influence of the gut microbiota on exercise performance.Murine investigations have revealed that certain bacterial taxa may enhance endurance exercise performance by augmenting various aspects of lactate metabolism.Further,short-chain fatty acids—which modulate metabolism at various organ sites,including within skeletal muscle—have been shown to enhance endurance exercise capacity in mice.This review highlights what is currently known about the connection between the gut microbiota and exercise,with a particular focus on the ergogenic potential of the gut microbiota and how it may be leveraged to enhance endurance exercise performance.

Branched chain amino acids in hepatic encephalopathy and sarcopenia in liver cirrhosis:Evidence and uncertainties

Liver cirrhosis is commonly associated with nutritional alterations,reported in 20% of patients with compensated disease and over 60% of patients with decompensated cirrhosis.Nutritional disturbances are associated with a worse prognosis and increased risk of complication.Serum levels of branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs)are decreased in patients with liver cirrhosis.The imbalance of amino acids levels has been suggested to be associated with the development of complications,such as hepatic encephalopathy and sarcopenia,and to affect the clinical presentation and prognosis of these patients.Several studies investigated the efficacy of BCAAs supplementation as a therapeutic option in liver cirrhosis,but uncertainties remain about the real efficacy,the best route of administration,and dosage.

Molecular composition of naphthenic acids in a Chinese heavy crude oil and their impacts on oil viscosity

Most heavy crude oils underwent biodegradation and generated a significant amount of naphthenic acids. Naphthenic acids are polar compounds with the carboxylic group and are considered as a major factor affecting the oil viscosity. However, the relationship between the molecular composition of naphthenic acids and oil viscosity is not well understood. This study examined a “clean” heavy oil with low contents of heteroatoms but had a high content of naphthenic acids. Naphthenic acids were fractionated by distillation and caustic extraction. The molecular composition was characterized by high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry. It was found that the 2- and 3-ring naphthenic monoacids with 15–35 carbon atoms are dominant components of the acid fractions;the caustic extraction is capable of isolating naphthenic acids with less than 35 carbons, which is equivalent to the upper limit of the distillable components, but not those in the residue fraction;the total acid number of the heavy distillates is higher than that of the residue fraction;the viscosity of the distillation fraction increases exponentially with an increased boiling point of the distillates. Blending experiments indicates that there is a strong correlation between the oil viscosity and acids content, although the acid content is only a few percent of the total oil.

Supplementing the early diet of broilers with soy protein concentrate can improve intestinal development and enhance short-chain fatty acid-producing microbes and short-chain fatty acids,especially butyric acid

Background:Research on nutrition in early-life commonly focuses on the maturation of the intestine because the intestinal system is crucial for ensuring continued growth.To explore the importance of early nutrition regulation in animals,soy protein concentrate(SPC)was added to the early diet of broilers to investigate its effects on amino acid digestibility,intestinal development,especially intestinal microorganisms,and broiler metabolites.A total of 192 oneday-old Arbor Acres(AA)male broilers were randomly assigned to two experimental treatments with 8 replicates of 12 birds.The control group was fed a basal diet(control),and the treatment group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 12%SPC(SPC12)during the first 10 d(starter phase).From d 11 to 21(grower phase)and d 22 to 42(finisher phase),a basal diet was fed to both treatment groups.Results:SPC reduced the pH value and acid-binding capacity of the starter diet(P<0.05,d 10);SPC in the early diet enhanced the gizzard weight(P<0.05,d 10 and d 42)and the ileum weight(P<0.05,d 10)and decreased the weight and length of the jejunum(P<0.05,d 10)and the relative length of the duodenum and jejunum(P<0.05,d 10).At the same time,SPC enhanced villus height(P<0.05,d 10)and muscle thickness in the jejunum and ileum(P<0.05,d 10)and increased the number of goblet cells in the duodenum(P<0.05,d 10).Meanwhile,SPC increased the Chao1 index and the ACE index(P<0.05,d 10)and altered the composition of caecal microflora at d 10.SPC also increased the relative abundance of Alistipes,Anaerotruncus,Erysipelatoclostridium,Intestinimonas and Flavonifractor bacteria(P<0.05,d 10).At the same time,the concentrations of caecal butyric acid and total short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)were also increased in the SPC12 group(P<0.05,d 10).Conclusions:In summary,the results showed that supplementing the starter diet of broilers with SPC has a significant effect on the early development of the intestine and the microflora.