Effect of wall-disruption on nutrient composition and in vitro digestion of camellia and lotus bee pollens

The nutrient digestion,absorption and biological activity of bee pollen may be limited due to the complex pollen wall.Here,the effect of superfine grinding technology on the release of nutrients from bee pollen were investigated,and their antioxidant activities and in vitro digestion were explored in this study.Results showed that the content of nutrients in bee pollen increased after wall disruption.Among them,fat content increased by 22.55%-8.31%,protein content increased by 0.54%-4.91%,starch content increased by 36.31%-48.64%,soluble sugar content increased by 20.57%-29.67%,total phenolic acid content increased by 11.73%-86.98%and total flavonoids content increased by 14.29%-24.79%.At the same time,the antioxidant activity increased by 14.84%-46.00%.Furthermore,the active components such as phenolic compounds in the wall-disruption bee pollen were more readily to be released during the in vitro digestion,and easier to be absorbed because of their higher bioaccessibility.Antioxidant activities during in vitro digestion were also improved in walldisruption bee pollen.These findings provide evidence that bee pollen wall disruption was suggested,thus,it is more conducive to exerting the value of bee pollen in functional foods.

Adsorption,in vitro digestion and human gut microbiota regulation characteristics of three Poria cocos polysaccharides

Poria cocos(PC)is a famous traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and a widely used healthcare ingredient,which has antiobesity,enhancing immunity and improving sleep effects.Traditionally,only water-soluble poria polysaccharide(WSP)is extracted and applied for clinical application,while insoluble polysaccharide(alkali-soluble poria polysaccharide,ASP)is discarded as herb residue.However,the whole PC has also been historically utilized as functional herbal food.Considering the beneficial role of dietary fiber and the traditional use of PC,ASP may also contribute substantially to the therapy function of PC.Compared to WSP,little attention has been paid to ASP and ASP modified product carboxymethyl poria polysaccharide(CMP)which has been used as an antitumor adjuvant drug.In this study,the oil,cholesterol,metal ions and polyphenols adsorption ability,in vitro simulated digestive and the gut microbiota fermentation characteristics of WSP,ASP and CMP were studied to evaluate the functional values of three P.cocos polysaccharides(PCPs).The results showed that all three PCPs had good adsorption capacity on cholesterol,polyphenols and metal ions(Cd^(2+)/Zn^(2+)/Mg^(2+)),among which ASP showed the highest capacity than WSP and CMP.The adsorption capacity of all three PCPs on heavy metal ions(Cd^(2+)/Zn^(2+))was stronger than that of non-heavy metal ions(Mg^(2+));The in vitro digestibility of all three PCPs was very low,but WSP was slightly higher than ASP and CMP;Moreover,the indigestible residue of all three PCPs could improve the richness and diversity of gut microbiota,among which ASP had the greatest influence.In general,ASP and CMP could significantly promote the proliferation of some probiotics and inhibit the growth of some harmful bacteria.The gut microbiota diversity of CMP was reduced,but the richness of probiotics,especially Parabacteroides distasonis was significantly enhanced compared with the ASP group,and the growth of harmful bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae was inhibited after CMP treatment.The short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)analysis results showed that all three PCPs could significantly promote the production of acetic acid,propionic acid and the total acid content compared with blank control group,and SCFAs producing activity was positively correlated with the proliferative capacity of probiotics.Taken together,the good adsorption characteristics and gut microbiota regulatory activity of ASP may lay foundation for its lipid-lowering and immune-improving function.Additionally,the probiotic effect of CMP and ASP indicated that except for only use the water extract of PC in clinic,CMP and ASP also can be used in healthcare to take full advantage of this valuable medicine.

The in vitro digestion fates of diacylglycerol under different intestinal conditions:a potential lipid source for lipid indigestion patients

The in vitro digestion models mimicking the gastrointestinal(GI)tract of general population and lipid indigestion patients(with lower levels of bile salts or pancreatic lipase)were selected to investigate whether diacylglycerols(DAGs)are potential good lipid sources for these patients.Linseed oil-based DAG(LD)and linseed oil(LT)were selected.LD-based emulsion((83.74±1.23)%)had higher lipolysis degree than LT-based emulsion((74.47±1.16)%)when monitoring the GI tract of normal population as previously reported.Indigestion conditions seriously decreased the digestive degree of LT-based emulsion((40.23±2.48)%-(66.50±3.70)%)while showed less influence on LD-based emulsion((64.18±2.41)%-(81.85±3.45)%).As opposed to LT-based emulsion,LD-based emulsion exhibited preference for releasing unsaturated fatty acids(especially oleic acid andα-linolenic acid)due to their different glycerolipid compositions.LD-based emulsion showed potential for providing lipids and nutrients(including essential fatty acids)for lipid indigestion patients.

Effect of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on antioxidant,and anti-inflammatory activities of bioactive peptides generated in sausages fermented with Staphylococcus simulans QB7

Dry-fermented sausages are a good source of bioactive peptides,whose stability against gastrointestinal(GI)digestion determines their bioaccessibility.This study focused on evaluating the effect of peptide extracts from sausages fermented with Staphylococcus simulans QB7 during in vitro simulated GI digestion,including peptide profiles and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.Peptides present in sausages were degraded during digestion,with molecular weight reduced from>12 kDa to<1.5 kDa.Besides,the content of amino acids increased from 381.15 to 527.07 mg/g,especially tyrosine being found only after GI digestion.The anti-inflammatory activities were increased after GI digestion,however,the changes in antioxidant activities were the opposite.A total number of 255,252 and 386 peptide sequences were identified in undigested,peptic-digested and GI-digested samples,respectively.PeptideRanker,BIOPEP-UWM and admetSAR were used to further predict the functional properties and intestinal absorption of the identified peptide sequences from GI digestion.Finally,18 peptides were discovered to possess either antioxidant or anti-inflammatory capacities.

Insights into sensitizing and eliciting capacity of gastric and gastrointestinal digestion products of shrimp(Penaeus vannamei)proteins in BALB/c mice

Shrimp(Penaeus vannamei)proteins have been shown an allergenic potential;however,little information is available on the sensitizing and eliciting capacity of shrimp protein digestion products.In this study,a BALB/c mice model was used to explore the allergenicity of shrimp protein sample(SPS)and their gastric and gastrointestinal digestion products(GDS/GIDS).As compared with the SPS groups,the GDS/GIDS groups caused lower specific immunoglobulins(Ig E/Ig G1)levels(P<0.05),but higher than the control groups,indicating that the digestion products sensitized the mice.Meanwhile,spleen index,mouse mast cell protease-1(m MCP-1)concentration and proportion of degranulated mast cells were significantly reduced in the GDS/GIDS groups(P<0.05);simultaneously,allergic symptoms,vascular permeability and histopathological changes of tissues were alleviated.Nevertheless,the allergenicity of digestion products cannot be eliminated and still cause systemic allergic reactions in mice.The study showed that the digestion products of shrimp still had high sensitizing and eliciting capacity.

Burden of six major types of digestive system cancers globally and in China

Background:Digestive system cancers constitute a significant number of cancer cases,but their burden is not uniform.As Global Cancer Observatory(GLOBOCAN)2022 has recently updated its estimates of cancer burden,we aimed to investigate the burden of six major digestive system cancers both worldwide and in China,along with geographical and temporal variations in cancer-specific incidence and mortality.Methods:We extracted data on primary cancers of the esophagus,stomach,colorectum,liver,pancreas,and gallbladder from the GLOBOCAN database for 2022.Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were calculated and stratified by sex,country,region,and human development index(HDI).We used the 2022 revision of the World Population Prospects(United Nations)to obtain demographic data for various age groups in China from 1988 to 2012 and used the joinpoint model and the average annual percentage change(AAPC)to analyze cancer incidence trends in China.Results:In 2022,the estimated global incidence of digestive system cancers reached 4,905,882,with an estimated 3,324,774 cancer-related deaths.Colorectal cancer was most prevalent in terms of incidence and mortality.There was a significant correlation between the burden of gastrointestinal cancers and country HDI.From 1988 to 2012,the incidence of esophageal,gastric,and liver cancers declined in China,whereas colorectal and pancreatic cancer incidences continued to increase.By 2050,colorectal and liver cancers are projected to remain the leading cancer types in China in terms of incidence and mortality,respectively.Conclusions:Digestive system cancers remain a significant public health challenge globally and in China.Although progress has been made in the prevention and control of some cancers,the burden of digestive system cancers persists.The implementation of tertiary prevention strategies must be intensified to reduce the incidence and mortality of digestive system cancers,mitigating their impact on public health.

A Comprehensive Study of the Association between LEPR Gene rs1137101 Variant and Risk of Digestive System Cancers

Objective The leptin receptor,encoded by the LEPR gene,is involved in tumorigenesis.A potential functional variant of LEPR,rs1137101(Gln223Arg),has been extensively investigated for its contribution to the risk of digestive system(DS)cancers,but results remain conflicting rather than conclusive.Here,we performed a case–control study and subsequent meta-analysis to examine the association between rs1137101 and DS cancer risk.Methods A total of 1,727 patients with cancer(gastric/liver/colorectal:460/480/787)and 800 healthy controls were recruited.Genotyping of rs1137101 was conducted using a polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)assay and confirmed using Sanger sequencing.Twenty-four eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis.Results After Bonferroni correction,the case–control study revealed that rs1137101 was significantly associated with the risk of liver cancer in the Hubei Chinese population.The meta-analysis suggested that rs1137101 is significantly associated with the risk of overall DS,gastric,and liver cancer in the Chinese population.Conclusion The LEPR rs1137101 variant may be a genetic biomarker for susceptibility to DS cancers(especially liver and gastric cancer)in the Chinese population.

Simultaneous determination of typical toxic aldehydes formed during food frying and digestion using isotope dilution UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS

An isotope dilution ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method was developed to simultaneously detect two typical kinds ofα,β-unsaturated aldehydes,namely 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal(4-HHE)and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal(4-HNE),in foods.The proposed method exhibited a linear range of 10-1000 ng/mL with a limit of detection of 0.1-2.0 ng/g and a limit of quantification of 0.3-5.0 ng/g.The recovery rates of these typical toxic aldehydes(i.e.,4-HHE,4-HNE)and their d3-labeled analogues were 91.54%-105.12%with a low matrix effect.Furthermore,this proposed method was successfully applied to a real frying system and a simulated digestion system,wherein the contents of 4-HHE and 4-HNE were determined for both.Overall,the obtained results provide strong support for further research into the production of 4-HHE and 4-HNE resulting from foods during oil digestion and frying.

Immunomodulatory and chemopreventive effects of resveratrol on the digestive system cancers

Resveratrol(RSV),the primary polyphenol found in grapes,has been revealed to have anti-inflammatory properties by reducing the capacity of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines,including IL-1β,IL-6,IL-1ra and TNFα.Considering the close association between chronic inflammation and cancer development,RSV’s immunomodulatory properties are one way by which the polyphenol may inhibit cancer initiation,proliferation,neovascularization,and migration.Resveratrol influences the generation of microtumor environment which is one of the key factors in cancer progress.In addition to immunomodulation,RSV inhibits cancer development by expressing anti-oxidant effects,causing cell cycle arrest,stimulating the function of certain enzymes,and activating cell signaling pathways.The end outcome is one of the various forms of cell death,including apoptosis,pyroptosis,necroptosis,and more,as it has been observed in vitro.RSV has been shown to act against cancer in practically every organ,while its effects on colon cancer have been documented more frequently.It is remarkable that longer-term clinical studies that may have established the potential for this natural substance to serve as a therapeutic adjuvant to traditional anti-cancer medications were not prompted by the encouraging outcomes seen with cancer cells treated with non-toxic doses of resveratrol.The current review aims to assess the recent findings about the immunological and anti-cancer characteristics of RSV,with a particular emphasis on cancers of the digestive tract,as a challenge for future clinical research that may contribute to the better prognosis of cancer.

Burden of digestive system diseases in China and its provinces during 1990-2019:Results of the 2019 Global Disease Burden Study

Background:Evaluating the impact of digestive system diseases is vital for devising effective prevention strategies.However,comprehensive reports on the burden of digestive system diseases in China are lacking.Our study aimed to provide an overview of the burden and trends of digestive system diseases from 1990 to 2019 in China and its provinces.Methods:This cross-sectional study utilized the Global Disease Burden Study 2019 to estimate the incidence,mortality rate,disability-adjusted life years(DALYs),years of life disability,years of life lost,and changes in the burden of digestive diseases across Chinese provinces from 1990 to 2019.The analysis of disease burden primarily examines the characteristics of sub-disease distribution,time trends,age distribution,and sex distribution.Additionally,we compared provincial age-standardized DALYs for digestive diseases with the expected rates based on the socio-demographic index(SDI).Results:In 2019,there were 499.2 million cases of digestive system diseases in China,resulting in 1,557,310 deaths.Stomach cancer,colon and rectal cancer,and esophageal cancer are the top three diseases associated with mortality and DALY related to digestive system diseases.Meanwhile,cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases,gastroesophageal reflux disease,and gallbladder and biliary diseases are the top three kinds of diseases with the highest prevalence among digestive system diseases.The risk of gastric cancer sharply increases among men after the age of 40 years,leading to a significant disparity in burden between men and women.As the SDI increased,the DALYs associated with digestive system diseases in China and its provinces showed a downward trend.Conclusion:Our study highlights the inverse correlation between DALYs associated with digestive system diseases and the SDI.

Insights into the history and tendency of glycosylation and digestive system tumor:A bibliometric-based visual analysis

BACKGROUND Glycosylation,a commonly occurring post-translational modification,is highly expressed in several tumors,specifically in those of the digestive system,and plays a role in various cellular pathophysiological mechanisms.Although the importance and detection methods of glycosylation in digestive system tumors have garnered increasing attention in recent years,bibliometric analysis of this field remains scarce.The present study aims to identify the developmental trends and research hotspots of glycosylation in digestive system tumors.AIM To find and identify the developmental trends and research hotspots of glycosylation in digestive system tumors.METHODS We obtained relevant literature from the Web of Science Core Collection and employed VOSviewer 1.6.19 and CiteSpace(version 6.1.R6)to perform bibliometric analysis.RESULTS A total of 2042 documents spanning from 1978 to the present were analyzed,with the research process divided into three phases:the period of obscurity(1978-1990),continuous development period(1991-2006),and the rapid outbreak period(2007-2023).These documents were authored by researchers from 66 countries or regions,with the United States and China leading in terms of publication output.Reis Celso A had the highest number of publications,while Pinho SS was the most cited author.Co-occurrence analysis revealed the most popular keywords in this field are glycosylation,expression,cancer,colorectal cancer,and pancreatic cancer.Furthermore,the Journal of Proteome Research was the most prolific journal in terms of publications,while the Journal of Biological Chemistry had the most citations.CONCLUSION The bibliometric analysis shows current research focus is primarily on basic research in this field.However,future research should aim to utilize glycosylation as a target for treating tumor patients.

Blastomas of the digestive system in adults:A review

Blastomas,characterized by a mixture of mesenchymal,epithelial,and undifferentiated blastematous components,are rare malignant neoplasms originating from precursor blast cells.This review focuses on digestive system blastomas in adult patients,including gastroblastoma,hepatoblastoma,and pancreatoblastoma.Gastroblastoma is a biphasic,epitheliomesenchymal tumor,with only sixteen cases reported to date.In addition to the characteristic histology,metastasisassociated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1-glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 gene fusion is typical,although recently novel ewing sarcoma breakpoint region 1-c-terminal binding protein 1 and patched 1-glioma-associated oncogene homolog 2 fusions have been described.Hepatoblastoma is exceptionally rare in adults and can show a variety of histologic patterns which may cause diagnostic difficulty.Pancreatoblastoma,primarily a pediatric tumor,displays acinar differentiation and squamoid nests with other lines of differentiation also present,especially neuroendocrine.Diagnostic approaches for these blastomas include a combination of imaging modalities,histopathological examination,and molecular profiling.The treatment generally involves surgical resection,which may be supplemented by chemotherapy or radiotherapy in some cases.Prognoses vary with gastroblastoma generally showing favorable outcomes post-surgery whereas hepatoblastoma and pancreatoblastoma often have poorer outcomes,particularly in the setting of metastases.This review highlights the complexity of diagnosing and managing these rare adult blastomas as well as the need for ongoing research to better understand their pathogenesis and improve treatment strategies.

Changes in Polyphenols and Antioxidant Activities of Yingshan Yunwu Tea during Digestion in Vitro

[Objectives]To explore the change rule of polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of coarse old leaves of Yingshan Yunwu Tea in the process of human digestion.[Methods]The coarse and old leaves of Yunwu tea in Yingshan,Huanggang,Hubei Province were selected as the research object,and their digestion in vitro was simulated.The total polyphenol content was determined by Folin-phenol reagent colorimetric method,and the DPPH radical scavenging activity and total antioxidant activity were determined.[Results]After simulated gastrointestinal digestion in vitro,the polyphenol content and antioxidant activity of coarse old leaf tea soup showed a downward trend.After gastrointestinal digestion,the polyphenol content in tea infusion separately decreased by 31.8%and 8.5%;the scavenging rate of DPPH free radical was 97%before digestion,decreased to 92%after gastric digestion and 65%after intestinal digestion,which decreased by 5%and 27%,respectively;after gastrointestinal digestion,the total antioxidant capacity of tea soup decreased by 4.7%and 3.1%,respectively.[Conclusions]This study provided a reference for the development and application of coarse old leaves of Yingshan Yunwu tea,and provided a reference for the nutritional value evaluation and comprehensive utilization of coarse old leaves,so as to make the best use of coarse tea leaves and reduce the waste of resources.

Feasibility of Plug Production Utilizing Digestate from Home-Waste to Energy Systems (H-WEF)

The integration of sustainable technologies in waste management systems has become imperative in addressing the escalating challenges of agricultural productivity and sustainability. Plugs are essential when starting crop production in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) setups and greenhouses. Horticultural crops such as vegetables, fruiting, and ornamental plants that utilize plugs have demonstrated higher success rates, healthier plants, and higher total yields. The APS Laboratory for Sustainable Agriculture explored the innovative utilization of digestate from the Home Water-Energy-Food Systems (H-WEF). The H-WEF system converts household food waste into biogas, electricity, and nutrient-rich digestate. The digestate from the H-WEF system was used to produce agricultural plugs, presenting a novel approach to circular resource utilization. We carried out the growth of Rex Butterhead Lettuce Latuca sativa plugs with 1) control system (synthetic fertilizer) and seven different treatments, 2) 5% Digestate—95% RO Water (5D–95RO);3) 10% Digestate—90% RO Water (10D–90RO);4) 15% Digestate—85% RO Water (15D–85RO);5) 20% Digestate—80% RO Water (20D–80RO);6) 25% Digestate—75% RO Water (25D–75RO);7) 30% Digestate—70% RO Water (30D–70RO);8) 35% Digestate—65% RO Water (35D–65RO). The plugs were cultivated for 15 days in a controlled environment until two leaves had developed after the cotyledon. After 15 days, we collected data on wet weight (g), plug head area (cm2), total leaf area (cm2), total chlorophyll content (mg/cm2), and dry weight (g). In addition, we collected data on the Leaf Area Index (LAI, cm2/cm2) and Specific Leaf Area (SLA, cm2/g). The synthetic fertigation yielded a higher wet weight than the following treatments: 5D–95RO, 10D–90RO, and 35D–65RO. While the 30D–70RO treatment produced a larger plug head than all other treatments. The digestate-based fertilizers were comparable to the synthetic fertilizer at dilutions of 25D–75RO and 30D–70RO. This study underscores the viability of using digestate for plug production, providing crucial insights for growers navigating the challenges of sustainable agricultural practices.

Gastrointestinal tolerability of organic infant formula compared to traditional infant formula: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Infants'nutrition significantly influences their growth,development,and overall well-being.With the increasing demand for organic infant formula driven by the perception of health benefits and growing awareness of natural feeding options,it is crucial to conduct a comparative analysis of the gastrointestinal tolerability between organic and traditional infant formulas.AIM To provide a concise and precise analysis of the gastrointestinal tolerability of organic infant formula compared to traditional infant formula.Due to limited direct comparisons,the review synthesizes available literature on each formula type,presenting insights into their potential effects on infants'digestive health.METHODS An extensive literature search was conducted,compiling studies on organic and traditional infant formulas,their compositions,and reported effects on gastrointestinal tolerability.We searched academic databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar and specialized nutrition,paediatrics,and infant health journals using relevant keywords till October 1,2023.RESULTS Although specific comparative studies are scarce and formula heterogeneity is a significant limitation,this systematic review provides an in-depth understanding of organic infant formulas'composition and potential benefits.While scientific evidence directly comparing gastrointestinal tolerability is limited,organic formulas strive to use carefully selected organic ingredients to imitate breast milk composition.Potential benefits include improved lipid profiles,higher methionine content,and decreased antibiotic-resistant bacteria levels.Understanding the gastrointestinal tolerability of organic and traditional infant formulas is crucial for parents and healthcare providers to make informed decisions.CONCLUSION Despite limitations in direct comparisons,this systematic review provides insights into the composition and potential benefits of organic infant formulas.It emphasizes the need for further research to elucidate their gastrointestinal effects comprehensively.

An automatically progressed computer-controlled simulated digestion system to predict digestible and metabolizable energy of unconventional plant protein meals for growing pigs

The objective of this experimentwas to develop a new computer-controlled simulated digestion system to predict the digestible energy(DE)and metabolizable energy(ME)of unconventional plant protein meals for growing pigs.Nine meals tested included 1 source of rapeseed meal,4 sources of cottonseed meal,2 sources of sunflower meal,and 2 sources of peanut meal.Twenty growing pigs(Duroc[LandraceLarge White])with an initial body weight(BW)of 41.7±2.6 kg were allotted to a replicated 103 incomplete Latin square design to determine the DE and ME of 1 basal diet and 9 experimental diets formulated with 9 unconventional plant protein meals.The DE andMEvalues of unconventional plant protein meals were calculated by the difference method.The in vitro digestible energy(IVDE)of 1 basal diet,9 experimental diets,and 9 unconventional plant protein meals were determined with 5 replicates of each sample in a complete randomized arrangement.The IVDE/DE or IVDE/ME ranged from 0.96 to 0.98 or 1.00 to 1.01,and the correlation coefficient between IVDE and DE or MEwas 0.97 or 0.98 in 10 experimental diets.Accordingly,the IVDE/DE or IVDE/ME ranged from 0.86 to 1.05 or 0.96 to 1.20,and the correlation coefficient between IVDE and DE orME was 0.92 or 0.91 in 9 unconventional plant protein meals.The coefficient of variation(CV)of IVDE was less than that of DE and ME in the experimental diets(0.43%,0.80%,and 0.97%for CV of IVDE,DE and ME,respectively)and unconventional plant protein meals(0.92%,4.84%,and 6.33%for CV of IVDE,DE and ME,respectively).The regression equations to predict DE from IVDE in 10 experimental diets and 9 unconventional plant protein meals were DE=0.8851IVDE t539(R^(2)=0.9411,residual standard deviation[RSD]=23 kcal/kg DM,P<0.01)and DE=0.9880IVDE t 166(R^(2)=0.8428,RSD=182 kcal/kg DM,P<0.01),respectively.Therewas no statistical difference in the slopes(P=0.82)or intercepts(P=1.00)of these 2 equations.Thus,10 diets and 9 unconventional plant protein meals were pooled to establish the regression equation of DE on IVDE as:DE=0.9813IVDE t187(R^(2)=0.9120,RSD=118 kcal/kg DM,P<0.01).The regression equations to predictME from IVDE in 10 experimental diets and 9 unconventional plant protein meals were ME=0.9559IVDE t146(R^(2)=0.9697,RSD=18 kcal/kg DM,P<0.01)and ME=0.9388IVDEt3(R^(2)=0.8282,RSD=182 kcal/kg DM,P<0.01),respectively.Therewas no statistical difference in slopes(P=0.97)but significant difference between the intercepts(P=0.02)of these 2 equations.Our results indicate IVDE has similar response to the DE but different response to the ME in 10 experimental diets and 9 unconventional plant protein meals.Therefore,IVDE is moresuitable to predict DE than ME of diets and unconventional plant protein meals for growing pigs.

Autoheated thermophilic aerobic sludge digestion and metal bioleaching in a two-stage reactor system

A two-stage process has been developed for stabilization of sludge and removal of heavy metals from the secondary activated sludge with high rate of energy and time conservation. The first stage of the process involves autoheated thermophilic aerobic digestion at 55-60℃ inoculated with less-acidophilic thermophilic sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms （ATAD）. The results show that it is possible to maintain the autoheated conditions （55-60℃） in the ATAD reactor up to 24 hr, leading to reduction of 21% total solids （TS）, 27% volatile solids （VS）, 27% suspended solids （SS） and 33% volatile suspended solids （VSS） from the sludge. The sludge pH also decreased from 7 to 4.6 due to the activity of less-acidophilic thermophilic microorganisms. In the second stage operation, the digested sludge （pH 4.6, TS 31.6 g/L） from stage one was subjected to bioleaching in a continuous stirred tank reactor, operated at mean hydraulic retention times （HRTs） of 12, 24 and 36 hr at 30℃. An HRT of 24 hr was found to be sufficient for removal of 70% Cu, 70% Mn, 75% Ni, and 80% Zn from the sludge. In all, 39% VSS, 76% Cu, 78.2% Mn, 79.5% Ni and 84.2% Zn were removed from the sludge in both the stages.

Accuracy of predicting metabolizable energy from in vitro digestible energy determined with a computer-controlled simulated digestion system in feed ingredients for ducks

Two experiments were conducted to study the accuracy of predicting true metabolizable energy(TME)of ingredients for ducks from in vitro digestible energy(IVDE)determined with a computer-controlled simulated digestion system.Experiment 1 was to establish TME prediction models from the IVDE of 9 energy feed ingredients and 12 protein feed ingredients using regression analysis.Experiment 2 was to validate the accuracy of the predicted ME of 10 ingredients randomly selected from Exp.1.Ten diets were formulated with 2 to 6 of 10 ingredients.Dietary in vivo TME values were compared with calculated values based on the TME predicted in Exp.1.In Exp.1,the correlation coefficients between TME and IVDE were 0.9339(P<0.05)in 9 energy feed ingredients and 0.8332(P<0.05)in 12 protein feed ingredients.No significant difference was observed on the slope and intercept of TME regression models between 9 energy feed ingredients and 12 protein feed ingredients.Therefore,the regression model of TME on IVDE for 21 feed ingredients was TME=0.7169×IVDE+1,224(R^(2)=0.7542,P<0.01).Determined and predicted TME differed by less than 100 kcal/kg of DM in 11 ingredients,and the difference ranged from 100 to 200 kcal/kg of DM in 5 ingredients.However,the difference between determined and predicted TME varied from 410 to 625 kcal/kg of DM in rice bran,rapeseed meal,corn gluten meal,and citric acid meal.In Exp.2,the determined and calculated TME were comparable(3,631 vs.3,639 kcal/kg of DM)and highly correlated(r=0.9014;P<0.05)in 10 diets.Determined and calculated TME differed by less than 100 kcal/kg of DM in 7 diets and by 106 to 133 kcal/kg of DM in 3 diets.These results have demonstrated that TME can be accurately predicted from IVDE in most feed ingredients,but it is less accurate for rice bran,rapeseed meal,corn gluten and citric acid meal.

Effects of substrate types on the transformation of heavy metal speciation and bioavailability in an anaerobic digestion system

Chemical speciation can fundamentally affect the potential toxicity and bioavailability of heavy metals.The transformation of heavy metal speciation and change of bioavailability were investigated in an anaerobic digestion(AD)system using four different substrates(pig manure(PM),cattle manure(CAM),chicken manure(CHM)and rice straw(RS)).The results obtained indicated that the total contents of heavy metals in PM,CHM and GAM were higher than in RS and decreased in the order Zn>Cu>Ni>Pb>As>Cd in all substrates.Moreover,the speciation with the largest proportion for each heavy metal was the same both in the different substrates and the biogas residues.Among them,Zn,Ni,Cd and As were mainly in the reducible fraction(F2),while Cu was mainly in the oxidizable fraction(F3)and Pb occurred predominantly in the residual fraction(F4).Our results further indicated that the AD process had a greater effect on the speciation of heavy metals in CHM and PM,but less on CAM and RS.The rates of change in bioavailability followed the order PM>CHM>CAM>RS.Changes in organic matter,humic acid or local metal ion environment as a result of AD were inferred as likely mechanisms leading to the transformation of heavy metal speciation.These results enhanced our understanding of the behavior of heavy metals in AD and provided a new perspective for the treatment and disposal of the substrates.

Effects of exercise by type and duration on quality of life in patients with digestive system cancers:A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background:There is scant evidence regarding the effects of exercise type and duration on quality of life(QoL)in digestive system cancer(DSC)survivors.We aim to investigate the optimal type and duration of exercise to improve QoL for DSC survivors through a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Methods:A systematic literature search of PubMed,Embase,and Web of Science was performed.Eligibility for study inclusion was limited to studies that were randomized controlled trials involving all kinds of exercise in adult patients with DSCs,and the comparator was in standard care or other types of exercise.The primary outcome was QoL,including general health,physical health,mental health,and role function.Secondary outcomes included cancer-related symptoms such as fatigue,insomnia,depression,anxiety,and duration of hospital stay.The network meta-analyses were performed using a random-effect model.Results:The analysis included 32 eligible articles and a total of 2558 participants.Our primary outcome indicated that short-term aerobic exercise significantly enhanced general health(standardized mean difference(SMD)=0.66,95%credible intervals(Crls):0.05 to 1.30),and also contributed to a better mental health(SMD=0.38,95%CrI:-0.05 to 0.81)and role function(SMD=0.48,95%CrI:-0.27 to 1.20).Although without significant changes,short-term resistance exercise tended to increase the physical health of patients with DSCs(SM=0.69,95%CrI:-0.07 to 1.50)and effective in alleviating fatigue(SMD=-0.77,95%CrI:-1.50 to 0.01).Short-term aerobic exercise was related to a lower score of insomnia(SMD=-1.20,95%CrI:-2.40 to 0.06),depression(SMD=-0.51,95%CrI:-1.50 to 0.45),and anxiety(SMD=-0.45,95%CrI:-1.30 to 0.34).All types of exercise related to a trend of declined hospital stays(-0.87 to-5.00 day).Long-term resistance exercise,however,was negatively associated with general health(SMD=-0.33,95%CrI:-1.70 to 1.00),physical health(SMD=-0.18,95%CrI:-1.30to 0.90),and role function(SMD=-1.20,95%CrI:-2.50 to 0.11).Conclusion:This study suggests that short-term aerobic exercise,with or without resistance exercise programs,enhances QoL(especially for general health)as well as relieves cancer-related symptoms for DSC survivors,while long-term resistance exercise may have negative effects,and thus should be adopted cautiously.These results provide important evidence for the management of DSCs.