Effects of Sustained-Release Calcium Hydroxide and Sustained-Release Hydrochloric Acid on Nutrient Di-gestion and Absorption of Rabbits

Rabbits with the body weight of （2.0 ± 0.5 ） kg were chosen, to study the effects of sustained-release calcium hydroxide and sustained-release hydro- chloric acid on nutrient digestion and absorption of rabbits. The results showed that sustained-release calcium hydroxide promoted digestion and absorption of nutri- ents, especially calcium and crude protein. The digestibility of calcium and crude protein was increased from 89.8% and 93.8% to 41.0% and 65.2%, respec- tively. Sustained-release hydrochloric acid was adverse to digestion and absorption of nutrients, especially calcium and crude protein. The digestibility of calcium and crude protein were decreased from 55.5% and 84.9% to 28.4% and 68.7%, respectively. The promotion effects of sustained-release hydrochloride on diges- tion lasted for 3 -4 d. Therefore, sustained-release calcium hydroxide promoted digestion and absorption of calcium and protein, while digestion and absorption of fat remained at a high level no matter what the condition was. Consequently, increasing the intake of fat would cause over nutrition. However, taking sustained-re- lease hydrochloric acid would reduce nutrient digestion and absorption.

Nutritional Metabolism of Antarctic Krill Product Protein in Rats

This work conducted a four-week metabolism test on rats to study the digestion and absorption characteristics of five protein-based krill products prepared from Antarctic krill as raw material.It aimed to provide theoretical support for the effective use of Antarctic krill protein and the development of novel protein resources.The results showed that the weight gain and true digestibility of the rats fed with krill meat,surimi and ordinary krill powder were significantly higher(P<0.05)than those of the rats fed with traditional casein.Compared to casein,proteins from the five Antarctic krill products were found to significantly improve the net protein utilization(P<0.05),and reduce the total cholesterol and triglycerides in the serum of rats(P<0.05).In summary,the Antarctic krill protein-based products with high nutritional values can be used as a potential novel protein resource in the food industry.

Molecular Structure of Feeds in Relation to Nutrient Utilization and Availability in Animals： A Novel Approach

The invention and development of new research concepts, novel methodologies, and novel bioanalytical techniques are essential in advancing the animal sciences, which include feed and nutrition science. This article introduces a novel approach that shows the potential of advanced synchrotron-based bioanalytical technology for studying the effects of molecular structural changes in feeds induced by various treatments （e.g., genetic modification, gene silencing, heat-related feed processing, biofuel processing） in relation to nutrient digestion and absorption in animals. Advanced techniques based on synchrotron radiation （e.g., synchrotron radiation infrared microspectroscopy （SR-IMS） and synchrotron radiation X-ray techniques） have been developed as a fast, noninvasive, bioanalytical technology that, unlike traditional wet chemistry methods, does not damage or destroy the inherent molecular structure of the feed. The cutting-edge and advanced research tool of synchrotron light （which is a million times brighter than sunlight） can be used to explore the inherent structure of biological tissue at cellular and molecular levels at ultra-high spatial resolutions. In conclusion, the use of recently developed bioanalytical techniques based on synchrotron radiation along with common research techniques is leading to dramatic advances in animal feed and nutritional research.

Risk factors for de novo hepatitis B during solid cancer treatment

BACKGROUND Reactivation of hepatitis B virus(HBV)during anticancer treatment is a critical issue.When treating patients with solid tumors,it is unclear whether specific cancer types or treatments affect HBV reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)-negative and hepatitis B core antibody(HBcAb)-positive patients,socalled de novo hepatitis B patients.The risk of de novo hepatitis B may vary based on different background factors.AIM To determine the frequency and risk factors for de novo hepatitis B during solid tumor treatment.METHODS This retrospective cohort study comprised 1040 patients without HBsAgs and with HBcAbs and/or hepatitis B surface antibodies(HBsAbs).The patients were treated for solid cancer from 2008 to 2018 at the National Kyushu Cancer Center and underwent HBV DNA measurements.Patient characteristics and disease and treatment information were investigated.HBV DNA measurements were performed using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction(PCR).To identify the risk factors associated with HBV DNA expression,the age,sex,original disease,pathology,treatment method,presence or absence of hepatitis C virus(HCV),and HBsAb and/or HBcAb titers of all subjects were investigated.In patients with HBV DNA,the time of appearance,presence of HBsAgs and HBsAbs at the time of appearance,and course of the subsequent fluctuations in virus levels were also investigated.RESULTS Among the 1040 patients,938 were HBcAb positive,and 102 were HBcAb negative and HBsAb positive.HBV DNA expression was observed before the onset of treatment in nine patients(0.9%)and after treatment in 35 patients(3.7%),all of whom were HBcAb positive.The HBV reactivation group showed significantly higher median HBcAb values[9.00(8.12-9.89)vs 7.22(7.02-7.43),P=0.0001]and significantly lower HBsAb values(14 vs 46,P=0.0342)than the group without reactivation.Notably,the reactivated group showed a significantly higher proportion of cancers in organs related to digestion and absorption(79.0%vs 58.7%,P=0.0051).A high HBcAb titer and cancers in organs involved in digestion and absorption were identified as independent factors for HBV reactivation(multivariate analysis,P=0.0002 and P=0.0095).The group without HBsAbs tended to have a shorter time to reactivation(day 43 vs day 193),and the frequency of reactivation within 6 mo was significantly higher in this group(P=0.0459)than in the other group.CONCLUSION A high HBcAb titer and cancers in organs involved in digestion and absorption are independent factors that contribute to HBV reactivation during solid tumor treatment.

MoS_(2)nanosheets and bulk materials altered lipid profiles in 3D Caco-2 spheroids

MoS_(2)nanosheets(NSs)are novel 2D nanomaterials(NMs)with potential uses in many areas,and therefore oral exposure route to MoS_(2)NSs is plausible.Currently,MoS_(2)NSs are considered as biocompatible NMs,but there is lacking of systemic investigations to study the interactions of MoS_(2)NSs with intestinal cells.In this study,we exposed the 3D Caco-2 spheroids to MoS_(2)NSs or MoS_(2)powders(denoted as MoS_(2)-bulk),and investigated the potential adverse effects of MoS_(2)-materials based on transcriptomics and lipidomics analysis.As expected,both MoS_(2)NSs and MoS_(2)-bulk were dose-dependently internalized into 3D Caco-2 spheroids but did not induce cytotoxicity,membrane disruption or decrease of thiols.However,the Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes(KEGG)analysis indicated that nutrient absorption and metabolism was decreased.One of the most significantly decreased KEGG pathways is fat digestion and absorption(map04975),and Western blotting analysis further showed that fatty acid binding protein 1 and apolipoprotein A1,key proteins involved in fat digestion and absorption,were down-regulated by MoS_(2)NSs or MoS_(2)-bulk.In addition,BODIPY 493/503 staining suggested that exposure to MoS_(2)NSs and MoS_(2)-bulk decreased lipid levels in the spheroids.However,lipidomics data indicated that MoS_(2)materials only decreased 8 lipid classes,including lysophosphatidylcholine,lysodimethylphosphatidylethanolamine,N-acylethanolamine,ceramide phosphoethanolamines,gangliosides,lysosphingomyelin and sulfatide,whereas most of the lipid classes were indeed increased.In addition,MoS_(2)NSs was more potent to decrease the lipid classes compared with MoS_(2)-bulk.Combined,the results from this study showed that MoS_(2)NSs and bulk materials were non-cytotoxic but altered lipid profiles in 3D Caco-2 spheroids.