Effect of seasonality on the leaf phenology and physiology of Byrsonima species (Malpighiaceae)

Introduction: Defined seasonality in savanna species can stimulate physiological responses that maximize photosynthetic metabolism and productivity. However, those physiological responses are also linked to the phenological status of the whole plant, including leaf phenophases. Objective: To study how physiological traits influence phenophase timing among congeneric and co-occurring savanna species. Methods: We evaluated the leaf phenology and physiological traits of populations of Byrsonima intermedia, B. coccolobifolia, and B. verbascifolia. Physiological measurements were performed at the onset of the dry and rainy seasons and again late in the season. Results: B. intermedia and B. coccolobifolia were classified as brevideciduous and B. verbascifolia as evergreen. The maximum quantum yield for B. intermedia and B. coccolobifolia were lowest during the dry season. At the onset of the dry period, the highest chloroplastidic pigment levels were observed, which decreased as the season advanced, total chlorophyll/carotenoid ratios were lowest, and carotenoid contents were highest. We detected low starch content values at the start of the rainy season, coinciding with the resumption of plant growth. Two months into this season, the leaves were at their peak structural and functional maturity, with high water-soluble polysaccharide values and photosynthetic rates, and were storing large amounts of starch. Conclusions: Physiological and leaf phenological strategies of the Byrsonima species were related to drought resistance and acclimatization to the seasonality of savanna water resources. The oscillations of the parameters quantified during the year indicated a strong relationship with water seasonality and with the phenological status of the leaves.

Introducción: La marcada estacionalidad en las especies de sabana puede estimular respuestas fisiológicas que maximicen el metabolismo fotosintético y la productividad. Sin embargo, esas respuestas fisiológicas están vinculadas al estado fenológico de toda la planta, incluidas las fenofases de las hojas. Objetivo: Estudiar cómo los rasgos fisiológicos influyen en el tiempo de la fenofase entre especies de sabana congenéricas y concurrentes. Métodos: Evaluamos la fenología y características fisiológicas de poblaciones de Byrsonima intermedia, B. coccolobifolia y B. verbascifolia. Las mediciones fisiológicas se realizaron al inicio de la estación seca y lluviosa, y de nuevo al final de la estación. Resultados: B. intermedia y B. coccolobifolia se clasificaron como brevicaducifolias y B. verbascifolia como perennifolias. El rendimiento cuántico máximo para B. intermedia y B. coccolobifolia fueron más bajos durante la época seca. Al inicio del período seco, se observaron niveles de pigmentos cloroplastídicos más altos, aunque los niveles de clorofila disminuyeron a medida que avanzaba la estación seca, las proporciones clorofila/carotenoides totales fueron más bajas y los contenidos de carotenoides más altos. Detectamos valores bajos de contenido de almidón al inicio de la época lluviosa, que coincide con la reanudación del crecimiento de la planta. A dos meses de esta época, las hojas estaban en su máxima madurez estructural y funcional, con altos valores de polisacáridos solubles en agua y tasas fotosintéticas, y almacenaban grandes cantidades de almidón. Conclusiones: Las estrategias fisiológicas y fenológicas de las hojas de las especies de Byrsonima estaban relacionadas con la resistencia a la sequía y la aclimatación a la estacionalidad de los recursos hídricos de la sabana. Las oscilaciones de los parámetros cuantificados durante el año indicaron una fuerte relación con la estacionalidad hídrica y con los estados fenológicos de las hojas.

Calidad de los Carbohidratos en la dieta de la población urbana costarricense / Carbohydrate Quality in the diet of the Costa Rican urban population

Introducción. La calidad de los carbohidratos consumidos juega un papel importante en la prevención de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (ECNT). Objetivo. Analizar el índice de calidad de los carbohidratos (ICC) en la población urbana costarricense y su relación con las variables sociodemográficas, antropométricas y la calidad y la diversidad de la dieta. Materiales y métodos. Los datos provienen del Estudio Latinoamericano de Nutrición y Salud, en una muestra representativa de 798 personas entre 15 y 65 años que residen en zonas urbanas de Costa Rica (2014- 2015). En una visita domiciliaria se administró un cuestionario para recolectar los datos sociodemográficos y se pesó y midió a los participantes. El consumo dietético se obtuvo mediante dos recordatorios de 24 horas en días no consecutivos. El ICC se calculó mediante el consumo de fibra, el índice glicémico, la relación carbohidratos sólidos/líquidos y la relación granos enteros/granos totales. Se comparó el ICC según el sexo, el grupo de edad, el nivel socioeconómico, el estado nutricional, la circunferencia de cintura y la calidad y diversidad de la dieta de los participantes. Resultados. El ICC se asoció positivamente con un mayor consumo de energía, carbohidratos totales, proteínas, grasas, colesterol, frutas, vegetales y leguminosas (p<0,001). Un mayor ICC se asoció positivamente con un mayor porcentaje de adecuación de micronutrientes y mayor índice de diversidad y calidad de la dieta (p<0,001), así como con un menor índice de masa corporal y una menor circunferencia de cintura al ajustar por sexo y edad (p<0,005). Conclusiones. El presente estudio demostró que un mayor ICC se asocia significativamente con mejores indicadores dietéticos e índice de masa corporal, por lo que resulta fundamental establecer en Costa Rica pautas dietéticas que permitan aumentar la calidad de los carbohidratos de la dieta con el fin de contribuir en la prevención de las ECNT(AU)

Introduction. The carbohydrate quality index (CQI) plays an important role in the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCD) and adequate macro and micronutrient intake. Objective. To analyze the carbohydrate quality index (CCI) in the Costa Rican urban population and its relationship with sociodemographic and anthropometric variables and the quality and diversity of the diet. Materials and methods. Data come from the Latin American Nutrition and Health Study (ELANS), in a representative sample of 798 people between 15 and 65 years of age who reside in urban areas of Costa Rica (2014-2015). During a home visit, a questionnaire was administered to collect sociodemographic data, and participants were measured and weighed. Dietary intake was obtained through two 24-hour recalls in non- consecutive days. The CQI was calculated using fiber intake, glycemic index, liquid/solid carbohydrate ratio, and whole grain/total grains. CCI was then compared according to sex, age-group, socioeconomic level, nutritional status and diet quality and diet diversity. Results. The CQI was positively associated with energy intake, total carbohydrates, proteins, fats, cholesterol, fruits, vegetables, and legumes (p<0,001). Also, CQI was associated with a higher percentage of micronutrient adequacy and diet quality and diversity (p<0,001), as well as with a lower body mass index and lower waist circumference when adjusting for sex and age (p<0,005). Conclusions. The present study showed that higher CQI is associated with better dietary and body mass index, which shows that it is essential to establish dietary guidelines for public health in Costa Rica that allows increasing the quality of carbohydrates in the diet to contribute to the prevention of chronic NCD(AU)

Carbohydrate counting as a strategy to optimize glycemic control in type 1 diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT Objective: The objective of this study was to verify the impact of carbohydrate counting (CC) on glycemic control and body weight variation (primary and secondary outcomes, respectively) between consultations in patients with diabetes mellitus (T1D) followed at a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil in a public health system environment. We also sought to investigate CC adherence. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study included 232 patients with T1D who underwent nutritional monitoring at a referral hospital for diabetes care between 2014 and 2018. To assess primary and secondary outcomes, data from 229 patients, 49 of whom underwent CC during this period and 180 individuals who used fixed doses of insulin, were analyzed. The impact of CC on glycemic control was assessed with the mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level at all consultations during the follow-up period. Results: In the model adjusted for the most confounders (except pregnancy), the mean HbA1c was better in the CC group (8.66 ± 0.4% vs. 9.36 ± 0.39%; p = 0.016), and body weight variation was lower (0.13 ± 0.28 kg vs. 0.53 ± 0.24 kg; p = 0.024). Adherence to CC was reported in 69.2% of consultations. Conclusion: CC optimized the glycemic control of individuals with T1D, resulting in less weight variation than in the fixed insulin dose group, which indicates that CC is an important care strategy for these patients.

High-intensity functional training with an adequate and carbohydrate restricted hypocaloric diet promotes weight loss and cardiometabolic improvements

INTRODUCTION: Excess body weight and its comorbidities represent a major public health issue. Interventions based on diet and exercise have not only been shown to promote weight loss, but also improve overall health, including cardiovascular health. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week hypocaloric low-carbohydrate (CHO) diet coupled with high-intensity functional training (HIFT) on the cardiometabolic risk of overweight adults. METHODS: This is a randomized controlled trial. A total of 31 overweight adults participated in this study, divided into two groups based on the dietary intervention: reduced-CHO (R-CHO, ≤130 g/day; n=15) and adequate-CHO (A-CHO, >130 g/day; n=16). The cardiometabolic risk was assessed using lipidaemic, insulinemia, and glycaemic parameters. A two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test was utilized to evaluate the effects of the intervention. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Participants from both groups displayed decreased low-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerol concentrations, as well as the number of risk factors for the metabolic disease after 12 weeks. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration of both groups increased after 12 weeks, however, the result of the intragroup analysis revealed that a significant increase was only observed in the participants from the A-CHO group. CONCLUSION: Reduced or adequate CHO intake was both found to be effective in reducing cardiometabolic risk. However, improvements in HDL and final cardiometabolic classification risk indicated that CHO adequacy in the diet might be a better strategy associated with caloric restriction and HIFT.

Effects of low-carbohydrate diet versus low-fat diet on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials / 中华临床营养杂志

Objective:To compare the effects of low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) and low-fat diet (LFD) in the lifestyle intervention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Methods:PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, CNKI and Wanfang were searched for relevant studies and study references and conference proceedings were manually searched. Two authors independently screened the items retrieved, extracted the data and assessed the quality of included studies. Meta-analysis was performed using R4.4.1 and RevMan5.4.1. Data were pooled using random-effects models and potential sources of heterogeneity were investigated using stratified meta-analysis. Funnel plots and Peters' test were used to assess publication bias.Results:Nine studies with a total of 510 participants met our inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis results showed that LCD and LFD interventions had similar effects on the reduction of intrahepatic lipid content in NAFLD patients ( SMD: -0.31,95% CI: 0.97 to 0.35, P = 0.36). There were no significant differences in changes of alanine aminotransferase ( SMD: -0.25, 95%CI: 0.91 to 0.41, P = 0.45) and aspartate aminotransferase ( SMD: -0.45, 95%CI: 1.63 to 0.72, P = 0.45) levels, either. Subgroup analyses implied that the duration of different interventions might be the cause of heterogeneity across studies. No significant publication bias was showed in the meta-analysis. Conclusion:Current evidence from randomized controlled studies does not support the superiority of LCD over LFD in the treatment of NAFLD.

Effects of apatinib on quality of life and immune function in older adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer / 中国基层医药

Objective:To analyze the effects of apatinib on quality of life and immune function in older adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.Methods:A total of 187 older adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer admitted to Taizhou Cancer Hospital from January 2017 to January 2021 were included in this study. They were divided into the control group ( n = 93) and the observation group ( n = 94). The control group was treated with carboplatin combined with pemetrexed and the observation group was treated with apatinib based on carboplatin and pemetrexed. Sign and symptoms remission was compared between the observation and control groups. The levels of tumor markers, immune function, and quality of life score were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results:Total remission rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (88.30% vs. 69.89%, χ2 = 9.59, P < 0.05). After treatment, carbohydrate antigen 125, carbohydrate antigen 50, and carcinoembryonic antigen in the observation group were (16.25 ± 5.47) μg/L, (15.23 ± 3.27) μg/L and (5.91 ± 2.66) mg/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than (21.49 ± 6.61) μg/L, (19.11 ± 3.48) μg/L and (10.14 ± 2.73) mg/L in the control group ( t = 5.91, 7.86, 10.73, all P < 0.05). The percentage of CD3 + and CD4 + cells, and the ratio of CD4 +/CD8 + cells in the observation group were (69.34 ± 8.85)%, (38.15 ± 6.52)%, (1.40 ± 0.33), respectively, which were significantly higher than (64.51 ± 8.74)%, (33.55 ± 6.33)%, (1.23 ± 0.25) in the control group ( t = -3.75, -5.36, -3.97, all P < 0.05). Quality of life score was increased in each group ( P < 0.001). The amplitude of increase in quality of life score was greater in the observation group compared with the control group ( P < 0.001). Conclusion:Apatinib can effectively reduce the level of tumor markers and improve immune function in older adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and improve quality of life.

Classification, Diagnosis and Management Status of Carbohydrate Metabolic Rare Disorders / 罕见病研究

Approximately 30%-40% of rare diseases are related to the endocrine and metabolic system, and abnormal metabolism of carbohydrate accounts for a significant proportion among others. Carbohydrate metabolic rare disorders often develop insidiously. The clinical symptoms of these disorders sometimes overlap with common diseases. Therefore, delayed diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and mismanagement happen often. The diagnosis and treatment of carbohydrate metabolic rare disorders is usually difficult in clinical practice. Efficient and practical screening models, identification of specific clinical features and biochemical changes, and genomic sequencing are critical to improve diagnostic efficiency. Most carbohydrate metabolic rare disorders are still lack in effective and targeted therapies. So, the symptomatic treatment is still main practice. The targeted medications and gene therapies based on precision diagnosis are directions for the diagnosis and management of rare disorders of carbohydrate metabolism in the future. In this paper, we classify the carbohydrate metabolic rare disorders based on their causes. We also discuss the current status and prospective of diagnosis and management of those diseases.

Clinical observation on acupuncture for 80 patients with abdominal obesity in Germany: based on the theory of unblocking and regulating the Belt Vessel / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the efficacy of unblocking and regulating the Belt Vessel acupuncture method for patients with abdominal obesity in Germany and its influence on the body fat parameters and glycolipids metabolism. Methods: A total of 82 cases of abdominal obesity in Germany were selected. There were two dropout cases in the treatment process. All of the patients received acupuncture at Daimai (GB26), Daheng (SP15), Tianshu (ST25), Zhongwan (CV12), Shuidao (ST28), Waiguan (TE5), and Zulinqi (GB41). The patients received acupuncture therapy once every 2-3 d, 3 times a week. The treatment duration lasted 4 weeks. Before and after treatment, the body mass (BM), waist circumference (WC), abdominal circumference (AC), hip circumference (HC), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and fasting blood glucose (GLU) were measured respectively, and the body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and body fat rate (BFR) were calculated. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate was 72.5％; the levels of BM, WC, AC, HC, BMI, WHR, WHtR, BFR, TC, LDL-C, and GLU declined significantly compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), while the TG and HDL-C slightly declined, but the differences were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Conclusion: The unblocking and regulating the Belt Vessel acupuncture method can significantly reduce body fat parameters such as BM, AC, and BFR, and correct the disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with abdominal obesity in Germany.

Role of low-carbohydrate diet in type 1 diabetes / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Low-carbohydrate diet is becoming popular recently. It requires carbohydrate intake lower than 130 g/d(or <26% of total energy intake) while fat and protein intake are not defined. Low-carbohydrate diet contributes to better glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes: lowering HbA 1C and glycemic variability, and improving time in range(TIR). Low-carbohydrate diet reduces insulin dosage in type 1 diabetic patients and does not increase the risks of hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis. This review summarized the research evidence of low-carbohydrate diet to explore the role and safety in disease management.

Effect of low-carbohydrate diet combined with intensive diet intervention in adult type 2 diabetes / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To analyze the effect of 30% low-carbohydrate diet combined with intensive dietary intervention in the treatment of adult type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods A total of 93 adult patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated in Hengshui people's Hospital from February 2019 to September 2021 were selected as the research objects. On the basis of insulin treatment , the patients were randomly divided into two groups , namely the control group (conventional treatment). and observation group (low-carbohydrate diet combined with intensive dietary treatment). After 2 and 6 months of intervention， the differences in blood glucose， pancreatic islets , blood lipids , obesity indexes and adverse reaction rates were analyzed between the two groups. Results A total of 163 patients with type 2 diabetes were included in this study， including 83 in the control group and 80 in the observation group. Before the intervention， the indicators of blood glucose， blood lipids and insulin resistance of the two groups were balanced and comparable. After 2 months of intervention， the related indicators in the two groups were all decreased compared with those before the intervention， and the indicators such as glycosylated hemoglobin（t=9.860，P<0.001)， fasting blood glucose（t=3.552，P=0.005) and two-hour postprandial blood glucose （t=11.441，P<0.001)were observed. The decrease rate in the group was higher than that in the control group； after 6 months of intervention， the triglycerides in the two groups also showed a downward trend， and the observation group [(2.41±0.44) mmol/L] decreased the most（t=7.778，P<0.001). At the same time， after 2 months of intervention， the BMI and waist-hip circumference indexes of the two groups decreased compared with those before the intervention.And， the decrease of observation group hip circumference index [(84.19±8.26) cm] was compared with the control group [(85.92±6.81) cm] was more obvious（t=4.840，P<0.001)； after 6 months of intervention， the BMI（t=2.847，P=0.005) and hip circumference indexes （t=2.399，P=0.018)of both groups decreased significantly， and the decrease was more in the observation group . The correlation results showed that the measurement of fasting blood glucose in adults with type 2 diabetes was positively correlated with hip circumference (r=0.490，P=0.038)， and the two-hour postprandial blood glucose was also positively correlated with BMI (r=0.452，P=0.015) and hip circumference (r=0.396，P=0.020). Conclusion Low-carbohydrate diet combined with intensive dietary intervention can effectively improve blood glucose , blood lipid and insulin levels in adult patients with type 2 diabetes in the same time , which help to control the weight and contribute to the prognosis of patients.

Association between dietary patterns during pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus / 预防医学

Objective@#To explore the association between dietary patterns during pregnancy and the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), so as to provide the guidance of diet balance and GDM prevention for pregnant women.@*Methods@#Pregnant women who underwent prenatal examination at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from December 2021 to July 2022 were selected as the subjects. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was employed at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation to diagnose GDM. The questionnaire of "The Survey on Nutrition and Health of Pregnant Women in China" was used to collect general information, food intake frequency and amount during a month before OGTT. Dietary patterns were determined by factor analysis, and the association between dietary patterns and the development of GDM was identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. @*Results@#Totally 449 pregnant women were included, with a median (interquartile range) age of 31.00 (5.00) years and a median (interquartile range) gestational age of 35.00 (3.00) weeks. There were 7 dietary patterns named potato-cereal pattern, poultry-meat-dessert pattern, milk-egg-aquatic product pattern, mushroom-vegetable-offal pattern, fruit-bean pattern, pickle-wheaten food pattern, and beverage-nut pattern according to the food types with high factor loads. There were 89 cases diagnosed as GDM, with a prevalence rate of 19.82%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the development of GDM was associated with the poultry-meat-dessert pattern (OR=0.242, 95%CI: 0.086-0.678) and the fruit-bean pattern (OR=0.093, 95%CI: 0.025-0.342), compared with the potato-cereal pattern. @*Conclusion@#Compared to the potato-cereal pattern, the poultry-meat-dessert pattern and the fruit-bean pattern may reduce the risk of GDM. Key words： gestational diabetes mellitus dietary pattern pregnant woman low carbohydrate diet

Role of glucose and lipid metabolism mediated by the bile acid receptor Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease / 临床肝胆病杂志

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has gradually become a prominent cause affecting human liver health, and the development and progression of NAFLD are associated with metabolic dysfunction, with glucose and lipid metabolism disorder as the key link in this process. Takeda G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) is one of the main receptors of bile acid and is extensively expressed in the body, and glucose and lipid metabolism mediated by TGR5 plays an important role in the human body. This article summarizes the role and mechanism of TGR5 in glucose and lipid metabolism and the research findings of the treatment of NAFLD based on TGR5, in order to provide a reference for basic and clinical research.

Analysis of serum CA125 and related influencing factors in silicosis patients with pulmonary heart disease / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To analyze the serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) level and its influencing factors in male silicosis patients with pulmonary heart disease. Methods: In October 2021, data of 38 male patients with simple silicosis (silicosis group), 28 cases of silicosis with pulmonary heart disease (pulmonary heart disease group), and 27 healthy controls (control group) in the same age group were collected in inpatient and outpatient of Nanjing Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital from January 2017 to December 2020. The serum CA125 levels of the three groups were compared, and the correlation between disease-related indexes and serum CA125 in silicosis patients with pulmonary heart disease was analyzed, as well as the influencing factors of pulmonary heart disease and serum CA125 levels in silicosis patients. Results: The serum CA125 level[ (19.95±7.52) IU/ml] in pulmonary heart disease group was higher than that in silicosis group[ (12.98±6.35) IU/ml] and control group[ (9.17±5.32) IU/ml] (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum CA125 level between the silicosis group and the control group (P>0.05). Serum CA125 levels were positively correlated with blood uric acid and fasting blood glucose in silicosis patients with pulmonary heart disease (r=0.39, 0.46, P<0.05). Serum CA125 level was a risk factor for silicosis patients with pulmonary heart disease (OR=1.13, 95%CI: 1.02-1.24, P<0.05). Dust exposure time, lactate dehydrogenase and smoking history were positively correlated with serum CA125 level in silicosis patients (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The serum CA125 level of male silicosis patients with pulmonary heart disease is significantly increased, and the level of CA125 is correlated with the level of fasting blood glucose and blood uric acid.

Anti-Alzheimer's Disease Effect of Polysaccharides from Zanthoxyli Pericarpium and Analysis of Its Structural Characteristics by Sugar Spectrum / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveThe therapeutic effect of polysaccharides from Zanthoxyli Pericarpium on Alzheimer's disease（AD） was evaluated through establishing a mouse model of AD， and the structural characteristics of the polysaccharides was analyzed by sugar spectrum. MethodThe AD model of mice with rapid aging was established by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose combined with gavage of aluminum trichloride， and the learning and memory ability of mice was evaluated by Morris water maze test， the histopathological status of brain and neuronal damage were observed by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining and Nissl staining. After hydrolysis of polysaccharides from Zanthoxyli Pericarpium with acid and different glycosidases， the characteristics of hydrolysates were analyzed by high performance thin layer chromatography（HPTLC） and fluorescence assisted carbohydrate gel electrophoresis（PACE）. HPTLC chromatography was performed on a silica gel 60 plate with sampling volume of 5 μL， developing solvent of ethyl acetate-glacial acetic acid-water（2∶2∶1）， developing twice， aniline-diphenylamine-phosphoric acid solution as chromogenic agent， and heating at 105 ℃ for 10 min， and then observed under sunlight. PACE experimental conditions were 34% separation gel and 8% concentration gel， electrophoresis buffer was 0.1 mol·L-1 tris（hydroxymethyl） aminomethane（Tris）-boric acid buffer（pH 8.2）. Electrophoresis was carried out at 0 ℃ and the loading amount was 3-6 μL. The sample ran to the front of the gel with a constant current of 15 mA， and imaged under ultraviolet 365 nm. ResultThe results of Morris water maze test showed that polysaccharides from Zanthoxyli Pericarpium significantly improved the learning and memory ability of AD model mice， shortened the escape latency， and significantly increased the number of crossing and the residence time in the target quadrant. The results of histopathological experiments showed that polysaccharides from Zanthoxyli Pericarpium could improve the pathological conditions and neuronal damage in the CA1 and CA3 regions of hippocampus of AD mice， and the number of Nissl corpuscles was significantly increased. The results of sugar spectrum analysis showed that the results of HPTLC and PACE analysis were basically consistent， polysaccharides from Zanthoxyli Pericarpium could be mainly hydrolyzed into small molecular sugars by cellulase and pectinase， indicating that they mainly contained β-1，4-glucosidic bond and α-1，4-galacturonic acid glycosidic bond， and could be slightly hydrolyzed by glucanase， β-galactosidase and β-mannase， indicating that they contained only a small amount of α-1，6-glucosidic bond， β-galactosidic bond， β-1，4-mannosidic bond. ConclusionPolysaccharides from Zanthoxyli Pericarpium has obvious therapeutic effect on AD mice， and its structure mainly contains β-1，4-glucosidic bond and α-1，4-galacturonic acid glycosidic bond， which can provide a reference for the structural analysis of traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides.

Daño en la pared arterial de las ratas Wistar sometidas a dieta hiperglucídica / Arterial wall damage in Wistar rats subjected to a hyperglycemic diet

RESUMEN Introducción: Los modelos experimentales en animales proporcionan una valiosa información para comprender los procesos fisiopatológicos de las lesiones de los vasos sanguíneos y sus consecuencias. Objetivo: Analizar los cambios histológicos y morfométricos que se observaron en la aorta abdominal de las ratas Wistar sometidas a una dieta hiperglucídica. Métodos: Se formaron aleatoriamente dos grupos experimentales de 10 animales cada uno. El grupo control alimentado con dieta estándar para la especie, y el grupo experimental alimentado con dieta estándar más sacarosa al 35 %, como agua de bebida desde el destete hasta las 20 semanas de vida. El estudio se realizó en muestras de aorta fijadas y procesadas por la técnica clásica de inclusión en parafina y coloreadas con las técnicas de hematoxilina - eosina y Verhoeff. Se realizó la descripción de las capas de la pared arterial y la determinación de variables morfométricas en cada lámina histológica. Resultados: Las ratas Wistar pertenecientes al grupo experimental desarrollaron modificaciones incipientes en la pared arterial de la aorta abdominal, las cuales corresponden con la presencia de tumefacción en la célula endotelial y vacuolización en la célula muscular lisa vascular, así como marcada desorganización de las fibras elásticas y musculares de la capa media. Las variables morfométricas que mostraron diferencias significativas entre los grupos fueron el grosor de la túnica media y el cociente media/ lumen. Conclusiones: La pared media resultó ser la capa más afectada demostrándose el efecto nocivo de la dieta hiperglucídica en la pared arterial.

ABSTRACT Introduction: experimental animal models provide valuable information to understand the physiological and pathological processes of blood vessel injuries and their consequences. Objective: to analyze the histological and morphometric changes observed in the abdominal aorta of Wistar rats subjected to a hyperglycemic diet. Methods: two experimental groups of 10 animals each were randomly formed. The control group was fed with a standard diet for this species, and the experimental group was fed with a standard diet plus 35% sucrose, as drinking water from weaning to 20 weeks of life. The study was performed on aortic samples fixed and processed by the classic paraffin embedding technique and stained with the hematoxylin-eosin and Verhoeff techniques. The description of the layers of the arterial wall and the determination of morphometric variables in each histological slide were made. Results: the Wistar rats belonging to the experimental group developed incipient changes in the arterial wall of the abdominal aorta, which correspond to the presence of endothelial cell swelling and vacuolation in the vascular smooth muscle cell, as well as marked disorganization of the muscle and elastic fibers of the middle layer. The morphometric variables that showed significant differences between the groups were the thickness of the tunica media and the media/lumen ratio. Conclusions: the middle wall turned out to be the most affected layer, demonstrating the harmful effect of the hyperglycemic diet on the arterial wall.

Association between carbohydrate quality index and dietary patterns, sleep quality, anxiety level, and depression symptoms: A cross-sectional study

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between carbohydrate quality and sleep quality, depression, anxiety, stress and anthropometric measurements. Methods: The carbohydrate quality was calculated using the total fiber intake, ratio of whole grains to total grains, the ratio of solid carbohydrates to total carbohydrates, and the glycemic index. Sleep status was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and nutritional status was determined by taking a 1-day food consumption record and food consumption frequency. Results: It was found that 20% of the participants with the highest carbohydrate quality had the highest sleep quality and the lowest body mass index. Conclusion: Adults should be informed that the quality of carbohydrates that they consume, was associated with better sleep quality and some micronutrients (potassium, magnesium, vitamin A-D-K-C-B1-B6, Folate) but no significant correlation was found between anxiety, depression, and stress scores

Objetivos: Este estudio se realizó para determinar la relación entre la calidad de los carbohidratos y la calidad del sueño, la depresión, la ansiedad, el estrés y las medidas antropométricas. Métodos: La calidad de los carbohidratos se calculó utilizando la ingesta total de fibra, la proporción de granos integrales a granos totales, la proporción de carbohidratos sólidos a carbohidratos totales y el índice glucémico. El estado del sueño se determinó utilizando el índice de calidad del sueño de Pittsburgh (PSQI) y el estado nutricional se determinó tomando un registro de consumo de alimentos de un día y la frecuencia de consumo de alimentos. Resultados: Se encontró que el 20% de los participantes con la mayor calidad de carbohidratos tenían la mejor calidad de sueño y el índice de masa corporal más bajo. Conclusión: Se debe informar a los adultos que la calidad de los carbohidratos que consumen, se asoció con una mejor calidad del sueño y algunos micronutrientes (potasio, magnesio, vitamina A-D-K-C-B1-B6, folato), pero no se encontró una correlación significativa entre las puntuaciones de ansiedad, depresión y estrés.

A hemagglutinin from Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre seed

Lectins are diverse proteins that bind to carbohydrates and are involved in many important physiological processes. They are highly specific to the sugar molecules they bind and therefore, have many therapeutic and diagnostic applications. There are several lectins that display antiviral, antibacterial antifungal and antitumour activities. Characterization of new lectins paves way for comprehension of their diverse biological roles and mechanism of action, thus aiding in further exploration of lectins in various domains of biology. Here, we endeavoured to purify and characterize lectin from the seed of the legume,Pongamia. Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre (syn. Millettia pinnata), seed lectin (PPSL) was purified conventionally by ammonium-sulfate precipitation followed by size exclusion chromatography. The further lectin was physicochemically characterized by CD, fluorescence spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy and isothermal calorimetry. Hemagglutination studies with various mono and disaccharides showed specificity towards galactose. This specificity was reaffirmed by isothermal studies with appreciable thermodynamic parameters. Lectins have tremendous diagnostic applications. They are used as second-generation drug delivery systems.

Carbohydrate counting in type 1 diabetes mellitus: dietitians' perceptions, training and barriers to use

Objectives A study was undertaken to determine the perceptions, training and barriers regarding the use of carbohydrate counting in the dietary management of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) among dietitians in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Design A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted. Setting Dietitians who were registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and working in the province of KZN at the time of the study, were invited to participate. Methods Data were collected using a self-administered electronic questionnaire distributed through SurveyMonkey, an Internet-based survey programme. Results Dietitians agreed that carbohydrate counting was a useful dietary management approach for diabetes (p < 0.05) and that it was essential to manage T1DM (p < 0.05). However, they felt it was a difficult concept for patients with T1DM to understand (p = 0.001) and teaching it to patients was time consuming (p < 0.05). Although dietitians believed that there was a strong evidence base for teaching carbohydrate counting to patients with T1DM (p < 0.05), they indicated a need for further training or education in it (p < 0.05). Barriers to using carbohydrate counting included a lack of training, confidence and experience, financial resources, time, blood glucose records and poor patient motivation and patient illiteracy (p < 0.05). Conclusions Overall, dietitians who participated in the study had a positive perception towards the use of carbohydrate counting in the management of T1DM. However, further training needs to be addressed for carbohydrate counting to be used with confidence by dietitians in KZN to optimize their management of T1DM.

Research advances in glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in different types of chronic liver diseases / 临床肝胆病杂志

The liver is an important metabolic organ in the body. Studies have shown that chronic liver disease is closely associated with glucose and lipid metabolism disorders, and different types of liver diseases often show different characteristics of glucose and lipid metabolism. This article reviews the epidemiological characteristics, disease severity, pathogenesis, and treatment methods of glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in different types of chronic liver diseases, so as to improve the awareness among clinicians.