Carpets with visual cues can improve gait in Parkinson's disease patients: may be independent of executive function.

BACKGROUND: Gait impairment is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, which greatly reduces their quality of life. Executive dysfunction is associated with gait impairment. Compensatory strategies, including visual cues, have been shown to be effective in improving PD gait. In this study, we aimed to understand whether carpets with visual cues could improve PD gait, and how the improvement varies across patients with different executive function state. METHODS: We designed carpets with chessboard and stripe cues. A total of 65 Chinese PD patients were recruited. Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, L-dopa equivalent daily dosage, Hoehn & Yahr stage, Frontal Assessment Battery, Mini Mental State Examination Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and Hamilton Depression Scale were evaluated. Gait parameters including stride length, gait speed and fall risk were recorded by a wearable electronic device. RESULTS: The stride length and gait speed were significantly improved and the fall risk was significantly mitigated when PD patients walked on carpets with chessboard and stripe patterns. Further analysis showed the amelioration of gait parameters was independent of executive dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that carpets with visual cues can improve the gait of PD patients even in those with mild executive dysfunction.

Association between the serum adiponectin levels and body composition in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum adiponectin levels and body composition of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women in central and western Gansu province, and explore the influencing factors of adiponectin levels. Methods The body weight, body mass index(BMI), waist-to-hip, fat mass, percentage of body fat, visceral fat mass and muscle mass of 638 women(317 in perimenopausal period and 321 in postmenopausal period) in central and western Gansu were measured by bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)was used to measure serum adiponectin levels. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple liner regression were used to investigate the relationship between adiponectin levels and body composition. Results The body muscle mass of women living in central and western Gansu province showed a downward trend after menopause period compared to those who were in perimenopause. The waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, percentage of body fat, visceral fat mass of postmenopauseal women showed an increasing trend compared to perimenopausal. There were no significant differences in BMI, fat mass and serum adiponectin levels. Overall, serum adiponectin levels were positively correlated with body fat percentage and visceral fat mass, and negatively correlated with muscle mass, and the main influencing factors of serum adiponectin levels were visceral fat mass. Conclusion The main influencing factors of serum adiponectin levels in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women living in central and western Gansu province are the visceral fat mass.

Study on the improvement of Qingdaipowder Gel for external use on mice with specific dermatitis / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

AIM: To study the effect of Qingdaipowder Gel (QDPG) on mice specific dermatitis (AD) model and the antibacterial effect of the ethanol extract of Qingdaipowder. METHODS: AD model of mice was established by repeated skin induction with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Fifty-six mice were randomly divided into blank group, model group, Hydrocortisone Butyrate Cream group (Hyd, 1.5 mg/cm

Molecular mechanism of lncRNA HOTAIR regulating miR-206 on the proliferation and apoptosis of rheumatoid arthritis synovial cells / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

AIM: To investigate the molecular mechanism of lncRNA HOTAIR regulating miR-206 on the proliferation and apoptosis of rheumatoid arthritis synovial cells. METHODS: The synovial tissue from 30 cases of rheumatoid arthritis were collected. Rheumatoid arthritis synovial cells MH7A were cultured. The experiment was divided into si-NC group, si-HOTAIR group, miR-NC group, miR-206 mimic group, si-HOTAIR+NC inhibitor group, si-HOTAIR+miR-206 inhibitor group. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression levels of HOTAIR and miR-206 in cells. CCK-8 method to detect cell proliferation; flow cytometry to detect cell apoptosis; Western blot to detect cell protein expression of CyclinD1, p21, Bax and Bcl-2; dual luciferase reporter assay to detect HOTAIR and miR-206 targets To combination relationship. RESULTS: Compared with the healthy control group, the expression level of HOTAIR in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was significantly up-regulated, and the expression level of miR-206 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). Compared with the si-NC group, the HOTAIR expression level in the si-HOTAIR group was significantly down-regulated, the cell survival rate were significantly down-regulated, and the apoptosis rate were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05). Compared with the miR-NC group, the expression level of miR-206 in the miR-206 mimic group was significantly up-regulated, the cell survival rate were significantly down-regulated, and the apoptosis rate were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05). Compared with the si-HOTAIR + NC inhibitor group, the cell survival rate in the si-HOTAIR+ miR-206 inhibitor group were significantly up-regulated, and the apoptosis rate were significantly decrease (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Inhibiting the expression of HOTAIR and up-regulating the expression of miR-206 can reduce the proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis synovial cells and promote apoptosis.

Clinical significance and changes of homocysteine, vitamin B12 and folic acid in diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To analyze the changes of serum homocysteine(Hcy), vitamin B12(VitB12)and folic acid in the serum of patients with diabetic retinopathy(DR), and to explore their significance in the occurrence and development of DR.METHODS: A case-control study was designed. A total of 95 patients with DR(DR group), 94 patients with diabetes mellitus(DM group)treated in endgcrinology department and 87 patients with age-related cataract(normal control group)from the ophthalmology department of Shenzhen People's Hospital between July 2021 and January 2022 were selected. Fasting venous blood was collected and serum was separated. The concentration of Hcy in serum was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and chemiluminescence immunoassay was used to detect the concentration of VitB12 and folic acid. Pearson linear correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between Hcy and clinical parameters. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the main factors which affect Hcy level. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was designed to analyze the diagnostic value of serum Hcy, VitB12 and folic acid in DR.RESULTS: The concentration of serum Hcy in DR group was 16.52±3.54 μmol/L, which was significantly higher than that in DM group(10.86±3.47 μmol/L)and control group(6.84±1.39 μmol/L; all P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05); The concentration of VitB12 in the serum of the control group was 501.79±108.95 pmol/L, which was higher than that in DM group(478.57±57.85 pmol/L)and DR group(455.88±181.49 pmol/L), but the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.054); The concentration of folic acid in serum of control group was 10.31±2.43 nmol/L, which was higher than that of DM group(9.94±1.90 nmol/L)and DR group(7.27±2.79 nmol/L), and the difference between DR group and DM group was statistically significant(P&#x0026;#x003C;0.05); In DR group, Hcy expression was weakly positively correlated with triglyceride and low density lipoprotein(r=0.208, P=0.043; r=0.240, P=0.019). Multivariate linear regression showed that low density lipoprotein was an important factor which affect the expression of Hcy in DR patients. ROC curve shows that Hcy has important value in the diagnosis of DR.CONCLUSIONS: Hcy, VitB12 and folic acid are differentially expressed in DR group, DM group and normal control group. Hcy may be involved in the pathogenesis of DR, and it has important value in the diagnosis of DR. In addition, low density lipoprotein is also an important factor which affects the expression of Hcy.

Dawn of Advanced Thyroid Cancer Therapy: Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy / 肿瘤防治研究

In recent years, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased significantly. Most of the cases are differentiated thyroid cancer, which is characterized by a good prognosis. However, 15% of patients still have persistent or recurrent disease after initial treatment, and those with locally advanced or metastatic cancer are not cured with established treatments and at risk of death. The treatment of advanced thyroid cancer is still controversial at home and abroad, but it tends to targeted therapy and immunotherapy. With the in-depth understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of thyroid cancer, a variety of new targeted therapies have been approved for advanced thyroid cancer. The 2021 guidelines of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) and the 2022 guidelines of the European Society of Oncology (ESMO) regard targeted therapy as a level I recommendation for the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer. This article reviews the new progress in clinical treatment of advanced thyroid carcinoma.

Management and optimization of the hospital scientific research approval process based on the DingTalk platform / 中华医学科研管理杂志

Objective:In order to reduce the transactional burden of scientific researchers and ensure the researchers concentrate on their scientific research, the hospital implemented the whole-process management and optimization of the scientific research approval process based on the DingTalk platform to improve the efficiency of scientific research.Methods:We sorted out the list of routine work in the implementation of scientific research projects and analyzed the key points affecting the efficiency of scientific research management, specifically the processes of reimbursement of scientific research funds, budget adjustment, paper submission approval, and research drug application, then we developed corresponding modules on the DingTalk platform.Results:In 2021, the hospital approved 3 214 scientific research funding reimbursements, including 1 917 approvals below 5 000 yuan, with a median approval time of 19 (5~28) hours, 1 297 approvals above 5 000 yuan, with a median approval time of 26 (10~50) hours. In addition, 17 budget adjustments, 456 paper submissions, and 31 research drug applications were approved on the DingTalk platform, resulting in a smooth overall approval process, saving the time costs of medical staff and improving work efficiency.Conclusions:The scientific research approval management based on this platform realizes the concept of refined management, which can meet the needs of the normalization of epidemic prevention and control and effectively promote the high-quality development of hospital scientific research management.

Neck pain and absence of cranial nerve symptom are clues of cervical myelopathy mimicking stroke: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Cervical myelopathy is a potential stroke imitator, for which intravenous thrombolysis would be catastrophic. CASE SUMMARY: We herein present two cases of cervical myelopathy. The first patient presented with acute onset of right hemiparesis and urinary incontinence, and the second patient presented with sudden-onset right leg monoplegia. The initial diagnoses for both of them were ischemic stroke. However, both of them lacked cranial nerve symptom and suffered neck pain at the beginning of onset. Their cervical spinal cord lesions were finally confirmed by cervical computed tomography. A literature review showed that neck pain and absence of cranial nerve symptom are clues of cervical myelopathy. CONCLUSION: The current report and the review remind us to pay more attention to these two clues in suspected stroke patients, especially those within the thrombolytic time window.

Intestinal TLR4 deletion exacerbates acute pancreatitis through gut microbiota dysbiosis and Paneth cells deficiency.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been identified as a potentially promising therapeutic target in acute pancreatitis (AP). However, the role of intestinal TLR4 in AP and AP-associated gut injury remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship between intestinal TLR4 and gut microbiota during AP. A mouse AP model was establish by intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine. Pancreatic injury and intestinal barrier function were evaluated in wild-type and intestinal epithelial TLR4 knockout (TLR4ΔIEC) mice. Gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Quadruple antibiotics were applied to induce microbiota-depleted mice. Differentially expressed genes in gut were detected by RNA sequencing. L. reuteri treatment was carried out in vivo and vitro study. Compared with wild-type mice, AP and AP-associated gut injury were exacerbated in TLR4ΔIEC mice in a gut microbiota-dependent manner. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus and number of Paneth cells remarkably decreased in TLR4ΔIEC mice. The KEGG pathway analysis derived from RNA sequencing suggested that genes affected by intestinal TLR4 deletion were related to the activation of nod-like receptor pathway. Furthermore, L. reuteri treatment could significantly improve the pancreatic and intestinal injury in TLR4ΔIEC mice through promoting Paneth cells in a NOD2-dependent manner. Loss of intestinal epithelial TLR4 exacerbated pancreatic and intestinal damage during AP, which might be attributed to the gut microbiota dysbiosis especially the exhausted Lactobacillus. L. reuteri might maintain intestinal homeostasis and alleviate AP via Paneth cells modulation.Abbreviations: AP Acute pancreatitis, TLR4 Toll-like receptor 4, IL-1ß Interleukin-1ß, IL-6 Interleukin-6, TNF-α Tumor necrosis factor-α, SIRS Systematic inflammatory response syndrome, LPS Lipopolysaccharides, SPF Specific pathogen-free, ZO-1 Zonula occludens-1, CON Control, H&E Hematoxylin and eosin, FISH Fluorescence in situ hybridization, DAPI 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, PCoA Principal co-ordinates analysis, SCFA Short chain fatty acid, LEfSe Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size, ANOVA Analysis of variance, F/B Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, PCA Principal component analysis, NOD2 Nod-like receptor 2, ABX antibiotics, PCNA proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

Parkinsonism-Hyperpyrexia Syndrome and Dyskinesia-Hyperpyrexia Syndrome in Parkinson's Disease: Two Cases and Literature Review.

Parkinsonism-hyperpyrexia syndrome (PHS) and dyskinesia-hyperpyrexia syndrome (DHS) are rare but exhibit life-threatening complications in Parkinson's disease (PD). We herein presented two cases of PD patients and performed a comprehensive and comparative literature review for these two syndromes. The first case was diagnosed as PHS with cerebral salt wasting syndrome caused by abrupt withdrawal of antiparkinsonian medication. Her symptoms were gradually remitted with reinstitution of the medication. The second one was an early-stage PD patient diagnosed as DHS in association with abuse of antiparkinsonian drugs. Her symptoms were gradually remitted with reduced dosage of dopaminergic drugs. Results of literature reviews revealed a total of 56 and 13 cases of PHS and DHS, respectively, and they were more likely to occur in elderly and long-term PD patients. These two syndromes showed different female-to-male ratio, similar mortality, and different recovery time. There were stark differences between PHS and DHS, including triggers (abrupt drug stoppage versus drug abuse), symptoms (worsened tremor and rigidity versus continuous dyskinesia), and treatment (drug reinstitution versus drug reduction). In summary, our reports and the review provide new insights into PHS and DHS in association with PD and may facilitate rapid discrimination of the syndromes for timely and proper treatment to reduce mortality.

Stigmasterol attenuates inflammatory response of microglia via NF-κB and NLRP3 signaling by AMPK activation.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly. Although its pathogenesis remains unclear, studies have indicated microglia-mediated neuroinflammation playing an important role. Phytosterols are a class of natural compounds presented in food, and have anti-inflammatory abilities. Recent studies suggested that phytosterols can traverse the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain, however, it remains largely unknown that whether phytosterols affect neuroinflammation in the AD pathogenesis. Here, we used APPswe/PS1dE9 mice as the animal model of AD, and found that stigmasterol treatment attenuated cognitive deficits, and decreased Aß42 concentration in cortex and hippocampus. Stigmasterol treatment also suppressed neuroinflammation, by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and microglia activation. Next, we simulated BV2 cells with Aß42 oligomers, which induced inflammatory responses of microglia. Stigmasterol protected BV2 cells against Aß42 oligomers induced inflammation, and mediated secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines via NF-κB and NLRP3 signaling pathways by AMPK activation. Stigmasterol also alleviated the M1 polarization of BV2 cells. In general, our study demonstrates that stigmasterol ameliorated neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 mice, and suppressed inflammatory response of microglia to Aß42 oligomers via AMPK/NF-κB and AMPK/NLRP3 signaling, which provides a mechanistic insight for stigmasterol in anti-inflammation and AD therapy.

Preoperative nutritional evaluation of prostate cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignant tumors in men. Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is an objective index for evaluating nutritional status of elderly people over 65 years old. The aim of the current study was to explore the correlation and predictive value between GNRI and postoperative recovery and complications in PCa patients undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). METHODS: Taking 98 as the GNRI boundary value, 96 PCa patients (aged≥65 y) undergoing LRP in the Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from January 2018 to December 2020 were grouped into malnutrition group (MNg, 34 patients, 35.4%) and normal nutrition group (NNg, 62 patients, 64.6%). Basic information, laboratory examination indexes, operation conditions, postoperative complications and postoperative recovery indexes of patients were recorded and retrospectively analyzed. Clavien-Dindo Classification System (CDCS) was used to assess postoperative complications. T-test was used to analyze differences between the two groups. ROC curve was generated to determine the predictive value of GNRI for postoperative complications. RESULTS: Percentage of complications was significantly higher in MNg group compared with that in NNg group (P < 0.01). The average grade based on CDCS was significantly lower in NNg group compared with that in MNg group (P < 0.01). Body weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), preoperative hemoglobin value (HGB), serum albumin (ALB) values of MNg and NNg were significantly positively correlated with GNRI (P<0.01). Incidence and severity of postoperative complications of MNg patients were significantly higher compared with those of NNg patients (P<0.05). Average hospitalization cost of MNg patients was higher in MNg patients compared with that of NNg patients (P<0.05). Duration of post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), duration of antibiotic use and duration of indwelling drainage tube were longer in MNg patients compared with those in NNg patients (P<0.05). Furthermore, volume of indwelling drainage tube was higher in MNg patients compared with that in NNg patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: GNRI is an effective and reliable tool for evaluation of preoperative nutritional status of prostate cancer patients. The findings showed that GNRI is correlated with postoperative recovery and complications, and is an effective predictive marker.

Early Toll-like receptor 4 inhibition improves immune dysfunction in the hippocampus after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage.

Background: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is implicated in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD), but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that TLR4 mediates brain damage after hypoxic ischemia (HI) by inducing abnormal neuroimmune responses, including activation of immune cells and expression disorder of immune factors, while early inhibition of TLR4 can alleviate the neuroimmune dysfunction. Method: Postnatal day 7 rats were randomized into control, HI, and HI+TAK-242 (TAK-242) groups. The HIBD model was developed using the Rice-Vannucci method (the left side was the ipsilateral side of HI). TAK-242 (0.5 mg/kg) was given to rat pups in the TAK-242 group at 30 min before modeling. Immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting were used to determine the TLR4 expression; the number of Iba-1+, GFAP+, CD161+, MPO+, and CD3+ cells; ICAM-1 and C3a expression; and interleukin (IL)-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-10 expression in the hippocampal CA1 region. Result: Significantly increased TLR4 expression was observed in the left hippocampus, and was alleviated by TAK-242. The significant increases in Iba-1+, MPO+, and CD161+ cells at 24 h and 7 days after HI and in GFAP+ and CD3+ T cells at 7 days after HI were also counteracted by TAK-242, but no significant differences were observed among groups at 24 h after HI. ICAM-1 expression increased 24 h after HI, while C3a expression decreased; TAK-242 also alleviated these changes. TNF-α and IL-1ß expression increased, while IL-10 expression decreased at 24 h and 7 days after HI; TAK-242 counteracted the increased TNF-α and IL-1ß expression at 24 h and the changes in IL-1ß and IL-10 at 7 days, but induced no significant differences in IL-10 expression at 24 h and TNF-α expression at 7 days. Conclusion: Early TLR4 inhibition can alleviate hippocampal immune dysfunction after neonatal HIBD.

Linking phytosterols and oxyphytosterols from food to brain health: origins, effects, and underlying mechanisms.

Phytosterols and their oxidation products, namely oxyphytosterols, are natural compounds present in plant foods. With increased intake of phytosterol-enriched functional food products, the exposure of both phytosterols and oxyphytosterols is rising. Over the past ten years, researches have been focused on their absorption and metabolism in human body, as well as their biological effects. More importantly, recent studies showed that phytosterols and oxyphytosterols can traverse the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain. As brain health problems resulting from ageing being more serious, attenuating central nervous system (CNS) disorders with active compounds in food are becoming a hot topic. Phytosterols and oxyphytosterols have been shown to implicated in cognition altering and the pathologies of several CNS disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. We will overview these findings with a focus on the contents of phytosterols and oxyphytosterols in food and their dietary intake, as well as their origins in the brain, and illustrate molecular pathways through which they affect brain health, in terms of inflammation, cholesterol homeostasis, oxidative stress, and mitochondria function. The existing scientific gaps of phytosterols and oxyphytosterols to brain health in knowledge are also discussed, highlighting research directions in the future.

Dietary cholesterol oxidation products: Perspectives linking food processing and storage with health implications.

Dietary cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) are heterogeneous compounds formed during the processing and storage of cholesterol-rich foods, such as seafood, meat, eggs, and dairy products. With the increased intake of COPs-rich foods, the concern about health implications of dietary COPs is rising. Dietary COPs may exert deleterious effects on human health to induce several inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Thus, knowledge regarding the effects of processing and storage conditions leading to formation of COPs is needed to reduce the levels of COPs in foods. Efficient methodologies to determine COPs in foods are also essential. More importantly, the biological roles of dietary COPs in human health and effects of phytochemicals on dietary COPs-induced diseases need to be established. This review summarizes the recent information on dietary COPs including their formation in foods during their processing and storage, analytical methods of determination of COPs, metabolic fate, implications for human health, and beneficial interventions by phytochemicals. The formation of COPs is largely dependent on the heating temperature, storage time, and food matrices. Alteration of food processing and storage conditions is one of the potent strategies to restrict hazardous dietary COPs from forming, including maintaining relatively low temperatures, shorter processing or storage time, and the appropriate addition of antioxidants. Once absorbed into the circulation, dietary COPs can contribute to the progression of several inflammatory diseases, where the absorbed dietary COPs may induce inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy in cells in the target organs or tissues. Improved intake of phytochemicals may be an effective strategy to reduce the hazardous effects of dietary COPs.

Distribution of CYP2C9∗3 and VKORC1-1639G>A gene polymorphism in Anhui Han population and their influence on the stable dose of warfarin / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

AIM: To study the distribution of CYP2C9∗3 and VKORC1-1639G>A gene polymorphism in Han population in Anhui province and their influence on the stable dose of warfarin. METHODS: The blood samples of 1 169 patients from 6 tertiary general hospitals in 5 areas of Anhui province from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected, the genotype of CYP2C9∗3 and VKORC1-1639G>A was detected by fluorescent staining in situ hybridization technique. RESULTS: The distribution of CYP2C9∗3 genotypes in 1 169 patients: the frequencies of AA, AC and CC genes were 90.16%, 9.24% and 0.60%, respectively; The distribution of VKORC1 genotype: the frequencies of AA, AG and GG genes were 84.26%, 14.71% and 1.03% respectively; There was no significant difference between the two genotypes in gender, age and regional distribution (P>0.05). The average daily warfarin dose of CYP2C9∗3 AA genotype in 755 patients with stable warfarin dose was (3.02±0.59) mg/d, which was significantly higher than patients with AC genotype and CC genotype; The average daily warfarin dose of patients with VKORC1-1639AA genotype was (2.72±0.40) mg/d, which was significantly lower than that of patients with AG genotype and GG genotype (P<0.05). And the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); There are significant differences in gender, age and clinical diagnosis between patients with stable dose of warfarin and those without stable dose (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotypes are associated with the stable dose of warfarin. Clinical anticoagulation therapy guided by CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotypes can provide guidance for individualized medication of warfarin.

Tuber flours improve intestinal health and modulate gut microbiota composition.

The different health effects between starch and whole flour from tubers are rarely studied. Here, we investigated the effects of cassava flour (CF), cassava starch (CS), potato flour (PF), and potato starch (PS) on gut health and gut microbiota of normal rats. Feed analysis showed that CF and PF diet provided significantly more slowly digestible and resistant starch, less rapidly digestible starch. Compared with rats fed with PS and CS diets, rats fed with PF and CF diets gained less body weight and have tighter intestinal barrier. Butyric acid contents were increased by tuber flours. CF and PF selectively promoted the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Eubacterium ruminantium in cecal and colonic content. In conclusion, tuber flour has intestinal protection, body weight control, and gut microbiota improving ability compared with starch. The different composition of starch might be the basis for these effects.

Sterols and Sterol Oxidation Products: Effect of Dietary Intake on Tissue Distribution in ApoE-Deficient Mice.

Sterols and sterol oxidation products (SOPs) are well-known dietary factors influencing atherosclerosis; however, their distribution in vivo after dietary sterol/SOP intake is still unclear. Here, we investigated the tissue distribution of sterols and SOPs in ApoE-/- mice after dietary exposure to diets supplemented with phytosterols (PS), phytosterol oxidation products (POPs), or cholesterol oxidation products (COPs). The results showed that PS intake reduced cholesterol in serum and the liver but increased cholesterol in the brain. PS intake increased the levels of PS in vivo and the levels of 7-keto- and triol-POPs in serum and the liver. COP intake elevated the level of all COPs in serum but did not change the 7-keto-cholesterol level in the liver and brain. All POPs in serum and parts of POPs in the liver and brain increased after dietary POP exposure. Our study indicated that dietary PS and SOPs accumulated in vivo with varying degrees and influenced cerebral cholesterol metabolism.

Methodological framework for identifying sustainability intervention priority areas on coastal landscapes and its application in China.

In regional sustainability evaluation and policy analysis, the paradigm of safe operating spaces (SOS) has been widely applied. Yet, SOS is not readily useful for informing policy interventions toward sustainability transition. This study reports on a methodological framework that operationalizes SOS at the regional scale for designing spatially targeted sustainability interventions. In particular, this framework accounts for teleology by integrating policy orientations of the place-variant "major function" of development, and provides early-warnings by integrating long-term social-environmental trends. The framework we proposed has been applied by the Chinese government in a coastal province (Liaoning) for a landscape sustainability project, which is introduced here step-by-step. The four main steps include: (1) Quantifying SOS status across multiple "what to sustain" dimensions, e.g., land scarcity, water scarcity, pollutant discharge, and ecosystem health for the inland, and coastal exploitation intensity, marine environmental quality, and marine ecosystem biodiversity for the sea. (2) Quantifying SOS status in terms of the place-variant "what to develop" dimensions, e.g., urbanization-oriented, agriculture-stock-oriented, versus conservation-oriented development. (3) Integrating the two as a composite indicator of three ordinal levels to classify the current SOS status. (4) Developing a multi-level sustainability early-warning system by cross-analysis of the SOS status and social-environmental interaction trends (e.g., changes in, e.g., resource utilization efficiency, pollutant discharge, and eco-environmental quality). The potential use of the framework is demonstrated through the case of Liaoning Province, China, which helps policy-makers to identify priority areas for sustainability interventions. Methodological robustness and future directions of applying this multi-level sustainability early-warning system are further discussed.