Bovine Colostrum miR-30a-5p Targets the NF-κB Signaling Pathway to Alleviate Inflammation in Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common disease of the digestive system, and an excessive immune response mediated by the nuclear factor κ-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is an essential etiology. Recent studies have found that bovine milk exosomes can improve intestinal mucosal health by delivering microRNA (miRNA), but the mechanism of action is so far unknown. In the present study, we analyzed the differential expression profiles of miRNA in colostrum and mature milk exosomes using high-throughput sequencing, based on the demonstration that colostrum exosomes inhibit the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal epithelial NF-κB inflammatory pathway better than mature milk exosomes. The bta-miR-30a-5p, which is specifically highly expressed in colostrum, was screened, and its predicted target gene TRAM was found to be closely related to the NF-κB signaling pathway by functional enrichment analysis. Further, we used gene overexpression and silencing techniques and found that the bta-miR-30a-5p transfection treatment was confirmed to inhibit LPS-induced NF-κB signaling pathway activation and downstream pro-inflammatory factor expression, while the expression of its potential target gene, TRAM, was also suppressed. It is hypothesized that the high expression of bta-miR-30a-5p in colostrum, which targets TRAM to inhibit the downstream NF-κB inflammatory pathway, may be one of the molecular mechanisms responsible for its superior effect on resisting inflammatory attack compared to mature milk.

The combined application of ear acupuncture in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: A meta-analysis.

Objective: Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of auricular acupressure in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Methods: Randomised controlled trials (RCTS) on the treatment of allergic rhinitis with ear acupuncture were searched by computer in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase、Web of Science、China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database (Wanfang), VIP database, and China Biomedical Literature Service System (CBM). The search time was from the establishment of the database to September 18, 2022. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software. Results: A total of 15 papers with 1002 patients were included in the final study. ①Clinical efficiency: The clinical efficiency of ear acupuncture combined with control group was higher than that of control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.00001); ② Nasal symptom score: the effect of ear acupuncture combined with control group on allergic rhinitis on nasal symptoms was more obvious than that of control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.004); ③ Nasal itching symptom score: the efficacy of ear acupuncture combined with control group on allergic rhinitis on nasal itching symptom was significantly higher than that of control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.01). ④Sneeze symptom score: the effect of ear acupuncture combined with control group on allergic rhinitis on nasal itching symptom was more effective than that of control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.00001); ⑤Score of runny nose symptom: the effect of ear acupuncture combined with control group on allergic rhinitis on runny nose symptom was more obvious than that of control group, the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.004); ⑥Nasal congestion symptom scores: The effect of ear acupuncture combined with control group on allergic rhinitis on nasal congestion symptom was more obvious than that of control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.003). Conclusion: Ear acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy of allergic rhinitis can achieve better clinical efficacy.

Advances in Low-Lactose/Lactose-Free Dairy Products and Their Production.

With increasing health awareness worldwide, lactose intolerance has become a major concern of consumers, creating new market opportunities for low-lactose/lactose-free dairy foods. In recent years, through innovating processes and technologies, dairy manufacturers have significantly improved the variety, and functional and sensory qualities of low-lactose and lactose-free dairy products. Based on this, this paper first covers the pathology and epidemiology of lactose intolerance and market trends. Then, we focus on current advantages and disadvantages of different lactose hydrolysis technologies and improvements in these technologies to enhance nutritional value, and functional, sensory, and quality properties of lactose-free dairy products. We found that more and more cutting-edge technologies are being applied to the production of lactose-free dairy products, and that these technologies greatly improve the quality and production efficiency of lactose-free dairy products. Hopefully, our review can provide a theoretical basis for the marketing expansion and consumption guidance for low-lactose/lactose-free dairy products.

Weight gain, poor mental health and increased sedentary hours among Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The Movement Control Orders (MCO) in Malaysia due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the lifestyle behaviours, weight changes, and mental health of the population. AIM: To determine the changes in physical activity, sedentary behaviour, body weight status and mental health status among Malaysian adults before and during the pandemic. METHODS: A total of 338 Malaysian adults participated in this cross-sectional online study. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were self-reported. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) while the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) were used to examine stress, depression and anxiety, respectively. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 28.0. RESULTS: The results showed an average weight gain of 0.6 kg among the participants with 45.5% of them experiencing weight gain. In addition, sedentary behaviour (p < 0.001), PSS-10 score (p < 0.001), PHQ-9 score (p = 0.002) and GAD-7 score (p = 0.001) were significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic whereas the level of physical activity was significantly decreased (p = 0.003) during the pandemic. Weight changes during the pandemic were found to be associated with age, sedentary hours, and PHQ-9 score. Through binary logistic regression, sedentary hours (AOR = 1.068, 95% CI = 1.002-1.139, p = 0.043) were identified to be a risk factor for weight gain during the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that public health interventions to prevent weight gain should focus on strategies to increase physical activity for sedentary lifestyles.

Impact of COVID-19 on dietary intake, sleeping patterns and physical activity levels among Malaysian University students.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a significant impact on people's behaviour and lifestyles. Limited research has been conducted on the impact of COVID-19 on Malaysian university students' lifestyle modifications. This study aims to identify the impact of COVID-19 on dietary intake, sleeping patterns and physical activity levels among Malaysian university students. METHODS: A total of 261 university students were recruited. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected. Dietary intake was assessed using PLifeCOVID-19 questionnaire, sleep quality was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire (PSQI) while physical activity level was assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Forms (IPAQ-SF). SPSS was used to perform statistical analysis. RESULTS: 30.7% of the participants adhered to the unhealthy dietary pattern, 48.7% had poor quality of sleep and 59.4% engaged in low physical activity levels during the pandemic. Unhealthy dietary pattern was significantly associated with a lower IPAQ category (p=0.013), and increased time spent sitting (p=0.027) during the pandemic. Participants being underweight before the pandemic (aOR=2.472, 95% CI=1.358-4.499), increased takeaway meal consumption (aOR=1.899, 95% CI=1.042-3.461), increased snacking between meals consumption (aOR=2.989, 95% CI=1.653-5.404) and engaged in a low level of physical activity during pandemic (aOR=1.935, 95% CI=1.028-3.643) were the predictors of unhealthy dietary pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The university students' dietary intake, sleeping patterns, and physical activity levels were impacted in different ways during the pandemic. Strategies and interventions should be developed and implemented to improve the dietary intake and lifestyle of the students.

Edible Bird's Nest as a Potential Cognitive Enhancer.

Cognitive enhancement is defined as the augmentation of the mind's core capabilities through the improvement of internal or external information processing systems. Recently, the focus has shifted to the potential therapeutic effects of natural products in improving cognitive function. Edible bird's nest (EBN) is a natural food substance derived from the saliva of swiftlets. Until today, EBN is regarded as a high-priced nutritious food with therapeutic effects. The effectiveness of dietary EBN supplementation to enhance brain development in mammals has been documented. Although the neuroprotection of EBN has been previously reported, however, the impact of EBN on learning and memory control and its potential as a cognitive enhancer drug remains unknown. Thus, this article aims to address the neuroprotective benefits of EBN and its potential effect as a cognitive enhancer. Notably, the current challenges and the future study direction in EBN have been demonstrated.

Inadequate fruits and vegetables consumption among Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the eating behaviours of people especially fruits and vegetable intake. No study has addressed the fruits and vegetables intake during the COVID-19 in Malaysia. Aim: to assess the daily intake of fruits and vegetables among Malaysian adults during the COVID-19 outbreak, perceived changes in intake, as well as factors associated with the changes in intake. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through online platforms and a total of 506 participants were recruited. Semi food-frequency questionnaires were used to assess participants' fruit and vegetable intake. Socio-demographics information, knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of fruits and vegetables were collected. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Results: The majority of participants (99.8%) did not achieve the recommended five servings per day, in which they consumed an average of 0.84 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. 46.4% of participants reported no changes in intake compared to before the outbreak. Fruits and vegetables intake was associated with physical activity level, knowledge, and beliefs of foods that may prevent/cure COVID-19. Binary logistic regression identified two significant risk factors of daily fruits and vegetables intake namely, being a non-Chinese (AOR = 1.905, 95% CI = 1.114-3.257) and having good practices scores (AOR = 2.543, 95% CI = 1.611-4.015). Conclusion: The study found a low daily intake of fruits and vegetables. The findings suggested that nutritional interventions are necessary to improve awareness on consuming more fruits and vegetables to improve overall health.

Integrating nutriepigenomics in Parkinson's disease management: New promising strategy in the omics era.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most prevalent brain motor disorder and is frequently regarded as an idiopathic and sporadic disease due to its unclear etiology. Although the pathological mechanisms of PD have already been investigated at various omics levels, no disease-modifying drugs are currently available. At the moment, treatments can only provide symptomatic relief to control or improve motor symptoms. Parkinson's disease is a multifactorial disease, the development and progression of which are influenced by multiple factors, including the genetic markups and the environment. As an indispensable component of our daily life, nutrition is considered one of the most robust environmental factors affecting our health. Consequently, depending on our dietary habits, nutrition can either induce or reduce our susceptibility to PD. Epigenetic mechanisms regulate gene expression through DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) activity. Accumulating evidence from nutriepigenomics studies has reported altered epigenetic mechanisms in clinical and pre-clinical PD models, and the potential role of nutrition in modifying the changes. In addition, through nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics studies, the diet-gene, and gene-diet interactions concerning PD development and progression have been investigated. Herein, current findings on the roles of nutrition in epigenetic mechanisms underpinning PD development and progression are discussed. Recent advancements in the multi-omics approach in PD nutrition research are also underlined. The ability of nutrients to influence epigenetic mechanisms and the availability of multi-omics applications compel the immediate use of personalized nutrition as adjuvant therapy for PD.

Environmental Footprints of High-Speed Railway Construction in China: A Case Study of the Beijing-Tianjin Line.

The environmental footprints of China's high-speed railway (HSR) have attracted much attention nationally and internationally. Although there is some research focusing on CO2 emissions, a comprehensive environmental impacts assessment of HSR construction is still lacking. In this study, the emissions of the Beijing-Tianjin intercity HSR line was calculated using a hybrid input-output life cycle assessment method to quantify the environmental impacts of HSR throughout its construction. The environmental footprints during the construction stage were analyzed in terms of different subsystems and sectors. The results showed that bridges contribute the largest environmental footprints at approximately 60%, followed by rail and electric multiple unit (EMU) systems. The top three sectors that contribute to pollutant emissions are the metal smelting and rolling industry, transport equipment manufacturing, and non-metallic mineral production. CO2 and NOx are the major pollutants directly emitted by site equipment operation. More chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and petroleum are emitted in EMU production than in rail construction, while NH3-N is emitted more in rails instead. Cd, Pb, As, and Hg are the significant pollutants in the metal smelting and rolling industry, whereas Cr, Cu, and Zn are the main heavy metal emissions in the transport equipment manufacturing sector. Heavy metals are the main types of environmental footprints in bridges, stations, and electric systems. Water pollutants are the main environmental impacts for rail and EMU systems, and the emissions of air pollutants are significant in subgrades. The production efficiency of upstream materials, desulfurization and denitration in fossil combustion, and the length of the bridge construction should be considered for an HSR under construction, in order to become environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Effect of Cosmos caudatus (Ulam raja) supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a major health threat worldwide. Cosmos caudatus is one of the medicinal plants used to treat type 2 diabetes. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effectiveness and safety of C. caudatus in patients with type 2 diabetes. Metabolomic approach will be carried out to compare the metabolite profiles between C. Caudatus treated diabetic patients and diabetic controls. METHODS AND DESIGN: This is a single-center, randomized, controlled, two-arm parallel design clinical trial that will be carried out in a tertiary hospital in Malaysia. In this study, 100 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes will be enrolled. Diabetic patients who meet the eligibility criteria will be randomly allocated to two groups, which are diabetic C. caudatus treated(U) group and diabetic control (C) group. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The serum and urine metabolome of both groups will be examined using proton NMR spectroscopy. DISCUSSION: The study will be the first randomized controlled trial to assess whether C. caudatus can confer beneficial effect in patients with type 2 diabetes. The results of this trial will provide clinical evidence on the effectiveness and safety of C. caudatus in patients with type 2 diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02322268.

Eight Weeks of Cosmos caudatus (Ulam Raja) Supplementation Improves Glycemic Status in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives. Optimizing glycemic control is crucial to prevent type 2 diabetes related complications. Cosmos caudatus is reported to have promising effect in improving plasma blood glucose in an animal model. However, its impact on human remains ambiguous. This study was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of C. caudatus on glycemic status in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods. In this randomized controlled trial with two-arm parallel-group design, a total of 101 subjects with type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to diabetic-ulam or diabetic controls for eight weeks. Subjects in diabetic-ulam group consumed 15 g of C. caudatus daily for eight weeks while diabetic controls abstained from taking C. caudatus. Both groups received the standard lifestyle advice. Results. After 8 weeks of supplementation, C. caudatus significantly reduced serum insulin (-1.16 versus +3.91), reduced HOMA-IR (-1.09 versus +1.34), and increased QUICKI (+0.05 versus -0.03) in diabetic-ulam group compared with the diabetic controls. HbA1C level was improved although it is not statistically significant (-0.76% versus -0.37%). C. caudatus was safe to consume. Conclusions. C. caudatus supplementation significantly improves insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Potential medicinal benefits of Cosmos caudatus (Ulam Raja): A scoping review.

Cosmos caudatus is widely used as a traditional medicine in Southeast Asia. C. caudatus has been reported as a rich source of bioactive compounds such as ascorbic acid, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid. Studies have shown that C. caudatus exhibits high anti-oxidant capacity and various medicinal properties, including anti-diabetic activity, anti-hypertensive properties, anti-inflammatory responses, bone-protective effect, and anti-microbial activity. This review aims to present the potential medicinal benefits of C. caudatus from the available scientific literature. We searched PubMed and ScienceDirect database for articles published from 1995 to January 2015. Overall, 15 articles related to C. caudatus and its medicinal benefits are reviewed. All these studies demonstrated that C. caudatus is effective, having demonstrated its anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, bone-protective, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal activity in both in vitro and animal studies. None of the studies showed any negative effect of C. caudatus related to medicinal use. Currently available evidence suggests that C. caudatus has beneficial effects such as reducing blood glucose, reducing blood pressure, promoting healthy bone formation, and demonstrating anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. However, human clinical trial is warranted.