Acrolein-triggered atherosclerosis via AMPK/SIRT1-CLOCK/BMAL1 pathway and a protection from intermittent fasting.

Circadian clock plays a vital role in the pathological progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our previous studies showed that acrolein, an environmental pollutant, promoted atherosclerosis by reducing CLOCK/BMAL1 and disturbing circadian rhythm. Whereas, intermittent fasting (IF), a diet pattern, was able to ameliorate acrolein-induced atherosclerosis. In vivo, mice were fed acrolein 3 mg/kg/day via drinking water and IF for 18h (0:00-18:00). We observed that IF decreased acrolein-accelerated the formation of aortic lesion in ApoE -/- mice. Up-regulation of NF-κB, IL-1ß and TNF-α levels were found in liver and heart tissue upon acrolein exposure, while was down-regulated by IF. Interestingly, IF treatment exhibited higher AMPK, p-AMPK and SIRT1and lower MAPK expression which was caused by acrolein. Besides, circadian genes Clock/ Bmal1 expression were suppressed and disturbed treated with acrolein, while were reversed by IF. Furthermore, consistent with that in vivo, short-term starvation as a fasting cell model in vitro could improve the disorders of CLOCK/BMAL1 and raised SIRT1 via regulating AMPK, as well as ROS-MAPK induced by acrolein. In conclusion, we demonstrated that IF repressed ROS-MAPK while activated AMPK to elevate the expression of circadian clock genes to ameliorate acrolein-induced atherogenesis, which shed a novel light to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Unhealthy diets increase the likelihood of being overweight or obese among African migrant students in China, but not among African non-migrant students: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is disproportionately felt by immigrants from low- to medium-income countries (LMICs), partly due to their dietary habits. To thrive in their new environment, migrants either omit or consume certain food items, which could lead to nutritional deficits. As a result, most migrants experience more NCDs than their compatriots in their native countries. Therefore, we evaluated the difference in dietary habits, quality, and the influencing factors of overweight or obesity among African migrant students in Nanjing (China) and non-migrant students in Africa using cross-sectional data. Methods: The researchers used the food frequency questionnaire and the global diet quality score metrics to assess food intake and quality, respectively. Then, cross-tabulation was employed to explore the differences between the groups in meal skipping, eating habits, and diet quality. Finally, the factors associated with overweight or obesity were assessed with binary logistic regression stratified by African students in Nanjing and students in their native countries. Results: Approximately 678 responses were received, mainly between 18-25 years (46.7%) and 26-36 years (45.4 %). The majority of them (52.3%) were international students. The non-migrant African students' diets lacked citrus fruits (22.2%), deep orange fruits (15.4%), deep orange vegetables (18%), cruciferous vegetables (24.6%), and dark leafy vegetables (26.5%). While the African migrant students consumed more high-fat dairy (50.7%), processed meats (23.9%), sweets and ice creams (51.3%), sugar-sweetened beverages (40.5%), and juice (61.5%), p < 0.001. Furthermore, consuming late-night meals constantly [Exp (B) = 39.607, p = 0.049], eating twice a day [Exp (B) = 6.527, p = 0.036], consuming red meat [Exp (B) = 29.287, p = 0.001], processed meats [Exp (B) = 719.979, p = 0.0011], refined grains and baked foods [Exp (B) = 15.752, p = 0.013], and sweets and ice cream [Exp (B) = 193.633, p = 0.006] were factors inducing overweight or obesity among only African migrant students. Conclusion: Controlling the what (Western diet and nature of late-night meals) and the when of eating can drastically reduce their influence on obesogenic condition formation in African migrant students in China and elsewhere.

Healthy eating habits and a prudent dietary pattern improve Nanjing international students' health-related quality of life.

Purpose: Low-quality dietary practices, such as fast food consumption and skipping meals, deteriorate the quality of life. However, the available studies on diet and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) used matrices not specific to nutrition. Moreover, how diet affects the HRQoL of international students in China is unknown. Therefore, using a cross-sectional study, the effect of dietary patterns and habits on the HRQoL of international students in Nanjing, China, was examined. Methods: The researchers collected dietary data using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) from February to March 2022. Then, the Food Benefit Assessment (FBA) was used to access HRQoL. Finally, the effect of eating habits and dietary patterns on HRQoL was explored using multilinear regression. Results: Approximately 454 responses were obtained, with the responses mostly from male subjects (56.4%) and those aged 26 years and above (75.6%). The quality of life according to the food consumed was about average for all the constructs except for aesthetics and disease prevention, as 65.8% skipped meals, particularly breakfast (47.8%). Furthermore, three dietary patterns were identified: prudent, Western, and animal protein patterns. Consequently, by skipping breakfast, vitality (ß = -2.362, p = 0.04), wellbeing (ß = -3.592, p = 0.007), digestive comfort (ß = -4.734, p = 0.008), and disease prevention (ß = -5.071, p = 0.031) were all reduced. However, consuming at least three meals daily enhanced vitality (ß = 2.254, p = 0.003) and disease prevention (ß = 4.441, p = 0.019). Furthermore, aesthetics (ß = 4.456, p = 0.05), physical appearance (ß = 5.927, p = 0.003), and vitality (ß = 3.323, p = 0.009) were also significantly increased by healthy dietary patterns. However, a more Westernized diet led to frequent snacking (ß = -4.631, p = 0.032), a decline in wellbeing (ß = -5.370, p < 0.001), and discomfort with digestion (ß = -5.101, p = 0.01). Finally, increased frequency of snacking (ß = -6.036, p = 0.012), a decrease in wellbeing (ß = -4.494, p = 0.004), digestive comfort (ß = -9.940, p < 0.001), physical appearance (ß = -4.926, p = 0.027), and disease prevention (ß = -5.835, p = 0.043) were all associated with an increase in animal protein patterns. Conclusion: This research indicates that healthy eating habits and patterns positively impact international students' HRQoL. Therefore, the appropriate authorities should advise students to consume healthy foods regularly to improve their HRQoL.

Glucose restriction induces AMPK-SIRT1-mediated circadian clock gene Per expression and delays NSCLC progression.

The rhythmic expression of the circadian clock is intimately linked to the health status of the body. Disturbed circadian clock rhythms might lead to a wide range of metabolic diseases and even cancers. Our previous study showed that glucose restriction was able to inhibit non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the current study, we found that glucose restriction enhanced apoptosis and cell growth delay in NSCLC cells. In addition, we used GEPIA database analysis to derive different effects of each circadian clock gene on lung cancer tissue. Among these circadian clock genes, Per (Period) is lowly expressed in cancer tissues and highly expressed in normal tissues. Moreover, the higher expression of Per in cancer patients has a better prognostic significance. Furthermore, we revealed that glucose restriction induced the expression of the circadian clock gene Per in NSCLC cells by upregulating SIRT1 (Sirtuin1) via activation of the energy response factor AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase). Changes in Per expression following upregulation or downregulation of AMPK were consistent with AMPK expression. Additionally, a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet significantly delayed tumor progression in a xenograft tumor model of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Meanwhile, the ketogenic diet increased the expression of AMPK, SIRT1 and Per in vivo. Besides, the ketogenic diet was found to restore the normal rhythmic level of Per by Zeitgeber Time (ZT) experiments. Taken these together, these results indicated a novel mechanism that glucose restriction induces AMPK-SIRT1 mediated circadian clock gene Per expression and delays NSCLC progression, which provided more evidence for glucose restriction as an adjuvant clinical therapeutic strategy in NSCLC.