Prevented Weight Loss Research Articles

Oral administration of proniosomal glibenclamide formulation protects testicular tissue from hyperglycemia fluctuations and ROS via Nrf2/HO-1 pathway

Type 2 diabetes causes high blood sugar due to insulin malfunction and is linked to male infertility. Using proniosomes can enhance the effectiveness of Glibenclamide, a medication that stimulates insulin secretion. In our study, male rats with diabetes were treated with GLB with or without proniosomal for 14 days. Proniosomal formulations maintained glucose levels prevented weight loss and showed normal testicular tissue.GLB-proniosomal reduces ROS caused by T2DM through Nrf2, HO-1 pathway and increases CAT, SOD, and GSH production in response to insulin and glucose uptake. The reference and proniosomal treatments showed CAT and SOD significant enzymatic elevation compared to the positive and negative control. CAT significantly correlated with Gpx4 expression with P = 0.0169 and r = 0.98; similarly, the enzymatic activity of SOD also showed a positive correlation between the average glucose levels (r = 0.99 and P = 0.0037). Intestinally, GSH analysis revealed that only proniosomal-GLB samples are significantly elevated from the positive control, with a P value of 0.0210. The data showed proniosomal-GLB was more effective than pure GLB, confirmed by higher Nrf2 (2.050 folds), HO-1 (2.148 folds), and GPx4 (1.9 folds) transcript levels relative to the control with less sample diversity compared to the reference samples, indicating proniosomal stabilized GLB in the blood.Administering GLB and proniosomes formulation has effectively restored testicular function and sperm production in diabetic rats by regulating ROS levels and upregulating anti-ROS in response to glucose uptake. These findings may lead to better treatments for diabetic patients who have infertility issues.

Alleviative effects of sulfated polysaccharide from Ishige Okamurae against DSS-induced ulcerative colitis via inhibiting inflammation and modulating gut microbiota

A water-soluble polysaccharide from the brown alga Ishige Okamurae, designated IOP-0, was obtained by preparative anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. Chemical and spectroscopic investigations revealed that IOP-0 was a sulfated fucoidan with a backbone primarily composed of 3-linked and 4-linked-L-fucose with sulfate groups at C-2/C-4 of the 3-linked-L-fucose. The protective effect of IOP-0 on ulcerative colitis was evaluated in this work. The results showed that IOP-0 could significantly alleviate the symptoms of ulcerative colitis by preventing weight loss, preserving the structure of intestinal tissues, and ameliorating the dysregulation of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10). Meanwhile, IOP-0 protected the colonic mucosal barrier by promoting the tight junction protein ZO-1 and occludin expression. In addition, IOP-0 was able to maintain intestinal homeostasis and improve intestinal function by regulating the gut microbiota and their metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These results suggest that IOP-0 might be a potential dietary supplement for the prevention and treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Protective effects of Moringa oleifera against acetic acid-induced colitis in rat: Inflammatory mediators’ inhibition and preservation the colon morphohistology

Moringa oleifera decoction is used in folk medicine to alleviate various gastrointestinal ailments and has been shown in several studies to exhibit diverse biological activities: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and myorelaxant on intestine strips. However, its protective effect on pro-inflammatory cytokines in colitis remains to be ascertained. We investigated Moringa oleifera leaf aqueous extract activities on a rat model of acetic acid-induced colitis. Thirty-six rats were divided in random into six groups, and received either distilled water (10 mL/kg), the aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) or the reference drug Loperamide (5 mg/kg) for 20 days. Animal body weight and food intake were followed-up. Colitis was induced on day 15, and daily stool weight was followed up. Animals were sacrificed (day 21), serum concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines MPO, IL-6, and TNF-α were evaluated, and the colon and liver preserved for histological examinations. After one-week pre-treatment, a significant (P < 0.05) weight increase was observed. At day 20, the extract significantly (P < 0.01) prevented weight loss. Food intake decreased by 36.33% in the colitis control, and by 4.34% in the extract (100 mg/kg) treated animals (P < 0.01). Moringa oleifera (100 mg/kg, day 20) decreased stool weights to 4.75±0.3 g (P < 0.05). The extract decreased (P < 0.01) MPO level. At 100 mg/kg, it significantly (P < 0.05) reduced IL-6 –0.58 ± 0.14 against 0.85 ± 0.00 ng/L in the colitis control. At the same dose, TNF-α levels decreased to 417.96 ± 0.17 ng/L (P < 0.001). Moringa oleifera alleviated colitis symptoms by reducing stool emission, alleviating inflammation, and preserving colon and liver cytoarchitecture.

Degradable rGO-MoS2-Fe2O3 based carboxymethyl cellulose packaging films for fruit preservation

ABSTRACT Developing innovative packaging films is of great significance for extending the shelf-life of perishable fruit. In this study, we successfully synthesized antibacterial composites by incorporating Fe into reduced graphene oxides (rGO) and MoS2. The resulting rGO-MoS2-Fe2O3 composites demonstrated effective inhibition against E. coli and S. aureus. After investigating the antibacterial mechanism of rGO-MoS2-Fe2O3 composites, we utilized carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a film substrate to create CMC films infused with rGO-MoS2-Fe2O3 composites. The incorporation of rGO-MoS2-Fe2O3 composites decreased the light transmittance and hygroscopicity of CMC films, while greatly enhancing the mechanical properties of CMC films. To evaluate the practical applications of these rGO-MoS2-Fe2O3-based CMC films, we conducted a strawberry preservation experiment, which revealed that CMC films supplemented with 5 wt% rGO-MoS2-Fe2O3 exhibited exceptional performance in preventing weight loss and maintaining total titratable acidity levels in strawberries. These findings highlighted the promising potential of rGO-MoS2-Fe2O3-based CMC films for fruit preservation applications.

Microstructural and physicochemical quality maintenance in green bell pepper infected with Botrytis cinerea and treated with thyme essential oil combined with carnauba wax.

Bell pepper presents rapid weight loss and is highly susceptible to gray mold caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. The most employed method to control this disease is the application of synthetic fungicides such as thiabendazole (TBZ); however, its continued use causes resistance in fungi as well as environmental problems. For these reasons, natural alternatives arise as a more striking option. Currently, bell pepper fruits are coated with carnauba wax (CW) to prevent weight loss and improve appearance. Moreover, CW can be used as a carrier to incorporate essential oils, and previous studies have shown that thyme essential oil (TEO) is highly effective against B. cinerea. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of CW combined with TEO on the development of gray mold and maintenance of microestructural and postharvest quality in bell pepper stored at 13°C. The minimal inhibitory concentration of TEO was 0.5%. TEO and TBZ provoked the leakage of intracellular components. TEO and CW+TEO treatments were equally effective to inhibit the development of gray mold. On the quality parameters, firmness and weight loss were ameliorated with CW and CW+TEO treatments; whereas lightness increased in these treatments. The structural analysis showed that CW+TEO treatment maintained the cell structure reducing the apparition of deformities. The results suggest that CW+TEO treatment could be used as a natural and effective antifungal retarding the appearance of gray mold and maintaining the postharvest quality of bell pepper. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: CW and TEO are classified as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This combination can be employed on the bell pepper packaging system to extend shelf life and oppose gray mold developments. Bell pepper fruits are normally coated with lipid-base coatings such as CW before commercialization; therefore, TEO addition would represent a small investment without any changes on the packaging system infrastructure.

Supplementation of seasonal vaccine with multi-subtype neuraminidase and M2 ectodomain virus-like particle improves protection against homologous and heterologous influenza viruses in aged mice

The conventional inactivated split seasonal influenza vaccine offers low efficacy, particularly in the elderly and against antigenic variants. Here, to improve the efficacy of seasonal vaccination for the elderly population, we tested whether supplementing seasonal bivalent (H1N1 + H3N2) split (S) vaccine with M2 ectodomain repeat and multi-subtype consensus neuraminidase (NA) proteins (N1 NA + N2 NA + flu B NA) on a virus-like particle (NA-M2e) would induce enhanced cross-protection against different influenza viruses in aged mice. Immunization with split vaccine plus NA-M2e (S + NA-M2e) increased vaccine-specific IgG antibodies towards T-helper type 1 responses and hemagglutination inhibition titers. Aged mice with NA-M2e supplemented vaccination were protected against homologous and heterologous viruses at higher efficacies, as evidenced by preventing weight loss, lowering lung viral loads, inducing broadly cross-protective humoral immunity, and IFN-γ+ CD4 and CD8 T cell responses than those with seasonal vaccine. Overall, this study supports a new strategy of NA-M2e supplemented vaccination to enhance protection against homologous and antigenically different viruses in the elderly.

Abstract 1867: LBL-049: A novel neutralizing antibody against GDF15 for the treatment of cachexia

Abstract Background: Cachexia is a disorder characterized by loss of body weight with specific losses of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue and occurs in the progression of many diseases, especially in cancer. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) belongs to the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily. GDF15 can bind to the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family receptor α-like (GFRAL) protein, which is primarily expressed in the hindbrain. This interaction activates the GFRAL-RET signaling pathway, which transmits anorectic neural signals, leading to weight loss, affecting fat and muscle degradation, and inducing cachexia. Anti-GDF-15/GFRAL antibodies have the potential to reverse this response, making them vital therapeutic targets for cachexia. Herein, a novel humanized GDF-15 neutralizing antibody (LBL-049) was developed with higher efficacy and better specificity than ponsegromab, the same target antibody from Pfizer, in pre-clinical studies. Methods: LBL-049 was generated from mouse hybridoma, humanized by CDR grafting, the Fc region was further engineered to silence Fc effector. The binding affinity and specificity were detected by Fortebio and ELISA respectively. The function of blocking GDF15/GFRAL/RET signaling was examined in the reporter-gene cell assays. The in vivo efficacy of restoring cachexia was demonstrated in both tumor-induced and cisplatin-induced mouse cachexia models, in which preliminary pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) studies were also conducted. And a single-dose PK study was conducted in rats. Results: LBL-049 had high binding affinities to both human and cynomolgus GDF-15 proteins with high specificity, did not bind with other TGF family members as compared with ponsegromab. In reporter-gene cell assays, LBL-049 blocked GDF15/GFRAL signaling more potently than ponsegromab. In HT1080 tumor-induced or cisplatin-induced mouse cachexia model, LBL-049 prevented weight loss by neutralizing circulating GDF-15 in a dose dependent manner, at low dose of 1 mpk in HT1080 cachexia model, LBL-049 was more efficacious than ponsegromab to restore the body weight loss. The PK profile was excellent after single dosing of LBL-049 in rats. LBL-049 also showed good developability, i.e., low viscosity and good stability. Conclusion: LBL-049, a novel GDF15 neutralizing antibody with high affinity and specificity, showed great potency to inhibit GDF15/GFRAL/RET signaling in vitro and prevent weight loss in various mouse cachexia models, which are encouraging for future development for the treatment of cachexia. Citation Format: Baohui Wang, Xiao Huang, Mi Ding, Jing Huang, Yurong Qin, Fengxia Li, Jing Guan, Jianming Sun, Guojin Wu, Xiaoxiao Liu, Jordan Zhu, Shoupeng Lai, Xiaoqiang Kang, Hong Ling. LBL-049: A novel neutralizing antibody against GDF15 for the treatment of cachexia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1867.

Evaluation of the Polysaccharide "Immeran" Activity in Syrian hamsters' Model of SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory disease with a high number of lethal cases in humans, which causes the need to search for new therapeutic agents. Polysaccharides could be one of the prospective types of molecules with a large variety of biological activities, especially antiviral. The aim of this work was to study the specific antiviral activity of the drug "Immeran" on a model of a new coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2 in hamsters. Based on the second experiment, intraperitoneal treatment with the drug according to a treatment regimen in doses of 500 and 1000 μg/kg (administration after an hour, then once a day every other day, a total of 3 administrations) was effective, reliably suppressing the replication of the virus in the lungs and, at a dose of 1000 μg/kg, prevented weight loss in animals. In all cases, the treatment stimulated the formation of virus-neutralizing antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which suggests that the drug possesses adjuvant properties.

The Mechanism of Polygonum Hydropiper L-Coptis Chinensis in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation.

Polygonum hydropiper L (PH) was widely used to treat dysentery, gastroenteritis, diarrhea and other diseases. Coptis chinensis (CC) had the effects of clearing dampness-heat, purging fire, and detoxifying. Study confirmed that flavonoids in PH and alkaloids in CC alleviated inflammation to inhibit the development of intestinal inflammation. However, how PH-CC affects UC was unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the mechanism of PH-CC on ulcerative colitis (UC) through network pharmacology and in vivo experiments. The active ingredients and targets of PH-CC and targets of UC were screened based on related databases. The core targets of PH-CC on UC was predicted by protein-protein interaction network (PPI), and then the Gene Ontology-biological processes (GO-BP) function enrichment analysis was conducted using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database. The binding activity between pyroptosis proteins, core targets and effective ingredients were verified based on molecular docking technology. Finally, combined with the results of network pharmacology and literature research, the mechanism of PH-CC against UC was verified by in vivo experiments. There were 23 active components and 191 potential targets in PH-CC, 5275 targets in UC, and 141 co-targets. GO-BP functional analysis of 141 co-targets showed that the first 20 biological processes were closely related to inflammation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Furthermore, core targets had good binding activity with the corresponding compounds. Animal experiment indicated that PH-CC effectively prevented weight loss in UC mice, reduced the disease activity index (DAI) score, maintained colon length, suppressed myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, inhibited pyroptosis protein expression, and downregulated the levels of IL-18 and IL-1β to alleviate intestinal inflammation. The results of network pharmacology and animal experiments showed that PH-CC suppressed the inflammatory response, restored colon morphology, and inhibited pyroptosis in UC mice. Thus, PH-CC may improve UC by regulating the NOD-like receptor protein domain 3 (NLRP3)/Caspase-1 signaling pathway.

Synthesis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Ferulic Acid-Sesquiterpene Lactone Hybrids.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a respiratory failure disease associated with high mortality rates in patients. The primary pathological damage is attributed to the excessive release of pro-inflammatory mediators in pulmonary tissue. However, specific therapy for ALI has not been developed. In this study, a series of novel ferulic acid-parthenolide (FA-PTL) and ferulic acid-micheliolide (FA-MCL) hybrid derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. Compounds 2, 4, and 6 showed pronounced anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Importantly, compound 6 displayed good water solubility, and treatment of mice with compound 6 (10 mg/kg) significantly prevented weight loss and ameliorated inflammatory cell infiltration and edema in lung tissue, as well as improving the alveolar structure. These results suggest that compound 6 (((1aR,7aS,8R,10aS,10bS,E)-8-((dimethylamino)methyl)-1a-methyl-9-oxo-1a,2,3,6,7,7a,8,9,10a,10b-decahydrooxireno[2',3':9,10]cyclodeca[1,2-b]furan-5-yl)methyl (E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acrylate 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate) might be considered as a lead compound for further evaluation as a potential anti-ALI agent.

Effectiveness of lifestyle interventions/culturally bespoke programmes in South Asian ethnic groups targeting weight loss for prevention and/or remission of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention trials.

People from South Asian heritage are at high risk of type 2 diabetes, but there are limited specific strategies to prevent and manage this condition. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of culturally bespoke lifestyle programmes in South Asians that target weight loss for the prevention or remission of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention trials. PubMed, Scopus, MEDLINE (EBSCOhost), CINAHL, PsycINFO and CENTRAL were searched. Human intervention trials (randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental) investigating the effect of lifestyle interventions on the prevention and remission of T2DM in South Asians were included. Studies including participants at risk of T2DM (prevention trials) and having the disease (remission trials) with duration ≥12 weeks were eligible. For prevention trials, the primary outcome was change in weight (kg) from baseline; for remission trials, it was decrease in HbA1c to non-diabetic levels (HbA1c ≤ 6.5%) without diabetes medications. Prevention trials were separated into (i) lifestyle modification advice and (ii) lifestyle modification advice including a supervised physical activity programme. Twenty-four trials were eligible (21 prevention trials and 3 remission trials). In T2DM prevention trials involving only lifestyle modification advice, the mean postintervention difference in weight between intervention and control groups was -0.65 kg (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.04, -0.26; p = 0.01). Lifestyle modification advice including a physical activity programme was associated with greater decreases in weight: -1.13 kg (95% CI: -2.04, -0.21; p = 0.02). Fasting blood glucose levels were slightly lower in intervention groups for both intervention subtypes, although there was no significant change in HbA1c levels or 2-h plasma glucose levels. Diabetes remission trials showed potential acceptability but were limited in number and involved a small sample size, and some did not include a control group. In South Asians, lifestyle interventions for prevention of T2DM offer only modest impacts on weight and glucose control and will unlikely reduce diabetes incidence. Alternative lifestyle interventions co-designed with members of the communities and aimed at both prevention and remission of T2DM must be urgently considered. Systematic review registration number: PROSPERO CRD42022385174 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=385174.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HY7718 Improves Intestinal Integrity in a DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Mouse Model by Suppressing Inflammation through Modulation of the Gut Microbiota.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic condition that causes persistent inflammation in the digestive system, is closely associated with the intestinal microbiome. Here, we evaluated the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HY7718 (HY7718) on IBD symptoms in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Oral administration of HY7718 led to significant improvement in the disease activity index score and the histological index, as well as preventing weight loss, in model mice. HY7718 upregulated the expression of intestinal tight junction (TJ)-related genes and downregulated the expression of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines and genes involved in the TLR/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Additionally, HY7718 reduced the blood levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as reversing DSS-induced changes to the composition of the intestinal microbiome. HY7718 also increased the percentage of beneficial bacteria (Lactiplantibacillus and Bifidobacterium), which correlated positively with the expression of intestinal TJ-related genes. Finally, HY7718 decreased the population of pathogens such as Escherichia, which correlated with IBD symptoms. The data suggest that HY7718 improves intestinal integrity in colitis model mice by regulating the expression of TJ proteins and inflammatory cytokines, as well as the composition of the intestinal microflora. Thus, L. plantarum HY7718 may be suitable as a functional supplement that improves IBD symptoms and gut health.

Malnutrition status and related factors in gastric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment at Ho Chi Minh City oncology hospital

Chemotherapy is one type of systemic treatment for cancer that causes side effects on eating and energy supply, leading to weight loss and malnutrition. Detecting malnutrition early in gastric cancer patients plays a critical role in implementing an effective nutritional regimen that can improve their nutritional status, prevent weight loss, and enhance their ability to withstand and respond to chemotherapy. The cross-sectional study was performed on 95 patients in Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital from October 2021 to June 2022. According to the PG-SGA, MUAC, and BMI, the percentage of malnutrition are 69.5%, 33.7%, and 31.6%, respectively. There is a statistically significant connection between malnutrition rate by PG-SGA with age categories, cancer treatment methods, side effects of chemotherapy, and anemia.

Cholesterol redistribution triggered by CYP46A1 gene therapy improves major hallmarks of Niemann-Pick type C disease but is not sufficient to halt neurodegeneration

Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (CYP46A1) is an exclusively neuronal cytochrome P450 enzyme responsible for converting cholesterol into 24S-hydroxycholesterol, which serves as the primary pathway for eliminating cholesterol in the brain. We and others have shown that increased activity of CYP46A1 leads to reduced levels of cholesterol and has a positive effect on cognition. Therefore, we hypothesized that CYP46A1 could be a potential therapeutic target in Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease, a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by cholesterol accumulation in endolysosomal compartments. Herein, we show that CYP46A1 ectopic expression, in cellular models of NPC and in Npc1tm(I1061T) mice by adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapy improved NPC disease phenotype. Amelioration in functional, biochemical, molecular and neuropathological hallmarks of NPC disease were characterized. In vivo, CYP46A1 expression partially prevented weight loss and hepatomegaly, corrected the expression levels of genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis, and promoted a redistribution of brain cholesterol accumulated in late endosomes/lysosomes. Moreover, concomitant with the amelioration of cholesterol metabolism dysregulation, CYP46A1 attenuated microgliosis and lysosomal dysfunction in mouse cerebellum, favoring a pro-resolving phenotype. In vivo CYP46A1 ectopic expression improves important features of NPC disease and may represent a valid therapeutic approach to be used concomitantly with other drugs. However, promoting cholesterol redistribution does not appear to be enough to prevent Purkinje neuronal death in the cerebellum. This indicates that cholesterol buildup in neurons might not be the main cause of neurodegeneration in this human lipidosis.

A Study on Justicia flava (Forssk.) Vahl.: Pharmacognostic Characterization and Antiplasmodial and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of the Leaves

Justiciaflava (Acanthaceae) is utilized in folk medicine for treating malaria, inflammatory conditions, and respiratory infections. In this study, the antiplasmodial and anti-inflammatory activities of the 70% hydroalcoholic leaf extract of J. flava (JFE) were investigated. The antiplasmodial activity was assessed by the suppressive test and Rane’s curative test. The carrageenan-induced paw oedema assay in chicks was used to assess the anti-inflammatory activity. In Rane’s curative test, JFE significantly suppressed the parasitaemia level ( p &lt; 0.0001) by 56.85%, 63.85%, and 77.85% at 30, 100, and 300 mg·kg−1, respectively. The highest suppression of parasitaemia in the suppressive test was 51.31% at 300 mg·kg−1. The extract prolonged the survival time of infected mice significantly and prevented weight loss and hypothermia which are cardinal signs of P. berghei-induced infection. JFE inhibited foot oedema in chicks with a maximum percentage inhibition of 54.00 ± 5.20%. Pharmacognostic characterization of J. flava revealed it to have simple, petiolate, oppositely arranged leaves which are broadly lanceolate in shape with entire to slightly crenate margins. Microscopy of the leaf showed wavy-walled epidermal cells, diallelocytic stomata, abundant clothing and secretory trichomes, pitted vessels, collateral conjoint vascular bundles, cystoliths, and prismatic calcium oxalate crystals. Flavonoids, tannins, phytosterols, triterpenoids, coumarins, alkaloids, and saponins were detected in the plant. This study has provided important parameters for the correct identification of J. flava and given the scientific credence to its antimalarial and anti-inflammatory effects in traditional medicine. J. flava is a potential source of new antimalarial and anti-inflammatory compounds.

SARS-CoV-2 mucosal vaccine protects against clinical disease with sex bias in efficacy

Intranasal mucosal vaccines can more effectively induce mucosal immune responses against SARS-CoV-2. Here, we show in hamsters that an intranasal subunit mucosal vaccine boost with the beta variant S1 can prevent weight loss, in addition to reducing viral load, which cannot be studied in macaques that don’t develop COVID-like disease. Protective efficacy against both viral load and weight loss correlated with serum antibody titers. A sex bias was detected in that immune responses and protection against viral load were greater in females than males. We also found that priming with S1 from the Wuhan strain elicited lower humoral immune responses against beta variant and led to less protection against beta viral challenge, suggesting the importance of matched antigens. The greater efficacy of mucosal vaccines in the upper respiratory tract and the need to consider sex differences in vaccine protection are important in the development of future improved COVID-19 vaccines.

Efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles and wax coatings on maintaining post-harvest quality of “Murcott” mandarins

Because of its high degree of biodegradability, chitosan is widely used as a component in food packaging. However, its poor physical properties, such as permeability, limit its applicability. Consequently, applying nano chitosan is regarded as the most effective solution to this issue. In the current study, we studied the effect of using different materials in the coating process on the quality of “Murcott” mandarin during cold storage. We used different concentrations of nano chitosan (50 and 100 ppm) without wax and 100 ppm nano chitosan with wax. We investigated the impact of these compounds on the chemical composition and quality of fruits. The most successful treatment for preventing weight loss from discarded fresh fruit was a combination of wax and 100 ppm nano chitosan. This combination also prevented the deterioration of vitamin C, maintained the fruit pulp, and preserved the fruit's superior taste during cold storage and shelf life. It also maintains a better total soluble solids and total acidity level than other treatments. In addition, the total antioxidants and enzymes levels indicates no degradation of plant tissues compared to those not coated with nano chitosan. It also reduces the microbial load on the coated fruits. Consequently, this coating combination could suggest prolonging post-harvest life and increasing the marketing period of mandarin fruits.

Gut microbiota depletion aggravates bile acid-induced liver pathology in mice with a human-like bile acid composition.

Cyp2c70-deficient mice have a human-like bile acid (BA) composition due to their inability to convert chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) into rodent-specific muricholic acids (MCAs). However, the hydrophobic BA composition in these animals is associated with liver pathology. Although Cyp2c70-ablation has been shown to alter gut microbiome composition, the impact of gut bacteria on liver pathology in Cyp2c70-/- mice remains to be established. Therefore, we treated young-adult male and female wild-type (WT) and Cyp2c70-/- mice with antibiotics (AB) with broad specificity to deplete the gut microbiota and assessed the consequences on BA metabolism and liver pathology. Female Cyp2c70-/- mice did not tolerate AB treatment, necessitating premature termination of the experiment. Male Cyp2c70-/- mice did tolerate AB but showed markedly augmented liver pathology after 6 weeks of treatment. Dramatic downregulation of hepatic Cyp8b1 expression (-99%) caused a reduction in the proportions of 12α-hydroxylated BAs in the circulating BA pools of AB-treated male Cyp2c70-/- mice. Interestingly, the resulting increased BA hydrophobicity strongly correlated with various indicators of liver pathology. Moreover, genetic inactivation of Cyp8b1 in livers of male Cyp2c70-/- mice increased liver pathology, while addition of ursodeoxycholic acid to the diet prevented weight loss and liver pathology in AB-treated female Cyp2c70-/- mice. In conclusion, depletion of gut microbiota in Cyp2c70-/- mice aggravates liver pathology at least in part by increasing the hydrophobicity of the circulating BA pool. These findings highlight that the potential implications of AB administration to cholestatic patients should be evaluated in a systematic manner.

Replacement of conventional packaging with sustainable materials for corn tortillas

This work aimed to evaluate two commercial bio-plastics as sustainable alternatives to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and paper packaging for corn tortillas. First, the effect of films made of HDPE, a mix of polyesters and thermoplastic starch (TPB), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), and two types of paper on the shelf life of corn tortillas was evaluated. Besides, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), weight gain of packaging materials, overall migration (OM), and biodegradation of TPB and PHB were evaluated. The WVTR at 25 °C and 50% RH of HDPE and PHB films that prevented weight loss (<2.5%) of packaged tortillas was 3.62 and 39.42 gmil/m2day, respectively. In addition, the films were in compliance with the OM limit established by the European Union Regulation (10 mg/dm2). The shelf life of corn tortillas packaged in the HDPE, TPB, PHB, and papers was 18, 2, 17, and 1 day, respectively. Finally, the biodegradation under aerobic soil conditions of TPB and PHB was 41.3% and 36.8%, respectively. These findings revealed that PHB is a viable option for maintaining the corn tortillas’ shelf life and reducing the non-biodegradable waste this staple food generates.

BMI trajectories, associations with outcomes and predictors in elderly gastric cancer patients undergoing radical gastrectomy: a prospective longitudinal observation study.

Elderly gastric cancer patients undergoing radical gastrectomy are prone to experience unexpected weight loss. Preoperative weight risk prediction may be a promising way to prevent weight loss and improve prognosis. The objectives of this study were to explore the BMI trajectory of elderly gastric cancer patients one year after surgery, evaluate theirs the association with outcomes, and explore their related predictors, so as to provide evidence for weight management and prognosis improvement. 412 gastric cancer patients were included and recorded BMI at 6 time points. The trajectories of BMI were analyzed by growth mixture modeling, and the associations of BMI trajectories with outcomes as well as their predictors were investigated by regression models. We identified 3 classes of BMI trajectories: the "slow-decreasing BMI", "rapid-decreasing BMI" and "maintaining BMI". Compared with class1, patients in class 2 were more likely to have a higher frequency of readmission within 1-year(β = 0.59, 95%CI: 0.29, 0.89, P < 0.001) and a higher rate of mortality within 1-year(β = 24.74, 95%CI: 9.60, 63.74, P < 0.001) ; patients in class 3 were more likely to have a higher quality of life (β=-10.46, 95%CI: -17.70, -3.22, P = 0.005) and fewer readmission times within one year (β=-0.43, 95%CI: -0.77, -0.09, P = 0.015). Predictors of decreasing BMI trajectories were TNM stage, comorbidity, anxiety, family cohesion and social support(P < 0.05). Our findings can provide a basis for screening high-risk elderly gastric cancer patients with poor prognosis, implementing risk stratification, formulating accurate weight management programs and improving prognosis. The results of our study can provide gastric cancer survivors with preoperativerisk screening based on predictive factors so that nutritional support and weight management can be implementedin a timely manner to improve prognosis.