Search

Interleukin-27 (IL-27), a potential mediator linking obesity to inflammatory diseases, is considered an important candidate for regulating obesity. The present study evaluated the relationship of IL-27 with obesity and insulin resistance (IR) and further investigated the changes in IL-27 levels after weight loss. The study analyzed 405 participants, of whom 62 with overweight or obesity completed one year of lifestyle intervention. The body compositions, including percent of body fat (PBF), visceral fat area (VFA), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and visceral fat area to skeletal muscle mass ratio (VSR), were assessed using the bioelectrical impedance analysis method. Serum IL-27 levels were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IL-27 levels increased significantly with the increase in body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.001). Moreover, IL-27 levels were positively correlated with PBF, VFA, and VSR. Homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), the inverse of hepatic insulin sensitivity (1/HISI), adipose tissue insulin resistance (Adipo-IR), and homeostasis model assessment-adiponectin (HOMA-AD) increased significantly with each quartile of IL-27 levels (all P < 0.001). IL-27 levels significantly decreased after weight loss (P < 0.001). IL-27 was positively correlated with obesity, HOMA-IR, 1/HISI, Adipo-IR, and HOMA-AD. IL-27 levels significantly decreased after weight loss. • We used body composition to assess obesity to avoid the limitations of body mass index (BMI). • Interleukin-27 (IL-27) levels increased significantly with the increase in BMI, percent body fat, visceral fat area (VFA), and the ratio of VFA to skeletal muscle mass. • We initially found that IL-27 was positively correlated with homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), the inverse of hepatic insulin sensitivity (1/HISI), adipose tissue insulin resistance (Adipo-IR), and homeostasis model assessment-adiponectin (HOMA-AD). • IL-27 levels showed a significant decrease after weight loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The colon has an ability to absorb astaxanthin derived from Haematococcus pluvialis. • Gut microbiota greatly influences the absorption of astaxanthin. • The structure of astaxanthin is altered by gut microbiota. • Lactobacillus may play an important role in the absorption of astaxanthin. Astaxanthin has been widely favored as a health food supplement by individuals but its absorption in the body seems not to be satisfactory. In addition, the peak time of astaxanthin derived from Haematococcus pluvialis in the plasma was much longer than other carotenoids found in our previous research. Thus, it is necessary to explore the process that affects the absorption of astaxanthin in order to potentially find a novel approach to improve the absorption in the future. In this study, we confirmed that the colon has an ability to absorb astaxanthin and conducted acute feeding experiments with the treatment of antibiotics in C57BL/6J mice and chronic feeding experiments in germ-free (GF) mice to detect the relationship between the gut microbiota and the absorption of astaxanthin. Our study showed that the decrease of gut microbiota led to a less oral absorbability, which might be related to the decreased expression of SR-BI in the small intestine and the reduction of free form and Z -astaxanthin converted by the gut microbiota found in the vitro culture. The experiments of anaerobic culture also implied that Lactobacillus might play an important role in the absorption of astaxanthin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An eco-friendly technology was devised to harvest microalgae and remove phosphorus. • Variations in different phosphorus forms during microalgae cultivation were studied. • Effects of starved and secondly inoculated microalgae on phosphorus were evaluated. • Different phosphorus forms impacts extracellular organic matter and flocculation. Phosphorus-induced harmful algae blooms elicited attention, and both microalgae harvesting and phosphorus removal are essential, especially preventing secondary pollution. In this study, starved Chlorella vulgaris removed 68.73 % of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) compared to 37.47 % of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP). Microalgae growth promoted the increase of extracellular organic matter, which had little effect on phosphorus removal. As incubation time increased, the phosphorus rebound was even higher than the original, which was not consistent with the continued growth of the microalgae cells, indicating that phosphorus uptake by microalgae alone could not inhibit algal blooms. A starch-based flocculant fed after the phycoremediation process exhibited effective microalgae harvesting, reducing DIP and DOP by 72.06 % and 48.31 %, respectively. Only 1/3rd flocculant dose was needed to treat suspensions supplemented with DIP compared with DOP. The study offers an eco-friendly technology for simultaneous phosphorus removal and microalgae harvesting by combining Chlorella vulgaris with natural flocculants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Exposure to PM 2.5 could elevate asymptomatic adults' fasting plasma glucose. The impacts of long-term high exposure to PM 2.5 in workplace on glucose metabolism in asymptomatic working adults (AWAs) have rarely been explored. To assess the relationship between long-term exposure to workplace PM 2.5 and glucose metabolism in asymptomatic general working adults in heavily polluted regions. We used the baseline data of the asymptomatic working participants from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Medical Examination Cohort, which recruited adults undergoing medical examinations. A machine learning-based spatial–temporal model was used to estimate daily average PM 2.5 concentrations in the participants' workplaces. We assessed the association of long-term PM 2.5 concentrations (three years prior to the interview) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) using generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMM) with inclusion of potential confounders. Stratified analyses by sex, age, BMI and smoking status, and two pollutant models were further performed. A total of 37,619 individuals were interviewed and 28,865 were included in the analyses. The mean FPG was 5.20 (0.96) mmol/L, and the estimated three-year average concentration of PM 2.5 exposure was 69.51 (6.92) μg/m3. We detected a significant association of long-term exposure to workplace PM 2.5 and FPG, a 10 µg/m3 increase in the long-term workplace PM 2.5 exposure was associated with 0.075 (95%CI: 0.050–0.100) mmol/L elevated FPG and 25% (OR = 1.25, 95%CI: 1.05–1.50) elevated odds of abnormal fasting glucose metabolism with control of the potential confounding. The detected association between workplace PM 2.5 and FPG metabolism remained significant in males, individuals aged > 44 years, overweight and/or obese people, both smokers and non-smokers, and when NO 2 , SO 2 , O 3 , and CO were included in the model. Long-term exposure to workplace PM 2.5 was associated with elevated FPG and/or odds of abnormal glucose metabolism among AWAs. Male, middle-aged, overweight and/or obese AWAs were more susceptible to workplace PM 2.5 regardless of smoking status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria-induced wound infections and multifunctional hydrogels have received widespread attention in wound repair. In this study, self-assembling peptides (SAPs) were grafted on O -carboxymethyl chitosan (O-CMCS), and compact spatial structure and good drug sustained-release effect on mel-d1, a new AMP designed based on melittin with the same antimicrobial activity but lower cytotoxicity and ciprofloxacin (CIP) were obtained. In vivo test showed that the O-CMCS/SAP hydrogel loaded with CIP and mel-d1 accelerated the wound closure speed caused by infection of Escherichia coli and skin tissue regeneration. Both of the enhanced interaction between O-CMCS/SAP and CIP/Mel-d1 because of the hydrophobic interaction and π-π stacking, and the potential tissue healing ability of SAP played important roles. This study provided a rational design method of O-CMCS by grafting SAPs to give a wider range of biological functions. a) Design of the new antimicrobial peptide, b) conjugation of O-CMCS and SAP by EDC/NHS, c) the microstructure, molecular forces and wound repair process of the hydrogel. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]