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Ionic liquids (ILs) are a unique class of solvents with potential applications in advanced separation technologies relevant to the nuclear industry. ILs are salts with low melting points and a wide range of tunable physical properties, such as viscosity, hydrophobiciy, conductivity, and liquidus range. ILs have negligible vapor pressure, are often non-flammable, and can have high thermal stability and a wide electrochemical window, making them attractive for use in separations processes relevant to the nuclear industry. Metal salts generally have a low solubility in ILs; however, by incorporating new functional groups into the IL cation or anion that promote complexation with the metal, the solubility can be greatly increased. One such task-specific ionic liquid (TSIL) is 1-carboxy-N, N, N-trimethylglycine bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Hbet][Tf2N]) [Nockemann et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 20978–20992 (2006)]. Water, which is detrimental for electrochemical separations, is a common impurity in ILs and can coordinate with actinyl cations, particularly in ILs containing only weakly coordinating components. Understanding the behavior of actinides in TSIL/water mixtures on a molecular level is vital for designing improved separations processes. Classical molecular dynamics simulations of uranyl(VI) and plutonyl(VI) in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIM][Tf2N]) with deprotonated Hbet (betaine) and water have been performed to understand the coordination and dynamics of the actinyl cations. We find that betaine is a much stronger ligand than water and prefers to coordinate the metal in a bidentate manner. Potential of mean force simulations yield a relative free energy for betaine coordination of approximately −120 to −90 kJ/mol in mixtures with water. As the amount of betaine coordinated to the actinide increases, the diffusion coefficient of the actinyl cation decreases. Moreover, the betaine ligand is able to bridge between two metal centers, resulting in dimeric complexes with actinide–actinide distances of ∼5 Å. Potential of mean force simulations show that these structures are stable, with relative free energies of up to −40 kJ/mol. The crystal structure for [(UO2)2(bet)6(H2O)2][Tf2N]4 shows that the betaine bridges between two uranium atoms to form dimeric complexes similar to those found in our simulations [Nockemann et al. Inorg. Chem. 49, 3351–33601 (2010)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) emerged as potential alternative solvent media in multiple areas, including biomolecular (cryo)preservation. Herein, we studied the stability of a small protein (ubiquitin) in water and a betaine-glycerol-water (B:G:W) (1:2:ζ; ζ = 0, 1, 2, 5, 10) DES, through molecular dynamics. An AMBER-based model that accurately describes the density and shear viscosity of the DES is proposed. We find that water molecules are largely trapped in the solvent, precluding the formation of a full hydration layer, seemingly opposite to osmolytes' preferential exclusion/preferential hydration mechanism. Although the protein is stable in the DES, structural fluctuations are largely suppressed and only recovered upon sufficient hydration. This is explained by a solvent-slaving mechanism where β-fluctuations are key, with the non-monotonic hydration of some amino acids with the water content providing an explanation to the non-monotonic folding of some proteins in aqueous DESs. A major thermal stability enhancement in the DES is also observed, caused by a similar slowdown of the backbone torsional dynamics. Our results support a kinetic stabilization of the protein in the DES, whereas a possible thermodynamic stabilization does not follow a preferential hydration or water entrapment mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intramolecular electron transfer between two biphenyl groups linked by an androstane spacer and excitation of the pyridinium-N-phenolate betaine dye B30 to the first excited singlet state are studied by quantum/classical molecular-dynamics simulations at temperatures between 150 and 300 K in solvents with a range of polarities. Temperature dependences of the solvent reorganization energies, free energies, entropies, and the inhomogeneous broadening of B30's absorption band are examined. The variances of fluctuations of the energy gap between the reactant and product states do not have the direct proportionality to temperature that often is assumed to hold. An explanation for the observations is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A model zwitterionic polysulfobetaine, poly(3-(acrylamidopropyl-dimethyl-ammonium) propyl-1-sulfonate) (pAPAPS), phase separates upon cooling and exhibits an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) behavior with no added salt in deuterium oxide solutions. Dynamic light scattering measurements indicate the presence of distinct fast and slow diffusive modes, where the fast mode is interpreted as a collective diffusion coefficient and the slow mode is attributed to the diffusion of multi-chain dynamic clusters. The relative population of fast and slow modes varies systematically with temperature and concentration. A clustering temperature (T*) was assigned when the slow mode first appeared upon cooling. The slow mode then increases in relative scattering amplitude as the phase boundary is approached. The fast mode exhibits a concentration dependence above T* consistent with the virial expansion in the collective diffusion. The sign of the virial coefficient (kd) is negative, even in the good solvent region above the expected Flory temperature (Θ ≈ 39 °C), a behavior distinct from synthetic neutral polymers in organic solvents. The onset of multi-chain clustering at T < T* coincides with the poor solvent regime (T < Θ). Attractive dipolar interactions due to the zwitterionic sulfobetaine groups in pAPAPS are suggested as the origin of the multi-chain clusters with no salt. Upon the addition of 100 mM NaCl, the slow mode is suppressed, and the hydrodynamic radius is consistent with polyzwitterion chain dimensions in a dilute solution. We find that concentration dependent diffusion is highly linked to the theta temperature and the emergence of dynamic clusters as the polymer goes from good to poor solvent on approach to the UCST. The slow mode in the semidilute regime is reported along with preliminary small-angle neutron scattering data that show salt reduces clustering and leads to predominantly chain scattering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: The aim was to investigate mechanisms by which betaine improves hepatic insulin signaling in a dietary mouse model of insulin resistance and fatty liver. METHODS: C57BL 6J mice were fed a standard diet (SF), a standard diet with betaine (SFB), a nutritionally complete high fat (HF) diet, or a high fat diet with betaine (HFB) for 14 weeks. In a separate experiment, mice were fed high fat diet for 18 weeks, half of whom received betaine for the final 4 weeks. Activation of insulin signaling in the liver was assessed by western blot. Insulin signaling was also assessed in insulin resistant primary human hepatocytes treated with betaine. RESULTS: As compared with SF, mice receiving HF diet were heavier, had more hepatic steatosis, and abnormal glucose tolerance test (GTT). Betaine content in liver and serum was 50% lower in HF than in SF; betaine supplementation restored serum and liver betaine content. Betaine treatment of HF reduced whole body insulin resistance as measured by GTT. Betaine treatment of HF increased tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and phosphorylation (activation) of Akt, and increased hepatic glycogen content. In vitro, betaine reversed insulin resistance in primary human hepatocytes by increasing insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS1 and of Akt. CONCLUSION: Betaine supplementation reduced whole body insulin resistance and increased activation of insulin signaling pathways in the liver in a mouse model of insulin resistance and fatty liver created by feeding a nutritionally complete high fat diet for 14 weeks. Betaine also reduced liver injury as assessed by ALT and by liver histology. In vitro, betaine reversed insulin resistance by increasing insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS1 and activation of downstream proteins in the insulin signaling cascade in insulin resistant primary human hepatocytes.

The utilization of chelated fertilizers at specific concentrations could serve as an efficient method to mitigate the effects of drought stress in plants, considering it a global climatic issue. The objective of this study was to ascertain the influence of potassium and zinc chelate fertilizers on improving drought tolerance in quinoa plants. The experiment was conducted over two cropping years, 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. It followed a split-plot factorial design within a randomized complete block layout, in three replicates. The results indicated that the foliar application of the combined treatment of 50K + 50Zn significantly increased grain yield, particularly in the Q26 cultivar, under drought-stress conditions. However, the best harvest index was related to the Q26 cultivar under 100Zn application conditions. Nevertheless, the application of chelated fertilizers significantly enhanced these traits under stress compared to the non-application conditions. Furthermore, the content of glycine betaine and proline in the plant increased under the influence of 100K and 100Zn applications in the Q29 cultivar in 25% FC. Based on the obtained results for Catalase enzyme activity at 25% FC and in the presence of 100Zn foliar application and for Peroxidase at 25% FC and the presence of the combined 50K + 50Zn foliar application in the Q29 cultivar, the highest activity of these enzymes was observed. Consequently, considering the increased contents of glycine betaine and proline in the foliar application, as well as the enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes contributing to improved drought tolerance in these plants, the application of potassium and zinc chelates as fertilizers is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the challenges posed by rainfall variability, leading to water deficits during critical stages of crop growth, resulting in a drastic reduction of cotton yield. In a comprehensive evaluation, thirty cotton genotypes, including five Gossypium arboreum (wild) and twenty-five Gossypium hirsutum (cultivated), were grown under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Drought tolerance indices (DTI) were evaluated, categorizing genotypes based on their resilience. Further, in-vitro screening at the seedling stage (20 days) under PEG-induced drought identified tolerant genotypes exhibiting elevated levels of free proline (19.07±5.31 mg.g−100fr.wt.), amino acids (34.59±6.51 mg.g−100fr.wt.), soluble proteins (13.73±2.65 mg.g−1fr.wt.), and glycine betaine (10.95±3.62 mg.g−100fr.wt.), in their leaves, positively correlating (p<0.001) with relative water content (87.70±3.45 %). Molecular analysis using drought-specific simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers revealed significant genetic variability in a cotton genotypes, with lower observed and higher expected heterozygosity. F statistics exposed a higher level of gene flow corresponding to low differentiation among populations. Among the genotypes group, wild GAM-67 and cultivated Deviraj emerged as the most potent, exhibiting the higher DTI and diverse gene pools. Study exhibited higher total gene diversity in drought-tolerant wild GAM-67 (0.8501) and greater expected heterozygosity (0.626) and gene flow (0.6731) in cultivated Deviraj, underlining their robust genetic adaptability to drought conditions. The integrated approach of field evaluations, in-vitro screening, and molecular analyses explained substantial genetic diversity, with the identification of promising genotypes displaying higher drought tolerance indices, elevated levels of stress-related biochemical osmolytes, and pronounced genetic adaptability, thereby contributing to the advancement of breeding initiatives for enhanced drought resilience in cotton. [Display omitted] • Thirty cotton genotypes were categorized according to their drought tolerance indices (DTI). • GAM-67 (wild) and Deviraj (cultivated) exhibited higher biochemical osmolytes, DTI and productivity, considering promising genotypes. • SSR markers unveiled significant genetic variability, high gene flow, and diverse gene pools in promising genotypes. • These genotypes performed better for the coefficient of gene differentiation and expected heterozygosity. • Molecular analysis reveals substantial genetic diversity, aiding breeding efforts for enhanced drought resilience in cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spray drying is a promising technique for embedding and stabilizing lactic acid bacteria. However, bacteria are unable to withstand high-temperature environment. Naturally small molecules fall short in meeting the evolving demands of production. Therefore, it is imperative to explore non-chemical pretreatment methods urgently, with the aim of enhancing their protective efficacy. In this study, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were synthesized by glycerin-betaine to improve the survival rates of spray-dried Lactobacillus bulgaricus sp1.1. Results revealed that the spray drying survival rate of L. bulgaricus sp1.1 after adding NADES was 30.54%, which was 4.72 times higher than adding equal amounts of untreated glycerin and betaine, and the number of viable bacteria decreased less than 1 log after 6 months of storage. The investigation revealed that the impact of NADES was localized external to the cell rather than within. Through crosslinking with the peptidoglycan on the cell wall, NADES bolstered the cell wall structure thereby creating a protective barrier. This resulted in a reduction of damage to the membrane and ribosome induced by high temperatures during the lactic acid bacteria's exposure. This study synthesized NADES using current protective agents as an effective method to enhance heat resistance of lactic acid bacteria for spray drying for the first time, and the lactic acid bacteria powder with high survival rate and high storage stability was successfully prepared, which provides a new approach for its industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, fresh wolfberry in the current season was used as the experimental material, and a radio frequency (RF)-hot air combined segmented drying process was adopted for berry preservation. Ultrasonic treatment, hot water blanching, sucrose infiltration, ultrasonic and blanching, ultrasonic and infiltration, and NaOH and NaCl solution impregnation were used for pre-treatment of combined drying. Taking natural drying and conventional Na2CO3 dewaxing treatment as the control group, the effects of different pretreatment methods on drying characteristics, quality, and microstructure of wolfberry during combined drying were investigated. The drying time after ultrasonic and blanching pretreatment was the shortest (13.5 h), which effectively retained total flavonoids (1.79 mg/g) and enhanced their antioxidant activity (I = 60.78%). NaCl impregnation treatment significantly increased the total phenol content (8.77 mg/g), whereas the retention rate of soluble sugar (0.73 g/g), ascorbic acid (3.96 mg/100 g), betaine (2.72%), and other nutrients increased significantly after ultrasonic and infiltration treatment, with improved color, rehydration rate and microstructure over other treatment methods. The Weibull distribution function can accurately describe the RF-hot air combined drying process of wolfberry after different pretreatment, and simulated results were consistent with the results of the combined drying characteristic curve of wolfberry. The aim of this study was to explore suitable pretreatment methods to improve the drying rate and ensure the quality of dried products of wolfberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A panel of metal–betaine–bistriflimide complexes (with minimum formula M[Bet]2[Tf2N]2, where M = Mg, Ca, Zn, Cu and Ni) has been prepared in high purity and a quantitative yield. In parallel, a series of metal bistriflimide salts (sharing the same metal cations) has been synthesized and characterized though the same set of techniques. The current work presents a first comprehensive investigation of the physical–chemical properties of these two classes of metal systems, whose importance in a variety of applicative fields was not yet matched, to the best of our knowledge, by an adequate study of their characteristics. All the considered compounds have been spectroscopically, thermally and electrochemically characterized, and their solubility characteristics assessed, gaining insights into the role of metal cations in the definition of their properties. On the other hand, the evident effect of the betaine coordination on the prepared complexes' solubility, thermal stability, melting point, glass and solid–solid transitions, redox behaviour and electrochemical window was ascertained, providing results which would allow a more informed use and application of these classes of divalent metal complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The −N+(CH3)3 residue is present in acetylcholine (ACh) and in many of its analogues which are used as selective ACh agonist or antagonists for human therapy. The X‐ray structures of four ACh derivatives show the presence of short and linear contacts between the C atoms of −N+(CH3)3 groups and lone pair possessing atoms. These contacts can be rationalized as tetrel bonds (TtBs) thanks to their geometric features. Interrogation of the Protein Data Bank suggests that similar −N+−C⋅⋅⋅nucleophile contacts affect the details of the binding of ACh and its derivatives to proteins. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules, noncovalent interaction plot, and natural bond orbital analyses consistently confirm that the −N+−C⋅⋅⋅nucleophile contacts observed in small molecule crystals and in substrate/protein complexes are attractive in nature and can be rationalized as TtBs. TtBs involving methyl groups of the −N+(CH3)3 moiety can be proposed as a new item in the palette of interactions allowing the compounds containing this pharmacophoric unit to bind to their target protein and/or to express their biological/pharmacological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut-brain axis is regarded as a bidirectional communication system that integrates signals from the gut microbiome into behavioral aspects and vice versa. The aim of the present study was to investigate the gut microbiome-behavior interaction in relation to aggression. For that, male rats from a group-housed colony were individually housed with a female to become territorial. Next, a coping strategy was assigned to them, by evaluating their aggression levels against an intruder, during the Resident-Intruder test (RI). To investigate if their microbiome would change as a consequence of the developed coping strategy, fecal samples were collected before and after the RI test. We found that the relative abundances of Ruminococcaceae UCG-5 and Gram-negative bacterium cTPY-13 in rats sampled before the RI test were negatively correlated with the aggression that was demonstrated during the RI test. After the RI test, several bacterial taxa could be assigned to each coping strategy, with Clostridium sensu stricto 1 being strongly associated with less aggressive rats and higher abundances of Bifidobacterium. Furthermore, the family of Lachnospiraceae was not only associated with more aggressive rats, but functional prediction analysis found it to be the main contributor of betaine reductase; an enzyme catalyzing betaine production that was indicative of aggressive rats. This amino acid derivative, which has been connected with higher energy and testosterone levels, could potentially explain the connection of Lachnospiraceae with demonstrated aggression. Overall, our data revealed that the gut bacterial communities are responsive to the imposed social challenge of building and defending territoriality in co-habitation with a female. At the same time, predisposing microbiome characteristics may have predictive value for the development of a coping strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT We develop a nonsolvatochromic comparison method for the determination of the α1 scale of solvent hydrogen‐bond acidity by means of 19F NMR spectrometry. We compare the 19F chemical shifts of 4‐fluoro‐2‐methylpyridine (as a sensitive hydrogen‐bond acceptor probe) and of 4‐fluoronitrobenzene (as a chemically similar but less basic reference probe). This so‐called 19F solvatomagnetic comparison method yields the hydrogen‐bonding contribution to δ (19F)(4‐fluoro‐2‐methylpyridine) that is well correlated to α1 values obtained from the solvatochromism of Reichardt's betaine dye. Therefore, this solvatomagnetic comparison method is applied to determine the α1 values of 13 choline chloride–based deep eutectic solvents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The role of trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) in patients with cognitive impairment remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the association between TMAO and its precursors and the prevalence of cognitive impairment. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for studies that met the inclusion criteria from their inception to 14 September 2024, and references were manually searched to identify any additions. Odds ratio (OR) was assessed by random-effects modeling, subgroup analyses to identify potential sources of heterogeneity, and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Inventory for qualitative evaluation. Results: Nine studies involving 82,246 participants were included in the analysis. Meta-analyses suggested that elevated TMAO levels were strongly associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment (OR: 1.39, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.09-1.77, p < 0.05, I2:60%), and consistent results were obtained across all subgroups examined and sensitivity analyses. However, in the TMAO dose-response meta-analysis and TMAO precursor meta-analyses, the results were not significantly different (dietary choline: OR: 0.93, 95%CI: 0.78-1.10, p = 0.385, I2:68%, plasma choline: OR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.41-1.02, p = 0.063, I2:76%, plasma betaine: OR: 0.74, 95%CI: 0.52-1.05, p = 0.094, I2:61%). Conclusion: We found that high TMAO concentrations were positively associated with the risk of cognitive impairment. TMAO is expected to be a potential risk predictor and therapeutic target for cognitive impairment. However, more high-quality studies are needed to further investigate the dose relationship between circulating TMAO concentrations and cognitive impairment. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier: CRD42023464543. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic surfactant and similarly charged nanoparticles can co‐stabilize oil‐in‐dispersion (OID) emulsions at extremely low concentrations (0.001 cmc/0.001 wt%), in which particles do not adsorb at the oil/water interface but distribute in the aqueous phase forming a dispersion. In this paper, the effect of droplet charge density on stabilization of the n‐decane‐in‐water OID emulsion was examined by using a cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)/C12B (dodecyl dimethyl carboxyl betaine) binary mixture at a low fixed total concentration (0.01 mM) with varying molar fractions of CTAB. A model based on the Derjaguin‐Landau‐Verwey‐Overbeek (DLVO) theory is proposed to calculate interaction energies between droplets and between droplets and particles. It is found that the droplet charge density can be well compensated by particle concentration along the stabilization boundary, and the OID emulsion still follows the DLVO stabilization. Particles tend to surround droplets at large distances but may form a monolayer between approaching droplets at shorter distances, which significantly reduces the van der Waals attraction between droplets. In addition, the induced auxiliary droplet–particle repulsion is proportional to the number of particles per unit area of droplet surfaces, which together with the droplet–droplet repulsion ensures a large total repulsion preventing droplets from flocculation and coalescence. This work explains quantitatively the stabilization of OID emulsions, which have potential applications in emulsion products such as foods, cosmetics, pesticides, and various industrial emulsion systems. Moreover, the development of the OID emulsions represents an important advancement in green chemistry as it substantially reduces the required amounts of emulsifiers and their environmental impact after use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant global health threat, with uncertainties persisting regarding the factors determining whether individuals experience mild symptoms, severe conditions, or succumb to the disease. This study presents an NMR metabolomics-based approach, analysing 80 serum and urine samples from COVID-19 patients (34 intensive care patients and 46 hospitalized patients) and 32 from healthy controls. Our research identifies discriminant metabolites and clinical variables relevant to COVID-19 diagnosis and severity. These discriminant metabolites play a role in specific pathways, mainly "Phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis", "Phenylalanine metabolism", "Glycerolipid metabolism" and "Arginine and proline metabolism". We propose a three-metabolite diagnostic panel—comprising isoleucine, TMAO, and glucose—that effectively discriminates COVID-19 patients from healthy individuals, achieving high efficiency. Furthermore, we found an optimal biomarker panel capable of efficiently classify disease severity considering both clinical characteristics (obesity/overweight, dyslipidemia, and lymphocyte count) together with metabolites content (ethanol, TMAO, tyrosine and betaine). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary betaine supplementation has been reported to alleviate the adverse effects of high‐carbohydrate diets on Megalobrama amblycephala, while the regulatory mechanism remains largely unknown. In the present study, a 79‐day feeding trial was conducted with 450 juvenile Megalobrama amblycephala (average weight 6.75 ± 0.10 g), which were fed with five high‐carbohydrate diets (43%) supplementing betaine at 0% (CD group), 0.2% (0.2Bet group), 0.4% (0.4Bet group), 0.8% (0.8Bet group), and 1.6% (1.6Bet group), respectively. Results showed M. amblycephala in 0.8Bet group exhibited the best growth performance, indicated by the largest weight gain ratio (142.88%) and least feed conversion ratio (1.63). Moreover, liver health was promoted in 0.8Bet group, with decreased number of non‐nucleated cells and less lipid accumulation, which was accompanied by the lowest hepatosomatic index (1.38%). In order to further illustrate the regulatory mechanism, metabolites assay indicated that dietary betaine supplementation significantly increased plasma contents of methionine, serine, hypotaurine, and taurine, but did not affect plasma contents of cystathionine, cystine, or cysteic acid. Accordingly, the mRNA expressions of cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase in cysteine sulfinic acid pathway and cysteamine dioxygenase (ADO) in sulfinic acid (CS) pathway, which were both involved in taurine synthesis, were also upregulated in the liver. Meanwhile, the microbial communities in M. amblycephala intestine were more stable and uniform with betaine supplementation. Therefore, dietary betaine supplementation may exert its protective roles in improving feed efficiency and liver health of M. amblycephala via promoting de novo taurine synthesis and stabilizing intestinal microbial communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential of vitamin C (VC) and/or betaine (Bet) to enhance growth performance, regulate serum metabolism, and bolster antioxidant function aiming to mitigate the impact of heat stress (HS) on broilers. Two hundred Ross 308 broilers at 28 days of age were randomly assigned to five groups. The control group, housed at 24 ± 1℃, was fed a basal diet. High-temperature treatment groups, housed at 32 ± 1℃, received a basal diet with 0 (HS group), 250 mg/kg VC (HSVC group), 1000 mg/kg Bet (HSBe group), and 250 mg/kg VC + 1000 mg/kg Bet (HSVCBe group). On day 42, assessments were made on growth performance, muscle quality, serum biochemistry, and antioxidant function. Results revealed that HS significantly lowered (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI), the degree of redness (a*) in muscles, and serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) level. It also reduced (P < 0.01) average daily gain (ADG), and serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level, while increasing (P < 0.05) shear force, serum direct bilirubin (D-BIL), uric acid (UA), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared with the control group. Dietary supplementation of VC and Bet, either alone or in combination, significantly decreased shear force and serum UA level, while increasing ADG and serum T-AOC, T-SOD level compared with the HS group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of VC and/or Bet to the diet proves effective in enhancing the growth performance of HS-exposed broilers through the positive regulation of serum chemical metabolism and the alleviation of oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is considered the main agricultural menace, limiting the successful realization of land potential, and thereby reducing crop productivity worldwide. Therefore, breeding maize hybrids with improved drought tolerance via genetic manipulation is necessary. Herein, the multiple bud clumps of elite inbred maize lines, DH4866, Qi319, Y478 and DH9938, widely used in China, were transformed with the Escherichia coli betA gene encoding choline dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.1), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of glycine betaine from choline, using Agrobacterium to generate betA transgenic lines. After 3–4 consecutive generations of self-pollination in these transgenic plants, progenies with a uniform appearance, excellent drought tolerance, and useful agricultural traits were obtained. We evaluated the drought tolerance of T4 progenies derived from these transgenic plants in the field under reduced irrigation. We found that a few lines exhibited much higher drought tolerance than the non-transformed control plants. Transgenic plants accumulated higher levels of glycine betaine and were relatively more tolerant to drought stress than the controls at both the germination and early seedling stages. The grain yield of the transgenic plants was significantly higher than that of the control plants after drought treatment. Drought-tolerant inbred lines were mated and crossed to create hybrids, and the drought tolerance of these transgenic hybrids was found to be enhanced under field conditions compared with those of the non-transgenic (control) plants and two other commercial hybrids in China. High yield and drought tolerance were achieved concurrently. These transgenic inbred lines and hybrids were useful in marginal and submarginal lands in semiarid and arid regions. The betA transgene can improve the viability of crops grown in soils with sufficient or insufficient water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betaine, known as trimethylglycine, is a non-toxic natural substance reported to affect cancer cell responses. This study delves into the impact of betaine on the survival, proliferation, and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells in vitro. Human OSCC cells (HSC-4 and HSC-7) were subjected to varying concentrations of betaine, and their viability and proliferation were assessed through colourimetric MTT and colony-forming unit assays. Cell cycle progression and cell apoptosis were also investigated using flow cytometry, while cell migration and invasion were examined using a transwell migration assay, and the mRNA expression was evaluated by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Finally, proteomic analysis was conducted through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry on the extracted protein component of the cells. Results indicate that betaine effectively suppressed OSCC proliferation and colony formation. It triggered early apoptosis without disrupting cell cycle progression, reduced cell migration, and inhibited invasion. Betaine exposure led to significantly decreased mRNA levels of MMP1, MMP2, and MMP9 while downregulating FN1, a gene linked to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Proteomic analysis revealed 9240 differentially expressed up/downregulated proteins in cells treated with betaine. The significantly upregulated proteins were associated with ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, while the down-regulated proteins were associated with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) ligand binding. In conclusion, betaine exhibits potent anti-cancer properties by attenuating OSCC cell proliferation and mitigating invasion. Exploring this natural product as an adjunct for managing oral squamous cell carcinoma shows promise, although further investigations are needed to fully elucidate its functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Each 100 mg/day increment in dietary choline increased all-cause mortality risk by 6%. • Each 100 mg/day increment in choline increased the risk of CVD mortality by 11%. • Betaine intake increased stroke mortality risk at doses of 50 to 250 mg/day. Evidence indicates that choline and betaine intakes are associated with mortality. Based on the available evidence, we hypothesized that dietary choline and betaine do not increase mortality risk. This meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the association of dietary choline and betaine with mortality from all causes, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke. Online databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched up to 9 March 2024. Six cohort studies comprising 482,778 total participants, 57,235 all-cause, 9351 cardiovascular disease, and 4,400 stroke deaths were included in this study. The linear dose-response analysis showed that each 100 mg/day increase in choline intake was significantly associated with 6% and 11% increases in risk of all-cause (RR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.10, I2 =83.7%, P <.001) and cardiovascular diseases mortality (RR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.16, I2 = 54.3%, P =.02) respectively. However, dietary betaine, was not associated with the risk of mortality. Furthermore, the result of the nonlinear dose-response analysis showed a significant relationship between betaine intake and stroke mortality at the dosages of 50 to 250 mg/day (P non-linearity =.0017). This study showed that each 100 mg/day increment in choline consumption was significantly associated with a 6% and 11% higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality respectively. In addition, a significant positive relationship between betaine intake and stroke mortality at doses of 50 to 250 mg/day was observed. Due to the small number of the included studies and heterogeneity among them more well-designed prospective observational studies considering potential confounding variables are required. Graphical abstract legend: Each 100 mg/day increment in dietary choline consumption is significantly associated with a 6% and 11% higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality respectively [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biodegradable catalyst based on natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs) designed from Betaine and natural acids (Betaine: Citric Acid: H2O) with a molar ratio of (1:1.5:1) has been utilized in one-pot multi-component reaction for the synthesis of Isoxazol-5-ones derivatives in a mild, green and efficient manner. The reaction was carried out under different conditions that are, at 400C, ultrasonic and microwave. The developed method provided many advantages, including an excellent yield of up to 98% in a shorter reaction time, avoiding the use of toxic solvents and an easy handling process. Additionally, the use of NaDESs enabled the conservation of resources due to their simple preparation. The developed process adheres to the requirements of green chemistry by employing a bio-sourced and recyclable catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Glacier ice algae, mainly Ancylonema alaskanum and Ancylonema nordenskiöldi, bloom on Greenland Ice Sheet bare ice surfaces. They significantly decrease surface albedo due to their purple-brown pigmentation, thus increasing melt. Little is known about their metabolic adaptation and factors controlling algal growth dynamics and pigment formation. A challenge in obtaining such data is the necessity of melting samples, which delays preservation and introduces bias to metabolomic analysis. There is a need to evaluate the physiological response of algae to melting and establish consistent sample processing strategies for metabolomics of ice microbial communities. Objectives: To address the impact of sample melting procedure on metabolic characterization and establish a processing and analytical workflow for endometabolic profiling of glacier ice algae. Methods: We employed untargeted, high-resolution mass spectrometry and tested the effect of sample melt temperature (10, 15, 20 °C) and processing delay (up to 49 h) on the metabolome and lipidome, and complemented this approach with cell counts (FlowCam), photophysiological analysis (PAM) and diversity characterization. Results and Conclusion: We putatively identified 804 metabolites, with glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids and fatty acyls being the most prominent superclasses (> 50% of identified metabolites). Among the polar metabolome, carbohydrates and amino acid-derivatives were the most abundant. We show that 8% of the metabolome is affected by melt duration, with a pronounced decrease in betaine membrane lipids and pigment precursors, and an increase in phospholipids. Controlled fast melting at 10 °C resulted in the highest consistency, and is our recommendation for future supraglacial metabolomics studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives: The porcine intestinal epithelium plays a fundamental role as a defence interface against pathogens. Its alteration can cause severe inflammatory conditions and diseases. Hyperosmotic stress under physiological conditions and upon pathogen challenge can cause malabsorption. Different cell types counteract the osmolarity increase by accumulating organic osmolytes such as betaine, taurine, and myo-inositol through specific transporters. Betaine is known for protecting cells from hyperosmotic stress and has positive effects when fed to pigs. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the modulation of osmolyte transporters gene expression in IPEC-J2 during osmolarity changes and assess the effects of betaine. Methods: IPEC-J2 were seeded in transwells, where differentiate as a polarized monolayer. Epithelial cell integrity (TEER), oxidative stress (NO) and gene expression of osmolyte transporters, tight junction proteins (TJp) and pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Results: Cells treated with NaCl hyperosmolar medium (500 mOsm/L) showed a TEER decrease at 3 h and detachment within 24 h, associated with an osmolyte transporters reduction. IPEC-J2 treated with mannitol hyperosmolar medium (500 mOsm/L) upregulated taurine (TauT), myo-inositol (SMIT) and betaine (BGT1) transporters expression. A decrease in TJp expression was associated with a TEER decrease and an increase in TNFα, IL6, and IL8. Betaine could attenuate the hyperosmolarity-induced reduction in TEER and TJp expression, the NO increase and cytokines upregulation. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the expression of osmolyte transporters in IPEC-J2, which was upregulated upon hyperosmotic treatment. Betaine counteracts changes in intracellular osmolarity by contributing to maintaining the epithelial barrier function and reducing the inflammatory condition. Compatible osmolytes may provide beneficial effects in therapies for diseases characterized by inflammation and TJp-related dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenases (BADHs) are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of glycine betaine, which is an important organic osmolyte that maintains cell structure and improves plant tolerance to abiotic stresses, especially in halotolerant plants. Improving the drought tolerance of crops will greatly increase their yield. In this study, a novel BADH gene named SgBADH from Suaeda glauca was induced by drought stress or abscisic acid. To explore the biological function of SgBADH, the SgBADH gene was transformed into Arabidopsis. Then, we found SgBADH-overexpressing Arabidopsis seedlings showed enhanced tolerance to drought stress. SgBADH transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings also had longer roots compared with controls under drought stress, while SgBADH-overexpressing Arabidopsis exhibited increased glycine betaine accumulation and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) under drought stress. Our results suggest that SgBADH might be a positive regulator in plants during the response to drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of heavy metals (HMs) contamination poses a significant challenge in the environment, exerting a severe impact on the growth and productivity of crops. Cadmium (Cd) is specifically identified as the seventh heavy metal among the top 20 pollutants, primarily due to its elevated phytotoxicity and its solubility in water. In the current study, foliar application of glycine betaine (GB) (500 µmol) investigated the toxic effects of cadmium in maize plants subjected to two Cd concentrations (50 and 100 µmol) as CdCl2. The maize plants exposed to Cd stress exhibited a massive reduction in growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments [chlorophyll a (Chl a), chlorophyll b (Chl b), carotenoids, and total pigments], gas exchange parameters [transpiration rate (Tr), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), intracellular CO2 concentration (ci), and stomatal conductance (gs)], relative water content (RWC), and organic osmolytes content [total soluble protein (TSS), and total soluble sugar (TSS)]. These impacts were significant with the 100 µmol CdCl2 treatment. Moreover, Cd led to remarked increase in proline, nonenzymatic antioxidants levels [ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH)] as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). On the other hand, GB application efficiently relieved the Cd toxic impacts on maize and maintained higher growth criteria, gas exchange parameters, photosynthetic pigments, RWC, and organic osmolytes. In addition, the exogenous application of GB added more enhancement to the antioxidative system (enzymatic and nonenzymatic). These results imply that GB could significantly preserve maize growth under Cd toxicity conditions by maintaining photosynthetic characteristics, water status, and antioxidant system. This suggests an enhancement in the plant's resilience to stress induced by heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium fluoride (NaF) ingestion has several detrimental effects in humans and rodents. NaF mechanisms of toxicity include perturbation of intracellular redox homeostasis and apoptosis. Betaine (BET) is a modified amino acid with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties. This study investigates BET's effect on NaF-induced hepatorenal toxicities in rats. Experimental rats (n = 30) were randomly assigned to groups (n = 6) and treated by gavage for 28 days. Group I (2 mL of distilled water), Group II (NaF: 9 mg/kg) alone, Group III: (BET: 100 mg/kg), Group IV: (NaF: 9 mg/kg and BET 1: 50 mg/kg), and Group V: (NaF: 9 mg/kg and BET 2: 100 mg/kg). Our findings revealed significantly (p < 0.05) increased hepatic transaminase activities alongside creatinine and urea levels following NaF-alone treatment in addition to increased oxidative status, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, decreased superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-s-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, and total sulfhydryl groups. The reduced levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 and the activities of heme oxygenase-1, thioredoxin, and thioredoxin reductase in NaF-alone treated rats equally compromised cellular molecular responses to oxidative stress. Also, NaF increased (p < 0.05) hepatorenal inflammatory biomarkers-nitric oxide, interleukin-10, myeloperoxidase, and xanthine oxidase. Furthermore, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased (p < 0.05) in rats treated with NaF alone. Contrastingly, BET was observed to alleviate the harmful effects of NaF. Treatment with BET mitigated NaF-induced oxido-inflammatory responses and apoptosis in the experimental rat's hepatorenal system. The study demonstrates the potential of BET to abate NaF-induced hepatorenal toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a cardiac disease with a poor prognosis of unclear etiology. Previous studies have shown that metabolism is associated with DCM. This study investigates the causal relationship between 1400 metabolites and DCM using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods: The study utilized data from the OpenGWAS database, comprising 355,381 Europeans, including 1,444 DCM cases. A total of 1,400 metabolites were evaluated for their causal association with DCM. Instrumental variables (IVs) were selected based on genetic variation and used in the MR analysis. The primary analysis method was inverse variance weighting (IVW), supplemented by weighted median-based estimation and sensitivity analyses. Results: Of the 1,400 metabolites analyzed, 52 were identified as causally associated with DCM. The analysis revealed both positively and negatively correlated metabolites with DCM risk. Notable findings include the positive correlation of Tryptophan betaine and 5-methyluridine (ribothymidine) levels, and an inverse association of Myristoleate and Erythronate levels with DCM. Conclusions: The study provides significant insights into the metabolites potentially involved in the pathogenesis of DCM. These findings could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies and biomarker identification in DCM management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino‐acid‐derived polyzwitterions and polybetaines (PBs) are two promising alternatives to non‐ionic polymers, for example, to increase tumor permeability. In this study, amino‐acid‐derived polyzwitterions are synthesized and a strategy to quarternize the amine in the side chain functional group is developed to combine the advantages of both types. The functional monomer is polymerized via reversible addition−fragmentation chain‐transfer polymerization for which a kinetic study is performed. Further, the impact of the permanent positive charge on amino‐acid‐derived polyzwitterions is studied based on two zwitterionic polymers obtained via post‐polymerization modification (PPM) of Poly(N‐acryloxysuccinimide) to allow good comparison between methylated and non‐methylated polymers. Circular dichroism shows that the stereocenter remains intact during PPM. pH titration and ζ‐potential measurements show that the methylated polymer has a negative ζ‐potential over the measured pH range and, therefore, the polymer remains zwitterionic over a broader pH range than its non‐methylated equivalent. Both polymers are well tolerated by mammalian cells up to concentrations of 1 mg mL−1. The study introduces a path to a new polymer class that combines the advantages of both PBs and amino‐acid‐derived polyzwitterions and highlights the impact a permanent charge has on the physiochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a flexible glucose biosensor which is modified by a reduced-swelling and conductive zwitterionic hydrogel enzyme membrane that contains two forms of chemical cross-links. One chemical cross-linking is induced by thermal initiators and forms the basal network of the hydrogel. Another cross-linking is achieved by the coordination interactions between the multivalent metal ion Al3+ and anionic group -COO− of zwitterionic poly-carboxy betaine (pCBMA), which significantly increase the cross-linking density of the zwitterionic hydrogel, improving the reduced-swelling property and reducing the pore size. The better reduced-swelling property and reduced diameters of pores within the zwitterionic hydrogel make less glucose oxidase (GOx) leakage, thus significantly improving the enzyme membrane's service life. By introducing the Al3+ and Cl−, the conductivity of the zwitterionic hydrogel is enhanced approximately 10.4-fold. According to the enhanced conductivity, the reduced-swelling property, and the high GOx loading capacity of the zwitterionic hydrogel, the sensitivity of the biosensor with GOx/pCBMA-Al3+ is significantly improved by 5 times and has a long service life. Finally, the proposed GOx/pCBMA-Al3+ biosensor was applied in non-invasive blood glucose detection on the human body, verifying the capability in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural biopolymers become increasingly attractive as bio-based alternatives to petrol-based rheological modifiers, especially in personal care applications. However, many polysaccharides exhibit undesired properties in cosmetic applications such as limited viscosifying characteristics, unpleasant sensory properties, or incompatibility with certain formulation compounds. Here, a comprehensive rheological analysis of non-decorated acetan-like heteroexopolysaccharides derived from two Kozakia baliensis strains was performed in selected surfactant formulations. The results were compared to native xanthan gum and a genetically engineered xanthan variant, Xan∆ gumFGL , which lacks any acetyl- and pyruvyl moieties and whose rheological properties are unaffected by saline environments. All four polysaccharides displayed a highly similar rheological performance in the non-ionic surfactant lauryl glucoside, while the rheological properties differed in amphoteric and anionic surfactants cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium laureth sulfate due to minor changes in side chain composition. Polysaccharide precipitation was observed in the presence of the cationic surfactant. Nevertheless, the native heteroexopolysaccharide derived from K. baliensis LMG 27018 shows significant potential as a salt-independent rheological modifier compared to the genetically engineered Xan∆ gumFGL variant. In addition, blends of heteroexopolysaccharides from K. baliensis and several galactomannans displayed synergistic effects which were comparable to native xanthan gum-galactomannan blends. This study shows that heteroexopolysaccharides of K. baliensis are capable of further extending the portfolio of bio-based rheological modifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new quadrupolar NMR crystallography guided crystal structure prediction (QNMRX-CSP) protocol for the prediction and refinement of crystal structures, including its design, benchmarking, and application to seven organic HCl salts. Five HCl salts with a limited number of low-energy conformations were chosen as model systems for benchmarking: betaine HCl, glycine HCl, D -alanine HCl, guanidine HCl, and aminoguanidine HCl; two were chosen for blind tests: N,N′-dimethylglycine HCl and metformin HCl. The QNMRX-CSP protocol uses experimental 35Cl solid-state NMR (SSNMR) spectra and X-ray diffraction (XRD) data in tandem with Monte Carlo simulated annealing and dispersion-corrected plane-wave density functional theory (DFT-D2*) calculations. The protocol comprises three modules: (i) the assignment of motion groups, (ii) a Monte Carlo simulated annealing algorithm for generating tens of thousands of candidate structures, and (iii) DFT-D2* geometry optimizations of structural models and concomitant computation of 35Cl EFG tensors. Key benchmarked metrics are used for retaining the best candidate structures, including unit cell parameters, static lattice energies, and EFG distances (ΓEFG). The protocol is shown to generate structural models that are excellent matches with experimental crystal structures that have been DFT-D2* geometry optimized, as validated by crystallographic R-factors (R) and root-mean squared distances (RMSDs) of atomic positions that are well below 10% and 0.2 Å, respectively. Finally, consideration is given to the use of the QNMRX-CSP protocol as a standalone technique or in concert with other NMRX methods and Rietveld refinements, and possible applications employing other quadrupolar nuclei (i.e., 14N and 17O). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe remarkable stability of Archaebacteria and their resistance to extreme environmental conditions, such as high temperature (hot springs), high salinity (salt marsh), high acidity (volcanic environment), or low temperature (Arctic or Antarctic) is mostly due to their very stable membranes. Membranes of Archaebacteria are composed of tetraethers from the lipid family of bolaamphiphiles. The concern in our laboratory is to synthesize bolaamphiphiles that could form vectors with function to carry drugs toward target cells in the body. The new family of bolamphiphiles synthesized has one polar head based on a sugar moiety and the other polar head is glycine betaine, both issued from natural sources (sugar beet, wheat). They are interconnected with a hydrocarbon chain of 12 methylène units. One side hydrocarbon chain, of 8 methylène units is attached to the anomeric position of the sugar moiety. These two molecules are named N-(12-Betainylamino-Dodecane)-octyl β-D-Glucofuranosiduronamide Chloride, abbreviated C8C12 and N-(12-Betainylamino-Dodeca-5,7-diynyl)-octyl β-D-Glucofuranosiduronamide Chloride, abbreviated C8C12X2. These bolaamphiphile molecules organize in membrane-mimetic lamellar structures (Lc, Lα, L). They undergo a thermal phase transition upon heating. When cooled back to room temperature, they remain in the undercooled high-temperature phase. To follow the relaxation back to the thermodynamically stable phase at 20 °C, the small-angle and wide-angle X-ray spectra were recorded every hour. The Deborah number (De), defined as De = time of relaxation/time of observation, is a dimensionless number often used in rheology to characterize the fluidity of materials under specific flow conditions. It was evaluated for supramolecular structures of two type of bolaamphiphiles, as the De(C8C12) = 35 and the De(C8C12X2) = 62. These values are typical for solid-like behavior, which is in accordance with the sticky, paste-like, brownish aspect of these bolaamphiphile assemblies. The time of relaxation was the time for bolaamphiphiles to regain their thermodynamically stable phase at 20 °C and the time of observation was 1 h, the typical time of recording between two subsequent spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flooding caused by climate change puts the productivity of sugarcane cultivation at risk. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of in vitro flooding stress on sugarcane plantlets. Sugarcane plantlets were grown in test tubes containing Murashige and Skoog semi-solid medium without growth regulators as a control treatment and two stress levels using a double layer with sterile distilled water to simulate hypoxia and anoxia. After 15 d of culture, the number of new shoots, plantlet height, number of leaves, number of roots, root length, stomatal density, percentage of closed stomata and percentage of dry matter were evaluated. In addition, biochemical variables such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), Rubisco, total proteins (TP), proline (Pr), glycine-betaine (GB), phenols, antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation were determined in all treatments. Results showed a higher number of new shoots, leaves and percentage of closed stomata in the flooded plantlets, while plantlet height, number of roots, stomatal density, and dry matter were higher in the control treatment. Regarding, chlorophyll, carotenoid, PEP and Rubisco contents decreased in the flooded treatments, while TP and phenol contents were higher in the partially submerged treatment. Antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation increased in the fully submerged treatment. Pr and GB contents did not show changes in any of the evaluated treatments. Stress induced by excess water in a double layer in vitro is an alternative method to determining physiological and biochemical mechanisms of tolerance to hypoxia and anoxia caused by flooding for breeding programs in sugarcane. • Flooding caused by climate change affects the productivity of sugarcane crop. • In vitro culture is an alternative for the study of flooding conditions. • Proline and glycine-betaine as sugarcane drought stress osmoprotectant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Liquid-preserved boar semen is widely used in the pig breeding industry. Preservation and transportation can affect the fertilizing ability of sperm, reducing the efficiency of artificial insemination. Betaine, a natural plant extract, has been shown to benefit male fertility. However, it remains unclear whether it exerts a protective effect on liquid boar sperm during preservation and transportation. The results showed that the addition of appropriate amounts of betaine to boar semen extenders effectively mitigated the adverse effects of road transport and room temperature storage on sperm quality. Specifically, betaine supplementation showed significant protective effects against temperature fluctuation and vibration stress that inevitably occurred during transportation. The increased antioxidant capacity of boar sperm may underlie its beneficial effects. These findings offer a theoretical foundation for the use of betaine in artificial insemination procedures. Boar semen is commonly used in artificial insemination (AI) for pig breeding, but its quality can be negatively affected by liquid preservation and transportation, leading to reduced fertility rates. Vibration and temperature fluctuations are critical factors that significantly impact semen quality during storage and transportation, influencing the success rate of AI procedures. Betaine, a naturally occurring compound known for its role in maintaining male fertility, demonstrates potential for improving the preservation and transportation of liquid-preserved boar sperm. The present study demonstrated that betaine supplementation in the semen extenders at 0.5 mg/mL had a significant protective effect on boar sperm motility during storage at 17 °C for 3 to 5 days. During road transportation, 2.5 mg/mL betaine showed significant protective effects on boar sperm progressive motility, while 0.4 mg/mL betaine notably improved boar sperm mitochondrial activity and antioxidant capacity, and reduced lipid peroxidation damage. Simulation models also demonstrated that betaine supplementation increased the proportion of sperm displaying progressive motility and possessing intact acrosomes, regardless of the storage temperature (17 °C or 25 °C), and effectively mitigated the damage caused by vibration at a speed of 200 r/min. Overall, supplementing liquid-preserved boar semen extenders with betaine shows promise in mitigating damage to sperm quality during storage and transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecologic cancer, mainly due to late diagnosis with widespread peritoneal spread at first presentation. We performed metabolomic analyses of ovarian and paired control tissues using capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to understand its metabolomic dysregulation. Of the 130 quantified metabolites, 96 metabolites of glycometabolism, including glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycles, urea cycles, and one-carbon metabolites, showed significant differences between the samples. To evaluate the local and systemic metabolomic differences in OC, we also analyzed low or non-invasively available biofluids, including plasma, urine, and saliva collected from patients with OC and benign gynecological diseases. All biofluids and tissue samples showed consistently elevated concentrations of N1,N12-diacetylspermine compared to controls. Four metabolites, polyamines, and betaine, were significantly and consistently elevated in both plasma and tissue samples. These data indicate that plasma metabolic dysregulation, which the most reflected by those of OC tissues. Our metabolomic profiles contribute to our understanding of metabolomic abnormalities in OC and their effects on biofluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Not-from-concentrate (NFC) juice effectively retains the original characteristics of the fruit. Despite the various health benefits of Goji berries, reports on the processing technology and quality changes of NFC goji juice are lacking. We optimised the processing technology of NFC goji juice. Employing fuzzy mathematics evaluation combined with response surface methodology based on single-factor experiments, the physicochemical, nutritional, and microbiological indicators of the juice were determined. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectroscopy was used to analyse changes in volatile compounds before and after processing. The optimal processing parameters were: times for homogenisation, ultrasonication, and sterilisation of 2 min, 3 min, and 85 s, respectively, and sterilisation temperature of 102 °C. The resulting product had a sensory evaluation score of 85.5 and a rich, pleasant taste. The ratio of total soluble solids to titratable acidity and turbidity were 12.8 and 1420 NTU, respectively. Post-processing, the contents of β-carotene, polysaccharides, and betaine increased by 57.3%, 26.7%, and 31.5%, respectively. Microbiological indicators met Chinese national limits for food pollutants and microorganisms. The total relative content of volatile substances in NFC goji juice decreased by 19.86% after processing. This study provides a theoretical reference for the intensive processing and development of high-value goji berries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]