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Background: Previous studies have established a correlation between the pathogenesis of oxidative stress and sarcopenia. The Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) is an integrated measure that reflects the overall balance of antioxidants and pro-oxidants in dietary components and lifestyle. However, there are limited reports on the association between OBS and lean mass and the impact of protein intake on the association between OBS and lean mass., Methods: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2018, multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the associations between OBS and outcomes. The findings were then illustrated through fitted smoothing curves and threshold effect analyses., Results: This study included 2,441 participants, demonstrating that higher OBS is significantly associated with an increased ratio of appendicular lean mass to body mass index. Key inflection points at OBS 31 mark pronounced changes in these associations, with age and protein intake notably affecting the association. The effect of OBS on lean mass varies among populations with high and low protein intake., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that OBS is significantly and positively associated with lean mass. A high protein intake of more than 84.5 g/day may enhance the role of OBS in influencing muscle health to improve muscle outcomes., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The ratio between non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (NHHR) is a reliable marker for assessing the risk linked to lipid metabolism disorders. Sarcopenia, characterized by age-related loss of muscle mass and strength/function, includes the assessment of muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle-specific strength. However, research into NHHR's relationship with low muscle mass risk remains unexplored., Methods: Our study utilized a cross-sectional approach, examining data derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2018. Through multivariable linear and logistic regression, we investigated the relationships of the NHHR with muscle mass and low muscle mass. We visualized the results using smoothing curves and assessed threshold effects. We also performed various subgroup and sensitivity analyses., Results: This research encompassed 9,012 participants and demonstrated significant nonlinear associations between NHHR and ALM BMI or low muscle mass risk in a generalized additive model (GAM), pinpointing critical NHHR values (3.328 and 3.367) where changes in NHHR significantly impacted ALM BMI and low muscle mass risk., Conclusions: The NHHR demonstrates a significant association with an increased risk of low muscle mass among middle-aged Americans. This ratio has potential as a predictive marker for low muscle mass. Further exploration of NHHR is expected to aid in advancing preventive and therapeutic measures for this condition., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The development of food-derived Xanthine Oxidase (XO) inhibitors is critical to the treatment of hyperuricemia and oxidative stress-related disease. Few studies report on milk protein hydrolysates' XO inhibitory activity, with the mechanism of their interaction remaining elusive. Here, different commercial enzymes were used to hydrolyze α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein. The two proteins hydrolyzed by alkaline protease exhibited the most potent XO inhibitory activity (bovine casein: IC 50  = 0.13 mg mL -1 ; α-lactalbumin: IC 50 = 0.28 mg mL -1 ). Eight potential XO inhibitory peptides including VYPFPGPI, GPVRGPFPIIV, VYPFPGPIPN, VYPFPGPIHN, QLKRFSFRSFIWR, LVYPFPGPIHN, AVFPSIVGR, and GFININSLR (IC 50 of 4.67-8.02 mM) were purified and identified from alkaline protease hydrolysates by using gel filtration, LC-MS/MS and PeptideRanker. The most important role of inhibiting activity of peptides is linked to hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding based on the results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. The enzymatic hydrolysate of α-lactalbumin and bovine colostrum casein could be a competitive candidates for hyperuricemia-resisting functional food., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Here, we investigated the effects of straw returning combined with biochar application on summer maize yield and soil nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions, based on a field location trial in the Guanzhong Plain from 2019 to 2020. The soil N 2 O emission rates were monitored using the static chamber-chromatography method. A comprehensive analysis of summer maize yields, soil N 2 O emissions, and soil labile nitrogen components was conducted to clarify the effects of straw returning combined with biochar application on improving soil fertility, increasing summer maize yield, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The three treatments were no straw returning (S 0 ), straw returning (S), and straw returning combined with biochar application (SB). The results showed that the peak of N 2 O emissions from each treatment occurred 10 d after the straw return, and the rate of soil N 2 O emissions remained at a low level after 30 d of straw return. The rate of soil N 2 O emissions showed highly significant positive correlations ( P <0.05) with ammonium nitrogen (NH 4 + -N), inorganic nitrogen (SIN), microbial nitrogen (MBN), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) contents. S significantly increased summer maize yield, cumulative N 2 O emissions, yield-scaled N 2 O intensity, and total nitrogen (TN) content by 7.4%-13%, 65.8%-132.2%, 54.6%-103%, and 27.8%-33%, respectively, compared to those in S 0 . Although the trend for SB to increase summer maize yield (2.5%-3.3%) compared to that in S was not significant ( P >0.05), SB significantly reduced cumulative N 2 O emissions and yield-scaled N 2 O intensity by 24.0%-27.3% and 26.4%-29.2%, respectively, compared to that in S. SB significantly reduced the rate of soil N 2 O emissions by 45.1%-69.6% at the peak of N 2 O emissions compared to that in S. Biochar application mitigated soil N 2 O emissions induced by straw return and had a peak-shaving effect. SB significantly increased soil total N by 9.1%-12.2% compared to that in S. Combining summer maize yield, soil N 2 O emissions, and TN content, SB not only improved soil fertility and summer maize yield but also reduced yield-scaled N 2 O intensity, making it a suitable management practice that can be replicated to balance crop yield and environmental friendliness.

Objective: We want to investigate the effect of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) on cerebral edema induced by ischemic stroke in rats and explore whether inhibiting the expression of AQP4 through acetazolamide (AZA) could attenuate brain edema and protect cerebral function., Methods: The Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham + saline group, sham + AZA group, AZA intervention group, and nonintervention group. Each group was divided into five subgroups according to the time of cerebral ischemia (6 h, 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days). The model of cerebral infarction in rats was adopted by means of the bilateral carotid arteries ligation (2-VO) method. The rats in intervention group were given intraperitoneal injection of AZA (35 mg/kg/day). Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed for pathological analysis of the infarcted area. The brain water content was calculated to evaluate the degree of brain edema. The messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions of AQP4 in the brain were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively., Results: Significant cerebral pathological damages were found in ischemic stroke rats. The brain water content, protein, and mRNA expression of AQP4 of the intervention and nonintervention groups were markedly higher than those of the sham groups. By contrast, AZA administration reduced the brain water content, whereas improved cerebral dysfunction was induced by ischemic stroke. Moreover, AZA obviously reduced the protein and mRNA expression of AQP4 after ischemic stroke in rats' brains., Conclusions: The expression of AQP4 was closely related to cerebral edema induced by ischemic stroke. Decreasing the expression of AQP4 mRNA by AZA administration can effectively relieve cerebral edema and decrease cerebral pathological damage., (© 2021. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and Neurocritical Care Society.)

Objective To assess the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C)/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) signaling on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in human osteosarcoma MG63 cells and the subsequent impact on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). MethodsMG63 cells were treated with VEGF-C alone (VEGF-C group), VEGF-C + iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine (AG; AG group), and VEGF-C + VEGFR-3 inhibitor MAZ51 (MAZ51 group); untreated MG63 cells were used as controls. NO production was evaluated by a colorimetric method involving nitrate reductase. Meanwhile, mRNA and protein levels of iNOS were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. To explore the effect of VEGF-C/VEGFR-3/iNOS signaling of MG63 cells on proliferation of HUVECs, we set up six groups: HUVECs, HUVECs+MG63, HUVECs+VEGF-C, HUVECs+MG63+VEGF-C, HUVECs+MG63+VEGF-C+AG, and HUVECs+MG63+VEGF-C+MAZ51 groups. The proliferation of HUVEC cells was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assay, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression quantitation. ResultsVEGF-C treatment enhanced iNOS expression at both gene and protein levels (mRNA: LSD- t =4.152, P<0.01 ; protein: LSD- t =3.486, P<0.01 ) and increased NO release of MG63 cells (LSD- t =3.774, P<0.01 ); treatment with either AG or MAZ51 decreased these effects (mRNA: LSD- t =9.183, P <0.001; LSD- t =8.639, P <0.001; protein: LSD- t =5.170, P <0.001; LSD- t =7.255, P <0.001; NO production:LSD- t =10.326, P <0.001; LSD- t =10.540, P <0.001). Interestingly, co-incubation of HUVECs with MG63 cells and/or VEGF-C significantly promoted HUVEC proliferation (EdU: LSD- t =5.374, P< 0.001; LSD- t =2.984, P< 0.05; LSD- t =8.526, P< 0.001; PCNA: LSD- t =9.267, P <0.001; LSD- t =5.515, P< 0.001; LSD- t =14.873, P< 0.001).The proliferation effects of HUVEC induced by MG63 cells and VEGF-C attenuated by the treatment of AG (EdU: LSD- t =10.770, P< 0.001; PCNA: LSD- t =19.940, P <0.001) or MAZ51 (EdU: LSD- t =6.950, P< 0.001; PCNA: LSD- t =14.001, P <0.001). ConclusionIn human osteosarcoma MG63 cells, activation of VEGFR-3 by VEGF-C promotes iNOS expression and NO production, which subsequently induces HUVEC proliferation.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the complex and severe complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Icariin (ICA) is a flavonoid extracted from the leaves and stems of Herba epimedii with a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-osteoporosis, anti-fibrosis, anti-aging, anti-inflammation and antioxidation. The purpose of our study was to explore the renal protective effect of ICA on DN in mice and its possible mechanisms. ICR mice were exposed to STZ-induced DN. The kidney organ coefficient of mice was computed. 24 h UP in urine was measured. Serum FBG, Cr and BUN were detected. The content of MDA and the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in renal tissues were tested. HE staining, PAS staining, PASM staining and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe renal pathological changes. Furthermore, TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, TNF-α and IL-6 of renal tissues were assayed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Our results indicated that ICA observably optimized the renal organ coefficient, reduced the level of 24 h UP in urine, decreased the content of Cr, BUN in serum and MDA in renal tissues, promoted the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-Px in renal tissues, and ameliorated pathological lesions of kidneys noticeably. Besides, ICA inhibited the expressions of TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, TNF-α and IL-6 remarkably in renal tissues. ICA, which might lighten the renal inflammatory response by suppressing the TLR4/NF-κB signal pathway, played a protective role in kidneys of STZ-induced DN mice.

In order to explore the impacts of nitrogen fertilizer and straw returning methods on N 2 O emissions, a two-factor split-zone design was adopted for experimentation under the winter wheat-summer maize rotation model in the Guanzhong area of Shanxi, China. The main areas of interest were conventional nitrogen (G) and reduced nitrogen (70% G); the sub-areas were straw no return (N), straw return (S), and straw return + biochar (SB); we analyzed their impacts on N 2 O emissions and crop yield, and the relationships with related impact factors. The results showed that the N 2 O emissions peaks appeared in the wheat season and maize season treatments within 5-16 days after fertilization, and also appeared after rainfall. The N 2 O flux was significantly and positively correlated with soil temperature and NH 4 + -N content. Regardless of the wheat season, maize season, or annual total N 2 O emissions, the 70% GSB treatment was the lowest and the GS treatment was the highest. At the same level of nitrogen application, S treatment increased N 2 O emissions, SB treatment could reduce N 2 O emissions, both S and SB treatments could significantly increase crop yields, and SB production increased more; 70%G-level annual N 2 O emissions, when compared with the G level, had been reduced by 40% to 48%, while the yield has not decreased significantly. Through comprehensive consideration, a reduction of nitrogen by 30% was achieved through the combination of straw + biochar on the basis of conventional nitrogen application, while ensuring high crop yields and the best N 2 O emissions reduction.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) has a high degree of malignancy, aggressiveness and recurrence rate. However, there are limited options available for the treatment of GBM, and they often result in poor prognosis and unsatisfactory outcomes., Materials and Methods: In order to identify potential core genes in GBM that may provide new therapeutic insights, we analyzed three gene chips (GSE2223, GSE4290 and GSE50161) screened from the GEO database. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) from the tissues of GBM and normal brain were screened using GEO2R. To determine the functional annotation and pathway of DEG, Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were conducted using DAVID database. Protein interactions of DEG were visualized using PPI network on Cytoscape software. Next, 10 Hub nodes were screened from the differentially expressed network using MCC algorithm on CytoHubba software and subsequently identified as Hub genes. Finally, the relationship between Hub genes and the prognosis of GBM patients was described using GEPIA2 survival analysis web tool., Results: A total of 37 up-regulated and 187 down-regulated genes were identified through microarray analysis. Amongst the 10 Hub genes selected, SV2B appeared to be the only gene associated with poor prognosis in glioblastoma based on the survival analysis., Conclusion: Our study suggests that high expression of SV2B is associated with poor prognosis in GBM patients. Whether SV2B can be used as a new therapeutic target for GBM requires further validation., (© 2020 The Author(s).)

Aim: To investigate the difference in long-term outcomes between gastric cancer patients with and without a primary symptom of overt bleeding (OB)., Methods: Consecutive patients between January 1, 2007 and March 1, 2012 were identified retrospectively by reviewing a gastric cancer database at Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. A follow-up examination was performed on patients who underwent a radical gastrectomy. OB due to gastric cancer included hematemesis, melena or hematochezia, and gastric cancer was confirmed as the source of bleeding by endoscopy. Patients without OB were defined as cases with occult bleeding and those with other initial presentations, including epigastric pain, weakness, weight loss and obstruction. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate, age, gender, AJCC T stage, AJCC N stage, overall AJCC stage, tumor size, histological type, macroscopic (Borrmann) type, lymphovascular invasion and R status were compared between patients with and without OB. Moreover, we carried out a subgroup analysis based on tumor location (upper, middle and lower)., Results: We identified 939 patients. Of these, 695 (74.0%) were hospitalized for potential radical gastrectomy and another 244 received palliative resection, rerouting of the gastrointestinal tract, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or no treatment due to the presence of unresectable tumors. Notably, there was no significant difference in the percentage of OB patients between resectable cases and unresectable cases (20.3% vs 22.1%, P = 0.541). Follow-up examination was performed on 653 patients (94%) who underwent radical gastrectomy. We found no significant difference in 3-year OS rate (68.2% vs 61.2%, P = 0.143) or clinicopathological characteristics (P > 0.05) between these patients with and without OB. Subgroup analysis based on tumor location showed that the 3-year OS rate of upper gastric cancer was significantly higher in patients with OB (84.6%) than in those without OB (48.1%, P < 0.01) and that AJCC stages I-II (56.4% vs 35.1%, P = 0.017) and T1-T2 category tumors (30.8% vs 13%, P = 0.010) were more frequent in patients with OB than in those without OB. There was no significant difference in 3-year OS rate or clinicopathological characteristics between patients with and without OB (P > 0.05) for middle or lower gastric cancer., Conclusion: Upper gastric cancer patients with OB exhibited tumors at less advanced pathological stages and had a better prognosis than upper gastric cancer patients without OB.