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The edible and medicinal part of Inula nervosa Wall. (Xiaoheiyao) is confined to its root without sufficient phytochemical and biological investigation. In this study, the secondary metabolites of root, stem, leaf, and flower of I. nervosa Wall. were visualized using Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS), MolNetEnhancer, XCMS(xcmsonline.scripps.edu) analysis, and `ili mapping based on high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) data to reveal their chemical differences. Among the 11 kinds of chemical repertoires annotated by MolNetEnhancer and 16 hits against the GNPS library, 10-isobutyryloxy-8,9-epoxythymol isobutyrate (1) was revealed as the most dominant and responsible marker between the roots and the other parts. Moreover, a battery of unique MS features as well as differential markers were discovered from different parts of the plant. The chemical differences contribute to the bioactivity differences, which presented in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH)assay and H2O2-insulted HepG2 cells and were in significant correlations with the contents of 1. real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)results demonstrated that I. nervosa Wall. extracts upregulated the mRNA expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) actors involved in antioxidative response in H2O2-challenged HepG2 cells. These findings support the roots of I. nervosa Wall. as active parts of Xiaoheiyao, and also indicate the potential antioxidant activities of other parts.

The present study was designed to find out the initial factor that triggered cognitive deficits induced by high-fat diets (HFD) and whether salvianolic acid B (Sal B) had beneficial role on cognition. Seven weeks' consumption of HFD resulted in higher food intake, dyslipidaemia, cognitive impairment and increasing hippocampal and frontal cortex oxidative stress (OS) without significant change in blood glucose and hippocampal inflammation. Microarray analysis data demonstrated that long-term potentiation (LTP) pathway was altered with down-regulation of genes against OS. Correlation analysis showed that hippocampal OS biomarkers had strong relations to Morris water maze performance. Sal B in drinking water (0.07 mg/ml) normalised the cognitive deficits through attenuating hippocampal redox status, altering LTP pathway and other biological pathways, up-regulating antioxidative genes expression. Thus, OS induced by HFD might be the initial factor that triggers cognitive impairment. Sal B was an efficient agent that exerted neuroprotective effects.

Redox status and thyroid functions of diet-induced obesity (DIO) and DIO-resistant (DIO-R) mice from 20-week high-fat diet-fed (HFD) mice were studied (study I). Whether antiobesity action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in HFD mice was related to its antioxidative action or improvement in thyroid function was also examined (study II) by GABA in drinking water (0.2, 0.12 and 0.06%). In DIO mice, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) remarkably increased, free thyroid hormones (THs) decreased, thyroid structures deformed and expressions of THs synthesis-specific and thyroid antioxidative markers, THs receptors β and deiodinases in hypothalamus and liver decreased. DIO-R mice showed normalized TSH, increased THs and its functions. Three GABA treatments normalized TSH, while 0.2% and 0.12% GABA treatments restored redox status, raised THs excretions and functions. Consequently, Down-regulated thyroid and THs functions in DIO mice accounted for obesity. GABA could prevent obesity by ameliorating oxidative stress and HFD-disrupted functions of thyroid and THs.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MS), a known risk factor for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and type II diabetes is an emerging epidemic in China. Studies carried out on the general population indicate a varied clustering of cardiovascular risks in many parts of the country. However, there is limited data on its prevalence in the working population. Workplace can serve as an important place for prevention, control and management of CVD risks. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MS and its components among University workers, and determine how the prevalence varied according to sex and occupation. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 2,428 University employees (22-60 years) who received an annual clinical examination at the University hospital. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), and lipid profiles were measured. MS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment panel III modified criteria. Results: Overall prevalence of MS was 6.1%, higher in males (5.1%) than females (1.1%), and increased with age. The most prevalent MS components in all workers were hypertension (37.9%) and hypertryglyceridemia (20.8%), corresponding rates in males were 28.3% and 16.1% while females had a prevalence of 9.6% and 4.7%. After adjustment for age, administrative work was associated (p0.05) between the two occupations in both sexes. Conclusions: Prevalence of MS and its components was higher in male workers than in females, increased with age, and were more common in administrative workers. The findings support the need for gender and occupation specific health interventions to prevent CVDs and type II diabetes in the workplace.

Physicochemical, nutritional and functional properties of protein fractions and protein isolate (RSPI) from Roselle seedwere investigated. The protein content was 91.50, 93.77, 81.55, 71.30 and 40.83% for RSPI, globulin, albumin, glutelin andprolamin, respectively. The functional properties were variable among samples. Glutelin possessed the highest water holdingcapacity and albumin the lowest. The oil holding capacity ranged from 3.47 to 7.23 mL/g and the emulsifying capacity from95 to 18 mL/g. Glutelin had the higher foam capacity, while RSPI showed the more stable foam. The molecular weight of allsamples ranged from 55,000 Da to below 14,300 Da. All the estimated nutritional parameters based on amino acids compositionsuggested that Roselle protein fractions and its isolates have good nutritional quality and could be a good source of proteinfortification for a variety of food products for protein deficient consumers as well as a potential food ingredient.

The aim of this research was to extract phenolic compounds and assess the antioxidant potential of defatted foxtailmillet bran (DFMB) extracts. Distilled water, 30%, 50%, and 70% ethanol were used as solvent for extraction. The proximatecomposition, fatty acid analysis, total phenolic content and extraction yield were carried out. The antioxidant efficacies ofDFMB extract were tested using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid(ABTS), superoxide radical and reducing power. The highest inhibitory concentration (IC50) values scavenging on DPPH,ABTS and superoxide radicals were in the range of 0.131±0.002, 0.795±0.003, and 0.158±0.009 mg/ml, for distilled water, and 30and 50% ethanol extracts respectively. The reducing power increased with increase of sample concentration. Total phenoliccontent ranged from 21.49±3.26 to 29.39±1.36 gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g extract. The phenolic content and antioxidantactivity in DFMB extracts were significantly correlated (p

This study focused on the preparation method of antioxidant peptides by enzymatic hydrolysis of bone collagen after microwave assisted acid pre-treatment and nitrogen protection. Phosphoric acid showed the highest ability of hydrolysis among the four other acids tested (hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and/or citric acid). The highest degree of hydrolysis (DH) was 9.5% using 4 mol/L phosphoric acid with a ratio of 1:6 under a microwave intensity of 510 W for 240 s. Neutral proteinase gave higher DH among the four protease tested (Acid protease, neutral protease, Alcalase and papain), with an optimum condition of: (1) ratio of enzyme and substrate, 4760 U/g; (2) concentration of substrate, 4%; (3) reaction temperature, 55 °C and (4) pH 7.0. At 4 h, DH increased significantly (P < 0.01) under nitrogen protection compared with normal microwave assisted acid pre-treatment hydrolysis conditions. The antioxidant ability of the hydrolysate increased and reached its maximum value at 3 h; however DH decreased dramatically after 3 h. Microwave assisted acid pre-treatment and nitrogen protection could be a quick preparatory method for hydrolyzing bone collagen.

Myricetin is an effective antioxidant in the treatment of obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders. The objective of this study was to explore the regressive effect of myricetin on pre-existing hepatic steatosis induced by high-fat diet (HFD). C57BL/6 mice were fed either a standard diet or a HFD for 12 weeks and then half of the mice were treated with myricetin (0.12% in the diet, w/w) while on their respective diets for further 12 weeks. Myricetin treatment significantly alleviated HFD-induced steatosis, decreased hepatic lipid accumulation and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels, and increased antioxidative enzyme activities, including catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities. Microarray analysis of hepatic gene expression profiles showed that myricetin significantly altered the expression profiles of 177 genes which were involved in 12 biological pathways, including the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway and peroxisome. Further research indicated that myricetin elevated hepatic nuclear Nrf2 translocation, increased the protein expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), reduced the protein expression of PPARγ, and normalized the expressions of genes that were involved in peroxisome and the PPAR signaling pathway. Our data indicated that myricetin might represent an effective therapeutic agent to treat HFD-induced hepatic steatosis via activating the Nrf2 pathway and the PPAR signaling pathway.

The study was designed to investigate the possible mechanisms of hepatic microRNAs (miRs) in regulating local thyroid hormone (TH) action and ultimately different propensities to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. When obesity-prone (OP) and obesity-resistant (OR) mice were fed HFD for 7 weeks, OP mice showed apparent hepatic steatosis, with significantly higher body weight and lower hepatic TH receptor b (TRb) expression and type 1 deiodinase (DIO1) activity than OR mice. Next-generation sequencing technology revealed that 13 miRs in liver were dysregulated between the two phenotypes, of which 8 miRs were predicted to target on Dio1 or TRb. When mice were fed for 17 weeks, OR mice had mild hepatic steatosis and increased Dio1 and TRb expression than OP mice, with downregulation of T3 target genes (including Srebp1c, Acc1, Scd1 and Fasn) and upregulation of Cpt1α, Atp5c1, Cox7c and Cyp7a1. A stemloop qRT-PCR analysis confirmed that the levels of miR-383, miR-34a and miR-146b were inversely correlated with those of DIO1 or TRb. Down-regulated expression of miR-383 or miR-146b by miR-383 inhibitor (anti-miR-383) or miR-146b inhibitor (anti-miR-146b) in free fatty acid-treated primary mouse hepatocytes led to increased DIO1 and TRb expressions, respectively, and subsequently decreased cellular lipid accumulation, while miR-34a inhibitor (anti-miR-34a) transfection had on effects on TRb expression. Luciferase reporter assay illustrated that miR-146b could directly target TRb 3'untranslated region (3'UTR). These findings suggested that miR-383 and miR-146b might play critical roles in different propensities to diet-induced obesity via targeting on Dio1 and TRb, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aims to examine the antioxidant and antibacterial activities and phenolic contents of Conyza bonariensis growing in Yemen. The whole plants of C. bonariensis were ultrasonically extracted by ethanol. The antioxidant activity of the extract was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene bleaching (BCB). The effectiveness of the extract on the growth inhibition of some indicators of foodborne illness bacteria were investigated by agar well diffusion assay. The total phenols (TP), total flavonoids (TF), total tannins (TT), and total anthocyanins (TA) were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method, aluminium chloride method, Folin and Ciocalteu method, and pH-differential method, respectively. The extract of C. bonariensis possessed TP 144.1 mg/g, TF 143 mg/g, TT 0.99mg/g, and TA 0.97mg 100g, with 94.57% inhibition of DPPH and 92.47% inhibition of BCB, and strong inhibitory effects against tested bacteria, which was approximate to those of peel extract of Punica granatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to find out the effects of solvent type (ethanol, water, and ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide)[BMIM]Br), time (30-90min), and microwave power (200- 600w) on extraction rate, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content (TPC) of Conyza bonariensis. The functional components from C. bonariensis were extracted using high efficient microwave-assisted extraction technology. The experiments were carried out according to 17 runs with 3 variables and three levels for the optimization in response surface methodology (RSM) system. The extracts were analyzed by spectrophotometeric methods for the antioxidant and TPC. The optimal conditions for extraction rate, antioxidant and TPC were determined by RSM. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) showed the polynomial. The optimal conditions, including [BMIM]Br as the solvent with 45.47 min and 300.60 w power, lead to the best extraction rate (25.94%), maximum DPPH radical scavenging (95.90%) and maximum TPC (174.18 mg GAE/g). Under these conditions, the experimental extraction rate was 25.13±0.85 %, DPPH radical scavenging was 93.8±1.67% and TPC was 171.5±1.06mg GAE/g of the C. bonariensis extract, which matched with the predicted values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nutritional and functional properties of Roselle seed protein hydrolysates (RSPH) were studied. Roselle seed protein isolates were digested (for 1.5 h and 3h) using pepsin followed by pancreatin. The maximum nitrogen solubility values of 94.17 and 90.8 were observed at pH 12 and pH 10 after 1.5 h and 3 h of hydrolysis, respectively. RSPH1.5 and RSPH3 exhibited a good foaming capacity of 310 and 300% respectively. Furthermore, RSPH1.5 showed the best foaming stability (300%) after 60 min compared to RSPH3 (144%) at the same time. For both hydrolysates, the amounts of essential amino acids exceeded those recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization (2007) for humans. The emulsifying capacity of RSPH1.5 was higher than that of RSPH3 90 and 100 mL/g respectively. RSPH1.5 possessed also the highest water holding and oil holding capacities compared to RSPH3. RSPH3 was more heat sensitive than RSPH1.5. The denaturation temperature for RSPH1.5 and RSPH3 were 95.80°C and 85.93°C respectively. Our results demonstrated that RSPH may be used wholly or partially to replace high-price materials like egg albumen and casein as well as a potential food ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millets are a major food source in arid and semi-arid parts of the world. Millets are good sources of energy. They provide protein, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, dietary fibre and polyphenols. Typical millet protein contains high quantity of essential amino acids especially the sulphur containing amino acids (methionine and cysteine). Processing millet by milling removes the bran and germ layers that are rich in fibre and phytochemicals, causing significant loss. The millets are source of antioxidants, such as phenolic acids and glycated flavonoids. Millet foods are characterized to be potential prebiotic and can enhance the viability or functionality of probiotics with significant health benefits. The nutritional significance of millets demands for an examination of the nutritional characteristics and functional properties of different millet cultivars as well as developing value added products from millets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean protein meal was subjected to solid state fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum Lp6 either in the presence or absence of a protease. Soybean meals were investigated for functional properties including nitrogen solubility, emulsifying activity, foaming capacity, foaming stability, differential scanning calorimetry and in vitro protein digestibility. The data showed significant (P<0.05) variations among the soybean meal samples. The fermented soybean protein meal (FSPM) with added protease (FSPMe) showed higher denaturing temperature (103.77°C) compared to 61.67°C exhibited by unfermented soybean protein meal (SPM). The functional properties of soybean protein meals prepared from the two conditions (L. plantarum Lp6 plus or without added protease) showed insignificant changes when compared with the unfermented SPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the preparation method of antioxidant peptides by enzymatic hydrolysis of bone collagen after microwave assisted acid pre-treatment and nitrogen protection. Phosphoric acid showed the highest ability of hydrolysis among the four other acids tested (hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and/or citric acid). The highest degree of hydrolysis (DH) was 9.5% using 4 mol/L phosphoric acid with a ratio of 1:6 under a microwave intensity of 510 W for 240 s. Neutral proteinase gave higher DH among the four protease tested (Acid protease, neutral protease, Alcalase and papain), with an optimum condition of: (1) ratio of enzyme and substrate, 4760 U/g; (2) concentration of substrate, 4%; (3) reaction temperature, 55 °C and (4) pH 7.0. At 4 h, DH increased significantly (P < 0.01) under nitrogen protection compared with normal microwave assisted acid pre-treatment hydrolysis conditions. The antioxidant ability of the hydrolysate increased and reached its maximum value at 3 h; however DH decreased dramatically after 3 h. Microwave assisted acid pre-treatment and nitrogen protection could be a quick preparatory method for hydrolyzing bone collagen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms of some gastrointestinal disease related to high-GI (glycemic index) diet are unknown. Oxidative stress is a well-recognized mechanism in many pathological conditions. Some study reported dietary GI was positively associated with oxidative stress. Whether high-GI diet can induce oxidative stress in digestive tract, whether higher GI diet can induce higher oxidative stress, to explore these two questions, we examined the effect of diet with different GI on redox status of duodenum of mice. In a 2-week study, male Kunming mice were randomized to six groups. Six groups were separately fed using diet with different GI that was obtained by adjusting ratio of cornstarch and glucose. The ratios of cornstarch and glucose in diets for group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were separately as follows: 40%, 0; 30%, 10%; 25%, 15%; 20%, 20%; 10%, 30%; 0%, 40%. The diet for group 4 induced the optional redox status in duodenum compared with other groups. The diet for group 6 induced the complete destruction on redox balance in duodenums of mice. We also detected the underlying mechanism using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR). We found the expression of Prdx4 was very high in group 4, which might explain why diet for group 4 induced the optional redox status. These findings indicate that (1) higher GI diet inducing higher oxidative stress was not justified; (2) oxidative stress may be the cause of digestive disease induced by high-GI diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ingestion of lactobacilli is of great importance for the probiotic effect of host gut Peyer's patches (PPs) macrophages. The present study is in time focus on the investigation of the factors determining the ingestion of lactobacilli by PPs macrophages. Physicochemical properties of cell surface and adhesive property of nine Lactobacillus strains were examined in the present work. The association of the bacteria with PPs macrophage was checked with macrophage monolayers on coverslips. The influence of lactobacilli on macrophages phagocytic capacity was also investigated with a neutral red uptake assay in vitro. The results show that the macrophages could ingest lactobacilli in a strain dependent manner, and the most ingested strain is L. plantarum Lp6 compared to other tested strains, which displayed strain specific enhancement on the phagocytic activity of PPs macrophages. And there is no correlation between the physicochemical or adhesive properties of the cell surface and the ingestion. The association of L. plantarum Lp6 with PPs macrophage could be decreased by Protease K treatment. Surface proteins of L. plantarum Lp6 could promote the ingestion of fluorescent latex beads by PPs macrophages. In conclusion, the hydrophobicity of the cell surface might not be the key factor determining the association of lactobacilli with PPs macrophages. Cell surface proteins are the media for the binding L. plantarum Lp6 to macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mung bean protein isolates were hydrolyzed by alcalase and neutrase, respectively, and the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of the enzymatic hydrolysates were determined at different hydrolysis times. The highest ACE inhibitory activity recorded was for a hydrolysate generated by alcalase (IC50: 0.64 mg protein/ml) after 2 h of hydrolysis. A significant decrease in systolic blood pressure was observed in spontaneously hypertensive rats following a single oral administration of this hydrolysate at a dose of 600 mg/kg of body weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mung-bean protein isolates were hydrolysed by two proteases alcalase and neutrase commercially available for food industry use, and the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activities of the enzymatic hydrolysates were measured at different hydrolysis times. The non-hydrolysed protein showed no inhibitory activity. Hydrolysates generated with neutrase displayed very low ACE inhibitory activity, while those obtained with alcalase exhibited high inhibitory activity. The highest ACE inhibitory activity with the IC50 value of 0.64 mg protein/mL was found in the hydrolysate obtained with alcalase at 2h of hydrolysis time. These results indicated that mung-bean protein is a good protein source of ACE inhibitory peptides when hydrolysed with the protease alcalase. The mung-bean protein hydrolysates prepared with alcalase might be utilised for physiologically functional foods with antihypertensive activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effect of phytosterol in a feed on growth and gene expression of broiler chickens. Methods: Seven isonitrogenous diets with graded levels of polyhydroxy phytosterol(Castastesrone) (15, 20, and 25 g/kg diet) and hydroxyphytosterol (ß-sitosterol) (25, 50, and 75 g/kg diet) were used to feed broiler chickens for 45 d. Results: The dietary phytosterol significantly improved (p < 0.05) the body weight and feed intake of broiler chickens, especially with the 75 g/kg diet. In contrast, phytosterol supplementation was associated with significant (p < 0.05) hypotriglyceridemic effects with concurrent modifications of depressed antioxidant defence systems in the broiler chickens. Myogen, eIF4E, and S6k1 gene expression levels in tissues were significantly (p < 0.05) improved by dietary phytosterol mTOR gene expression levels in muscle tissues were increased significantly (p < 0.05), but myostatin (GDF-8) and ubiquitin levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that giving immediate phytosterol feeding regimen to chicks is a good feeding program for appropriate morphological development of the pectoralis major muscle and the expression of genes necessary for muscle cell proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, the data suggest that developmental decline in skeletal muscle protein synthesis, may be partly attributed to developmental regulation of the activation of growth factor and nutrient components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research intends to verify the effect of Lactobacillus paracasei Fn032 fermentation and heat-moisture treatment (HMT) on the physicochemical properties of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) flour. The results obtained showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in protein content (12.02-20.54%), total starch (15.78-51.01%) and starch fractions after fermentation and HMT. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis showed high decomposition temperature (Td) trend of 180.59 and 189.82³ C after HMT. However, there was significant (P<0.05) enthalpy (ΔH) decrease. Flour digestion resulted in variation of slow digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) count from 6.83 to 18.42% and 7.61 to 22.68% respectively, after fermentation and HTM. Following this observation, it was ascertained that in X-ray diffraction; pasting viscosity and fluorescence spectrophotometry show greater HMT influenced on the flour components. Findings from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed microstructure differences of the flours samples. Fermentation and heat moisture treatment methods present a possible way of changing or improving the physicochemical properties and add nutritional value to foxtail millet meal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to extract phenolic compounds and assess the antioxidant potential of defatted foxtail millet bran (DFMB) extracts. Distilled water, 30%, 50%, and 70% ethanol were used as solvent for extraction. The proximate composition, fatty acid analysis, total phenolic content and extraction yield were carried out. The antioxidant efficacies of DFMB extract were tested using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), superoxide radical and reducing power. The highest inhibitory concentration (IC50) values scavenging on DPPH, ABTS and superoxide radicals were in the range of 0.131±0.002, 0.795±0.003, and 0.158±0.009 mg/ml, for distilled water, and 30 and 50% ethanol extracts respectively. The reducing power increased with increase of sample concentration. Total phenolic content ranged from 21.49±3.26 to 29.39±1.36 gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g extract. The phenolic content and antioxidant activity in DFMB extracts were significantly correlated (p<0.05). These results indicated that 50% ethanol extract from DFMB appeared to be the most promoting phenolic compound with substantial antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somatostatin (SST) may protect organism from overnutrition-induced insulin resistance and oxidative stress by inhibiting pancreatic endocrine and exocrine secretion, gastrointestinal digestion and absorption. Many studies clearly show its release becomes perturbed in diabetes and obesity. Therefore, in the present study we first aimed to investigate whether or not plasma somatostatin level was different in patients with hyperlipidemia and normolipidemic controls. We also assessed the relationship between plasma somatostatin levels with atherosclerotic index (AI) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in non-diabetic dyslipidemic patients. Subjects with hyperlipidemia have insulin resistance and high levels of oxidative stress. Median somatostatin (57.2±19.2 vs 68.0±21.9 pg/mL; p<0.05) levels were lower in hyperlipidemic than in normolipidemic subjects. Significant inverse relationships between SST level and AI (r=-0.21, p< 0.05), or MDA (r=-0.31, p<0.01) were observed. These results suggest a possible protective role of endogenous SST, at least on hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis that are attributed to excess energy intake and physical inactivity. Of course these preliminary results should be supported by prospective studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To demonstrate that specific bacteria might release bacterial extracellular DNA (eDNA) to exert immunomodulatory functions in the mouse small intestine., Methods: Extracellular DNA was extracted using phosphate buffered saline with 0.5 mmol/L dithiothreitol combined with two phenol extractions. TOTO-1 iodide, a cell-impermeant and high-affinity nucleic acid stain, was used to confirm the existence of eDNA in the mucus layers of the small intestine and colon in healthy Male C57BL/6 mice. Composition difference of eDNA and intracellular DNA (iDNA) of the small intestinal mucus was studied by Illumina sequencing and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Stimulation of cytokine production by eDNA was studied in RAW264.7 cells in vitro ., Results: TOTO-1 iodide staining confirmed existence of eDNA in loose mucus layer of the mouse colon and thin surface mucus layer of the small intestine. Illumina sequencing analysis and T-RFLP revealed that the composition of the eDNA in the small intestinal mucus was significantly different from that of the iDNA of the small intestinal mucus bacteria. Illumina Miseq sequencing showed that the eDNA sequences came mainly from Gram-negative bacteria of Bacteroidales S24-7. By contrast, predominant bacteria of the small intestinal flora comprised Gram-positive bacteria. Both eDNA and iDNA were added to native or lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Raw267.4 macrophages, respectively. The eDNA induced significantly lower tumor necrosis factor-α/interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-6/IL-10 ratios than iDNA, suggesting the predominance for maintaining immune homeostasis of the gut., Conclusion: Our results indicated that degraded bacterial genomic DNA was mainly released by Gram-negative bacteria, especially Bacteroidales-S24-7 and Stenotrophomonas genus in gut mucus of mice. They decreased pro-inflammatory activity compared to total gut flora genomic DNA., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: No potential conflicts of interest.