Search

Background: Folate (vitamin B9) occurs naturally mainly as tetrahydrofolate (THF), methyl-tetrahydrofolate (M-THF), and formyl-tetrahydrofolate (F-THF), and as dietary synthetic form (folic acid). While folate auxotrophy and prototrophy are known for several gut microbes, the specific folate forms produced by gut prototrophs and their impact on gut auxotrophs and microbiota remain unexplored. Methods: Here, we quantified by UHPLC-FL/UV folate produced by six predicted gut prototrophs (Marvinbryantia formatexigens DSM 14469, Blautia hydrogenotrophica 10507 T, Blautia producta DSM 14466, Bacteroides caccae DSM 19024, Bacteroides ovatus DSM 1896, and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron DSM 2079 T) and investigated the impact of different folate forms and doses (50 and 200 µg/l) on the growth and metabolism of the gut auxotroph Roseburia intestinalis in pure cultures and during fecal anaerobic batch fermentations (48 h, 37 °C) of five healthy adults. Results: Our results confirmed the production of folate by all six gut strains, in the range from 15.3 ng/ml to 205.4 ng/ml. Different folate forms were detected, with THF ranging from 12.8 to 41.4 ng/ml and 5-MTHF ranging from 0.2 to 113.3 ng/ml, and being detected in all strains. Natural folate forms, in contrast to folic acid, promoted the growth and metabolism of the auxotroph R. intestinalis L1-82, with dose-dependent effects. During fecal batch fermentations, folate forms at both levels had no detectable effect on total bacteria concentration, on gut community composition and metabolic activity and on Roseburia spp. abundance, compared to the control without folate addition. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates for the first time in vitro the production of different natural folate forms by predicted gut prototrophs and the stimulation on the growth of the folate auxotrophic butyrate-producing R. intestinalis L1-82. Surprisingly, folate did not impact fecal fermentations. Our data suggest that the dietary folate forms at the tested levels may only have limited effects, if any, on the human gut microbiota in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lichen planopilaris (LPP) is a chronic lymphocytic skin disease manifested by progressive scarring alopecia. The diagnosis of LPP is made based on histopathological examination, although it is not always definite. The current study evaluates the effectiveness of non‐invasive atomic force microscopy (AFM) hair examination in detecting morphological differences between healthy and diseased hair. Materials and methods: Here, three to five hairs from lesional skin of 10 LPP patients were collected and examined at nine locations using AFM. At least four images were taken at each of the nine sites. Metric measurements were taken and metric (length, width, and scale step height) and morphological features (striated and smooth surface of scales, the presence of endocuticle and cortex, shape of scales edges, scratches, pitting, cracks, globules, and wavy edge) were compared with hair from healthy controls. In addition, areas on diseased hair where the process of pathological, unnatural delamination of the hair fiber occurs are described. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the number of scratches in the initial sections of the LPP hair, in the intensity of wavy edges along the entire length of the tested hair, and in the number of scales with pitting in the middle section of the hair. In addition, a statistically significant higher number of scales with striated surface was found in LPP group starting at 3.5 cm from the root continuing towards the free end of the hair. Other morphological changes such as presence of cortex, globules, oval indentations, and rod‐like macrofibrillar elements were also assessed, however, detailed results are not presented, as the differences shown in the number of these morphological changes were not significantly different. Conclusion: This publication outlines the differences between virgin, healthy Caucasian hair, and the hair of LPP patients. The results of this study can be used for further research and work related to LPP. This is the first attempt to characterize the hair of LPP patients using AFM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Folate (vitamin B9) occurs naturally mainly as tetrahydrofolate (THF), methyl-tetrahydrofolate (M-THF), and formyl-tetrahydrofolate (F-THF), and as dietary synthetic form (folic acid). While folate auxotrophy and prototrophy are known for several gut microbes, the specific folate forms produced by gut prototrophs and their impact on gut auxotrophs and microbiota remain unexplored. Methods Here, we quantified by UHPLC-FL/UV folate produced by six predicted gut prototrophs (Marvinbryantia formatexigens DSM 14469, Blautia hydrogenotrophica 10507 T , Blautia producta DSM 14466, Bacteroides caccae DSM 19024, Bacteroides ovatus DSM 1896, and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron DSM 2079 T) and investigated the impact of different folate forms and doses (50 and 200 µg/l) on the growth and metabolism of the gut auxotroph Roseburia intestinalis in pure cultures and during fecal anaerobic batch fermentations (48 h, 37 °C) of five healthy adults. Results Our results confirmed the production of folate by all six gut strains, in the range from 15.3 ng/ml to 205.4 ng/ml. Different folate forms were detected, with THF ranging from 12.8 to 41.4 ng/ml and 5-MTHF ranging from 0.2 to 113.3 ng/ml, and being detected in all strains. Natural folate forms, in contrast to folic acid, promoted the growth and metabolism of the auxotroph R. intestinalis L1-82, with dose-dependent effects. During fecal batch fermentations, folate forms at both levels had no detectable effect on total bacteria concentration, on gut community composition and metabolic activity and on Roseburia spp. abundance, compared to the control without folate addition. Conclusions Our study demonstrates for the first time in vitro the production of different natural folate forms by predicted gut prototrophs and the stimulation on the growth of the folate auxotrophic butyrate-producing R. intestinalis L1-82. Surprisingly, folate did not impact fecal fermentations. Our data suggest that the dietary folate forms at the tested levels may only have limited effects, if any, on the human gut microbiota in vivo.

The synthesis of mesoporous material by utilizing palm oil boiler ash (POBA) waste as the silica source and methyl ester sulfonate (MES) surfactant as the template for a high-porosity was investigated for free fatty acids (FFA) adsorption. The research was initiated with silica extraction from POBA by sodium hydroxide addition through the sol-gel precipitation method. Silica modification was carried out with MES surfactant and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) as the co-structure-directing agent (CSDA) in different calcination temperatures. Mesoporous silica-POBA (MS-POBA) free template had a surface area, pore diameter, and pore volume (41.033 m2/g, 4.180 nm, and 0.250 cm3/g) lower than MS-POBA with the template (71.0147 m2/g, 7.923 nm, and 0.524 cm3/g). The ability of MS-POBA to adsorb FFA reached its optimum conditions with an adsorption time of 20 min and an adsorbent dosage of 0.24 g. The FFA removal by MS-POBA with the template was found to have higher adsorption ability, which was 35.54%, compared to the MS-POBA free template of 26.68%. The high porosity of MS-POBA with a template makes the FFA adsorption capacity of this material higher than MS-POBA free template.

Diversion of oil sources for biodiesel production has been gaining importance to meet the environmental concerns and energy demand. The free fatty acid (FFA) content of the feedstock is a significant factor in biodiesel production. The FFA values determine the complexity of the biodiesel production. Until date, an experimental procedure has been used to determine the FFA concentration of an oil source; this method is dependent on titration, which is a laborious process involving significant volumes of chemicals. Hence, in the present study, an attempt was made to develop a device for the identification of FFA of the oils. Waste cooking oil samples subjected to wide range of cooking conditions like cooking time, temperature, type of food are collected from different food outlets. Subsequently, the composition of oil samples and the variation in their quality were analysed using gas chromatography flame ionization detector (GC – FID). Biodiesel is prepared from the oil samples through transesterification and the impact of FFA and their respective methyl esters in the quality and properties have been investigated. The properties of biodiesel were determined as per ASTM standards. The study was further extended to correlate the properties of biodiesel with the composition of the oil from which it was derived. The analysis evidently proved the dependence of biodiesel properties on the FFA percentage and the composition of the oil. The results have been further substantiated with the performance and emission characteristics of internal combustion engine fuelled with the prepared biodiesel samples.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) is a type of cicatricial alopecia predominantly observed in postmenopausal women, with the incidence rising since its initial description in 1994. The exact etiopathogenesis of the disease has not been completely elucidated. FFA is characterized by an inflammatory process affecting the hair follicles of the fronto-temporal hairline, leading to its gradual recession. Eyebrows, particularly the lateral parts, may also be affected. Early diagnosis and an implementation of effective therapy to limit the inflammatory process are crucial in halting disease progression. Various treatment possibilities have been reported, including anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents, as well as 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, retinoids, and antimalarial agents. The use of phototherapy and surgical procedures has also been described. However, most available data have been obtained retrospectively, frequently consisting of descriptions of case reports or small case series, and not from randomized controlled trials. In addition, the etiopathogenesis of FFA remains unclear and its course unpredictable, occasionally being linked with spontaneous stabilization. Hence, no precise guidelines exist regarding treatment modalities. Therefore, the aims of this study were to provide a comprehensive review of the efficacy of existing therapeutic modalities for FFA and to highlight novel therapeutic options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of rapid estimation of moisture, protein, fat, free fatty acid (FFA), and peroxide value (PV) content in peanut kernel was studied by Fourier transform near-infrared spectroscopy (FTNIR) in the diffuse reflectance mode to estimate the nutritional quality of peanut. The moisture, fat, and protein of fresh and damaged seeds of peanuts ranging from 3 to 9 %, 45 to 57 %, and 23 to 27 % respectively, were used for the calibration model building based on partial least squares (PLS) regression. The peanut samples had major peaks at wavenumbers 5308.53, 4954.98, 4464.03, 4070.85, 7475.63, 8230.21, and 6178.13 in per cm. First and second derivate mathematical preprocessing was also applied in order to eliminate multiple baselines for different chemical quality parameters of peanut. The FFA had the lowest value of calibration and validation errors (0.579 and 0.738) followed by the protein (0.736 and 0.765). The quality of peanut seeds with the lowest root mean square error of cross-validation of 0.76 and a maximum correlation coefficient (R2) of 96.8 was obtained. The comprehensive results signify that FT-NIR spectroscopy can be used for rapid, non-destructive quantification of quality parameters in peanuts.

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Firefly Optimizer (FFA), Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), and Moth Flame Optimizer (MFO) metaheuristic algorithms in estimating the kinetic parameters of a single-step coal pyrolysis model. By examining the effects of the algorithmic configuration, the initial parameter estimates, and the search space size on the efficacy and efficiency of the optimization run, the research seeks to encourage the qualified engineering application of these algorithms in the field of pyrolysis modeling. Four critical analyses were conducted: convergence efficiency, robustness and repeatability, parameter tuning, and performance on noisy data. MFO and GWO had comparable fitness scores of 1.05×10-4 and 1.04×10-4 respectively in the optimisation run analysis, while FireFly Algorithm (FFA) fell behind with a score of 1.09×10-4. Regarding the calculation time, FFA showed better results than other optimizers with an execution time of 113.75 seconds. MFO showed initial promise in convergence analysis with speedy convergence, whereas GWO progressively enhanced its solutions. Additionally, GWO was shown to be the most dependable algorithm with the lowest values for average fitness score and execution time at 1.07×10-4 and 38.86 seconds. The combined values of standard deviation in fitness value and execution time for GWO were 1.07×10-6 and 0.35 indicating its robustness towards initial parameters. Similar to this, investigations on repeatability emphasized the reliability of the GWO method. Further, the parameter tuning assessments supported the balanced performance of GWO, and the studies of noise handling discovered GWO to be the most robust to noisy data. Overall, GWO is recommended as a one-stop average solution for the general engineered application; however, algorithm choice hinges on the specific requirement.

Abstract Film forming amines (FFA) are corrosion inhibitors added to power plant water. The major concern associated with their application is the thermal stability in the high temperature power plant water medium, along with the risk of decomposition into low molecular weight organic acids that can cause corrosive damages in the water/steam cycle. However, there is still a lack of sufficient data on the thermal stability of FFA corrosion inhibitors. This paper presents a comprehensive critical review and state‐of‐the‐art assessment of the results obtained from studying the thermolysis of FFA corrosion inhibitors in power plant water/steam cycle conditions, highlighting the relevance for practical application and research needs. Temperature, exposure time, initial concentration, and alkalizing agents were identified as key factors influencing the thermal stability of FFA in high temperature power plant water. Organic acids are found in concentrations harmless to metal tubes. Advanced scientific background information and additional research are required on this topic.

Abstract This study examined the associations between emerging lipid biomarkers (small dense low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol [sdLDL‐C), lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and free fatty acids [FFA]), two ratios (sdLDL‐C/LDL‐C and the triglyceride–glucose [TyG) index), and the Gensini score (GS) in patients with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) in relation to the extent of coronary stenosis. The authors evaluated a cohort of 2952 individuals undergoing coronary angiography (CAG), encompassing those with PCAD (n = 1749), late‐onset coronary artery disease (LCAD; n = 328), and non‐coronary artery disease (non‐CAD; n = 575). Noteworthy differences were observed in the levels of the novel lipid biomarkers and ratio indexes among the PCAD, LCAD, and non‐CAD groups (p 40) in PCAD patients, as evidenced by the ROC analysis. In conclusion, sdLDL‐C, Lp(a), FFA, and the sdLDL‐C/LDL‐C and TyG indexes have considerable potential as risk and diagnostic markers for coronary artery stenosis in individuals afflicted with PCAD.

Decheng Meng,1 Fengxia Zhang,2 Wenfei Yu,1 Xin Zhang,1 Guoliang Yin,1 Pengpeng Liang,3 Yanan Feng,1 Suwen Chen,1 Hongshuai Liu1 1The First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250011, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250011, People’s Republic of China; 3Shenzhen Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518001, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Fengxia Zhang, Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250011, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-131-5317-5246, Email fxzhang0987@163.comAbstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is an umbrella term for a range of diseases ranging from hepatic fat accumulation and steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the absence of excessive alcohol consumption and other definite liver damage factors. The incidence of NAFLD has increased significantly in recent years and will continue to grow in the coming decades. NAFLD has become a huge health problem and economic burden. SIRT1 is a member of Sirtuins, a group of highly conserved histone deacetylases regulated by NAD+, and plays a vital role in regulating cholesterol and lipid metabolism, improving oxidative stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance through deacetylating some downstream transcription factors and thus improving NAFLD. Although there are no currently approved drugs for treating NAFLD and some unresolved limitations in developing SIRT1 activators, SIRT1 holds promise as a proper therapeutic target for NAFLD and other metabolic diseases. In recent years, natural products have played an increasingly important role in drug development due to their safety and efficacy. It has been discovered that some natural products may be able to prevent and treat NAFLD by targeting SIRT1 and its related pathways. This paper reviews the mechanism of SIRT1 in the improvement of NALFD and the natural products that regulate NAFLD through SIRT1 and its associated pathways, and discusses the potential of SIRT1 as a therapeutic target for treating NAFLD and the effectiveness of these related natural products as clinical drugs or dietary supplements. These works may provide some new ideas and directions for finding new therapeutic targets for NAFLD and the development of anti-NAFLD drugs with good pharmacodynamic properties. Keywords: NAFLD, SIRT1, natural products, FFA, TG

The center‐periphery visual field axis guides early visual system organization with enhanced resources devoted to central vision leading to reduced peripheral performance relative to that of central vision (i.e., behavioral eccentricity effect) for many visual functions. The center‐periphery organization extends to high‐order visual cortex where, for example, the well‐studied face‐sensitive fusiform face area (FFA) shows sensitivity to central vision and the place‐sensitive parahippocampal place area (PPA) shows sensitivity to peripheral vision. As we have recently found that face perception is more sensitive to eccentricity than place perception, here we examined whether these behavioral findings reflect differences in FFA's and PPA's sensitivities to eccentricity. We assumed FFA would show higher sensitivity to eccentricity than PPA would, but that both regions' modulation by eccentricity would be invariant to the viewed category. We parametrically investigated (fMRI, n = 32) how FFA's and PPA's activations are modulated by eccentricity (≤8°) and category (upright/inverted faces/houses) while keeping stimulus size constant. As expected, FFA showed an overall higher sensitivity to eccentricity than PPA. However, both regions' activation modulations by eccentricity were dependent on the viewed category. In FFA, a reduction of activation with growing eccentricity ("BOLD eccentricity effect") was found (with different amplitudes) for all categories. In PPA however, qualitatively different BOLD eccentricity effect modulations were found (e.g., at 8° mild BOLD eccentricity effect for houses but a reverse BOLD eccentricity effect for faces and no modulation for inverted faces). Our results emphasize that peripheral vision investigations are critical to further our understanding of visual processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Firefly Optimizer (FFA), Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), and Moth Flame Optimizer (MFO) metaheuristic algorithms in estimating the kinetic parameters of a single-step coal pyrolysis model. By examining the effects of the algorithmic configuration, the initial parameter estimates, and the search space size on the efficacy and efficiency of the optimization run, the research seeks to encourage the qualified engineering application of these algorithms in the field of pyrolysis modeling. Four critical analyses were conducted: convergence efficiency, robustness and repeatability, parameter tuning, and performance on noisy data. MFO and GWO had comparable fitness scores of 1.05×10-4 and 1.04×10-4 respectively in the optimisation run analysis, while FireFly Algorithm (FFA) fell behind with a score of 1.09×10-4. Regarding the calculation time, FFA showed better results than other optimizers with an execution time of 113.75 seconds. MFO showed initial promise in convergence analysis with speedy convergence, whereas GWO progressively enhanced its solutions. Additionally, GWO was shown to be the most dependable algorithm with the lowest values for average fitness score and execution time at 1.07×10-4 and 38.86 seconds. The combined values of standard deviation in fitness value and execution time for GWO were 1.07×10-6 and 0.35 indicating its robustness towards initial parameters. Similar to this, investigations on repeatability emphasized the reliability of the GWO method. Further, the parameter tuning assessments supported the balanced performance of GWO, and the studies of noise handling discovered GWO to be the most robust to noisy data. Overall, GWO is recommended as a one-stop average solution for the general engineered application; however, algorithm choice hinges on the specific requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standalone DC microgrids can potentially influence intelligent energy systems in the future. They accomplish this by employing droop control to smoothly integrate various renewable energy sources (RESs) to satisfy energy demands. This method ensures equitable allocation of load current among RESs, promoting efficiency and smooth operation. Utilizing droop control typically leads to a reduction in the voltage of the DC bus. Hence, to uniformly distribute current among several RESs while simultaneously regulating the DC bus voltage, this research proposes a distributed secondary control technique. The proposed technique ensures fair distribution of current and eliminates bus voltage variations by integrating both current and voltage errors within the designed control loop. An innovative hybrid firefly and particle swarm optimization algorithm (FFA–PSO) is introduced to aid in parameter selection for the distributed control approach, facilitating the attainment of the intended control objectives. A DC microgrid state-space model was developed, which incorporates eigenvalue observation analysis to evaluate the impacts of the optimized secondary distributed control on the stability of the microgrid. A real-time testing setup is built using MATLAB/Simulink® R2022b software. and implemented on a Speedgoat™ real-time machine to verify the practical performance of the proposed approach in real-world applications. The results showcase the robustness of the proposed control technique in achieving voltage stabilization and even current allocation within the DC microgrid. This is evidenced by minimal oscillations and undershoots/overshoots and swift response times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the solid and liquid forms of microbial lysozyme and egg lysozyme were added to kashar cheese for a 90-day period, and the physicochemical and microbiological features of the cheese were examined. The physicochemical (pH,% LA, DM, fat, protein, TN, WSN, OI, salt), textural, and microbiological characteristics of the cheese were compared to those of control samples (TMAB, coliform, yeast-mold, lactobacilli, spore microorganism, E. coli). Information on free fatty acids (FFA) and volatile compounds was also evaluated. The results showed that goods treated with various lysozyme forms had better physicochemical, microbiological, and textural qualities during the ripening period and decreased microbial loads. The study's findings highlight and suggest employing lysozymes, particularly in microbial form, to increase the shelf life of Kashar cheese and to improve the quality and safety of cheese, as well as obtain better quality characteristics during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Film forming amines (FFA) are corrosion inhibitors added to power plant water. The major concern associated with their application is the thermal stability in the high temperature power plant water medium, along with the risk of decomposition into low molecular weight organic acids that can cause corrosive damages in the water/steam cycle. However, there is still a lack of sufficient data on the thermal stability of FFA corrosion inhibitors. This paper presents a comprehensive critical review and state‐of‐the‐art assessment of the results obtained from studying the thermolysis of FFA corrosion inhibitors in power plant water/steam cycle conditions, highlighting the relevance for practical application and research needs. Temperature, exposure time, initial concentration, and alkalizing agents were identified as key factors influencing the thermal stability of FFA in high temperature power plant water. Organic acids are found in concentrations harmless to metal tubes. Advanced scientific background information and additional research are required on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the associations between emerging lipid biomarkers (small dense low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol [sdLDL‐C), lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and free fatty acids [FFA]), two ratios (sdLDL‐C/LDL‐C and the triglyceride–glucose [TyG) index), and the Gensini score (GS) in patients with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) in relation to the extent of coronary stenosis. The authors evaluated a cohort of 2952 individuals undergoing coronary angiography (CAG), encompassing those with PCAD (n = 1749), late‐onset coronary artery disease (LCAD; n = 328), and non‐coronary artery disease (non‐CAD; n = 575). Noteworthy differences were observed in the levels of the novel lipid biomarkers and ratio indexes among the PCAD, LCAD, and non‐CAD groups (p <.05). Multiple logistic regression analyses pinpointed Lp(a) (OR = 2.62, 95% CI 1.22–5.63, p =.014) and the TyG index (OR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.08–5.93, p =.033) as independent risk factors for PCAD. Furthermore, these biomarkers and ratio indexes discerned substantial distinctions among PCAD patients with varying GS (p <.05). Consequently, these markers can proficiently anticipate the gravity of coronary artery stenosis (GS > 40) in PCAD patients, as evidenced by the ROC analysis. In conclusion, sdLDL‐C, Lp(a), FFA, and the sdLDL‐C/LDL‐C and TyG indexes have considerable potential as risk and diagnostic markers for coronary artery stenosis in individuals afflicted with PCAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the solid and liquid forms of microbial lysozyme and egg lysozyme were added to kashar cheese for a 90-day period, and the physicochemical and microbiological features of the cheese were examined. The physicochemical (pH,% LA, DM, fat, protein, TN, WSN, OI, salt), textural, and microbiological characteristics of the cheese were compared to those of control samples (TMAB, coliform, yeast-mold, lactobacilli, spore microorganism, E. coli). Information on free fatty acids (FFA) and volatile compounds was also evaluated. The results showed that goods treated with various lysozyme forms had better physicochemical, microbiological, and textural qualities during the ripening period and decreased microbial loads. The study’s findings highlight and suggest employing lysozymes, particularly in microbial form, to increase the shelf life of Kashar cheese and to improve the quality and safety of cheese, as well as obtain better quality characteristics during storage.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases. Silencing information regulator 1 (SIRT1) was demonstrated to modulate cholesterol and lipid metabolism in NAFLD. Here, a novel SIRT1 activator, E1231, was studied for its potential improvement effects on NAFLD. C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFHC) for 40 weeks to create a NAFLD mouse model, and E1231 was administered by oral gavage (50 mg/kg body weight, once/day) for 4 weeks. Liver-related plasma biochemistry parameter tests, Oil Red O staining, and hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that E1231 treatment ameliorated plasma dyslipidemia, plasma marker levels of liver damage (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)), liver total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) contents, and obviously decreased hepatic steatosis score and NAFLD Activity Score (NAS) in the NAFLD mouse model. Western blot results showed that E1231 treatment significantly regulated lipid-metabolism-related protein expression. In particular, E1231 treatment increased SIRT1, PGC-1α, and p-AMPKα protein expression but decreased ACC and SCD-1 protein expression. Additionally, in vitro studies demonstrated that E1231 inhibited lipid accumulation and improved mitochondrial function in free-fatty-acid-challenged hepatocytes, and required SIRT1 activation. In conclusion, this study illustrated that the SIRT1 activator E1231 alleviated HFHC-induced NAFLD development and improved liver injury by regulating the SIRT1-AMPKα pathway, and might be a promising candidate compound for NAFLD treatment.

Abstract The total cost of processes that use lipases can be reduced by using the mycelium or not purified crude extract with lipolytic activity. These catalysts can be used without complex purification and can show desirable properties to emerging applications like hydrolysis and biotransformation of vegetable oils. To explore the potential of multiple forms of lipases (produced by the same filamentous fungus species), this work investigated intracellular and extracellular lipases produced by Trichoderma koningii (intracellular lipases were never studied), Penicillium spp. F02 (isolated from industrial grease trap) and Aspergillus niger. For this, batch fermentations were conducted for 96h using olive oil as a carbon source. The submerged culture was interrupted with vacuum filtration to isolate the mycelium and crude extract. The lipolytic activities were determined by the hydrolysis method of olive oil. The best results were obtained for intracellular activity with T. koningii (81.5 U/g of dry biomass) and for extracellular activity with A. niger (10.6 U/mL of crude extract). Both were attained in 96h of fermentation. T. koningii showed an accumulation of intracellular lipases and a depreciated extracellular activity in the initial 24 hours, which can be reasonable indications that there is strong retention of lipases in the mycelium. Statistical analysis within the range of 37°C to 44°C associated with pH from 7.8 to 8.0 favored the activity of lipases from T. koningii. All these findings are promising for future studies in the enzymatic synthesis of biodiesel with lipases (intracellular and extracellular) from T. koningii.

This study evaluates the performance of a continuous microwave device in the sterilization of oil palm fruits spikelet. The device comprises four microwave generators (magnetron), a tunnel cavity driven by a belt conveyor, and a tray as a container for palm fruit. This study aims to evaluate the distribution and penetration of microwave energy into palm fruit and to examine the quality of palm oil concerning power density and residence time adjusted in this study. Continuous microwave sterilizer was operated at various masses of oil palm fruit (0.5, 1, 1.5 kg), residence time (6, 8, 10, 12, 14 min), and microwave power (180, 300, 450, 600, 800 W). The resulting temperature in this study ranged from 39 to 97 °C. Observation of the temperature gradient inside-out of a single fruit indicates the interior temperature at the kernel nut is always higher as compared to exterior temperature (abscission layer), with temperature differences ranging from 3 to 23 °C. A minimum power density of 300 W/kg, a residence time of 6 min, and a temperature of 50 °C were required to produce palm oil with FFA less than 5%. Performance indicators of the prototype used in this study are a number of moisture loss dan oil quality. The moisture loss during the sterilization process was around 0.5 to 10.6% which indicates some water content in the fruit, while the content of water, FFA, β-carotene and vitamin E ranging between 1.9 and 17.6%, 0.32-1.74%, 186.14-608.59 ppm and 165.47-610.17 ppm, respectively. © 2001 Elsevier Science. All rights reserved.

Improving the sustainability of global food systems requires competent and impactful change agents who are tasked with disseminating knowledge to stakeholders in local communities. Agricultural Extension agents and agricultural educator, who provide mentorship and preparation of youth, are pivotal for the positive outcomes of youth livestock production programs. Digital professional development, as one intervention for both formal and nonformal educators, can be a more effective use of an educator's time. This study examined the needs and competency levels of agents and teachers related to their capacity for training youth livestock exhibitors. Through an online course, participants completed a pre-posttest within an interactive module. The data revealed that agents and agricultural teachers were proficient in Texas, USA, youth livestock production programs. This study found that the majority of both groups scored over 90% on the curricula's assessment. There was a significant difference; agricultural education teachers reported higher mean scores than Extension agents on the Effective Teaching assessment. Both groups reported agreement with the Time to Complete, Tool Navigation, and Effective Teaching assessments. The data indicated that participants should additionally receive training materials on ethics policy and livestock validation. Livestock production digital professional development for nonformal agents of change is essential for sustaining global food chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrary to carbohydrate and fat metabolism, the influence of a single exercise dose on protein metabolism has not been adequately explored yet. We assessed the effects of different exercise intensities and durations on blood protein changes and their association with carbohydrate (CHO) and fat metabolism in six eligible trained subjects. Subjects performed maximal incremental (IE100: at 100%VO2max) and submaximal continuous exercise (CE) at 75%VO2max for 30 min (CE75) and at 50%VO2max for 90 min (CE50). Blood samples were collected at rest (R), end of exercise (EE), and 1 h after recovery to assess blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma amino acids (AA), glucose, lactate, FFA, and glycerol. In IE100 blood lactate, CHO-oxidation (g/min), energy expenditure (kcal/min), and RER were significantly increased during rest (p < 0.05). CE50 induced significantly higher BUN, FFA, glycerol, and fat oxidation (g/min) (p < 0.05). At recovery, the mean sum of the free AA pool (µmol/L) reduced by 8% (p < 0.03) during CE50. Values for CE75 were between IE100 and CE50. Beside lipolysis, also proteolysis (BUN) was an important source of fuel for low-to-moderate intensity CE50. An increased uptake of AA from the plasma bed during CE50 suggests the importance for oxidation and synthesis of other metabolic sources such as gluconeogenesis necessary for recovery. Therefore, one needs to be cautious of protein diet following prolonged cycle exercise training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & aimsThe accumulation of neutral lipids within hepatocytes underlies non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which affects a quarter of the world's population and is associated with hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite insights gained from both human and animal studies, our understanding of NAFLD pathogenesis remains limited. To better study the molecular changes driving the condition we aimed to generate a humanised NAFLD mouse model.MethodsWe generated TIRF (transgene-free Il2rg -/-/Rag2 -/-/Fah -/-) mice, populated their livers with human hepatocytes, and fed them a Western-type diet for 12 weeks.ResultsWithin the same chimeric liver, human hepatocytes developed pronounced steatosis whereas murine hepatocytes remained normal. Unbiased metabolomics and lipidomics revealed signatures of clinical NAFLD. Transcriptomic analyses showed that molecular responses diverged sharply between murine and human hepatocytes, demonstrating stark species differences in liver function. Regulatory network analysis indicated close agreement between our model and clinical NAFLD with respect to transcriptional control of cholesterol biosynthesis.ConclusionsThese NAFLD xenograft mice reveal an unexpected degree of evolutionary divergence in food metabolism and offer a physiologically relevant, experimentally tractable model for studying the pathogenic changes invoked by steatosis.Lay summaryFatty liver disease is an emerging health problem, and as there are no good experimental animal models, our understanding of the condition is poor. We here describe a novel humanised mouse system and compare it with clinical data. The results reveal that the human cells in the mouse liver develop fatty liver disease upon a Western-style fatty diet, whereas the mouse cells appear normal. The molecular signature (expression profiles) of the human cells are distinct from the mouse cells and metabolic analysis of the humanised livers mimic the ones observed in humans with fatty liver. This novel humanised mouse system can be used to study human fatty liver disease.

Tanaman kelapa (Cocos nucifera) merupakan salah satu tanaman agroindustri yang sangat berpotensial di Indonesia karena kandungan nutrisinya. Masyarakat Indonesia banyak yang memanfaatkan buah dari tanaman kelapa salah satunya sebagai bahan baku pembuatan santan. Santan didapat dari ekstrak daging buah kelapa tua yang telah diparut, baik dengan penambahan atau tanpa air, cairan santan berwarna putih ini merupakan emulsi minyak dan air. Selama produksi, santan perlu mengalami pretreatment homogen geser berkecepatan tinggi. Umumnya, jenis perlakuan awal ini dapat meningkatkan stabilitas emulsi pada santan. Hal tersebut perlu dilakukan karena sistem emulsi santan sangat mudah tidak stabil setelah pencairan. Suhu pretreatment pada daging buah kelapa menjadi faktor utama yang memberikan pengaruh terhadap kualitas mutu santan kelapa. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk menganalisis perubahan kualitas mutu santan kelapa setelah dilakukan pretreatment penyimpanan daging buah kelapa sebelum diparut dan diperas menjadi santan. Penelitian dilaksanakan dengan tahapan meliputi persiapan alat dan bahan, pembuatan santan kelapa yang dimulai dengan pembersihan kelapa, kemudian pemberian pretreatment daging buah kelapa dengan 3 perlakuan penyimpanan. Karakteristik kimia santan kelapa terbaik diperoleh dengan pretreatment penyimpanan pada suhu (-16 °C ± 2 °C) dengan nilai Kadar Protein (3,263%), Kadar Lemak (55,87%), Asam Lemak Bebas (0,15%), dan Stabilitas Emulsi (88,38%).

In order to explore the risk linkage between different forward freight markets, this paper used the SVCJ-TVP-VAR model, selected the forward freight agreement (FFA) daily data of three ship types from 2014 to 2020, and analyzed the dynamic relationship between return jump and volatility jump in the international dry bulk FFA market from the static and dynamic perspectives. The results showed that: (1) The jumping phenomenon in the Capesize's FFA market with active trading was the most obvious, and the jumping phenomenon in the Handymax's FFA market was the weakest; (2) The phenomenon of three markets jumping at the same time was weak, and the number of times of two markets jumping at the same time was strong, among which the Capesize and Panamax had the most jumps; (3) There was a time-varying and complex two-way linkage between the forward freight market, and this linkage effect was the strongest in the short term and the weakest in the long term; (4) Whether it was return jump or volatility jump, the three markets had different reaction degrees to jump information. The response of the Cape ship type FFA market to the jump information was the most intense, and the response of other markets to the jump information of the Capesize was the highest; (5) When the extreme events that cause the overall market downturn occured, FFA market often showed a positive jump linkage effect, which had provided a reference for market regulators and participants.

BackgroundThere is increasing evidence that adipocytes play an active role in the cancer microenvironment. We have previously reported that adipocytes interact with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells, contributing to chemotherapy resistance and treatment failure. In the present study, we investigated whether part of this resistance is due to adipocyte provision of lipids to ALL cells.MethodsWe cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and tested whether ALL cells or ALL-released cytokines induced FFA release. We investigated whether ALL cells took up these FFA, and using fluorescent tagged BODIPY-FFA and lipidomics, evaluated which lipid moieties were being transferred from adipocytes to ALL. We evaluated the effects of adipocyte-derived lipids on ALL cell metabolism using a Seahorse XF analyzer and expression of enzymes important for lipid metabolism, and tested whether these lipids could protect ALL cells from chemotherapy. Finally, we evaluated a panel of lipid synthesis and metabolism inhibitors to determine which were affected by the presence of adipocytes.ResultsAdipocytes release free fatty acids (FFA) when in the presence of ALL cells. These FFA are taken up by the ALL cells and incorporated into triglycerides and phospholipids. Some of these lipids are stored in lipid droplets, which can be utilized in states of fuel deprivation. Adipocytes preferentially release monounsaturated FFA, and this can be attenuated by inhibiting the desaturating enzyme steroyl-CoA decarboxylase-1 (SCD1). Adipocyte-derived FFA can relieve ALL cell endogenous lipogenesis and reverse the cytotoxicity of pharmacological acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) inhibition. Further, adipocytes alter ALL cell metabolism, shifting them from glucose to FFA oxidation. Interestingly, the unsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, protects ALL cells from modest concentrations of chemotherapy, such as those that might be present in the ALL microenvironment. In addition, targeting lipid synthesis and metabolism can potentially reverse adipocyte protection of ALL cells.ConclusionThese findings uncover a previously unidentified interaction between ALL cells and adipocytes, leading to transfer of FFA for use as a metabolic fuel and macromolecule building block. This interaction may contribute to ALL resistance to chemotherapy, and could potentially be targeted to improve ALL treatment outcome.

The use of oils and fats for frying meals repeatedly causes significant changes in their physical and chemical characteristics. Because of growing health concerns, the assessment of the quality of reused oils has gained a lot of attention, since it is important in identifying the discarding point of the oils. Official analytical procedures employed in laboratories for this purpose need skill, time, and a significant amount of solvent usage. Several rapid test kits based on physical and chemical parameters of oil viz. Fri-Check, Viscofrit, Food oil sensor, Capsens 5000, Food oil monitor, TPM Verifry, Oxifrit, Safetest Peroxide, FFA kit, 3 M oil quality test strips have been developed to simplify oil testing in commercial frying lines, restaurants and food establishment. These test kits typically include a portable apparatus or colorimetric reaction capable of assessing a single parameter directly or indirectly. Besides, the practice of using repeatedly heated oil is very common in food establishments, thence, its essential for rapid assessment of the frying oil quality. This review paper includes the frying concept, health impacts of reusing the frying oil and principle, utility and efficiency of various quality indicators based rapid test kits.

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a Gram-negative oral anaerobic bacterium that plays a key role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. P. gingivalis expresses a variety of virulence factors that disrupt innate and adaptive immunity, allowing P. gingivalis to survive and multiply in the host and destroy periodontal tissue. In addition to periodontal disease, P.gingivalis is also associated with systemic diseases, of which insulin resistance is an important pathological basis. P. gingivalis causes a systemic inflammatory response, disrupts insulin signaling pathways, induces pancreatic β-cell hypofunction and reduced numbers, and causes decreased insulin sensitivity leading to insulin resistance (IR). In this paper, we systematically review the studies on the mechanism of insulin resistance induced by P. gingivalis, discuss the association between P. gingivalis and systemic diseases based on insulin resistance, and finally propose relevant therapeutic approaches. Overall, through a systematic review of the mechanisms related to systemic diseases caused by P. gingivalis through insulin resistance, we hope to provide new insights for future basic research and clinical interventions for related systemic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H. Raven is widely used in traditional medicine for different illnesses, including diabetes and hypertension. However, its impact on lipotoxicity and metabolic syndrome in vivo has not been addressed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this plant on the metabolic syndrome parameters in a C57BL6J mouse hypercaloric diet model. L. octovalvis hydroalcoholic extract and its ethyl acetate fraction (25 mg/kg/day) were used for sub-chronic assessment (10 weeks). Additionally, four subfractions (25 mg/kg) were evaluated in the postprandial triglyceridemia test in healthy C57BL6J mice. The hydroalcoholic extract and ethyl acetate fraction significantly decreased body weight gain (−6.9 g and −1.5 g), fasting glycemia (−46.1 and −31.2 mg/dL), systolic (−26.0 and −22.5 mmHg) and diastolic (−8.1 and 16.2 mmHg) blood pressure, free fatty acid concentration (−13.8 and −8.0 μg/mL) and insulin-resistance (measured by TyG index, −0.207 and −0.18), compared to the negative control. A postprandial triglyceridemia test showed that the effects in the sub-chronic model are due, at least in part, to improvement in this parameter. L. octovalvis treatments, particularly the hydroalcoholic extract, improve MS alterations and decrease free fatty acid concentration. These effects are possibly due to high contents of corilagin and ellagic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the dynamic architecture of podocytes, the glomerular epithelial cells, lead to kidney dysfunction. Previous studies on protein kinase C and casein kinase 2 substrates in neurons 2 (PACSIN2), a known regulator of endocytosis and cytoskeletal organization, reveal a connection between PACSIN2 and kidney pathogenesis. Here, we show that the phosphorylation of PACSIN2 at serine 313 (S313) is increased in the glomeruli of rats with diabetic kidney disease. We found that phosphorylation at S313 is associated with kidney dysfunction and increased free fatty acids rather than with high glucose and diabetes alone. Phosphorylation of PACSIN2 emerged as a dynamic process that fine-tunes cell morphology and cytoskeletal arrangement, in cooperation with the regulator of the actin cytoskeleton, Neural Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP). PACSIN2 phosphorylation decreased N-WASP degradation while N-WASP inhibition triggered PACSIN2 phosphorylation at S313. Functionally, pS313-PACSIN2 regulated actin cytoskeleton rearrangement depending on the type of cell injury and the signaling pathways involved. Collectively, this study indicates that N-WASP induces phosphorylation of PACSIN2 at S313, which serves as a mechanism whereby cells regulate active actin-related processes. The dynamic phosphorylation of S313 is needed to regulate cytoskeletal reorganization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the intervention effect of metformin on rats with acute gout and the influence of serum free fatty acids (FFAs). Twenty-one Wistar rats were randomly divided into the 200 mg/kg metformin group, 300 mg/kg metformin group, and control group. After five days of administration, sodium urate crystals were injected into the metatarpal joints of the rats to establish the model. The volume change of the metatarpal joints of the rats was measured and we used a biochemical sensor to determine the FFA concentration in serum. Metformin administered at 300 mg/kg body weight showed good anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling effects within 24 h after modeling, and reduced the swelling rate of the ankle joint. Compared with the control group, the ankle swelling rate of the 300 mg/kg metformin group decreased 36 h after modeling and was lower than that of the 200 mg/kg metformin group 36, 72, and 96 h after modeling (P < 0.05). The serum FFA concentration in the 300 mg/kg metformin group significantly decreased compared with that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 300 mg/kg metformin can inhibit the joint swelling of rats with acute gouty arthritis, and the effect is better than that of 200 mg/kg metformin. The possible mechanism of metformin in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis in rats is as follows: by reducing the FFA concentration in serum, metformin interferes with the acute attack of gouty arthritis. A possible mechanism of the effect of metformin in treating acute gouty arthritis in rats is the intervention of the acute onset of gouty arthritis by inhibiting the increase in serum FFA concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate choroidal lesions with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scan in varicella zoster virus (VZV) uveitis. Methods: VZV-uveitis cases which underwent OCT scan for choroidal lesions were studied. SD-OCT scan passing through these lesions was studied in detail. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) during active and resolved stages was studied. Angiogaphic features were studied where available. Results: Thirteen out of 15 cases had same-sided herpes zoster ophthalmicus skin rashes. All except three patients had old or active kerato-uveitis. All eyes demonstrated clear vitreous and a single or multiple hypopigmented orangish-yellow choroidal lesions. The number of lesions remained unchanged during the follow-up on clinical examination. SD-OCT over lesions (n = 11) showed choroidal thinning (n = 5), hyporeflective choroidal elevation during active inflammation (n = 3), transmission effects (n = 4), and ellipsoid zone disruption (n = 7). The mean change in SFCT (n = 9) after resolution of the inflammation was 26.3 μm (range: 3–90 μm). Fundus fluorescein angiography showed iso-fluorescence over lesions in all (n = 5), but indocyanine green angiography (n = 3) showed hypofluorescence at lesions. Mean follow-up was 1.38 years (range: 3 months–7 years). De-novo appearance of choroidal lesion during the first relapse of VZV-uveitis was captured in one case. Conclusion: VZV-uveitis can cause focal or multifocal hypopigmented choroidal lesions with thickening or scarring of choroidal tissue, depending on the disease activity.

هدف از این پژوهش ارزیابی اثرات تغییر اقلیم بر دما، بارش و خشکسالی‌های آینده در ایستگاه‌های الشتر و خرم‌آباد می‌باشد، ‏که به این منظور از خروجی مدل گردش عمومی ‏MRI-ESM2‎‏ مطابق جدیدترین گزارش‎ IPCC‏(گزارش ششم)‏‎ ‎و سناریوهای ‏انتشار ‏SSP 1.2.6 ‎، ‏SSP 2.4.5‎، ‏SSP 3.7.0 ‎‏ و ‏‎ SSP 5.8.5‎‏در این مناطق مطالعاتی استفاده شد. با کاربرد مدل درخت تصمیم ‏‏(‏‎M5 Tree‎)، غالب‌ترین متغیرهای پیشبینی‌کننده مدل ‏MRI-ESM2‎‏ انتخاب شدند. در ادامه متغیرهای پیشبینی‌کننده به‌عنوان ‏ورودی در مدل ریزمقیاس‌نمایی آماری شبکه عصبی مصنوعی پیشرو‎ ‎‏(‏FFNN‏) قرار گرفتند و با الگوریتم بهینه‌سازی کرم‌شب‌تاب ‏‏(‏FFA‏)، فرایند‎ ‎ریزمقیاس نمایی پارامترهای بارش، دمای حداکثر و دمای حداقل برای دوره پایه (2014-1970) با نتایج مطلوب ‏انجام شد. پس از اثبات قابلیت مدل شبکه عصبی، پیشبینی تغییرات متوسط دما و بارش ماهانه در طی دوره‌های آینده نزدیک ‏‏(2062-2023) و آینده دور (2100-2063) تحت سناریوهای خط سیرهای مشترک اجتماعی-اقتصادی (‏SSP‏) مربوط به مدل ‏جفت‌شده فاز ششم (‎CMIP6‎‏) به انجام رسید. به‌طورکلی، نتایج نشان داد که این متغیرها در هر دو دوره آتی در مقیاس ماهانه ‏دارای نوسان‌های متعددی خواهند بود، به‌طوری‌که در دو ایستگاه الشتر و خرم‎آباد طی دوره‌های آینده نزدیک و آینده دور دمای ‏حداکثر و دمای حداقل نسبت به دوره مشاهداتی در تمام سناریوهای ‏SSP‏ روندی افزایشی خواهند داشت و تغییرات دمای حداقل ‏نسبت به دمای حداکثر بیش‌تر خواهد بود. در آینده نزدیک میانگین بارش سالانه ایستگاه الشتر بین سه دهم تا 16 درصد و ‏ایستگاه خرم‌آباد بین هفت تا 12 درصد تحت سناریوهای ‏SSP‏ کاهش خواهد داشت. در آینده دور نیز میانگین بارش سالانه ‏ایستگاه الشتر بین 10 تا 20 درصد و ایستگاه خرم‌آباد بین 12 تا 24 درصد تحت سناریوهای ‏SSP‏ کاهش خواهد داشت.‏

Teaching Factory (TEFA) is a development of the production unit, namely the application of partner industrial systems to existing production/practice units in vocational schools. Agrimart Polije is one of the TEFA in Politeknik Negeri Jember Indonesia which focuses on marketing services (retail business) of agricultural products. The purpose of this research is to produce a supply chain management planning and strategy that can be applied to Agrimart Polije. This research was quantitative descriptive research. The research design deployed was case study to intensively or deeply from the research target group. The analytical method used consisted of Force Field Analysis (FFA), which was used to determine the policy strategies of supply chain planning at Agrimart Polije. Based on the results of the FFA, it is known that the main driving factor has 1.73 in TNB score. It’s the avalibility of agricultural products that produced by several TEFA at Politeknik Negeri Jember, making it easier for Agrimart Polije to find suppliers. While the inhibiting factor has 1,57 in TNB score. The obstacle is about the production and sales of TEFA’s products are still fluctuating. Therefore, Agrimart Polije which will be engaged in marketing services or retail business must be more responsive in understanding consumer desires, because retail position is the position closest to consumers in a supply chain management system.

Yanan Feng,1,&ast; Wenxiu Sun,2,&ast; Fengcui Sun,1 Guoliang Yin,1 Pengpeng Liang,1 Suwen Chen,1 Xiangyi Liu,1 Tongfei Jiang,3 Fengxia Zhang4 1Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nursing, Taishan Vocational College of Nursing, Taian, People’s Republic of China; 3Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250011, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Fengxia Zhang, Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250011, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-131-5317-5246, Email fxzhang0987@163.comAbstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a spectrum of liver disorders from non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) to the more severe non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is the leading etiology of chronic liver disease and its global prevalence is increasing. Hepatic steatosis, a condition marked by an abnormal buildup of triglycerides in the liver, is the precursor to NAFLD. Differentiated cluster 36 (CD36), a scavenger receptor class B protein, is a membrane receptor that recognizes multiple lipid and non-lipid ligands. It is generally agreed that CD36 contributes significantly to hepatic steatosis by taking part in fatty acid uptake as well as triglyceride storage and secretion. While there has not been any conclusive research on how CD36 inhibitors prevent NAFLD from progressing and no clinically approved CD36 inhibitors are currently available for use in NAFLD, CD36 remains a target worthy of further investigation in NAFLD. In recent years, the potential role of natural products acting through CD36 in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has attracted much attention. This paper offers an overview of the pathogenesis of CD36 in NAFLD and summarizes some of the natural compounds or extracts that are currently being investigated for modulating NAFLD via CD36 or the CD36 pathway, providing an alternative approach to the development of CD36-related drugs in NAFLD.Keywords: NAFLD, CD36, natural inhibitors, FFA, TG

Purpose: To evaluate choroidal lesions with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scan in varicella zoster virus (VZV) uveitis. Methods: VZV-uveitis cases which underwent OCT scan for choroidal lesions were studied. SD-OCT scan passing through these lesions was studied in detail. Subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) during active and resolved stages was studied. Angiogaphic features were studied where available. Results: Thirteen out of 15 cases had same-sided herpes zoster ophthalmicus skin rashes. All except three patients had old or active kerato-uveitis. All eyes demonstrated clear vitreous and a single or multiple hypopigmented orangish-yellow choroidal lesions. The number of lesions remained unchanged during the follow-up on clinical examination. SD-OCT over lesions (n = 11) showed choroidal thinning (n = 5), hyporeflective choroidal elevation during active inflammation (n = 3), transmission effects (n = 4), and ellipsoid zone disruption (n = 7). The mean change in SFCT (n = 9) after resolution of the inflammation was 26.3 µm (range: 3--90 µm). Fundus fluorescein angiography showed iso-fluorescence over lesions in all (n = 5), but indocyanine green angiography (n = 3) showed hypofluorescence at lesions. Mean follow-up was 1.38 years (range: 3 months--7 years). De-novo appearance of choroidal lesion during the first relapse of VZV-uveitis was captured in one case. Conclusion: VZV-uveitis can cause focal or multifocal hypopigmented choroidal lesions with thickening or scarring of choroidal tissue, depending on the disease activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Retinal ischaemia is present to a greater or lesser extent in all eyes with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Nonetheless, our understanding of its pathogenic mechanisms, risk factors, as well as other characteristics of retinal ischaemia in DR is very limited. To date, there is no treatment to revascularise ischaemic retina. Methods: Review of the literature highlighting the current knowledge on the topic of retinal ischaemia in DR, important observations made, and underlying gaps for which research is needed. Results: A very scarce number of clinical studies, mostly cross-sectional, have evaluated specifically retinal ischaemia in DR. Interindividual variability on its natural course and consequences, including the development of its major complications, namely diabetic macular ischaemia and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, have not been investigated. The in situ, surrounding, and distance effect of retinal ischaemia on retinal function and structure and its change over time remains also to be elucidated. Treatments to prevent the development of retinal ischaemia and, importantly, to achieve retinal reperfusion once capillary drop out has ensued, are very much needed and remain to be developed. Conclusion: Research into retinal ischaemia in diabetes should be a priority to save sight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: When ketosis occurs, supraphysiological levels of free fatty acids (FFA) can cause oxidative injury to the mammary gland and autophagy can regulate the cellular oxidative status. The aim of this study was to investigate the autophagy status of mammary tissue and its associations with oxidative stress in healthy and clinically ketotic dairy cows. Mammary tissue and blood samples were collected from healthy cows [n = 15, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) 3.0 mM) at 3 to 15 (average = 7) days in milk. For in vitro study, bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC) isolated from healthy cows were treated with 0, 0.3, 0.6, or 1.2 mM FFA for 24 h. Furthermore, BMEC were pretreated with 100 nM rapamycin, an autophagy activator, for 4 h or 50 mM 3-methyladenine (3-MA), an autophagy inhibitor, for 1 h, followed by treatment with or without FFA (1.2 mM) for another 24 h. Oxidation indicators and autophagy-related protein abundance were measured. Compared with healthy cows, serum concentrations of FFA, BHB, and malondialdehyde were greater in clinically ketotic cows, but milk production (kg/d), milk protein (kg/d), activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were lower. Abundances of mRNA and protein of autophagy-related gene 5 (ATG5) and 7 (ATG7) were lower, but sequestosome-1 (SQSTM1, also called p62) greater in mammary tissue of clinically ketotic cows. The mRNA abundance of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (MAP1LC3, also called LC3) and protein abundance of LC3-II were lower in mammary tissue of clinically ketotic cows. In vitro, exogenous FFA increased the content of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species, but decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and plasma glutathione peroxidase. Compared with the 0 mM FFA group, abundance of ATG5, ATG7, LC3-II was greater, but p62 was lower in the 0.6 mM FFA-treated cells. Similarly, abundance of ATG5, ATG7, and LC3-II was lower, but p62 greater in the 1.2 mM FFA-treated cells relative to 0 mM FFA group. Culture with rapamycin alleviated oxidative stress induced by 1.2 mM FFA, whereas 3-MA aggravated it. Overall, results indicated that a low concentration (0.6 mM) of FFA can induce oxidative stress and activate autophagy in BMEC. At higher concentrations of FFA (1.2 mM), autophagy is impaired and oxidative stress is aggravated. Autophagy is a mechanism for BMEC to counteract FFA-induced stress. As such, it could serve as a potential target for further development of novel strategies against oxidative stress.

Capparis decidua belongs to family Capparidaceae in wastelands of India. The study aim was to determine the role of C. decidua fruits on the free fatty acids (FFA) profile in fat-rich diet (FRD) dyslipidemic rats. The methanolic extract of edible fruit of C. decidua (CD) was given orally to obese dyslipidemic rats at the dose of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg for consecutive 28 days. CD treatment in FRD rats significantly restricts the body weight gains. Blood lipid profile was altered dose dependently and significantly after 4-week treatment with CD to FRD. rats. It significantly (p

Abstract. A reliable flood frequency analysis (FFA) requires selection of an appropriate statistical distribution to model historic streamflow data and, where streamflow data are not available (ungauged sites), a regression-based regional flood frequency analysis (RFFA) often correlates well with downstream channel discharge to drainage area relations. However, the predictive strength of the accepted RFFA relies on an assumption of homogeneous watershed conditions. For glacially conditioned fluvial systems, inherited glacial landforms, sediments, and variable land use can alter flow paths and modify flow regimes. This study compares a multi-variate RFFA that considers 28 explanatory variables to characterize variable watershed conditions (i.e., surficial geology, climate, topography, and land use) to an accepted power-law relationship between discharge and drainage area. Archived gauge data from southern Ontario, Canada are used to test these ideas. Mathematical goodness of-fit criteria best estimate flood discharge for a broad range of flood recurrence intervals, i.e., 1.25, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years. The LN, EV1, LP3, and GEV distributions are found most appropriate in 42.5%, 31.9%, 21.7%, and 3.9% of cases, respectively, suggesting that systematic model selection criterion is required for FFA in heterogeneous landscapes. Multivariate regression of estimated flood quantiles with backward elimination of explanatory variables using principal component and discriminant analyses reveal that precipitation provides a greater predictive relationship for more frequent flood events, whereas surficial geology demonstrates more predictive ability for high magnitude, less frequent flood events. In this study, all seven flood quantiles identify a statistically significant two-predictor model that incorporates upstream drainage area and the percentage of naturalized landscape with 5% improvement in predictive power over the commonly used single-variable drainage area model (p < 2.2e-16). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) further supports the two-predictor model indicating a decrease in the sum of squares of residuals and an F statistic (p < 0.001) that demonstrates very strong evidence in favour of the two-predictor model (i.e., drainage area and land use) when estimating flood discharge in this low-relief landscape with pronounced glacial legacy effects and heterogenous land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity, a rising concern in the Eastern world, encompasses several co-morbidities, namely non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Potential natural-based interventions to decrease the burden of obesity complications are being investigated. Many of the edible parts of plants are not sold for consumption and end up as massive waste, losing nutritional potential. In fact, a sizeable amount of waste is generated within the different steps of the food supply chain, representing a massive loss of both plant material and natural resources. A good example is Brassica by-products (BBPs). The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of three different extracts from broccoli (Brassica oleracea var italica) by-products in an in vitro model of free fatty acid (FFA)-induced lipotoxicity using human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Broccoli leaf, stalk, and inflorescence extracts induced a dose-dependent decrease in the cell viability of HepG2 cells. However, the maximal non-lethal concentrations of leaves, stalks, and inflorescences (10 μg/mL) did not compromise mitochondrial function or neutral lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. The extracts significantly decreased FFA-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells either in a co-incubation or pre-incubation strategy. The broccoli extracts' capacity to prevent the FFA-induced decrease in catalase activity in HepG2 may explain the observed effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valorisation of chicken fat as a fat source in chicken meat products or as a low-cost source of biodiesel could be a viable option for the poultry industry’s long-term sustainability and pollution reduction. The acidity and peroxide levels of culinary oils and fats are important grading and safety factors. FT-NIR techniques with chemometric treatment are a rapid, reliable, and convenient alternative to wet-chemical characterisation by reference analysis. This research demonstrated that using FT-NIR spectroscopy (1122-902 nm) and (1090- 898 nm) with PLS-R, PCA, and Discriminant Analysis (DA) was sufficient to analyse data, predict, and discriminate edible oils and chicken fat according to their quality parameters regardless of whether they are present in low or high amounts. The PLS-R regression models can predict FFA and PV because they have a perfect agreement with reference analysis (R², 0.94 and 0.99) and have RPD >2 showing FT-NIR is suitable for quality control applications of edible oils and chicken fat. DA was able to discriminate between the groups chicken fat and virgin olive oil, from other edible oils with a 98% accuracy, based on their FFA and PV by both methods. The FT-NIR method with a multivariate approach is an excellent alternative to reference methods, using a small sample and no chemical, fast, reliable, and as green technique that could be used as a quality control tool for both predictions of quality and discrimination purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive accumulation of body fat in broiler chickens has become a serious problem in the poultry industry. However, the molecular mechanism of triglyceride accumulation in chicken white adipose tissue (WAT) has not been elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the physiological importance of the catabolic hormone corticosterone, the major glucocorticoid in chickens, in the regulation of chicken WAT lipid metabolism. We first examined the effects of fasting on the mRNA levels of lipid metabolism-related genes associated with WAT, plasma corticosterone, and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). We then examined the effects of corticosterone on the expression of these genes in vivo and in vitro. In 10-day-old chicks, 3 h of fasting significantly decreased mRNA levels of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in WAT and significantly elevated plasma concentrations of NEFA. Six hours of fasting significantly increased mRNA levels of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) in WAT and significantly elevated plasma concentrations of corticosterone. On the other hand, fasting significantly reduced mRNA levels of LPL in WAT and elevated plasma concentrations of NEFA in 29-day-old chicks without affecting mRNA levels of ATGL in WAT or plasma corticosterone concentrations. Oral administration of corticosterone significantly reduced mRNA levels of LPL and significantly increased the mRNA levels of ATGL in WAT in 29-day-old chicks without affecting plasma NEFA concentrations. The addition of corticosterone to primary chicken adipocytes significantly increased mRNA levels of ATGL, whereas mRNA levels of LPL tended to decrease. NEFA concentrations in the culture medium were not influenced by corticosterone levels. These results suggest that plasma corticosterone partly regulates the gene expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in chicken WAT and this regulation is different from the acute elevation of plasma NEFA due to short-term fasting.

The repeated use of cooking oil can trigger chemical reactions that cause the cooking oil to be unstable to heat. Red onion peel may be an antioxidant because it contains flavonoid compounds, polyphenols, saponins, and alkaloids that scavenge free radicals. This study aims to prove the use of natural antioxidant concentrations of onion peel. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 5 treatments of onion peel extract, namely 3% (P1), 6% (P2), 9% (P3) 12% (P4), without treatment (P-), and the addition of 0,1% BHT (P+) with consecutive times. The ability of antioxidant of onion peel extract is known to be able to maintain the stability of cooking oil compared to an antioxidant synthetic BHT. Peroxide in extract oil 9% (6.65 meq/kg), Total Oxidation in extract oil 9% (15.92 meq/kg), P-anisidine in extract oil 3% and 9% (3.54 meq/kg) /kg and 3.92 meq/kg) and the iodine value of the extract oil 3%, and 9% (21.41 mg iodine/g and 20.81 mg iodine/g). It was found that natural antioxidants of onion peel extract showed better primary oxidation inhibition ability than synthetic antioxidants BHT and among the five types of antioxidant concentrations, antioxidants from onion peel extract 9% showed the best oxidation inhibition ability. So that it can be obtained that the addition of onion peel extract is used as a natural antioxidant to maintain the stability of the oil against heat.

Metabolism-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is one of the most common causes of liver disease; however, the underlying processes remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the changes of free fatty acids (FFA) on the expression of genes related to the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway in the primary hepatocytes of laying hens. The primary hepatocytes of laying hens were treated with FFA (containing a 2:1 ratio of oleic and palmitic acids) for 24 h. FFA significantly increased lipid droplet accumulation, decreased glycogen synthesis, increased the levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glucose content in the supernatant (GLU) in the primary hepatocytes of laying hens, and decreased the levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The results of the PCR array combined with Western blotting experiments showed that the activity of AMPK was inhibited. Inhibition of AMPK signaling pathway decreases the expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, increases the expression of genes involved in lipid synthesis, decreases the expression of genes involved in glycogen synthesis, increases the expression of genes involved in glycolysis, increases the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress, and increases the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest that FFA can affect the homeostasis of the AMPK signaling pathway by altering energy metabolic homeostasis, inducing oxidative stress, and adjusting the onset of cell proliferation and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable oils are important in human nutrition with their nutritional properties. Today the demand for cold pressed oils, especially black cumin, is increasing day by day. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the quality and characteristics of the oils consumed and sold by highlighted as cold pressed as food supplements in terms of food safety. In the study, % free fatty acidity (FFA), peroxide values (PV), fatty acid compositions and iodine numbers of samples (six brands and four varieties; black cumin, wheat germ, grape seed and apricot kernel) sold in the Istanbul market were investigated. According to results, average FFA values were 8.1% in black cumin, 1.43% in germ, 1.90% in grape seed, 4.31% in the apricot kernel. Average PVs (meq O2 kg-1 oil) were 24.30 in black cumin, 21.42 in germ, 12.39 in grape seed, 26.23 in the apricot kernel. Total(Σ) SFA, MUFA, PUFA values were determined between 7.14-11.42%, 16.43-42.78%, 29.09-48.81% in black cumin; 6.83-11.35%, 22.64-51.87%, 22.27-54.87% in germ; 6.89-11.86%, 22.68-41.82%, 30.76-44.27% in grape seed; 5.62-10.29%, 22.58-59.24%, 21.15-43.93% in apricot kernel, respectively. Also, average iodine numbers (g I2 / 100 g oil) were calculated 95.17 in black cumin, 97.58 in germ, 99 in grape seed, 92.62 in the apricot kernel. Since only grape seed oil is included in the Turkish Food Codex, evaluation of the other samples couldn’t be made according to the Codex. It was determined that the PV value of 2 grape seed oil samples and the FFA value of 3 samples were not suitable according to the communiqué. The differences in the analysis results are thought to be caused by raw material quality and storage, process and final product storage conditions.

Contrary to carbohydrate and fat metabolism, the influence of a single exercise dose on protein metabolism has not been adequately explored yet. We assessed the effects of different exercise intensities and durations on blood protein changes and their association with carbohydrate (CHO) and fat metabolism in six eligible trained subjects. Subjects performed maximal incremental (IE100: at 100%VO2max) and submaximal continuous exercise (CE) at 75%VO2max for 30 min (CE75) and at 50%VO2max for 90 min (CE50). Blood samples were collected at rest (R), end of exercise (EE), and 1 h after recovery to assess blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma amino acids (AA), glucose, lactate, FFA, and glycerol. In IE100 blood lactate, CHO-oxidation (g/min), energy expenditure (kcal/min), and RER were significantly increased during rest (p < 0.05). CE50 induced significantly higher BUN, FFA, glycerol, and fat oxidation (g/min) (p < 0.05). At recovery, the mean sum of the free AA pool (µmol/L) reduced by 8% (p < 0.03) during CE50. Values for CE75 were between IE100 and CE50. Beside lipolysis, also proteolysis (BUN) was an important source of fuel for low-to-moderate intensity CE50. An increased uptake of AA from the plasma bed during CE50 suggests the importance for oxidation and synthesis of other metabolic sources such as gluconeogenesis necessary for recovery. Therefore, one needs to be cautious of protein diet following prolonged cycle exercise training.