Intra-abdominal fat area is a predictor for new onset of individual components of metabolic syndrome: MEtabolic syndRome and abdominaL ObesiTy (MERLOT study)

Objective: To investigate the significance of intra-abdominal fat area (IAFA) on new onset of individual components of the metabolic syndrome: high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, or hyperglycemia. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study using checkup data of a hospital from 1994 to 2010. Of 25,255 subjects, we examined 1,380 Japanese, who underwent computed tomography to measure IAFA and had no metabolic syndrome components at baseline. Results: During 3.6 years of the mean follow-up period, one of metabolic syndrome components occurred in 752 subjects. Of three components, high blood pressure was more prevalent. The multiple Cox regression analysis disclosed that IAFA is significantly associated with onset of metabolic syndrome components (HR: 1.05 per 10 cm², 95%CI: 1.03–1.07). This finding was independent of BMI, and significant even in non-obese individuals with body mass index <25 kg/m². Conclusions: MERLOT study demonstrates that IAFA is an independent predictor for new onset of individual components of the metabolic syndrome, even in non-obese healthy Japanese.     

超高效液相色谱串联质谱法同时快速测定牛奶中不同类型的11种兽药残留

建立了超高效液相色谱串联质谱测定牛奶中四环素类、青霉素类、磺胺类和泰乐菌素等11种兽药残留的检测方法。样品经乙腈超声提取后离心分离,上层清液稀释10倍后过0.2μm滤膜上机测定。在优化条件下,11种兽药在其线性范围内的相关系数均在0.998以上,定量下限(LOQ,S/N=10)为0.3～15μg/kg,在低、中、高3个水平下的加标回收率为81%～117%,相对标准偏差为0.6%～10.2%。方法用于实际牛奶样品中兽药残留量的测定,结果满意。     

Mild and Efficient Procedure for Michael Addition of N-Heterocycles to α,β-Unsaturated Compounds Using Anhydrous K3PO4 as Catalyst

Imidazole, 1,2,4-triazole, indole, and benzotriazole undergo conjugate additions with α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in the presence of anhydrous potassium phosphate at ambient temperature to afford the corresponding Michael adducts in excellent yields.     

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor curcumin upregulates mitochondrial uncoupling protein1 (UCP1) and mitochondrial function in brown adipocytes,in-silico study and screening natural drug library

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with diverse pathological conditions globally. Specifically, in adipose tissues, mitochondrial dysfunction is the primary cause of obesity and obesity-related illnesses. An existing drugs such as atorvastatin and other lipid-lowering drugs demonstrated adverse effects and initiated other diseases. Thus, we need to explore new methods to prevent and treat obesity. In this study, we used the cell screening method to identify several natural compounds that increase adipocyte UCP1 gene expression. The identified drug Curcumin was evaluated in cell models and the In-silico model. We found curcumin is an active compound of turmeric belonging to Zingiberaceae (ginger family), which activates the Nrf2 mechanism. Curcumin potentially endorses the expression of UCP1 in the brown adipocyte in vitro cellular model. Curcumin plays an important role that modulating mitochondrial function and improving mitochondrial DNA quantification, ATP production, and cell viability. We have established an efficient in vitro cell experiment system to study the metabolic regulation of UCP1. The in-silico model revealed curcumin-UCP1 interaction. Curcumin, via enhancing mitochondrial activity, could be a helpful therapeutic molecule against metabolic disorders or obesity-related diseases. Curcumin will be the subject of more research in both human and murine models, which will provide novel therapeutic pathways for the treatment of metabolic illnesses by modulating the control of mitochondrial function.     

Anti-atherosclerotic activity of Betulinic acid loaded polyvinyl alcohol/methylacrylate grafted Lignin polymer in high fat diet induced atherosclerosis model rats

Betulinic acid is one such natural pentacyclic triterpenoid compound, holding various pharmacological properties but its poor bioavailability is the only limitation. One of the biological macromolecules such as Lignin is a plant-derived aromatic, eco-friendly and low-cost polymer that certainly self-assembles into nano-sized colloids. Therefore, onto the current investigation, we increased the bioavailability of betulinic acid by coating on to a nanopolymer prepared with poly vinyl alcohol, lignins and methyl acrylate. Betulinic acid loaded polyvinyl alcohol/ethylacrylate grafted Lignin polymer (PVA/Lig-g-MA) nanoformulation was characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM analysis and also the drug entrapment, in vitro drug releasing capacity was done to examine the efficiency of the nanoformulation of a drug. The MTT assay was evaluated the cytotoxicity of synthesized nanoformulation against normal endothelial cells HUVEC and HAPEC to confirm the side effects of the drug. The anti-atherosclerotic property of the nanoformulation was ascertained in both in vitro condition (with HUVEC and HPAEC) and in vivo studies (with Wistar rats). As a result, the characterization studies and in vitro studies clearly confirmed the Betulinic acid loaded PVA/Lig-g-MA nanoformulation is an ideal nanopolymer and it doesn’t cause any cytotoxic effect in normal endothelial cells. It also decreased the lipopolysaccharides induced inflammation through the down-regulation of NFκB and MAP/JNK signaling molecule expressions. Following in vivo results confirmed the synthesized nanoformulation effectively decreased the hyperchlostremia, inflammation and vasoconstriction, which induced over high fat diet. The results of histopathological analysis of cardiac tissues also confirmed the cardioprotective role of synthesized nanoformulation. Overall, both the in vitro and in vivo studies authentically proven the Betulinic acid loaded PVA/Lig-g-MA nanoformulation would be a potent cost effective anti-atherosclerotic nanodrug.     

An Integrative Approach of an In Vitro Measurement of the Digestibility of Triacylglycerols of Human Milk

Several studies have been published regarding the effect of different factors on the digestion of milk lipids, considering their natural structural arrangement as milk fat globules and the efficiency of the digestive enzymes in the lipolysis of such complex structures. During digestion, the lipolytic products are dispersed in vesicles and micelles, which are the source for absorption of digested lipids. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the isolation of the micellar phase from the digesta to appropriately determine the amounts and classes of lipids which are bioaccessible. This study presents an integrative approach that included an isolation procedure to separate the micellar fraction from undigested and non-micellar parts, and the distribution of digested milk lipids in micelles determined directly through chromatographic techniques. Four groups of five full term mothers donated colostrum or mature milk. Two sets of samples were analyzed directly (raw), and two sets were pasteurized and then analyzed. Our data revealed that the profile of digested milk lipids is different depending on the lactation period and processing stage, while the carbon atom number distribution of the digested triacylglycerols in the micellar fraction provides a substantial information regarding the acylglycerols species that are less available for absorption.     

High pressure inactivation of Clostridium botulinum type E endospores in model emulsion systems

Clostridium botulinum type E is a cold-tolerant, neurotoxigenic, endospore-forming organism, primarily associated with aquatic environments. High pressure thermal (HPT) processing presents a promising tool to enhance food safety and stability. The effect of fat on HPT inactivation of C. botulinum type E spores was investigated using an emulsion model system. The distribution of spores in oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions and their HPT (300–750?MPa, 45–75?°C, 10?min) inactivation was determined as a function of emulsion fat content (30–70% (v/v) soybean oil in buffer). Approximately 26% and 74% of the spores were located at the oil–buffer interface and the continuous phase, respectively. Spore inactivation in emulsion systems decreased with increasing oil contents, which suggests that the fat content of food plays an important role in the protection of C. botulinum type E endospores against HPT treatments. These results can be helpful for future safety considerations.     

Comparison of microbiological loads and physicochemical properties of raw milk treated with single-/multiple-cycle high hydrostatic pressure and ultraviolet-C light

The effects of ultraviolet-C radiation (UV-C, 11.8?W/m²), single-cycle and multiple-cycle high hydrostatic pressure (HHP at 200, 400 or 600?MPa) on microbial load and physicochemical quality of raw milk were evaluated. Reductions of aerobic plate count (APC) and coliform count (CC) by HHP were more than 99.9% and 98.7%, respectively. Inactivation efficiency of microorganisms increased with pressure level. At the same pressure level, two-cycle treatments caused lower APC, but did not show CC differences compared with single-cycle treatments. Reductions of APC and CC by UV-C were somewhere between 200?MPa and 400/600?MPa. Both HHP and UV-C significantly decreased lightness and increased pH, but did not change soluble solids content and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances’ values. Two 2.5?min cycles of HHP at 600?MPa caused minimum APC and CC, and maximum conductivity. Compared with HHP, UV-C markedly increased protein oxidation and reduced darkening.     

Gold nanoparticles synthesized with Poria cocos modulates the anti-obesity parameters in high-fat diet and streptozotocin induced obese diabetes rat model

Obesity is a foremost health issue that affects about 1.6 million people out of which 400 million worldwide. Epidemiological evidences prove obesity is the primary cause for various metabolic ailments e.g. diabetes. Poria cocos possess extensive biological actions, for instance, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunomodulatory actions. The primary limitation of all phytomedicine was their poor bioavailability hence in this investigation, we bio-fabricated the gold nanoparticles from Poria cocos aqueous extract and inspected their potency to treat obesity. Obese rat model were produced via fed the young female rats with high fat food for 8 weeks regimen. Further to confirm the potency of Poria cocos gold nanoparticles against obesity induced metabolic disorders we treated obese rats with low dose streptozotocin in the conclusion of the investigational time. The synthesis of Poria cocos gold-nanoparticles was evidenced via the UV-Spectroscopic study and characterized with SEM, TEM and EDAX studies. The anti-obesity actions of Poria cocos gold-nanoparticles were investigated by estimating the glucose profile, kidney markers, lipid profile, inflammatory cytokines, adipocyte markers, antioxidants in the Poria cocos gold nanoparticles treated obese rats. To confirm the Poria cocos gold nanoparticles role on inhibiting the obesity induced metabolic disorders we analyzed the histopathological changes in cardiac tissues. Our physical characterization confirms the synthesized Poria cocos gold nanoparticles assure the distinctions of influential nanoparticles to be utilized for the treatment. The results from biochemical and histopathological analysis confirms Poria cocos gold nanoparticles is a persuasive antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-obesity drug. Overall our results authentically confirm Poria cocos gold nanoparticles is a potent anti-obesity drug and it also protects from obesity induced metabolic disorders.