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European Neuropsychopharmacology : the... Dec 2023Anhedonia is described as a decreased ability to experience rewarding and enjoyable activities, a core symptom of major depressive disorder. The sucrose preference test... (Review)
Review
Anhedonia is described as a decreased ability to experience rewarding and enjoyable activities, a core symptom of major depressive disorder. The sucrose preference test (SPT) is a widely used and reliable behavioural test to assess anhedonia in rodents, based on a two-bottle choice paradigm. To date, different protocols are in use, inducing variability between researchers and hampering comparisons between studies. We performed a systematic review of the SPT protocols used in 2021 to identify the parameters in which they differ and their potential impact. We searched a total of four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct), from 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021, and screened a total of 1066 articles. After screening by title and abstract, a total of 415 articles were included in this review. We extracted and analysed the different procedures used, the type of sweet solution and the habituation, deprivation, and testing protocols. The overall quality of the studies was considered very good, however, SPT protocols were extremely variable between studies with a total of 65 different habituation protocols and 104 combinations of food/water deprivation and preference testing duration. As the SPT is one of the most used tests to assess anhedonia in rodents, this work raises awareness of the great variability in SPT protocols being currently used. Furthermore, we call for standardization in the protocol used, and overall improvement of data reporting of methodologies and results, to increase the consistency between studies and allow a better comparison of results between different labs.
Topics: Animals; Anhedonia; Depressive Disorder, Major; Food; Rodentia; Sucrose
PubMed: 37741164
DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.08.496 -
International Journal of Molecular... Feb 2024Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious inflammatory disease with high morbidity and mortality. Rosavin is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant phenylpropanoid and...
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious inflammatory disease with high morbidity and mortality. Rosavin is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant phenylpropanoid and glucoside, which is isolated from Rhodiola rosea L. However, its potential molecular mechanisms and whether it has protective effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI remain to be elucidated. To assess the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects and anti-lung injury activity of rosavin, RAW264.7 and A549 cells were stimulated using 1 μg/mL LPS. Rosavin attenuated LPS-induced activation of the TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway in RAW264.7 cells and inhibited LPS-induced release of inflammatory factors in A549 cells. A mouse model of acute lung injury was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg LPS to observe the therapeutic effect of rosavin. Transcriptomics analysis and Western blot assays were utilized to verify the molecular mechanism, rosavin (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) dose-dependently ameliorated histopathological alterations, reduced the levels of inflammatory factors, and inhibited the TLR-4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway and apoptosis activation. Rosavin is a promising therapeutic candidate for acute lung injury by inhibiting the TLR-4/NF-κB/MAPK pathway.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Acute Lung Injury; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Disaccharides; Lipopolysaccharides; Lung; NF-kappa B; Toll-Like Receptor 4
PubMed: 38339153
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031875 -
Nutrients Nov 2023According to unofficial data, every fifth person in Serbia suffers from some form of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Compounds classified as FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-,...
According to unofficial data, every fifth person in Serbia suffers from some form of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Compounds classified as FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, and Monosaccharides and Polyols) are newly found potential triggers of IBS and a number of associated gastrointestinal disorders. Cereals, predominantly in their wholegrain form, represent the key contributors to the high contents of FODMAPs in wholegrain (high-fiber) bakery products. The current work was structured in a way to systematically evaluate the consumer's knowledge and preferences toward wholegrain and low-FODMAP bakery products. The questionnaire was filled out by 725 respondents, aged from 18 to 86 years. They were informed about the aim of the research and management of anonymous data. The present study is the first detailed survey in this region of Europe, aiming to improve the familiarity with and attitude toward FODMAPs and a low-FODMAP diet by analyzing the different dietary habits regarding wholegrain-cereal-based products among consumers of various ages, genders, places of residence, and education. The results suggest that the respondents are, to some degree, aware of the health benefits of consuming foods with high fiber content while indicating a low level of knowledge about FODMAP compounds and connected topics. Education about contemporary scientific findings and the potentially harmful effects of consuming FODMAP compounds for a population with gastrointestinal disorders and diseases will be imperative in the future.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Oligosaccharides; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Serbia; Carbohydrates; Monosaccharides; Fermentation; Disaccharides
PubMed: 37960346
DOI: 10.3390/nu15214693 -
Food Chemistry Mar 2024Fructan, a widespread functional polysaccharide, has been used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and material production fields because of its versatile... (Review)
Review
Fructan, a widespread functional polysaccharide, has been used in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and material production fields because of its versatile physicochemical properties and biological activities. Inulin from plants and levan from microorganisms are two of the most extensively studied fructans. Fructans from different plants or microorganisms have inconsistent molecular weights, and the molecular weight of fructan affects its properties, functions, and applications. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the production and application of fructans having various molecular weights, and biotechnological processes have been explored to produce tailor-made fructans from sucrose. This review encompasses the introduction of extraction, enzymatic transformation, and fermentation production processes for fructans with diverse molecular weights. Notably, it highlights the enzymes involved in fructan biosynthesis and underscores their physiological effects, with a special emphasis on their prebiotic properties. Moreover, the applications of fructans with varying molecular weights are also emphasized.
Topics: Molecular Weight; Fructans; Inulin; Prebiotics; Sucrose
PubMed: 37924765
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137895 -
Journal of Intensive Care Medicine Mar 2024Sepsis-associated destruction of the pulmonary microvascular endothelial glycocalyx (EGCX) creates a vulnerable endothelial surface, contributing to the development of... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Sepsis-associated destruction of the pulmonary microvascular endothelial glycocalyx (EGCX) creates a vulnerable endothelial surface, contributing to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Constituents of the EGCX shed into circulation, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans, may serve as biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction. We sought to define the patterns of plasma EGCX degradation products in children with sepsis-associated pediatric ARDS (PARDS), and test their association with clinical outcomes.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed a prospective cohort (2018-2020) of children (≥1 month to <18 years of age) receiving invasive mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure for ≥72 h. Children with and without sepsis-associated PARDS were selected from the parent cohort and compared. Blood was collected at time of enrollment. Plasma glycosaminoglycan disaccharide class (heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronan) and sulfation subtypes (heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate) were quantified using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Plasma proteoglycans (syndecan-1) were measured through an immunoassay.
RESULTS
Among the 39 mechanically ventilated children (29 with and 10 without sepsis-associated PARDS), sepsis-associated PARDS patients demonstrated higher levels of heparan sulfate (median 639 ng/mL [interquartile range, IQR 421-902] vs 311 [IQR 228-461]) and syndecan-1 (median 146 ng/mL [IQR 32-315] vs 8 [IQR 8-50]), both = 0.01. Heparan sulfate subtype analysis demonstrated greater proportions of -sulfated disaccharide levels among children with sepsis-associated PARDS (0.01). Increasing sulfated disaccharide levels by quartile were associated with severe PARDS (n = 9/29) with the highest quartile including >60% of the severe PARDS patients (test for trend, = 0.04). Higher total heparan sulfate and sulfated disaccharide levels were independently associated with fewer 28-day ventilator-free days in children with sepsis-associated PARDS (all 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Children with sepsis-associated PARDS exhibited higher plasma levels of heparan sulfate disaccharides and syndecan-1, suggesting that EGCX degradation biomarkers may provide insights into endothelial dysfunction and PARDS pathobiology.
Topics: Humans; Child; Retrospective Studies; Syndecan-1; Chondroitin Sulfates; Prospective Studies; Glycocalyx; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Sepsis; Heparitin Sulfate; Biomarkers; Proteoglycans; Disaccharides
PubMed: 37670670
DOI: 10.1177/08850666231200162 -
Journal of the Chinese Medical... Mar 2024Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is one of the major complications of liver disease and significantly affects the quality of life (QOL) of patients. HE is common and... (Review)
Review
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is one of the major complications of liver disease and significantly affects the quality of life (QOL) of patients. HE is common and frequently relapses in cirrhotic patients. The management of HE is supportive, and precipitating conditions should be eliminated. Most drugs used to treat HE are conventional and include nonabsorbable disaccharides such as lactulose, and antibiotics such as rifaximin. However, their therapeutic efficacy is still suboptimal, and novel therapeutic agents are urgently needed. In addition, the optimal management and diagnosis of minimal HE/covert HE are under debate. In this review, we focus on novel pathogenetic mechanisms such as central nervous system clearance, and emerging therapeutic targets of HE, such as fecal material transplantation. We also discuss different classifications and etiologies of HE.
Topics: Humans; Hepatic Encephalopathy; Quality of Life; Gastrointestinal Agents; Lactulose; Rifaximin
PubMed: 38109364
DOI: 10.1097/JCMA.0000000000001041 -
Drug Discovery Today Sep 2023Lactose is one of the most widespread excipients used in the pharmaceutical industry. Because of its water solubility and acceptable flowability, lactose is generally... (Review)
Review
Lactose is one of the most widespread excipients used in the pharmaceutical industry. Because of its water solubility and acceptable flowability, lactose is generally added into tablet formulation to improve wettability and undesirable flowability. Based on Quality by Design, a better understanding of the critical material attributes (CMAs) of raw materials is beneficial in guiding the improvement of tablet quality and the development of lactose. Additionally, the modifications and co-processing of lactose can introduce more-desirable characteristics to the resulting particles. This review focuses on the functionality, CMAs, applications, modifications and co-processing of lactose in tablets.
Topics: Excipients; Lactose; Tablets; Solubility; Drug Compounding
PubMed: 37419210
DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103696 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2023Due to their ability to produce isomaltulose, sucrose isomerases are enzymes that have caught the attention of researchers and entrepreneurs since the 1950s. However,... (Review)
Review
Due to their ability to produce isomaltulose, sucrose isomerases are enzymes that have caught the attention of researchers and entrepreneurs since the 1950s. However, their low activity and stability at temperatures above 40 °C have been a bottleneck for their industrial application. Specifically, the instability of these enzymes has been a challenge when it comes to their use for the synthesis and manufacturing of chemicals on a practical scale. This is because industrial processes often require biocatalysts that can withstand harsh reaction conditions, like high temperatures. Since the 1980s, there have been significant advancements in the thermal stabilization engineering of enzymes. Based on the literature from the past few decades and the latest achievements in protein engineering, this article systematically describes the strategies used to enhance the thermal stability of sucrose isomerases. Additionally, from a theoretical perspective, we discuss other potential mechanisms that could be used for this purpose.
Topics: Protein Engineering; Temperature; Isomerases; Sucrose; Enzyme Stability
PubMed: 37833959
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914513 -
Gastroenterology Jul 2024The efficacy of a low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is well established. After the elimination... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND & AIMS
The efficacy of a low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is well established. After the elimination period, a reintroduction phase aims to identify triggers. We studied the impact of a blinded reintroduction using FODMAP powders to objectively identify triggers and evaluated the effect on symptoms, quality of life, and psychosocial comorbidities.
METHODS
Responders to a 6-week low FODMAP diet, defined by a drop in IBS symptom severity score (IBS-SSS) compared with baseline, entered a 9-week blinded randomized reintroduction phase with 6 FODMAP powders (fructans, fructose, galacto-oligosaccharides, lactose, mannitol, sorbitol) or control (glucose). A rise in IBS-SSS (≥50 points) defined a FODMAP trigger. Patients completed daily symptom diaries and questionnaires for quality of life and psychosocial comorbidities.
RESULTS
In 117 recruited patients with IBS, IBS-SSS improved significantly after the elimination period compared with baseline (150 ± 116 vs 301 ± 97, P < .0001, 80% responders). Symptom recurrence was triggered in 85% of the FODMAP powders, by an average of 2.5 ± 2 FODMAPs/patient. The most prevalent triggers were fructans (56%) and mannitol (54%), followed by galacto-oligosaccharides, lactose, fructose, sorbitol, and glucose (respectively 35%, 28%, 27%, 23%, and 26%) with a significant increase in abdominal pain at day 1 for sorbitol/mannitol, day 2 for fructans/galacto-oligosaccharides, and day 3 for lactose.
CONCLUSION
We confirmed the significant benefit of the low FODMAP diet in tertiary-care IBS. A blinded reintroduction revealed a personalized pattern of symptom recurrence, with fructans and mannitol as the most prevalent, and allows the most objective identification of individual FODMAP triggers. Ethical commission University hospital of Leuven reference number: s63629; Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT04373304.
Topics: Humans; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Female; Male; Adult; Quality of Life; Middle Aged; Oligosaccharides; Fermentation; Mannitol; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; Treatment Outcome; Lactose; Monosaccharides; Disaccharides; Polymers; Fructose; Sorbitol; Fructans; Severity of Illness Index; Double-Blind Method; Surveys and Questionnaires; Powders; Recurrence; Young Adult; FODMAP Diet
PubMed: 38401741
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.02.008 -
Cell Reports Feb 2024Rapid gut-brain communication is critical to maintain energy balance and is disrupted in diet-induced obesity. In particular, the role of carbohydrate overconsumption in...
Rapid gut-brain communication is critical to maintain energy balance and is disrupted in diet-induced obesity. In particular, the role of carbohydrate overconsumption in the regulation of interoceptive circuits in vivo requires further investigation. Here, we report that an obesogenic high-sucrose diet (HSD) selectively blunts silencing of hunger-promoting agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons following intragastric delivery of glucose, whereas we previously showed that overconsumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) selectively attenuates lipid-induced neural silencing. By contrast, both HSD and HFD reversibly dampen rapid AgRP neuron inhibition following chow presentation and promote intake of more palatable foods. Our findings reveal that excess sugar and fat pathologically modulate feeding circuit activity in both macronutrient-dependent and -independent ways and thus may additively exacerbate obesity.
Topics: Humans; Sucrose; Agouti-Related Protein; Neurons; Obesity; Eating
PubMed: 38224492
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113675