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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 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024We previously reported that mice with low neuronal pH drink more alcohol, demonstrating the importance of pH for alcohol reward and motivation. In this study, we tested...
We previously reported that mice with low neuronal pH drink more alcohol, demonstrating the importance of pH for alcohol reward and motivation. In this study, we tested whether systemic pH affects alcohol consumption and if so, whether it occurs by changing the alcohol reward. C57BL/6J mice were given NaHCO to raise their blood pH, and the animals' alcohol consumption was measured in the drinking-in-the-dark and two-bottle free choice paradigms. Alcohol consumption was also assessed after suppressing the bitterness of NaHCO with sucrose. Alcohol reward was evaluated using a conditioned place preference. In addition, taste sensitivity was assessed by determining quinine and sucrose preference. The results revealed that a pH increase by NaHCO caused mice to decrease their alcohol consumption. The decrease in high alcohol contents (20%) was significant and observed at different ages, as well as in both males and females. Alcohol consumption was also decreased after suppressing NaHCO bitterness. Oral gavage of NaHCO did not alter quinine and sucrose preference. In the conditioned place preference, NaHCO-treated mice spent less time in the alcohol-injected chamber. Conclusively, the results show that raising systemic pH with NaHCO decreases alcohol consumption, as it decreases the alcohol reward value.
Topics: Animals; Alcohol Drinking; Mice; Male; Female; Sodium Bicarbonate; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Reward; Ethanol; Sucrose; Quinine; Taste
PubMed: 38732226
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25095006 -
Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County,... Jan 2024A starch- and sucrose-reduced diet has been found to improve gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome, as well as reduce weight and... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
A starch- and sucrose-reduced diet may lead to improvement of intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms in more conditions than irritable bowel syndrome and congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency.
OBJECTIVES
A starch- and sucrose-reduced diet has been found to improve gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome, as well as reduce weight and improve psychological well-being. Our hypothesis was that a starch- and sucrose-reduced diet would also be beneficial in other conditions with similar symptoms. The aim of the present research letter was to describe the role of a starch- and sucrose-reduced diet in a pilot project in patients with diarrhea having varying causes.
METHODS
One man, age 36 y, suffering from functional diarrhea and one woman, 56 y, suffering from microscopic colitis, were randomized to a starch- and sucrose-reduced diet for 4 wk. At baseline, dietary information was given, and blood samples collected. Weight and waist circumference were measured. The participants completed the irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system for evaluating specific gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms and visual analog scale for irritable bowel syndrome for evaluation of specific gastrointestinal symptoms and psychological well-being. The degrees of satiety and sweet craving were measured on visual analog scales. After 4 wk, all procedures were repeated.
RESULTS
Weight, body mass index, and waist circumference were decreased during the intervention. The total amount of gastrointestinal symptoms was decreased in the participants with functional diarrhea, and diarrhea and bloating were decreased in both participants. Both had reduced extraintestinal symptoms and improved psychological well-being. Blood levels had mainly unchanged or slightly increased values of measurements reflecting nutrient intake.
CONCLUSIONS
A starch- and sucrose-reduced diet may lead to weight reduction, reduced symptoms, and improved well-being in several patient categories, not only in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. Future randomized trials should be done.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Adult; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Sucrose; Starch; Pilot Projects; Diarrhea; Diet; Gastrointestinal Diseases
PubMed: 37924624
DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2023.112254 -
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 -
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 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Jul 2023Obese females are more likely to suffer from depression and are also more likely to be resistant to current medications. This study examined the potential...
BACKGROUND
Obese females are more likely to suffer from depression and are also more likely to be resistant to current medications. This study examined the potential antidepressant-like effects of 1,4-dihydroxy-2-napthoic acid (DHNA), a selective aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulator (SAhRM), in obese female mice.
METHODS
Obesity was established by feeding C57BL/6N female mice a high fat diet (HFD) for 9-10 weeks. Subsequently, mice were subjected to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) or remained unstressed. Daily administration of vehicle or 20 mg/kg DHNA began three weeks prior or on the third week of UCMS. Mice were examined for depression-like behaviors (sucrose preference, forced swim test (FST), splash and tape groom tests), anxiety (open-field test, light/dark test, novelty-induced hypophagia), and cognition (object location recognition, novel object recognition, Morris water maze).
RESULTS
UCMS did not alter, and DHNA slightly increased, weight gain in HFD-fed females. HFD decreased sucrose preference, increased FST immobility time, but did not alter splash and tape tests' grooming time. UCMS did not have additional effects on sucrose preference. UCMS further increased FST immobility time and decreased splash and tape tests' grooming time; these effects were prevented and reversed by DHNA treatment. HFD did not affect behaviors in the cognitive tests. UCMS impaired spatial learning; this effect was not prevented nor reversed by DHNA.
CONCLUSIONS
DHNA protected against UCMS-induced depression-like behaviors in HFD-fed female mice. DHNA neither improved nor worsened UCMS-induced impairment of spatial learning. Our findings indicate that DHNA has high potential to act as an antidepressant in obese females.
Topics: Mice; Female; Animals; Mice, Obese; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Antidepressive Agents; Depression; Obesity; Sucrose; Stress, Psychological
PubMed: 37084978
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.044 -
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 -
Enzyme and Microbial Technology Sep 2023β-Glucosidases with high catalytic activity and glucose tolerant properties possess promising applications in lignocellulose-based industries. To obtain enzymes...
β-Glucosidases with high catalytic activity and glucose tolerant properties possess promising applications in lignocellulose-based industries. To obtain enzymes possessing these properties, a semi-rational strategy was employed to engineer the glucose-stimulating β-glucosidase Bgl2A for high cellobiose hydrolysis activity. A total of 18 mutants were constructed. A22S, V224D, and A22S/V224D exhibited high specific activities of 272.06, 237.60, and 239.29 U/mg toward cellobiose, which were 2.5- to 2.8-fold of Bgl2A. A22S, V224D, and A22S/V224D exhibited increased k values, which were 2.7- to 3.1-fold of Bgl2A. A22S and V224D maintained glucose-stimulating property, whereas A22S/V224D lost it. Using 150 g/L cellobiose as the substrate, the amount of glucose produced by A22S was the highest, yielding 129.70 g/L glucose after 3 h reaction at 35 °C. The synergistic effects of the engineered enzymes with commercial cellulase on hydrolyzing cellulose were investigated. Supplemented with the commercial cellulase and A22S, the highest glucose amount of 23.30 g/L was yielded from cellulose with hydrolysis rate of 21.02 %. Given its high cellobiose hydrolysis activity and glucose-stimulating properties, A22S can be used as a component of enzyme cocktail to match mesophilic cellulases for efficient cellulose hydrolysis.
Topics: Cellobiose; Hydrolysis; beta-Glucosidase; Glucose; Cellulase; Cellulose
PubMed: 37473697
DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110289 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024Collagens are fundamental constituents of the extracellular matrix and are the most abundant proteins in mammals. Collagens belong to the family of fibrous or... (Review)
Review
Collagens are fundamental constituents of the extracellular matrix and are the most abundant proteins in mammals. Collagens belong to the family of fibrous or fiber-forming proteins that self-assemble into fibrils that define their mechanical properties and biological functions. Up to now, 28 members of the collagen superfamily have been recognized. Collagen biosynthesis occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum, where specific post-translational modification-glycosylation-is also carried out. The glycosylation of collagens is very specific and adds β-d-galactopyranose and β-d-Glc-(1→2)-d-Gal disaccharide through β--linkage to hydroxylysine. Several glycosyltransferases, namely COLGALT1, COLGALT2, LH3, and PGGHG glucosidase, were associated the with glycosylation of collagens, and recently, the crystal structure of LH3 has been solved. Although not fully understood, it is clear that the glycosylation of collagens influences collagen secretion and the alignment of collagen fibrils. A growing body of evidence also associates the glycosylation of collagen with its functions and various human diseases. Recent progress in understanding collagen glycosylation allows for the exploitation of its therapeutic potential and the discovery of new agents. This review will discuss the relevant contributions to understanding the glycosylation of collagens. Then, glycosyltransferases involved in collagen glycosylation, their structure, and catalytic mechanism will be surveyed. Furthermore, the involvement of glycosylation in collagen functions and collagen glycosylation-related diseases will be discussed.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Glycosylation; Collagen; Glycosyltransferases; Extracellular Matrix; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Mammals
PubMed: 38611696
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071417 -
Bioscience Reports Sep 2023Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a leading global health concern affecting approximately 30% of the population. Treatment for IDA consists of replenishment of iron...
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a leading global health concern affecting approximately 30% of the population. Treatment for IDA consists of replenishment of iron stores, either by oral or intravenous (IV) supplementation. There is a complex bidirectional interplay between the gut microbiota, the host's iron status, and dietary iron availability. Dietary iron deficiency and supplementation can influence the gut microbiome; however, the effect of IV iron on the gut microbiome is unknown. We studied how commonly used IV iron preparations, ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) and ferric derisomaltose (FDI), affected the gut microbiome in female iron-deficient anemic mice. At the phylum level, vehicle-treated mice showed an expansion in Verrucomicrobia, mostly because of the increased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, along with contraction in Firmicutes, resulting in a lower Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (indicator of dysbiosis). Treatment with either FCM or FDI restored the microbiome such that Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant phyla. Interestingly, the phyla Proteobacteria and several members of Bacteroidetes (e.g., Alistipes) were expanded in mice treated with FCM compared with those treated with FDI. In contrast, several Clostridia class members were expanded in mice treated with FDI compared with FCM (e.g., Dorea spp., Eubacterium). Our data demonstrate that IV iron increases gut microbiome diversity independently of the iron preparation used; however, differences exist between FCM and FDI treatments. In conclusion, replenishing iron stores with IV iron preparations in clinical conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease or chronic kidney disease, could affect gut microbiome composition and consequently contribute to an altered disease outcome.
Topics: Female; Animals; Mice; Iron; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Disaccharides; Iron, Dietary; Bacteroidetes; Firmicutes
PubMed: 37671923
DOI: 10.1042/BSR20231217