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Nature Communications Jun 2024Stomatal movement is vital for plants to exchange gases and adaption to terrestrial habitats, which is regulated by environmental and phytohormonal signals. Here, we...
Stomatal movement is vital for plants to exchange gases and adaption to terrestrial habitats, which is regulated by environmental and phytohormonal signals. Here, we demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide (HO) is required for light-induced stomatal opening. HO accumulates specifically in guard cells even when plants are under unstressed conditions. Reducing HO content through chemical treatments or genetic manipulations results in impaired stomatal opening in response to light. This phenomenon is observed across different plant species, including lycopodium, fern, and monocotyledonous wheat. Additionally, we show that HO induces the nuclear localization of KIN10 protein, the catalytic subunit of plant energy sensor SnRK1. The nuclear-localized KIN10 interacts with and phosphorylates the bZIP transcription factor bZIP30, leading to the formation of a heterodimer between bZIP30 and BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT1 (BZR1), the master regulator of brassinosteroid signaling. This heterodimer complex activates the expression of amylase, which enables guard cell starch degradation and promotes stomatal opening. Overall, these findings suggest that HO plays a critical role in light-induced stomatal opening across different plant species.
Topics: Plant Stomata; Hydrogen Peroxide; Light; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Proteins; Arabidopsis; Triticum; Arabidopsis Proteins; Signal Transduction; Phosphorylation; Ferns; Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
PubMed: 38876991
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49377-9 -
Inhibition of human starch digesting enzymes and intestinal glucose transport by walnut polyphenols.Food Research International (Ottawa,... Aug 2024One approach to controlling type 2 diabetes (T2D) is to lower postprandialglucose spikesby slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates and the absorption of glucose in...
One approach to controlling type 2 diabetes (T2D) is to lower postprandialglucose spikesby slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates and the absorption of glucose in the small intestine. The consumption of walnuts is associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as T2D, suggested to be partly due to the high content of (poly)phenols. This study evaluated, for the first time, the inhibitory effect of a (poly)phenol-rich walnut extract on human carbohydrate digesting enzymes (salivary and pancreatic α-amylases, brush border sucrase-isomaltase) and on glucose transport across fully differentiated human intestinal Caco-2/TC7 monolayers. The walnut extract was rich in multiple (poly)phenols (70 % w/w) as analysed by Folin-Ciocalteau and by LCMS. It exhibited potent inhibition of both human salivary (IC: 32.2 ± 2.5 µg walnut (poly)phenols (WP)/mL) and pancreatic (IC: 56.7 ± 1.7 µg WP/mL) α-amylases, with weaker effects on human sucrase (IC: 990 ± 20 µg WP/mL), maltase (IC: 1300 ± 80 µg WP/mL), and isomaltase (IC: 830 ± 60 µg WP/mL) activities. Selected individual walnut (poly)phenols inhibited human salivary α-amylase in the order: 1,3,4,6-tetragalloylglucose > ellagic acid pentoside > 1,2,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose, with no inhibition by ellagic acid, gallic acid and 4-O-methylgallic acid. The (poly)phenol-rich walnut extract also attenuated (up to 59 %) the transfer of 2-deoxy-D-glucose across differentiated Caco-2/TC7 cell monolayers. This is the first report on the effect of (poly)phenol-rich extracts from any commonly-consumed nut kernel on any human starch-digesting enzyme, and suggests a mechanism through which walnut consumption may lower postprandial glucose spikes and contribute to their proposed health benefits.
Topics: Humans; Polyphenols; Juglans; Caco-2 Cells; Glucose; Plant Extracts; Digestion; Nuts; Starch; alpha-Amylases; Biological Transport; Sucrase-Isomaltase Complex
PubMed: 38876610
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114572 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jun 2024Purtscher retinopathy is the rare form of occlusive microvasculopathy, characterized by multiple retinal white areas around the optic nerve head and fovea with...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Purtscher retinopathy is the rare form of occlusive microvasculopathy, characterized by multiple retinal white areas around the optic nerve head and fovea with paravascular clearing and may be related to intraretinal hemorrhages. Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common gastrointestinal reasons for hospital admissions globally. The complications of Acute Pancreatitis may include Purtscher's-like retinopathy, which has a low incidence rate of less than 0.24 instances per million cases. This case report highlights the value of thorough medical history taking and examination, and it apprises the consideration of ophthalmological manifestation in patients of Acute Pancreatitis.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 34-year-old female came to the emergency room due to intense abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting, which worsened over the last 24 h. The pain was described as continuous, sharp, and cramping-like in the upper abdomen, radiating to the back. Lab tests revealed elevated serum amylase and lipase levels, indicating pancreatitis, along with slight leukocytosis. A contrast-enhanced CT scan confirmed acute pancreatitis with mild inflammation and enlargement of the pancreas. Two days after admission, the patient experienced a sudden and painless loss of central vision in both eyes. There was no history of trauma or any other significant relevant history, other than pancreatitis. The ophthalmologist's examination found reduced visual acuity (6/60 in the right eye, 3/60 in the left eye), normal corneas, and anterior chambers.
DISCUSSION
Inkeles and Walsh established the first link between acute pancreatitis and Purtscher-like retinopathy when they reported three cases of the distinctive retinal appearance in individuals with acute pancreatitis in 1975.
CONCLUSION
The recovery and prognosis in cases of Purtscher-like retinopathy is variable and further research is required to ascertain the usage of corticosteroids and pentoxifylline in improving the course of a patient's with Purtscher's-like retinopathy.
PubMed: 38875828
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109881 -
Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024Diabetes is becoming a significant health concern in Asia, where the prevalence has reached alarming levels. An important contributing factor is the consumption of...
Diabetes is becoming a significant health concern in Asia, where the prevalence has reached alarming levels. An important contributing factor is the consumption of high-carbohydrate foods, including rice, bread, etc. These high-carbohydrate foods pose a major risk to public health due to their impact on postprandial hyperglycemia. This research aimed to formulate a chickpea pulao (cooked Indian-Pakistani rice dish) and to evaluate its effects on postprandial blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic individuals. Antioxidant potential and total phenolic contents of herbs at different concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9%) were measured through DPPH and Folin Ciocalteu assays. The antidiabetic potential was tested by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. After sensory evaluation, the best-chosen concentration was used to formulate the chickpea pulao. The study trial was advertised under "DP trial," and 12 participants were recruited. A single-blind randomized cross-over trial was conducted for 3 weeks with a one-week wash-over time in between. Participants' preprandial and postprandial blood glucose levels were recorded for control and intervention recipes. Results indicated that both fenugreek seeds (FS) and Indian rennet (IR) showed good antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity ( = .000) in raw and boiled extracts. For DPPH, the IC values of unboiled and boiled combined (FS + IR) extracts were calculated as 7.4% and 8.02%, respectively. Similarly, for α-amylase, the IC values of combined IR and FS unboiled and boiled extracts were 6.58% and 6.83%, and for α-glucosidase inhibition assay, the values were measured as 14.98% and 16.24%. The single-blind randomized cross-over trial showed that consuming the intervention recipe significantly reduced postprandial hyperglycemia ( = .000) in type 2 diabetic participants. The intervention recipe decreased hyperglycemia by approximately 15% daily compared to the control recipe. Incorporation of hypoglycemic herbs into dietary patterns can work as an adjunct therapy for diabetes management, especially in populations with a high prevalence of this disease.
PubMed: 38873453
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4107 -
Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024This research investigates citric acid (CA) synthesis using the indigenous strain ASP26, which was isolated from date by-products. The study initially involved...
This research investigates citric acid (CA) synthesis using the indigenous strain ASP26, which was isolated from date by-products. The study initially involved isolating fungi capable of CA production and identifying the most potent strain based on its characteristic enzymatic activity. ASP26 was acknowledged in a previous study for its remarkable ability to produce extracellular enzymes, such as cellulase and amylase, which enable it to degrade organic materials effectively. After the identification phase, these isolates were screened for CA production using a modified Czapek-Dox medium. The research identified significant factors affecting CA production in submerged fermentation, including pH, carbon source, inoculum size, and fermentation time. Optimal conditions were determined for ASP26, resulting in a maximum CA yield of 16.89 g/L. These conditions included a 2.5% spore suspension at 2 × 10 spores/mL, an initial glucose concentration of 125 g/L, and incubation at 30°C for 144 h. Notably, ASP26 demonstrated the ability to produce CA under stress conditions as well. Citric acid is essential for various biological processes, such as cellular respiration, and is naturally present in citrus fruits. It also serves as a preservative and flavor enhancer in processed foods and beverages. The ability of ASP26 to produce CA from agricultural residues positions it as a viable candidate for sustainable CA production, harnessing the value from organic waste materials.
PubMed: 38873451
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4084 -
Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024The utilization of plant-based residues has been extensively employed for the control of diverse illnesses, owing to their safety and minimal adverse effects. In the...
The utilization of plant-based residues has been extensively employed for the control of diverse illnesses, owing to their safety and minimal adverse effects. In the current study, it was aimed for the characterization of the bioactive, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxic activities of fresh pistachio shell skin (FPSS), green walnut husk and walnut membrane (GWH), almond outer shell and inner brown skin (ASIS), as well as peanut husk and inner skin (PHIS) to be used as industrial food processing by-products. The results showed that the samples exhibited different extraction yields, with GWH having the highest percentage at 15.18%, followed by FPSS at 12.81%, ASIS at 10.29%, and PHIS at 7.80%. FPSS had the highest total phenolic content (16.28 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g) as well as the best antioxidant capabilities for DPPH (8.96 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g), FRAP (11.46 mg TE/g), and ABTS (22.38 mg TE/g) assays. FPSS was followed by PHIS, ASIS, and GWH, respectively. Moreover, the extracts exhibited relatively low activity against acetylcholinesterase, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase compared to standard acarbose or galantamine. Furthermore, the extracts may have the potential to induce cytotoxic effects, varying from moderate to mild, on both cancerous (IC = 454.55-617.28 μg/mL) and healthy cells (IC = 438.60-490.20 μg/mL). The results of this research showed that shell residues of nut hold promise for a variety of industrial applications spanning the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors.
PubMed: 38873436
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4103 -
Veterinary and Animal Science Sep 2024This study investigated marula seed cake (MSC) as alternative protein source (APS) replacing soyabean meal (SBM) in indigenous chicken diets. Four hundred, 3-week-old...
This study investigated marula seed cake (MSC) as alternative protein source (APS) replacing soyabean meal (SBM) in indigenous chicken diets. Four hundred, 3-week-old Boschveld chicks were randomly allocated to 5 iso-energetic-nitrogenous maize and SBM-based grower diets with 0, 10, 15, 20, and 25 % MSC, each with 5 replicate pens of 16 birds, in a completely randomised design (CRD), for 9 weeks. Results showed that dietary MSC quadratically decreased bird overall feed intake (FI) ( < 0.001) and body weight gain (BWG) ( < 0.01) as it linearly decreased the weights of hot carcass (HCW; < 0.05), spleen ( < 0.05), jejunum ( < 0.05), ileum ( < 0.001), and caecum ( < 0.001). In contrast, MSC increased chicken serum glucose ( < 0.05), cholesterol ( = 0.001) and phosphate ( < 0.05) as it decreased its amylase activity ( < 0.01). Also, it decreased bird meat lightness at 45 min ( < 0.05) and its yellowness at 45 min ( < 0.001) and 24 h ( < 0.001) whilst it increased its redness at 45 min ( < 0.01) and 24 h ( < 0.05) post-slaughter. In addition, MSC decreased chicken bone medial diaphysis ( < 0.05) as it induced no effects ( > 0.05) on overall feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and all other parameters. In conclusion, feeding of ≤ 15 % dietary MSC is nutritionally safe for indigenous chickens whilst detrimental on bird appetite, growth and meat yield, however without significantly affecting their physiology, at higher inclusion levels.
PubMed: 38873090
DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2024.100364 -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Jun 2024Diabetes affects 75% of people in low-income countries, where conventional drugs like metformin are available, but newer drugs like alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are not...
BACKGROUND
Diabetes affects 75% of people in low-income countries, where conventional drugs like metformin are available, but newer drugs like alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are not accessible to most Southern African patients.
AIM
To evaluate the α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities of fractionated aqueous extracts of Kigelia africana fruit (KAFE) and their phytochemical fingerprints using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We studied K. africana fruit fractions' inhibitory effects on alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase using bioassay-guided fractionation, and analyzed their phytochemical profiles with GC-MS.
KEY FINDINGS
Both the aqueous extract and ethyl acetate fraction of the aqueous extract exhibited a low dose-dependent inhibition of alpha-amylase activity (p < 0.0001). At a concentration of 500 μg/mL, the aqueous extract caused an alpha-glucosidase inhibition of 64.10 ± 2.7%, with an estimated IC50 of 193.7 μg/mL, while the ethyl acetate fraction had an inhibition of 89.82 ± 0.8% and an estimated IC50 of 10.41 μg/mL. The subfraction G, which had the highest alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity at 85.10 ± 0.7%, had significantly lower activity than the ethyl acetate fraction. The most bioactive fraction was found to contain 11"(2-cyclopenten-1-yl) undecanoic acid, ( +)- and cyclopentane undecanoic acid as well as the indole alkaloids Akuammilan-17-ol-10-methoxy, N-nitroso-2-methyl-oxazolidine and epoxide Oxirane2.2″ -(1.4-butanediyl) bis-.
CONCLUSION
The K. africana fruit fraction demonstrated significant alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity, while its alpha-amylase inhibitory activity was limited. This study suggests a potential natural alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and phytocompounds that could serve as leads for developing antidiabetic agents.
Topics: Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; Plant Extracts; Fruit; alpha-Glucosidases; alpha-Amylases; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Phytochemicals
PubMed: 38867199
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04510-5 -
Frontiers in Oncology 2024Robot-assisted surgery has shown remarkable progress as a minimally invasive procedure for gastric cancer. This study aimed to compare the pre-emptive suprapancreatic...
BACKGROUND
Robot-assisted surgery has shown remarkable progress as a minimally invasive procedure for gastric cancer. This study aimed to compare the pre-emptive suprapancreatic approach without duodenal transection and the conventional approach in terms of perioperative feasibility and short-term surgical outcomes.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent robotic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection using the da Vinci Xi robotic system between December 2021 and April 2023 and categorized them into two groups for comparison. Patients treated using the pre-emptive suprapancreatic approach (observation group) were compared with those who received the conventional approach (control group). Employing one-to-one propensity score matching, we evaluated the postoperative morbidity and short-term outcomes in these two distinct groups to assess the efficacy and safety of the novel surgical technique.
RESULTS
This study enrolled 131 patients: 70 in the observation group and 61 in the control group. After propensity score matching, the operative times were significantly longer in the control group than in the observation group (229.10 ± 33.96 vs. 174.84 ± 18.37, p <0.001). The mean blood loss was lower in the observation group than in the control group (25.20 ± 11.18 vs. 85.00 ± 38.78, p <0.001). Additionally, the observation group exhibited a higher number of retrieved lymph nodes, including suprapyloric, perigastric, and superior pancreatic lymph nodes (28.69 ± 5.48 vs. 19.21 ± 2.89, p <0.001; 4.98 ± 1.27 vs. 4.29 ± 1.21, p = 0.012; 10.52 ± 2.39 vs. 5.50 ± 1.62, p <0.001; 6.26 ± 2.64 vs. 5.00 ± 1.72, p = 0.029). Drain amylase levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (30.08 ± 33.74 vs. 69.14 ± 66.81, p <0.001).
CONCLUSION
This study revealed that using the pre-emptive suprapancreatic approach without duodenal transection in the dissection of D2 lymph nodes for gastric cancer is a safe and feasible procedure in terms of surgical outcomes.
PubMed: 38863643
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1388626 -
Aging Jun 2024Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a prevalent acute abdominal condition, and AP induced colonic barrier dysfunction is commonly observed. Total flavonoids of (TFC) have...
BACKGROUND
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a prevalent acute abdominal condition, and AP induced colonic barrier dysfunction is commonly observed. Total flavonoids of (TFC) have exhibited noteworthy anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties.
METHODS
We established AP models, both in animals and cell cultures, employing Cerulein. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to investigate the gut microorganisms changes.
RESULTS
, TFC demonstrated a remarkable capacity to ameliorate AP, as indicated by the inhibition of serum amylase, myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels, and the reduction in pancreatic tissue water content. Furthermore, TFC effectively curtailed the heightened inflammatory response. The dysfunction of colonic barrier induced by AP was suppressed by TFC. At the level, TFC treatment resulted in attenuation of increased cell apoptosis, and regulation of apoptosis related proteins expression in AR42J cells. The increase of , , , and by AP, and decrease of of , , by AP were both reversed by TFC treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
TFC can effectively suppress AP progression and AP induced colonic barrier dysfunction by mitigating elevated serum amylase, MPO levels, water content in pancreatic tissue, as well as curtailing inflammation, apoptosis. The findings presented herein shed light on the potential mechanisms by which TFC inhibit the development of AP progression and AP induced colonic barrier dysfunction.
PubMed: 38862253
DOI: 10.18632/aging.205924