Data_Sheet_1_Regular exercise combined with ferulic acid exhibits antiobesity effect and regulates metabolic profiles in high-fat diet-induced mice.docx

Exercise (Ex) has been recognized as an effective way of obesity prevention, but it shows a dual effect on the body's antioxidant system. Ferulic acid (FA) is a kind of phenolic acid with well-known antioxidant capacity and numerous health benefits. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare the antiobesity effect of Ex, FA, and Ex combined with FA (Ex-FA) in vivo and to illustrate the potential mechanisms. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) with or without administration of Ex, FA, and Ex-FA for 13 weeks. The body weight, antioxidant ability, Ex performance, and lipid profiles in the serum, liver, and skeletal muscle were compared among the groups, and serum metabolomics analysis was conducted. The results showed that Ex, FA, and Ex-FA exhibited a similar effect on body weight management. Ex had a more beneficial function by alleviating HFD-induced dyslipidemia than FA, while FA exerted a more efficient effect in mitigating lipid deposition in the liver and skeletal muscle. Ex-FA showed comprehensive effects in the regulation of the lipid contents in serum, liver, and skeletal muscle, and provoked enhancement effects on antioxidant ability and Ex capacity. Mice administered with Ex, FA, and Ex-FA showed different metabolic profiles, which might be achieved through different metabolic pathways. The findings of this research implied that Ex coupled with FA could become an effective and safe remedy for the management of dietary-induced obesity.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Prevalence of Complementary Feeding Indicators and Associated Factors Among 6- to 23-Month Breastfed Infants and Young Children in Poor Rural Areas of China.CSV

This study aimed to estimate the status of complementary feeding (CF) and its associated factors among 6–23-month breastfed infants and young children (IYC). We used secondary data from the China Nutrition Improvement Project on Children in Poor Areas in 2018. The status of CF was provided by parents of IYC through 24-h dietary recall. The study included 13,972 6–23-month-old breastfed IYC comprising 24.7% 6–8-month, 28.5% 9–11-month, 31.4% 12–17-month, and 18–23-month IYC. The highest percentage of IYC introduced to cereal foods was 84.8%. Nearly, 83.6% of 6–8-month infants were introduced to solid or semi-solid food. The prevalence of meeting requirements of non-dairy animal source food and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) was 75.3 and 35.1% of 6–23-month IYC, respectively, and was significantly higher in older than younger IYC (p < 0.001). Age of IYC, education level of parents, paternal employment, and nutrition knowledge of parents were positively associated factors for the prevalence of meeting requirements of MAD, and diarrhea at 2 weeks and maternal employment were negatively associated with MAD. Totally, the prevalence of meeting the requirements of MAD was relatively lower in breastfed IYC. The government should scale up appropriate CF with consideration of food availability.</p

Histological examination of liver.

<p>Representative samples of hepatic tissue were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (A) and Oil red O (B). Arrows indicate hepatocellular necrosis, fat vacuoles and lipid droplet were marked as “hn”, “fv” and “ld”, respectively. The bar represents 73 μm. NG, normal group; MG, high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD); FA, HFFD plus ferulic acid; OZ, HFFD plus γ-oryzanol.</p

Effect of Increasing Doses of Linoleic and α‑Linolenic Acids on High-Fructose and High-Fat Diet Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats

Doses and ratio of linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) preventing metabolic syndrome (MS) were investigated. SD rats were fed (i) basal diet, (ii) high-fructose and high-fat diet (HFFD), (iii) HFFD with increasing-dose LA (0.75 energy-% ALA + 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 30 energy-% LA), and (iv) HFFD with increasing-dose ALA (6 energy-% LA + 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1.5, 2.25, and 3.75 energy-% ALA) for 18 weeks. Results showed 6, 12, 15, and 30 energy-% LA significantly ameliorated central obesity, hyperlipidemia, glucose homeostasis, and leptin status; 0.5 and 0.75 energy-% ALA significantly improved insulin sensitivity, adiponectin, and anti-inflammatory status. Moreover, high intakes of ALA (1.5, 2.25, and 3.75 energy-%) presented a pro-oxidant activity. In conclusion, dose instead of ratio determines the prevention of MS. The optimal doses are 6 energy-% LA and 0.75 energy-% ALA; high intakes of ALA may have side effects

Effects of FA and OZ on cell viability (A) and intracellular TG content (B).

<p>The cells in (B) were incubated with serum free DMEM containing 2 mM OA for 24 h. Ferulic acid or γ-oryzanol was added at 50 μM. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 8 per group). *P<0.05 compared with control. The P value in (B) was determined by control and 50μM OZ.</p

Effects of FA and OZ on serum and hepatic lipid profiles.

<p>(A): Serum total cholesterol level; (B): Serum total triglyceride level; (C): Serum low density lipoprotein-cholesterol level; (D): Serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol level; (E): Serum free fatty acid level; (F): Hepatic total cholesterol level; (G): Hepatic total triglyceride level. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 6 per group). Mean values with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05). P values were determined by Kruskal-Wallis test. NG, normal group; MG, high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD); FA, HFFD plus ferulic acid; OZ, HFFD plus γ-oryzanol.</p

Effects of FA and OZ on serum glucose, insulin, and AUC for OGTT and ITT.

<p>(A): AUC of oral glucose tolerance test; (B) AUC of insulin tolerance test; (C): Fasting glucose level;(D): Fasting insulin level; (E): Homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 6 per group). Mean values with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05). P values were determined by Kruskal-Wallis test. NG, normal group; MG, high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD); FA, HFFD plus ferulic acid; OZ, HFFD plus γ-oryzanol.</p

Effects of FA and OZ on serum cytokines levels.

<p>(A): Leptin level; (B): Adiponectin level; (C): Tumor necrosis factor α level; (D): Interleukin-6 level; (E): C-reactive protein level. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 6 per group). Mean values with different letters are significantly different (P<0.05). P values were determined by Kruskal-Wallis test. NG, normal group; MG, high-fat and high-fructose diet (HFFD); FA, HFFD plus ferulic acid; OZ, HFFD plus γ-oryzanol.</p

Hydrogel-Based Bioprocess for Scalable Manufacturing of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Stem Cells

Neural stem cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-NSCs) are of great value for modeling diseases, developing drugs, and treating neurological disorders. However, manufacturing high-quantity and -quality hPSC-NSCs, especially for clinical applications, remains a challenge. Here, we report a chemically defined, high-yield, and scalable bioprocess for manufacturing hPSC-NSCs. hPSCs are expanded and differentiated into NSCs in microscale tubes made with alginate hydrogels. The tubes are used to isolate cells from the hydrodynamic stresses in the culture vessel and limit the radial diameter of the cell mass to less than 400 μm to ensure efficient mass transport during the culture. The hydrogel tubes provide uniform, reproducible, and cell-friendly microspaces and microenvironments for cells. With this new technology, we showed that hPSC-NSCs could be produced in 12 days with high viability (∼95%), high purity (>90%), and high yield (∼5 × 108 cells/mL of microspace). The volumetric yield is about 250 times more than the current state-of-the-art. Whole transcriptome analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that hPSC-NSCs made by this process had a similar gene expression to hPSC-NSCs made by the conventional culture technology. The produced hPSC-NSCs could mature into both neurons and glial cells in vitro and in vivo. The process developed in this paper can be used to produce large numbers of hPSC-NSCs for various biomedical applications in the future

Table_1_Clinical and genetic analysis of atypical parathyroid adenoma compared with parathyroid carcinoma and benign lesions in a Chinese cohort.docx

ContextThe malignant potential and molecular signature of atypical parathyroid adenoma (APA) remain elusive. Data from Asia are still lacking.Design and settingThis was a retrospective study on a large APA cohort in a single center from mainland China.MethodsA total of 320 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), containing 79 APA, 79 Parathyroid cancer (PC) and 162 benign lesions cases, were enrolled after surgery for collection of clinical data and genetic analysis.ResultsAPA patients showed earlier mean onset age than benign group (46.9 ± 17.1 vs. 52.0 ± 14.3 yrs). Less bone involvement and gastrointestinal symptoms were presented in APA compared to PC (35.4% vs. 62.0%, and 17.7% vs. 41.8%), while more urolithiasis was seen in APA than in benign lesions (57.0% vs. 29.6%). The APA group had moderate hypercalcemia (mean 3.02 ± 0.44mmol/L) with elevated serum PTH (median 593.0pg/ml) and proportion of hypercalcemic crisis as 22.8%, all higher than those of benign lesions but lower than those of PC group. The recurrence/no remission rate of the APA group was significantly lower than that of the PC and similar to the benign group (5.1% vs. 31.6% vs. 3.1%). Germline CDC73 mutation was the most common molecular abnormality in both PC and APA subjects. APA patients with nonsynonymous germline variants showed earlier onset age (28.5 ± 16.9 vs. 48.1 ± 17.7 yrs) and more cases developing no remission/recurrence (25.0% vs. 0.0%).ConclusionsPatients with APA presented clinical and biochemical characteristics much less severe than PC and resembling the benign neoplasms, with a relatively good prognosis. Germline gene variations were associated with earlier onset and probably more recurrence of PHPT in APA.</p