Gastric Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Contributes to Inhibition of Ghrelin Expression Induced by Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass

Background/Aims: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, RYGB, is the most effective strategy to control body weight in morbid obesity. RYGB leads to rapid improvement of glycemic status and weight loss, which are largely attributed to the alteration of gastrointestinal hormones including ghrelin. The current study examined potential mechanisms of altered ghrelin synthesis after RYGB. Methods: Gastric mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, ghrelin synthesis and secretion were determined in lean or obese male mice with or without RYGB operation, as well as in obese patients pre- and post-RYGB surgery. Ghrelin expression and mTOR signaling were investigated by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Ghrelin mRNA levels were detected by real-time PCR. Plasma ghrelin was measured by enzyme immunoassay. Results: mTOR activity in the gastric fundus was significantly lower than in the forestomachs. Both of them were decreased after 24h fasting. A significant negative correlation was found between gastric levels of phospho-S6 (phospho-S6 ribosomal protein) and proghrelin during changes of energy status. mTOR activity was activated, whereas ghrelin expression was inhibited by Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in both rodents and human beings. Increment of ghrelin synthesis and decline of mTOR signaling induced by rapamycin were significantly reversed by RYGB in both lean and obese mice. Administration of Ad-S6K1 (adenovirus-mediated p70 ribosomal protein subunit 6 kinase 1) from tail vein suppressed the expression of ghrelin in RYGB-operated mice relative to control animals. Conclusion: mTOR is therefore a gastric fuel sensor whose activity is linked to the regulation of ghrelin after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Enhancement of students' learning with mobile devices: Taking librarian-faculty collaboration in SJTU as an example

&lt;b&gt;Purpose: &lt;/b&gt;This paper presents an innovative program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Library which aims to help engineering students to make use of mobile devices to improve their learning efficiency.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Design/methodology/approach: &lt;/b&gt;Information literacy training and course learning resources were integrated into students&#39; learning process. Surveys on students&#39; learning with the touch pads were conducted to help evaluate the program&#39;s effectiveness.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Findings: &lt;/b&gt;Our practice showed that collaboration of library staff with faculty members is an effective way to integrate information literacy education and course-specific library resources into students&#39; learning with mobile devices, which has greatly improved the efficiency of students&#39; learning.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Research limitations: &lt;/b&gt;First, our literacy training still focused on the use of mobile devices in information access, but not on how to evaluate and manage their information resources with mobile devices. Second, subject librarians need to shift their role from information service providers into information resource instructors while developing the partnership with faculty members and teaching assistants.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Practical implications: &lt;/b&gt;This paper provides a new insight into the way of how to enhance learning efficiency of university students with such new technical devices as smartphones and touch pads conveniently.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Originality/value: &lt;/b&gt;Our practice can be used as a valuable guide for libraries that plan to leverage mobile technologies to enhance students&#39; learning efficiency.&lt;b&gt;Purpose: &lt;/b&gt;This paper presents an innovative program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Library which aims to help engineering students to make use of mobile devices to improve their learning efficiency.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Design/methodology/approach: &lt;/b&gt;Information literacy training and course learning resources were integrated into students&#39; learning process. Surveys on students&#39; learning with the touch pads were conducted to help evaluate the program&#39;s effectiveness.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Findings: &lt;/b&gt;Our practice showed that collaboration of library staff with faculty members is an effective way to integrate information literacy education and course-specific library resources into students&#39; learning with mobile devices, which has greatly improved the efficiency of students&#39; learning.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Research limitations: &lt;/b&gt;First, our literacy training still focused on the use of mobile devices in information access, but not on how to evaluate and manage their information resources with mobile devices. Second, subject librarians need to shift their role from information service providers into information resource instructors while developing the partnership with faculty members and teaching assistants.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Practical implications: &lt;/b&gt;This paper provides a new insight into the way of how to enhance learning efficiency of university students with such new technical devices as smartphones and touch pads conveniently.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; &lt;b&gt;Originality/value: &lt;/b&gt;Our practice can be used as a valuable guide for libraries that plan to leverage mobile technologies to enhance students&#39; learning efficiency.</div

Research on the metabolic immune regulation of macrophages by melanized fungus Fonsecaea monophora

Here, we evaluated the effects of Fonsecaea monophora（F. monophora）wild strain and the pigment knockout strain ΔpksA mutant on glucose metabolism and immune response of macrophages. The F. monophora wild strain significantly inhibited the glucose consumption level of macrophages or classically activated macrophages, and significantly inhibited the mRNA and protein expression levels of the tricarboxylic acid cycle gene IDH1 in macrophages. F. monophora wild strain inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in macrophages, and up-regulated the expression of TNF and IL-6. The inhibition of glucose metabolism by 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) or metformin would affect the immune response of macrophages to F. monophora wild strain. The production of IL-1β in macrophages was significantly down-regulated, while the expression of TNF and IL-6 was not significantly affected. The ΔpksA saved the inhibitory effect of wild strains on glucose utilization in macrophages. Compared with wild strains, macrophages infected withΔpksA had higher glucose utilization levels and higher mRNA expression of IDH1. F. monophora wild strain inhibited IL-1β expression in macrophages, while ΔpksA promoted it. The expression of TNF and IL-6 in macrophages infected with ΔpksA was also significantly higher than that in the wild strain group.</p

Synthesis and Rheological Characterization of a Novel Salecan Hydrogel

Salecan (Sal) is a novel microbial polysaccharide. In the present research, thermal treatment was performed to fabricate Sal hydrogel. The effect of Sal concentration on water holding capacity, swelling properties, texture properties, and microstructure of the hydrogels was discussed. It was found that the equilibrium degree of swelling (EDS) of Sal hydrogels was above 1500%, inferred Sal was a highly hydrophilic polysaccharide. As Sal concentration increased from 3.5 to 8.0 wt%, the hardness increased from 0.88 to 2.07 N and the water hold capability (WHC) increased from 91.3% to 98.2%. Furthermore, the internal network structure of Sal hydrogel also became denser and more uniform. Rheological studies suggested that elastic hydrogel formed under the gelation process. All these results demonstrated that Sal hydrogel prepared by thermal treatment had good gelling properties, which opened up a new safe way for the preparation of Sal hydrogel and broadened the application range of Sal

Preparation and Properties of Salecan&ndash;Soy Protein Isolate Composite Hydrogel Induced by Thermal Treatment and Transglutaminase

Salecan (Sal) is a novel marine microbial polysaccharide. In the present research, Sal and soy protein isolate (SPI) were adopted to fabricate Sal&ndash;SPI composite hydrogel based on a stepwise process (thermal treatment and transglutaminase induction). The effect of Sal concentration on morphology, texture properties, and the microstructure of the hydrogel was evaluated. As Sal concentration varied from 0.4 to 0.6 wt%, hydrogel elasticity increased from 0.49 to 0.85 mm. Furthermore, the internal network structure of Sal&ndash;SPI composite hydrogel also became denser and more uniform as Sal concentration increased. Rheological studies showed that Sal&ndash;SPI elastic hydrogel formed under the gelation process. Additionally, FTIR and XRD results demonstrated that hydrogen bonds formed between Sal and SPI molecules, inferring the formation of the interpenetrating network structure. This research supplied a green and simple method to fabricate Sal&ndash;SPI double network hydrogels

The Preparation of Anti-Ultraviolet Composite Films Based on Fish Gelatin and Sodium Alginate Incorporated with Mycosporine-like Amino Acids

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are ultraviolet-absorbing compounds and have antioxidant functions. In this paper, MAAs were added into fish gelatin/sodium alginate films as an anti-ultraviolet additive. The effects of 0&ndash;5% MAAs (w/w, MAAs/fish gelatin) on the physical properties, antioxidant properties, antibacterial properties and anti-ultraviolet properties of fish gelatin/sodium alginate films were investigated. The results suggest that the content of the MAAs influenced the mechanical properties. The water content, swelling and water vapor permeability of the films were not altered with the addition of MAAs. In addition, the composite films showed effective antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity. The incorporation of MAAs significantly improved the DPPH radical scavenging activity of the films from 35.77% to 46.61%. Moreover, the block ultraviolet rays&rsquo; ability was also greatly improved when the film mixed with the MAAs and when the value of the light transmission was 0.6% at 350 nm. Compared with the pure composite film, the growth of E. coli covered by the composite film with 3.75% and 5% MAAs exhibited the best survival rate. These results reveal that MAAs are a good film-forming substrate, and MAAs have good potential to prepare anti-ultraviolet active films and antioxidant active films for applications. Overall, this project provides a theoretical basis for the study of active composite films with anti-ultraviolet activities, and it provides new ideas for the application of MAAs