Excessive fat deposition is the main character in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), while γ-linolenic acid (GLA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that can reduce lipid deposition. This study investigated the effect and regulatory mechanism of GLA (100 μM) on lipid metabolism in alpha mouse liver 12 (AML-12) cells treated by 400 μM palmitic acid (PA). GLA reduced lipid content and increased fatty acid β oxidation, as indicated by decreasing triglyceride and cholesterol contents and increasing mRNA and protein expressions of CPT1α and PPARα. GLA relieved oxidative stress caused by PA, upregulated mRNA levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and decreased reactive oxygen species content. GLA reduced apoptosis, as indicated by decreases in the BAX/BCL2 expression level and apoptosis percentage. GLA activated autophagy, autophagosome-lysosome fusion, and LKB1-AMPK-mTOR signaling and upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of Beclin-1, autophagy-related 5, and liver kinase B1 (LKB1). These effects of GLA on lipid metabolism disorders of PA-treated hepatocytes were reversed by autophagy inhibitor 3MA and AMPK inhibitor compound C, confirming our conclusions. Overall, GLA can protect AML-12 cells from lipid metabolism disorder caused by PA via balancing autophagy and apoptosis mediated by the LKB1-AMPK-mTOR pathway. Consequently, GLA, as a dietary supplement, can help to prevent and treat NAFLD by regulating lipid metabolism and autophagy.

The lead-free zero-dimensional (0D) perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) with isolated octahedral structures have attracted considerable attentions due to their unique photoelectric properties such as highly efficient emissions with broadband features. A...

The effects and safety of dietary supplementation with Microcin C7 (C7) were evaluated in 216 weaned piglets. The pigs were given a control corn–soybean meal basal diet or C7 diet (control diet supplemented with 250, 500, 750, 1000, or 5000 mg C7/kg diets). Compared with the control group, the 500 mg/kg C7 supplementation group had better intestinal morphological indicators (p < 0.05), which may help maintain intestinal epithelial function and increase the growth performance (p < 0.05) and apparent total tract digestibility (p < 0.05). The diarrhea indexes of the 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg groups were significantly lower than that of the control group at 0–28 d (p < 0.05), and the 500 mg/kg group had the lowest diarrhea indexes (linear and quadratic, p < 0.05). A comprehensive analysis showed that microbial structure was significantly correlated with the degree of diarrhea, and the diarrhea-alleviating effect of C7 may be related to its selective regulation of specific microbial taxa. The 250 and 500 mg/kg C7 supplementation also significantly improved several immune indices of piglets (p < 0.05). Compared with the control diet, 5000 mg/kg C7 supplementation had no significant adverse effect on all parameters. Overall, the 250–500 mg/kg dose had the best effect, and the highest dose (5000 mg/kg) posed no toxicity risk. Therefore, C7 appears safe for use as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in weaned piglets.

The fecal bacteria transplantation (FMT) technique is indispensable when exploring the pathogenesis and potential treatments for microbiota-related diseases. For FMT clinical treatments, there are already systematic guidelines for donor selection, fecal bacterial separation, FMT frequency, and infusion methods. However, only a few studies have demonstrated the use of standardized FMT procedures for animal models used in theoretical research, creating difficulties for many new researchers in this field. In the present paper, we provide a brief overview of FMT and discuss its contribution to the current understanding of disease mechanisms that relate to microbiota. This protocol can be used to generate a commonly used FMT mouse model and provides a literature reference of customizable steps.

Background The approach to matching appropriate carbohydrates alongside free amino acids to achieve optimal muscle growth remains unclear. Objectives We investigated whether the consumption of a diet containing rapidly digested carbohydrate and free amino acids can enhance intestinal absorption and muscular uptake of amino acids in pigs. Method Twelve barrows (28 kg; 11 wk old) with catheters installed in the portal vein, mesenteric vein, femoral artery, and femoral vein were randomly assigned to consume one of two free amino acid-enriched diets (3.34%) containing rapidly [waxy corn starch (WCS)] or slowly [pea starch (PS)] digested carbohydrate for 27 d. Blood was collected to determine the fluxes of plasma glucose and amino acids across the portal vein and the hindlimb muscle. Dietary in vitro carbohydrate digestive rates were also determined. Data were analyzed using repeated measures (Time × Group) ANOVA. Results Carbohydrate in vitro cumulative digestibility at 30 and 240 min was 69.00% and 95.25% for WCS and 23.25% and 81.15% for PS, respectively. The animal experiment presented WCS increased individual amino acids (Lys, 0.67 vs. 0.53 mmol/min; Thr, 0.40 vs. 0.29 mmol/min; Ile, 0.33 vs. 0.22 mmol/min; Glu, 0.51 vs. 0.35 mmol/min and Pro, 0.51 vs. 0.27 mmol/min), essential amino acid (EAA; 3.26 vs. 2.65 mmol/min), and branched-chain amino acid (BCAA; 0.86 vs. 0.65 mmol/min) fluxes across the portal vein during 8 h postprandial, as well as individual amino acids (Ile, 0.08 vs. 0.02 mmol/min; Leu, 0.06 vs. 0.02 mmol/min and Gln, 0.44 vs. 0.25 mmol/min), EAA (0.50 vs. 0.21 mmol/min), and BCAA (0.17 vs. 0.06 mmol/min) net fluxes across the hindlimb muscle during 8 h postprandial compared with PS (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusions A diet containing rapidly digested carbohydrate and free amino acids can promote intestinal absorption and net fluxes across hindlimb muscle of amino acids in pigs.

Background Predictors and clinical outcomes of VF-ACC and the relative VF-ACC incidence with various access routes have not been well documented. This study aimed to identify predictors, clinical outcomes, and relative incidences of ventricular fibrillation after the release of an aortic cross-clamp (VF-ACC) with various access routes in valvular surgery.Patients and methods In this single-center and retrospective cohort study, we screened 228 consecutive patients undergoing valve surgery, and a total of 119 patients were included in the study. The primary outcomes were the relative incidence and predictors of VF-ACC with access routes, and secondary endpoints included effects of VF-ACC on 30-day mortality, perioperative ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), and heart failure with ejection fraction < 50% (HFEF < 50%).Results VF-ACC incidence varied on the basis of access routes. VF-ACC occurred in 58.3% of patients with aortic valve replacement via transverse aortotomy (TAo-AVR), in 48.6% of patients with aortic and mitral replacements via transseptal and transverse aortotomy access (TSAo-MAVR), and in 20% of patients with mitral valve replacement via transseptal access (TS-MVR). Seven independent risk factors were identified: HTK solution (AOR: 4.90, p = 0.002), smoking status (AOR: 6.30, p = 0.001), cerebrovascular disease (CBD) [(AOR: 7.08, p = 0.022)], regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) [(AOR: 8.33, p < 0.001)], perioperative VAs (AOR: 4.85, p = 0.001), HFEF < 50% (AOR: 5.66, p = 0.002), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) [(AOR: 0.962, CI: 0.941–0.984)].Conclusions VF-ACC was the most common in TAo-AVR and the least common in TS-MVR. HTK solution, smoking status, CBD, perioperative VAs, HFEF < 50%, and RWMA were associated with an increased risk of VF-ACC, and low LVMI acted as a protective factor. Patients with VF-ACC commonly experienced perioperative VAs or HFEFs < 50%.Clinical trial registration: ChiCTR2100050961.

Background Sevoflurane, as a widely used inhaled general anesthetic, has cardioprotective effects in ischemia-reperfusion injury (I / R). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rapamycin signal target protein on sevoflurane post-processing in H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes. Material and Methods In the experiment use H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes were cultured with sevoflurane. Immunofluorescence staining was performed on H9c2 cardiomyocytes. The morphological structure of mitochondria was analyzed by laser confocal microscope and ImageJ + Mina software. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was measured by immunofluorescence staining. Western blot was used to detect the expression of rapamycin signal target protein and apoptosis protein in H9c2 cells. Results The experimental results show that sevoflurane post-treatment (SPC) increased the expression of rapamycin signal target protein and alleviated the I / R injury of H9c2 cells (p < 0.05). SPC can promote the mitochondrial fusion of cardiomyocytes by activating rapamycin signal target, reduce mitochondrial division and maintain the normal structure of mitochondria, so as to protect central myocytes from ischemia-reperfusion injury (p < 0.05). Moreover, SPC reduced the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes and the expression level of apoptotic proteins caspase-3 and caspase-9 after myocardial I / R injury. The anti apoptotic effect may be the reason for the protective effect of SPC on H9c2 cells (p < 0.05). The use of the inhibitor rapamycin can eliminate this protective effect. Conclusion SPC activates rapamycin signal target to reduce myocardial I / R injury by maintaining myocardial function, promoting mitochondrial fusion and reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Background: Reduced nutrient digestibility due to low-protein (LP) diets occurring in the foregut or hindgut of pigs remains unclear. Methods: Growing barrows (21.7 ± 1.7 kg) were allotted into LP and high-protein (HP) diet treatments. Ileal digesta and feces were collected for in vitro cross-fermentation and microbial sequencing, and cross-feeding assessed nutrient digestibility. Results: No difference in foregut digesta flora and nutrient digestibility between treatments was observed. LP diet caused decreased total tract digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), gross energy (GE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) compared with the HP diet (p < 0.05). The fermentation broth from LP diet-fed pigs induced less full fermentation digestion of DM, OM, crude protein, and GE than HP broth (p < 0.05). Additionally, LP broth fermentation presented lower fermentation gas and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) generation than HP group (p < 0.05). This situation above may be related to decreased abundances of Lachnospiraceae, Eubacterium_eligens_group, Roseburia, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-009, which can efficiently ferment nutrients to produce SCFA. Conclusions: Change in the flora caused compromise in hindgut microbial fermentation digestion leads to decreased total tract nutrient digestibility in pigs fed an LP diet.