Choline is an essential nutrient and choline esters are potential functional food ingredients. We aimed to analyze the choline compound content in 19 cultivated fruits and vegetables and identify those with high acetylcholine content. We utilized liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to quantify choline compounds according to the standard addition method. Choline compounds were extracted from lyophilized fruit/vegetable powders and passed through a weakly acidic cation exchange column, resulting in a concentrated solution of choline compounds. The compounds were separated on a pentafluorophenyl column and then analyzed using positive mode electrospray ionization. Results showed that acetylcholine and choline were the primary choline compounds in all agricultural products; propionylcholine and butyrylcholine were minor compounds in 17 and 12 agricultural products, respectively. The acetylcholine concentration was 2900-fold higher in eggplants (6.12 mg/100 g fresh weight [FW]) than in other agricultural products (average: 2.11 × 10−3 mg/100 g FW). The concentration of acetylcholine differed only 2-fold between eggplant cultivars with the highest (′Higomurasaki′: 5.53 mg/100 g FW) and lowest (′Onaga nasu′: 2.79 mg/100 g FW) concentrations. The half-life of acetylcholine in eggplants was approximately 16 days, which is longer the shelf life of eggplants. Thus, eggplants can be a good source of acetylcholine.

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Eggplants are rich in acetylcholine (ACh), which can improve high blood pressure and negative psychological states. However, information on ACh content in individual parts of eggplant and the changes in ACh content during eggplant development is limited. Therefore, we investigated the ACh content in various parts of eggplant, namely, the leaf, root, bud, calyx, ovary, fruit, exocarp, mesocarp, partition, placenta, core, fruit base, fruit center, and fruit top in 26 eggplant varieties. Furthermore, the effect of heat treatment on ACh content was investigated. The ACh content significantly differed among the eggplant varieties. The difference between the varieties with the highest and lowest ACh content was 100-fold (Tosataka: 11 ± 0.61 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW) and Ryoma: 0.11 ± 0.046 mg/100 g FW, respectively). Eggplant fruit presented the highest ACh content (4.8 mg/100 g FW); it was three times higher than that in other parts combined (1.6 mg/100 g FW). The root contained the lowest ACh content among all parts. The ACh content increased with growth after flowering. The ACh content in the fruit 1.5 months after flowering was 400 times that in the ovary. ACh was uniformly distributed in eggplant flesh. Heat treatment did not cause ACh loss in eggplant. Thus, eggplant is an excellent raw material for functional foods.

Acetylcholine (ACh) acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator. A small dose of eggplant powder rich in ACh (equivalent to 22 g fresh eggplant/d) has been shown to reduce blood pressure (BP) in individuals with higher BP. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effects of low-dose orally administered ACh in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The effects of ACh on BP and sympathetic nervous activity (SNA), including lumbar SNA (LSNA) and renal SNA (RSNA), were evaluated by subjecting conscious SHRs to a telemetry method. Single oral administration of ACh decreased LSNA and lowered BP. Repeated oral administration of ACh for 30 d decreased RSNA and suppressed the elevated BP. Noradrenaline levels in the urine also decreased. However, vagotomy and co-administration of M3 muscarinic ACh receptor antagonist reversed the BP-lowering effect; the dynamics of non-absorbable orally administered ACh was revealed using stable isotope-labeled ACh. In conclusion, ACh acts on the gastrointestinal M3 muscarinic ACh receptor to increase afferent vagal nerve activity, which decreases SNA by autonomic reflex, suppressing noradrenaline release and lowering BP. This study suggests the use of exogenous ACh as an antihypertensive food supplement for controlling the autonomic nervous system, without absorption into the blood.

Acetylcholine (ACh) is a novel antihypertensive food component. Here, we demonstrate the differential effects of oral ACh on high and normal blood pressure in rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats were administered ACh orally. The blood pressure and heart rate of SHRs were significantly lowered with ACh doses of 10−5 and 10−3 mol/kg body weight (b.w.), and the urinary catecholamine levels were significantly decreased with 10−3 mol/kg b.w. In contrast, oral ACh administration had no effect on WKY rats. This difference was likely caused by differences in sympathetic nervous activity and the baroreflex between strains. Comparison of gene sequences between the two strains revealed Chga mutations, suggesting that changes in the expression of chromogranin A might be involved in the baroreflex in SHRs. Oral ACh had an antihypertensive effect under hypertension but not normotension, indicating that this may be used safely to prevent hypertension.

BackgroundThe surgical approach (transthoracic or transabdominal) for patients with Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG) still remains controversial. We made a bold attempt to adopt the modified Ivor-Lewis surgery, No turning over, thoraco-laparoscopic esophagogastrectomy, two-field lymphadenectomy and intrathoracic anastomosis, to observe the clinical application and effect.MethodData of patients with Siewert type II AEG were collected in the Hebei General Hospital from June 2017 to February 2019. The operation time, surgical blood loss, the number of dissected lymph nodes, duration of drainage tube, postoperative complications, the length of postoperative hospital stay were collected to assess the safety and feasibility of modified Ivor-Lewis surgery.ResultsA total of 20 patients with Siewert type II AEG were analyzed in our research, there was no case of turning to thoracotomy, laparotomy or death during the operation.The average operation time, surgical blood loss, amount of dissected lymph nodes, duration of drainage tube, postoperative hospital stay of all enrolled patients was 4.67, 0.57 h, 156, 56.80 ml, 22.55, 3.91, 8.6, 2.21 days, 12.85, 2.5 days respectively. Among all the enrolled patients, one patient(5%) developed anastomotic fistula and one patient(5%) developed hematemesis after operation, eventually, these two patients were discharged successfully.ConclusionFor patients with Siewert type II AEG, The modified Ivor-Lewis surgery, No turning over, thoraco-laparoscopic esophagogastrectomy, two-field lymphadenectomy and intrathoracic anastomosis, is safe and feasible. The feasibility and safety could be further and better investigated with a RCT to achieve more conclusive results.

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the use of Ningmitai capsule as an adjunctive stone expulsion therapy after RIRS. All patients were diagnosed with upper urinary tract calculi measuring 10–20 mm. The patients who successfully underwent RIRS were randomly assigned to the NMT capsule group (Ningmitai capsule, 1.52 g, three times daily) or the control group for 4 weeks based on the random number table method. The primary endpoints were the stone expulsion rate (SER) and stone-free rate (SFR). The average stone expulsion time (SET), average stone-free time (SFT) and complications were recorded. Between July 2, 2019, and December 17, 2020, 220 participants successfully underwent RIRS across 6 centers; 123 of them were randomized according to the exclusion criteria, and 102 (83%) were included in the primary analysis. The SERs on the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th days were significantly increased in the NMT capsule group compared with the control group (78.95% vs. 31.11%, 92.98% vs. 55.56%, 94.74% vs. 64.44%, 100% vs. 82.22%, respectively, p < 0.05). The SFRs on the 3rd and 7th days were not different (p > 0.05), while those on the 14th and 28th days were higher in the NMT capsule group (63.16% vs. 24.44% and 92.98% vs. 68.89%, p < 0.05). The average SET and average SFT of the NMT capsule group were remarkably shorter than those of the control group (p < 0.001). During the follow-up period, there were no significant differences in urine RBC counts between the two groups (p > 0.05). The urine WBC counts of the NMT capsule group were significantly lower than those of the control group on the 14th day (p = 0.011), but there was no difference on the 3rd, 7th or 28th day (p > 0.05). The analgesic aggregate of the NMT capsule group was also much lower (p = 0.037). There were no significant differences in adverse events (p > 0.05), and they improved significantly without sequelae. This study indicated that NMT capsules can significantly promote stone clearance and are more effective and safer for upper urinary calculi after RIRS.Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registration No. ChiCTR1900024151.Date of registration June 28, 2019.

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