Background: The outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) provided an opportunity to undertake an online survey to study the relationships between body weight changes with changes in physical activity and lifestyle during an unusual event of forced isolation or quarantine. Methods: We distributed an electronic questionnaire using the popular social application WeChat to adults from any province of China except Hubei Province, the epicenter of the outbreak. The questionnaire asked for demographic information, body weight, physical activity and lifestyle factors before, during the quarantine. Results: Of 376 questionnaires returned, 339 were valid (90.2%). During the period of semi-lockdown, both females and males with BMI < 24 gained weight, while males with BMI ≥ 24 lost weight while females with BMI≥24 gained weight. The average steps per day and the average moderate or vigorous-intensity exercise declined significantly for both males and females during the semi-lockdown. Changes in body weight inversely correlated with changes in steps per day and moderate or vigorous-intensity exercise during the quarantine. Conclusions: Normal weight individuals, who are not normally troubled by overweight or obesity had less awareness of weight gain than people with a BMI≥24. Under the conditions of the semi-lockdown, they tended to gain weight.

Objectives: The interaction between the quorum sensing (QS) molecules of gut microbiota and the immunity of colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been investigated before. Methods: We measured the concentration of autoinducer-2 (AI-2) in samples of stool, colorectal tissue, saliva and serum of CRC patients, and compared this to AI-2 levels in colorectal adenoma (AD) and normal colon mucosa (NC). To explore the activated signaling pathways involved, we utilized AI-2 extracted from Fusobacterium nucleatum to stimulate macrophages and validated these in vitro findings in human CRC tissues. Results: The AI-2 concentration in both colorectal tissue and stool of CRC patients was significantly higher when compared to that in AD and NC (all P values < .01). The AI-2 concentration along with the progression of CRC in both tissues and stools was significantly increased (P= .045，P= .0003, respectively). After AI-2 stimulation, TNFSF9 was the most significantly increased protein in macrophage cells (P < .01). TNFSF9 expression was significantly higher in CRC tissues when compared to NCs (P< .0001), which was mainly derived from macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, AI-2 level was positively associated with CD3 + T cell numbers (P= .0462), and negatively associated with CD4/CD8 ratio (P= .0113) within CRC tissues. Conclusions: We demonstrated for the first time that AI-2 may serve as a novel marker for screening CRC in the clinic. AI-2 was associated with tumor immunity in CRCs through tumor-associated macrophages and CD4/CD8 ratio in a TNFSF9-dependent manner.

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The intestinal tract plays an essential role in protecting tissues from the invasion of external harmful substances due to impaired barrier function. Furthermore, it participates in immunomodulation by intestinal microorganisms, which is important in health. When the intestinal tract is destroyed, it can lose its protective function, resulting in multiple systemic complications. In severe cases, it may lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Thus far, there are no curative therapies for intestinal mucosal barrier injury, other than a few drugs that can relieve symptoms. Thus, the development of novel curative agents for gastrointestinal diseases remains a challenge. Ursolic acid (UA) and its isomer, Oleanolic acid (OA), are pentacyclic triterpene acid compounds. Both their aglycone and glycoside forms have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antibacterial, antiviral, antihypertensive, anti-obesity, anticancer, antidiabetic, cardio protective, hepatoprotective, and anti-neurodegenerative properties in living organisms. In recent years, several studies have shown that UA and OA can reduce the risk of intestinal pathological injury, alleviate intestinal dysfunction, and restore intestinal barrier function. The present study evaluated the beneficial effects of UA and OA on intestinal damage and diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC).

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In this short-term study, in Chinese T2DM patients with BMI 30-35 kg/m(2), we observed a greater efficiency on weight loss and glycemic control with smaller pouch size compared to larger pouch size. In the future, long-term follow-up and large sample study will be necessary to confirm these outcomes.