Search Results (21,625)

Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most fatal gynecological neoplasms. Meta-analyses have shown that the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and ovarian cancer incidence was detected in some types of ovarian cancer. Chronic inflammation and excessive accumulation of free fatty acids are key adipose tissue-derived factors initiating cancer development. Cancer cells transform adipose-derived stem cells into cancer-associated adipocytes, which produce adipokines and interleukins. It was revealed that adipokines exert a pleiotropic role in ovarian cancer pathogenesis. Chemerin presents both pro-cancer and anti-cancer action in ovarian cancer development. Chemerin induces angiogenesis and increases programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression, leading to enhanced proliferation and migration of OC cells. Apelin impacts cancer cell migration and acts as a mitogenic factor. Moreover, apelin exerts influence on lipid uptake into cancer cells and accelerates fatty acid oxidation, which provides energy for cancer cells. Visfatin induces matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2) expression involved in extracellular matrix degradation and suppresses claudin 3 and 4 expression. Visfatin also induces a shift to anaerobic glucose metabolism and influences poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP). Resistin induces MMP2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and contributes to cisplatin-resistance development. A substantial body of evidence indicates that antagonists of adipokines mitigate OC progression, and adipokines are gaining gradual recognition as a potential therapeutic aim in ovarian cancer targeted therapy. Full article

High-oleic acid edible oils are appealing, especially for frying, due to their nutritional benefits and high heat stability. This study benchmarked the newly developed super-high-oleic acid safflower oil (SHOSO) against high-oleic acid sunflower (HOSO), conventional canola (CCO), and rice bran (RBO) oils in a frying exercise. The oils were used to fry potato chips for 30 h (90 cycles), and their performance was assessed by measuring the changes in total polar compounds (TPCs), tocopherols, and fatty acid composition. SHOSO contained ~91% oleic acid and had the longest induction time (~35 h) compared with HOSO (~80%; 15.3 h), CCO (~62; 8.8 h), and RBO (~41%; 9.7). After 90 frying cycles, SHOSO’s performance was comparable to that of HOSO, showing the highest increase in TPCs and shortest frying lives (~22.5–25.1 h) compared with CCO (~27.5–33.0 h) and RBO (>30 h). Approximately 97% of the tocopherol in both high-oleic acid oils was α-tocopherol, which was depleted within 6 h. Moreover, SHOSO recorded the largest change in oleic acid, followed by HOSO. SHOSO’s higher oleic acid content influenced its thermal stability and frying life. This study showed SHOSO as a suitable frying oil, and its higher oleic acid content makes it attractive as a functional and healthier fat alternative in food formulations. Full article

In this study, the effect of oven and microwave roasting at different times on oil content, total phenol, flavonoid, fatty acids, phenolic components and mineral contents of purslane seeds was investigated. The total phenolic quantities of the purslane seeds roasted in the oven and microwave were characterized to be between 252.0 ± 1.80 (180 °C/5 min in the oven) and 256.6 ± 3.51 (10 min in the oven), and between 216.3 ± 0.28 (720 W/15 min in the microwave) and 203.7 ± 1.93 GAE/100 g (30 min in the microwave), respectively. The highest total flavonoid (613.8 ± 4.36 mg QE/100 g) was detected in the application of roasting in the oven for 10 min. Roasting in the oven for 5 min caused a decrease in the total flavonoid content (584.3 ± 4.95 mg QE/100 g), while roasting for 10 min caused an increase in the flavonoid content (613.8 ± 4.36 mg QE/100 g). The oil yields of purslane seed samples roasted in the oven for 5 min and 10 min were defined as 40.40 ± 0.99% and 45.00 ± 0.71%, respectively. Statistical differences were observed between the oil, total phenol and flavonoid contents of the samples depending on the roasting times in the oven and microwave (p ≤ 0.01). The protein contents of the purslane seeds were established to be between 27.89 ± 0.279% (control) and 37.24 ± 0.407% (10 min in the oven). The calcium (Ca) contents of the purslane seeds changed between 8314.99 ± 327.53 ppm (5 min in the oven) and 4340.62 ± 498.45 ppm (15 min in the microwave), while the phosphorus contents varied between 4905.13 ± 43.02 ppm (15 min in the microwave) and 4051.23 ± 6.39 ppm (unroasted). In addition, the potassium content was found to be between 4565.89 ± 153.47 (5 min in the oven) and 3904.02 ± 7.17 ppm (unroasted). It was also observed that the purslane seeds roasted in the oven for 10 min maintained a linolenic fatty acid content of up to 65.57%. Considering the bioactive properties and phytochemical components of purslane seeds roasted in both roasting systems, they are important in terms of the nutritional enrichment of foods as a food supplement. Full article

Chios mastiha is the natural aromatic resin of Pistacia lentiscus L. var. Chia, Anacardiaceae, which is exclusively cultivated in the southern part of the Greek island of Chios. Chios mastiha (P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha) is well-known for its distinctive taste and aroma and has been known since ancient times due to its healing properties in gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders and because of its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. In this study, the chemical composition, applying LC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis, and the antioxidant activities of three different polarity P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha fractions, apolar, medium polar, and polar, were characterized in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Chemical analysis of the fractions unveiled new components of P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha, mainly fatty acids compounds, known for their antioxidant activity and regulatory effects on lipid metabolism. By applying the MTT assay and confocal microscopy analysis, we showed that P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha fractions, especially the apolar and medium polar fractions, enriched in triterpenes and fatty acids, caused suppression of the H₂O₂-induced reduction in cell viability, ROS production, and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, Western blot analysis revealed that apolar fraction, enriched in fatty acids, induced expression of the PPARα, which is well-known for its antioxidant activities and its crucial role in lipid metabolism. Induction of PPARα, a GR target gene, was also accompanied by an increase in GR protein levels. Enhanced antioxidant activities of the apolar fraction may be correlated with its chemical composition, enriched in fatty acids and triterpenoids. Thus, our results indicate the neuroprotective actions of P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha fractions, highlighting their potential application as neuroprotective agents in neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

The current paper reports the asymmetric synthesis of a focused library of enantiostructured triacylglycerols (TAGs) constituting a potent drug of the NSAID type (ibuprofen or naproxen) along with a pure bioactive n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intended as a novel type of prodrug. In this second category, a TAG prodrug of the terminal sn-1 or sn-3 position of the glycerol skeleton is acylated with a single saturated medium-chain fatty acid (C6, C8, C10, or C12), and another with the drug entity; the PUFA (EPA or DHA) is located in the sn-2 position. This was accomplished by a six-step chemoenzymatic approach, two of which were promoted by a lipase, starting from enantiopure (R)- and (S)-solketals. The highly regioselective immobilized Candida antarctica lipase (CAL-B) played a crucial role in the regiocontrol of the synthesis. The most challenging key step involved the incorporation of the drugs that were activated as oxime esters by the lipase exclusively in the terminal position of glycerol that is protected as a benzyl ether. All combinations, a total of 32 such prodrug TAGs, were prepared, isolated, and fully characterized, along with 24 acylglycerol intermediates, obtained in very-high-to-excellent yields in the majority of cases. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity is associated with numerous metabolic complications including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and a reduced capacity for physical activity. Whole-body ablation of liver fatty acid-binding protein (LFABP) in mice was shown to alleviate several of these metabolic complications; high-fat (HF)-fed LFABP knockout (LFABP^-/-) mice developed higher fat mass than their wild-type (WT) counterparts but displayed a metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotype with normoglycemia, normoinsulinemia, and reduced hepatic steatosis compared with WT. Since LFABP is expressed in both liver and intestine, in the present study, we generated LFABP conditional knockout (cKO) mice to determine the contributions of LFABP specifically within the liver or within the intestine, to the whole-body phenotype of the global knockout. Methods: Female liver-specific LFABP knockout (LFABP^liv-/-), intestine-specific LFABP knockout (LFABP^int-/-), and “floxed” LFABP (LFABP^fl/fl) control mice were fed a 45% Kcal fat semipurified HF diet for 12 weeks. Results: While not as dramatic as found for whole-body LFABP^-/- mice, both LFABP^liv-/- and LFABP^int-/- mice had significantly higher body weights and fat mass compared with LFABP^fl/fl control mice. As with the global LFABP nulls, both LFABP^liv-/- and LFABP^int-/- mice remained normoglycemic and normoinsulinemic. Despite their greater fat mass, the LFABP^liv-/- mice did not develop hepatic steatosis. Additionally, LFABP^liv-/- and LFABP^int-/- mice had higher endurance exercise capacity when compared with LFABP^fl/fl control mice. Conclusions: The results suggest, therefore, that either liver-specific or intestine-specific ablation of LFABP in female mice is sufficient to induce, at least in part, the MHO phenotype observed following whole-body ablation of LFABP. Full article

Background: Malnutrition is a clinical condition that leads to unfavourable changes in health. It affects 35–55% of hospitalized patients, and in the case of cancer, this prevalence rises to 40–90% of patients. Screening nutritional status is essential for preventing undernutrition, which is crucial as its treatment. Undernutrition in patients after severe injuries significantly increases catabolic changes. Cytokines and hormones, such as epinephrine, glucagon, and cortisol, are released, which can increase energy expenditure by 50%. Properly conducted nutritional treatment aims to maintain or improve the nutritional status of patients whose nutrition with a natural diet is insufficient, moreover, in some cases, treatment of the underlying disease. Methods: This study is a narrative review focused on immunonutrition. The search for source articles, mainly from the last 10 years, was conducted in the PubMed and Google Schoolar databases, as well as in printed books. The key words used were “malnutrition”, “inflammation”, “clinical nutrition”, “immunomodulatory components”, “nutritional status assessment”, “enteral nutrition”, “parenteral nutrition”, and their combinations. Results: Providing substances such as omega-3 fatty acids, glutamine, arginine, nucleotides, antioxidants, and prebiotic fiber has a beneficial impact on immunological and anti-inflammatory pathways. The above-mentioned ingredients may inhibit the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, activate anti-inflammatory cytokines, stimulate immune cells, and have a beneficial effect in allergic diseases, respiratory infections, or wound healing. Conslusion: Immunonutrition can be administrated via oral, enteral, and parenteral routes. It is crucial to highlight the importance of proper nutritional status in patients. The relationship between inflammation and malnutrition creates a vicious cycle, where one negatively affects the other due to increased metabolic demand, loss of appetite, weakened immune system, and gut dysbiosis. Full article

A novel, strictly aerobic, non-motile, and pink-pigmented bacterium, designated 7Alg 153^T, was isolated from the Pacific green alga Cladophora stimpsonii. Strain 7Alg 153^T was able to grow at 4–32 °C in the presence of 1.5–4% NaCl and hydrolyze L-tyrosine, gelatin, aesculin, Tweens 20, 40, and 80 and urea, as well as produce catalase, oxidase, and nitrate reductase. The novel strain 7Alg 153^T showed the highest similarity of 96.75% with Pseudaestuariivita rosea H15^T, followed by Thalassobius litorarius MME-075^T (96.60%), Thalassobius mangrovi GS-10^T (96.53%), Tritonibacter litoralis SM1979^T (96.45%), and Marivita cryptomonadis CL-SK44^T (96.38%), indicating that it belongs to the family Roseobacteraceae, the order Rhodobacteales, the class Alphaproteobacteria, and the phylum Pseudomonadota. The respiratory ubiquinone was Q-10. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, two unidentified aminolipids, and one unidentified lipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids (>5%) were C_18:1 ω7c, C_16:0, C_18:0, and 11-methyl C_18:1 ω7c. The 7Alg 153^T genome is composed of a single circular chromosome of 3,786,800 bp and two circular plasmids of 53,157 bp and 37,459 bp, respectively. Pan-genome analysis showed that the 7Alg 153^T genome contains 33 genus-specific clusters spanning 92 genes. The COG20-annotated singletons were more often related to signal transduction mechanisms, cell membrane biogenesis, transcription, and transport, and the metabolism of amino acids. The complete photosynthetic gene cluster (PGC) for aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis (AAP) was found on a 53 kb plasmid. Based on the phylogenetic evidence and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the novel isolate represents a novel genus and species within the family Roseobacteraceae, for which the name Algirhabdus cladophorae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 7Alg 153^T (=KCTC 72606^T = KMM 6494^T). Full article

Background/Objectives: Effectiveness of modified atmosphere (MA) packaging for the preservation of the freshness of vegetable soybeans was confirmed by using metabolomics combined with convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Methods: Stored under a low O₂, high CO₂ environment, the vegetable soybeans’ freshness was tracked through changes in hue angle on the surface of the crops and metabolite levels compared to those stored under normoxia. Results: MA packaging slowed respiration and reduced pectin decomposition, succinic acid oxidation, and fatty acid consumption, all linked to freshness maintenance. Using 62 key metabolite concentrations as inputs, CNNs classified vegetable soybean freshness into seven categories with 92.9% accuracy, outperforming traditional linear discriminant analysis by 14.3%. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate MA packaging’s effectiveness in extending freshness of vegetable soybeans by monitoring specific metabolic changes. This will contribute to the advancement of research aimed at elucidating the relationship between freshness and metabolism in horticultural crops. Full article

Erwinia are widely known as phytopathogenic bacteria, but among them, there are also plant-friendly strains that can promote plant growth (PGPR). The Erwinia-like strain OPT-41 was isolated from Triticum aestivum seedlings as a potential PGPR. The cells (0.9–1.3 × 1.5–3.1 µm) of this microorganism are Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile (with peritrichous flagella), and non-spore- and non-capsule-forming. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed it is located in the Erwiniaceae family and has a pairwise similarity above the species delineation threshold of 98.65% with several of its members: Erwinia tasmaniensis (99.21%), Candidatus Pantoea bathycoeliae (98.93%), Pantoea agglomerans (98.87%), Erwinia endophytica (98.83%), Erwinia persicina (98.82%), Erwinia billingiae (98.76%) and Erwinia aphidicola (98.75%). Whole genome-based taxonomy performed on the Type (Strain) Genome Server clarified the status of strain OPT-41, detecting it as a potential new species in the genus Erwinia. The microorganism under study was the most closely related to the type strain of E. phyllosphaerae, demonstrating 27.2% similarity in dDDH, 83.44% similarity in OrthoANIu, and 1.9% difference in G+C content. The major fatty acids of strain OPT-41 were 9 C_16:1, C_14:0, and C_16:0. A combination of genome-based taxonomy and traditional polyphasic taxonomy clearly indicated that strain OPT-41 belongs to a novel Erwinia species, for which the name E. plantamica sp. nov was proposed. OPT-41 (=IBPPM 712=VKM B-3874D=CCTCC AB 2024361) has been designated as the type strain. In addition, OPT-41 was found to have low degradation potential for host plant pectins and proteins and be friendly in Triticum aestivum and Hordeum vulgare crops. Full article

Biodiesel was produced via transesterification of canola oil in the presence of a silica xerogel catalyst with deposited gold nanoparticles. The silica-gold catalyst was produced in situ, where gold metal was added to a sodium silicate solution; subsequently, gold nanoparticles were synthesised within the solution. The sodium silicate-gold nanoparticles solution was then turned into a silica-gold gel at pH 8.7 and later dried to form silica-gold nanoparticles xerogel. The produced silica-gold nanoparticles xerogel was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), transition electron microscopy (TEM), and nitrogen physisorption. The gel had a silica content of 91.6 wt% and a sodium content of 6.4 wt%, with the added gold content being 99.5% retained. The biodiesel produced in the presence of silica-gold nanoparticles xerogel was characterised by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and its physical properties, such as density, kinematic viscosity, flash point, pour point, and cloud point, were also determined. The silica-gold nanoparticles xerogel catalyst remained solid throughout its usage without leaching into the reaction medium. The produced biodiesel contained mostly monounsaturated fatty acid methyl esters and had a yield of 99.2% at optimum reaction conditions. Full article

The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is an aquatic reptile prized for its nutritional and health benefits. Given its adaptability to various culturing modes including the greenhouse, pond and rice culturing modes, we conducted a comparative analysis of the morphology, organ trait and nutritional composition of turtles cultured in three culturing modes. This study investigated the plasticity of morphology and physiology, as well as the variations in nutritional composition across varying culturing modes. The results demonstrated that after approximately 120 days of cultivation, significant changes were observed in the morphology, physiology and nutritional composition of turtles from each culturing mode. In terms of morphology, rice turtles exhibited an arched shell shape, broad plastron, elongated limbs, narrow interocular distance and slender head and neck. Pond turtles displayed similar morphological characteristics to rice turtles, with the additional features of a flattened body shape and narrower plastron. Greenhouse turtles presented a flattened shell shape, narrow plastron, shortened limbs, wider interocular distance and stocky head and neck. Regarding the organ characteristics, the specific weights of liver, viscera, internal fat lumps and condition factors were significantly higher in greenhouse turtles compared to rice turtles and pond turtles (p < 0.05). Conversely, the specific weights of the back carapace, calipash and edible part were significantly lower than those in rice turtles and pond turtles (p < 0.05). Nutritional analysis revealed that crude protein, total amino acid, essential amino acid, flavor amino acid, pharmacodynamic amino acid, collagen and EPA+DHA contents were significantly higher in rice turtles and pond turtles than greenhouse turtles (p < 0.05). However, crude fat and unsaturated fatty acid contents were significantly higher in greenhouse turtles than in rice turtles and pond turtles (p < 0.05). In summary, Chinese soft-shelled turtles exhibited significant morphological and organ plasticity in response to different culturing modes. While the rice and pond culturing modes could enhance the nutritional quality of turtles to some extent, the impact of commercial feed on fatty acid profiles must be carefully considered. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate potential biomarkers of bacterial translocation (lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST)) and intestinal wall damage (intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), Zonulin, and regenerating islet-derived protein-3α (REG3α)) in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Methods: The study involved 327 patients divided into two groups: Group 1 comprised 227 patients with MODS (main group), while Group 2 comprised 100 patients with identical pathologies but without MODS (control group). To examine these biomarkers in the blood, venous blood was taken in the control group on the day of admission to the hospital, in patients with MODS on the first day of MODS staging, and later on Days 3 and 7 of its development. Levels of these markers in blood serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Results: In the control group, values of all the investigated markers were lower than in the group of MODS patients (p < 0.0001). In the main group, the mortality rate was 44.9% (n = 102). The values of sCD14-ST on Day 1 and of I-FABP and REG3α on Days 1 and 3 were higher in deceased MODS patients (p < 0.05), while LBP levels on Day 7 were conversely lower in the deceased patients (p = 0.006). SOFA and APACHE II scores were higher in the deceased patients (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In MODS patients, the increased I-FABP, REG3α, and sCD14-ST but decreased LBP levels may indicate increased intestinal wall permeability and bacterial translocation, which may exacerbate the course of multiple organ dysfunction and increase the risk of mortality. Despite the limitations of this study, the studied potential biomarkers can be considered noteworthy candidates for identifying MODS patients at high risk of mortality. Full article

Chronic hyperglycemia is a major driver of neurovascular damage in diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of preventable blindness in adults. DR progression is often undetected until its advanced stages, with oxidative stress recognized as a primary contributor. In diabetes, oxidative stress disrupts retinal cellular balance, damaging proteins, DNA, and lipids, and triggering photoreceptor degeneration. Pterostilbene (Pter), a polyphenol with antioxidant properties, has demonstrated protective effects in DR animal models and was assessed in a pilot clinical study. DR patients treated with 250 mg/day of oral Pter showed a reduction in the development of retinal vascular alterations characteristic of the disease. Urinary analyses confirmed Pter’s role in reducing the lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including arachidonic and adrenic acids, indicators of oxidative damage in DR. Pter also improved the GSH/GSSG ratio, reflecting a restored redox balance. However, after six months without treatment, retinal damage indicators reappeared, highlighting the importance of sustained intervention. These findings suggest that Pter may help slow the progression of DR by protecting against oxidative stress and highlight the importance of implementing antioxidant therapies from the diagnosis of diabetes, although its long-term impact and the development of consistent biomarkers deserve more research to optimize DR management. Full article

Understanding the early molecular events driving oral carcinogenesis is vital for diagnosing oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) promptly. While metabolic differences between oral leukoplakia (OLK), OSCC, and healthy oral mucosa have been reported, the metabolic changes distinguishing malignant transformed OLKs (MT-OLK) from non-transformed OLKs (NT-OLK) remain unexplored. Here, we examine the metabolomic profiles of 5 cases of MT-OLK and 15 of NT-OLK to identify key predictive molecules using untargeted high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The potentially discriminant compounds were highlighted through a robust statistical analysis workflow, and the dysregulated metabolic pathways were illustrated by enrichment analysis. Seventeen molecular features, primarily lipids—including phospholipids, oxidised lipids, cholesteryl esters, and fatty acids—were identified as discriminants between MT-OLK and NT-OLK across statistical and bioinformatic approaches. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed alterations in lipid metabolism, particularly fatty acid synthesis and degradation, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Predictive models showed high accuracy (AUC = 0.88) in distinguishing the two groups. This study suggests that metabolomics has the potential to differentiate between MT-OLK and NT-OLK by identifying candidate biomarkers that may contribute to the understanding of malignant transformation. Validation in larger cohorts is warranted to translate these findings into clinical practice. Full article