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Effects of garlic-derived fructan and oligofructose mixtures on intestinal health and constipation relief in mice

Xie C, Gao W, Liang X, Chye FY

J Sci Food Agric, 2024 May 14.
PMID: 38742546 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13567

BACKGROUND: Garlic polysaccharides (GPs) constitute over 75% of the dry weight of garlic. They are characterized by fructan with a 2,1-β-d-Fruf backbone and 2,6-β-d-Fruf branches. Studies have suggested a role for GPs in regulating gut microbiota but whether they possess a comprehensive function in maintaining intestinal well-being and can serve as effective prebiotics remains unknown. To explore this, varied doses of GPs (1.25-5.0 g kg-1 body weight) and inulin (as a positive control) were administered to Kunming mice via gavage, and their effects on the intestinal epithelial, chemical, and biological barriers were assessed. A constipation model was also established using loperamide to investigate the potential effects of GPs on the relief of constipation.
RESULTS: Administration of GPs significantly upregulated expression of tight-junction proteins and mucins in Kunming mouse small-intestine tissue. Garlic polysaccharides elevated cecal butyric acid content, reduced the abundance of Desulfobacterota, and decreased the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (the F/B ratio). Garlic polysaccharides also promoted the growth of Bacteroides acidifaciens and Clostridium saccharogumia. Tax4Fun functional predictions suggested the potential of GPs to prevent human diseases, reducing the risk of insulin resistance, infectious diseases, and drug resistance. Garlic polysaccharides also exhibited a beneficial effect in alleviating loperamide-induced constipation symptoms by enhancing small intestinal transit, softening stool consistency, accelerating bowel movements, and promoting the release of excitatory neurotransmitters.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the important role of GPs in maintaining gut fitness by enhancing intestinal barrier function and peristalsis. Garlic polysaccharides are promising prebiotics, potentially contributing to overall intestinal well-being and health. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Efficacy and safety of continuous nursing in improving functional recovery after total hip or knee arthroplasty in older adults: A systematic review

Sun J, Xu Y, Zhu J, Zhu B, Gao W

Int J Nurs Sci, 2024 Apr;11(2):286-294.
PMID: 38707686 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2024.03.013

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of continuous nursing care for the recovery of joint function in older adults with total hip or knee arthroplasty.
METHODS: Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies of continuous nursing in older patients after joint replacement were searched from the database of Cochrane Library, Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase from their establishment to October 25, 2023. After literature screening, two researchers completed data extraction, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. The risk analysis included in cohort studies was based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).
RESULTS: The study included a total of 15 articles, comprising 34,186 knee and hip replacement patients. In this review, the effects of continuous nursing on the recovery of joint function of knee replacement and hip replacement in older adults were classified and discussed. Continuous nursing interventions targeted for total hip replacement could greatly increase the range of joint mobility, enhance muscle strength during hip movements like flexion, extension, and abduction, maintain joint stability, relieve pain, improve daily activities, and lower the risk of complications. For older patients with knee arthroplasty, continuous nursing programs could markedly improve knee motion range, joint flexion, joint stability, daily activities, and pain management. Despite the implementation of interventions, the incidence of complications caused by total knee replacement did not decrease. Out of all the studies reviewed, only one used a theoretical framework for interventions provided to patients during the postoperative period of hip arthroplasty. The overall quality of the included studies was very high.
CONCLUSION: Continuous nursing can effectively improve the joint function of older patients after joint replacement. However, its effectiveness in terms of clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and medical cost of associated continuous nursing needs to be further clarified. In addition, continuous nursing has no significant advantage in the safety of postoperative complications and readmission rates in older adults after knee joint replacement. To enhance the efficacy and safety of continuous nursing effectively, it is crucial to refine the continuous nursing program in the future, thereby elevating the quality of nursing services.
Ethnic differences in Singapore's dementia prevalence: the stroke, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and dementia in Singapore study

Sahadevan S, Saw SM, Gao W, Tan LC, Chin JJ, Hong CY, et al.

J Am Geriatr Soc, 2008 Nov;56(11):2061-8.
PMID: 19016940 DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01992.x

To study the prevalence of dementia in Singapore among Chinese, Malays, and Indians.
Fulltext The complete chloroplast genome sequence and phylogenetic analysis of Strobilanthes dalzielii (W.W.Sm.) Benoist 1935 (Acanthaceae)

Zeng N, Gao W, Chen Z, Chong JY, Lee SY, Xu G

Mitochondrial DNA B Resour, 2024;9(4):465-469.
PMID: 38591052 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2024.2316069

Strobilanthes dalzielii of Acanthaceae is an herb species with potentially extensive applications for its pharmaceutical and ornamental values. Due to taxonomic complications and limited genetic information, the structural characteristics, and phylogenetic relationships of the S. dalzielii chloroplast genome were assembled and characterized here for the first time. The complete chloroplast genome of S. dalzielii was 144,580 bp in length. The genome is quadripartite in structure and consists of a large single-copy region (92,137 bp) and a small single-copy region (17,669 bp), which are separated by a pair of inverted repeats (each 17,387 bp). A total of 125 genes were annotated, including 80 protein-coding, 37 transfer RNA, and eight ribosomal RNA genes. The overall GC content was 36.4%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete chloroplast genome sequence of 21 taxa within the tribe Ruellieae of Acanthaceae using the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods revealed that Strobilanthes diverged after Ruellia; S. dalzielii is closely related to S. tonkinensis. The genomic data obtained from this study will serve as valuable information to the species delimitation and genetic classification of Strobilanthes.
Fulltext Application of Biochar Derived From Pyrolysis of Waste Fiberboard on Tetracycline Adsorption in Aqueous Solution

Xu D, Gao Y, Lin Z, Gao W, Zhang H, Karnowo K, et al.

Front Chem, 2019;7:943.
PMID: 32117859 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00943

In this study, biochars derived from waste fiberboard biomass were applied in tetracycline (TC) removal in aqueous solution. Biochar samples were prepared by slow pyrolysis at 300, 500, and 800°C, and were characterized by ultimate analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), etc. The effects of ionic strength (0-1.0 mol/L of NaCl), initial TC concentration (2.5-60 ppm), biochar dosage (1.5-2.5 g/L), and initial pH (2-10) were systemically determined. The results present that biochar prepared at 800°C (BC800) generally possesses the highest aromatization degree and surface area with abundant pyridinic N (N-6) and accordingly shows a better removal efficiency (68.6%) than the other two biochar samples. Adsorption isotherm data were better fitted by the Freundlich model (R2 is 0.94) than the Langmuir model (R2 is 0.85). Thermodynamic study showed that the adsorption process is endothermic and mainly physical in nature with the values of ΔH0 being 48.0 kJ/mol, ΔS0 being 157.1 J/mol/K, and ΔG0 varying from 1.02 to -2.14 kJ/mol. The graphite-like structure in biochar enables the π-π interactions with a ring structure in the TC molecule, which, together with the N-6 acting as electron donor, is the main driving force of the adsorption process.
The impact of COVID-19 on palliative care for people with Parkinson's and response to future pandemics

Chaudhuri KR, Rukavina K, McConvey V, Antonini A, Lorenzl S, Bhidayasiri R, et al.

Expert Rev Neurother, 2021 06;21(6):615-623.
PMID: 33905283 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2021.1923480

Introduction: Although in some countries, palliative care (PC) still remains poorly implemented, its importance throughout the course of Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasingly being acknowledged. With an emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, growing emphasis has been placed on the palliative needs of people with Parkinson's (PwP), particularly elderly, frail, and with comorbidities.Areas covered: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses an enormous challenge on aspects of daily living in PwP and might interact negatively with a range of motor and non-motor symptoms (NMS), both directly and indirectly - as a consequence of pandemic-related social and health care restrictions. Here, the authors outline some of the motor and NMS relevant to PC, and propose a pragmatic and rapidly deployable, consensus-based PC approach for PwP during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, potentially relevant also for future pandemics.Expert opinion: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses a considerable impact on PwP and their caregivers, ranging from mental health issues to worsening of physical symptoms - both in the short- and long-term, (Long-COVID) and calls for specific, personalized PC strategies relevant in a lockdown setting globally. Validated assessment tools should be applied remotely to flag up particular motor or NMS that require special attention, both in short- and long-term.
Parenting measurement, normativeness, and associations with child outcomes: Comparing evidence from four non-Western cultures

Ren H, Hart CH, Cheah CSL, Porter CL, Nelson DA, Yavuz-Müren HM, et al.

Dev Sci, 2024 Sep;27(5):e13388.
PMID: 36929667 DOI: 10.1111/desc.13388

This study compared parenting across four non-Western cultures to test cross-cultural commonality and specificity principles in three aspects: measurement properties, parenting normativeness, and their associations with child outcomes. Both mothers and fathers (N = 1509 dyads) with preschool-aged children (M = 5.00 years; 48% girls) from urban areas of four countries (Malaysia, N = 372; China, N = 441; Turkey, N = 402; and Japan, N = 294) reported on four parenting constructs (authoritative, authoritarian, group harmony socialization, and intrusive control) and their sub-dimensions using modified culturally relevant measures. Teachers reported on children's internalizing, externalizing, and prosocial behaviors. The commonality principle was supported by two sets of findings: (1) full measurement invariance was established for most parenting constructs and sub-dimensions, except that intrusive control only reached partial scalar invariance, and (2) no variations were found in associations between parenting and any child outcomes across cultures or parent gender at the construct level for all four parenting constructs and at the sub-dimensional level for authoritarian and intrusive control sub-dimensions. The specificity principle was supported by the other two sets of findings: (1) cross-cultural differences in parenting normativeness did not follow the pattern of economic development but yielded culture-specific patterns, and (2) at the sub-dimensional level, the authoritative parenting and group harmony socialization sub-dimensions were differently associated with child outcomes across cultures and/or parent gender. The findings suggested that examining specific dimensions rather than broad parenting constructs is necessary to reflect cultural specificities and nuances. Our study provided a culturally-invariant instrument and a three-step guide for future parenting research to examine cross-cultural commonalities/specificities. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: This is the first study to use an instrument with measurement invariance across multiple non-Western cultures to examine the commonality and specificity principles in parenting. Measurement invariance was achieved across cultures for authoritative and authoritarian parenting, group harmony socialization, intrusive control, and their sub-dimensions, supporting the commonality principle. Cross-cultural differences in parenting normativeness did not follow the pattern of economic development but yielded culture-specific patterns, supporting the specificity principle. Both commonalities and specificities were manifested in associations between parenting and child outcomes across cultures.
Employment, work hours, and wages in adults with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease: An international cohort study

Ham AS, Gomez Hjerthen I, Sudhir A, Pandit L, Reddy YM, Murthy JM, et al.

Mult Scler, 2024 Nov;30(13):1674-1682.
PMID: 39392718 DOI: 10.1177/13524585241286671

OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to understand the employment impacts of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated antibody disease (MOGAD) on adults in an international cohort by determining lost employment, work hours, and wages.
BACKGROUND: Clinically, MOGAD can be associated with significant disability; however, its socioeconomic consequences for adults are barely reported.
METHODS: Participants of potential working age (18-70 years old) with neurologist-diagnosed MOGAD were recruited from clinical sites in 13 countries, April 2022 to August 2023. Each participant completed a one-time survey. Regression models assessed associations with post-MOGAD (1) unemployment and (2) work hours.
RESULTS: A total of 117 participants (66.7% female), mean age 39.7 years, median disease duration 3 years (25th, 75th percentile: 1, 7) were analyzed. Employment post-MOGAD reduced from 74 (63.2%) to 57 (48.7%) participants. Participants employed pre-diagnosis reduced their work hours, on average, from 31.6 hours/week to 19.5 hours/week post-diagnosis. Residence in a high-income country was statistically significantly associated with post-diagnosis employment and higher weekly work hours. Depressed mood was associated with unemployment. MOGAD-related pain and history of myelitis were independently associated with lost work hours.
CONCLUSION: MOGAD can have significant impacts on adult employment, particularly in non-high-income countries. Depressed mood and pain are potentially modifiable factors related to socioeconomic status in MOGAD.
Fulltext Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1

Klionsky DJ, Abdel-Aziz AK, Abdelfatah S, Abdellatif M, Abdoli A, Abel S, et al.

Autophagy, 2021 Jan;17(1):1-382.
PMID: 33634751 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2020.1797280

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field.