PubMed

EBioMedicine. 2025 Jan 10;112:105552. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105552. Online ahead of print.NO ABSTRACTPMID:39798398 | DOI:10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105552

Meat Sci. 2025 Jan 7;222:109752. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2025.109752. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSteak samples were collected from the longissimus lumborum muscles of beef carcasses (Canada AA, n = 1505; Canada AAA, n = 1363) over a 3-year period. Steaks were aged for 14 d, and tenderness was determined by slice shear force (SSF). Metabolomic profiling of beef samples was performed using rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometry (REIMS) (N = 2853). Thirteen machine learning algorithms were used to build predictive models. Data were reduced using two separate approaches, one being feature selection (FS) and the second principal component analysis followed by FS (PCA-FS). No models could predict SSF tenderness category using FS and PCA-FS datasets with higher accuracy than the no information rate (NIR; 59.5 %, P ≥ 0.05). Population mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated to generate 4 SD categories (±2) for further predictions. No model could predict SD category using the FS dataset (NIR = 55.1 %, P > 0.05). Top accuracies for PCA-FS were generated from the Treebag and Random Forest (RF) algorithms (82.8 % and 83.0 %, respectively; NIR = 55.0 %, P < 0.001). Top accuracies for FS were generated from SVM Radial and XGBoost to predict quality grade (84.6 % and 85.3 %, respectively NIR = 52.5 %, P < 0.001). Top accuracies for PCA-FS were generated from SVM Radial and RF (82.8 % and 84.2 %, respectively, P < 0.001). A stepwise regression model was built to evaluate relationships between SSF values and spectra generated from REIMS. Selected REIMS bins accounted for 7.2 % of the variation in predicted SSF values (R2 = 0.072; P < 0.001). With more development, the RF algorithm could assist REIMS in rapid assessment of carcass quality.PMID:39798395 | DOI:10.1016/j.meatsci.2025.109752

Food Chem. 2025 Jan 7;471:142814. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.142814. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTWith the improvement of living standards, people's expectations for chickens' quality and flavor have also grown. Yupingfeng polysaccharide (YPF-P) has pharmacological effects such as regulating fatty acid composition and gut microbiota. In this study, different doses of YPF-P were added to the feed of qingyuan partridge chickens. The results showed that 8 g/kg YPF-P increased thigh muscle yield by 16.8 % and improved chicken breast flavor by elevating its pH1h and protein content, thereby enhancing flavor richness by 17.16 %.The non-targeted metabolomics (LC-MS) analysis of chicken breast revealed significant enrichment in Arachidonic acid metabolism. Correlation analysis showed the results of LC-MS are significantly correlated with flavor, protein and fat content. Taken together, YPF-P could provide better taste by changing muscle metabolism and increasing the deposition of beneficial compounds in muscle. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of YPF-P as feed additive on the meat flavor quality of poultry.PMID:39798377 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.142814

Food Chem. 2025 Jan 6;471:142797. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.142797. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTWe hypothesized that improving the fat globule structure of infant formulae based on the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) would regulate metabolites and metabolic pathways, making it more similar to the metabolic properties of human milk. Therefore, we prepared infant formulae with different fat globule structures, including two model infant formulae (F1: fat globules surrounded by MFGM; F2: fat globules surrounded by protein) and one commercial infant formulae containing MFGM, and compared their metabolic differences with those of human milk. The number of differential metabolites between each sample and human milk reached 60 (F1), 132 (F2) and 126 (IF1). Glycerophosphocholines were screened as potential biomarkers to distinguish infant formulae from human milk. Compared with F2 and IF1, the enrichment of amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism pathways was not significant between F1 and human milk. These results emphasized that F1 had the highest similarity to human milk in metabolic properties.PMID:39798369 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.142797

Food Chem. 2024 Dec 31;471:142734. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142734. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe volatile markers and aroma properties of unifloral safflower honey in Xinjiang, China were identified for the authentication. An untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed to compare the volatile components in safflower honey with those in four other unifloral honey and the nectar plants of safflower honey through headspace solid-phase microextraction-chromatography-mass spectrometry. Tentative markers, including benzaldehyde, longifolene, and cedrol, were comprehensively screened through variable importance in projection based on orthogonal partial least-squares discrimination analysis, nectar origin volatile components analysis, and odor characteristics analysis. A targeted quantitative analysis of potential volatile compound contents within safflower honey between 2021 and 2023 provided valuable evidence for differentiating safflower honey and other honey. Furthermore, bacterial inhibition tests showed that safflower honey exhibits inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, with efficacy comparable to control. The reliable volatile markers, longifolene, and cedrol, enhance safflower honey's antibacterial effect.PMID:39798365 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142734

Food Chem. 2025 Jan 6;471:142790. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.142790. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTLongjing tea is well-known for its exceptional umami/mellow flavor, but the complexity of interactions among chemical compositions has impeded in-depth understanding. This study comprehensively compared the taste contributors in 'Longjing 43' (LJ43) and 'Qunti' (QT). Peptidomics revealed 865 identified water-soluble peptides in QT, and 497 in LJ43, with 44 umami peptides predicted. Potential umami peptide-T1R1/T1R3 complexes were further modeled using AlphaFold 3. LJ43 had higher levels of theanine (>18 mg/g), and glutamine (∼4 mg/g) compared to QT. Similar amounts of flavan-3-ols (>150 mg/g), particularly EGCG (>60 mg/g) and ECG (>30 mg/g) were determined in LJ43 and QT. Moreover, Longjing teas' characterized flavor contributions by macromolecules (peptides), and small molecules (amino acids, catechins, saccharides, and Maillard reaction products) were integrated. These insights will greatly expand tea flavor chemistry and provide promising approaches promotion premium Longjing teas.PMID:39798359 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.142790

Phytomedicine. 2025 Jan 3;137:156360. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.156360. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Acute pharyngitis (AP) is a common condition marked by inflammation of the oropharynx, which can lead to severe throat swelling, breathing difficulties, and even suffocation, significantly impacting quality of life. Despite the beneficial anti-inflammatory activity of Glycyrrhizae Radix Et Rhizoma (GRER) and Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), their pharmacological mechanisms against AP remain unclear.PURPOSE: This study explores the mechanisms by which GRER treats AP, utilizing both transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches.METHODS: We identified the chemical components of GRER and those that enter the bloodstream using UPLC-MS/MS. Based on15 % ammonia-induced AP model, this study integrates transcriptomics and metabolomics to investigate the mechanism of GRER and ISL in the AP treatment.RESULTS: The results indicated that GRER has significantly protective and anti-inflammatory effects against AP. Our analysis identified 144 components of GRER in vitro and 17 components in vivo. Network pharmacology and quantitative analysis highlighted ISL as a key active ingredient responsible for GRER's anti-AP effects. Transcriptomics and metabolomics results indicate that GRER and its active ingredient ISL exert therapeutic effects on AP by inhibiting the expression of CCL5 in pharyngeal tissue, thereby downregulating the levels of pro-inflammatory metabolites malic acid and fumaric acid in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle pathway.CONCLUSION: The data in this article demonstrated that GRER and ISL has significantly anti-inflammatory effects and protective effects for AP by regulating CCL5 expression to reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory metabolites within TCA cycle pathway. It provides a scientific basis for prevention and treatment of AP.PMID:39798344 | DOI:10.1016/j.phymed.2024.156360

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Jan 8;487:137117. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137117. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe remobilization of cadmium (Cd) in contaminated farmland soil due to nitrogen fertilizer addition has raised significant concerns regarding the effectiveness of immobilization remediation. This study investigated the effects of ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrogen (NO3--N) application (100 kg/ha) on the remobilization of immobilization of remediation Cd (bound to clay palygorskite) during various growth stages of rice through field experiments. Our findings revealed that increased organic acid secretion (e.g., benzoic acid and malic acid) from rice roots, induced by NH4+-N, significantly enhanced the NH4NO3-extractable Cd content. Consequently, the concentration of Cd in brown rice varied from 39.84 to 43.25 μg/kg to 78.31-90.44 μg/kg. While NO3--N exhibited a relatively weaker capacity for Cd remobilization (Cd content in brown rices: 50.17-65.23 μg/kg). Meanwhile, the organic acid secretion in roots inhibited the expression of most functional genes (e.g., nifK and napA), leading to shifts in microbial communities and functional metabolism (e.g., Cd2+ exporting). According to the results of metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) composition, specific MAGs with fewer functional annotations were enriched under NH4+-N treatment, may further increased risk of Cd exposure in rice by stimulating amt expression. Interaction analysis of metabolic products and microbial communities indicated acids linked to branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism and urea cycle might serve as a potentially key process influencing microbial dynamics.PMID:39798310 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137117

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Jan 8;487:137158. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137158. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTLong-term occupational exposure to metals and organics have been reported to be under great health risks. However, limited data are available on the molecular mechanism between combined exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and harmful health effects. In present work, non-target metabolomics study was conducted based on urine samples from nonferrous metal smelting workers (n = 207), surrounding residents (n = 180), and the control residents (n = 187) by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS). Differential and correlation analyses among metabolic features indicate that total 22 differential metabolites in smelting workers were associated (p < 0.05) with metal and PAH exposure. Particularly, amino acid metabolism was strongly disturbed, and other metabolic pathways, including steroid hormone biosynthesis, citrate cycle, and pantothenate and coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis were also perturbed. Among them, steroid hormone biosynthesis was more affected by PAH exposure than metals, especially for hydroxyphenanthrene. These altered pathways were closely associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and energy metabolism disorder. Additionally, our results indicate that endogenous metabolism in surrounding residents were also affected by nonferrous metal smelting activities to some extent. Our work provides valuable insights into molecular mechanisms of adverse health effects probably induced by combined exposure to metals and PAHs.PMID:39798303 | DOI:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137158

Poult Sci. 2025 Jan 6;104(2):104778. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.104778. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPreslaughter stress induced a negative energy balance of broilers, resulted in an accelerated glycolysis and finally led to an inferior meat quality. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of creatine monohydrate (CMH) supplementation on muscle energy storage, antioxidant capacity, the glycolysis of postmortem muscle and the metabolite profiles in muscle of broilers subjected to preslaughter transport. Two hundred and forty broilers were chosen and randomly allocated into three treatments (group A, group B and group C), comprising 8 replicates (10 broilers each replicate). Broilers in group A and B as well as group C were fed with the basal diet or diets containing 1200 mg/kg CMH for 14 days, respectively. After 12 h feed deprivation, broilers in group B (T3h group) and group C (T3h +CMH1200 group) were both subjected to a preslaughter transportation (3 h), but those in group A were treated with a 0.5 h-transport (refined as the control group). The results showed that preslaughter stress led to a lower pH24h value, a bigger L* value and a higher drip loss of muscle compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, transport stress accelerated glycolysis in postmortem muscle, decreased energy storage and the antioxidant capacities of muscle (P < 0.05). However, CMH administration ameliorated energy status, delayed muscle glycolysis, elevated mRNA expression involved in Cr metabolism and inhibited AMPK signaling of broilers experienced preslaughter transport stress. Moreover, significant differences in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, purine metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, ABC transporters, carbon metabolism, lysine metabolism and sulfur metabolism were observed using pathway enrichment analysis. Additionally, the contents of Cr and ATP were positively correlated with branched amino acids (L-valine and l-leucine), l-asparagine, inosine, PCr and d-ribose by metabolomics analysis. Taken together, CMH ameliorated energy status, delayed muscle glycolysis and improved meat quality of antemortem-stressed broilers by the regulation of pathways and key metabolites involved in energy metabolism of postmortem muscle.PMID:39798284 | DOI:10.1016/j.psj.2025.104778

Food Chem. 2024 Dec 26;470:142635. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142635. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTPhenols are important functional compounds present in vineagr, however, their composition and formation pathways remain uncertain. Herein, non-targeted metabolomics and macrotranscriptomics methods were applied to identify phenols and analyze their formation network during the brewing process of Shanxi aged vinegar. A total of 82 phenols were detected from the raw material and the brewing process. Results indicated that phenolic acids were the major phenols and were mainly formed during acetic acid fermentation stages. Water, reducing sugars, lactic acid, and 7 amino acids influenced the formation and transformation of phenols, as shown through Spearman analysis. Furthermore, 16 genera and 38 enzymes were involved in substrates decomposition and phenols formation according to the metabolic pathway analysis, with Xenobiotics biodegradation and metabolism identified as the main pathway for phenols formation. Lactobacillus and Acetobacter were the key genera responsible for the phenols transformation. This study provides new insights into the phenols formation mechanisms in cereal vinegars and it is helpful for isolating the functional strains to reinforce the phenols formation.PMID:39798261 | DOI:10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.142635

Inflamm Res. 2025 Jan 11;74(1):14. doi: 10.1007/s00011-025-01995-9.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Dysbiosis of the nasal microbiome is considered to be related to the acute exacerbation of chronic rhinosinusitis (AECRS). The microbiota in the nasal cavity of AECRS patients and its association with disease severity has rarely been studied. This study aimed to characterize nasal dysbiosis in a prospective cohort of patients with AECRS.METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study of 28 patients with AECRS, 20 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without acute exacerbation (AE), and 29 healthy controls using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Subjective and objective assessments of CRS disease severity during AE were also collected.RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls and patients with CRS without AE, AECRS presented with a substantial decrease of the Corynebacterium_1 and a significant increase of Ralstonia and Acinetobacter at the genus level (LDA score > 2.0 [P < 0.05]). Furthermore, genera with a mean relative abundance (MRA) of less than 1% were defined as rare components based on published studies, then 29 genera with a substantial alteration in AECRS were rare constituents of the microbiome, of which 18 rare genera were highly associated with subjective and objective disease severity. Moreover, a combination of 15 genera could differentiate patients with AECRS with an area under the curve of 0.870 (95% CI = 0.784-0.955). Prediction of microbial functional pathways involved significantly enhanced lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathways and significantly decreased folate biosynthesis, sulfur relay system, and cysteine and methionine metabolism pathways in patients with AECRS.CONCLUSIONS: The rare nasal microbiota (MRA < 1%) correlated with disease status and disease severity in patients with AECRS. The knowledge about the pattern of the nasal microbiome and its metabolomic pathway may contribute to the fundamental understanding of AECRS pathophysiology.PMID:39797944 | DOI:10.1007/s00011-025-01995-9

Biomed Chromatogr. 2025 Feb;39(2):e6074. doi: 10.1002/bmc.6074.ABSTRACTPrevious studies have suggested that ginsenoside Rg2 glycine ester derivative (RG) exhibits therapeutic potential in mitigating hypoxia. This study aimed to elucidate the potential mechanism of RG in hypoxia injury through a combined approach of metabolomics and network pharmacology. Initially, a CoCl2-induced cell hypoxia model was established, and the therapeutic impact of RG on biochemical indices was evaluated. Subsequently, metabolomics analysis of cell samples was conducted to identify biomarkers, and network pharmacology was employed to identify potential targets of RG for hypoxia treatment. Finally, the key target and pathway were verified. The study revealed that RG could reverse CoCl2-induced abnormalities in biochemical indicators. Metabolomics analysis identified 13 biomarkers and seven metabolic pathways associated with RG treatment. Utilizing network pharmacology, five key targets and five metabolic pathways were identified, partially aligning with the metabolomics results. Molecular docking results demonstrated the effective binding of RG to the key targets. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay verified that RG could exert antihypoxia effect by activated PI3K/Akt pathway. In conclusion, this integrated strategy, combining metabolomics with network pharmacology, sheds light on the protective mechanism of RG against hypoxia-induced cellular damage. The findings offer valuable insights for future research and potential applications of RG in the field.PMID:39797727 | DOI:10.1002/bmc.6074

J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1111/jgh.16876. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: The mechanism underlying chronic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) remains unclear. Immune activation is a common feature of DILI progression and is closely associated with metabolism. We explored the immunometabolic profile of chronic DILI and the potential mechanism of chronic DILI progression.METHODS: Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic DILI were analyzed using multiplex immunoassays and untargeted metabolomics to reveal their immunometabolic profile. The effects and potential mechanisms of chronic DILI-related metabolite on acute or chronic liver injury induced by LPS or CCl4 in mice were investigated.RESULTS: Patients with chronic DILI exhibited elevated plasma IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-15 and reduced IL-10 levels. The percentage of IL-12+ monocytes was higher, while that of CD206+ monocytes, IL-10+ monocytes, Th2, Treg, and IL-10+ CD4+ T cells were lower in patients with chronic DILI compared to those with acute DILI. We identified the most significantly increased metabolite in patients with chronic DILI was cis-aconitic acid (CAA). Administration of CAA can attenuate liver injury in mice with acute liver injury induced by LPS or CCl4 and promote the spontaneous resolution of liver fibrosis in mice with chronic live injury induced by CCl4. The protective mechanism of CAA against liver injury is associated with the inhibition of hepatic macrophage infiltration and polarization, which is achieved by inhibiting the secretion of neutrophil-derived IL-33 and subsequent phosphorylation of GATA3.CONCLUSIONS: CAA, which is elevated in patients with chronic DILI, protects against liver injury by inhibiting hepatic macrophage infiltration and polarization through the suppression of the IL-33/GATA3 pathway, suggesting that CAA may serve as a potential target for regulating tissue repair in liver injury.PMID:39797719 | DOI:10.1111/jgh.16876

Biomed Chromatogr. 2025 Feb;39(2):e6081. doi: 10.1002/bmc.6081.ABSTRACTGualou-Xiebai-Banxia (GXB) decoction shows potential for treating myocardial ischemia (MI), although its underlying mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, a multimodal metabolomics approach, combining gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and 1H-NMR, was employed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of GXB in a rat model of myocardial ischemia induced by ligation. ELISA assays and HE staining demonstrated that GXB effectively reduced myocardial injury, oxidative stress markers, and myocardial fibrosis. Orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis identified 62 biomarkers, 20 of which were confirmed using standard compounds. The GC-MS method showed excellent linearity across a wide concentration range (0.004-29.7 μg/mL, R2 > 0.9995), with intra- and inter-day precision RSD values below 4.72% and 4.96%, respectively. Method recoveries ranged from 95.40% to 104.83%, with RSD values under 4.84%. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that GXB decoction alleviates myocardial ischemia-induced damage primarily by modulating energy metabolism and branched-chain amino acid metabolism. These findings provide valuable support for the clinical application of GXB decoction in treating myocardial ischemia.PMID:39797711 | DOI:10.1002/bmc.6081

Int Endod J. 2025 Jan 11. doi: 10.1111/iej.14189. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAIM: This study aimed to explore the possible bidirectional interrelations between fructose-induced metabolic syndrome (MS) and apical periodontitis (AP).METHODOLOGY: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups (n = 7, per group): Control (C), AP, Fructose Consumption (FRUT) and Fructose Consumption and AP (FRUT+AP). The rats in groups C and AP received filtered water, while those in groups FRUT and FRUT+AP received a 20% fructose solution mixed with water to induce MS. The groups AP and FRUT+AP had the pulp of their right mandibular first molar exposed to induce AP. Food consumption, murinometric measurements, blood glucose levels and glucose tolerance were monitored. Fifty-six days after the start of the experiment, the animals were euthanized, and serum samples were collected for metabolomic analysis. Mandibles, livers and right kidneys were also collected. The area and volume of the periapical lesions were calculated using micro-computed tomography. Histopathological evaluation was performed. Kruskal-Wallis followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls or Mann-Whitney tests and one-way anova followed by Tukey's or Independent t-test were used for non-parametric and parametric data, respectively (p < .05). Multivariate analysis and variable importance in projection score were applied to assess metabolite profile differences among groups (p < .05).RESULTS: FRUT and FRUT+AP groups showed significantly increased fluid intake, body mass, abdominal circumference, blood glucose levels, liver weight and visceral fat weight (p < .05), indicating the development of MS. The analyses of the metabolite profile suggest increasing glucose, histidine, lactate, fatty acid and phenylalanine in the FRUT+AP group. There were no significant differences in volume and area of periapical lesions in micro-CT analyses (p = .1048 and p = .7494, respectively). Histopathological analysis of the hemimandibles demonstrated areas of inflammatory response, necrosis and microabscess in the periapical region. Hepatic histopathological observations indicated notable differences in cell appearance, with the FRUT and FRUT+AP groups showing signs of microsteatosis. Kidney analysis revealed Bowman's space dilation in the FRUT and AP groups, while the FRUT+AP group exhibited retracted Bowman's space, suggesting a possible alteration in renal filtration capacity.CONCLUSIONS: MS had no impact on the progression of AP in rats. However, AP exacerbated the systemic state affected by MS, with changes in liver and kidney tissues and metabolite levels.PMID:39797578 | DOI:10.1111/iej.14189

Adv Healthc Mater. 2025 Jan 10:e2404122. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202404122. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTNatural plant-derived polysaccharides exhibit substantial potential for treating ulcerative colitis (UC) owing to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and favorable safety profiles. However, their practical application faces several challenges, including structural instability in gastric acid, imprecise targeting of inflamed regions, and limited intestinal retention times. To address these limitations, pH-responsive, colon-targeting microspheres (pWGPAC MSs) are developed for delivering phosphorylated wild ginseng polysaccharides (pWGP) to alleviate UC. These pWGPAC MSs are fabricated by incorporating pWGP into calcium-crosslinked alginate microspheres with subsequent chitosan surface modification to enhance mucosal adhesion. These pWGPAC MSs demonstrated exceptional stability under acidic conditions while enabling targeted release in the colon. In a mouse model of UC, the pWGPAC MSs effectively mitigated mucosal injury, attenuated inflammation, and restored intestinal barrier function. Further mechanistic investigations revealed that these pWGPAC MSs modulated the TLR4/MYD88 signaling pathway and promoted M2 macrophage polarization. Integrated microbiome and metabolome analyses demonstrated that these pWGPAC MSs regulated the gut microbiota composition and decreased pro-inflammatory metabolite levels. In addition, these microspheres demonstrated promising safety profiles. Collectively, these findings establish pWGPAC MSs as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of UC and provide a solid foundation for future clinical applications.PMID:39797462 | DOI:10.1002/adhm.202404122

J Clin Med. 2024 Dec 25;14(1):34. doi: 10.3390/jcm14010034.ABSTRACTAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia in the adult population associated with a high rate of severe consequences leading to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Therefore, its prompt recognition is of high clinical importance. AF detection often remains challenging due to unspecific symptoms and a lack of reliable biomarkers for its prediction. Herein, novel bioanalytical methodologies, such as metabolomics, offer new opportunities for a better understanding of the underlying pathological mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases, including AF. The metabolome, considered a complete set of small molecules present in the organism, directly reflects the current phenotype of the studied system and is highly sensitive to any changes, including arrhythmia's onset. A growing body of evidence suggests that metabolite profiling has prognostic value in AF prediction, highlighting its potential role not only in early diagnosis but also in guiding therapeutic interventions. By identifying specific metabolites as a disease biomarker or recognising particular metabolomic pathways involved in the AF pathomechanisms, metabolomics could be of great clinical value for further clinical decision-making, risk stratification, and an individual personalised approach. The presented narrative review aims to summarise the current state of knowledge on metabolomics in AF with a special emphasis on its implications for clinical practice and personalised medicine.PMID:39797116 | DOI:10.3390/jcm14010034

Nutrients. 2024 Dec 31;17(1):151. doi: 10.3390/nu17010151.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: The human gut microbiota develops in concordance with its host over a lifetime, resulting in age-related shifts in community structure and metabolic function. Little is known about whether these changes impact the community's response to microbiome-targeted therapeutics. Providing critical information on this subject, faecal microbiomes of subjects from six age groups, spanning from infancy to 70-year-old adults (n = six per age group) were harvested. The responses of these divergent communities to treatment with the human milk oligosaccharide 2'-fucosyllactose (2'FL), fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), and lactose was investigated using the Ex vivo SIFR® technology that employs bioreactor fermentation and is validated to be predictive of clinical findings. Additionally, it was evaluated whether combining faecal microbiomes of a given age group into a single pooled microbiome produced similar results as the individual microbiomes.RESULTS: First, marked age-dependent changes in community structure were identified. Bifidobacterium levels strongly declined as age increased, and Bifidobacterium species composition was age-dependent: B. longum, B. catenulatum/pseudocatenulatum, and B. adolescentis were most prevalent for breastfed infants, toddlers/children, and adults, respectively. Metabolomic analyses (LA-REIMS) demonstrated that these age-dependent differences particularly impacted treatment effects of 2'FL (more than FOS/lactose). Further analysis revealed that while 2'FL enhanced production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and exerted potent bifidogenic effects, regardless of age, the specific Bifidobacterium species enhanced by 2'FL, as well as subsequent cross-feeding interactions, were highly age-dependent. Furthermore, single-pooled microbiomes produced results that were indicative of the average treatment response for each age group. Nevertheless, pooled microbiomes had an artificially high diversity, thus overestimating treatment responses (especially for infants), did not recapitulate interindividual variation, and disallowed for the correlative analysis required to unravel mechanistic actions.CONCLUSIONS: Age is an important factor in shaping the gut microbiome, with the dominant taxa and their metabolites changing over a lifetime. This divergence affects the response of the microbiota to therapeutics, demonstrated in this study using 2'FL. These results evidence the importance of screening across multiple age groups separately to provide granularity of how therapeutics impact the microbiome and, consequently, human health.PMID:39796584 | DOI:10.3390/nu17010151

Nutrients. 2024 Dec 30;17(1):109. doi: 10.3390/nu17010109.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Ergothioneine (EGT) is an effective antioxidant that animals cannot produce and has an important anti-inflammatory role in cell protection, which can help lower the risk of various diseases. In this study, we investigated the potential role of gut microbiota in the production of EGT, which was found to increase in the mouse liver after dietary supplementation with betaine (BET) or polydextrose (PDX).METHODS: The effects of BET and PDX on the gut microbiota and tissue EGT content were investigated using a diet-induced obese mouse model and simulated fermentation in the human colon. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to induce obesity and related metabolic disorders, and for the last 4 weeks of this study, the mice continued on the same diet, supplemented with BET, PDX, or their combination. The potential function of BET and PDX in microbial EGT production was further studied in an in vitro human colon model.RESULTS: The quantity of Bifidobacterium spp. and Bacteroidota were significantly higher in the feces of mice on diets supplemented with PDX or BET + PDX, and Enterobacteriaceae levels were significantly higher in PDX-supplemented mice than in HFD-fed mice. Untargeted metabolomic analysis of the liver revealed a significant increase in EGT in mice fed HFDs with BET or BET + PDX. Microbial analysis from samples collected from the human in vitro model showed significant changes in Neglecta timonensis, Blautia faecis, Lachnospiracea incertae sedis, Faecalibacillus, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia species, along with an increase in microbial metabolites, namely, acetic, propionic and butyric acids, and a decrease in 2-methylbutyric acid.CONCLUSIONS: Although PDX and BET or their combination affected microbial composition and metabolites in the human colon simulation model, the model used was not able to detect a significant change in microbiota-based EGT production and, therefore, could not explain the increase in EGT in the liver of betaine-fed mice.PMID:39796547 | DOI:10.3390/nu17010109