ABSTRACT Thalassemia is a congenital hemoglobin disorder characterized by genetic defects in hemoglobin synthesis resulting in premature breakdown of the red blood cells. Clinically, the condition ranges from the asymptomatic carrier state (thalassemia trait) to overt disease (thalassemia syndrome). Globally, 7% of the population are suffering from thalassemia carrier. Children with thalassemia are at high risk of long‐term growth and nutritional deficits. There is a scarcity of data on the association of thalassemia carrier and the socio‐demographic and nutritional status. This secondary analysis nested in a clinical trial compared the socio‐demographic, nutritional, and dietary characteristics between the thalassemia carrier ( n = 29) and non‐carrier children ( n = 130) aged 2–5 years in a rural setting in Bangladesh. The intake of the macro‐ and micronutrients was estimated by a seven‐day semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Z‐scores corresponding to stunting (HAZ), wasting (WHZ), and underweight (WAZ) were estimated. Welch's t ‐test was used to compare the groups. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the association of the carrier status with the growth outcomes. The children of the carrier groups had lower HAZ than that of non‐carrier groups; −1.84 vs. −1.38, p = 0.02. The carrier group consumed a lower amount of vitamin D ( p = 0.03). Thalassemia carrier status predicted lower HAZ after adjustment with the socio‐demographics, morbidities, and dietary intake (coefficient: −0.54, p = 0.02), which attenuated upon inclusion of hemoglobin in the model (coefficient: −0.34, p = 0.14). Thalassemia carrier children had lower growth potential than the non‐thalassemic peers. Amid the pertinent explanatory factors considered, overall, the thalassemia carrier state was not associated with lower growth in young children. A larger study is required for further insights.
ABSTRACT Artificial ripening of climacteric fruits remains a common postharvest practice in Pakistan and other developing countries, yet its effects on sapodilla ( Manilkara zapota ) quality and food safety remain uncharacterized. This study assessed the impact of regularly used artificial ripening methods, including ethylene gas, a commercial ethylene‐based ripener, and calcium carbide (CaC 2 ), on physicochemical quality parameters, nutritional composition, selected antioxidant‐related indicators, and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in sapodilla fruit pulp. Dietary exposure and non‐carcinogenic risks were evaluated using an established dietary intake model. CaC 2 treatment significantly reduced total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, proximate nutritional composition parameters, and antioxidant indicators. In addition, CaC 2 ‐treated fruits had levels of arsenic (0.22 mg/kg) and cadmium (0.14 mg/kg) exceeding their respective maximum levels internationally recommended. In contrast, controlled ethylene gas preserved key quality attributes of sapodilla with low PTE levels. The total hazard index (ΣTHI) for all treatments remained below the threshold (< 1.0), indicating no immediate non‐carcinogenic risk under the applied assumptions. However, carcinogenic risk estimates for arsenic (6.6 × 10 −4 ) and cadmium (1.71 × 10 −3 ) in CaC 2 ‐treated fruits exceeded the conventional acceptable benchmark of 1 × 10 −4 , indicating a potential long‐term carcinogenic concern under the modeled exposure assumptions. These findings highlight the need for routine monitoring of ripening agents and enforcement of food control measures in Pakistan to meet regulatory demands and protect consumer health.
ABSTRACT Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by hepatic triglyceride accumulation and chronic inflammation resulting from impaired fatty acid (FA) oxidation and dysregulated metabolic signaling. Liquiritigenin (LQ) exhibits diverse pharmacological activities; however, its role in MASLD and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of LQ against MASLD and elucidate its molecular mechanisms, focusing on PPARα/PPARγ activation and AMPK signaling. The effects of LQ were examined in a high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced MASLD mouse model and in free fatty acid (FFA)‐treated HepG2 cells. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed an HFD for 14 weeks, and LQ was administered during the final 2 weeks. Metabolic parameters, hepatic lipid accumulation, and signaling pathways were analyzed using biochemical and molecular assays and glucose and insulin tolerance tests. LQ markedly reduced hepatic triglyceride content and serum AST and ALT levels in HFD‐fed mice and improved glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. LQ increased AMPK phosphorylation and the expression of SIRT1, PGC‐1α, PPARα, and PPARγ while suppressing SREBF1 expression and upregulating FA oxidation‐related genes. In FFA‐treated HepG2 cells, LQ activated AMPK, improved insulin signaling (p‐AKT and p‐IRS1), enhanced FA oxidation‐related gene expression, and reduced pro‐inflammatory cytokine levels. Pharmacological inhibition of AMPK abolished LQ‐induced metabolic improvements. In conclusion, LQ attenuates MASLD progression by restoring hepatic metabolic homeostasis through AMPK activation and dual induction of PPARα and PPARγ, promoting FA oxidation and improving insulin sensitivity. Hence, LQ could be a potential natural therapeutic candidate for MASLD.
ABSTRACT Liver oxidative damage, often stemming from lipid metabolic dysregulation, represents a critical juncture in liver pathophysiology. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus SC07 against hepatotoxicity, with a specific focus on lipid‐driven oxidative injury. The results showed that strain SC07 could tolerate simulated gastric juice and intestinal fluid, as well as effectively reduce serum lipid accumulation and increase liver antioxidant enzyme activity in mice. Transcriptome results showed that, beyond rectifying existing gene expression abnormalities, strain SC07 exhibited modulatory effects on basal gene expression patterns. A key observation was the activation of PPAR signaling through up‐regulation of Scd1 and Pparg , which was associated with lipid metabolic reprogramming and concurrent immunocyte remodeling, including expansion of regulatory Treg cells and activated natural killer cells, as well as suppression of pro‐inflammatory macrophages. This coordinated immunometabolic shift was correlated with reductions in lipid accumulation, restored cholesterol homeostasis, and enhanced antioxidant defenses, as confirmed by increased SCD1 and PPARG protein expression, ultimately alleviating lipid‐driven oxidative stress and improving liver function. These coordinated improvements position strain SC07 as a metabolic regulator capable of ameliorating oxidative hepatopathy associated with lipid disorders.
ABSTRACT Food‐derived peptides produced by enzymatic hydrolysis have attracted interest as functional biomaterials for cell culture. In this study, potato protein was hydrolyzed using Flavorzyme to prepare potato protein peptides (PPPs), which were characterized by degree of hydrolysis, SDS‐PAGE, free amino acid analysis, and LC–MS/MS‐based peptide identification. Among the 101 identified peptide sequences, 66 (65.35%) had molecular weights ranging from 500 to 1000 Da. And were subsequently evaluated for their effects on MDCK cell growth, metabolism, and cryopreservation. The optimal PPPs concentration for MDCK culture was 1 g/L. At passage 9, the PPPs + 5% NBS group showed the highest CCK‐8‐derived estimated cell density (9.11 × 10 4 cells/mL), with a doubling time of 15.71 h and a specific growth rate of 0.0163 ± 0.0002 h −1 . These values were significantly higher than those in the 5% newborn bovine serum (NBS) control ( p < 0.05) and comparable to the 10% NBS control ( p > 0.05). The PPPs + 5% NBS group exhibited glucose and lactate concentration profiles distinct from those of the 5% and 10% NBS controls during culture. In short‐term cryopreservation tests, passage‐10 cells maintained normal proliferation and morphology. PPPs supplementation was also associated with favorable post‐thaw cell recovery in serum‐containing cryopreservation media. Overall, these findings suggest that PPPs may serve as promising serum‐reducing supplements for MDCK cell culture and cryopreservation.
