An electrochemical immunosensor employs antibodies as capture and detection means to produce electrical charges for the quantitative analysis of target molecules. This sensor type can be utilized as a miniaturized device for the detection of point-of-care testing (POCT). Achieving high-performance analysis regarding sensitivity has been one of the key issues with developing this type of biosensor system. Many modern nanotechnology efforts allowed for the development of innovative electrochemical biosensors with high sensitivity by employing various nanomaterials that facilitate the electron transfer and carrying capacity of signal tracers in combination with surface modification and bioconjugation techniques. In this review, we introduce novel nanomaterials (e.g., carbon nanotube, graphene, indium tin oxide, nanowire and metallic nanoparticles) in order to construct a high-performance electrode. Also, we describe how to increase the number of signal tracers by employing nanomaterials as carriers and making the polymeric enzyme complex associated with redox cycling for signal amplification. The pros and cons of each method are considered throughout this review. We expect that these reviewed strategies for signal enhancement will be applied to the next versions of lateral-flow paper chromatography and microfluidic immunosensor, which are considered the most practical POCT biosensor platforms.

The relationships between age-related changes in circulating endogenous metabolites, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, and arterial stiffness in 57 middle-aged (34–55 years), nonobese men were studied over the course of 3 years. Arterial stiffness was measured using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocities (ba-PWV). Plasma metabolomic profiling was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. After 3 years, decreased HDL cholesterol and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and ox-LDL levels were observed. Among 15 identified lipids, lysoPCs (C16:0, C18:0, C18:2, C20:4, and C20:5) and linoleyl carnitine were the major plasma metabolites that contributed to the age-related differences. LysoPC16:0 (variable importance in the projection value, 6.2029) was found as the most important plasma metabolite for evaluating these changes. Changes in lysoPC16:0 levels positively correlated with the changes in 8-epi-PGF_2α (r = 0.608), MDA (r = 0.413), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (r = 0.509), IL-6 (r = 0.497), and ba-PWV (r = 0.283) levels. ba-PWV levels positively correlated with the changes in waist-to-hip ratios (WHR), inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. In a subgroup analysis of subjects with decreased ba-PWVs vs. increased ba-PWVs, changes in WHR and levels of lysoPC16:0, ba-PWV, IL-6, 8-epi-PGF_2α, MDA, and P-selectin were significantly different. Our results suggest that age-related increases in lysoPC16:0 may contribute to lipid peroxidation, thereby activating proinflammatory phenotypes and arterial stiffness.

Sufficient vitamin D levels are associated with reduced Helicobacter pylori infections, which can cause gastric carcinogenesis. We examined associations between vitamin D concentrations and gastric cancer (GC) prevalence in a Korean population. We analyzed data of 33,119 adults using serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations as a biomarker of vitamin D status. Participants were classified with GC if previously diagnosed as such by a physician. After controlling for age, sex and body mass index (model A), odds ratio (OR) for GC was 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70, 0.95), with a 5-ng/mL increment in total 25(OH)D concentrations. In fully adjusted models (model B), the OR for GC was 0.84 (95% CI: 0.72, 0.98), with a 5-ng/mL increment in total vitamin D. Following the classification of vitamin D concentrations into three categories or for GC in model A was 0.52 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.92) comparing between higher (≥20 ng/mL) and lower (<12 ng/mL) total 25(OH)D concentrations. In model B OR for GC was 0.57 (95% CI: 0.32, 1.00) comparing between higher and lower total 25(OH)D concentrations. Our results suggested that high vitamin D concentration was associated with lower ORs of GC in Korean adults.

Kim Y, et al. Clin Nutr Res. 2018 Jan;7(1):11-20. https://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2018.7.1.11

A chronic inflammatory environment facilitates tumor growth and proliferation. Fruits and vegetables are important sources of anthocyanins, polyphenols, and other biologically active substances that can favorably affect the pathogenesis of cancer. The objective of the study was to investigate the anti‐inflammatory effects of Red Chinese cabbage (RC) and mixture of commercial Red Chinese cabbage leaves and Aronia fruits (ARC) in LPS‐stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The RAW 264.7 cells were cultured and measured the cytotoxicity by using an MTT assay. The inflammatory markers, such as nitrite, IL‐6, and TNF‐alpha expression, were evaluated using ELISA, and protein expression of inflammatory markers like iNOS and COX‐2 was analyzed using Western blot. MTT assays showed that pretreatment of RAW 264.7 cells with RC and ARC did not change cell growth or cytotoxicity. We also found that ARC extracts reduced inflammation‐related biomarker (TNF‐a, IL‐6, and NO) production and gene expression (iNOS, COX‐2). Our results suggested that ARC has good anti‐inflammatory properties compared with RC that maybe used as potential nutrients for treating inflammatory diseases.

Interest in high protein diets has recently been increasing for reduction of weight or management of cardiometabolic risks. However, studies on high protein, low carbohydrate diet in Asians are limited. This study aimed to estimate whether the dietary ratio of protein (%) to carbohydrate (%) from total energy intake (p/c ratio) is associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its components in Korean adults using a long-term prospective cohort. A total of 6335 participants from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, aged between 40 and 69 years, with no previous diagnosis of MS, cardiovascular diseases, or cancer at baseline (2001–2002) were followed until 2013. Dietary intake was measured using a validated semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. MS components were measured at baseline and every 2 years. During a mean of 7.7 years of follow up, 1198 (36.1%) men and 1169 (38.8%) women developed MS. The multivariate adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of incident MS was 1.43 (95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.89) for the highest compared lowest quintile of p/c ratio in men. When evaluating each component of MS, higher dietary p/c ratio was associated with an increased risk of high triglyceride and fasting glucose in men (HR for fifth vs. first quintile, 1.39 and 1.41 in Model 3, respectively). However, we observed no associations with incident MS and its components and dietary p/c ratio in women. In conclusion, we found that high dietary p/c ratio was associated with an increased risk of MS and its components (i.e., increased triglycerides and fasting glucose) in men. Our study suggested that even if the absolute amount of protein intake is not large, an increased p/c ratio may increase the risk of metabolic diseases.