Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a complex neurodevelopmental disorder marked by social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors, may see symptom amelioration through gut microbiota modulation. This study investigates the effects of a synbiotic – specifically a probiotic amplified by prebiotic supplementation – on ASD-like mouse model's social deficiencies. This model was established via valproic acid injection into pregnant females. Post-weaning, male progeny received daily synbiotic treatment, a combination of Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) and inulin, for four weeks. Results indicated that the synbiotic rectified social impairments and attenuated inflammatory cytokine expressions in the brain. Moreover, synbiotic intervention protected gut barrier integrity and altered the gut microbiota composition, enhancing the butyrate-producing Bifidobacterium abundance. The synbiotic elevated metabolites such as butyrate and 3-hydroxybutyric acid (3-HB), alongside upregulated genes associated with 3-HB synthesis in the colon and liver, and brain receptors. Conclusively, the synbiotic combination of L. reuteri and inulin mitigated ASD-related social impairments, partially via their regulatory effect on the gut–brain axis.

Polyphenols from peanut skin have been reported to possess many beneficial functions for human health, including anti-oxidative, antibacterial, anticancer, and other activities. To date, however, its anti-inflammatory effect and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of peanut skin procyanidins extract (PSPE) and peanut skin procyanidins (PSPc) were investigated by a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. The results showed that both PSPE and PSPc supplementation reversed the DSS-induced body weight loss and reduced disease activity index (DAI) values, accompanied by enhanced goblet cell numbers and tight junction protein claudin-1 expression in the colon. PSPE and PSPc treatment also suppressed the inflammatory responses and oxidative stress in the colon by down-regulating IL-1β, TNF-α, and MDA expressions. Meanwhile, PSPE and PSPc significantly altered the gut microbiota composition by increasing the relative abundance of Clostridium XlVb and Anaerotruncus, and inhibiting the relative abundance of Alistipes at the genus level. PSPE and PSPc also significantly elevated the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mice with colitis. The correlation analysis suggested that the protective effects of PSPE and PSPc on colitis might be related to the alteration of gut microbiota composition and the formation of SCFAs. In conclusion, the current research indicates that supplementation of PSPE and PSPc could be a promising nutritional strategy for colitis prevention and treatment.

The ApoE4 allele is the strongest genetic determinant for AD, while obesity is a strong environmental risk for AD. Importantly, n-3 PUFAs may serve as a strategic nutritional intervention for brain health, especially for ApoE4 carriers.

In automotive industry, it is well known that cracks which are promoted by liquid metal embrittlement (LME) can occur during the resistance spot welding (RSW) of zinc-coated advanced high-strength steels (AHSS). The coating type is supposed to be one of the factors impacting LME susceptibility. Recently, Zn–Al–Mg coating is gaining increasing focus because of its enhanced corrosion resistance compared to traditional Galvanized (GI) coating. However, there is a lack of research on assessing the influence of this coating on LME susceptibility. In this study, the LME susceptibility of Zn–Al–Mg and GI coated advanced high strength steels with similar microstructure and strength are compared by hot tensile tests and RSW. The results show that Zn–Al–Mg coated samples present a more significant ductility loss than that of GI coated ones in hot tensile test, and also there are more LME cracks with large length occur in Zn–Al–Mg coated RSW joints, indicating that Zn–Al–Mg coatings have a higher LME sensitivity. The high temperature phase evolution analysis results show that Fe–Zn intermetallic compounds formed in two coatings are different, indicating that there are lower level of Fe–Zn alloying reactions in Zn–Al–Mg coating. The inadequate Fe–Zn reactions potentially facilitate the direct contact between liquid Zn and steel substrate, leading Zn–Al–Mg coating to a higher LME susceptibility.