Background: This study focused on the mechanisms where icariin inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis and angiogenesis by regulating the TDP‐43 signaling pathway.Methods: A rat osteoarthritis (OA) model was established by collagenase injection. Histological examination of the articular cartilage and synovial tissue was performed 6 weeks after operation. Cartilage cell line overexpressing TDP‐43 and mesenchymal stem cell line (TDP43‐MSCs) of the rat TDP43 gene were established.Results: In OA rats transplanted with TDP43‐mMSCs, TDP43 was highly expressed in chondrocytes (TDP43‐HC), while TDP43 expression was low in HC and MSCs‐HC (p < 0.05). After the intervention of MSCs‐TDP43, high expression of TDP43 induced the apoptosis and death of chondrocytes. After the addition of icariin, late apoptosis and death of TDP43‐HC were significantly attenuated. Apoptosis and death of HC, MSCs‐HC, and TDP43‐HC cells were effectively controlled with icariin, and no apparent cell death was found. ELISA showed that the VEGF and HIF‐1 alpha were significantly higher in the rat OA model than the normal control rats.Conclusion: TDP43‐MSC transplantation interfered with the expression of TDP43 in the articular chondrocytes of OA rats, which may impact on inducing apoptosis of chondrocytes as well as inhibiting the proliferation of chondrocytes. Additionally, TDP43‐MSCs appeared to promote the formation of neovascularization in the synovial tissue, which could be significantly attenuated by icariin.

Hemodialysis patients are at the high risk for morbidity and mortality. Evaluation and management of body composition and biochemical values are important to improve dialysis outcomes. We aimed to examine the effects of the mid-arm circumference, body fat, nutritional and inflammatory biomarkers, blood glucose, and dialysis adequacy on the mortality. A prospective cohort study was conducted on 375 patients from 7 hospital-based dialysis centers. At baseline between September 2013 and April 2017, we assessed patients’ characteristics using chart review, body composition using the bioelectrical impedance analysis, and biochemical parameters using available laboratory tests. Patients were followed-up for all-cause mortality until April 2018. Kaplan–Meier Curves with Log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the effects of assessed factors on the mortality. During the median of follow-up time of 1.4 (1.0–3.2) years, 47 (12.5%) patients died. In the multivariate analysis, mid-arm circumference (hazard ratio, HR, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI, 0.82–0.99; P = .036), body fat mass (HR, 0.95; 95%CI, 0.91–1.00; P = .031), percent body fat (HR, 0.96; 95%CI, 0.92–0.99; P = .024), serum creatinine (HR, 0.81; 95%CI, 0.68–0.96; P = .015), and eKt/V (HR, 0.07; 95%CI, 0.01–0.33; P = .001) reduced the mortality risk. Inflammation (HR, 2.90; 95%CI, 1.59–5.27; P < .001), hyperglycemia (HR, 2.16; 95%CI, 1.06–4.40; P = .033), and low serum uric acid (HR, 2.22; 95%CI, 1.15–4.31; P = .018) increased the death risk. In hemodialysis patients, the higher values of the mid-arm circumference, body fat, serum creatinine, uric acid, and dialysis adequacy were associated with lower mortality, whereas, inflammation and hyperglycemia associated with higher mortality.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus remains a critical global health challenge, driving the pursuit of novel therapeutic strategies. This study investigated the anti-diabetic efficacy of the peptide 1CBR, derived from sodium caseinate hydrolysate, administered orally at 25 mg/kg/day to db/db mice over a 4-week period. Glucose tolerance was evaluated via oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), while plasma dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) activity, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and insulin concentrations were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Two bioactive peptides, GPFPLPD and APDSGNFR, were isolated and characterized, exhibiting half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 99.12 µM and 73.07 µM for DPP-IV inhibition, respectively, and both significantly stimulated GLP-1 secretion in enteroendocrine cells in vitro. Pharmacokinetic analysis in Sprague–Dawley rats demonstrated oral bioavailability of 11.28% and 19.12% for these peptides, surpassing typical expectations for peptide-based agents. Collectively, these results provide compelling evidence that 1CBR-derived peptides exert glucose-lowering effects through the dual mechanisms of DPP-IV inhibition and GLP-1 stimulation, combined with favorable oral absorption profiles. These findings underscore the potential of 1CBR peptides as promising candidates for development into nutraceuticals or pharmaceutical agents for diabetes management.

Hyperuricemia is a prevalent metabolic disorder, and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition remains a primary strategy for its management. In this study, a novel food-derived XO inhibitory octapeptide, SRGQIEEL, was identified from yellow field pea (Pisum sativum L.) protein hydrolysates through activity-guided purification. Among six proteases tested, the Alcalase hydrolysate showed the strongest XO inhibitory activity, with an IC50 value of 0.60 mg/mL. Sequential ultrafiltration and RP-HPLC purification, followed by nanoUHPLC-ESI-Q-TOF MS, identified SRGQIEEL as the major active peptide. The synthesized peptide exhibited an IC50 of 193.34 μM and showed non-competitive inhibition kinetics, with a Ki value of 137.29 μM. Multi-site molecular docking across four cofactor-associated regions in two bovine XO structures consistently indicated that SRGQIEEL preferentially associated with the FAD domain rather than the conventional Mo-pt active site. Subsequent 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA calculations supported favorable association with the FAD region. Dynamic tunnel analysis further revealed that the FAD access tunnel remained predominantly too narrow to accommodate the peptide, supporting a tunnel-occlusion-like mechanism. Collectively, these findings suggest that SRGQIEEL inhibits XO not by entering a deeply buried active site, but by associating near the FAD-domain tunnel entrance and potentially perturbing electron transfer. This study highlights the value of dynamic tunnel accessibility analysis for investigating food-derived peptide inhibition of XO.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are undesirable compounds formed during high-temperature cooking, and charcoal-grilled meat is a major dietary source. This study developed sprayable barbecue (BBQ) sauces enriched with freeze-dried fruit powders to mitigate AGE formation in charcoal-grilled pork while maintaining product quality. Four fruit powders were initially screened and applied by marinating, spraying, or mixing. Spraying showed the most consistent inhibitory effect, and strawberry (SB) and kumquat (KQ) were selected for sauce formulation. In pork loin and belly, SB and KQ reduced Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) and Nε-carboxyethyl-lysine (CEL) by 60.9–70.5% during direct fruit powder application. Among the developed sauces, the soy sauce-free formulation showed the greatest efficacy, achieving 83.1% and 86.2% reduction in total CML and CEL with SB and KQ, respectively. All treatments significantly reduced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Both formulations also maintained favorable consumer acceptance scores. Accelerated storage testing indicated that the sauces retained substantial AGE- and TBARS-inhibitory effects over 90 days at 45°C. Molecular docking suggested that 27 of 28 fruit polyphenols may bind to myosin glycation sites more favorably than AGE precursors, and methylglyoxal trapping assays indicated that B-ring hydroxylation was associated with stronger carbonyl-scavenging capacity. These findings support sprayable fruit powder BBQ sauces as a practical strategy for reducing dietary AGE exposure from charcoal-grilled pork.