A localized food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed to capture habitual dietary intake in the Pearl River Delta population. This study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of this FFQ. A total of 219 adults were enrolled in the Pearl River Delta region. In the reproducibility analysis, the participants completed the FFQ twice at a 18-month interval. Validity was assessed using the 24-hour dietary record collected over 9 days across 3 seasons (spring, summer, and winter). For the reproducibility, the ranges of correlation coefficients and kappa values were 0.38 to 0.80 (P < .001) and 0.29 to 0.50 (P < .050), respectively. The consistency for the same and adjacent quartiles was over 80% for most nutrients (87%). For the validity, the ranges of correlation coefficients of the crude, energy adjusted, and kappa values between FFQ and 24-hour dietary record were 0.16 to 0.61, 0.16 to 0.39, and 0.25 to 0.36, respectively, and all these values were statistically significant (all P < .050). The consistency for the same and adjacent quartiles was over 70% for most nutrients (91%). The FFQ used in this study demonstrated acceptable reproducibility and validity (except for fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and folate), making it a practical instrument for ranking long-term dietary nutrient intake among adults in the Pearl River Delta, South China.

Retinoic acid (RA), a bioactive vitamin A metabolite, is widely recognized for promoting bone loss and inducing osteoporosis, but its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study demonstrated that the expression of miR-486-5p is significantly upregulated in RA-treated human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). The overexpression of miR-486-5p markedly inhibited osteogenic differentiation, whereas its inhibition enhanced osteogenic differentiation. Using dual-luciferase reporter assays and Western blot analysis, we confirmed that miR-486-5p directly targets and suppresses FOXO1 expression, thereby impairing osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, we developed a composite gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel system incorporating porous starch, which improves the mechanical strength and hemostatic adsorption capacity of the hydrogel. The porous starch component accelerated both in vitro and in vivo blood coagulation and enabled more effective small molecule sustained-release in GelMA. Crucially, loading the starch/GelMA hydrogel with antagomiR-486-5p greatly improved bone defect repair. This effect was achieved by inhibiting miR-486-5p activity in vivo. In conclusion, our research reveals a novel pathway through which RA inhibits osteogenesis by the miR-486-5p/FOXO1 axis, providing deeper mechanistic insight into bone metabolism. The starch/GelMA hydrogel serves as an effective miRNA drug carrier for bone defect treatment, establishing a novel therapeutic strategy for bone loss involving targeted modulation of the miR-486-5p/FOXO1 pathway.

This work aims to evaluate the physical stability of oil-in-water emulsions containing encapsulated vitamin A, developed using high-pressure microfluidization technology. A full factorial design was employed to formulate emulsions containing 1.5% (w/w) vitamin A and wall materials comprising malto dextrin and whey protein isolate in a 1:2 ratio. Microfluidization pressure (50, 100, and 150 MPa) and number of processing cycles (1, 2, and 3) were employed as independent variables, while particle size and zeta potential served as the primary response variables. Particle size was evaluated through dynamic light scattering techniques, and sample color was characterized using non-destructive colorimetry. The findings revealed that emulsions treated at 120 MPa with one processing cycle demonstrated the highest physical stability, characterized by minimal mean particle size and in range absolute zeta potential. In contrast, applying pressures above 130 MPa led to reduced stability, potentially attributed to over-processing effects.

A 16-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis (CF) on fat-soluble vitamin (including vitamin A) supplementation develops severe acne. He is commenced on isotretinoin, a vitamin A derivative. The package insert says that vitamin A supplementation should be stopped, presenting a therapeutic dilemma. We review the literature and previous reports of isotretinoin use in patients with CF to provide guidance on how to successfully treat acne while minimizing adverse effects, including in patients on genomodulatory therapy.

The objective is to describe energy, macro-, and micronutrient intake according to Nova food groups and to estimate its association with ultra-processed foods (UPF) energy participation in the diets of children, stratified by age (6-23m/24-59m). A single 24-hour recall from 12,553 children in the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition was used to estimate the relative energy contribution of Nova groups: unprocessed or minimally processed foods and culinary ingredients (G1+G2); processed foods (G3); and UPF (G4). Age-stratified linear regression and 95%CI assessed differences in nutrient intake (per 1,000kcal) across UPF energy quintiles. The G1+G2 group accounted for most of the energy consumed (6-23m: 74.5%; 24-59m: 65.1%) compared to G3 or G4. For both age groups, in the lowest quintile of UFP participation, ≤2% of energy came from UPF, while in the highest quintile, this proportion was >55%; and the G1+G2 group provided most nutrients. In 6-23m, higher UPF quintiles were associated with lower fat [β: -3.1 (-3.6; -2.5)], potassium [β: -49.7 (-67.9; -31.4)], and vitamin A RAE [β: -113.7 (-136.7; -90.6)] intake, but higher calcium [(β: 75.5 (57.6; 93.4)], iron [β: 2.9 (2.5; 3.3)], vitamin A RE [β: 104.3 (72.3; 136.3)], and folate [β: 15.7 (12.0; 19.5)] intake. In 24-59m, nutrient intake generally decreased with increasing UPF quintiles. For 6-23m/24-59m, UPF consumption was positively associated with energy [β: 73.6 (44.6; 102.7); 92.8 (66.7; 118.8), respectively] and carbohydrate [β: 7.3 (5.8; 8.7); 2.3 (1.2; 3.3), respectively], while contributing little to overall micronutrient intake.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is essential in treating acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), but has been linked to adverse events such as differentiation syndrome and intracranial hypertension. Hearing impairment associated with intracranial hypertension is rare but clinically relevant. We report the case of a 6-year-old girl with APL who developed transient low-frequency sensorineural hearing impairment during ATRA/arsenic trioxide therapy. No headache or neurologic signs suggesting intracranial hypertension were observed, and both hearing symptoms and low-frequency audiometric changes resolved spontaneously without corticosteroids or treatment modification. This case suggests that ATRA-related hearing impairment may occur even without intracranial hypertension, and careful monitoring may enable continuation of therapy.

This study explored the association between the composite dietary antioxidant index (CDAI) and cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) progression in an older population. Using data from NHANES 2001-2020, we analyzed 4974 adults aged ≥ 60 years with CKM syndrome. The CDAI was calculated from the intake of six dietary antioxidants. Associations between the CDAI and its components and advanced CKM syndrome (Stages 3-4) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, restricted cubic splines, piecewise logistic regression, and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression. Participants in the highest CDAI quartile had lower odds of advanced CKM syndrome than those in the lowest quartile (OR = 0.728, 95% CI: 0.594-0.893). Restricted cubic spline analysis showed an L-shaped association between CDAI and odds of advanced CKM syndrome, with an inflection point at 5.857; the inverse association was evident below this threshold and plateaued above it. Furthermore, the WQS regression model identified a protective combined effect of the six dietary antioxidants against advanced CKM syndrome, with vitamin A and vitamin C contributing the largest weights. Higher CDAI levels were associated with a lower risk of advanced CKM syndrome in older adults, with vitamins A and C emerging as the most influential components.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a prevalent chronic lung disease in preterm infants, characterized by impaired alveolarization and abnormal vascular development. Growing evidence indicates that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and the unfolded protein response (UPR) are closely involved in the pathogenesis of BPD. Under hyperoxic conditions, excessive reactive oxygen species promote protein misfolding and accumulation within the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to activation of the three major UPR branches-IRE1, PERK, and ATF6. Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to lung injury and disrupted development through multiple stress-responsive cellular processes. This review summarizes current understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which UPR signaling participates in hyperoxia-induced lung injury in BPD and discusses therapeutic strategies with potential relevance to UPR modulation, including caffeine, vitamin A, and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), among others, based on available clinical and preclinical evidence. Although some agents have demonstrated clinical benefits in reducing BPD-related outcomes, whether these effects are mediated directly through UPR modulation remains uncertain. In contrast, several UPR-targeting compounds have shown promise in experimental models but lack clinical validation regarding safety and efficacy. Further studies are needed to clarify the cell-type-specific roles of UPR signaling in the developing lung, to better define the transition from adaptive to maladaptive UPR activation, and to support translational efforts that integrate mechanistic insights with clinical investigation. Such advances may help bridge the gap between molecular understanding and therapeutic development for BPD.