Yulin Wan

Can acetic acid substitute ethanol for the reduction of cardiovascular disease risks

Acetic acid and ethanol are structurally similar to oxalate. Oxalate is produced from the shunt of Krebs cycle and other metabolic pathways. Both acetic acid and ethanol can reduce the risks of heart diseases and extend lifespan, perhaps by blocking the generation of oxalate. However, excessive intake of ethanol is associated with moderate cancer risks, which is likely to be associated with its hydrogen bonding capacity that enhances local strong acid formation and subsequent mutagenesis. Observations in China-based vinegar factories have demonstrated that few cancer cases appeared over several decades, suggesting that the weak acid can counteract strong acids such as locally formed hydrochloric acid and reduce mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This property is superior to ethanol as acetic acid can reduce risks for either cardiovascular disease or cancer. The Krebs cycle is capable of generating both protons and short chain organic acids, and organic acids could antagonise strong acids. When the protons are in excess, cancer may occur. When organic acids are over-produced, age-related diseases then appear. Whether vinegar or acetic acid can substitute ethanol or wines in the prevention of heart diseases warrants further investigation.

Why the Mediterranean diet lowers the risk of heart disease

Dear Sir The Mediterranean diet is characterized by high consumption of plants and fish as well as olive oil and moderate intake of wines, which can lower the risks of heart disease and diabetes and extend the lifespan. Plant proteins generally have lower levels of essential amino acids than animal proteins, and particular essential amino acids are rich in some virulent proteins of viruses which may be stressful to cells. For instance, the essential amino acid valine possesses two gamma methyl groups which enable s-s hyperconjugation, and simultaneous van der Waals interaction with its carbonyl group generates cation affinities on carbonyl oxygen which enhance the formation of insoluble and rigid salts with organic acids. As aquatic creatures, fish are rich in hydrogen bond donors and acceptors which are capable of building up acids and then dissolving insoluble salts and reducing stresses. Fish are also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which possess interconnected s-p hyperconjugation generating cation affinities, consequently capable of excluding cations from blood vessels and organs. The protective role of wines has recently been attributed to the inhibition of oxalate generation, and calcium oxalate is extremely insoluble and a major component of kidney stones. Being structurally similar to oxalate, wines and acetic acid have been shown to extend the lifespan. The Mediterranean region climate is high in temperature, and energy metabolism is less robust than in northern Europe. The shunt of Krebs cycle thus generates less oxalate and confers less stress on humans in the Mediterranean region. It has been previously reported that the mortality rates in winter are higher than those in other seasons.

Why various wines reduce the risks of heart diseases

Heart diseases are generally age-related disorders, corroborating that energy metabolism is involved. Various wines could substantially reduce the risks of heart diseases, but some negative effects after overconsumption are a concern, such as a higher risk of atrial fibrillation in male adults or a greater risk of developing hypertension without an increased risk of mortality. Ethanol shares structural similarity with oxalate, a short chain organic acid produced by the shunt of Krebs cycle and other pathways. Numerous short chain organic acids have modest median lethal doses in animals. Insoluble and rigid salts can be formed between divalent cations such as calcium and organic acids which are stressful to cells. Therefore, ethanol may reduce heart disease risks by the inhibition of oxalate generation in seniors with attenuated respiratory chain activity and normal ongoing Krebs cycle. Ethanol is also a potent hydrogen bond donor and acceptor, contributing to acid formation which can solubilise insoluble and rigid salts. Caution should be exercised with ethanol as the formation of strong acids may contribute to carcinogenesis in human subpopulations. Proton traffic and proton–ion antiport may also be affected after excessive alcohol intake, which consequently leads to an increase of osmotic pressure and the development of hypertension. Acetic acid is similar to ethanol and oxalate in structure, and it also reduces the risk of heart disease. Interestingly, both ethanol and acetic acid can extend lifespan, highlighting the potential importance of oxalate metabolism in living cells.

Mechanism underlying gender difference in heart disease risks and corresponding preventive measures

Dear Sir Heart diseases mostly are age-related disorders. Such conditions deteriorate after intense labor or in cold weather, suggesting that energy metabolism may be one of the causal factors in addition to genetic predisposition. Men have higher risks of coronary heart disease than women as males tend to have more robust energy metabolism. As people age, the respiratory chain for adenosine triphosphate production may be attenuated, but still with a normal ongoing Krebs cycle. The buildup of insoluble and rigid calcium salts of organic acids via the Krebs cycle may trigger cardiovascular diseases, as short chain organic acids possess modest median lethal doses in animals. Recent hypotheses suggest that oxalate could be one important causal factor, which can be produced from the shunt of Krebs cycle and other pathways. Settlements of patients in warmer regions are advantaged as energy metabolism is decreased, reducing concentrations of short chain organic acids. Heating in cold winter months is hugely beneficial. It is worth noting that some patients may be sensitive to high humidity. As well, other preventive measures include plant-based and fish-based diet, moderate intake of wines and olive oil, intake of vinegar, etc. Caution should be exercised in the intake of NaCl as some salts may contain relatively high amounts of divalent cations, which are prone to form insoluble salts.

How to avoid sudden cardiac death

Dear Sir, Marathons and long-distance running claim many lives each year, and cardiac failure is one of the primary causes. Exhaustive exercises cause the overdrive of energy metabolism, such as the Krebs cycle, resulting in the buildup of organic acids including oxalates and so on. Numerous short-chain organic acids possess modest median lethal doses on tested animals. People with allergy, obesity or family history of athletic sudden death can assess the potential risks about intensive labor or exercises, which can be examined via questionnaires, surveys, inquiries, genome sequencing, or determination of the levels of short-chain organic acids in the blood. Allergic people may possess genetic polymorphisms which are in the forms of charged amino acids, or amino acids with enhanced secondary-chemical-bonding that can increase the traffic of negatively charged organic acids, monovalent and divalent cations, and the subsequent proton antiport or formation of insoluble and rigid salts. Obese people may store excessive amounts of short-chain organic acids. The aforementioned human sub-populations need to monitor their serum oxalate level during their time of labor, while exercises are necessary for obese people. Any previous heart discomfort after labor or exercises is a cause for concern. Alongside this, a warm temperature and a healthy diet may reduce the stresses on the cardiovascular system.

Why yogurt reduces heart disease risks

Dear Sir, Yogurt is rich in lactic acid and calcium. Lactic acid shares structural similarity with oxalate, and oxalate has been proposed to underlie age-related diseases such as heart diseases and is produced from pathways of energy metabolisms. Both acetic acid and ethanol help reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases, and extend lifespan, conceivably by blocking the generation of oxalate. In a similar fashion, lactic acid inhibits the production of oxalate, which might account for the beneficial effects of yogurt to the heart. Lactic acid is overproduced during physical exercise to counteract the harmful effects of insoluble and rigid oxalate salts. Rich in weak acid and calcium, yogurt can antagonize the carcinogenic effects of strong acids such as hydrochloric acid, consequently possessing the added effect of reducing the risk of colon cancer.

How Hepatitis B virus causes cirrhosis and liver cancer

Hepatitis B virus is a major pathogen infecting the liver, causing high morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The mechanism underlying progression from infections of Hepatitis B virus to cirrhosis and liver cancer is not fully determined. Here we propose that the HBV X protein traps protons and Cl-, and induces the expression of collagen in the liver, which forms potent hydrogen bonds with trapped protons. The presence of collagen in the liver marks the progression to fibrosis. The X protein and collagen concertedly build up HCl locally, triggering disease advances to liver cancer in some patients with liver cirrhosis. The hypothesis can be tested in Hepatitis B primate model with the administration of calcium and weak acids to ascertain physiological changes and monitor tumorigenesis rate. The experiments will pave the way for better intervention of human infections with Hepatitis B virus.

The identification of an anti-thrombin molecule via the screening of semi-random DNA libraries

Thrombosis remains one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the world. Thrombin is a key enzyme involved in the blood clotting processes, which can be intervened by low concentrations of Hirudin. The C-terminal dodecapeptide of Hirudin was capable of inhibiting thrombosis. This peptide has been partially randomized in this report, and the coding sequences have been expressed in yeast as chimerical peptides for secretion into the culture media. Two other semi-random modules have been processed likewise. The supernatant was subsequently tested for anti-thrombin activities. DNA sequencing indicated that the putative positive clone encoded a single serine residue followed by a stop codon. The Ninhydrin assay of the culture supernatant of the positive clone indicated a high content of amino acid. Electrospray Mass Spectrometry showed a distinct peak at 430.5 when the expression products from Pichia pastoris were examined, suggesting that the compound may be a dimannosylated serine, as yeast possesses glycosylation at serine residues. The observed effects of α-Mannosidase treatments on the function of yeast induction products are consistent with this assumption. Partial randomization of peptides and proteins may accelerate directed evolution, yielding unprecedented number of variants for functional interrogation and drug development.

Microbial Cells Harboring a Mitochondrial Gene Are Capable of CO2 Capture

Global warming is escalating with increased temperatures reported worldwide. Given the enormous land mass on the planet, biological capture of CO2 remains a viable approach to mitigate the crisis as it is economical and easy to implement. In this study, a gene capable of CO2 capture was identified via selection in minimal media. This mitochondrial gene named as OG1 encodes the OK/SW-CL.16 protein and shares homology with cytochrome oxidase subunit III of various species and PII uridylyl-transferase from Loktanella vestfoldensis SKA53. CO2 capture experiments indicate that δ13C was substantially higher in the cells harboring the gene OG1 than the control in the nutrition-poor media. This study suggests that CO2 capture using engineered microorganisms in barren land can be exploited to address the soaring CO2 level in the atmosphere, opening up vast land resources to cope with global warming.

How to choose medicinally more valuable yogurt products for the prevention of heart disease and colorectal cancer

Yogurt is rich in essential amino acids. Numerous virulence factors in highly pathogenic viruses are rich in one or more particular essential amino acids, which may be crucial in their pathogenicity. Food sweeteners such as sugar increase glycogenesis and gluconeogenesis, increasing the generation of oxaloacetate and eventually oxalate. Calcium oxalate has been proposed as one of the major causative factors of heart disease. Diluted yogurt free of sugar additives reduces the risk of heart disease via the effects of lactic acid. It also helps to establish a microbiota in the gut that is beneficial in the prevention of colorectal cancer. Chinese vinegar factories have reported a near-absence of cases of cancer over long periods of time; the few reported cases of cancer were found in factories where the workers had long lifespans or developed less-severe forms of malignancies than workers elsewhere. This suggests that using weak acids such as acetic or lactic acid in a number of different ways, such as bathing the feet in a footbath of dilute acetic acid, may prolong lives and reduce mortality by counteracting the effects of strong acids and/or calcium oxalate. This strategy minimizes the financial burdens of patients with cancer or heart disease and opens up new avenues for the treatment of disease.