Yunfan Shi

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.

Physical exercises and heart health

Dear Sir, Physical exercise produces lactic acid and oxalate. Lactic acid shares similarity to oxalate in structure, and inhibits the generation of oxalate. The build-up of insoluble and rigid oxalate salts such as calcium oxalate via energy metabolism is stressful to the cells. Acetic acid and ethanol share structural similarity to oxalate, reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases and extend lifespan, perhaps by inhibiting the generation of oxalate. The ratio of lactic acid to oxalate is critical for heart health during exercise, and excess lactic acid helps dissolve rigid oxalate salts. Moderate exercise is beneficial to the cardiovascular system, and increased blood circulation during exercise allows anion traffic, helping dissolve insoluble salts. However, exercise should proceed with caution when symptoms of discomfort start to appear. Furthermore, weak organic acids produced from energy metabolism counteract the carcinogenic effects of strong acids such as hydrochloric acid. Physical exercise also diverts protons to the limbs for energy production and reduces stress in internal organs.

How can heart disease patients prevent complications from viral infections

Viral infections often exacerbate the conditions of heart disease patients, increasing morbidity and mortality rates. A plant-based diet is beneficial to individuals with cardiovascular diseases, and it has lower levels of some essential amino acids than an animal meat-rich diet. Particular essential amino acids are usually rich in virulence factors of some highly pathogenic viruses, and they may play vital roles in cell senescence. To curb viral infections in heart disease patients, the intake of a carbohydrate diet supplemented with vitamins for a few days is advantageous before or in the early stages of viral infections when viral loads are lower, because the diet does not give rise to essential amino acids. The carbohydrate-rich diet is beneficial to patients in terms of both cardiovascular diseases and viral infections, particularly with novel viruses when no vaccines or drugs are available.

Transgenic proteins rich in valine or glycine are concerns for heart disease patients

Plant transgenic research taps the potential of vast genetic resources and opens doors to novel and advantageous heritable traits. For heart disease patients caution must be exercised on the intake of transgenic food with exogenous and abundant proteins rich in valine or/and glycine. The carbonyl oxygen of valine has been postulated to have high affinities to cations. Likewise, the carbonyl oxygen of glycine, which is about 20% in the prion proteins of Bos taurus and Homo sapiens, may possess potent secondary chemical bonding with cations enabled by the long C1⁄4O bond length. These features allow the formation of insoluble and rigid salts such as calcium oxalate, which has been proposed as one of the major causes of heart disease. Although the inclusion of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors and basic amino acids in the proteins ameliorates this problem by helping dissolve insoluble salts, it increases cancer risks as a high content of hydrogen bond donors and acceptors and basic amino acids collectively build up HCl locally which is mutagenic to cells. Some knowledge on the sequences of transgenes and the abundance of the encoded proteins will be beneficial to make a judgement on the suitability of genetically modified food for heart disease patients.

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.