Suancai has a lengthy history and a wide range of categories, which has some influence on the pickled diet culture around the world. Suancai production is transitioning to a large-scale, standardized production due to the growth of the market. It has a unique flavor and is rich in nutrients, and its abundance of free amino acids, vitamins and phenolics has many positive effects on the human body. This review gives the types and history of suancai, as well as its impact on the world’s pickled culture. The changes in nutritional composition and flavor of suancai during fermentation are summarized. It presented the production technology and influencing factors of the northeast suancai, examined the quality and safety issues in suancai, and put forth some ideas and opinions on the standardization development of the suancai industry. It also summarized the geographic distribution and flora diversity of pickles around the world. In order to provide some knowledge and guidance for the promotion of modern industrial production in the suancai industry.

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), an important bioactive ingredient in breast milk, have become a popular nutritional fortifier in infant formula. While only a limited variety of synthetic functional oligosaccharides is available now, naturally occurring oligosaccharides from animal milk are a promising substitute for HMOs. Goat milk oligosaccharides (GMOs) are rich in neutral oligosaccharides, which are more similar in structure to HMOs. However, most studies on the separation of milk oligosaccharides concentrate on bovine milk oligosaccharides, while little research has been done on milk oligosaccharides from animal species other than cows, and the structure and composition of animal milk oligosaccharides are different from those of HMOs. In addition, there are few systematic studies on the structures and functions of oligosaccharides, which limits the development and utilization of oligosaccharides in animal milk. This review summarizes the latest progress in research on oligosaccharides in animal milk with a focus on the structures, detection methods and physiological functions of GMOs, and it compares and analyzes the structural differences between animal milk oligosaccharides and HMOs. It is anticipated that this review can provide theoretical support for the development and application of animal milk oligosaccharides in the future.

As the global population is aging, elderly individuals are increasingly facing significant health challenges, especially mental health issues such as emotional problems, sleep disturbance, and cognitive impairment. Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms that confer health benefits upon the host, have emerged as an effective means to improve the mental health of the elderly. Studies have shown that the gut microbiota regulates brain development and behavior in older adults through the gut-brain axis. This article focuses on summarizing the characteristics of the nervous system in the elderly and its connection to the gut microbiota, the characteristics of the gut microbiota in older individuals, and the mechanisms underlying the regulation of the nervous system in the elderly by the gut-brain axis. It also discusses recent advancements in understanding the role of probiotics in improving mental health conditions of the elderly, such as mild cognitive impairment, insomnia, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the clinical application of probiotics and the management of mental health in older adults.

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is an antibiotic used to treat infections caused by bacteria. In this experiment, key enzymes and intracellular metabolites of Lactobacillus plantarum DNZ-4 was researched under CIP stress. The results showed that the activities of hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, β-galactosidase and Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase after 1/2 minimum bacteriostatic concentration (MIC) CIP treatment were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analysis the changes of main metabolites in the cells and principal component analysis and partial least square model were constructed. The results indicated that CIP could cause changes in intracellular fatty acids, carbohydrates and amino acids, and the mechanism of amino acid metabolism under CIP stress was significantly inhibited. L. plantarum DNZ-4 made stress response to CIP by regulating the ratio of saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fats. This experiment revealed the changes of growth and metabolism mechanism of L. plantarum DNZ-4 under CIP stress, which help to provide technical means for the development of effective probiotics preparation products.