Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and -steatohepatitis (NASH) imply a state of excessive fat built-up in livers with/or without inflammation and have led to serious medical concerns in recent ...years. Antrodan (Ant), a purified β-glucan from
.
has been shown to exhibit tremendous bioactivity, including hepatoprotective, antihyperlipidemic, antiliver cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. Considering the already well-known alleviating bioactivity of
for the alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), we propose that Ant can be beneficial to NAFLD, and that the AMPK/Sirt1/PPARγ/SREBP-1c pathways may be involved in such alleviations. To uncover this, we carried out this study with 60 male C57BL/6 mice fed high-fat high-fructose diet (HFD) for 60 days, in order to induce NAFLD/NASH. Mice were then grouped and treated (by oral administration) as: G1: control; G2: HFD (HFD control); G3: Ant, 40 mgkg (Ant control); G4: HFD+Orlistat (10 mg/kg) (as Orlistat control); G5: HFD+Ant L (20 mg/kg); and G6: HFD+Ant H (40 mg/kg) for 45 days. The results indicated Ant at 40 mg/kg effectively suppressed the plasma levels of malondialdehyde, total cholesterol, triglycerides, GOT, GPT, uric acid, glucose, and insulin; upregulated leptin, adiponectin, pAMPK, Sirt1, and down-regulated PPARγ and SREBP-1c. Conclusively, Ant effectively alleviates NAFLD via AMPK/Sirt1/CREBP-1c/PPARγ pathway.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study of the effect of a microbiota-directed supplement on the growth of young children with moderate acute malnutrition included tests of association between changes in growth and changes in ...the plasma proteome and fecal microbiota.
It is demonstrated that carbon quantum dots derived from curcumin (Cur‐CQDs) through one‐step dry heating are effective antiviral agents against enterovirus 71 (EV71). The surface properties of ...Cur‐CQDs, as well as their antiviral activity, are highly dependent on the heating temperature during synthesis. The one‐step heating of curcumin at 180 °C preserves many of the moieties of polymeric curcumin on the surfaces of the as‐synthesized Cur‐CQDs, resulting in superior antiviral characteristics. It is proposed that curcumin undergoes a series of structural changes through dehydration, polymerization, and carbonization to form core–shell CQDs whose surfaces remain a pyrolytic curcumin‐like polymer, boosting the antiviral activity. The results reveal that curcumin possesses insignificant inhibitory activity against EV71 infection in RD cells half‐maximal effective concentration (EC50) >200 µg mL−1 but exhibits high cytotoxicity toward RD cells (half‐maximal cytotoxic concentration (CC50) <13 µg mL−1). The EC50 (0.2 µg mL−1) and CC50 (452.2 µg mL−1) of Cur‐CQDs are >1000‐fold lower and >34‐fold higher, respectively, than those of curcumin, demonstrating their far superior antiviral capabilities and high biocompatibility. In vivo, intraperitoneal administration of Cur‐CQDs significantly decreases mortality and provides protection against virus‐induced hind‐limb paralysis in new‐born mice challenged with a lethal dose of EV71.
Biocarbon quantum dots: a simple one‐step dry heating allows the synthesis of carbon quantum dots derived from curcumin. The obtained carbon quantum dots possess strong antiviral activity against enterovirus 71 through different mechanisms.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen L. Gramineae is widely cultivated in Taiwan. Literature regarding the molecular action mechanism of coixol on tyrosinase and the application of coicis seed extracts to ...the processing of facial masks is still lacking. Solvent extractability analysis revealed that most of the polyphenolics in coicis seeds were water soluble (3.17 ± 0.12 to 3.63 ± 0.07 μg/mLGAE). In contrast, the methanolic extract contained the most flavonoids (0.06 ± 0.00~0.26 ± 0.03 μg/mL QE) and coixol (11.43 ± 0.13~12.83 ± 0.14 μg/mL), showing potent antioxidant capability. Additionally, the contents of coixenolide (176.77 ± 5.91 to 238.60 ± 0.21 μg/g), phytosterol (52.45 ± 2.05 to 58.23 ± 1.14 mg/g), and polysaccharides (3.42 ± 0.10 to 4.41 ± 0.10 mg/g) were rather high. The aqueous extract (10 μg/mL) and the ethanolic extract (1 mg/mL) showed no cytotoxicity to B16F10 melanocytes. More attractively, the ethanolic extract at 1 mg/mL caused 48.4% inhibition of tyrosinase activity in B16F10 melanocytes, and 50.7% on human tyrosinase (hTyr) fragment 369–377. Conclusively, the coicis seed extracts containing abundant nutraceuticals with promising anti-hTyr activity and moisturizing capability can serve as good ingredients for facial mask processing.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
All-solid-state lithium metal batteries are highly attractive because of their high energy density and inherent safety. However, it is still a great challenge to design the solid electrolytes with ...high ionic conductivity at room temperature and good electrode/electrolyte interfacial compatibility simultaneously in a facile and scalable way. In this work, for the first time, the combination of salt affluent Poly(ethylene oxide) with Li6.75La3Zr1.75Ta0.25O12 nanofibers was designed and intensively evaluated. The synergistic effect of each component in the electrolyte enhances the ionic conductivity to 2.13 × 10–4 S cm–1 at 25 °C and exhibits a high transference number of 0.57. The composite electrolyte possesses superior interfacial stability against Li metal for over 680 h in Li symmetric cells even at a relatively high current density of 2 mA cm–2. The all-solid-state batteries employing the solid electrolytes exhibit excellent cycling stability at room temperature and superior safety performance. This work proposes a brand-new strategy to design and fabricate solid electrolytes in a versatile way for room-temperature all-solid-state batteries.
Full text
Available for:
IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
The regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle declines with age. Previous studies suggest that this process can be reversed by exposure to young circulation; however, systemic age-specific factors ...responsible for this phenomenon are largely unknown. Here we report that oxytocin--a hormone best known for its role in lactation, parturition and social behaviours--is required for proper muscle tissue regeneration and homeostasis, and that plasma levels of oxytocin decline with age. Inhibition of oxytocin signalling in young animals reduces muscle regeneration, whereas systemic administration of oxytocin rapidly improves muscle regeneration by enhancing aged muscle stem cell activation/proliferation through activation of the MAPK/ERK signalling pathway. We further show that the genetic lack of oxytocin does not cause a developmental defect in muscle but instead leads to premature sarcopenia. Considering that oxytocin is an FDA-approved drug, this work reveals a potential novel and safe way to combat or prevent skeletal muscle ageing.
The Upf1 protein restricts EV-A71 viral replication Xu, Peng; Tong, Wei; Kuo, Chen-Yen ...
Microbes and infection,
November-December 2023, 2023 Nov-Dec, 2023-11-00, 20231101, Volume:
25, Issue:
8
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is transmitted through the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal system, and fecal-oral routes. The main symptoms caused by EV-A71 are hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) or ...vesicular sore throat. Upf1 (Up-frameshift protein 1) was reported to degrade mRNA containing early stop codons, known as nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). Upf1 is also involved in the NMD mechanism as a host factor detrimental to viral replication. In this study, we dissected the potential roles of Upf1 in the EV-A71-infected cells. Upf1 was virulently down-regulated in three different EV-A71-infected cells, RD, Hela, and 293T, implying that Upf1 is a host protein unfavorable for EV-A71 replication. Knockdown of Upf1 protein resulted in increased viral RNA expression and production of progeny virus, and conversely, overexpression of Upf1 protein resulted in decreased viral RNA expression and production of progeny virus. Importantly, we observed increased RNA levels of asparagine synthetase (ASNS), one of the indicator substrates for the NMD mechanism, which indirectly suggests that EV-A71 infection of cells suppresses NMD activity in the host. The results shown in this study are useful for subsequent analysis of the relationship between the NMD/Upf1 mechanism and other picornaviruses, which may lead to the development of anti-picornavirus drugs.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is estimated to be approximately about 25.24% of the population worldwide. NAFLD is a complex syndrome and is characterized by a simple ...benign hepatocyte steatosis to more severe steatohepatitis in the liver pathology.
(PL) is traditionally used as a hepatoprotective supplement. Styrylpyrone-enriched extract (SPEE) obtained from the PL mycelia has been shown to have potential inhibition effects on high-fat- and high-fructose-diet-induced NAFLD. In the continuous study, we aimed to explore the inhibitory effects of SPEE on free fatty acid mixture O/P oleic acid (OA): palmitic acid (PA); 2:1, molar ratio-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Results showed that SPEE presented the highest free radical scavenging ability on DPPH and ABTS, and reducing power on ferric ions, better than that of partitions obtained from n-hexane, n-butanol and distilled water. In free-fatty-acid-induced lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells, SPEE showed an inhibition effect on O/P-induced lipid accumulation of 27% at a dosage of 500 μg/mL. As compared to the O/P induction group, the antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were enhanced by 73%, 67% and 35%, respectively, in the SPEE group. In addition, the inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) were significantly down-regulated by the SPEE treatment. The expressions of anti-adipogenic genes involved in hepatic lipid metabolism of 5' adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (
), sirtuin 1 (
) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (
) were enhanced in the SPEE supplemented HepG2 cells. In the protein expression study, p-AMPK, SIRT1 and PGC1-α were significantly increased to 121, 72 and 62%, respectively, after the treatment of SPEE. Conclusively, the styrylpyrone-enriched extract SPEE can ameliorate lipid accumulation and decrease inflammation and oxidative stress through the activation of SIRT1/AMPK/PGC1-α pathways.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
After being harvested, cacao beans are usually subjected to very complex processes in order to improve their chemical and physical characteristics, like tastefulness with chocolate characteristic ...flavors. The traditional process consists of three major processing stages: fermentation, drying, and roasting, while most of the fermentation is carried out by an on-farm in-box process. In Taiwan, we have two major cocoa beans, the red and the yellow. We proposed that the major factor affecting the variation in tastes and colors in the finished cocoa might be the difference between cultivars. To uncover this, we examined the effect of the three major processes including fermentation, drying and roasting on these two cocoa beans. Results indicated that the two cultivars really behaved differently (despite before or after processing with fermentation, drying, and roasting) with respect to the patterns of fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, oleic, and arachidonic); triacylglycerols:1,2,3-trioleoyl-glycerol (OOO); 1-stearoyl-2,3-oleoyl-glycerol (SOO); 1-stearoyl-sn-2-oleoyl-3-arachidoyl- glycerol (SOA); 1,3-distearyol-sn-2-oleoyl-glycerol (SOS); organic acids (citric, tartaric, acetic, and malic); soluble sugars (glucose and fructose); amino acids; total phenolics; total flavonoids; and volatiles. Our findings suggest that to choose specific processing conditions for each specific cocoa genotype is the crucial point of processing cocoa with consistent taste and color.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background & Aims Large sessile colonic polyps usually are managed surgically, with significant morbidity and potential mortality. There have been few prospective, intention-to-treat, multicenter ...studies of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). We investigated whether endoscopic criteria can predict invasive disease and direct the optimal treatment strategy. Methods The Australian Colonic Endoscopic (ACE) resection study group conducted a prospective, multicenter, observational study of all patients referred for EMR of sessile colorectal polyps that were 20 mm or greater in size (n = 479, mean age, 68.5 y; mean lesion size, 35.6 mm). We analyzed data on lesion characteristics and procedural, clinical, and histologic outcomes. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified independent predictors of EMR efficacy and recurrence of adenoma, based on findings from follow-up colonoscopy examinations. Results Risk factors for submucosal invasion were as follows: Paris classification 0–IIa+c morphology, nongranular surface, and Kudo pit pattern type V. The most commonly observed lesion (0–IIa granular) had a low rate of submucosal invasion (1.4%). EMR was effective at completely removing the polyp in a single session in 89.2% of patients; risk factors for lack of efficacy included a prior attempt at EMR (odds ratio OR, 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.77–7.94; P = .001) and ileocecal valve involvement (OR, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.20–9.52; P = .021). Independent predictors of recurrence after effective EMR were lesion size greater than 40 mm (OR, 4.37; 95% confidence interval, 2.43–7.88; P < .001) and use of argon plasma coagulation (OR, 3.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.69–7.27; P = .0017). There were no deaths from EMR; 83.7% of patients avoided surgery. Conclusions Large sessile colonic polyps can be managed safely and effectively by endoscopy. Endoscopic assessment identifies lesions at increased risk of containing submucosal cancer. The first EMR is an important determinant of patient outcome—a previous attempt is a significant risk factor for lack of efficacy.
PDF
