Obesity is closely linked with metabolic diseases, while life and prenatal exposure to endocrine‐disrupting chemicals has been implicated in the development of obesity. Magnesium lithospermate B ...(MLB), an active compound of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), has beneficial effects on insulin resistance and metabolic abnormalities in diet‐induced obese rodents. Since exposure to endocrine‐disrupting chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) during pregnancy mimics the effects of high fat diet‐induced alterations of glucose and lipid metabolism in adult male offspring, the effects of daily MLB supplementation for 4 weeks on metabolic abnormalities in rats weaning from prenatal BPA‐exposed dams were investigated. BPA‐exposed rats developed obesity and adiposity concurrent with hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, and elevation of circulating glucagon and free fatty acids. Increased hepatic fatty acid synthesis and decreased fatty acid β‐oxidation, activation of adipocytic adipogenesis, maturation, and lipogenesis, as well as reduction of muscular glucose uptake were demonstrated in BPA‐exposed rats. The aforementioned alterations were improved by MLB supplementation. Additionally, MLB displayed negative effects on glucocorticoid receptor action and inflammation, and promoted lipolysis and thermogenesis in the adipose tissues. In conclusion, our findings suggest that MLB may be a potential therapeutic compound against metabolic diseases, including maternal exposure‐induced metabolic abnormalities.
Various specific methods have been exercised in recent years to detect heavy metal ions in drinking water or body fluids for environmental as well as health safety. Likewise, development of a simple, ...fast, and robust method for copper ion (Cu2+) sensing is of paramount importance. Here, we demonstrate an effective Cu2+ sensor by exploiting the change in electrical conductivity of Ti-doped copper nitride (Cu3N) in presence of Cu2+ in solution. The Cu2+ sensor was fabricated with a Ti-doped Cu3N film deposited on indium-tin-oxide (ITO) coated quartz glass substrate by co-deposition method using high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) and DC magnetron sputtering system simultaneously. DC sputtering power of Ti source was tuned from 0 W to 200 W with 50 W steps to achieve the Cu3N film with doping concentrations of 0, 0.19, 0.33, 0.87, and 1.6 at% respectively. Application of a diluted Cu2+ solution on the Ti-doped Cu3N film increases its electrical conductivity dramatically as manifested in the increase in current measured between two consecutive ITO electrodes beneath the thin film. The extraordinarily high copper sensitivity of the Ti-doped Cu3N film (1.6 at%) originated from the nitrogen-rich surfaces leads to detection of Cu2+ in water at as low as 8 pM concentration. The sensor exhibits not only high response but also a large linear dynamic range of 8 pM to 80 nM well below the maximum contaminant level goal for copper ion in drinking water. The high selectivity and reasonable cross-sensitivity of the sensor show potential commercialization in near future.
•Ti-doped Cu3N thin film is fabricated by co-deposition method with HiPIMS and DCMS.•Cu3N with 1.6 at% of Ti shows superior film quality revealed by material analysis.•Optimized Ti-doped Cu3N film exhibits extraordinary response to Cu2+ in solution.•Ti-doped Cu3N based sensor achieves pico-molar (8 pM) level detection of Cu2+.•Efficacy of the proposed sensor outperforms that of the sensors hitherto reported.
No consensus exists regarding the appropriate timing of adjuvant radiotherapy administration after surgical excision of keloids.
This study investigated the appropriate timing of adjuvant ...radiotherapy.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and observational cohort studies was performed. A pooled estimate of the incidence rate was performed using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses based on different anatomic region, biologically effective dose, keloid length, and radiotherapy regimen were also conducted.
Sixteen observational cohort studies (1,908 keloid lesions) met the inclusion criteria. The incidence rate was significantly lower in the group treated with electron beam therapy more than 24 hours after surgery (3.80%; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.78%-8.13%) than that in the group treated with the same therapy within 24 hours of surgery (37.16%; 95% CI, 20.80%-66.37%; p < .0001), but no significant difference was observed between the groups regarding brachytherapy and x-ray treatments.
Immediate adjuvant radiotherapy did not significantly reduce the incidence rate of recurrent keloids.
Statins have been reported to reduce the risk of gallstone disease. However, the impacts of different durations of statin use on gallstone disease have not been clarified. The aim of this study is ...toperform a systematic review with meta-analysis to update and to elucidate the association between statin use and the risk of gallstone disease and cholecystectomy.
Medline, Embase and Cochrane Library were searched from the inception until August 2022 for relevant articles investigating the difference in the risk of gallstone disease between statin users and non-users (PROSPERO, ID: CRD42020182445). Meta-analyses were conducted using odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to compare the risk of gallstone disease and cholecystectomy between statin user and nonusers.
Eight studies enrolling 590,086 patients were included. Overall, the use of statins was associated with a marginally significant lower risk of gallstone disease than nonusers (OR, 0.91; 95% CI 0.82-1.00). Further subgroup analysis showed that short-term users, medium-term users, and long-term users were associated with a significantly higher risk (OR, 1.18; 95% CI 1.11-1.25), comparable risk (OR, 0.93; 95% CI 0.83-1.04), and significantly lower risk of gallstone diseases (OR, 0.78; 95% CI 0.68-0.90) respectively, compared to nonusers.
Patients with medium-term or long-term use of statins without discontinuation are at a lower risk of gallstone disease or cholecystectomy.
Genotoxic stress from environmental pollutants plays a critical role in cytotoxicity. The most abundant nitro-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in environmental pollutants, 1-nitropyrene (1-NP), is ...generated during fossil fuel, diesel, and biomass combustion under sunlight. Macrophages, the key regulators of the innate immune system, provide the first line of defense against pathogens. The toxic effects of 1-NP on macrophages remain unclear. Through a lactate dehydrogenase assay, we measured the cytotoxicity induced by 1-NP. Our results revealed that 1-NP induced genotoxicity also named DNA damage, including micronucleus formation and DNA strand breaks, in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, 1-NP induced p53 phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation; mitochondrial cytochrome c release; caspase-3 and -9 activation and cleavage; and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) cleavage in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with the PARP inhibitor, 3-aminobenzamide, significantly reduced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and PARP-1 cleavage induced by 1-NP. Pretreatment with the caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD-fmk, significantly reduced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, PARP-1 cleavage, and caspase 3 activation induced by 1-NP. Pretreatment with the p53 inhibitor, pifithrin-α, significantly reduced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, PARP-1 cleavage, caspase 3 activation, and p53 phosphorylation induced by 1-NP. We propose that cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by 1-NP by PARP-1 cleavage via caspase-3 and -9 activation through cytochrome c release from mitochondria and its upstream p53-dependent pathway in macrophages.
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•1-NP induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in RAW264.7 macrophages.•1-NP induced micronucleus formation and DNA strand breaks.•1-NP induced p53 phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 and -9 activation.•1-NP induced PARP-1 cleavage.
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious disease with high morbidity and mortality rate. Although there are effective strategies for treatment of ALI; a widely accepted specific pharmacotherapy has not ...yet established. Zerumbone, the major active phytochemical compound from Zingiber zerumbet Smith, exhibits various beneficial biological and pharmacological activities, such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, immunomodulation, and anti-cancer. We aimed to study the potential protective effects and mechanisms of zerumbone in mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Pretreatment with zerumbone inhibited the histopatholgical changes such as neutrophils infiltration, increased in alveolar barrier thickness, hemorrhage, and hyaline membrane formation occurred in lungs in LPS-induced ALI. In addition, not only LPS-induced activation of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) was suppressed by zerumbone, but also lipid peroxidation in lungs was inhibited as well. Moreover, pretreatment with zerumbone reversed the antioxidative enzymes activities, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, decreased by LPS and enhanced the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase (HO-1) induced by LPS. These results from present study suggested that the protective mechanisms of zerumbone on LPS-induced ALI were via up-regulation of antioxidative enzymes and Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
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•Zerumbone inhibited the histopathological changes in LPS-induced ALI.•Zerumbone inhibited LPS-induced activation of MPO and MMP-9.•Zerumbone inhibited LPS-induced lipid peroxidation.•Zerumbone inhibited LPS-induced activation of antioxidative enzymes.•Zerumbone enhanced LPS-induced expression of HO-1 and Nrf-2.
Tetradentate bis(pyridyl azolate) chelates are assembled by connecting two bidentate 3-trifluoromethyl-5-(2-pyridyl)azoles at the six position of pyridyl fragment with the tailored spiro-arranged ...fluorene and/or acridine functionalities. These new chelates were then utilized in synthesizing a series of Pt(II) metal complexes Pt(L n), n = 1–5, from respective chelates L1–L5 and PtCl2(DMSO)2 in 1,2-dimethoxyethane. The single-crystal X-ray structural analyses were executed on 1, 3, and 5 to reveal the generalized structures and packing arrangement in crystal lattices. Their photophysical properties were measured in both solution and solid state and are discussed in the context of computational analysis. These L1–L5 coordinated Pt(II) species exhibit intense emission, among which complex 5 shows remarkable solvatochromic phosphorescence due to the dominant intraligand charge transfer transition induced by the new bis(pyridyl azolate) chelates. Moreover, because of the higher-lying highest occupied molecular orbital of acridine, complex 5 can be considered as a novel bipolar phosphor. Successful fabrication of blue and white organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using Pt(II) complexes 3 and 5 as the phosphorescent dopants are reported. In particular, blue OLEDs with 5 demonstrated peak efficiencies of 15.3% (36.3 cd/A, 38.0 lm/W), and CIE values of (0.190, 0.342) in a double-emitting layer structure. Furthermore, a red-emitting Os(II) complex and 5 were used to fabricate warm-white OLEDs to achieve peak external quantum efficiency, luminance efficiency, and power efficiency values as high as 12.7%, 22.5 cd/A, and 22.1 lm/W, respectively.
Different types of high schools in Taiwan have the same physical education curriculum. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the difference in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome between ...senior and vocational high school students. We retrospectively collected health check-up data from 81,076 first-year senior and 68,863 vocational high school students in Taipei City from 2011 to 2014, including their blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-c levels. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was determined using definitions from the Taiwan Pediatric Association (TPA), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and de Ferranti et al. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 1.73% (senior and vocational high school students: 1.22% and 2.33%, respectively) using TPA criteria, 1.02% (0.69% and 1.40%, respectively) using IDF criteria, and 5.11% (3.92% and 6.51%, respectively) using de Ferranti et al. criteria. The most prevalent risk factors overall were increased blood pressure and central obesity. Given the significantly higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in vocational school students regardless of the criteria, and that metabolic syndrome causes future adult health risks, the physical education curriculum and health education program in vocational schools should be strengthened to decrease the risk and prevalence of metabolic syndrome.
Background
Urticaria is one of the most common diseases seen in clinical practice, whereas several reports have proposed that urticaria may have a link with autoimmune disorders. Few studies have ...examined the clinical association between urticaria with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). By conducting a nationwide population‐based case‐control study in Taiwan, we evaluated the risk of SLE in children with a prior clinical diagnosis of urticaria.
Methods
Using 2000‐2011 claims data from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 2105 SLE children during 2004‐2011 as the study group, along with randomly selected 8420 non‐SLE patients matched (1:4) for age, sex, and first diagnosis date as the control group. The correlation between urticaria and SLE risk was estimated using conditional logistic regression analysis.
Results
The prevalence rates of clinically diagnosed acute and chronic urticaria in SLE patients were 22.09% and 18.24%, respectively. A significant association was found between clinically diagnosed urticaria and childhood SLE, with a stronger risk associated with more episodes of urticaria (≥3 visits, OR: 2.33, 95% CI 1.91‐2.84). The risk was higher with chronic urticaria (OR: 2.21, 95% CI 1.85‐2.64) than with acute urticaria (OR: 1.54, 95% CI 1.34‐1.76). Subgroup analysis stratified by sex or age indicated that the risk associated with SLE was significantly greater among female children and adolescents with urticaria.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that children with urticaria have a significantly higher risk of SLE, with the risk increasing further among those with more episodes of urticaria or chronic urticaria.
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