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In order to enhance enzyme activities of koji and further improve the health benefits and nutritional value of miso, puffed rice was used to prepare koji with optimization of fermentation utilizing response surface methodology (RSM), and the optimized puffed rice koji was used to produce miso and low-salt miso. Results showed that β-glucosidase activity increased by 1.98-fold after RSM optimization. The optimized puffed rice koji also showed the highest β-amylase and protease activities (237.1 and 968.8 units/g, respectively) compared to rice koji (108.7 and 637.4 units/g, respectively). Moreover, miso made from puffed-rice koji presented a much higher polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, and aglycone conversion. These findings clarified the relationship between changes in enzyme activities in koji and the important components of miso, and also advance solid-state fermentation research and development of functional miso. • The puffed-rice was used in koji preparation for miso production. • The β-glucosidase activity of optimized puffed-rice koji was increased by 1.98-fold. • The enzyme and antioxidant activities of puffed-rice miso were enhanced. • The optimized puffed-rice koji improved the conversion of isoflavone aglycone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the trends and differences in serum total cholesterol-to-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) ratio among U.S. residents. This is an observational study. General community. Blood lipid measurements, taken from 53,964 noninstitutionalized participants, aged 6 to 80, were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) study. We described the distributions of TC/HDL-C ratio across the life span in four distinct cross-sectional surveys during 2005-2008, 2009-2012, 2013-2016, and 2017-2020, and compared the ratio levels by race/ethnicity, education level, ratio of income to poverty, body mass index (BMI), and general health condition. N/A. Blood lipid measurements. Between 2005 and 2020, favorable trends in lipid ratio levels were observed. In youth aged < 20 years, mean TC/HDL-C ratios were 3.17, 3.15, 3.02, and 3.06 in males; and 3.12, 3.13, 3.03, and 3.02 in females from 2005 to 2020. In adults 20 years old and older, mean TC/HDL ratios declined from 4.30 in 2005-2008, to 4.27 in 2009-2012, 4.17 in 2013-2016, to 3.96 in 2017-2020 in males; while mean TC/HDL-C ratios declined from 3.67 in 2005-2008, to 3.66 in 2009-2012, to 3.54 in 2013-2016, to 3.46 in 2017-2020 in females. Overall, non-Hispanic black individuals tended to have lower mean TC/HDL-C ratio levels than other groups, while Mexican American individuals tended to have higher TC/HDL-C ratio levels on average. Being male, having a lower educational level, being obese or having a higher BMI, and reporting poor health status were associated with higher TC/HDL-C ratio levels. In females, income lower than the poverty level was associated with higher TC/HDL-C levels. However, there was no difference in TC/HDL-C levels in males by poverty level. Between 2005 and 2020, favorable trends in TC/HDL values were observed among noninstitutionalized residents in the US. Reliable and disaggregated population-based data for cholesterol trends are needed to evaluate overall cardiovascular health, assess the effects of nutritional policies and pharmacological interventions, and guide priority setting. The authors declare no conflict of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodic caustic shock-loading is a commonly used method for sulfide control in sewers. Caustic shock-loading relies on the elevation of the sewage pH to ≥ 10.5 for several hours, thereby removing sewer pipe biofilms as well as deactivating SRB activity in the remaining biofilm. Although a widely used method, SRB activity is often not completely inhibited, and as such sulfide is still being generated. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an innovative approach which combines caustic with oxygen, another commonly used method, as a dosing strategy for overcoming the drawbacks of caustic shock-loading. Six laboratory-scale rising main reactors were subjected to three dosing schemes over a period of three months, namely (i) simultaneous caustic and oxygen addition, (ii) caustic addition and (iii) no chemical addition. Our results showed that the combination of caustic and oxygen achieved efficient sulfide control, leading to a prolonged biofilm recovery period in between caustic shocks. In addition, methane emissions were reduced to a negligible level compared to caustic treatment only. To translate the findings to real-life application, the key parameters obtained during the long-term lab-scale experiments were subjected to extensive simulation studies using the SeweX model under a wide range of conditions commonly found in sewers. Overall, this study highlights the potential of periodic shock-loading and intermittent oxygen injection as combined dosing strategy for efficient sulfide control in sewers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of iron salts is one of the most commonly used dosing strategies for sulfide control in sewers. However, iron salts decrease the sewage pH which not only reduces the effectiveness of sulfide precipitation but also enhances the release of residual sulfide to the sewer atmosphere. Equally important, concentrated iron salt solutions are corrosive and their frequent transport, handling, and on-site storage often come with Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) concerns. Here, we experimentally demonstrated a novel sulfide control approach using electrochemical systems with parallel placed iron electrodes. This enabled combining anodic dissolved iron species release with cathodic hydroxyl anion production, which alleviates all the aforementioned concerns. A long-term experiment was successfully carried out achieving an average sulfide removal efficiency of 95.4 ± 4.4% at low voltage input of 2.90 ± 0.54 V over the course of 8 weeks. This electrochemical method was demonstrated to successfully achieve efficient sulfide control. In addition, it increases the sewage pH, thereby overcoming the drawbacks associated with the pH decrease in the case of conventional iron salt dosing. Ferrous ions were produced at an overall coulombic efficiency (CE) of 98.2 ± 1.2%, whereas oxygen evolution and direct sulfide oxidation were not observed. Short-term experiments showed that increasing either inter-electrode gap or current density increased the cell voltage associated with the increase in the ohmic drop of the system. Overall, this study highlights the practical potential of in-situ generation of dissolved iron species and simultaneous hydroxyl anion generation for efficient sulfide control in sewers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luteolin is a common dietary flavonoid present in Chinese herbal medicines that has been reported to have important anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have shown that luteolin is an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agent. In this study, the anti-virus inflammatory capacity of luteolin and its molecular mechanisms of action were analyzed. The cytotoxic effects of luteolin were assessed in the presence or absence of pseudorabies virus (PRV) via LDH and MTT assays. The results showed that luteolin (<10 μM) had no toxic effects and there were tendencies toward higher cell survival. In PRV-infected RAW264.7 cells, luteolin potently inhibited the production of NO, iNOS, COX-2 and inflammatory cytokine production. Luteolin did not inhibit the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, p38, and JNK 1/2 either. We found that PRV-induced NF-κB activation is regulated through inhibition of STAT1and STAT3 phosphorylation in response to luteolin. Additionally, luteolin caused the induction of HO-1 via upregulation of Nrf2, both of which are involved in the secretion of proinflammatory mediators. The blockade of HO-1 expression with SnPP, a HO-1 inhibitor, attenuated HO-1 induction by luteolin and thus mitigated its anti-inflammatory effects during PRV-infected RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, our data indicate that luteolin diminishes the proinflammatory mediators NO, inflammatory cytokines and the expression of their regulatory genes, iNOS and COX-2, in PRV-infected RAW264.7 cells by inhibiting STAT1/3 dependent NF-κB activation and inducing Nrf 2 mediated HO-1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous reports have suggested that many constituents within various algal samples are able to attenuate LPS-induced inflammatory effects. To date no report has been published on the regulation of virus-induced inflammatory response of Dunaliella salina carotenoid extract. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effect of D. salina carotenoid extract on pseudorabies virus (PRV)-infected RAW 264.7 macrophages was investigated. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of D. salina carotenoid extract on PRV-infected RAW 264.7 cells by measuring cell viability, cytotoxicity, production of inflammatory mediators such as NO, iNOS, COX-2, pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-virus replication by plaque assay. We found down-regulation of the expression of the iNOS, COX-2 and pro-inflammatory genes IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1 in a dose-dependent manner. Although there was no effect on viral replication, there were tendencies toward lower virus titer and tendencies toward higher cell survival. Most importantly, we found that inhibition of TLR9, PI3K and Akt phosphorylation plays a crucial role in the extract-mediated NF-κB regulation by modulating IKK-IκB signaling in PRV-infected RAW264.7 cells. These results indicate that D. salina carotenoid extracts inhibited inflammation by inhibition of NF-κB activation by TLR9 dependent via PI3K/Akt inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Purpose: Long-term oxygen therapy has become standard treatment for patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency. However, patterns of long-term home oxygen therapy have not been well studied in Taiwan. Oxygen concentrator systems are commonly used in Taiwan, but liquid oxygen delivery systems are portable and may provide advantages over the concentrator system. This study compared oxygen usage between patients from a liquid oxygen group (LOG) and an oxygen concentrator group (OCG). The authors also assessed the physiologic responses of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to ambulatory oxygen use at home. Methods: The study used a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational survey design. The LOG comprised 42 patients, and the OCG comprised 102 patients. We recruited participants in northern Taiwan from July 2009 to April 2010. The questionnaire instruments that were used to collect data consisted of three parts: demographic characteristics, devices used in respiratory care, and activity status with portable oxygen. Two-minute walking tests were performed on COPD patients in their homes. Results: COPD was the most common diagnosis in our study, with more than 50% of patients who received oxygen long term in both groups having received this diagnosis. The LOG used oxygen for an average of 21.7 hours per day, whereas OCG averaged 15.2 hours per day (p <0.001). In the OCG, 92.2% of patients used a concentrator alone, whereas 23.8% of the LOG used liquid oxygen alone (p <0.001). The LOG patients were involved in significantly more outdoors activities (p =0.002) and reported traveling with oxygen more often (p <0.001) than the OCG patients. For patients with the same dyspnea level of COPD severity, those using liquid oxygen had a lower increase in pulse rate after the walking test, in comparison with the concentrator users. Conclusion: Patients in the LOG used oxygen for longer hours, went on more outings, and were more likely to travel with oxygen than patients in the OCG. Being ambulatory with liquid oxygen might enable patients with COPD to walk more effectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There are reports of an association between benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and hyperuricemia. We sought to determine the risk of vertigo among patients with gout compared with the general population, using a nationwide Taiwanese population-based claims database. Our study cohort consisted of patients with a diagnosis of gout disorders in 2004 (N =18773). Four age- and gender-matched controls for every patient in the study cohort were selected using random sampling as the comparison cohort (N =75092). All subjects were followed from the date of cohort entry until they developed vertigo or to the end of 2006. Cox proportional hazard regressions were performed to evaluate the 3-year vertigo-free survival rates. Of the total sample, 2563 (incidence, 10.09 per 1000 person-years) had vertigo during the 3-year follow-up period: 570 (incidence, 11.78 per 1000 person-years) from the study cohort and 1993 (incidence, 9.69 per 1000 person-years) from the comparison cohort. The adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of peripheral and central vertigo in patients with gout compared with controls during the 2–3-year follow-up were 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.05–1.29, p =0.003) and 1.08 (95% CI=0.86–1.36, p =0.53), respectively. This is the first population-based study performed to suggest that patients with gout may have an increased risk of peripheral vertigo but not central vertigo. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo may be the reason for the observed association; however, future studies are required to further ascertain the relationship between gout and the various causes of peripheral vertigo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The carotenoid extract from Dunaliella salina was used to evaluate the suppressive effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 cells. The extract composed all-trans forms of α-carotene (28.8mg/g extract), β-carotene (471.1mg/g extract), lutein (7.1mg/g extract) and zeaxanthin (7.2mg/g extract), 13- or 13′-cis-β-carotene (12.1mg/g extract), 9- or 9′-cis-α-carotene (19.1mg/g extract) and 9- or 9′-cis-β-carotene (440.3mg/g extract) dose-dependently reduced the production of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Its attenuation of LPS-induced inflammatory responses was closely related to inhibition of the nuclear NF-κB p50 subunit translocation by blocking inhibitor of κBα (IκB) phosphorylation and degradation correlated with suppressing IκB kinase (IKK) α/β phosphorylation, as well as down-regulation of the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Research has indicated that inflammation promote all phases of atherosclerosis. The current study tested the hypothesis that rhinosinusitis is a risk marker for myocardial infarction (MI). Data on the general population were obtained from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 (LHID2005). The study cohort comprised patients who had received a recorded diagnosis of rhinosinusitis (N = 52,930) between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004. The comparison group consisted of patients who had not received a rhinosinusitis diagnosis, and who were matched for age and sex with the study group at a ratio of 4 controls to 1 study patient (1:4) (N = 211,720). Each patient''s condition was followed using database entries until the end of 2006. Cox proportional hazard regressions were used to evaluate the 3-year MI-free survival rates, after adjusting for known confounding factors. We found that patients with rhinosinusitis were more likely than the control group to have MI, after adjusting for potential confounders [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 1.84; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.44 ∼ 2.40]. Of the total 264 650 patients, 290 experienced MI during the 3-year follow-up period, including 8 acute sinusitis patients, 77 chronic sinusitis patients, and 205 control patients. The incidence rate of MI was 6.19 (95% CI 5.01–7.65) per 10,000 person-years for rhinosinusitis patients, compared to 3.51 (95% CI, 3.06–4.02) for the control patients. From this study, rhinosinusitis may be associated with MI. Further research in this important area of public health is warranted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Carotenoids are effective antioxidants, which can quench singlet oxygen, suppress lipid peroxidation, and prevent oxidative damage. Both Pseudorabies virus (PRV) and human Herpes simplex virus (HSV) are DNA viruses, and their pathogenesis and immunobiology are similar. However, PRV does not infect humans. Therefore, PRV was used to infect murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells), to mimic HSV-induced inflammation. Meanwhile, the influence of β-carotene on PRV-induced inflammation was also investigated. Results indicated that β-carotene inhibited (p <0.05) NO, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1 production in PRV-infected RAW264.7 cells. β-Carotene also suppressed (p <0.05) NF-κB (p50 and p65), phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-related kinase (ERK), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) expression. It could be concluded that the anti-inflammatory effect of β-carotene is mainly through a suppression of cytokine expression in PRV-induced inflammation, which results from NF-κB inactivation. β-Carotene can be considered a potential anti-inflammatory agent for DNA-virus infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Background: Ovarian cancer is commonly fatal and incidence has persistently risen in Taiwan over the past 20 years. Prevention strategies, however, are limited. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) has been suggested to increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer, but the results of studies have been inconsistent. Therefore, we investigated whether PID increases the risk of developing ovarian cancer in a large, nationwide cohort. Methods: From the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 (LHID2005) in Taiwan, we obtained data for women aged 13–65 years for whom a diagnosis of PID, confirmed by multiple episodes, had been recorded between Jan 1, 2004, and Dec 31, 2005. We also obtained data for two controls per patient, matched for age and the year of first entry into the LHID2005. All patients were followed up from the date of entry in the LHID2005 until they developed ovarian cancer or to the end of 2006, whichever was earlier. We used Cox''s regression models to assess the risk of developing ovarian cancer, with adjustment for age, comorbid disorders, and socioeconomic characteristics. Findings: We identified 67 936 women with PID and 135 872 controls. Among these 90 had developed ovarian cancer during the 3-year follow-up period (42 patients with PID and 48 controls, incidence 2·78 and 1·44 per 10 000 person-years, respectively). The adjusted hazard ratio for ovarian cancer in patients with PID was 1·92 (95% CI 1·27–2·92) compared with controls, which rose to 2·46 (1·48–4·09) in women who had had at least five episodes of PID. The adjusted hazard ratio was slightly higher for women aged 35 years or younger with PID than in older women with PID (2·23, 1·02–4·79 vs 1·82, 1·10–3·04). Interpretation: We found an association between PID and ovarian cancer. PID might, therefore, be a useful marker for ovarian cancer, and early treatment could help to improve prognosis. Whether pelvic inflammation itself accelerates the growth of ovarian cancers or affects cancer-cell differentiation in ways that adversely alter prognosis needs to be investigated. Funding: None. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: No previous study has investigated the incidence or risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) developing after the diagnosis of psoriasis in Asian populations. Objective: We sought to evaluate the association between psoriasis and subsequent AMI during a 5-year follow-up period, using a nationwide Taiwanese population-based claims database, and taking clinical and demographic characteristics into consideration. Methods: Our study cohort consisted of all patients with a first recorded diagnosis of psoriasis (N = 4752) between 1999 and 2001 and of patients without a diagnosis of psoriasis (N = 23,760) who were matched by age and sex (1:5) to the patients with psoriasis. Each patient was tracked using hospitalization data from 2001 until the end of 2006. Stratified Cox proportional hazard regressions (stratified by age and sex) were performed as a means of computing the 5-year AMI-free survivals after adjusting for possible confounding factors. Results: Of the total sample, 70 patients (0.2%) had AMIs during the 5-year follow-up period: 22 (0.5% of the patients with psoriasis) from the study cohort and 48 (0.2%) from the comparison cohort. After adjusting for other factors, the hazard of AMI during the 5-year follow-up period was 2.10 times greater (95% confidence interval 1.27-3.43, P = .004) for patients with psoriasis than for comparison patients. Limitations: We could not take into account some known risk factors for AMI, such as smoking and body mass index. Conclusions: Psoriasis may confer an independent risk of AMI in Asian populations. We suggest that patients with psoriasis be made aware of the increased risk of AMI. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Many studies have focused on the neuroprotective effects of C60 fullerene-derived nanomaterials. The peculiar structure of C60 fullerene, which is capable of “adding” multiple radicals per molecule, serves as a “radical sponge,” and it can be an effective antioxidant by reducing cytotoxic effects caused by intracellular oxidative stress. In this study, PEG-C60-3, a C60 fullerene derivative incorporating poly(ethylene glycol), and its pentoxifylline-bearing hybrid (PTX-C60-2) were investigated against β-amyloid (Aβ)25-35-induced toxicity toward Neuro-2A cells. PEG-C60-3 and PTX-C60-2 significantly reduced Aβ25-35-induced cytotoxicity, with comparable activities in decreasing reactive oxygen species and maintaining the mitochondrial membrane potential. Aβ25-35 treatment elicited adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase–associated autophagy. Cytoprotection by PEG-C60-3 and PTX-C60-2 was partially diminished by an autophagy inhibitor, indicating that the elicited autophagy and antioxidative activities protect cells from Aβ damage. PTX-C60-2 was more effective than PEG-C60-3 at enduring the induced autophagy. Our results offer new insights into therapeutic drug design using C60 fullerene–PTX dyad nanoparticles against Aβ-associated diseases. From the Clinical Editor: The neuroprotective effects of C60 fullerene-derived nanomaterials are known and thought to be related to their capacity of “absorbing” multiple free radicals. In this study, another interesting property is presented: they may enhance autophagy of beta-amyloid peptide, which could minimize the damaging effects of this peptide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Primary retroperitoneal leiomyomas are a rare and unusual differential diagnosis in the acute abdomen. A 26-year-old woman presented with chronic constipation and acute abdominal pain. The diagnostic workup included contrast computer tomography, transabdominal ultrasonography, and colonoscopy that revealed an 8-cm homogeneous pelvic tumor with rectal compression. Retroperitoneal leiomyoma was suspected on imaging studies and finally confirmed after tumor excision and immunohistochemical staining. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: One of the most important problems in modern finance is finding efficient ways to summarize and visualize the stock market data to give individuals or institutions useful information about the market behavior for investment decisions. The enormous amount of valuable data generated by the stock market has attracted researchers to explore this problem domain using different methodologies. This paper investigates stock market investment issues on Taiwan stock market using a two-stage data mining approach. The first stage Apriori algorithm is a methodology of association rules, which is implemented to mine knowledge and illustrate knowledge patterns and rules in order to propose stock category association and possible stock category investment collections. Then the K-means algorithm is a methodology of cluster analysis implemented to explore the stock cluster in order to mine stock category clusters for investment information. By doing so, this paper proposes several possible Taiwan stock market portfolio alternatives under different circumstances. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A series of coordination polymers, [M(C5O5)(dpe)] (M=Mn 1, Fe 2, Cd 3 and Co 4; dpe=1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane) with a 2D metal–organic framework (MOF) has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Structural determination reveals that compounds 1–4 are isostructural and possess a 2D brick-wall-like layered framework with a rectangle grid as the basic building unit through the connectivity of metal ions with μ3-, μ4-croconates and anti-dpe ligands. Two 2D layers are then cross-linkaged by gauche-dpe ligands to complete a 2D bi-layered MOF and then extended to a 3D supramolecular architecture through π–π and C–H⋯O interactions between the croconate and pyridyl rings of dpe, which exhibit high thermo-stability and keep their crystalline forms up to 350°C. The magnetic exchange coupling between the metal centers for compounds 1, 2 and 4 was analyzed and based on the Curie–Weiss expression and a binuclear magnetic model. The negative values of the Weiss constant and the magnetic exchange coupling constant indicate the antiferromagnetic nature between the metal ions via the bridges of bis-bidentate adjacent μ3-croconate ligands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hydrogen sulfide induced corrosion of concrete sewer pipes is a major issue for wastewater utilities globally. One of the most commonly used methods to combat hydrogen sulfide is the addition of ferric chloride. While a reliable and effective method, ferric chloride is acidic causing OH&S concerns as well as alkalinity consumption in sewage. This study investigates, under full-scale field conditions, an alternative method for sulfide control by in-situ electrochemical generation of iron ions using sacrificial iron electrodes. This method concomitantly produces alkalinity through cathodic OH− generation, rather than consumption. The gaseous hydrogen sulfide concentrations at the discharge wet well of a real-life rising main (length: ∼1 km in, diameter: 150 mm) decreased from 173 ppm to 43 ppm (90 percentile of peak values), when a current of 0.86 A/m3 of sewage was applied. The 90 percentile peak H 2 S value was further reduced to 6.6 ppm when the applied current was increased to 1.14 A/m3 sewage. Moreover, methane generation was almost completely inhibited from 25.3 ± 1.46 mg COD/L to 0.06 ± 0.04 mg COD/L. The overall cell voltage remained constant throughout the experimental period clearly showing the stability of the process. Detailed characterization of the down-stream sewer pipe biofilm revealed the complexity of the iron chemistry as the in-situ produced iron ions undergo transformation into a variety of iron species. Overall, this study demonstrates that in-situ generation of iron and alkalinity is an effective alternative method for hydrogen sulfide control in sewers. Image 1 • Full-scale demonstration of in-situ iron and alkalinity generation for H 2 S control. • Stable electrochemical performance achieved throughout the testing period. • Near complete inhibition of sewer methane emissions was achieved. • A variety of iron oxide species accumulated in the downstream sewer pipe biofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bisphenol A (BPA) is primarily used in production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins including plastic containers. BPA is an endocrine disruptor and supposes to induce asthma and cancer. However, so far only a few evidences have shown the BPA-induced toxic effect and its related mechanism in macrophages. BPA demonstrated cytotoxic effect on RAW264.7 macrophages in a concentration and time-dependent manner. BPA induces necrosis, apoptosis, and genotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner. Phosphorylation of cytochrome C (cyto C) and p53 was due to mitochondrial disruption via BCL2 and BCL-X L downregulation and BAX, BID, and BAD upregulation. Both caspase-dependent, including caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP-1 cleavage, and caspase-independent, such as nuclear translocation of AIF, pathways were activated by BPA. Furthermore, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduction of antioxidative enzyme activities were induced by BPA. Parallel trends were observed in the effect of BPA on cytotoxicity, apoptosis, genotoxicity, p53 phosphorylation, BCL2 family expression exchange, caspase-dependent and independent apoptotic pathways, and ROS generation in RAW264.7 macrophages. Finally, BPA-exhibited cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and genotoxicity could be inhibited by N-acetylcysteine. These results indicated that the toxic effect of BPA was functioning via oxidative stress-associated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in macrophages. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • BPA exhibits cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and genototixicty in macrophages. • BPA induces p53 phosphorylation and stabilization, mitochondrial dysfunction, exchange of BCL2 family. • BPA induces mitochondrio-nuclear translocation of AIF and cleavage of PARP-1, pro-caspase-3, and pro-caspase-9. • BPA induces ROS generation and reduced antioxidant enzymes activities. • N-Acetylcysteine reduces BPA-induced cytotoxicity, apoptosis, genotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies analyzed the association between blood culture time to positivity (TTP) and risk of complicated nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) bacteremia. We conducted a retrospective study of 206 patients (aged 60.4 ± 17.4 years) with NTS bacteremia during a 30-month period. Complicated NTS bacteremia was defined as the presence of 30-day mortality, complicated infection requiring surgery or abscess drainage, or requirement of intensive care unit admission. Serogroup D (75.7%) was the predominant isolates. Malignancy (44.7%) was the most prevalent comorbidity. Patients with rapid TTP (<10 h) were more likely to have thrombocytopenia, septic shock, persistent bacteremia, complicated infection, and a higher intensive care unit admission rate. In multivariate logistic regression model, a TTP <10 h was an independent predictor for complicated NTS bacteremia (adjusted odd ratio, 5.683, 95% confidence interval, 2.396–13.482). Our study showed that blood culture TTP provides important diagnostic and prognostic information in the treatment of NTS bacteremia patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rotator cuff tears are the most common cause of shoulder disability in people older than 50years, and surgical intervention is usually required for restoring functioning. However, in patients undergoing rotator cuff repair surgery, patients with DM had poorer functional outcomes than those without DM, and hence, DM is one of the possible risks factor for rotator cut off tear. The aim of this population-based study was to investigate the relationship between DM and the risk of rotator cuff tear in patients receiving rotator cuff repair surgery.Methods: In this retrospective longitudinal population-based 7-year cohort study, we investigated the risk of rotator cuff repair surgery in patients with DM. We performed a case-control matched analysis by using data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005. Patients were enrolled on the basis of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnostic codes for DM between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2007. The prevalence and the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of a rotator cuff repair surgery in patients with and without DM were estimated according to the Cox proportional hazard regression analysis using the frailty model.Results: The DM and non-DM cohorts comprised 58,652 patients with DM and 117,304 (1:2) patients without DM after matching for age and sex. The incidence of rotator cuff repair surgery was 41 per 100,000 and 26 per 100,000 person-years in the DM and non-DM cohorts, respectively. The HR of rotator cuff repair surgery during the follow-up period was 1.56 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-1.93, p<0.001) for patients with DM. After adjustment for covariates, the adjusted HR of rotator cuff repair surgery was 1.33 (95% CI, 1.05-1.68, p<0.001) in the DM cohort.Conclusion: DM is an independent risk factor for rotator cuff tear repair surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the study: We aimed to describe a population cohort study of burns with the prevalence of stroke, and discuss possible etiologies. Analytical methods: This study uses data obtained from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 (LHID2005). The study cohort consisted of all patients who had diagnoses of burn recorded in the database (ICD-9-CM codes 948) between January 1 2004 and December 31 2008 (N =1549). Main findings: The patients with burn and the comparison cohort are 7410 patients, 146 experienced stroke during the follow-up period of up to 5 years. In average, the burn patients suffered from stroke by 1.48 years after burn. The hazard ratio of stroke was 1.74 (95% CI, 1.15–2.63) for patients with TBSA burn <20%, 3.78 (95% CI, 1.39–10.26) for patients with TBSA burn ≥20%. The adjusted hazard ratio of ischemic stroke was 1.63 for patients with TBSA burn <20%, 2.96 for patients with TBSA burn ≥20%, whereas the hazard ratio of hemorrhagic stroke were not significant (p =0.231). Conclusions: In our study, severe burned patients, more than 60 years of age, had higher risk of stroke in their recovery life. We suggest close follow up for the burn patients in high risk of stroke. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: There is evidence that chronic inflammation may promote atherosclerotic disease. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a risk marker for myocardial infarction (MI). Method: Using the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 (LHID2005), this cohort study comprised patients with a recorded diagnosis of PID (N =68,668) between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2005, with age-matched controls (1:2) (N =136,906). Each patient was followed-up using entry data until the end of 2006. Cox proportional hazard regressions were used to evaluate the up to 3-year MI-free survival rates, after adjusting for known confounding factors. Results: We found that patients with PID were more likely to have MI than the control population after adjusting for potential confounders [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.23–2.81]. When stratified by patient's age, the adjusted HR for MI was 2.09 (95% CI, 1.24–3.52) for patients with PID aged over 55years. However, the adjusted HR for MI occurring was not significant for patients with PID aged≤55years. Conclusions: PID is a risk marker for MI that is independent of traditional MI risk factors. Further research in this important area of public health is warranted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects of taurine (Tau) in regulation of lipid metabolism and decreasing inflammation in chronic alcohol-fed rats was investigated. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: (1) isocaloric solution; (2) 3g alcohol/kg BW/day; (3) 3g alcohol/kg BW/day+1g Tau/kg BW/day for 6weeks. Liver size and serum/liver lipids of alcohol-fed rats were decreased (p <0.05) by Tau supplementation, but daily fecal lipid/bile acid outputs were increased (p <0.05). Regarding de novo lipogenesis, Tau downregulated (p <0.05) fatty-acid biosynthesis and upregulated (p <0.05) cholesterol metabolism (CYP7A1) and energy expenditure (PPAR-α). Serum AST and ALT, and hepatic TNF-α levels and MMP-9 activity of alcohol-fed rats were decreased (p <0.05) by Tau supplementation which may be related to the maintenance of higher (p <0.05) antioxidant levels (lower thiobarbituric-acid-reactive-substances values and higher trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) in serum and livers. Our study indicates that Tau downregulates lipogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in chronic alcohol-fed rats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chronic alcohol consumption or alcohol abuse is the main cause of alcoholic steatohepatitis or further cirrhosis. This study was to exam if the antioxidant capacity and alcohol metabolism in livers of chronic alcohol-fed rats were improved by supplementing taurine (Tau). Rats were randomly divided into four groups with five times per week of treatment: 1) isocaloric solution; 2) 3galcohol/kgBW/day; 3) 3galcohol/kgBW/day+1gtaurine(Tau)/kgBW/day; and 4) 3galcohol/kgBW/day+2g Tau/kgBW/day. A 6-week alcohol consumption resulted in lower (p <0.05) body weight gain and self-antioxidant capacities, as well as increased (p <0.05) liver size, serum/hepatic lipids, and AST and ALT values. However, alcohol-fed rats co-treated with Tau have decreased (p <0.05) liver lipid levels via increasing fecal lipid output and cholesterol metabolism. Besides, co-treatment of Tau also enhanced (p <0.05) self-antioxidant capacities and alcohol metabolism in livers via enhancing GSH contents, CAT, GSH-Px, ADH, and ALDH activities, but decreasing MDA contents. In a histological examination of rat liver, microvesicular steatosis and necrotic cells were observed in alcohol-fed rats without Tau while largely suppressed microvesicular steatosis and no necrotic cells were observed in alcohol-fed rat supplemented with Tau. Therefore, Tau could be an effective hepatoprotective agent against alcohol-induced damage via enhancing self-antioxidant capacity and alcohol metabolism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is a water-soluble vitamin essential for normal cellular functions, growth and development. This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin B2 on the survival rate, and expressions of tissue heat shock protein 25 (HSP25) and heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in mice undergoing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced shock. Mice were assigned to four groups, saline vehicle, LPS, LPS plus low dose of vitamin B2 (LB2) and LPS plus high dose of vitamin B2 (HB2). Vitamin B2 (1 and 10mg/kg BW) was administered intraperitoneally at 2 and 0h before the i.p. administration of LPS. At the end of the experiment, the survival rate monitored was 10, 20, 60, and 100% for LPS, LB2, HB2, and saline mice, respectively. HSP25 expressions in the heart and lung were significantly enhanced in a time-dependent manner in the HB2 mice as compared to the saline mice (p< 0.05), but not altered in the LB2 mice. In the HB2 mice, plasma riboflavin concentrations reached 300nM at 6h post LPS and returned to the 0h level at 72h. The results showed that high dose of riboflavin could decrease LPS-induced mortality through an increased expression of HSP25. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]