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Background: Human skin is exposed daily to oxidative stress factors such as UV light, chemical pollutants, and invading organisms. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are intermediate molecules that cause cellular oxidative stress. In order to survive in an oxygen-rich environment, all aerobic organisms, including mammals, have evolved enzymatic and non-enzymatic defence systems. The interruptins from an edible fern Cyclosorus terminans possess antioxidative properties and can scavenge intracellular ROS in adipose-derived stem cells.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidative efficacy of interruptins A, B, and C in cultured human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs). Moreover, the anti-photooxidative activity of interruptins in ultraviolet (UV)-exposed skin cells was investigated.

Methods: The intracellular ROS scavenging capacity of interruptins in skin cells was measured by flow cytometry. Their induction effects on gene expression of the endogenous antioxidant enzymes was monitored using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Interruptins A and B, but not interruptin C, were highly effective in ROS scavenging, particularly in HDFs. Interruptins A and B upregulated gene expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD)1, SOD2, catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in HEKs, but they only induced SOD1, SOD2, and GPx gene expression in HDFs. Additionally, interruptins A and B efficiently suppressed UVA- and UVB-induced ROS generation in both HEKs and HDFs.

Conclusion: The results suggest that these naturally occurring interruptins A and B are potent natural antioxidants and therefore may have the potential in the future of inclusion in antiaging cosmeceutical products.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is claimed to have various health benefits, but favorable effects of its major component (∼50%), lauric acid, are controversial. Therefore, we aimed to reduce lauric acid content (∼30%) in VCO and evaluate its effect compared to VCO and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), on food intake, bodyweight (BW), lipid profiles, and hepatic histology. Female C57BL/6 mice were treated with different diets for 3 months: control (normal diet), high-fat diet (HF), HF + VCO, HF + MCT, HF + low lauric acid VCO (LLA), and normal diet + LLA (C + LLA). LLA was prepared by enzymatic interesterification of VCO with methyl octanoate (methyl caprylate) and methyl decanoate (methyl caprate). Plasma and liver lipids, including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride, were measured by colorimetric assay, and hepatic fat accumulation was examined by oil-red-O staining. HF mice exhibited high plasma and liver TC and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). VCO or MCT treatment lowered liver TC and LDL, whereas LLA increased plasma HDL and markedly improved TC:HDL ratio. The HF-induced hepatic fat accumulation was attenuated by all treatments, of which VCO was the most effective. Control mice administered with LLA demonstrated lower liver TC and LDL, but higher plasma TC and HDL compared to controls. Lowest BW gain and food intake were found in mice treated with LLA. In conclusion, VCO, MCT, and LLA ameliorated hepatic histopathology caused by HF. VCO and MCT improved liver lipid profiles, whereas LLA has more beneficial effect on plasma lipids via a better TC:HDL ratio and showed promise for BW control., (© 2023 Institute of Food Technologists.)

Fluoride naturally occurs in the Earth's crust and is widely dispersed in groundwater. The high consumption of fluoride can inhibit iodine metabolism in the human body, especially in the thyroid gland. This study assessed iodine knowledge, iodine consumption behavior, urinary iodine (UI), thyroid stimulating hormone (serum TSH), and free triiodothyronine3 (serum FT3) and examined the connection between fluoride exposure and UI and thyroid function as serum concentrations of TSH and FT3 in pregnant women dwelling in an area of endemic fluorosis. This was a cross-sectional study. The population included 152 pregnant women within the 1 st trimester of pregnancy, during which they were provided antenatal care (ANC) in seven public community hospitals in Phayao province, Thailand. The study consisted of two components. First, the study consisted of a questionnaire in which we evaluated the iodine knowledge and iodine consumptive behaviors in subjects. Second, biochemical data were investigated to evaluate thyroid function in the subjects. The gestational age of most subjects was 8-12 weeks. The study population has lived in fluoride-contaminated areas since birth (76.97%). The iodine and iodine consumption levels were moderate (50.00%). Their food iodine consumption was 3-4 days/week, and the top five consumption ranks were iodized salt, cooked pork, eggs, sticky rice, and iodine fish sauce. In terms of biochemical parameters, 63.16% of respondents had UI levels below 150.00 g/L, which is below the normal reference range of 150.00-249.00 g/L. 89.47% of the risk of hypothyroidism was associated with serum TSH levels below 2.50 g/L. In 38.16% of the samples, normal levels of serum FT3 (2.00-4.40 pg/L) were identified in the subjects. In addition, 61.84% of the samples had FT3 concentrations greater than 4.40 pg/L (high intake of iodine). The approved association between positive serum FT3 data and serum TSH was positive ( r  = 260 and p  < 0.05). These studies imply that these elevated levels of TSH and FT3 place pregnant women in their first trimester at risk for hypothyroidism., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Rattawan Somporn et al.)

Bamboo leaf fiber (BLF) was incorporated into an eco-friendly foam cushion made from natural rubber latex (NRL) to enhance the biodegradation rate. The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of BLF content on the foam structure, mechanical properties, cushion performance, and biodegradability. The NRL foam cushion nets with and without BLF were prepared using the Dunlop method along with microwave-assisted vulcanization. BLF (90-106 µm in length) at various loadings (0.00, 2.50, 5.00, 7.50, and 10.00 phr) were introduced to the latex compounds before gelling and vulcanizing steps. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the BLF in a NRL foam caused an increase in cell size and a decrease in the number of cells. The changes in the cell structure and number of cells resulted in increases in the bulk density, hardness, compression set, compressive strength, and cushion coefficient. A soil burial test of 24 weeks revealed faster weight loss of 1.8 times when the BLF content was 10.00 phr as compared to the NRL foam without BLF. The findings of this work suggest the possibility of developing an eco-friendly cushion with a faster degradation rate while maintaining cushion performance, which could be a better alternative for sustainable packaging in the future., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in gynecologic cancer survivors., Methods: A cross-sectional observation survey recruited women aged 18-65 years old who were diagnosed with gynecologic cancers and underwent surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or combined modalities. Data were collected from September 2019 to March 2020 by the Thai version of the female sexual function index questionnaire to define FSD. The survey contained six domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain., Results: Of the 98 women included in the study, the mean age was 48.7 ± 10.6 years old. Two-third (67.3%) of the participants was premenopausal, had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and had early-stage gynecologic cancers. Fifty-eight of 98 (59.2%) participants were sexually active in the past 4 weeks before the survey. Among those, 89.6% had FSD. The median scores in the FSD group were significantly lower than those in the non-FSD group in all six domains, namely, desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference observed between participants with and without FSD in terms of age group, cancer-related data, or sexual behavior data, except participants who had good/excellent relationships with their partners, which impacted FSD (p = 0.01)., Conclusions: This study discovered the high prevalence (89.6%) of hidden issue of "female sexual dysfunction" in Thai gynecologic cancer survivors. The good/excellent relationships with their partners affected the FSD who were sexually active in the past 4 weeks before the survey., (© 2021 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Background and Aim: Metabolic disease encompasses most contemporary non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular and fatty liver disease. Mulberry fruits of Morus alba L. are a favoured food and a traditional medicine. While they are anti-atherosclerotic and reduce hyperlipidemic risk factors, studies need wider scope that include ameliorating cardiovascular and liver pathologies if they are to become clinically effective treatments. Therefore, the present study sought to show that freshly dried mulberry fruits (dMF) might counteract the metabolic/cardiovascular pathologies in mice made hyperlipidemic by high-fat diet (HF)., Experimental Procedure: C57BL/6J mice were fed for 3 months with either: i) control diet, ii) HF, iii) HF+100 mg/kg dMF, or iv) HF+300 mg/kg dMF. Body weight gain, food intake, visceral fat accumulation, fasting blood glucose, plasma lipids, and aortic, heart, and liver histopathologies were evaluated. Adipocyte lipid accumulation, autophagy, and bile acid binding were also investigated., Results and Conclusion: HF increased food intake, body weight, visceral fat, plasma total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), TC/HDL ratio, blood glucose, aortic collagen, arterial and cardiac wall thickness, and liver lipid. Both dMF doses prevented hyperphagia, body weight gain, and visceral fat accumulation, lowered blood glucose, plasma TG and unfavourable TC/HDL and elevated plasma HDL beyond baseline. Arterial and cardiac wall hypertrophy, aortic collagen fibre accumulation and liver lipid deposition ameliorated in dMF-fed mice. Clinical trials on dMF are worthwhile but outcomes should be holistic commensurate with the constellation of disease risks. Here, dMF should supplement the switch to nutrient-rich from current energy-dense diets that are progressively crippling national health systems., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (© 2021 Center for Food and Biomolecules, National Taiwan University. Production and hosting by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.)

Background: Nocturnal hypokinesia is a common symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD), negatively affecting quality of life of both patients and caregivers. However, evidence-based treatment strategies are limited., Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of rotigotine transdermal patch, using a wearable sensor, in the management of nocturnal immobility., Methods: 34 PD subjects with nocturnal immobility were randomized to receive rotigotine transdermal patch (mean ± SD of 10.46 ± 4.63 mg/24 h, n = 17) or placebo patch (n = 17). Treatment was titrated to an optimal dose over 1-8 weeks, then maintained for 4 weeks. Primary endpoints were objective parameters assessing axial rotation measured using an axial inertial sensor (the NIGHT-Recorder) over two nights at the patients' home. Scale-based assessments were also performed., Results: There was a significant difference, in favor of rotigotine, in change from baseline score in the number of turns in bed (ANCOVA, p = 0.001), and degree of axial turn (p = 0.042). These objective improvements were mirrored by significantly greater improvements in clinical scale-based assessments, including the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) total scores (p = 0.009), UPDRS-motor scores (p < 0.001), UPDRS-axial scores (p = 0.01), the Modified Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (p < 0.001), the Nocturnal Akinesia Dystonia and Cramp Scale (p = 0.003) and the eight-item PD Questionnaire (PDQ-8) scores (p = 0.01) from baseline to end of treatment in patients given rotigotine compared to placebo., Conclusion: We show that the rotigotine patch provides a significant improvement in nocturnal symptoms as assessed using both objective measures and clinical rating scales. The study demonstrates the feasibility of using wearable sensors to record objective outcomes in PD-related clinical trials., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype is important for identifying effective antiviral therapy, evaluating pathogenic severity, and tracking transmission routes. In Thailand, HCV genotypes 3 and 1 are the most common. We have previously demonstrated an increasing appearance of genotype 6 in HCV infections in Thailand. However, only limited epidemiological data on genotype 6 in Thailand are available. This study aimed to characterize HCV genotype 6 among apparently healthy Thai blood donors., Methods: In total, 240 blood samples were collected from Phitsanulok Regional Blood Center, Phitsanulok, Thailand. RNA was reverse transcribed and amplified by the nested polymerase chain reaction. HCV genotyping was performed by direct sequencing and phylogenetic tree analysis of core sequences. Amino acid polymorphism of various subtypes of HCV genotype 6 was investigated., Results: Of the 240 samples, 192 were successfully sequenced for the core region and 84 were determined to be of HCV genotype 6 by phylogenetic analysis. The most prevalent HCV-6 subtypes were 6f > 6n > 6c > 6i. Amino acid sequences of the partial core region among these four subtypes differed by one to seven residues., Conclusion: For HCV-6, the subtype 6f was commonly found in Thai blood donors. Comparison of core protein from various HCV-6 subtypes showed substantial polymorphisms, which may form the basis of future studies using samples from patients with clear HCV histories. This feature can be applied to therapies tailored to particular genotype variants., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Optimal care of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients should involve a multidisciplinary team (MDT) of which a PD nurse specialist (PDNS) is a key member. The role of a PDNS is particularly prominent in the care of advanced PD patients suitable for apomorphine because, in addition to nursing skills, apomorphine treatment requires liaison, training, interaction and coordination with patients, caregivers and other members of the MDT as well as the interface with primary care physicians. The therapeutic success of apomorphine therapy depends not only upon the pharmacologic drug response, but also on how well the patient understands his/her disease and how to handle the therapy. In this respect, a PDNS is a vital member of the MDT who provides education and training, support, and is available for consultation when problems arise. In this article, we review the literature on the contribution of PDNSs in both continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion and intermittent subcutaneous apomorphine injection and highlight the various beneficial aspects of PDNS care, supported by scientific evidence when available. Despite a low level of published evidence, there is strong clinical evidence that the impact of PDNSs on the management of apomorphine therapy is vital and indispensable for the success of this treatment., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important cause of liver dysfunction which continues to spread in Thailand, particularly as genotype 6. The NS5B gene fragment is particularly variable and thus provides a valuable tracker for its spread. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to characterize the HCV genotype 6 based on partial NS5B region using Thai blood donor samples. Twenty-nine samples were genotyped as HCV 6 by nested PCR, nucleotide sequencing and amino acid sequence analysis. Amplified products were identified as HCV genotypes 6f, 6c, 6n, and 6i. There were amino acid variations of 4-18 residues in subtypes 6f, 6c, and 6n whereas subtype 6i was conserved when compared with their referent strains. In subtypes 6f, 6c, 6n, and 6i, the amino acid mutations at positions 244, 309, and 310 which are associated with HCV resistance were present. In summary, the sequences and phylogenetic analysis of NS5B of HCV used in our study yielded the genotypes 6f, 6c, 6n, and 6i. This finding indicates diversity of amino acids in NS5B of HCV. Characterizing the partial NS5B region among hepatitis C virus genotype 6 subtypes may predict efficacious anti-HCV therapy. J. Med. Virol. 88:1785-1790, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

In January 2012, several clinical cases of dogs with flu-like symptoms, including coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and fever, were reported in a small-animal hospital located in Bangkok, Thailand. One influenza A virus was identified and characterized as an avian-like influenza virus H3N2. The virus was named A/canine/Thailand/CU-DC5299/12. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that the canine virus belonged to an avian Eurasian lineage and was genetically related to the canine influenza viruses H3N2 from China and Korea. This canine virus displays a unique genetic signature with two amino acid insertions in the NA protein, which is similar to the canine influenza viruses from eastern China (Zhejiang and Jiangsu). This study constitutes the first report of H3N2 canine influenza virus infection in a small-animal hospital in Thailand.