Search

Resveratrol is a natural phytoestrogen produced by plants to protect themselves from injury, UV irradiation, and fungal attack. The main active structure is E-resveratrol, which has many pharmacological activities. As the structure of resveratrol is similar to the natural estrogen 17β-estradiol and the synthetic estrogen E-diethylstilbestrol, resveratrol is used in reducing the incidence of breast cancer. However, the therapeutic application of resveratrol is limited due to its low bioavailability. To improve its bioavailability and pharmacological activity, some resveratrol derivatives have been designed and synthesized by substitutions of methoxy, hydroxyl, and other functional groups or heterocyclic esterification either on the "A" or "B" ring, and double bonds were replaced by imine bonds and isometric heterocycles such as naphthyl and imidazole, or synthetic resveratrol oligomers. The structures, synthetic routes, and evaluation of the biological activities of these compounds are discussed. These are aimed at providing some references for the study of resveratrol derivatives in anti-breast cancer treatment.

Small bowel enteral nutrition (SBEN) may improve nutrient delivery to critically ill patients intolerant of gastric enteral nutrition. However, the optimal time and target for evaluating SBEN efficacy are unknown. This retrospective cohort study investigates these parameters in 55 critically ill patients at high nutrition risk (modified NUTRIC score &ge, 5). Daily actual energy intake was recorded from 3 days before SBEN initiation until 7 days thereafter. The energy achievement rate (%) was calculated as follows: (actual energy intake/estimated energy requirement) &times, 100. The optimal time was determined from the day on which energy achievement rate reached &gt, 60% post-SBEN. Assessment results were as follows: median APACHE II score, 27, SOFA score, 10.0, modified NUTRIC score, 7, and median time point of SBEN initiation, ICU day 8. The feeding volume, energy and protein intake, and achievement rate (%) of energy and protein intake increased significantly after SBEN (p &lt, 0.001). An energy achievement rate less than 65% 3 days after SBEN was significantly associated with increased mortality after adjusting for confounding factors (odds ratio, 4.97, 95% confidence interval, 1.44&ndash, 17.07). SBEN improves energy delivery in critically ill patients who are still at high nutrition risk after 1 week of stomach enteral nutrition.

Rationale Cryptococcosis is a significant life-threatening fungal infection in worldwide, mainly reported in immunocompromised patients. Pleural effusion presentation of cryptococcal infection as the only clinical presentation is rarely seen in pulmonary cryptococcosis, which may lead to be misdiagnosed, and the study on this subject will provide further insights. Patient concerns A 64-year-old man was hospitalized in our department and diagnosed as hepatic B cirrhosis. A computed tomography (CT) of the thorax showed a massive right pleural effusion without pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities. He was started on empirical treatment for pleural tuberculosis (TB). However, during his hospitalization, a right pleural effusion developed and fever was not controlled. Diagnoses On day 14 admission, pleural fluid cultured positive for Cryptococcus neoformans. The C neoformans isolate belonged to ST5 and molecular type VNI (var. grubii). Interventions The patient was diagnosed with cryptococcal pleuritis, then amphotericin B and fluconazole were administrated. Outcomes Finally, the patient was improved and discharged from our hospital. Lessons Similar cases in cryptococcal pleuritis patients with pleural effusion as the only clinical presentation in the literature are also reviewed. Through literature review, we recommend that pleural effusion cryptococcal antigen test should be used to diagnose cryptococcal pleuritis to reduce misdiagnosis. The early administration of antifungal drug with activity to Cryptococcus seemed beneficial in preventing dissemination of cryptococcosis.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of non-pharmacological staged interventions on fatigue and dyspnoea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 64 patients in a tertiary hospital in China from 2010 to 2011. Patients were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 32), who received routine care, and the intervention group (n = 32), who received additional non-pharmacological staged interventions. The Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory and the five-grade Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale were used to collect data at baseline and after 6 weeks. Compared with the control group, patients in the intervention group had significantly lower scores on general fatigue (P

The influence of applying an electric field (EF) treatment (1 kV/cm, 50 Hz) on a brandy stored in a 5-L oak barrel to simulate the industry application during 180 days was investigated in this paper. The compositions in the EF-treated and control brandy sample including tannins, total phenols, volatile phenols, esters as well as unpleasant compounds were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and solid phase micro-extraction along with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results showed that after being treated by EF the content of most beneficial materials on brandy quality such as tannins, total phenols, volatile phenols as well as esters was increased while the content of some harmful compounds (acetaldehyde, acetal, and higher alcohols) was decreased. The amounts of acetaldehyde and higher alcohols on treated sample were 7.1% and 10.5% lower than the control one, respectively. On the other hand, the content of tannins and total phenols in brandy treated for 180 days was significantly higher than the control sample. Therefore, it was demonstrated that the maturation process and esterification in oak barrel brandy was enhanced and the quality of the brandy was improved by EF treatment. The application of electric field treatment directly on oak barrel is a promising and feasible technology to accelerate brandy maturation.

We previously reported that, in rodents, a diet with a high oxidised frying oil (OFO) content leads to glucose intolerance associated with a reduction in insulin secretion. The present study aimed at investigating the impairment of pancreatic islets caused by dietary OFO. C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups to receive a low-fat basal diet containing 5 g/100 g of fresh soyabean oil (LF group) or a high-fat diet containing 20 g/100 g of either fresh soyabean oil (HF group) or OFO (HO group). After 8 weeks, mice in the HO group showed glucose intolerance and hypoinsulinaemia, and their islets showed impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (P v. LF and HF groups). Significantly higher oxidative stress and a lower mitochondrial membrane potential were observed in the islets in the HO group compared with the LF and HF groups. Immunoblots showed that the reduction in insulin levels in HO islets was associated with activation of the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and a reduction in levels of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox factor-1. In a second study, when dietary OFO-induced tissue vitamin E depletion was prevented by large-dose vitamin E supplementation (500 IU(1·06 mmol all-rac-α-tocopherol acetate)/kg diet; HO+E group), the OFO-mediated reduction in islet size and impairment of glucose tolerance and insulin secretion were significantly attenuated (P v. HO+E group). We conclude that a high level of dietary OFO ingestion impairs glucose metabolism by causing oxidative damage and compromising insulin secretion in pancreatic islets, and that these effects can be prevented by vitamin E supplementation.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between intellectual capital and firm performance for pharmaceutical industry in Taiwan. As we know, the intellectual capital has becoming the main resource for creating companies’ value and the competitiveness of an enterprise. R&D productivity is often considered as the key success factor for creating firms’ value of pharmaceutical industry. The 252 firm-year observations of this research are collected from companies of pharmaceutical industry listed on Taiwan Stock Exchange and Gre Tai Securities Market dated from 2007 through 2013. Financial data of this research is collected from Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ) database. I find evidence revealing that there is a positive correlation between intellectual capital and firm performance.

Oxidized frying oil (OFO) activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor a (PPAR alpha) in vitro and in vivo. As most PPARalpha activators are also peroxisome proliferators (PP), this study was aimed at exploring whether OFO induces peroxisome proliferation in the liver of rats. Four groups of male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed the following diets for 6 wk: a basal diet containing 5 g/100 g fresh soybean oil (LSB), high-fat diets containing 20 g/100 g of fresh soybean oil (HSB as a control). OFO (HO) or fish oil (HF, as a positive control). Hepatomegaly and peroxisome proliferation in the liver of the HO group of rats were higher than those of the HF group. In addition, the acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO) activity, as well as cytochrome P450 4A (CYP4A) protein content in the livers of the HO group were 6 fold those of the HSB group, but were 2.5 fold in those of the HF group. These results indicated that dietary OFO induced typical responses to PPARalpha signaling. Moreover. as a dietary source, the OFO prepared under our frying conditions appears to be a more potent peroxisome proliferator than fish oil.

Rational: Infective endocarditis caused by a foreign body of the upper digestive tract is rare. We report a rare case of Granulicatella adiacens and Candida albicans coinfection acute endocarditis combined with systematic embolization caused by a fish bone from the esophagus penetrating into the left atrium. Patient concern: A 42-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever, abdominal pain, headache, and right limb weakness. Diagnoses: Clinical examination indicated endocarditis and systemic embolisms secondary to a fish bone from the esophagus penetrating into the left atrium. The emergency surgery confirmed the diagnosis. Cultures of blood and vegetation show G adiacens and C albicans. Interventions: Antimicrobial therapy lasted 6 weeks after surgery. Outcomes: The patient was discharged with excellent condition7 weeks after hospitalization and was well when followed 6 months later. Lessons: The successful treatment of this patient combines quick diagnosis, timely surgery, and effective antimicrobial regimen. This rare possibility should be kept up in mind in acute infective endocarditis cases.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and obesity are important public health concerns. Because obesity may initiate and/or accelerate kidney damage, weight control may benefit CKD patients.We examined the influence of dietary management and physical exercise in 38 obese CKD patients with or without target reduction of body weight 3% or more from baseline.After a 2-month lifestyle intervention program, those with target body weight control had significant improvement of blood pressure control, as well as reduced lipid profiles, serum creatinine level (1.1 ± 0.3 vs. 0.8 ± 0.3; P.001), estimated glomerular filtration rate (75.9 ± 21.2 vs. 104.9 ± 38.1; P.001), and proteinuria (76.3% vs. 50.0%; P = .02). They had greater improvement in cardiorespiratory endurance in an 800-m running test (375.1 ± 64.7 vs. 327.1 ± 84.0 seconds; P = .001), better abdominal muscle strength and endurance in a timed sit-up test (13.6 ± 9.1 vs. 19.9 ± 9.2 number/minute; P = .005), and greater flexibility in a sit-and-reach test (18.8 ± 10.9 vs. 27.8 ± 10.9 cm; P.001) comparing baseline and postintervention values.A combination of dietary management and exercise were associated with improvements in health-related physical fitness, cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure and lipid control), and renal profiles in obese CKD patients. Supportive individualized programs for lifestyle change could exert beneficial effects, but long-term research with a larger patient population is needed to elucidate the optimal effective combination of dietary management and exercise.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and obesity are important public health concerns. We examined the influence of dietary management and physical exercises on renal function, lipid profiles and exercise tolerance of a group of CKD patients. We enrolled 45 obese patients with CKD from stage 1 to 3b with tailored by regular dietitian consultation, recommendations of adequate daily protein and caloric intake, and physical exercises for body weight (BW) reduction. The target was BW reduction ≥ 3%. Thirty eight obese CKD patients completed the study and 24 patients reached the target. Patients who reached the target was significant larger in total body fat decrement than those who failed (3.0% vs 0.5%, p = 0.003). In addition, total muscle mass, especially on trunk and lower limbs (1.2% vs 0%, P = 0.026) was significant decreased in patients who reached the target compared to those who failed. The laboratory data disclosed the significant reduction of Chol (0.7% vs. -19.3%; P = 0.007), LDL-C ( 3.7% vs. -37.6%; P < 0.001), and UA (0% vs. -0.8%; P = 0.025) between the two groups. The cardiorespiratory endurance to complete 800 meters run (375.1 ± 64.7 sec vs. 327.1 ± 84.0 sec; P = 0.001), abdominal muscle strength and endurance by times of sit-ups (13.6 ± 9.1 number/min vs. 19.9 ± 9.2; P = 0.005), and flexibility of the lower back by sit and reach (18.8 ± 10.8 cm vs. 27.8 ± 10.9 cm; P< 0.001) of the patients who reached the target were improved significantly after 2-months of physical exercise training and education.We conclude that combination of dietary management and exercises are effective in improving health-related physical fitness, blood pressure control, dyslipidemia and renal function in overweight or obese CKD patients. Supportive individualized programs for lifestyle change could exert beneficial effects. A longitudinal study with larger sample size is warranted to elucidate the efficacy of combination of dietary management and exercises.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antiadiposity effect of bitter melon seed oil (BMSO), which is rich in the cis-9, trans-11, trans-13 isomer of conjugated linolenic acid. In Expt. 1, C57BL/6J mice were fed a butter-based, high-fat diet [HB; 29% butter + 1% soybean oil (SBO)] for 10 wk to induce obesity. They then continued to receive that diet or were switched to an SBO-based, high-fat diet alone (HS; 30% SBO) or containing bitter melon seed oil (BMSO) (HBM; 15% SBO + 15% BMSO) for 5 wk. The body fat percentage was significantly lower in mice fed the HBM diet (21%), but not the HS diet, compared with mice fed the HB diet. In Expt. 2, mice were fed an SBO-based, high-fat diet containing 0 (HS), 5 (LBM), 10 (MBM), or 15% (HBM) BMSO for 10 wk. In the LBM, MBM, and HBM groups, the body fat percentage was significantly lower by 32, 35, and 65%, respectively, compared with the HS control. The reduction in the HBM group was significantly greater than that in the LBM or MBM group. BMSO administration increased phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase, cAMP-activated protein kinase (PKA), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in the white adipose tissue (WAT), suggesting that PKA and leptin signaling might be involved in the BMSO-mediated reduction in lipogenesis and increase in thermogenesis and lipolysis. However, compared with the HS control, the HBM group had a significantly higher TNFα concentration in the WAT accompanied by TUNEL-positive nuclei. We conclude that BMSO is effective in attenuating body fat accumulation through mechanisms associated with PKA activation and programmed cell death in the WAT, but safety concerns need to be carefully addressed.

To investigate the relationship of post transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) to active human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and to preoperative hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection respectively.The clinical data of 75 patients with liver transplantation was collected to analyze the association of PTDM with active HCMV infection and preoperative HBV infection.The incidence of PTDM was 17.3% (13/75). The incidence of PTDM in the patients with active HCMV infection after liver transplantation was 23.1% (12/52) significantly higher than that of the patients without active HCMV infection (4.3%, 1/23, P0.05). The incidence of PTDM in the patients with preoperative HBV infection was 21.1%, not significantly different from that of the patients without infection (5.6%, P0.05).PTDM may be related to active HCMV infection after liver transplantation, and unrelated to preoperative HBV infection.

Dystonia musculorum (dt) is a mutant mouse with hereditary neuropathy where the dysfunction is mainly found in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons but not in the spinal motor neurons. However, the accumulation of intermediate filament (IF) proteins in the swelling axons of spinal motor neurons could be found in dt/dt mice. In order to understand the pathological role of neuronal IFs in the swelling axons of spinal motor neurons from dt/dt mice, we extensively examined the distribution of neuronal IF proteins. By immunofluorescence staining, our results indicated that α-internexin was a major component in the swelling axon and showed abnormal translocation in the nuclei of spinal motor neurons in dt/dt mice. This abnormal translocation of α-internexin in the nuclei of spinal motor neurons was also confirmed by Western blotting and immunoelectron microscopy. Instead of the 10-nm filamentous structure, a diffuse immunopositive pattern of α-internexin was observed in the nucleus of spinal motor neurons in dt/dt mutants. We further examined the cell death of spinal motor neurons by TUNEL assay, and no TUNEL-positive cells could be identified from spinal motor neurons in dt/dt mice. From these observations we suggest that abnormal accumulation of neuronal IFs in the swelling axons and abnormal translocation of α-internexin in the nuclei of the spinal motor neurons from dt/dt mice may not directly cause cell death of the spinal motor neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 507:1053–1064, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The mast cell is one of the immune cells, and can be triggered behaviorally to increase in the CNS of the sexually active dove. In the present study, we used ICR mice to investigate the number of brain mast cells in mated (one male with three female mice), non-mated (housed with female mice, but no mating) and control (four male mice housed together in one cage) male mice. We found that at least 40% of mated male mice had significant more mast cells than the maximum value seen in the controls, and that a significant correlation existed between the distribution index of mast cells and the postcoitum date. These mast cells were especially numerous in the thalamus and velum interpositum (VIP). Morphological observations showed that the increased mast cells were ultrastructurally similar to those in the controls, and displayed gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-like immunoreactivity. Based on the facts that the number of brain mast cells in the male mice increased significantly after mating and that the change in the distribution of mast cells in the VIP and the thalamic parenchyma correlated well with time postcoitum, we speculate that, after mating, mast cells may migrate from the VIP to the thalamic parenchyma along the vascular tree of the brain. These results strongly suggest that mast cells are involved in the interaction among the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems in the mated male mouse brain.

Based on sequence variation in the N-terminus of the UL55 gene, which encodes glycoprotein B (gB), human cytomegalovirus (CMV) can be classified into four gBn genotypes. We assessed the distribution of CMV gBn genotypes and the correlation between CMV gBn DNA (detected by real-time PCR) and CMV-positive pp65 cells (identified by immunohistochemical staining) in a cohort of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. The distribution of gB genotypes was as follows: gBn1, 60% of patients; gBn2, 13.3%; mixed gBn1 and gBn3 infection, 26.7%; and gBn4 and other mixed infections, 0%. CMV gBn1 was the most common genotype. The detected level of CMV gB DNA correlated well with the number of CMV-positive pp65 cells detected by immunostaining (r = 0.585).

We used [99mTc]EHIDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy to determine whether both hepatic bile secretion and gallbladder contractility are suppressed in acromegalic patients receiving long-term treatment with the somatostatin analogue octreotide. We studied three groups of patients: group 1, untreated patients; group 2, average dose of octreotide 500 +/- 100 micrograms/day for 33 +/- 4 months; and group 3, 1000 +/- 200 micrograms/day for 33 +/- 4 months. Images were taken at specified time intervals during the 120-min period following injection of EHIDA. After a single injection of octreotide, group 1 patients demonstrated delayed visualization of the radioisotope in the liver, gallbladder, and duodenum. At the end of long-term treatment, group 2 patients showed a delay in appearance of maximal radioactivity in the gallbladder. Two weeks following discontinuation of octreotide, this parameter had decreased significantly (P < 0.001). In group 3, visualization of the liver, gallbladder, and duodenum were prolonged, with delayed visualization of the gallbladder persisting two weeks after withdrawal (P < 0.005). These results indicate that gallbladder contractility is decreased after a single injection of octreotide and that during chronic octreotide therapy the rate of bile secretion is reduced. Impaired gallbladder contractility normalizes more rapidly after discontinuation of octreotide in patients receiving low doses of the analog.

1. The endocytic pathway of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was investigated in the perikarya of cultured neurons by electron microscopy and enzyme cytochemistry. The tracer was observed in endocytic pits and vesicles, endosomes, multivesicular bodies, and lysosomes. It took approximate 15 min for the transfer of HRP from the exterior of the cell to the lysosomes. 2. Monensin induced distension of the Golgi apparatus and formation of intracellular vacuoles. When neurons were incubated with both monensin and HRP for 30 to 120 min, the number of HRP-labeled endosomes was greater than that in the monensin-free group, whereas the reverse was seen for HRP-positive lysosomes. The formation of HRP-positive lysosomes in monensin-treated cells was blocked by 47 to 79%. 3. These results indicate that the intracellular transport of the endocytosed macromolecule is pH dependent. It is also possible that the export of lysosomal enzymes is inhibited by monensin, resulting in an accumulation of the endosomes and a reduction of the lysosomes.