A Synergistic Anti-Diabetic Effect by Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 through Adipogenic and Insulin Signaling Pathways in 3T3-L1 Cells

Although ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 have been identified as the significant ginsenosides found in red ginseng that confer anti-diabetic actions, it is unclear whether insulin-sensitizing effects are mediated by the individual compounds or by their combination. To determine the effect of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 on adipocyte differentiation, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were induced to differentiate the standard hormonal inducers in the absence or presence of ginsenosides Rb1 or Rg3. Additionally, we determined the effects of Rb1, Rg3, or their combination on the expression of genes related to adipocyte differentiation, adipogenic transcription factors, and the insulin signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 cells using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Rb1 significantly increased the expression of CEBP alpha, PPAR gamma, and aP2 mRNAs. However, Rg3 exerted its maximal stimulatory effect on these genes at 1 mu M concentration, while a high concentration (50 mu M) showed inhibitory effects. Similarly, treatment with Rb1 and Rg3 (1 mu M) increased the expression of IRS-1, Akt, PI3K, GLUT4, and adiponectin. Importantly, co-treatment of Rb1 and Rg3 (9:1) induced the maximal expression levels of these mRNAs. Our data indicate that the anti-diabetic activity of red ginseng is, in part, mediated by synergistic actions of Rb1 and Rg3, further supporting the significance of minor Rg3

Cervical Facet Joint Injections in the Neck and Shoulder Pain

The effects from cervical facet joint injections in those patients who have been complaining cervical zygapophyseal joint pain were compared. The patients were diagnosed originally as myofascial pain syndrome (MPS), cervical herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), and whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Patients with the zygapophyseal joints pain of C5-6 and C6-7 were classified by their pain origin as MPS, HNP, and WAD. All patients had been undergone cervical zygapophyseal joints injections with the mixture of lidocaine and triamcinolone unilaterally or bilaterally through the posterior approach under C-arm imaging guide. The therapeutic effects were compared with reduction of numeric rating scale (NRS) of pain before and immediately after blockade and symptom-free periods in each group after 12 months. Symptom durations before injections were 16.1±9.6, 4.6±1.9 and 4.1±1.1 months in each MPS, HNP, and WAD groups. The reductions of NRS immediately after the blockade among the three groups were not different. However, the symptom-free duration after blockade lasted longer in the HNP group than the other two groups. In patients with cervical zygapophyseal pain syndromes, the analgesic effect from cervical facet joint blocks lasted longer in cervical HNP than MPS or WAD

Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and Facet Joint Block

It is surprising that about 24% of patients with benign osteoporotic vertebral fracture die within a year from respiratory infection and urinary tract infection because of coughing and voiding difficulties, depending on the sites of compression fractures. We reviewed 500 patients on whom percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) was performed, at 612 levels in terms of patient selection, operation technique, medication, and clinical outcomes during the follow-up course for 2 yr study period. To confirm the most painful level among the multiple fracture sites, physical examination after facet joint block under the fluoroscope was the most reliable method. The mean total lumbar spine fracture threshold of bone mineral density was 0.81±0.05 g/cm2. The mean changes of numeric rating scale scores, Oswestry Disability Index except sex life, and Karnofsky performance status were -72.00, -83.50 and +60.62% in the osteoporosis group and -51.89, -45.02, and 69.03% in the tumor group. Complications related to the procedure were lateral spinal cord damage, transient paresthesia and transient hypotension. PVP with facet joint block is a profitable method for the vertebral compression fracture because of low risk and short duration of procedure with a high chance to result in pain relief and early mobilization

TRAIL Enhances Apoptosis of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Sensitized by Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Therapeutic Implications

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes chronic liver diseases leading to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver failure. We have previously shown that HCV sensitizes hepatocytes to mitochondrial apoptosis via the TRAIL death receptors DR4 and DR5. Although TRAIL and its receptors are selective targets for cancer therapy, their potential against HCC with chronic HCV infection has not been explored yet. Here we show that HCV induces DR4/DR5-dependent activation of caspase-8 leading to elevation of apoptotic signaling in infected cells and also present TRAIL effect in HCV-induced apoptotic signaling. HCV induced proteolytic cleavage of caspase-9 by stimulating DR4 and DR5, resulting in subsequent cleavage of caspase-3. Further, HCV-induced proteolytic cleavage in caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3 was enhanced in the presence of recombinant TRAIL. HCV-induced cleavage in caspase-9 and increase in caspase-3/7 activity was completely suppressed by silencing of either DR4 or DR5. Perturbing DR4/DR5-caspase-8 signaling complex by silencing DR4 and DR5 or by chemical inhibitor specific to caspase-8 led to decrease of HCV-induced cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), a substrate for caspase-3 during apoptosis, indicating the functional role of caspase-8 in HCV-induced apoptotic signaling network. Furthermore, TRAIL enhanced PARP cleavage in apoptotic response induced by HCV infection, indicating the effect of TRAIL for the induction of selective apoptosis of HCC cells infected with HCV. Given the importance of apoptosis in HCC development, our data suggest that HCV-induced DR4 and DR5 may be considered as an attractive target for TRAIL therapy against HCC with chronic HCV infection

Classification of rice (oryza sativa l. japonica nipponbare) immunophilins (fkbps, cyps) and expression patterns under water stress

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>FK506 binding proteins (FKBPs) and cyclophilins (CYPs) are abundant and ubiquitous proteins belonging to the peptidyl-prolyl <it>cis/trans </it>isomerase (PPIase) superfamily, which regulate much of metabolism through a chaperone or an isomerization of proline residues during protein folding. They are collectively referred to as immunophilin (IMM), being present in almost all cellular organs. In particular, a number of IMMs relate to environmental stresses.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>FKBP and CYP proteins in rice (<it>Oryza sativa </it>cv. Japonica) were identified and classified, and given the appropriate name for each IMM, considering the ortholog-relation with <it>Arabidopsis </it>and <it>Chlamydomonas </it>or molecular weight of the proteins. 29 FKBP and 27 CYP genes can putatively be identified in rice; among them, a number of genes can be putatively classified as orthologs of <it>Arabidopsis </it>IMMs. However, some genes were novel, did not match with those of <it>Arabidopsis </it>and <it>Chlamydomonas</it>, and several genes were paralogs by genetic duplication. Among 56 IMMs in rice, a significant number are regulated by salt and/or desiccation stress. In addition, their expression levels responding to the water-stress have been analyzed in different tissues, and some subcellular IMMs located by means of tagging with GFP protein.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Like other green photosynthetic organisms such as <it>Arabidopsis </it>(23 FKBPs and 29 CYPs) and <it>Chlamydomonas </it>(23 FKBs and 26 CYNs), rice has the highest number of IMM genes among organisms reported so far, suggesting that the numbers relate closely to photosynthesis. Classification of the putative FKBPs and CYPs in rice provides the information about their evolutional/functional significance when comparisons are drawn with the relatively well studied genera, <it>Arabidopsis </it>and <it>Chlamydomonas</it>. In addition, many of the genes upregulated by water stress offer the possibility of manipulating the stress responses in rice.</p

A Korean patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome following acute hepatitis E whose cholestasis resolved with steroid therapy

Autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging pathogen in developed countries, and several cases of acute HEV infection have been reported in South Korea. However, there have been no reports on HEV-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in Korea. We recently experienced the case of a 58-year-old Korean male with acute HEV infection after ingesting raw deer meat. Persistent cholestasis was resolved by the administration of prednisolone. At 2.5 months after the clinical presentation of HEV infection, the patient developed weakness of the lower limbs, and was diagnosed with GBS associated with acute hepatitis E. To our knowledge, this is the second report on supportive steroid therapy for persistent cholestasis due to hepatitis E, and the first report of GBS in a Korean patient with acute HEV infection

The Multifunctional Building of Passive Standard

Import 26/02/2015Tato diplomová práce je zaměřena na vyprojektování multifunkčního domu, ve kterém bude zajištěno strojní větrání a zajištěno vytápění pomocí alternativního zdroje tepla. Multifunkční dům podsklepený a má čtyři nadzemní podlaží s pochozí terasou. Objekt je navržen ze sortimentu firmy Porotherm. Funkčně je navržen tak, že v prvním podzemním podlaží se nachází technické zázemí a kóje bytů, první nadzemní podlaží tvoří dvě nezávislé prodejní plochy. Ve druhém patře jsou umístěny kancelářské prostory. Druhou horní polovinu objektu , třetí a čtvrté nadzemní podlaží, tvoří bytové jednotky. Základním kamenem pro nutnou výměnu vzduchu v objektu jsou tři vzduchotechnické systémy, které se starají o dodávku a výměnu vzduchu ve třech celcích. První celkem je jednotka pro prodejní plochy v prvním nadzemním podlaží a kancelářské prostory ve druhém nadzemním podlaží. Druhá jednotka má na starosti byty ve třetím a čtvrtém podlaží a poslední, třetí, jednotka zajišťuje přívod čerstvého vzduchu do společných prostor a odvod odpadního vzduchu do exteriéru. Všechny jednotky jsou vybaveny rekuperátorem. V objektu je také řešeno vytápění pomocí alternativních zdrojů. Jako alternativní zdroje energie jsou použity tepelné čerpadlo vzduch – voda a solární kolektory. Tepelné čerpadlo se stará o pokrytí tepelných ztrát prostupem, větráním a přípravou teplé vody. Solární kolektory umístěné na terase pomáhají s ohřevem teplé vody v objektu.This Master thesis is focused on the projection Multifunctional building, which will ensure mechanical ventilation and heating ensured by using alternative heat sources. Multifunctional building basement and has four floors with walkable terrace. The building is designed from company Porotherm. Functionally, it is designed so that on the first floor there is a technical background and cubicle apartments, first floor consists of two independent sales area. On the second floor there are office spaces. The second half of the upper house, the third and fourth floors, consists of residential units. The cornerstone for the necessary air exchange in the building are three air handling systems that are responsible for the delivery and exchange of air in three units. The first is the total unit sales area on the first floor and office space on the second floor. The second unit is in charge of flats in the third and fourth floors and the last third unit provides fresh air to the common area and the exhaust to the exterior. All units are equipped with a recuperator. There is also heating solutions using alternative sources. As alternative energy sources are used heat pump air - water and solar collectors. The heat pump takes care of the cover heat losses through transmission, ventilation and hot water. Solar collectors located on the terrace help with hot water in the building.Prezenční229 - Katedra prostředí staveb a TZBvýborn

Reassessing the post-Last Glacial Maximum retreat history from the Southwest Ross Sea

Constraining the timing of the retreat of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) Antarctic Ice Sheet in the Ross Sea provides insights into the processes controlling marine-based ice sheet retreat. The over-deepened Ross Sea continental shelf is an ideal configuration for marine ice-sheet instability, and this region was thought to be one of the largest Antarctic contributors to post-LGM sea level rise. However, the chronology and pattern of retreat of the LGM ice sheet in the Ross Sea is largely constrained by coastal records along the Transantarctic Mountain front in the Western Ross Sea. Although these offer more reliable dating techniques than marine sediment cores, they may be influenced by local glaciers derived from East Antarctic outlet glaciers. Consequently, these coastal records may be ambiguous in the broader context of retreat in the central regions of the Ross Sea. However, previous studies have inferred that records in this region retreated in a north to south pattern, and was fed by ice sourced from the central Ross Sea – with the implication that broader ice sheet retreat in the central Ross Sea occurred as late as the mid Holocene. We present two lines of evidence that counter this established interpretation of the pattern of retreat in the Ross Sea: 1) a sedimentary facies succession and foraminifera-based radiocarbon chronology from within the Ross Sea embayment that indicates glacial retreat and open marine conditions to the east of Ross Island was already in place before 8.6 cal ka BP, at least 1 kyr earlier than indicated by terrestrial records in McMurdo Sound; and 2) a new multibeam swath bathymetry data that identifies well-preserved glacial features indicating thick (>700m) marine-based ice derived from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) coastal outlet glaciers dominated the ice sheet input into the southwestern Ross Sea during the last phases of glaciation – and thus may have acted independent of any ice in the central Ross Sea embayment. Comparing these data to new modelling experiments, we hypothesize that marine-based ice sheet retreat was triggered by oceanic forcings along most of the Pacific Ocean coastline of Antarctica, but continued early Holocene retreat into the inner shelf region of the Ross Sea occurred primarily as a consequence of marine ice sheet instability. Keywords: Ross Sea, deglaciation, Last Glacial Maximum, Holocen