Effects of Z-Isomerization on the Bioavailability and Functionality of Carotenoids: A Review

Carotenoids, the most common fat-soluble plant pigments in nature, are beneficial to human health due to their strong antioxidant activities and abilities to prevent various diseases. Carotenoids have many geometrical isomers forms caused by E/Z-isomerization at arbitrary sites within the multiple conjugated double bonds. Several studies have addressed that the bioavailability as well as the antioxidant, anticancer, and antiatherosclerotic activities of carotenoids varies among the isomers. In addition, those variations differ among carotenoids: Z-isomerization resulted in “positive” or “negative” effect for carotenoids bioavailability and functionality, for example, Z-isomers of lycopene are more bioavailable than the all-E-isomer, whereas the opposite is observed for β-carotene. Thus, to efficiently promote the beneficial effects of carotenoids by ingestion, it is important to have a good understanding of the impact of E/Z-isomerization on the corresponding functional changes. The objective of this contribution is to review the effects of carotenoid Z-isomerization on bioavailability and functionality and describe their differences among carotenoids

Clinical outcome of tapered wedge stem

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results and intraoperative or postoperative complications of primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a contemporary tapered wedge titanium femoral component. A total of 213 THAs in 187 patients were followed up more than 5 years (mean, 102 months ; range, 60-150). The mean age at surgery was 64.2 years (range, 20–89 years). These patients were clinically evaluated using the JOA scoring system and radiographically host bone reactions around the implants, as well as femoral loosening. The mean JOA score improved from 49 (range, 21–75) to 92 (range, 59–100). All 12 patients with poor results (JOA < 75) coexisted with cerebral, spinal, joint, and musculoskeletal disorders. At the final follow-up, implant survival was 100%. Complications occurred in 23 hips. They consisted of 12 hips with intra-operative fractures, 2 hips with sciatic nerve palsy, one hip with infections, 3 hips with recurrent dislocations, and 8 hips with aseptic cup loosening. In conclusion, we have shown excellent survival rate of the contemporary tapered wedge stem in primary THA ; however, patients with coexisting diseases could not acquire sufficient improvement in hip function and ambulatory ability

The true fraction of repeating fast radio bursts revealed through CHIME source count evolution

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are classified into repeaters and non-repeaters, with only a few percent of the observed FRB population from the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) confirmed as repeaters. However, this figure represents only a lower limit due to the observational biases, and the true fraction of repeaters remains unknown. Correcting for these biases uncovers a notable decline in apparently non-repeating FRB detection rate as the CHIME operational time increases. This finding suggests that a significant portion of apparently non-repeating FRBs could in fact exhibit repetition when observed over more extended periods. A simple population model infers that the true repeater fraction likely exceeds 50% with 99% confidence, a figure substantially larger than the observed face value, even consistent with 100%. This greater prevalence of repeaters had previously gone unnoticed due to their very low repetition rates ($\sim$10$^{-3.5}$ hr$^{-1}$ on average). Hence, theoretical FRB models must incorporate these low-rate repeaters. Furthermore, our results indicate a significantly higher repeater volume number density, potentially exceeding observed values by up to 10$^4$ times, which in turn impacts comparisons with potential FRB progenitors.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, submitted to MNRA

The role of trefoil factor family in apparently healthy subjects administrated gastroprotective agents for the primary prevention of gastrointestinal injuries from low-dose acetylsalicylic acid: a preliminary study

It is well-known that acetylsalicylic acid induces gastrointestinal complication. Recently, trefoil factor family has been reported as a mucosal protective factor. We focused on trefoil factor family as one of defensive system for gastrointestinal injuries. The aim of this trial was to evaluate trefoil factor family levels in the serum of healthy subjects with low-dose acetylsalicylic acid. Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid with placebo or proton pump inhibitor or rebamipide were administered in 30 healthy subjects. Transnasal endoscopy was performed at 0, 24 h, 3 and 7 day. Changing of trefoil factor family (1,2,3) and numbers of gastric injuries were evaluated. The numbers of gastric injuries were significantly increased in the placebo group at 3 and 7 days. Injuries in the proton pump inhibitor group were not induced, in the rebamipide group were slightly induced. Trefoil factor family level in the placebo group were decreased in 3 and 7 days compared with prior to starting the trial. Trefoil factor family may have an important association with acetylsalicylic acid-induced gastrointestinal damage. Proton pump inhibitor and rebamipide prevented low-dose acetylsalicylic acid-induced gastrointestinal complications compared with the placebo group