Triterpenoid saponins in Aralia elata subjected to combined nutrient availability and light quality

Combined light spectra and nitrogen (N) availability may modify contents of triterpenoid saponins (TSs) in leaves of Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. In this study, A. elata seedlings were raised under light-emitting diode spectra in red- (26.6% red, 59.9% green, and 13.5% blue) and green-colours (12.6% red, 84.6% green, and 2.9% blue) both at a photosynthetic photon flux density of about 77.4 µmol m-2 s-1. N availability was employed at low and high rates of 30 and 90 mg kg-1, respectively. Aralosides-A and -VI did not show any responses to either light or N treatments (ranges of 1.98‒3.75 mg g-1 and 0.21‒1.41 mg g-1, respectively). Compared to the green light, the red light resulted in greater growth but lower foliar N assimilation and aralosides-B (~0.7 mg g-1) and -V concentrations (~16 mg kg-1). The high N availability resulted in greater growth, biomass, foliar chlorophyl and protein concentrations but lower N assimilation and TS concentrations. We conclude that araloside B can be taken as an objective TS harvested in A. elata food-used leaves as a bioactive compound that can be adjusted by light and N manipulations

Spleen-Yang-deficiency patients with polycystic ovary syndrome have higher levels of visfatin

AbstractObjectiveTo study serum visfatin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) grouped by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) patterns. To study the correlations of serum visfatin levels with homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), body mass index (BMI), testosterone (T), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG).MethodsTwo hundred and twelve PCOS patients were placed into the following TCM pattern subgroups: Kidney-Yang deficiency (KYD) group, Spleen-Yang deficiency (SYD) group, stagnant Liver-Qi transforming into heat (SLQTH) group, and Kidney-Yin deficiency (KYIND) group. The correlations between serum visfatin levels and HOMA-IR, FPG, FINS, BMI, T, TC, and TG were analyzed.ResultsOf all patients with PCOS, there were 82 in the KYD group (38.6%), 67 in the SYD group (31.6%), 37 in the SLQTH group (17.5%), and 26 in the KYIND group (12.3%). Visfatin levels in all PCOS subgroups were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Among these subgroups, the visfatin levels in the SYD group were significantly higher than those in the other three TCM pattern groups (P<0.05). There were no statistical differences among the remaining three pattern groups. The levels of BMI, FINS, HOMA-IR, T, and TG were significantly higher in all subgroups than those in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in FPG and TC between all PCOS subgroups and the control group (P>0.05). The SYD group had higher levels of FINS and HOMA-IR compared with the KYD, SLQTH, and KYIND groups (P<0.05). In all subgroups, after controlling for BMI, TG, TC, and age, visfatin was positively correlated with FINS (r= 0.197, P=0.015) and HOMA-IR (r=0.173, P=0.033), and was not correlated with T.ConclusionKYD and SYD patterns are most common in PCOS patients. Increased visfatin is a common pathophysiologic manifestation in PCOS patients. The SYD group had the highest levels of visfatin, and visfatin was positively correlated with FINS and HOMA-IR

Antitumor Effects of Berberine on Gliomas via Inactivation of Caspase-1-Mediated IL-1β and IL-18 Release

Gliomas arise in the glial cells of the brain or spine and are the most prevalent and devastating type of brain tumors. Studies of tumor immunology have established the importance of the tumor micro-environment as a driver of oncogenesis. Inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β and IL-18 released by monocytes regulate transcriptional networks that are required for malignant cell growth. Berberine is a natural botanical alkaloid that is widely found in the Berberis species. Although it has been widely used as an anti-diarrheal treatment in North America for several decades, our study is the first to investigate berberine as an anti-tumor agent in glioma cells. In this study, we demonstrate that berberine significantly inhibits inflammatory cytokine Caspase-1 activation via ERK1/2 signaling and subsequent production of IL-1β and IL-18 by glioma cells. Moreover, we found that berberine treatment led to decreased motility and subsequently cell death in U251 and U87 cells. In addition, our study is the first to indicate that berberine can reverse the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a marker of tumor invasion. Taken together, our work supports berberine as a putative anti-tumor agent targeting glioma cells

E-cardiac patch to sense and repair infarcted myocardium

Abstract Conductive cardiac patches can rebuild the electroactive microenvironment for the infarcted myocardium but their repair effects benefit by carried seed cells or drugs. The key to success is the effective integration of electrical stimulation with the microenvironment created by conductive cardiac patches. Besides, due to the concerns in a high re-admission ratio of heart patients, a remote medicine device will underpin the successful repair. Herein, we report a miniature self-powered biomimetic trinity triboelectric nanogenerator with a unique double-spacer structure that unifies energy harvesting, therapeutics, and diagnosis in one cardiac patch. Trinity triboelectric nanogenerator conductive cardiac patches improve the electroactivity of the infarcted heart and can also wirelessly monitor electrocardiosignal to a mobile device for diagnosis. RNA sequencing analysis from rat hearts reveals that this trinity cardiac patches mainly regulates cardiac muscle contraction-, energy metabolism-, and vascular regulation-related mRNA expressions in vivo. The research is spawning a device that truly integrates an electrical stimulation of a functional heart patch and self-powered e-care remote diagnostic sensor

Additional file 4 of Factors influencing and long-term effects of manual myotomy phenomenon during physiotherapy for congenital muscular torticollis

Additional file 4: Supplementary Table 1. Cheng-Tang rating scores between the MM and NMM group

Additional file 1 of Factors influencing and long-term effects of manual myotomy phenomenon during physiotherapy for congenital muscular torticollis

Additional file 1: Supplementary Figure 1. Images of the child in Case tw

Additional file 6 of Factors influencing and long-term effects of manual myotomy phenomenon during physiotherapy for congenital muscular torticollis

Additional file 6: Supplementary material 2. case tw

Additional file 5 of Factors influencing and long-term effects of manual myotomy phenomenon during physiotherapy for congenital muscular torticollis

Additional file 5: Supplementary material 1. case on