Ixeris dentata (Thunb) Nakai attenuates cognitive impairment in MPTP-treated mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Purpose: To evaluate the cognition-enhancing effect of Ixeris dentata (Thunb) Nakai in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine)-induced mouse model of PD was used to evaluate the effect of Ixeris dentata (IDE) extract on the alteration of behavioral responses using rotarod and passive avoidance tests. The effect of IDE on oxidative stress levels were analyzed based on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme levels, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in brain tissues. Results: MPTP (20 mg/kg, ip)-induced mice resulted in a significant (p < 0.01) behavioral deficiencies in locomotor behavior (from 53.15 ± 1.01 to 23.56 ± 1.04) and cognitive functions (from 297 ± 2.47 to 201.17 ± 3.23 s) compared with their respective control groups. Administration of IDE (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg, po) for three weeks significantly and dose-dependently improved (p < 0.001 at 80 mg/kg) locomotor and cognitive deficits in MPTP- treated mice. IDE treatment also significantly (p < 0.01 at 80 mg/kg) inhibited decrease in superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities, and lipid peroxides in MPTP-treated mice in brain tissues. Conclusion: IDE exhibits good protection against MPTP-induced behavioral deficits via potential antioxidant defense mechanisms. Therefore, IDE could potentially be developed as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Keywords: Ixeris dentata, Neurodegenerative disease, MPTP, Parkinson's disease, Oxidative stres

Reliability of DEXA on Body Composition in Korean Athletes

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of DEXA for measuring body composition in Korean Athletes. METHODS: Twenty-nine athletes (n=29) registered for the college athlete program voluntarily participated in the study. Participants’ height and weight were measured, and BMI (Body Mass Index) was calculated before the participants’ body composition was measured. Muscle mass (kg), lean mass (kg), bone mineral density (BMC) (g·cm-2), and total fat mass (kg) of each participant was assessed by DEXA lunar DPX-L (GE Lunar, Madison, USA) for four times within a day to examine the difference by time frames. Four trials consist of ‘early in the morning × 2 with fasting’ with 30min break between two trials, ‘after lunch × 2’ with 30 min break between the two trials. Intra-class correlation (ICC) was conducted for overall reliability (p\u3c0.05) and a repeated measure ANOVA was performed to compare the difference of each trial (p\u3c0.05). RESULTS: The mean ± SD of muscle mass, lean mass, BMC, and fat mass was 56.4 ± 4.6kg, 59.4 ± 5.0kg, 2.3 ± 0.4g·cm-2, and 9.3 ± 4.8kg respectively. Each trail (mean ± SD) of muscle mass were 56.4 ± 4.7kg, 56.1 ± 4.8kg, 56.5 ± 4.6kg, and 56.4 ± 4.7kg, respectively, lean mass were 59.4 ± 5.1kg, 59.2 ± 5.1kg, 59.5 ± 5.0kg, and 59.4 ± 5.0kg, respectively, BMC were 3.0 ± 0.4g·cm-2, 3.0 ± 0.4g·cm-2, 3.0 ± 0.4g·cm- 2, and 3.0 ± 0.4g·cm-2, respectively, and fat mass were 9.3 ± 4.9kg, 9.2 ± 4.8kg, 9.3 ± 4.9kg, and 9.3 ± 4.9kg, respectively. Reliability of the ICC test showed strong agreement on muscle mass (r=0. 994 and p\u3c0.0001), lean mass (r=0. 995 and p\u3c0.0001), BMC (r=0. 995 and p\u3c0.0001), and fat mass (r=0. 998 and p\u3c0.0001). Cronbach’s alpha were 0.99 (muscle mass), 0.99 (Lean Mass), 0.99 (BMC), and 1.00 (Fat mass). No significant difference between each trial was observed in fat mass (p\u3e0.36). However, there was a significant difference in muscle mass (p\u3c0.001), lean mass (p\u3c0.001), and BMC (p\u3c0.04). CONCLUSION: Although all of the variables showed strong agreement on overall reliability from the ICC test, the reliability for the muscle mass, lean mass, and BMC showed significant differences in different time frame

The Educational Ministry of early Korean Colporteurs

The study of the history of Korean colporteurs is relevant to recreate their important role in the spread of education in Korea and their impact on the present, as well as to understand the intercultural influence and innovative approaches to education. The purpose of the article is to identify the educational activities of Korean colporteurs. In the course of the study, a number of methods of theoretical cognition were used, such as analysis, synthesis, comparison, specification and generalisation. As a result of the study, the following conclusions were reached: the colporteurs were the first to translate the Bible into Korean and played an important role in spreading Christian teaching and educational activities in Korea. Сolporteurs played a key role in training and supporting local colporteurs and new believers, providing them with education and training to become spiritual and educational leaders in an environment where the majority of the population rejected Christianity. Acting as intermediaries between foreign missionaries and Korean women, biblical women expanded the church’s influence and, with special training, were prepared to preach the Gospel and distribute the Bible to non-Christians, introducing new perspectives on the role of women in a society where Confucian tradition had limited their activities. Colporteurs also contributed to the preservation of the Korean language and culture in the face of Japanese colonisation by promoting and maintaining the Korean Hanguel writing system and facilitating the creation of a standard Korean language. This article will be useful for historians studying missionary activity in general, as well as for scholars studying the history of 19th-century Korea

Examining the Validity of Fitbit Charge HR \u3csup\u3eTM\u3c/sup\u3e for Measuring Heart Rate in Free-Living Conditions

Optical blood flow sensors (i.e. photoplethysmographic techniques) have recently been utilized in wearable activity trackers. The Fitbit Charge HRTM (FBHR) is one of the widely recognized wearable activity trackers that utilizes Fitbit’s proprietary PurePulse optical heart rate (HR) technology to automatically measure wrist-based HR. Despite its increasing popularity, however, no study to date has addressed the validity of FBHR for measuring HR in free-living conditions. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of FBHR for measuring HR using a chest strap Polar HR monitor (PHR) as a reference measure in free-living conditions. METHODS: Ten healthy college students (8 males; mean age = 26.5 ±5.4 years; mean body mass index (BMI) = 24.5 ±3.23 kg·m2) participated in the study. The participants were asked to perform normal daily activities for 8 hours in a day while wearing the PHR (model RS400) on their chest and two FBHRs on their dominant and non-dominant wrists, respectively. HR was recorded every minute and the minute-by-minute HR data from each monitor were synchronized by time of day. Pearson correlation was used to examine the linearity of average beats-per-minute (bpm) estimated from FBHRs with respect to the PHR. Mean differences in average bpm between the monitors were examined by a general linear model for repeated measures. Lastly, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of minute-by-minute bpm estimated from the FBHRs were calculated against the PHR. RESULTS: Average HRs (mean ±SD) for PHR, FBHR non-dominant, and FBHR dominant were 75.6 ±18.5 bpm, 72.8 ±16.7 bpm, and 73.9 ±17.06 bpm, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between the PHR and FBHR non-dominant and dominant were r=.805 and r=.793, respectively. MAPE were 9.17 ±10.9% for FBHR non-dominant and 9.71 ± 12.4% for FBHR HR dominant. ANOVA and post-hoc analyses with Bonferroni revealed significant differences in estimating HR from FBHR non-dominant wrist (p=.001) and FBHR dominant wrist (p=.001) compared to PHR monitor. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the wrist-oriented Fitbit Charge HRTM device does not provide an accurate measurement of HR during free-living condition in this study. However, further research is needed to validate these monitors with a larger sample with different population groups. Optical blood flow sensors (i.e. photoplethysmographic techniques) have recently been utilized in wearable activitytrackers. The Fitbit Charge HRTM (FBHR) is one of the widely recognized wearable activity trackers that utilizesFitbit’sproprietary PurePulse optical heart rate (HR) technology to automatically measure wrist-based HR. Despiteits increasing popularity, however, no study to date has addressed the validity of FBHR for measuring HR in free-living conditions. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the validity of FBHR for measuring HRusing a chest strap Polar HR monitor (PHR) as a reference measure in free-living conditions. METHODS: Tenhealthy college students (8 males; mean age = 26.5 ±5.4 years; mean body mass index (BMI) = 24.5 ±3.23kg·m2) participated in the study. The participants were asked to perform normal daily activities for 8 hours in a daywhile wearing the PHR (model RS400) on their chest and two FBHRs on their dominant and non-dominant wrists,respectively. HR was recorded every minute and the minute-by-minute HR data from each monitor weresynchronized by time of day. Pearson correlation was used to examine the linearity of average beats-per-minute(bpm) estimated from FBHRs with respect to the PHR. Mean differences in average bpm between the monitorswere examined by a general linear model for repeated measures. Lastly, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE)of minute-by-minute bpm estimated from the FBHRs were calculated against the PHR. RESULTS: Average HRs(mean ±SD) for PHR, FBHR non-dominant, and FBHR dominant were 75.6 ±18.5 bpm, 72.8 ±16.7 bpm, and73.9 ±17.06 bpm, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients (r) between the PHR and FBHR non-dominantand dominant were r=.805 and r=.793, respectively. MAPE were 9.17 ±10.9% for FBHR non-dominant and 9.71 ±12.4% for FBHR HR dominant. ANOVA and post-hoc analyses with Bonferroni revealed significant differences inestimating HR from FBHR non-dominant wrist (p=.001) and FBHR dominant wrist (p=.001) compared to PHRmonitor. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the wrist-oriented Fitbit Charge HRTM device does not providean accurate measurement of HR during free-living condition in this study. However, further research is needed tovalidate these monitors with a larger sample with different population groups

The Protein Kinase C Inhibitor Aeb071 (Sotrastaurin) Modulates Migration and Superoxide Anion Production by Human Neutrophils In Vitro

We examined the effect of the protein kinase C-selective inhibitor AEB071 (sotrastaurin) on neutrophil functions in vitro. Pre-incubation with AEB071 at concentrations similar to those reached during in vivo therapy significantly reduced cell capacity to migrate toward three different chemo-attractants and to produce superoxide anions (O2) in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or to iV-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP). AEB071 also significantly inhibited the O−2 "overproduction induced by fMLP in neutrophils primed with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) or granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). This inhibition was not linked to fMLP-receptor down-regulation since the drug had no effect on either fMLP-receptors or fMLP-induced CD11b membrane expression. When the activity of AEB071 was compared to that of the conventional protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Gö6850 (which, like sotrastaurin, inhibits classical and novel PKC isoforms), Gö6976 (an inhibitor of α and β PKC isoforms) and rottlerin (a prevailing δ PKC isoform inhibitor), AEB071 at an equimolar concentration of 3 μM (close to the maximum drug concentration reached in patients treated with AEB071) caused significantly more inhibition on both chemotactic response and superoxide production. These in vitro findings suggest that neutrophils may offer a cellular target for AEB071 activity in vivo

STAT1 and Nmi are downstream targets of Ets-1 transcription factor in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell

AbstractEts-1 is a cellular homologue of the product of the viral ets oncogene of the E26 virus, and it functions as a tissue-specific transcription factor. It plays an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, lymphoid cell development, transformation, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Ets-1 controls the expression of critical genes involved in these processes by binding to ets binding sites present in the transcriptional regulatory regions. Here, we transiently overexpressed Ets-1 in MCF-7 and comprehensively searched for potential downstream targets of Ets-1 by cDNA microarray analysis. The expressions of several interferon-related genes including STAT1 and Nmi were augmented by the overexpression of Ets-1. RT-PCR and Western blotting confirmed the increase in the levels of STAT1 and Nmi mRNA and protein. In contrast, Ets-1 siRNA decreased the expression of STAT1 and Nmi proteins. As in our transient transfection experiments, stable overexpression of Ets-1, also increased the protein expression of STAT1 and Nmi in MCF-7 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that STAT1 and Nmi are downstream targets of Ets-1 in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

Protective Mechanism of KIOM-4 in Streptozotocin-Induced Pancreatic β-Cells Damage Is Involved in the Inhibition of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis plays an important role in the destruction of pancreatic β-cells and contributes to the development of type 1 diabetes. The present study examined the effect of KIOM-4, a mixture of four plant extracts, on streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in rat pancreatic β-cells (RINm5F). KIOM-4 was found to inhibit STZ-induced apoptotic cell death, confirmed by formation of apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation. STZ was found to induce the characteristics of ER stress; mitochondrial Ca2+ overloading, enhanced ER staining, release of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), phosphorylation of RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) like ER kinase (PERK) and eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF-2α), cleavage of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and caspase 12, and upregulation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP). However, KIOM-4 attenuated these changes induced by STZ. Furthermore, KIOM-4 suppressed apoptosis induced by STZ in CHOP downregulated cells using CHOP siRNA. These results suggest that KIOM-4 exhibits protective effects in STZ-induced pancreatic β-cell damage, by interrupting the ER stress-mediated pathway

Monoclinic and Correlated Metal Phase in VO_2 as Evidence of the Mott Transition: Coherent Phonon Analysis

In femtosecond pump-probe measurements, the appearance of coherent phonon oscillations at 4.5 THz and 6.0 THz indicating the rutile metal phase of VO_2 does not occur simultaneously with the first-order metal-insulator transition (MIT) near 68^oC. The monoclinic and correlated metal(MCM) phase between the MIT and the structural phase transition (SPT) is generated by a photo-assisted hole excitation which is evidence of the Mott transition. The SPT between the MCM phase and the rutile metal phase occurs due to subsequent Joule heating. The MCM phase can be regarded as an intermediate non-equilibrium state.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure