American Ginseng Modifies 137Cs-Induced DNA Damage and Oxidative Stress in Human Lymphocytes

The multifold bioactive medicinal properties of ginseng have been closely linked to its antioxidative ability, which is related to its ginsenoside content. Since the key mechanism of radiation-induced cell death and tissue damage is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that attack cellular DNA, this study focuses on the impact of a standardized North American ginseng extract (NAGE) on 137Cs-induced oxidative stress in human peripheral lymphocytes (PBL) obtained from 10 healthy individuals (6M/4F), 42.7 ± 4.6 years of age. At two different time points (0 h and 24 h before irradiation), we applied NAGE (250 - 1000 µg ml-1) to mononuclear cell cultures for cytokinesisblock micronuclei (MN) assay and determination of the state of oxidative stress in PBL. We found that at both time points, NAGE significantly reduced the MN yields in PBL after irradiation (1 and 2 Gy) in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.001). Compared with radiation alone, the maximum reduction rate of MN yield were 51.1% and 49.1% after 1 Gy and 2 Gy exposures, respectively. We also found that before irradiation the presence of NAGE in the culture medium resulted in a significant increased intracellular total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in PBL. At both time points, the increment of 137Cs-induced MN yields in PBL was positively correlated with the increment of intracellular ROS production (R = 0.6 - 0.7, P = 0.002), but negatively correlated with the reduction of TAC levels (R = -0.4 - 0.5, P = 0.02 - 0.004). However, the presence of NAGE in the culture medium significantly increased the TAC levels, while concomitantly decreasing both ROS production and MN yields in PBL (P<0.001). Our findings that NAGE is effective in protecting human PBL against radiation-induced oxidative stress should encourage further in vivo study of dietary supplementation with NAGE as an effective natural radiation countermeasure. Originally published Open Nuclear Medicine Journal Vol 1 No. 1, 2009

Radioprotective Effect of American Ginseng on Human Lymphocytes at 90 Minutes Post-irradiation: A Study of 40 Cases

Backgroundâ Ionizing radiation (IR) initiates intracellular oxidative stress through enhanced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that attack DNA leading to cell death. As the diversity of IR applied in medicine, agriculture, industry, and the growing threats of global terrorism, the acquisition of radioprotectors is an urgent need for the nation. However, the applicability of radioprotectors currently under investigation is limited due to their inherent toxicity. Objectiveâ This study investigated the effect of a standardized North American ginseng extract (NAGE, total ginsenoside content: 11.7%) on DNA damage in human lymphocytes at 90 min postirradiation. Designâ With the application of NAGE (250 â 1000 μg mlâ 1) at 90 min post-irradiation (1 and 2 Gy), DNA damage in lymphocytes obtained from 40 healthy individuals was evaluated by cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. Similar experiments were also performed in lymphocytes treated with WR-1065 (1 mM or 3mM). In addition, before and after irradiation, lymphocytes obtained from 10 individuals were measured for their total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the reactive oxygen species (ROS). Resultsâ The significant effect of NAGE against 137Cs-induced MN in lymphocytes is concentration-dependent. NAGE (750 μg mlâ 1) reduced MN yield by 50.7% after 1 Gy and 35.9% after 2 Gy exposures, respectively; these results were comparable to that of WR-1065. Further, we also found that NAGE reduces MN yield and ROS but increases TAC in lymphocytes. Conclusionsâ Our results suggest that NAGE is a relatively non-toxic natural compound that holds radioprotective potential in human lymphocytes even when applied at 90 min post-irradiation. One of the radioprotective mechanisms may be mediated through the scavenging of free radicals and enhancement of the intracellular TAC. Originally published Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Vol. 16, No. 5 2010

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Multi-messenger Observations of a Binary Neutron Star Merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ∼ 1.7 {{s}} with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of {40}-8+8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 {M}ȯ . An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ∼ 40 {{Mpc}}) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One-Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ∼10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ∼ 9 and ∼ 16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC 4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta.</p

Effects of Isoflurane Anesthesia on Post-Anesthetic Sleep-Wake Architectures in Rats

The sleep homeostatic response significantly affects the state of anesthesia. In addition, sleep recovery may occur during anesthesia, either via a natural sleep-like process to occur or via a direct restorative effect. Little is known about the effects of isoflurane anesthesia on sleep homeostasis. We investigated whether 1) isoflurane anesthesia could provide a sleep-like process, and 2) the depth of anesthesia could differently affect the post-anesthesia sleep response. Nine rats were treated for 2 hours with ad libitum sleep (Control), sleep deprivation (SD), and isoflurane anesthesia with delta-wave-predominant state (ISO-1) or burst suppression pattern-predominant state (ISO-2) with at least a 1-week interval. Electroencephalogram and electromyogram were recorded and sleep-wake architecture was evaluated for 4 hours after each treatment. In the post-treatment period, the duration of transition to slow-wave-sleep decreased but slow wave sleep (SWS) increased in the SD group, but no sleep stages were significantly changed in ISO-1 and ISO-2 groups compared to Control. Different levels of anesthesia did not significantly affect the post-anesthesia sleep responses, but the deep level of anesthesia significantly delayed the latency to sleep compared to Control. The present results indicate that a natural sleep-like process likely occurs during isoflurane anesthesia and that the post-anesthesia sleep response occurs irrespective to the level of anesthesia