A pilot study to evaluate the effect of Taeumjowi-tang on obesity in Korean adults: study protocol for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity, which is described as excessive or abnormal body fat, increases the risk of diet-related diseases. In Korea and around the world, the prevalence of obesity has grown annually from 1998 to 2008. This growth has continued despite various therapeutic efforts. The discovery of new and alternative treatments for obesity should be considered an important priority. Taeumjowi-tang (TJ001), a traditional Korean medicinal extract consisting of eight herbs, is a widely used herbal remedy for obesity in Korea. However, the efficacy and safety of TJ001 have not been fully investigated in a clinical trial. The purpose of this pilot study is to estimate obesity-related parameters and to assess the efficacy and safety of TJ001.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Our study is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre clinical trial of Taeumjowi-tang (TJ001). For this study, we will recruit obese Korean patients of both sexes, ages 18 to 65 years, from four university hospitals. A total of 104 subjects will be recruited. The participants will receive either 7 g of TJ001 or a placebo three times daily for 12 weeks. The primary end point will be the rate of subjects who lose at least 5% of their baseline body weight. The secondary end points will be changes in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist/hip circumference ratio, lipid profiles, body fat composition, blood pressure, fasting glucose concentration, C-reactive protein and questionnaires related to the quality of life. The outcomes will be measured every 4 weeks. The study period will be 12 weeks and will include a total of five visits with each subject (at screening and at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of our study will inform various estimates of TJ001 and will serve as the basis for a larger-scale trial. This study will assess the efficacy and safety of TJ001 as an alternative herbal remedy for obesity.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN87153759">ISRCTN87153759</a></p

What does the structure-function relationship of the HIV-1 Tat protein teach us about developing an AIDS vaccine?

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) trans-activator of transcription protein Tat is an important factor in viral pathogenesis. In addition to its function as the key trans-activator of viral transcription, Tat is also secreted by the infected cell and taken up by neighboring cells where it has an effect both on infected and uninfected cells. In this review we will focus on the relationship between the structure of the Tat protein and its function as a secreted factor. To this end we will summarize some of the exogenous functions of Tat that have been implicated in HIV-1 pathogenesis and the impact of structural variations and viral subtype variants of Tat on those functions. Finally, since in some patients the presence of Tat-specific antibodies or CTL frequencies are associated with slow or non-progression to AIDS, we will also discuss the role of Tat as a potential vaccine candidate, the advances made in this field, and the importance of using a Tat protein capable of eliciting a protective or therapeutic immune response to viral challenge

ISSN exercise & sport nutrition review: research & recommendations

Sports nutrition is a constantly evolving field with hundreds of research papers published annually. For this reason, keeping up to date with the literature is often difficult. This paper is a five year update of the sports nutrition review article published as the lead paper to launch the JISSN in 2004 and presents a well-referenced overview of the current state of the science related to how to optimize training and athletic performance through nutrition. More specifically, this paper provides an overview of: 1.) The definitional category of ergogenic aids and dietary supplements; 2.) How dietary supplements are legally regulated; 3.) How to evaluate the scientific merit of nutritional supplements; 4.) General nutritional strategies to optimize performance and enhance recovery; and, 5.) An overview of our current understanding of the ergogenic value of nutrition and dietary supplementation in regards to weight gain, weight loss, and performance enhancement. Our hope is that ISSN members and individuals interested in sports nutrition find this review useful in their daily practice and consultation with their clients

Screening for Celiac Disease in Growth Retarded Children with or without Chronic Diarrhea: a Study on Children in Kerman/Iran

Abstract: Background & Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the yield of screening for celiac disease in children with failure to thrive and with or without chronic diarrhea. Methods: In this prospective study, 144 children aged 1-14 years and weighed below the fifth percentile with or without chronic diarrhea were studied during six months in 2010. Sample collection was done in the private office of one of the researchers, health care clinics, schools, and subspecialty clinic of Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman/ Iran. Screening was done by measuring anti-tissue transglutaminase IgG antibody test (tTG test). All positive cases underwent upper endoscopy with pediatric Pentax video endoscope. Definitive diagnosis was made by doing small intestine biopsy and histological study. Results: Mean weight and age of children were respectively 14 ± 4.2kg and 6 ± 3.3 years. One third of subjects had diarrhea. Positive tTG test was observed in 11.1% of children. Celiac was confirmed in all seropositive subjects by intestinal biopsy. Therefore, the predictive value of tTG test was 100%. There was no significant relationship between the prevalence of celiac and variables of age (p=0.445), sex (p=0.859) and chronic diarrhea (p=0.137). Conclusion: Regarding the relatively high prevalence of celiac disease in growth retarded children (11.1%), and high sensitivity (100%) of tTG test found in the present study, screening of growth retarded children with or without chronic diarrhea for celiac disease seems logical. Keywords: Celiac disease, Chronic diarrhea, Serology, Failure to thriv

Measurement of isomeric yield ratios of the Ag-104m,Ag-g,Ag-106m,Ag-g in the 45-and 55-MeV bremsstrahlung induced reactions of natural silver

The isomeric yield ratios for the Ag-nat(gamma,xn)Ag-104m,Ag-g,Ag-106m,Ag-g reactions with the end-point bremsstrahlung energies of 45- and 55-MeV have been determined by the off-line gamma-ray spectrometric technique using 100 MeV electron linac at Pohang accelerator laboratory, Korea. The present data were compared with literature data in comparable compound nucleus from the Ag-nat(gamma,xn), Pd-nat(p,xn), and Rh-103(alpha,xn) reactions to examine the effects of an excitation energy and an input angular momentum. It is observed that the isomeric yield ratios of Ag-104,Ag-106 in Ag-nat(gamma,xn), Pd-nat(p,xn) and Rh-103(alpha,xn) reactions increase with the end-point bremsstrahlung energy, proton and alpha energy, which indicate the role of excitation energy. It is also found that for the similar compound nucleus at same excitation energy, the isomeric yield ratio of Ag-104m,Ag-g is higher in the Pd-nat(p,xn) and Rh-103(alpha,xn) reactions than those in Ag-nat(gamma,xn) reaction, which indicate the effect of an input angular momentum.X1166sciescopu