Attenuated Cardiac Mitochondrial-Dependent Apoptotic Effects by Li-Fu Formula in Hamsters Fed with a Hypercholesterol Diet

Apoptosis involves in the pathogenesis of various cardiac abnormalities. This study intends to evaluate the effects of Li-Fu formula on cardiac apoptosis induced by hyper-cholesterol diet. Twenty-four male Golden Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into Control, Cholesterol and Li-Fu formula groups. Histopathological analysis, western blotting and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays were performed to measure the effects of Li-Fu formula on left ventricle. Significantly reduced TUNEL-positive cells and mitochondria- dependent apoptosis were observed in the left ventricle of hamsters from Li-Fu formula group compared to the Cholesterol group. Additionally, induced cardiac insulin like growth factor I receptor (IGFIR)-dependent survival pathway was detected in the Li-Fu formula group compared to the Cholesterol group. Besides, minor fibrosis, increased collagen deposition, and myofibril disarray was detected in the Cholesterol group, whereas the reductions of collagen deposition and myofibril disarray were observed in the Li-Fu formula group. This study demonstrated that Li-Fu formula not only reduced the mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and fibrosis, but also enhanced the IGF-I survival pathway in the left ventricle from high cholesterol-fed hamsters. We suggest the protective effects of Li-Fu formula on cardiac apoptosis and therapeutic potentials against cardiovascular disease

Ameliorate Effects of Li-Fu Formula on IL-6-Mediated Cardiac Hypertrophy in Hamsters Fed with a Hyper-Cholesterol Diet

Hypercholesterolemia diets are considered as major sources to cause cardiac hypertrophy. This study intends to evaluate the effects of Li-Fu formula on cardiac hypertrophy induced by hypercholesterolemia diet. Twenty-four male Golden Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into control, cholesterol and Li-Fu formula groups and fed with different experimental diets for 2 months. Histopathological analysis and western blotting were performed to measure the myocardial architecture, and various cardiac hypertrophy-associated molecules in the excised left ventricle from hamsters. The ratios of whole heart weight/body weight (BW) and left ventricle weight/BW were significantly higher in the cholesterol group but significantly lower in the Li-Fu formula group. The protein levels of both atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide were significantly increased in the cholesterol group but significantly reduced in the Li-Fu formula group. Additionally, significantly increased interleukin-6, STAT3, MEK5, p-ERK5 and non-cardiomyocyte proliferate signal molecules such as p-MEK and p-ERK, were detected in the cholesterol group but significantly reduced in the Li-Fu formula group. Notably, no significant variations of inflammatory signaling molecules, including p-P38 and p-JNK, were detected in all groups. Our experimental results demonstrated the significant reductions of cardiac hypertrophy and related eccentric hypertrophy signaling, non-cardiomyocyte proliferate signaling in the excised left ventricle of hamsters from the Li-Fu formula. We suggested the protective effects of Li-Fu formula on cardiac hypertrophy that may be useful in prevention or treatment of hypertrophy-associated cardiovascular diseases

The S subunit of D-ornithine aminomutase from Clostridium sticklandii is responsible for the allosteric regulation in D-α-lysine aminomutase

[[abstract]]Ornithine and lysine are degraded in quite a similar way in Clostridium sticklandii. Both pathways involve adenosylcobalamin-dependent enzymes, d-ornithine 4,5-aminomutase and lysine 5,6-aminomutase. According to previous reports, lysine 5,6-aminomutase is an ATP-dependent allosteric enzyme with many different activators and inhibitors. However, recent studies indicate that ATP does not have a regulatory effect on the recombinant enzyme. To monitor the activity of lysine aminomutase, a novel capillary electrophoresis-based assay method was developed. The present results demonstrate that the S subunit of d-ornithine aminomutase, OraS, is capable of forming a complex with KamDE of lysine 5,6-aminomutase and restores the enzyme's ATP-dependent allosteric regulation. Not only does ATP lower the K(m) of the KamDE-OraS complex for adenosylcobalamin and pyridoxal phosphate, but also OraS protein alone lowers the K(m) of KamDE for adenosylcobalamin and pyridoxal phosphate. The activity of reconstituted enzyme can also be activated by ammonium ion as reported by Morley and Stadtman.[[notice]]補正完畢[[journaltype]]國外[[incitationindex]]SCI[[booktype]]紙本[[booktype]]電子版[[countrycodes]]GB

Association of ABO Incompatibility With Red Blood Cell Indices of Cord Blood Unit

Maternal–fetal ABO incompatibility is one of the causes of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. We postulate that hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), and red blood cell (RBC) values for cord blood units (CBUs) are lower and erythroblast values higher for maternal–fetal ABO incompatible dyads than for compatible dyads. Objective: We investigated the relationship between Hb, Hct, RBC, and erythroblast CBU values and maternal–fetal ABO blood type compatibility. Methods: Mothers having blood group O who gave birth to infants with blood group A, B, or AB were classified as Group I. According to baby’s blood group, the members of Group I were further divided into AO (baby group A, mother group O), BO (baby group B, mother group O), and ABO (baby group AB, mother group O) subgroups. Mothers having blood group A who gave birth to infants with blood group B or AB and mothers having blood group B who gave birth to infants with blood group A or AB were classified as Group II. All other maternal–fetal blood type pairs were considered ABO compatible and were classified as Group III. We compared mean Hb, Hct, RBC, and erythroblast values for the infants’ CBUs among these three groups including the subgroups of Group I. Results: Group I had lower mean Hb, Hct, and RBC values than Group II and Group III (both p < 0.001). Although the mean Hb, Hct, and RBC values for Group II were lower than for Group III, the difference was not statistically significant. Mean Hb and RBC for the AO group were higher and nucleated RBC (nRBC) ratios were lower than for the BO group; however, these differences were also not statistically significant. Interestingly, the mean Hct value of the BO group was significantly lower than that of the AO group (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Group A or B neonates with a group O mother have lower mean Hb, Hct, and RBC values for CBUs than other neonates. The role of RBC indices in predicting neonatal hemolytic hyperbilirubinemia remains unclear and further studies are needed to identify the possible clinical association

Association of Processed Meat Intake with Hypertension Risk in Hemodialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

<div><p>In this cross-sectional study, we hypothesized that hemodialysis patients consuming greater processed meat is associated with hypertension risk, which can be partly explained by the high sodium content in processed meat. From September 2013 to May 2014, one hundred and four patients requiring chronic hemodialysis treatment were recruited from hemodialysis centers. Data on systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure before receiving dialysis, and 3-day dietary records of the recruited patients were collected. HD patients with systolic and diastolic blood pressures greater than140 mmHg and higher than 90 mmHg, respectively, were considered hypertension risk. Protein foods were divided into 4 categories: red meat, white meat, soybeans, and processed meat (e.g., sausage and ham). In a model adjusted for energy intake and hypertension history, additional servings of processed meats was positively associated to systolic blood pressure >140 mmHg (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.1 [1.0–4.3]), and diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg (odds ratio: 2.5 [1.2–5.5]). After adjustment for dietary sodium contents or body mass index (BMI), most associations were substantially attenuated and were no longer significant. In systolic blood pressure greater than140 mmHg, one serving per day of red meats (β = -1.22, <i>P</i> < .05) and white meats (β = -0. 75, <i>P</i> = .05) was associated with a reduced risk compared with one serving per day of processed meats. Similarly, compared with one serving per day of processed meat, a reduced risk of diastolic blood pressure higher than 90 mmHg was associated with one serving per day of red meat (β = -1. 59, <i>P</i> < .05), white meat (β = -0. 62, <i>P</i> < .05). Thus, in these hemodialysis patients, intake of processed meat is significantly positively associated with higher blood pressure risk, and both sodium contents in processed meat and BMI significantly contributes to this association.</p></div

Chemical Constituents and Bioactive Principles from the Mexican Truffle and Fermented Products of the Derived Fungus Ustilago maydis MZ496986

To look in-depth into the traditional Mexican truffle, this study investigated the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of field-collected corn galls and the fermentate of its pathogen Ustilago maydis MZ496986. Here, we established the chemical profiles of both materials via the gradient HPLC-UV method and successfully identified six previously unreported chemical entities, ustilagols A–F (1–6), and 17 known components. Compounds 3, 5, and 9 exhibited potent nitric oxide production inhibitory activities in murine brain microglial BV-2 cells (IC50 = 6.7 ± 0.5, 5.8 ± 0.9, and 3.9 ± 0.1 μM) without cytotoxic effects. DIMBOA (9) also attenuates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated NF-κB activation in RAW 264.7 macrophages (IC50 = 58.1 ± 7.2 μM). Ustilagol G (7) showed potent antiplatelet aggregation in U46619-stimulated human platelets (IC50 = 16.5 ± 5.3 μM). These findings highlighted the potential of corn galls and U. maydis MZ496986 fermentate as functional foods for improving inflammation-related discomforts and vascular obstruction

Changes in risk of inflammation and hypertension corresponding to substitution of one serving of processed meat with that of other protein foods

<p>* p < 0.05</p><p>† p = 0.05.</p><p>Changes in risk of inflammation and hypertension corresponding to substitution of one serving of processed meat with that of other protein foods</p

Loss of DAB2IP in RCC cells enhances their growth and resistance to mTOR-targeted therapies

Targeted therapies using small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs) are commonly used in metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) patients; patients often develop drug resistance and eventually succumb to disease. Currently, understanding of mechanisms leading to SMIs resistance and any identifiable predictive marker(s) are still lacking. We discovered that DAB2IP, a novel Ras-GTPase-activating protein, was frequently epigenetically silenced in RCC, and DAB2IP loss was correlated with the overall survival of RCC patients. Loss of DAB2IP in RCC cells enhances their sensitivities to growth factor stimulation and resistances to SMI (such as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors). Mechanistically, loss of DAB2IP results in the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/RSK1 and phosphoinositide-3 kinase/mTOR pathway, which synergizes the induction of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2 alpha expression. Consequently, elevated HIF-2 alpha suppresses p21/WAF1 expression that is associated with resistance to mTOR inhibitors. Thus combinatorial targeting both pathways resulted in a synergistic tumor inhibition. DAB2IP appears to be a new prognostic/predictive marker for mRCC patients, and its function provides a new insight into the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance to mTOR inhibitors, which also can be used to develop new strategies to overcome drug-resistant mRCC.1110sciescopu