Schisanhenol Attenuates OxLDL-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction via an AMPK-Dependent Mechanism.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, commonly known as the formation of fibrofatty lesions in the artery wall, are the leading causes of death globally. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is one of the major components of atherosclerotic plaques. It is evident that dietary supplementation containing sources of antioxidants can prevent atherogenic diseases. Schisanhenol (SAL), a dibenzocyclooctene lignin, has been shown to attenuate oxLDL-induced apoptosis and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in endothelial cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still largely unknown. In this study, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were pre-treated with SAL and oxLDL. Our results showed that adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation was enhanced in cells pre-treated with SAL in time-dependent and dose-dependent manners. Subsequently, oxLDL-induced AMPK dephosphorylation and protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation were significantly reversed in the presence of SAL. In addition, SAL treatment led to an inhibiting effect on the oxLDL-induced membrane assembly of NADPH oxidase subunits, and a similar effect was observed in ROS generation. This effect was further confirmed using knockdown AMPK with small interfering RNA (siRNA) and pharmaceutical reagents, such as the AMPK activator (AICAR), PKC inhibitor (Gö 6983), and ROS inhibitor (DPI). Furthermore, the oxLDL-induced intracellular calcium rise and the potential collapse of the mitochondrial membrane reduced the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and released cytochrome c from the mitochondria, leading to the subsequent activation of caspase-3 in HUVECs, which were also markedly suppressed by SAL pretreatment. The results mentioned above may provide additional insights into the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the cardiovascular protective effects of SAL.

A Study on the Effects of Lateral-Wedge Insoles on Plantar-Pressure Pattern for Medial Knee Osteoarthritis Using the Wearable Sensing Insole.

Patients with knee osteoarthritis have a unique plantar-pressure pattern during walking, and lateral-wedge insoles are one of the treatment options. Participants were randomly assigned to either the lateral-wedge insole group or the ordinary insole group. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and plantar-pressure test scores were evaluated at the baseline and at 20 weeks. Plantar pressure data were collected using a pressure insole with 89 sensing locations. In the ordinary insole group, the function and total WOMAC scores decreased significantly (function score, 24.8 (baseline) to 16.5 (week 20); total score, 34.9 (baseline) to 24.6 (week 20)). During walking, the transverse width of the center of pressure as a percentage of foot width (%Trans) significantly increased in the ordinary insole group (baseline, 6.3%; week 20, 14.8%). In addition, the values of partial foot pressure as a percentage of body weight (%PFP) on the forefoot (baseline, 30.3%; week 20, 39.2%) and heel (baseline, 28.1%; week 20, 16.9%) also increased significantly in the ordinary insole group. Significant group-by-time interaction effects were observed for partial foot pressure per body weight in the forefoot (p = 0.031) and heel (p = 0.024). In the ordinary insole group, the plantar pressure on the heel significantly decreased (p = 0.011) and that on the forefoot significantly increased (p = 0.023). In contrast, plantar pressure remained stable in all regions in the lateral-wedge insole group. Thus, lateral-wedge insoles may protect against plantar pressure deterioration in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Shifted Firefighter Health Investigation by Personal Health Insurance Record in Taiwan.

INTRODUCTION: Taiwan's firefighters use a shift rotation system with 2 days of work and 1 day of rest. Numerous papers have already explored the risks of shift work to the body. However, little data concern the impact of shift work on health as reflected in medical visits. This study used individuals' medical visit record in Taiwan's health insurance system. The locally called "health bank" contains individuals' medical visit record, health insurance payment points and the medicine used. METHODS: Consent was obtained from 150 firefighters who were serving under the shift rotation system to obtain their 2015 individual "My Health Bank" medical data. Comparisons were made between national health insurance data norm. RESULTS: Firefighters make significantly more visits for Western medicine than the annual average (firefighters 6.27 vs norm 5.24, P = 0.04142), more total number of medical visits (9.57 vs 7.75, P = 0.0102), more annual average payment points for Western medicine (4079 vs 2741, P = 0.003151), and a greater average number of total annual medical visit points (7003 vs 4940, p = 0.0003157). Firefighters had significantly higher incidents of respiratory diseases, urogenital diseases, skin and subcutaneous tissue diseases, musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases, injuries, and illness from poisoning than did the norm (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: A persuasive health-survey-based method for workers in high occupational hazard industries was proposed in this study, and the result was highly correlated with risk factors of fireworkers. The proposed study method is potential to investigate risk factors of other working.

Obturator internus pyomyositis manifested as sciatica in a patient with subacute bacterial endocarditis: A rare case report.

Pyomyositis is a pyogenic infection of the skeletal muscles causing myalgia and fever in patients. Hematogenous seeding engendered by persistent bacteremia and septic embolism is usually the underlying cause of the disease. Trauma, intravenous drug use, and immunodeficiency are the main predisposing factors.Obturator internus pyomyositis with sciatica has not previously been reported. We report a rare case of a patient with subacute bacterial endocarditis presenting with left buttock pain and sciatica.Computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis of obturator internus pyomyositis. The patient was discharged uneventfully after successful antibiotic treatment.The mortality rate of patients who have pyomyositis comorbid with another condition or disease is extremely high. Early diagnosis and aggressive management are imperative.

Molecular interaction between caveolin-1 and ABCA1 on high-density lipoprotein-mediated cholesterol efflux in aortic endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: Caveolin-1 and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) are proteins that are involved in cellular cholesterol efflux. In this study, we analyzed the relationships between caveolin-1 and ABCA1 on high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-mediated cholesterol efflux in rat aortic endothelial cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Overexpression of caveolin-1 by transfection with caveolin-1 cDNA in aortic endothelial cells up-regulated ABCA1 expression and enhanced cholesterol efflux. Suppression of caveolin-1 by siRNA decreased ABCA1 expression and reduced cholesterol efflux. The number of caveolae increased after transfection with caveolin-1 into cells. Immunoprecipitation assays revealed a molecular interaction between caveolin-1 and ABCA1 in the plasma membrane and in the cytoplasm after HDL incubation. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that caveolin-1 colocalized with ABCA1 in the caveolae and in the cytoplasmic vesicles; it was also found that caveolin-1 and ABCA1 colocalized with cellular cholesterol by immunofluorescence microscopy. Blocking of intracellular lipid transport by inhibitors disrupted the interaction between caveolin-1 and ABCA1 and reduced cholesterol to methyl-beta-cyclodextrin and HDL. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular interaction between caveolin-1 and ABCA1 is associated with the HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux pathway in aortic endothelial cells.