The Beneficial Effects of Principal Polyphenols from Green Tea, Coffee, Wine, and Curry on Obesity.

Several epidemiological studies and clinical trials have reported the beneficial effects of green tea, coffee, wine, and curry on human health, with its anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and neuroprotective properties. These effects, which have been supported using cell-based and animal studies, are mainly attributed to epigallocatechin gallate found in green tea, chlorogenic acid in coffee, resveratrol in wine, and curcumin in curry. Polyphenols are proposed to function via various mechanisms, the most important of which is related to reactive oxygen species (ROS). These polyphenols exert conflicting dual actions as anti- and pro-oxidants. Their anti-oxidative actions help scavenge ROS and downregulate nuclear factor-κB to produce favorable anti-inflammatory effects. Meanwhile, pro-oxidant actions appear to promote ROS generation leading to the activation of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase, which modulates different enzymes and factors with health beneficial roles. Currently, it remains unclear how these polyphenols exert either pro- or anti-oxidant effects. Similarly, several human studies showed no beneficial effects of these foods, and, by extension polyphenols, on obesity. These inconsistencies may be attributed to different confounding study factors. Thus, this review provides a state-of-the-art update on these foods and their principal polyphenol components, with an assumption that it prevents obesity.

Beneficial Effects of Tea and the Green Tea Catechin Epigallocatechin-3-gallate on Obesity.

Green tea has been shown to have beneficial effects against cancer, obesity, atherosclerosis, diabetes, bacterial and viral infections, and dental caries. The catechin (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has shown the highest biological activity among green tea catechins (GTCs) in most of the studies. While several epidemiological studies have shown the beneficial effects of tea and GTCs on obesity, some studies have failed to do this. In addition, a large number of interventional clinical studies have shown these favorable effects, and cellular and animal experiments have supported those findings, and revealed the underlying anti-obesity mechanisms. One of the mechanisms is enhanced cellular production of reactive oxygen species, which is mediated through the pro-oxidant action of EGCG, leading to the activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, which suppresses gene and protein expression of enzymes and transcription factors involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis, and stimulates those involved in lipolysis. Recently, scientific evidence supporting the beneficial anti-obesity effects of green tea and GTCs has been increasing. However, future investigations are still required to clarify the reasons for the inconsistent results reported in the human studies; to achieve this, careful adjustment of confounding factors will be required.

Anti-inflammatory Action of Green Tea.

BACKGROUND: Green tea has been shown to have beneficial effects against a variety of diseases such as cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases. Through cellular, animal, and human experiments, green tea and its major component, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory effects. Our previous findings have indicated that green tea and EGCG suppress the gene and/or protein expression of inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-related enzymes. METHODS: Using bibliographic databases, particularly PubMed (provided by the http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, United States), we examined the potential usefulness of green tea/EGCG for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases in human clinical and epidemiological studies. We also reviewed results from cellular and animal experiments and proposed action mechanisms. RESULTS: Most of the results from the human studies indicated the beneficial effects of green tea and tea catechins against inflammatory diseases. The cellular and animal studies also provided evidence for the favorable effects of green tea/EGCG. These results are compatible with our previous findings and can be largely explained by a mechanism wherein green tea/EGCG acts as an antioxidant to scavenge reactive oxygen species, leading to attenuation of nuclear factor-κB activity. CONCLUSION: Since green tea and EGCG have multiple targets and act in a pleiotropic manner, we may consider their usage to improve the quality of life in patients with inflammatory disease. Green tea and EGCG have beneficial health effects and no severe adverse effects; however, care should be taken to avoid overdosage, which may induce deleterious effects including hepatic injury.

Histological Distinction between the Granular and Nongranular Types of Laterally Spreading Tumors of the Colorectum.

Colorectal laterally spreading tumors (LSTs), which are classified into granular (LST-G) and nongranular (LST-NG) types, are a good indication for endoscopic treatment. In practice, the nongranular type is more difficult to remove endoscopically than the granular type. It might be assumed that some histological differences exist between these subtypes. The objective of this study was to analyze histological features of laterally spreading tumors and compare between the granular and the nongranular types. A total of 32 cases of LSTs resected endoscopically being intramucosal tumors with no previous treatment were analyzed. The disposition of the muscularis mucosae, the vascular density, and the degree of fibrosis of the submucosal layer were determined. The outline of the muscularis mucosae in LST-NG was almost flat, but that of LST-G was wavy. The submucosal vascular density was significantly greater in the LST-NGs (61.4 ± 24.3/mm(2)) than in the LST-Gs (43 ± 22.4/mm(2); P = 0.033). There was no clear difference in the degree of submucosal fibrosis between the subtypes. A flat disposition of the muscularis mucosae and a more densely vascularized submucosal layer were characteristics of LST-NGs compared to the LST-Gs. These findings may play a role when performing the endoscopic resection of LSTs.

Prospective clinical trial of traction device-assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection of large superficial colorectal tumors using the S-O clip.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) allows en bloc resection of superficial colorectal tumors regardless of size. However, ESD is technically difficult, hazardous, and time consuming. New devices may help overcome these drawbacks. We focused on traction methods and designed a new traction device, the "S-O clip." Its main advantage is that it allows direct visualization of the cutting line during submucosal dissection. Moreover, it can be used at any location without withdrawing the endoscope. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of traction device-assisted ESD for large colorectal tumors using the S-O clip. METHODS: Between August 2010 and December 2011, ESD was performed in 70 patients with a superficial colorectal tumor ≥20 mm in diameter in our department. Patients were randomized into two groups: 27 cases in the S-O clip-assisted ESD group and 23 cases in the conventional ESD group. Included in the analysis were patient's gender and age, tumor form, size, and location, rate of en bloc resection, procedure time, presence or absence of intraoperative perforation or delayed bleeding, and pathological findings. Subgroup analysis stratified by these factors and multivariate analyses were conducted. RESULTS: In the S-O clip-assisted ESD group, all 27 tumors were resected en bloc without any complications. Although a micro perforation occurred in one patient in the conventional ESD group, further surgical treatment was not required. None of the other 22 cases in the conventional ESD group experienced complications. The mean procedure time for the S-O clip-assisted ESD group was significantly shorter than for the conventional ESD group (37.4 ± 32.6 vs. 67.1 ± 44.1 min, p = 0.03). No significant between-group differences were found for the other factors. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that S-O clip-assisted ESD is safe and fast for en bloc resection of large superficial colorectal tumors.

Clinical and dental computed tomographic evaluation 1 year after coronectomy.

PURPOSE: Coronectomy is performed when contact between the mandibular third molar apex and the inferior alveolar nerve is suspected. The efficacy of coronectomy compared with conventional tooth extraction has been recognized in recent years. However, few studies have reported the postoperative prognosis of roots remaining in the bone or surrounding tissue. Therefore, a clinical evaluation was performed with dental computed tomographic imaging of the coronectomy sites 1 year after the procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study investigated 101 patients (116 teeth) who underwent a coronectomy from March 2006 through December 2009. They were recalled 1 year later for a clinical evaluation and dental computed tomographic imaging of the coronectomy sites. The clinical evaluation was based on palpation and macroscopic findings. RESULTS: In 99.2% (115 teeth) of the studied cases, the soft tissue distal to the mandibular second molar was healthy and the retained roots were covered by bone. In 1 case (0.8%), an eruption of roots into the oral cavity was observed; however, no inflammation was observed in the nearby soft tissue. In all 116 teeth, no transmission images indicative of periapical lesions, which usually result from necrosis of the pulp, were observed in the apical area of the retained roots. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of transmission images indicative of periapical lesions and the presence of bone covering more than 99.2% (115 teeth) of the retained roots showed a safe postoperative course at the 1-year follow-up after coronectomy.

Effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate on expression of gluconeogenesis-related genes in the mouse duodenum.

Green tea has been shown to have many beneficial health effects. We have previously reported that dietary (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol in green tea, reduced gene expressions of gluconeogenic enzymes, glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), in the normal mouse liver. In the present study, we examined the effects of intragastrical administration of EGCG on the expression of gluconeogenesis-related genes in the mouse intestine. The results of experiments with the semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction indicated that EGCG at 0.6 mg/head caused a reduced expression of G6Pase, PEPCK, hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α), and HNF4α. Experiments using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction confirmed these effects. We then examined the effects of EGCG using human colon carcinoma Caco-2 cells stimulated with dexamethasone and dibutyryl cAMP. The results were generally consistent with those from the experiments in vivo. The present findings suggest EGCG to contribute to the beneficial effects of green tea on diabetes, obesity, and cancer by modulating gene expression in the intestine.

The aux1 gene of the Ri plasmid is sufficient to confer auxin autotrophy in tobacco BY-2 cells.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Bright Yellow-2 (BY-2) cells are rapidly proliferating meristematic cells that require auxin for culture in vitro. We have established several transgenic BY-2 cell lines that carry the T-DNA of Agrobacterium rhizogenes 15834, which harbors an agropine-type root-inducing (Ri) plasmid. Two of these lines, BYHR-3 and BYHR-7, were used to test the role of auxin in the proliferation of plant cells. The lines grew rapidly in Linsmaier-Skoog (LS) medium lacking auxin and other phytohormones. The TR-DNA, containing the aux1 (tryptophan monooxygenase) and aux2 (indoleacetamide hydrolase) genes, was present in the genomes of both transgenic lines, whereas the TL-DNA, containing the rolA, B, C and D genes, was present in the genome of BYHR-7 but not BYHR-3. Since the introduction of the rolABCD genes alone did not affect the auxin requirement of BY-2 cells, the aux1 and aux2 genes, but not the rolABCD genes, appear to be relevant to the auxin autotrophy of these transgenic lines. Furthermore, the overexpression of aux1 allowed BY-2 cells to grow rapidly in the absence of auxin, suggesting the existence in plant cells of an unidentified gene whose product is functionally equivalent or similar to that of aux2 of the Ri plasmid.

Different effects of all-trans-retinoic acid on phorbol ester-stimulated and phytohemagglutinin-stimulated interleukin-2 expression in human T-cell lymphoma HUT-78 cells.

In view of the importance of vitamin A in the human immune system and the central role of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the proliferation of T-lymphocytes, we examined the effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on the protein and gene expression of IL-2 in the human T-cell line HUT-78 when stimulated with either 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA). ATRA enhanced the production of IL-2 stimulated by TPA, but suppressed that stimulated by PHA. These findings were consistent with the results of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction examining IL-2 gene expression. ATRA augmented the gene expression of PKC-beta1 up-regulated by TPA and restored that suppressed by PHA but to below the control level. ATRA suppressed the c-fos gene expression up-regulated by PHA to a level of 36% of the control whereas it had no effect on the up-regulation by TPA. Since PKC- beta1 has been suggested to be important for the secretion and gene expression of IL-2 and since the activator protein-l binding site is present in the promoter of the IL-2 gene, these findings may explain the differences in ATRA's effects on TPA- and PHA-stimulated IL-2 expression. These results suggest that ATRA affects the production of IL-2 by T-lymphocytes in a stimulus-dependent manner.

Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy with D1+beta compared with D1+alpha lymph node dissection.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with D1+beta lymph node dissection has become the most popular treatment for early gastric cancer in Asian countries. However, the same clinical advantages with this procedure as with LADG with D1+alpha lymph node dissection has not been shown. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of LADG with D1+beta to that of LADG with D1+alpha lymph node dissection. METHODS: During the period June 2002 through June 2006, LADG with D1+alpha lymph node dissection was performed in 54 patients, and LADG with D1+beta lymph node dissection was performed in 42 patients. Surgical findings, clinicopathological data, postoperative course, complications, nutritional status, and blood analysis findings were compared between the two groups. Differences were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test. RESULTS: Patients in the two groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, body mass index, and stage and pathological characteristics of gastric cancer. A significantly greater number of N2 lymph nodes were harvested by D1+beta lymph node dissection than by D1+alpha dissection (5.9 vs. 2.7, P < 0.01). However, no significances in the total number of retrieved lymph nodes (24.7 vs. 22.2) or perigastric lymph nodes dissected (18.9 vs. 19.4) were identified between the D1+beta and D1+alpha groups. There was also no significant difference between the D1+alpha and D1+beta groups with respect to operation time, blood loss, complication rate, time to first walking, first flatus, first eating, and first defecation, frequency of analgesics given, volume of food intake on postoperative day 7, weight loss, and postoperative hospital stay. Blood analysis showed there were no significant differences in white blood cell count, granulocyte count, lymphocyte count, levels of C-reactive protein, and serum albumin. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term outcome of LADG with D1+beta lymph node dissection is comparable to that of LADG with D1+alpha lymph node dissection. According to the oncological requirements, we can apply this operation as a minimally invasive surgery.

Prevention of pathogenic Escherichia coli infection in mice and stimulation of macrophage activation in rats by an oral administration of probiotic Lactobacillus casei I-5.

Lactobacillus casei I-5 isolated from an alcohol fermentation broth enhanced immunity and prevented pathogenic infection as a probiotic. Mice fed with I-5 cells for 11 days prior to an intraperitoneal challenge with pathogenic Escherichia coli Juhl exhibited a high survival rate compared with the control group. Rats fed with I-5 cells for 10 days significantly increased the phagocytosis of peritoneal macrophages. In a cell culture system employing peritoneal macrophages from rats, the I-5 administration activated NF-kappaB stimulated by LPS. It also enhanced LPS-stimulated IL-12 and TNF-alpha production, but not IL-6 production. These results show that L. casei I-5 effectively prevented infection by pathogenic E. coli possibly through the activation of peritoneal macrophages. The strain would be useful to prevent pathogenic microbial infections in humans and farm animals.

Breeding of flocculent industrial alcohol yeast strains by self-cloning of the flocculation gene FLO1 and repeated-batch fermentation by transformants.

A nonflocculent industrial polyploid yeast strain, Saccharomyces cerevisiae 396-9-6V, was converted to a flocculent one by introducing a functional FLO1 gene at the URA3 locus. The flocculent strain FSC27 obtained was a so-called self-cloned strain, having no bacterial DNA. FSC27 cells could be easily recovered for reuse from fermentation mash without any physical energy. The strain produced a concentration of alcohol as high as 396-9-6V, although the fermentation rate of FSC27 was slightly lower than that of 396-9-6V. When uracil was added to the medium or when URA3 was reintroduced into FSC27 (named FSCU-L18), the fermentation rate and the growth rate increased, and the ethanol concentration produced was higher than that produced by the parent strain. The stable flocculation and high ethanol productivity were observed by using FSCU-L18 during 10 cycles of repeated-batch fermentation test.