GPR182 is an endothelium-specific atypical chemokine receptor that maintains hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis.

G protein-coupled receptor 182 (GPR182) has been shown to be expressed in endothelial cells; however, its ligand and physiological role has remained elusive. We found GPR182 to be expressed in microvascular and lymphatic endothelial cells of most organs and to bind with nanomolar affinity the chemokines CXCL10, CXCL12, and CXCL13. In contrast to conventional chemokine receptors, binding of chemokines to GPR182 did not induce typical downstream signaling processes, including Gq- and Gi-mediated signaling or ß-arrestin recruitment. GPR182 showed relatively high constitutive activity in regard to ß-arrestin recruitment and rapidly internalized in a ligand-independent manner. In constitutive GPR182-deficient mice, as well as after induced endothelium-specific loss of GPR182, we found significant increases in the plasma levels of CXCL10, CXCL12, and CXCL13. Global and induced endothelium-specific GPR182-deficient mice showed a significant decrease in hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow as well as increased colony-forming units of hematopoietic progenitors in the blood and the spleen. Our data show that GPR182 is a new atypical chemokine receptor for CXCL10, CXCL12, and CXCL13, which is involved in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis.

Thyroid-Friendly Soft Materials as 3D Cell Culture Tool for Stimulating Thyroid Cell Function.

The disruption of thyroid hormones because of chemical exposure is a significant societal problem. Chemical evaluations of environmental and human health risks are conventionally based on animal experiments. However, owing to recent breakthroughs in biotechnology, the potential toxicity of chemicals can now be evaluated using 3D cell cultures. In this study, the interactive effects of thyroid-friendly soft (TS) microspheres on thyroid cell aggregates are elucidated and their potential as a reliable toxicity assessment tool is evaluated. Using state-of-the-art characterization methods coupled with cell-based analysis and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, it is shown that TS-microsphere-integrated thyroid cell aggregates exhibit improved thyroid function. Specifically, the responses of zebrafish embryos, which are used for thyroid toxicity analysis, and the TS-microsphere-integrated cell aggregates to methimazole (MMI), a known thyroid inhibitor, are compared. The results show that the thyroid hormone disruption response of the TS-microsphere-integrated thyroid cell aggregates to MMI is more sensitive compared with those of the zebrafish embryos and conventionally formed cell aggregates. This proof-of-concept approach can be used to control cellular function in the desired direction and hence evaluate thyroid function. Thus, the proposed TS-microsphere-integrated cell aggregates may yield new fundamental insights for advancing in vitro cell-based research.

Dopamine signaling regulates hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function.

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) function in bone marrow (BM) is controlled by stroma-derived signals, but the identity and interplay of these signals remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that sympathetic nerve-derived dopamine directly controls HSPC behavior through D2 subfamily dopamine receptors. Blockade of dopamine synthesis, as well as pharmacological or genetic inactivation of D2 subfamily dopamine receptors, leads to reduced HSPC frequency, inhibition of proliferation, and low BM transplantation efficiency. Conversely, treatment with a D2-type receptor agonist increases BM regeneration and transplantation efficiency. Mechanistically, dopamine controls expression of the lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck), which, in turn, regulates MAPK-mediated signaling triggered by stem cell factor in HSPCs. Our work reveals critical functional roles of dopamine in HSPCs, which may open up new therapeutic options for improved BM transplantation and other conditions requiring the rapid expansion of HSPCs.

Antipsychotic drugs induce vascular defects in hematopoietic organs.

Antipsychotic agents are clinically utilized to treat schizophrenia and other mental disorders. These drugs induce neurological and metabolic side effects, but their influence on blood vessels remains largely unknown. Here, we show that haloperidol, one of the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic agents, induces vascular defects in bone marrow. Acute haloperidol treatment results in vascular dilation that is specific to hematopoietic organs. This vessel dilation is associated with disruption of hematopoiesis and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), both of which are reversible after haloperidol withdrawal. Mechanistically, haloperidol treatment blocked the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) from HSPCs. Genetic blockade of VEGF-A secretion from hematopoietic cells or inhibition of VEGFR2 in endothelial cells result in similar vessel dilation in bone marrow during regeneration after irradiation and transplantation. Conversely, VEGF-A gain of function rescues the bone marrow vascular defects induced by haloperidol treatment and irradiation. Our work reveals an unknown effect of antipsychotic agents on the vasculature and hematopoiesis with potential implications for drug application in clinic.

Pulse Oximetry Imaging System Using Spatially Uniform Dual Wavelength Illumination.

Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method for measuring blood oxygen saturation. However, its detection scheme heavily relies on single-point measurements. If the oxygen saturation is measured at a single location, the measurements are influenced by the profile of illumination, spatial variations in blood flow, and skin pigment. To overcome these issues, imaging systems that measure the distribution of oxygen saturation have been demonstrated. However, previous imaging systems have relied on red and near-infrared illuminations with different profiles, resulting in inconsistent ratios between transmitted red and near-infrared light over space. Such inconsistent ratios can introduce fundamental errors when calculating the spatial distribution of oxygen saturation. In this study, we developed a novel illumination system specifically designed for a pulse oximetry imaging system. For the illumination system, we customized the integrating sphere by coating a mixture of barium sulfate and white paint inside it and by coupling eight red and eight near-infrared LEDs. The illumination system created identical patterns of red and near-infrared illuminations that were spatially uniform. This allowed the ratio between transmitted red and near-infrared light to be consistent over space, enabling the calculation of the spatial distribution of oxygen saturation. We believe our developed pulse oximetry imaging system can be used to obtain spatial information on blood oxygen saturation that provides insight into the oxygenation of the blood contained within the peripheral region of the tissue.

Customized Integrating-Sphere System for Absolute Color Measurement of Silk Cocoon with Corrugated Microstructure.

Silk fiber, recognized as a versatile bioresource, holds wide-ranging significance in agriculture and the textile industry. During the breeding of silkworms to yield new varieties, optical sensing techniques have been employed to distinguish the colors of silk cocoons, aiming to assess their improved suitability across diverse industries. Despite visual comparison retaining its primary role in differentiating colors among a range of silk fibers, the presence of uneven surface texture leads to color distortion and inconsistent color perception at varying viewing angles. As a result, these distorted and inconsistent visual assessments contribute to unnecessary fiber wastage within the textile industry. To solve these issues, we have devised an optical system employing an integrating sphere to deliver consistent and uniform illumination from all orientations. Utilizing a ColorChecker, we calibrated the RGB values of silk cocoon images taken within the integrating sphere setup. This process accurately extracts the authentic RGB values of the silk cocoons. Our study not only helps in unraveling the intricate color of silk cocoons but also presents a unique approach applicable to various specimens with uneven surface textures.

Fermented green tea extract exhibits hypolipidaemic effects through the inhibition of pancreatic lipase and promotion of energy expenditure.

Hyperlipidaemia is a major cause of atherosclerosis and related CVD and can be prevented with natural substances. Previously, we reported that a novel Bacillus-fermented green tea (FGT) exerts anti-obesity and hypolipidaemic effects. This study further investigated the hypotriglyceridaemic and anti-obesogenic effects of FGT and its underlying mechanisms. FGT effectively inhibited pancreatic lipase activity in vitro (IC50, 0·48 mg/ml) and ameliorated postprandial lipaemia in rats (26 % reduction with 500 mg/kg FGT). In hypertriglyceridaemic hamsters, FGT administration significantly reduced plasma TAG levels. In mice, FGT administration (500 mg/kg) for 2 weeks augmented energy expenditure by 22 % through the induction of plasma serotonin, a neurotransmitter that modulates energy expenditure and mRNA expressions of lipid metabolism genes in peripheral tissues. Analysis of the gut microbiota showed that FGT reduced the proportion of the phylum Firmicutes in hamsters, which could further contribute to its anti-obesity effects. Collectively, these data demonstrate that FGT decreases plasma TAG levels via multiple mechanisms including inhibition of pancreatic lipase, augmentation of energy expenditure, induction of serotonin secretion and alteration of gut microbiota. These results suggest that FGT may be a useful natural agent for preventing hypertriglyceridaemia and obesity.

Separation of polyphenols and caffeine from the acetone extract of fermented tea leaves (Camellia sinensis) using high-performance countercurrent chromatography.

Leaves from Camellia sienensis are a popular natural source of various beverage worldwide, and contain caffeine and polyphenols derived from catechin analogues. In the current study, caffeine (CAF, 1) and three tea polyphenols including (-)-epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCg, 2), (-)-gallocatechin 3-O-gallate (GCg, 3), and (-)-epicatechin 3-O-gallate (ECg, 4) were isolated and purified by flow-rate gradient high-performance countercurrent chromatography (HPCCC) using a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (1:9:1:9, v/v). Two hundred milligrams of acetone-soluble extract from fermented C. sinensis leaves was separated by HPCCC to give 1 (25.4 mg), 2 (16.3 mg), 3 (11.1 mg) and 4 (4.4 mg) with purities over 98%. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated by QTOF-MS, as well as 1H- and 13C-NMR, and the obtained data were compared to the previously reported values.

Performance and usefulness evaluation of a software-based scatter correction technique for mammographic images.

Although physical grids improve contrast in radiographic images by reducing scattered radiation, various artifacts such as grid shadow, moire, and cutoff result in increased patient doses. To overcome these problems, this study evaluates the applicability and usefulness of a material thickness-based scatter-correction technique for mammography. Specifically, this study aims to compare and evaluate the performance of mammography using the proposed software-based scatter correction framework and a physical grid. The proposed technique enables scatter correction based on pre-calculated parameters of a thickness-based scatter kernel at a water slab phantom and an empirical quantity of scatter components in a mammographic system. In the Monte Carlo simulation and experiment, the proposed framework displayed an intensity profile and full width at half maximum that closely approximated those seen in the physical grid. In addition, by applying the proposed framework to the ACR phantom, it was verified that all structures, including specks, were distinctly distinguished. The results demonstrate that the X-ray scatter-correction method with a software-based framework for mammography is applicable to the field of diagnostic imaging, as this approach yields image quality equivalent to that achieved with physical grids while also enabling a reduction in radiation doses for patients.

Investigation of Deconvolution Method with Adaptive Point Spread Function Based on Scintillator Thickness in Wavelet Domain.

In recent years, indirect digital radiography detectors have been actively studied to improve radiographic image performance with low radiation exposure. This study aimed to achieve low-dose radiation imaging with a thick scintillation detector while simultaneously obtaining the resolution of a thin scintillation detector. The proposed method was used to predict the optimal point spread function (PSF) between thin and thick scintillation detectors by considering image quality assessment (IQA). The process of identifying the optimal PSF was performed on each sub-band in the wavelet domain to improve restoration accuracy. In the experiments, the edge preservation index (EPI) values of the non-blind deblurred image with a blurring sigma of σ = 5.13 pixels and the image obtained with optimal parameters from the thick scintillator using the proposed method were approximately 0.62 and 0.76, respectively. The coefficient of variation (COV) values for the two images were approximately 1.02 and 0.63, respectively. The proposed method was validated through simulations and experimental results, and its viability is expected to be verified on various radiological imaging systems.

Characterization of the intestinal transport mechanism of polystyrene microplastics (MPs) and the potential inhibitory effect of green tea extracts on MPs intestinal absorption.

The aims of the current study included characterizing the intestinal transport mechanism of polystyrene microplastics (MPs) with different charges and sizes in the intestinal epithelial cell model and determining the inhibitory effect of green tea extracts (GTEs) on the intestinal absorption of MPs in Caco-2 cells. The smaller sizes, which included diameters of 0.2 µm, of amine-modified MPs compared to either larger size (1 µm diameter, or carboxylate-MPs (0.2 and 1 µm diameter) significantly lowered the cell viability of caco-2 cells that were measured by MTT assay (p < 0.05). The transported amount (particles/mL of the cell media) of amine-modified MPs by the Caco-2 cell, was not dependent according to the concentrations, energy, or temperature, but it was higher than the carboxylate-modified MPs. The co-treatment of GTEs with the amine-modified MPs inhibited Caco-2 cell cytotoxicity as well as reduced the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HepG2 generated by the exposure of amine-modified MPs. The GTEs co-treatment also increased trans-epithelial electrical resistances (TEER) and reduced the transportation of Lucifer Yellow via the Caco-2 monolayer compared to only the amine-modified MPs exposure. The GTEs treatment led to a decrease in the number of amine-modified MPs transported to the basal side of the Caco-2 monolayer. The results from our study suggest that the consumption of GTEs could enhance the intestinal barrier function by recovering intestinal epithelial cell damage induced by MPs, which resulted in a decrease of the intestinal absorption of MPs.

Angiogenesis is uncoupled from osteogenesis during calvarial bone regeneration.

Bone regeneration requires a well-orchestrated cellular and molecular response including robust vascularization and recruitment of mesenchymal and osteogenic cells. In femoral fractures, angiogenesis and osteogenesis are closely coupled during the complex healing process. Here, we show with advanced longitudinal intravital multiphoton microscopy that early vascular sprouting is not directly coupled to osteoprogenitor invasion during calvarial bone regeneration. Early osteoprogenitors emerging from the periosteum give rise to bone-forming osteoblasts at the injured calvarial bone edge. Microvessels growing inside the lesions are not associated with osteoprogenitors. Subsequently, osteogenic cells collectively invade the vascularized and perfused lesion as a multicellular layer, thereby advancing regenerative ossification. Vascular sprouting and remodeling result in dynamic blood flow alterations to accommodate the growing bone. Single cell profiling of injured calvarial bones demonstrates mesenchymal stromal cell heterogeneity comparable to femoral fractures with increase in cell types promoting bone regeneration. Expression of angiogenesis and hypoxia-related genes are slightly elevated reflecting ossification of a vascularized lesion site. Endothelial Notch and VEGF signaling alter vascular growth in calvarial bone repair without affecting the ossification progress. Our findings may have clinical implications for bone regeneration and bioengineering approaches.

Eph-ephrin signaling couples endothelial cell sorting and arterial specification.

Cell segregation allows the compartmentalization of cells with similar fates during morphogenesis, which can be enhanced by cell fate plasticity in response to local molecular and biomechanical cues. Endothelial tip cells in the growing retina, which lead vessel sprouts, give rise to arterial endothelial cells and thereby mediate arterial growth. Here, we have combined cell type-specific and inducible mouse genetics, flow experiments in vitro, single-cell RNA sequencing and biochemistry to show that the balance between ephrin-B2 and its receptor EphB4 is critical for arterial specification, cell sorting and arteriovenous patterning. At the molecular level, elevated ephrin-B2 function after loss of EphB4 enhances signaling responses by the Notch pathway, VEGF and the transcription factor Dach1, which is influenced by endothelial shear stress. Our findings reveal how Eph-ephrin interactions integrate cell segregation and arteriovenous specification in the vasculature, which has potential relevance for human vascular malformations caused by EPHB4 mutations.

CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing in LGMD2A/R1 Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem and Skeletal Muscle Progenitor Cells.

Large numbers of Calpain 3 (CAPN3) mutations cause recessive forms of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD2A/LGMDR1) with selective atrophy of the proximal limb muscles. We have generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from a patient with two mutations in exon 3 and exon 4 at the calpain 3 locus (W130C, 550delA). Two different strategies to rescue these mutations are devised: (i) on the level of LGMD2A-iPSC, we combined CRISPR/Cas9 genome targeting with a FACS and Tet transactivator-based biallelic selection strategy, which resulted in a new functional chimeric exon 3-4 without the two CAPN3 mutations. (ii) On the level of LGMD2A-iPSC-derived CD82+/Pax7+ myogenic progenitor cells, we demonstrate CRISPR/Cas9 mediated rescue of the highly prevalent exon 4 CAPN3 mutation. The first strategy specifically provides isogenic LGMD2A corrected iPSC for disease modelling, and the second strategy can be further elaborated for potential translational approaches.

Corticosteroids reduce pathologic interferon responses by downregulating STAT1 in patients with high-risk COVID-19.

We do not yet understand exactly how corticosteroids attenuate hyperinflammatory responses and alleviate high-risk coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to reveal the molecular mechanisms of hyperinflammation in COVID-19 and the anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids in patients with high-risk COVID-19. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from three independent COVID-19 cohorts: cohort 1 was used for comparative analysis of high-risk and low-risk COVID-19 (47 PBMC samples from 28 patients), cohort 2 for longitudinal analysis during COVID-19 (57 PBMC samples from 15 patients), and cohort 3 for investigating the effects of corticosteroid treatment in patients with high-risk COVID-19 (55 PBMC samples from 13 patients). PBMC samples from healthy donors (12 PBMC samples from 12 donors) were also included. Cohort 1 revealed a significant increase in the proportion of monocytes expressing the long noncoding RNAs NEAT1 and MALAT1 in high-risk patients. Cohort 2 showed that genes encoding inflammatory chemokines and their receptors were upregulated during aggravation, whereas genes related to angiogenesis were upregulated during improvement. Cohort 3 demonstrated downregulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), including STAT1, in monocytes after corticosteroid treatment. In particular, unphosphorylated STAT-dependent ISGs enriched in monocytes from lupus patients were selectively downregulated by corticosteroid treatment in patients with high-risk COVID-19. Corticosteroid treatment suppresses pathologic interferon responses in monocytes by downregulating STAT1 in patients with high-risk COVID-19. Our study provides insights into the mechanisms underlying COVID-19 aggravation and improvement and the effects of corticosteroid treatment.

Licochalcone D Inhibits Skin Epidermal Cells Transformation through the Regulation of AKT Signaling Pathways.

Cell transformation induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is a critical event in cancer initiation and progression, and understanding the underlying mechanisms is essential for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Licorice extract contains various bioactive compounds, which have been reported to have anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the cancer preventive efficacy of licochalcone D (LicoD), a chalcone derivative in licorice extract, in EGF and TPA-induced transformed skin keratinocyte cells. LicoD effectively suppressed EGF-induced cell proliferation and anchorage-independent colony growth. EGF and TPA promoted the S phase of cell cycle, while LicoD treatment caused G1 phase arrest and down-regulated cyclin D1 and up-regulated p21 expression associated with the G1 phase. LicoD also induced apoptosis and increased apoptosis-related proteins such as cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-7, and Bax (Bcl-2-associated X protein). We further investigated the effect of LicoD on the AKT signaling pathway involved in various cellular processes and found decreased p-AKT, p-GSK3ß, and p-NFκB expression. Treatment with MK-2206, an AKT pharmacological inhibitor, suppressed EGF-induced cell proliferation and transformed colony growth. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the potential of LicoD as a preventive agent for skin carcinogenesis.

Human skeletal muscle organoids model fetal myogenesis and sustain uncommitted PAX7 myogenic progenitors.

In vitro culture systems that structurally model human myogenesis and promote PAX7+ myogenic progenitor maturation have not been established. Here we report that human skeletal muscle organoids can be differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cell lines to contain paraxial mesoderm and neuromesodermal progenitors and develop into organized structures reassembling neural plate border and dermomyotome. Culture conditions instigate neural lineage arrest and promote fetal hypaxial myogenesis toward limb axial anatomical identity, with generation of sustainable uncommitted PAX7 myogenic progenitors and fibroadipogenic (PDGFRa+) progenitor populations equivalent to those from the second trimester of human gestation. Single-cell comparison to human fetal and adult myogenic progenitor /satellite cells reveals distinct molecular signatures for non-dividing myogenic progenitors in activated (CD44High/CD98+/MYOD1+) and dormant (PAX7High/FBN1High/SPRY1High) states. Our approach provides a robust 3D in vitro developmental system for investigating muscle tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis.

Humans contains around 650 skeletal muscles which allow the body to move around and maintain its posture. Skeletal muscles are made up of individual cells that bundle together into highly organized structures. If this group of muscles fail to develop correctly in the embryo and/or fetus, this can lead to muscular disorders that can make it painful and difficult to move. One way to better understand how skeletal muscles are formed, and how this process can go wrong, is to grow them in the laboratory. This can be achieved using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), human adult cells that have been 'reprogrammed' to behave like cells in the embryo that can develop in to almost any cell in the body. The iPSCs can then be converted into specific cell types in the laboratory, including the cells that make up skeletal muscle. Here, Mavrommatis et al. created a protocol for developing iPSCs into three-dimensional organoids which resemble how cells of the skeletal muscle look and arrange themselves in the fetus. To form the skeletal muscle organoid, Mavrommatis et al. treated iPSCs that were growing in a three-dimensional environment with various factors that are found early on in development. This caused the iPSCs to organize themselves in to embryonic and fetal structures that will eventually give rise to the parts of the body that contain skeletal muscle, such as the limbs. Within the organoid were cells that produced Pax7, a protein commonly found in myogenic progenitors that specifically mature into skeletal muscle cells in the fetus. Pax 7 is also present in 'satellite cells' that help to regrow damaged skeletal muscle in adults. Indeed, Mavrommatis et al. found that the myogenic progenitors produced by the organoid were able to regenerate muscle when transplanted in to adult mice. These findings suggest that this organoid protocol can generate cells that will give rise to skeletal muscle. In the future, these lab-grown progenitors could potentially be created from cells isolated from patients and used to repair muscle injuries. The organoid model could also provide new insights in to how skeletal muscles develop in the fetus, and how genetic mutations linked with muscular disorders disrupt this process.

AMPK activation with glabridin ameliorates adiposity and lipid dysregulation in obesity.

In this study, we demonstrate that activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) with glabridin alleviates adiposity and hyperlipidemia in obesity. In several obese rodent models, glabridin decreased body weight and adiposity with a concomitant reduction in fat cell size. Further, glabridin ameliorated fatty liver and plasma levels of triglyceride and cholesterol. In accordance with these findings, glabridin suppressed the expression of lipogenic genes such as sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor (SREBP)-1c, fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD)-1 in white adipose tissues and liver, whereas it elevated the expression of fatty acid oxidation genes such as carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT)1, acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α in muscle. Moreover, glabridin enhanced phosphorylation of AMPK in muscle and liver and promoted fatty acid oxidation by modulating mitochondrial activity. Together, these data suggest that glabridin is a novel AMPK activator that would exert therapeutic effects in obesity-related metabolic disorders.

Foenumoside B from Lysimachia foenum-graecum inhibits adipocyte differentiation and obesity induced by high-fat diet.

We have previously reported anti-obesity effects of Lysimachia foenum-graecum in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity model. Here we isolated a triterpene saponin foenumoside B as an active component of L. foenum-graecum. Foenumoside B blocked the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 0.2 µg/ml in adipogenesis assay and suppressed the induction of PPARγ, the master regulator of adipogenesis. Foenumoside B induced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and modulated the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism towards lipid breakdown in differentiated adipocytes. In mouse model, oral administration of foenumoside B (10mg/kg/day for 6 weeks) reduced HFD-induced body weight gain significantly without affecting food intake. Treatment of foenumoside B suppressed lipid accumulation in white adipose tissues and the liver, and lowered blood levels of glucose, triglycerides, ALT, and AST in HFD-induced obese mice. Consistent with the in vitro results, foenumoside B activated AMPK signaling, suppressed the expression of lipogenic genes, and enhanced the expression of lipolytic genes in vivo. Foenumoside B also blocked HFD-induced proinflammatory cytokine production in adipose tissue, suggesting its protective role against insulin resistance. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that foenumoside B represents the anti-obesity effects of L. foenum-graecum, and suggest therapeutic potential of foenumoside B in obesity and obesity-related metabolic diseases.

Spectral-domain OCT with dual illumination and interlaced detection for simultaneous anterior segment and retina imaging.

We present Fourier-domain/spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (FD/SD-OCT) using a single spectrometer with dual illumination and interlaced detection at 830 nm, which can provide anterior segment and retinal tomograms simultaneously. Two orthogonal polarization components were used so that both parallel and focused beams could simultaneously be made incident on the eye. This configuration with a polarization-separated sample arm enables us to acquire images from the anterior segment and retina effectively with minimum loss of sample information. In the detector arm, a single spectrometer is illuminated via an ultrafast optical switch for interlaced detection. A graphical user interface (GUI) was built to control the optical switch for imaging the anterior segment and retina either simultaneously or individually. In addition, we implemented an off-pivot complex conjugate removal technique to double the imaging depth for anterior segment imaging. The axial resolution of our FD/SD-OCT system was measured to be ~6.7 µm in air, which corresponds to 4.9 µm in tissue (n = 1.35). The sensitivity was approximately 90 dB for both anterior segment and retina imaging when the acquisition speed was 35,000 A-scans per second and the depth position was near 120 µm from the zero-depth location. Finally, we demonstrated the feasibility of our system for simultaneous in vivo imaging of both the anterior segment and retina of a healthy human volunteer.