Interventions to improve the sleep of nurses: A systematic review.

Nurses are at a high risk for short sleep duration and poor sleep quality due to irregular work schedules and high occupational stress. Considering the effect of nurses' sleep on the safety and health of themselves and their patients, it is important to promote healthy sleep for nurses. We sought to synthesize the published experimental and quasi-experimental studies that address interventions to improve sleep in nurses. A systematic search was conducted for studies published in English up until May 15, 2023, using the databases PubMed, CINAHL, Academic Search Ultimate, and PsycINFO. In total, 38 articles were included, covering 22 experimental and 16 quasi-experimental studies with sample sizes ranging from 9 to 207. Studies were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and considered as low to medium quality. Thirty-six of the 38 studies reported positive findings for at least one sleep outcome. Intervention types included aroma therapy, dietary supplements, cognitive behavioral therapy, light therapy, mind-body therapy, sleep education, exercise, napping, shift schedule modification, and multicomponent intervention, all of which showed moderate effectiveness in promoting sleep outcomes of nurses. Comparing and contrasting studies on specific interventions for improving sleep in nurses is sparse and often equivocal. With the variations of research methodology and outcome measures, it is difficult to make a conclusion about each intervention's effectiveness on specific sleep outcomes. Additional high-quality research, including randomized controlled trials, is needed to evaluate strategies for improving sleep in this unique, safety-sensitive occupational group.

Effect of omega-6 linoleic acid on neurobehavioral development in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Linoleic acid (LA, omega-6), an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid, is supplied by vegetable oils such as corn, sunflower and soybean. Supplementary LA in infants and children is required for normal growth and brain development, but has also been reported to induce brain inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. This controversial role of LA development requires further investigation. Our study utilized Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model to clarify the role of LA in regulating neurobehavioral development. A mere supplementary quantity of LA in C. elegans larval stage affected the worm's locomotive ability, intracellular ROS accumulation and lifespan. We found that more serotonergic neurons were activated by supplementing LA above 10 µM thereby promoting locomotive ability with upregulation of serotonin-related genes. Supplementation with LA above 10 µM also inhibited the expression of mtl-1, mtl-2 and ctl-3 to accelerate oxidative stress and attenuate lifespan in nematodes; however, enhancement of stress-related genes such as sod-1, sod-3, mtl-1, mtl-2 and cyp-35A2 by supplementary LA under 1 µM decreased oxidative stress and increased the worm's lifespan. In conclusion, our study reveals that supplementary LA possesses both pros and cons in worm physiology and provides new suggestions for LA intake administration in childhood.

Adipose stem cells preincubated with theanine exert liver regeneration through increase of stem cell paracrine VEGF and suppression of ROS, pyroptosis as well as autophagy markers in liver damage induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine.

AIMS: Liver diseases induce a severe decrease in quality of life. Stem cell based therapy shows therapeutic potential in the treatment of liver injury. Theanine is a unique amino acid found in green tea and could confer beneficial effects on cell protection. This study investigates if protective effect on the liver by stem cells preincubated with theanine is better than that from stem cells without preincubated theanine. METHODS: We transplanted theanine preincubated adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) to male Wistar rats with liver dysfunction induced by N-nitrosodiethylamine. The viability, migration and antioxidant capabilities were performed in the ADSC pre-incubated with theanine. Hepatic functional, structural and molecular assays were determined in the animals with or without theanine preincubated ADSC. KEY FINDINGS: Cell model revealed that ADSC preincubated with green tea theanine (T-ADSC) increased cell capabilities including viability, migration and paracrine secretion. In vivo results indicated that several pathological conditions were observed in rats with liver injury induced by DEN including structural changes and expression of pyroptosis as well as autophagy markers. The above pathological conditions were improved when the rats received both ADSC and T-ADSC treatment. Furthermore, T-ADSC showed better therapeutic effect on rats with liver injury than ADSC due to significant suppression of pyroptosis markers caspase-1 and IL-1ß as well as autophagy marker LC3-II accompanied with intensive paracrine VEGF from T-ADSC. SIGNIFICANCE: Increased paracrine VEGF secretion from T-ADSC plays a crucial role in liver regeneration. A future clinical study may be designed for further verification of these experimental in vivo findings.

Biosynthesis and Metabolism of Garlic Odor Compounds in Cultivated Chinese Chives (Allium tuberosum) and Wild Chinese Chives (Allium hookeri).

Chinese chives is a popular herb vegetable and medicine in Asian countries. Southwest China is one of the centers of origin, and the mountainous areas in this region are rich in wild germplasm. In this study, we collected four samples of germplasm from different altitudes: a land race of cultivated Chinese chives (Allium tuberosum), wide-leaf chives and extra-wide-leaf chives (Allium hookeri), and ovoid-leaf chives (Allium funckiaefolium). Leaf metabolites were detected and compared between A. tuberosum and A. hookeri. A total of 158 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAM) were identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), among which there was a wide range of garlic odor compounds, free amino acids, and sugars. A. hookeri contains a higher content of fructose, garlic odor compounds, and amino acids than A. tuberosum, which is supported by the higher expression level of biosynthetic genes revealed by transcriptome analysis. A. hookeri accumulates the same garlic odor compound precursors that A. tuberosum does (mainly methiin and alliin). We isolated full-length gene sequences of phytochelatin synthase (PCS), γ-glutamyltranspeptidases (GGT), flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO), and alliinase (ALN). These sequences showed closer relations in phylogenetic analysis between A. hookeri and A. tuberosum (with sequence identities ranging from 86% to 90%) than with Allium cepa or Allium sativum (which had a lower sequence identity ranging from 76% to 88%). Among these assayed genes, ALN, the critical gene controlling the conversion of odorless precursors into odor compounds, was undetected in leaves, bulbs, and roots of A. tuberosum, which could account for its weaker garlic smell. Moreover, we identified a distinct FMO1 gene in extra-wide-leaf A. hookeri that is due to a CDS-deletion and frameshift mutation. These results above reveal the molecular and metabolomic basis of impressive strong odor in wild Chinese chives.

The Utilization of Chinese Herbal Products for Hyperthyroidism in National Health Insurance System (NHIRD) of Taiwan: A Population-Based Study.

Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) relieves associated symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as heat intolerance, palpitations, tremor, anxiety, weight loss, increased frequency of bowel movements, and shortness of breath. However, there are no studies regarding the core prescription patterns of herbal formula and single herbs for hyperthyroidism in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective, observational study using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan to analyze the prescription patterns of TCM. Demographic factors, such as sex, age, occupational status, and residential area, and the risk factors for hyperthyroidism were also studied. Results: The outpatient or/and inpatient services for hyperthyroidism receive 17,707 cases in a year. Overall, there were 13,394 newly diagnosed patients. TCM was used in 73% of the patients, and 77.3% of the patients were females. The acceptability of TCM was higher among female patients. Most patients were diagnosed with hyperthyroidism between the ages of 30 and 49 years. The most common comorbidity identified was diabetes mellitus. The most commonly prescribed Chinese herbal product (CHP) formula was Jia-Wei-Xia-Yao-San, while Xia-Ku-Cao was the most commonly prescribed single CHP. There was a high coprescription rate for Xuan-Shen, Bei-Mu, and Mu-Li. Conclusion: This study describes the core prescription pattern of TCM used in the treatment of patients with hyperthyroidism in Taiwan. The most frequently used CHPs could be potential candidates for future pharmacologic studies or clinical trials.

Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy on Serum Adhesion Molecules, and Serum Oxidative Stress in Patients with Acute Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND: Serum concentrations of adhesion molecules and oxidative stress is thought to participate in the pathobiology of secondary brain injury after acute traumatic brain injury (TBI). We aimed to study the hypothesis that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) both improves the adhesion molecules levels and antioxidant capacity. METHODS: Thirty blood samples from ten patients after acute TBI were obtained after injury and before and after HBOT. Four patients received early HBOT started two weeks after injury, four patients received late HBOT started ten weeks after injury and two patients did not receive HBOT and served as control in this study. The HBOT patients received total 30 times HBOT in six weeks period. RESULTS: Those serum biomarkers in patients with TBI had not significantly difference in glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), soluble intercellular cell adhesion-molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) concentrations on admission between early HBOT, late HBOT, and control group (p = 0.916, p = 0.98, p = 0.306, and p = 0.548, respectively). Serum GSH levels were higher at 10 weeks after injury in the early HBOT group than in the late HBOT group and control group (mean, 1.40 µmol/L, 1.16 µmol/L, and 1.05 µmol/L, respectively). Then the serum GSH level was increased at 18 weeks after injury in the late HBOT group (mean, 1.49 µmol/L). However, there was only statistically significant difference at Weeks 18 (p = 0.916, p = 0.463, and p = 0.006, at Week 2, Week 10, and Week 18, respectively). Serum TBARS levels were decreased at 10 weeks after injury in the early HBOT group than in the late HBOT group and control group (mean, 11.21 µmol/L, 17.23 µmol/L, and 17.14 µmol/L, respectively). Then the serum TBARS level was decreased at 18 weeks after injury in the late HBOT group (mean, 12.06 µmol/L). There was statistically significant difference after HBOT (p = 0.98, p = 0.007, and p = 0.018, at Week 2, Week 10, and Week 18, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups on sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels from Week 2 to Week 18. CONCLUSIONS: HBOT can improve serum oxidative stress in patients after TBI. These molecules may be added as evaluation markers in clinical practice. Perhaps in the future it may also become part of the treatment of patients after acute traumatic brain injury. Further large-scale study may be warrant.

The Functional DNA Methylation Signatures Relevant to Altered Immune Response of Neonatal T Cells with l-Arginine Supplementation.

l-Arginine is an important nutrient in the infant diet that significantly regulates the maturation of the immune system in neonates, including the maturation of CD4+ T cells. The biological activities of CD4+ T cells differ substantially between neonates and adults, and these differences may be governed by epigenetic processes. Investigating these differences and the causative processes may help understand neonatal and developmental immunity. In this study, we compared the functional DNA methylation profiles in CD4+ T cells of neonates and adults, focusing on the role of l-arginine supplementation. Umbilical cord blood and adult CD4+ T cells were cultured with/without l-arginine treatment. By comparing DNA methylation in samples without l-arginine treatment, we found that CD4+ T cells of neonatal cord blood generally showed higher DNA methylation than those of adults (average CpG methylation percentage 0.6305 for neonate and 0.6254 for adult, t-test p-value < 0.0001), suggesting gene silencing in neonates. By examining DNA methylation patterns of CpG dinucleotides induced by l-arginine treatment, we found that more CpG dinucleotides were hypomethylated and more genes appeared to be activated in neonatal T-cells as compared with adult. Genes activated by l-arginine stimulation of cord blood samples were more enriched regarding immune-related pathways. CpG dinucleotides at IL-13 promoter regions were hypomethylated after l-arginine stimulation. Hypomethylated CpG dinucleotides corresponded to higher IL-13 gene expression and cytokine production. Thus, DNA methylation partially accounts for the mechanism underlying differential immune function in neonates. Modulatory effects of l-arginine on DNA methylation are gene-specific. Nutritional intervention is a potential strategy to modulate immune function of neonates.

Effect of 9,12-Octadecadiynoic Acid on Neurobehavioral Development in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Human breast milk lipids have major beneficial effects: they promote infant early brain development, growth and health. To identify the relationship between human breast milk lipids and infant neurodevelopment, multivariate analyses that combined lipidomics and psychological Bayley-III scales evaluation were utilized. We identified that 9,12-octadecadiynoic acid has a significantly positive correlation with infant adaptive behavioral development, which is a crucial neurodevelopment to manage risk from environmental stress. To further clarify the biological function of 9,12-octadecadiynoic acid in regulating neurodevelopment, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used as a model to investigate the effect of 9,12-octadecadiynoic acid on neurobehavioral development. Supplementation with 9,12-octadecadiynoic acid from the L1 to L4 stage in larvae affected locomotive behaviors and foraging ability that were not socially interactive, implying that 9,12-octadecadiynoic acid is involved in regulating the serotonergic neuronal ability. We found that supplementary 0.1 µM 9,12-octadecadiynoic acid accelerated the locomotive ability and foraging ability via increasing the expression of serotonin transporter mod-1. Antioxidant defense genes, sod-1, sod-3 and cyp-35A2 are involved in 9,12-octadecadiynoic acid-induced motor neuronal activity. Nevertheless, supplementary 9,12-octadecadiynoic acid at concentrations above 1 µM significantly attenuated locomotive behaviors, foraging ability, serotonin synthesis, serotonin-related gene expressions and stress-related gene expression, resulting in the decreased longevity of worms in the experiment. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the biological function of 9,12-octadecadiynoic acid in governing adaptive behavioral development.

Immediate effect of non-invasive auricular acupoint stimulation on the performance and meridian activities of archery athletes: A protocol for randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Archery has existed in human history for millenniums. Being a unique exercise and precision sport, the keys to performance are emotional control, attention, and concentration rather than explosive force, muscle power, and endurance. During the execution of archery, attention is the key to performance in elite players, especially in the initial period while drawing the bow. Auricular acupoint stimulation is one of the therapeutic methods of traditional Chinese medicine and has been reported for its use in amplifying the anesthesia effect, weight reduction, cessation of substance abuse, and autonomic nervous modulation. METHODS: The study will recruit archery players in school teams among junior and senior high schools and colleges. The subjects will be randomly assigned to the ear and sham acupressure groups. This is a randomized controlled trial with crossover design. The outcome measures will be obtained, including the meridian activities and balance index with Ryodoraku device, the movement stability with WIMU tracking system, the continuous heart rate record, and the scores of the 2 sections as the performance. The subjects will rate their attention and fatigue levels through self-reported questionnaires. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the immediate effect of non-invasive auricular acupoint stimulation on the performance and meridian activities of archery athletes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04637607.

Resveratrol intake during pregnancy and lactation re-programs adiposity and ameliorates leptin resistance in male progeny induced by maternal high-fat/high sucrose plus postnatal high-fat/high sucrose diets via fat metabolism regulation.

BACKGROUND: Maternal obesity is an emerging problem in the modern world. Growing evidence suggests that intrauterine high-fat (HF) exposure may predispose progeny to subsequent metabolic challenges. Progeny born to mothers who ate an HF diet also tends to eat an HF diet when growing and aggravate metabolic issues. Thus, the generational transmission of obesity is cyclical. Developing a strategy to prevent the occurrence of metabolic syndrome related to prenatal and/or postnatal HF diet is important. In this study, the reprogramming effects of maternal resveratrol treatment for the progeny with maternal HF/postnatal HF diets were investigated. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley dams were fed either a control or a high-fat/high sucrose diet (HFHS) from mating to lactation. After weaning, the progeny was fed chow or an HF diet. Four experimental groups were yielded: CC (maternal/postnatal control diet), HC (maternal HF/postnatal control diet), CH (maternal control/postnatal HFHS diet), and HH (maternal/postnatal HFHS diet). A fifth group (HRH) received a maternal HFHS diet plus maternal resveratrol treatment and a postnatal chow diet to study the effects of maternal resveratrol therapy. RESULTS: Maternal resveratrol treatment lessened the weight and adiposity of progeny that were programmed by combined prenatal and postnatal HFHS diets. Maternal resveratrol therapy ameliorated the decreased abundance of the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) enzyme in retroperitoneal tissue and the altered leptin/soluble leptin receptor ratio of progeny. Maternal resveratrol therapy also decreased lipogenesis and increased lipolysis for progeny. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal resveratrol intervention can prevent adiposity programmed by maternal and postnatal HFHS diets by inducing lipid metabolic modulation. This study offers a novel reprogramming role for the effect of maternal resveratrol supplements against obesity.

Toona sinensis modulates autophagy and cytokines in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Toona sinensis (TS) is a medicinal herb possessing anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and is used to treat diabetes, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, TS clears dampness and heat, strengthens the stomach function, and regulates vital energy flow. TS is also used as an astringent and a pesticide. In this study, we aimed to evaluate how TS influences autophagy and cytokines during the inflammatory process in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The treatment groups were pre-supplemented with TS leaf extract; rapamycin was used to enhance autophagy and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce inflammation. The expression of autophagy-related proteins was analyzed by western blotting. The survival rate of, and chemokine expression and oxidative stress in the cells were also assessed. TS leaf extract inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation at site S2448 in the macrophages. At relatively higher concentrations (50 and 75 µg/mL), TS elevated the expression of light chain 3 II (LC3-II), which further modulated autophagy. Pre-supplementation with TS leaf extract elevated the total glutathione (GSH) level and GSH/oxidized GSH (GSSG) ratio, but it decreased the GSSG, total nitric oxide, nitrate, nitrite, malondialdehyde, and superoxide anion levels. TS reversed the effects of LPS-induced cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10. TS did not induce significant toxicity at the studied concentrations. In conclusion, TS leaf extract may modulate autophagy during inflammation. Furthermore, it may prevent cell damage via anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. Thus, this study supports the ethnomedical use of TS in the prevention of inflammation-related diseases.

Respiratory Muscle Training Improves Functional Outcomes and Reduces Fatigue in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis: A Single-Center Hospital-Based Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an immune-mediated disorder characterized by muscle fatigue and fluctuating weakness. Impairment in respiratory strength and endurance has been described in patients with generalized MG. We tested the hypothesis that respiratory muscle training (RMT) can improve functional outcomes and reduce fatigue in patients with MG. METHODS: Eighteen patients with mild to moderate MG participated in this study. The training group underwent home-based RMT three times a week for 12 weeks. Sixteen patients with MG without RMT were enrolled as a disease control group. Lung function, autonomic testing, Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF), and functional outcome measurement by using quantitative myasthenia gravis (QMG) score and myasthenia gravis composite (MGC) scale were measured before and after the 12-week RMT. RESULTS: The 12-week RMT significantly increased forced vital capacity (FVC) from 77.9 ± 12.6% to 83.8 ± 17.7% (p = 0.03), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) from 75.2 ± 18.3% to 83.3 ± 19.0% (p = 0.03), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) from 75.2 ± 18.3% to 83.3 ± 19.0% (p = 0.03), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) from 75.2 ± 18.3% to 83.3 ± 19.0% (p = 0.03), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) from 75.2 ± 18.3% to 83.3 ± 19.0% (p = 0.03), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) from 75.2 ± 18.3% to 83.3 ± 19.0% (p = 0.03), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) from 75.2 ± 18.3% to 83.3 ± 19.0% (. CONCLUSION: The home-based RMT is an effective pulmonary function training for MG patients. The RMT can not only improve short-term outcomes but also reduce fatigue in patients with mild to moderate generalized MG.

Patient and provider factors associated with enrolment in the pre-end-stage renal disease pay-for-performance programme in Taiwan: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Taiwan have been ranked the highest worldwide. Therefore, the National Health Insurance Administration has implemented the pre-ESRD pay-for-performance (P4P) programme since November 2006, which had significantly reduced the incidence of dialysis and all-cause mortality. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with the enrolment in the pre-ESRD P4P programme. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The National Health Insurance research database 2007-2012 in Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with prevalent pre-ESRD aged more than 18 years between January 2007 and December 2012 were enrolled. Patient demographics and hospital characteristics between P4P and non-P4P groups were compared. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the factors associated with P4P enrolment, and a generalised estimating equation was used to verify the results. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: Enrolment in the pre-ESRD P4P programme. RESULTS: In total, 82 991 patients were enrolled in the programme, with a 45.6% participation rate. Patients who were males (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.89, 95% CI=0.86 to 0.91) and employed (AOR=0.95, 95% CI=0.92 to 0.97) had a significantly lower probability to be enrolled in the programme. Older patients (66-75 years old, AOR=1.23, 95% CI=1.14 to 1.33) and those with higher Charlson Comorbidities Index (CCI 5+, AOR=4.01, 95% CI=3.55 to 4.53) tended to be enrolled in the programme, while those in the 76+ years age group were not (AOR=1.03, 95% CI=0.95 to 1.13). Hospitals located in the central (AOR=1.48, 95% CI=1.05 to 2.08) and Kao-Ping regions (AOR=1.62, 95% CI=1.18 to 2.22) also tended to enrol patients in the pre-ESRD P4P programme. Enrolment rates increased over time. CONCLUSION: Pre-ESRD patients of the female gender, greater age and more comorbidities were more likely to be enrolled in the pre-ESRD P4P programme. Healthcare providers and health authorities should focus attention on patients who are male, younger and with less comorbidities to improve the healthcare quality and equality for all pre-ESRD patients.

Increased circulating endothelial progenitor cells and improved short-term outcomes in acute non-cardioembolic stroke after hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability, and profiles of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) reflect the degree of endothelial impairment. This study tested the hypothesis that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) both improves the clinical short-term outcomes and increases the number of circulating EPCs and antioxidant capacity. METHODS: The numbers of circulating EPCs [CD133+/CD34+ (%), KDR+/CD34+ (%)], biomarkers for oxidative stress (thiols and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances), and clinical scores (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS], Barthel index [BI], and modified Rankin Scale [MRS]) were prospectively evaluated in 25 patients with acute non-cardioembolic stroke under HBOT at two time points (pre- and post-HBOT). The biomarkers and clinical scores were compared with those of 25 age- and sex-matched disease controls. RESULTS: The numbers of KDR+/CD34+ (%) in the HBOT group following HBOT increased significantly, whereas the numbers of CD133+/CD34+ (%) also showed a tendency to increase without statistical significance. The mean high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels showed significant decrease post-HBOT follow-up in the HBOT group. The changes in KDR+/CD34+EPC (%) numbers were positively correlated with changes in clinical outcomes scores (BI, NIHSS, and MRS) in the HBOT group. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of our study, HBOT can both improve short-term clinical outcomes and increase the number of circulating EPCs in patients with acute non-cardioembolic stroke.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Anti-HER2 Indocyanine Green-Encapsulated PEG-Coated PLGA Nanoparticles for Targeted Phototherapy of Breast Cancer Cells.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressed breast cancer is known to be more aggressive and resistant to medicinal treatment and therefore to whom an alternative therapeutics is needed. Indocyanine green (ICG) has been widely exploited in breast cancer phototherapy. However, drawbacks of accelerated degradation and short half-life (2-4 min) in blood seriously hamper its use in the clinic. To overcome these challenges, an anti-HER2 ICG-encapsulated polyethylene glycol-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (HIPPNPs) were developed in this study. Through the analyses of degradation rate coefficients of ICG with and without polymeric encapsulation, the photostability of HIPPNP-entrapped ICG significantly enhanced 4 folds (P < 0.05) while its thermal stabilities at 4 and 37°C significantly enhanced 5 and 3 (P < 0.05 for each) folds, respectively, under equal lighting and/or heating treatment for 48 h. The target specificity of HIPPNPs to HER2-positive cells was demonstrated based on a 6-fold (P < 0.05) enhancement of uptake efficiency of HIPPNPs in MDA-MB-453/HER2(+) cells within 4 h as compared with that in MCF7/HER2(-) cells. Moreover, the HIPPNPs with ≤ 25 µM ICG equivalent were nontoxic to cells in the absence of light illumination, and enabled to generate similar amount of singlet oxygen and hyperthermia effect as compared with that used by free ICG upon NIR irradiation. After 808 nm-laser irradiation with intensity of 6 W/cm2 for 5 min, the viability of MDA-MB-453 cells pre-treated by HIPPNPs with ≥ 5 µM ICG equivalent for 4 h significantly reduced as compared with that treated by equal concentration of free ICG (P < 0.05) and > 90% of the cells were eradicated while the dose of HIPPNPs was increased to 25 µM ICG equivalent. In summary, the developed HIPPNPs are anticipated as a feasible tool for use in phototherapy of breast cancer cells with HER2 expression.

The Dark-Purple Tea Cultivar 'Ziyan' Accumulates a Large Amount of Delphinidin-Related Anthocyanins.

Recently, we developed a novel tea cultivar 'Ziyan' with distinct purple leaves. There was a significant correlation between leaf color and anthocyanin pigment content in the leaves. A distinct allocation of metabolic flow for B-ring trihydroxylated anthocyanins and catechins in 'Ziyan' was observed. Delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin (88.15 mg/100 g FW in total) but no other anthocyanin pigments were detected in 'Ziyan', and delphinidin (70.76 mg/100 g FW) was particularly predominant. An analysis of the catechin content in 'Ziyan' and eight other cultivars indicated that 'Ziyan' exhibits a preference for synthesizing B-ring trihydroxylated catechins (with a proportion of 74%). The full-length cDNA sequences of flavonoid pathway genes were isolated by RNA-Seq coupled with conventional TA cloning, and their expression patterns were characterized. Purple-leaved cultivars had lower amounts of total catechins, polyphenols, and water extract than ordinary non-anthocyanin cultivars but similar levels of caffeine. Because dark-purple-leaved Camellia species are rare in nature, this study provides new insights into the interplay between the accumulations of anthocyanins and other bioactive components in tea leaves.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF AMOMUM VILLOSUM: A SYSTEMATIC INVESTIGATION ON THREE DIFFERENT PRODUCTION MODES.

BACKGROUND: Amomum Villosum (A. Villosum), called Chunsharen in Chinese, is widely used in treating gastrointestinal disease. Its clinical benefits have been confirmed by both in vitro and in vivo studies. Facing the shortage of wild A. Villosum, artificial cultivating and natural fostering have been practiced in recent years. Therefore, it would be wondered whether the three different types of A. Villosum are comparable or not, particularly the herbal qualities, technological challenges, ecological impacts and economic benefits. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we combined quality research by using GC-MS, and field investigation to provide a systematic assessment about the three types of A. Villosum from these four aspects. RESULTS: It found that the wild type had low output and was in an endangered situation. The artificial cultivation had larger agriculturing area with higher productivity, but faced the ecological challenges. Lastly, the natural fostering type generated the highest economic benefit and relatively low ecological impact. In addition, the natural fostering type had relatively better quality than the other types. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it suggests that natural fostering can be applied for long-term sustainable development of A. Villosum.

[Effect of compound Chinese traditional medicine PC-SPES II in inhibiting proliferation of human prostate cancer cell LNCaP and on expressions of AR and PSA].

To investigate the effect of compound Chinese traditional medicine PC-SPES II I in inhibiting proliferation of human prostate cancer cell LNCaP based on the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway. The effect of PC-SPES II on LNCaP cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. According to the findings, at the mass concentration of 180-1 440 mg x L(-1), PC-SPES II significantly inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells; the IC50 of PC-SPES II at 24 h and 48 h were 311.48, 199.01 mg x L(-1), respectively. The flow Cytometry detection showed 240 mg x L(-1) PC-SPES II arrested cells in G2/M phase, and an obvious apoptotic peak appeared before G0/G1 peak and rose over time. Meanwhile, Hoechst 33258 staining revealed apoptotic cellular morphology. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining manifested an increase in apoptotic cell ratio at the PC-SPES II concentration of 480 mg x L(-1) in a dose dependent manner. The prostate specific antigen (PSA) secretion of LNCaP cells was tested by PSA ELISA kit. Besides, compared with 25 mg x L(-1) Bic, 480 mg x L(-1) PC-SPES II significantly reduced the cell secretion of PSA. The AR and PSA mRNA and protein expressions were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. According to the results, after the induction of LNCaP cells with synthetic androgen 25 µg x L(-1) R1881, 240-480 mg x L(-1) PC-SPES II notably down-regulated the AR and PSA mRNA and protein expressions and inhibited the translocation of AR from cytoplasm to nucleus. In summary, PC-SPES II significantly can inhibit the in vitro proliferation of LNCaP cells and arrest cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase. Its mechanism may be associated with the down-regulation of the AR and PSA expressions and the inhibition of AR nuclear translocation.

Benefits of high-dose N-acetylcysteine to exacerbation-prone patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND: Although high-dose N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been suggested to reduce COPD exacerbations, it is unclear which category of patients with COPD would benefit most from NAC treatment. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of high-dose NAC (600 mg bid) between high-risk and low-risk Chinese patients with COPD. METHODS: Patients with spirometry-confirmed stable COPD were randomized to treatment with either NAC 600 mg bid or placebo in addition to their usual treatments. Patients were followed up every 16 weeks for a total of 1 year. Further analysis was performed according to each patient's exacerbation risk at baseline as defined by the current GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) strategy to analyze the effect of high-dose NAC in high-risk and low-risk patients. RESULTS: Of the 120 patients with COPD randomized (men, 93.2%; mean age, 70.8 ± 0.74 years; prebronchodilator FEV1, 53.9 ± 2.0%; baseline characteristics comparable between treatment groups), 108 (NAC, 52; placebo, 56) completed the 1-year study. For high-risk patients (n = 89), high-dose NAC compared with placebo significantly reduced exacerbation frequency (0.85 vs 1.59 [P = .019] and 1.08 vs 2.22 [P = .04] at 8 and 12 months, respectively), prolonged time to first exacerbation (P = .02), and increased the probability of being exacerbation free at 1 year (51.3% vs 24.4%, P = .013). This beneficial effect of high-dose NAC vs placebo was not significant in low-risk patients. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose NAC (600 mg bid) for 1 year reduces exacerbations and prolongs time to first exacerbation in high-risk but not in low-risk Chinese patients with COPD. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01136239; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Population-based cohort study on the increase in the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus development from nonapnea sleep disorders.

OBJECTIVES: The evidence concerning the relationship between nonapnea sleep disorders and the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is scant and elusive. Our study aimed to examine if nonapnea sleep disorders increase the risk for DM using a population-based retrospective cohort study from 1997 to 2010. METHODS: In the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), 45,602 patients with nonapnea sleep disorders were identified as the study cohort. The comparison cohort was formed by 91,204 age- and gender-matched controls. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the risk for developing DM. RESULTS: In 45,602 patients with nonapnea sleep disorders, 7241 new cases of DM were reported during the follow-up period. The mean follow-up time was 9.04 (standard deviation [SD], 3.33) and 8.96 (SD, 3.47) for the nonapnea sleep disorders cohort and the comparison cohort, respectively. The incidence rate of DM was higher in the nonapnea sleep disorder cohort than in the comparison cohort (17.6 vs 13.3 per 1000 individuals-years). Overall, patients with nonapnea sleep disorders had a higher risk for DM compared to patients without nonapnea sleep disorders (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.05 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.02-1.08]). Men with nonapnea sleep disorders had a higher risk for DM than the men in the comparison group (adjusted HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.03-1.14]). Among subjects aged less than 40years, patients with nonapnea sleep disorders had a higher risk for DM than the comparison group (adjusted HR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.27-1.59]). Compared with the comparison cohort, patients with sleep disturbance had an 11% higher risk for DM (adjusted HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.07-1.16]). CONCLUSION: Compared to patients without nonapnea sleep disorders, patients with nonapnea sleep disorders had a higher risk for developing DM, especially among those who were less than 40years of age and who had sleep disturbances.