Tea seed saponin­reduced extract ameliorates palmitic acid­induced insulin resistance in HepG2 cells.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) seed cake is a potential resource that contains a wealth of bioactive compounds. However, the high toxicity of tea saponins in tea seed cake restricts its applications. The present study aimed to i) develop a method of extracting bioactive compounds and reducing tea saponins during the process of tea seed cake extraction and ii) investigate the anti­insulin resistance effect of tea seed saponin­reduced extract (TSSRE) in a palmitic acid (PA)­induced insulin resistance HepG2­cell model. The concentration of tea saponins in TSSRE was ~10­fold lower than that in tea seed crude extract (TSCE) after the saponin­reduction process. In addition, TSSRE cytotoxicity was significantly lower than that of TSCE in HepG2 cells. TSSRE treatment improved glucose consumption as well as glucose transporter (GLUT) 2 and GLUT4 expression levels in PA­stimulated HepG2 cells. Moreover, TSSRE enhanced the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate 1/protein kinase B/forkhead box protein O1/glycogen synthase kinase 3ß and inhibited the elevated expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in PA­exposed HepG2 cells. The effect of TSSRE on the mediation of the insulin signaling pathway was attributed to the inhibition of PA­induced mitogen­activated protein kinase activation. The findings of the present study indicated that TSSRE ameliorates hepatic insulin resistance by ameliorating insulin signaling and inhibiting inflammation-related pathways.

Prostate­specific antigen density and preoperative MRI findings as predictors of biochemical recurrence in high­risk and very high­risk prostate cancer.

Patients with high-risk prostate cancer after prostatectomy have a particularly high chance of being diagnosed with biochemical recurrence (BCR). Patients with BCR have a greater risk of disease progression and mortality. The present retrospective observational study aimed to clarify the risk factors for the BCR of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy in patients with high-risk and very high-risk prostate cancer. Patients diagnosed with prostate cancer who received radical prostatectomy in a single center from January 2009 to June 2020 were included in the study. Data from medical records were reviewed and the patients were followed up for ≥6 years. The primary outcome was BCR within 1 year after surgery. A total of 307 patients were included, with 187 in the high-risk group and 120 in the very high-risk group as classified by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. Patients in the very high-risk group had a lower BCR-free survival rate compared with those in the high-risk group, with a high risk of BCR even if their PSA levels were initially undetectable after prostatectomy, and a high risk of postoperatively detectable PSA. In patients with undetectable PSA after prostatectomy, BCR was associated with the initial PSA density, imaging stage (T3aN0M0 and T3bN0M0), and pathologic stage (any N1). Postoperatively detectable PSA was associated with pathologic stage (T3bN0M0 and any N1) In conclusion, preoperative MRI imaging stage and PSA density are predictors for short-term BCR after prostatectomy. NCCN-defined high-risk patients with a high initial PSA density, imaging stage (T3aN0M0 and T3bN0M0), and pathologic stage (any N1) had a higher risk of BCR when compared with other patients with undetectable PSA, while those with pathologic stage (T3bN0M0 or any N1) displayed a higher risk of postoperatively detectable PSA. These findings may help urologists to identify patients for whom active therapeutic protocols are necessary.

Health benefits of anthocyanin-containing foods, beverages, and supplements have unpredictable relation to gastrointestinal microbiota: A systematic review and meta-analysis of random clinical trials.

Anthocyanins are a type of natural pigment that has numerous health benefits. In recent years, the interaction of anthocyanins with gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota has been presented as a viable paradigm for explaining anthocyanin activities. The current study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the potential modulation of GI microbiota by anthocyanins in human health improvement. Clinical trials were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Knowledge, China Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and ClinicalTrials.gov with no language restrictions. Eight clinical trials (252 participants) were selected from the 1121 identified studies and the relative phylum abundance extracted from the trials was analyzed using a random-effects model. Based on the analysis, anthocyanins had no effect on the relative abundance of Firmicutes (standard mean difference [SMD]: -0.46 [-1.25 to 0.34], P = .26), Proteobacteria (SMD, -0.32 [-0.73 to 0.09], P = .13), nor Actinobacteria (SMD, -0.19 [-0.50 to 0.12], P = 0.24), but influenced the abundance of Bacteroidetes (SMD, 0.84 [0.17 to 1.52], P = .01) when compared with placebo/control. No significant influence on the relative abundance was detected when the data were analyzed following the "posttreatment vs. pretreatment" strategy. Our preliminary analysis revealed that the effects of anthocyanins on human GI microbiota vary between studies and individuals, and at the current stage, the clinical trials regarding the effects of anthocyanin interventions on human GI microbiota are lacking. More trials with larger sample sizes are needed to promote the clinical application of anthocyanins.

Anticancer Effects of Morusin in Prostate Cancer via Inhibition of Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most prevalent cancer in men worldwide. The majority of PCa incidences eventually progress to castration-resistant PCa (CRPC), thereby establishing an urgent need for new effective therapeutic strategies. This study aims to examine the effects of morusin, a prenylated flavonoid isolated from Morus alba L., on PCa progression and identify the regulatory mechanism of morusin. Cell growth, cell migration and invasion, and the expression of EMT markers were examined. Cycle progression and cell apoptosis were examined using flow cytometry and a TUNEL assay, while transcriptome analysis was performed using RNA-seq with results being further validated using real-time PCR and western blot. A xenograft PCa model was used to examine tumor growth. Our experimental results indicated that morusin significantly attenuated the growth of PC-3 and 22Rv1 human PCa cells; moreover, morusin significantly suppressed TGF-[Formula: see text]-induced cell migration and invasion and inhibited EMT in PC-3 and 22Rv1 cells. Significantly, morusin treatment caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and induced cell apoptosis in PC-3 and 22Rv1 cells. Morusin also attenuated tumor growth in a xenograft murine model. The results of RNA-seq indicated that morusin regulated PCa cells through the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, while our western blot results confirmed that morusin suppressed phosphorylation of AKT, mTOR, p70S6K, and downregulation of the expression of Raptor and Rictor in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that morusin has antitumor activities on regulating PCa progression, including migration, invasion, and formation of metastasis, and might be a potential drug for CRPC treatment.

Magnolol regulates miR-200c-3p to inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition and retinoblastoma progression by modulating the ZEB1/E-cadherin axis in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Retinoblastoma, the most common pediatric intraocular malignancy, can develop during embryogenesis, with most children being diagnosed at 3-4 years of age. Multimodal therapies are typically associated with high levels of cytotoxicity and side effects. Therefore, the development of novel treatments with minimal side effects is crucial. Magnolol has a significant anti-tumor effect on various cancers. However, its antitumor effect on retinoblastoma remains unclear. PURPOSE: The study aimed to determine the effects of magnolol on the regulation of EMT, migration, invasion, and cancer progression in retinoblastoma and the modulation of miR-200c-3p expression and the Wnt/ zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1)/E-cadherin axis in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay was used to evaluate magnolol-induced cell toxicity in the Y79 retinoblastoma cell line. Flow cytometry and immunostaining assays were performed to investigate the magnolol-regulated mitochondrial membrane potential and the intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels in Y79 retinoblastoma cells. Orthotopic and subcutaneous xenograft experiments were performed in eight-week-old male null mice to study retinoblastoma progression and metastasis. In situ hybridization and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays were performed to evaluate the level of the anti-cancer miRNA miR-200c-3p. The mRNA and protein levels of E-cadherin, ß-catenin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), fibronectin-1, and ZEB1 were analyzed using RT-qPCR, immunoblot, immunocytochemistry, and immunohistochemistry assays in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: Magnolol increased E-cadherin levels and reduced the activation of the EMT signaling pathway, EMT, tumor growth, metastasis, and cancer progression in the Y79 retinoblastoma cell line as well as in the orthotopic and subcutaneous xenograft animal models. Furthermore, magnolol increased the expression of miR-200c-3p. Our results demonstrate that miRNA-200c-3p inhibits EMT progression through the Wnt16/ß-catenin/ZEB1/E-cadherin axis, and the ZEB1 silencing response shows that miR-200c-3p regulates ZEB1-mediated EMT in retinoblastoma. CONCLUSION: Magnolol has an antitumor effect by increasing E-cadherin and miRNA-200c-3p expression to regulate ZEB1-mediated EMT and cancer progression in retinoblastoma. The anti-tumor effect of magnolol by increasing E-cadherin and miRNA-200c-3p expression to regulate ZEB1-mediated EMT and cancer progression in retinoblastoma has been elucidated for the first time.

Research progress on effects of traditional Chinese medicine on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury: A review.

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a high-risk disease in the middle-aged and elderly population. The ischemic heart may be further damaged after reperfusion therapy with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and other methods, namely, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), which further affects revascularization and hinders patient rehabilitation. Therefore, the investigation of new therapies against MIRI has drawn great global attention. Within the long history of the prevention and treatment of MIRI, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has increasingly been recognized by the scientific community for its multi-component and multi-target effects. These multi-target effects provide a conspicuous advantage to the anti-MIRI of TCM to overcome the shortcomings of single-component drugs, thereby pointing toward a novel avenue for the treatment of MIRI. However, very few reviews have summarized the currently available anti-MIRI of TCM. Therefore, a systematic data mining of TCM for protecting against MIRI will certainly accelerate the processes of drug discovery and help to identify safe candidates with synergistic formulations. The present review aims to describe TCM-based research in MIRI treatment through electronic retrieval of articles, patents, and ethnopharmacology documents. This review reported the progress of research on the active ingredients, efficacy, and underlying mechanism of anti-MIRI in TCM and TCM formulas, provided scientific support to the clinical use of TCM in the treatment of MIRI, and revealed the corresponding clinical significance and development prospects of TCM in treating MIRI.

Antiviral Properties of Pennisetum purpureum Extract against Coronaviruses and Enteroviruses.

Many severe epidemics are caused by enteroviruses (EVs) and coronaviruses (CoVs), including feline coronavirus (FCoV) in cats, epidemic diarrhea disease virus (PEDV) in pigs, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in chickens, and EV71 in human. Vaccines and antiviral drugs are used to prevent and treat the infection of EVs and CoVs, but the effectiveness is affected due to rapidly changing RNA viruses. Many plant extracts have been proven to have antiviral properties despite the continuous mutations of viruses. Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) has high phenolic content and has been used as healthy food materials, livestock feed, biofuels, and more. This study tested the antiviral properties of P. purpureum extract against FCoV, PEDV, IBV, and EV71 by in vitro cytotoxicity assay, TCID50 virus infection assay, and chicken embryo infection assay. The findings showed that P. purpureum extract has the potential of being disinfectant to limit the spread of CoVs and EVs because the extract can inhibit the infection of EV71, FCoV, and PEDV in cells, and significantly reduce the severity of symptoms caused by IBV in chicken embryos.

Improvement in the Blood Urea Nitrogen and Serum Creatinine Using New Cultivation of Cordyceps militaris.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a critical public health issue with a huge financial burden for both patients and society worldwide. Unfortunately, there are currently no efficacious therapies to prevent or delay the progression of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Traditional Chinese medicine practices have shown that Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) mycelia have a variety of pharmacologically useful properties, including antitumor, immunomodulation, and hepatoprotection. However, the effect of mycelial C. militaris on CKD remains unclear. Methods: Here, we investigated the effects of C. militaris mycelia on mice with CKD using four types of media: HKS, HKS with vitamin A (HKS + A), CM, and CM with vitamin A (CM + A). Results: The results at day 10 revealed that the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly lower in the HKS (41%), HKS + A (41%), and CM + A (34%) groups compared with those in the corresponding control groups (nephrectomic mice). The level of serum creatinine in the HKS + A group decreased by 35% at day 10, whereas the levels in the HKS and CM + A groups decreased only by 14% and 13%, respectively, on day 30. Taken together, this is the first report using four new media (HKS, HKS + A, CM, and CM + A medium) for C. militaris mycelia. Each medium of mycelial C. militaris on CKD exhibits specific effect on BUN, serum creatinine, body weight, total protein, and uric acid. Conclusions: Taken together, this is the first report using four new media (HKS, HKS + A, CM, and CM + A medium) for C. militaris mycelia. Each medium of mycelial C. militaris on CKD exhibits specific effects on BUN, serum creatinine, body weight, total protein, and uric acid. We concluded that treatment with C. militaris mycelia cultured in HKS or CM + A medium could potentially prevent the deterioration of kidney function in mice with CKD.

Medicinal Components in Edible Mushrooms on Diabetes Mellitus Treatment.

Mushrooms belong to the family "Fungi" and became famous for their medicinal properties and easy accessibility all over the world. Because of its pharmaceutical properties, including anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties, it became a hot topic among scientists. However, depending on species and varieties, most of the medicinal properties became indistinct. With this interest, an attempt has been made to scrutinize the role of edible mushrooms (EM) in diabetes mellitus treatment. A systematic contemporary literature review has been carried out from all records such as Science Direct, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar with an aim to represents the work has performed on mushrooms focuses on diabetes, insulin resistance (IR), and preventive mechanism of IR, using different kinds of mushroom extracts. The final review represents that EM plays an important role in anticipation of insulin resistance with the help of active compounds, i.e., polysaccharide, vitamin D, and signifies α-glucosidase or α-amylase preventive activities. Although most of the mechanism is not clear yet, many varieties of mushrooms' medicinal properties have not been studied properly. So, in the future, further investigation is needed on edible medicinal mushrooms to overcome the research gap to use its clinical potential to prevent non-communicable diseases.

Effects of Variation in Al Content on the Emission of Eu Doped CaAlSiN3 Red Phosphor Synthesized by Combustion Synthesis Method for White LEDs.

Effects of Al content on the formation and the photoluminescence properties of CaAlSiN3:Eu2+ phosphor (CASIN) were investigated by a combustion synthesis method. XRD (X-ray diffraction), combined with PL (photoluminescence), TEM-EDS (transmission electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope), and SAED (selected area electron diffraction) measurements, show that the bar-like CASIN gives a stronger emission than the plate-like and agglomerated fine particles. The emission intensity increases as the Al content increased from Al = 0.2 to Al = 0.8, which resulted from the extent of formation of CASIN increases. Then, the emission intensity decreases as the Al content is increased from Al = 0.8 to Al = 1.5, which resulted from the transformation of morphology of CASIN and a large amount formation of AlN. In addition, the extent of formation of CASIN increases with increasing Al from Al = 0.2 to Al = 1.2 and begins to decrease as Al is further increased to 1.5, and thus the peak emission wavelength increases from 647 nm to 658 nm as the Al molar ratio is increased from 0.2 to 1.2 and begins to decrease when further increasing the Al molar ratio to 1.5, which resulted from the large amount of AlN formed.

Effect of Blueberry Anthocyanin-Rich Extracts on Peripheral and Hippocampal Antioxidant Defensiveness: The Analysis of the Serum Fatty Acid Species and Gut Microbiota Profile.

The current study investigated the positive effects of blueberry anthocyanin-rich extracts (BAE) on either peripheral or hippocampal antioxidant defensiveness and established the connection of the improved antioxidant status with the altered fatty acid species and gut microbiota profile. High-fat diet-induced oxidative stress in C57BL/6 mice was attenuated by BAE administration, which was reflected by strengthened antioxidant enzymes, alleviated hepatic steatosis, and improved hippocampal neuronal status. Serum lipidomics analysis indicated that the fatty acid species were altered toward the elevated unsaturated/saturated ratio, along with phospholipid species toward enriched n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions. The modulated antioxidant pattern could be attributed to the increased bacteria diversity, stimulated probiotics (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus) and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producers (Roseburia, Faecalibaculum, and Parabacteroides) improved by anthocyanins and their metabolites, which improved the colon environment, characterized by promoted SCFAs, restored colonic mucosa, and reorganized microbial structure. Thus, anthocyanin-rich dietary intervention is a promising approach for the defensiveness in human oxidative damage and neurodegeneration.

Effects of α-casein and ß-casein on the stability, antioxidant activity and bioaccessibility of blueberry anthocyanins with an in vitro simulated digestion.

Blueberry anthocyanins are well-known for their diverse biological functions. However, the instability during digestion results in their weak bioavailability. The current study aimed to investigate the alteration in the stability, antioxidant capacity and bioaccessibility of blueberry anthocyanins with the addition of α-casein and ß-casein in a simulated digestion system using pH differential method, HPLC-MS analysis, peroxyl scavenging capacity (PSC) assay, cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and penetration test. The results showed that both α-casein and ß-casein could increase the stability of blueberry anthocyanins during intestinal digestion and protect their antioxidant capacity. Moreover, the addition of α-casein or ß-casein would enhance the bioaccessibility of blueberry anthocyanins. In conclusion, our study highlights that the interaction between α-casein or ß-casein with blueberry anthocyanins can protect the compounds against influences associated with the simulated digestion.

Bioactive flavonoids from Rubus corchorifolius inhibit α-glucosidase and α-amylase to improve postprandial hyperglycemia.

This research established an optimized method for the extraction and enrichment of flavonoids from R. corchorifolius fruit. Under the optimized extraction conditions, 12 flavonoids (1-12) were isolated, of which six (2-4, 9-10, 12) were obtained from R. corchorifolius for the first time. Compound 4 showed significant α-glucosidase (4.96 µM) and α-amylase (8.04 µM) inhibitory effects. Molecular modeling revealed that compound 4 exhibits strong binding with the active sites of α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis and surface plasmon resonance revealed the possible dynamic binding mechanism of the flavonoids with α-glucosidase and α-amylase. The enriched flavonoids and compound 4 showed significant hypoglycemic effects in mice administered a high dose of glucose. In this study, a variety of flavonoids with hypoglycemic activity were found for the first time, revealing the rich chemical composition of R. corchorifolius fruit and highlighting the potential value of R. corchorifolius fruit flavonoids as dietary supplements.

Effects of high hydrostatic pressure on the binding capacity, interaction, and antioxidant activity of the binding products of cyanidin-3-glucoside and blueberry pectin.

In this study, the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HP) treatment on the binding capacity, interaction, and antioxidant activity of the binding products of blueberry pectin (BP) and cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G) were assessed. HP was found to significantly improve the adsorption between C3G and BP. After binding, the C3G concentration was found to be the highest (382.1 ± 13.2 µg/mg for BP) when using a C3G-BP mass ratio of 1:2, a pressure of 400 MPa, and a holding time of 15 min. HP processing decreased particle size and altered the characteristics of C3G-BP complexes. The main binding form of the complexes before HP treatment was pectin-wrapped C3G by hydrogen bond interaction, while HP caused charged groups in pectin to be more exposed and improve the electrostatic interaction between C3G and BP. The antioxidant activity results showed that the presence of BP could protect the ferric-reducing antioxidant power of C3G after HP treatment.

Serum Ceramide Reduction by Blueberry Anthocyanin-Rich Extract Alleviates Insulin Resistance in Hyperlipidemia Mice.

Blueberry anthocyanin-rich extract (BAE) was supplemented to high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice to investigate sphingolipid metabolism modulating factors involved in the attenuated hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia. A BAE-containing diet effectively controlled food intake and liver weight and significantly attenuated insulin resistance triggered by a HFD. Higher BAE (200 mg/kg of body weight) administration performed more efficiently in the improvement of hepatic steatosis and adipocyte hypertrophy, together with distinct suppressions in serum triacylglycerol and cholesterol in total and species. Serum lipid compositions revealed 200 mg/kg of BAE supplementation remarkably suppressed ceramide accumulation. Consistently, genes encoding enzymes associated with sphingomyelin conversion and ceramide de novo synthesis were modulated toward a healthy direction for restrained sphingolipid accumulation. Further, the inhibited mRNA expressions of protein phosphatase 2A and protein kinase Cζ involved in blocking Akt phosphorylation connected the controlled ceramides with the restored insulin sensitivity.

DriverDBv3: a multi-omics database for cancer driver gene research.

An integrative multi-omics database is needed urgently, because focusing only on analysis of one-dimensional data falls far short of providing an understanding of cancer. Previously, we presented DriverDB, a cancer driver gene database that applies published bioinformatics algorithms to identify driver genes/mutations. The updated DriverDBv3 database (http://ngs.ym.edu.tw/driverdb) is designed to interpret cancer omics' sophisticated information with concise data visualization. To offer diverse insights into molecular dysregulation/dysfunction events, we incorporated computational tools to define CNV and methylation drivers. Further, four new features, CNV, Methylation, Survival, and miRNA, allow users to explore the relations from two perspectives in the 'Cancer' and 'Gene' sections. The 'Survival' panel offers not only significant survival genes, but gene pairs synergistic effects determine. A fresh function, 'Survival Analysis' in 'Customized-analysis,' allows users to investigate the co-occurring events in user-defined gene(s) by mutation status or by expression in a specific patient group. Moreover, we redesigned the web interface and provided interactive figures to interpret cancer omics' sophisticated information, and also constructed a Summary panel in the 'Cancer' and 'Gene' sections to visualize the features on multi-omics levels concisely. DriverDBv3 seeks to improve the study of integrative cancer omics data by identifying driver genes and contributes to cancer biology.

Organic degrading bacteria and nitrifying bacteria stimulate the nutrient removal and biomass accumulation in microalgae-based system from piggery digestate.

The microalgae-based system has been applied in anaerobic digestate treatment for nutrient removal and biomass production. To optimize its performance in treating piggery digestate, here, commercial bacterial agents, including organic degrading bacteria (Cb) and nitrifying bacteria (Nb), were inoculated into the microalgae-based system dominated by Desmodesmus sp. CHX1 (D). Reactor DN (inoculated with D and Nb) and DCN (inoculated with D, and Cb to Nb at a ratio of 1:2) have better performance on NH4+-N removal, with a final efficiency at 40.26% and 39.87%, respectively, and no NO3--N or NO2--N accumulations. The final total chlorophyll concentration, an indicator of microalgal growth, reached 4.74 and 5.47 mg/L in DN and DCN, respectively, three times more than that in D. These results suggested that high NH4+-N removal was achieved by the assimilation into high microalgal biomass after the inoculation with functional bacteria. High-throughput sequencing showed that the richness of microbial community decreased but the evenness increased by inoculating functional microorganisms. Microalgae aggregating bacteria were Cellvibrio, Sphingobacterium, Flavobacterium, Comamonas, Microbacterium, Dyadobacter, and Paenibacillus. This study revealed that the inoculation with functional bacteria reconstructed the microbial community which benefited for the microalgal growth and nutrient removal, providing a promising strategy for treating highly-concentrated digestate.

Identification of Cyanidin-3-arabinoside Extracted from Blueberry as a Selective Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Inhibitor.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is an important target for type 2 diabetes. PTP1B inhibitors can reduce blood glucose levels by increasing insulin sensitivity. Anthocyanins often play a hypoglycemic effect, but the research about them have mainly focused on glucosidase. At present, the research about protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) target is less, and the corresponding molecular mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, in this present study, anthocyanins isolated from blueberry were used to study the inhibitory activity on PTP1B. The isolated cyanidin-3-arabinoside (Cya-3-Ara) exhibited a better inhibitory activity with IC50 = 8.91 ± 0.63 µM, which was higher than the positive control (oleanolic acid, IC50 = 13.9 ± 1.01 µM), and the mechanism of PTP1B inhibition was reversible mixed pattern. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) between anthocyanins and PTP1B inhibition was investigated. The enzyme activity inhibition and molecular docking showed that anthocyanins had high selectivity for PTP1B inhibition. Further study showed that Cya-3-Ara could promote glycogen synthesis through ameliorating PTP1B-involved IRS-1/PI3K/Akt/GSK3ß pathways. Cya-3-Ara could also be regarded as a synergistic inhibitor (CI ≤ 0.54) of oleanolic acid to obtain a better inhibitory effect on PTP1B. Taken together, our study clearly illustrates the SAR between anthocyanins and PTP1B inhibition and the mechanism of Cya-3-Ara in the insulin signaling pathway.

Kinesiology taping with exercise does not provide additional improvement in round shoulder subjects with impingement syndrome: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Round shoulder posture (RSP) may exaggerate symptoms of subacromial impingement. The effects of kinesiology taping with exercise on posture, pain, and functional performance were investigated in subjects with impingement and RSP. DESIGN: This study was a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. SETTING: An outpatient rehabilitation clinic in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-four subjects with subacromial impingement and RSP. INTERVENTIONS: Kinesiology taping with and without tension was applied 2 times per week for 4 weeks. Both groups also performed strengthening and stretching exercises 3 times per week for 4 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The pain level, shoulder angle and self-reported score were evaluated at pre-intervention, 2-week post-intervention and 4-week post-intervention time points. RESULTS: Functional performance improved after intervention in both groups (p = 0.027). A greater decrease in pain level was related to better functional performance of the shoulder in both groups (r = -0.760 and -0.674; p < 0.010). Moderate correlations were found for posture and functional performance of the shoulder in the intervention group (0.48). CONCLUSION: Four weeks of strengthening and stretching exercises with or without kinesiology taping improved functional performance in subjects with impingement and RSP. Improvement in clinical symptoms was related to better performance of posture.

Persistent organic pollutant lindane degradation by alkaline cold-brew green tea.

The environmental persistence of hazardous organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) such as lindane has resulted in a need for the development of reliable remediation technology for the removal of OCPs. Green tea extract/Fe2+ under alkaline conditions is a potential green chemistry technology proven to be effective in reducing lindane. This study investigated the feasibility of directly using green tea leaves (GT-leaf) or cold-brew tea solution (GT-sol) with Fe2+ additives at (bi)carbonate buffered pH 10 to treat lindane in the aqueous phase. The polyphenol was gradually released in the GT-leaf system and reached a similar concentration as that in the GT-sol system (∼800 mg L-1 at pH 6.5). Based on the analytical results of lindane degradation byproducts, it was recognized that the reductive mechanism acts as a major pathway and alkaline hydrolysis is a minor pathway. However, physical adsorption rapidly removes lindane from the GT-leaf system. A comprehensive evaluation of lindane degradation, chlorobenzene formation, degradation kinetics, and chloride liberation were conducted for the alkaline GT-sol/Fe2+ system. The nonlinear simulations of the models developed showed good fits, with R2 > 0.96. This study highlights the potential for GT-sol/Fe2+ systems to remediate OCPs contamination.