Eriodictyon angustifolium extract, but not Eriodictyon californicum extract, reduces human hair greying.

OBJECTIVE: Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon angustifolium and Eriodictyon californicum) has been used for many years in traditional medicine. However, the effect of Yerba Santa on melanogenesis has not yet been investigated. We aimed to assess the biological effects of Yerba Santa on hair pigmentation. METHODS: Yerba Santa extracts were assessed for their cytological effects following X-ray irradiation treatment and then tested directly for the prevention of human hair greying. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was utilized to identify the individual extract components. RESULTS: Eriodictyon angustifolium extract significantly increased melanin synthesis in the melanoma cell line through activation of the WNT/MITF/tyrosinase-signalling pathway. In contrast, E. californicum had no effect on melanin synthesis. E. angustifolium extract also demonstrated a protective effect against the damage induced by X-ray irradiation in human keratinocytes. Application of the extracts to subjects who had grey beards demonstrated a reduced number of grey beard hair per year specifically with the E. angustifolium extract. A significant decrease in grey head hair was also observed after application of E. angustifolium extract. Upregulation of gene expression related to melanin production and WNT signalling was observed after the application of E. angustifolium extract. Sterubin was the most abundant flavonoid detected by UPLC in E. angustifolium extract. In addition, sterubin showed the highest difference in terms of quantity, between E. angustifolium and E. californicum extract. CONCLUSION: Eriodictyon angustifolium extract, which is abundant in sterubin, may be suitable as a potential cosmetic and medical agent for the prevention and improvement of hair greying.

OBJECTIF: Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon angustifolium et Eriodictyon californicum) est utilisé depuis de nombreuses années en médecine traditionnelle. Cependant, l'effet de Yerba Santa sur la mélanogenèse n'a pas encore été étudié. Notre objectif était d'évaluer les effets biologiques de Yerba Santa sur la pigmentation des cheveux. MÉTHODES: Les extraits de Yerba Santa ont été évalués pour leurs effets cytologiques après un traitement d'irradiation aux rayons X, puis testés directement pour la prévention du grisonnement des cheveux humains. La chromatographie liquide ultra-performante (UPLC) a été utilisée pour identifier les composants d'extrait individuels. RÉSULTATS: L'extrait d'E. angustifolium a augmenté de manière significative la synthèse de mélanine dans la lignée cellulaire du mélanome par l'activation de la voie de signalisation WNT/MITF/tyrosinase. En revanche, E. californicum n'a eu aucun effet sur la synthèse de mélanine. L'extrait d'E. angustifolium a également démontré un effet protecteur contre les dommages induits par l'irradiation aux rayons X dans les kératinocytes humains. L'application des extraits à des sujets qui avaient une barbe grise a démontré un nombre réduit de poils gris par an spécifiquement avec l'extrait d'E. angustifolium. Une diminution significative des cheveux gris a également été observée après l'application d'extrait d'E. angustifolium. Une régulation à la hausse de l'expression des gènes liée à la production de mélanine et à la signalisation WNT a été observée après l'application d'extrait d'E. angustifolium. La stérubine était le flavonoïde le plus abondant détecté par UPLC dans l'extrait d'E. angustifolium. De plus, la stérubine a montré la plus grande différence en termes de quantité entre E. angustifolium et E. californicum. CONCLUSION: L'extrait d'E. angustifolium, qui est abondant en stérubine, peut convenir comme agent cosmétique et médical potentiel pour la prévention et l'amélioration du grisonnement des cheveux.

Recovery of high purity phosphorus from municipal wastewater secondary effluent by a high-speed adsorbent.

High purity phosphorus was recovered from municipal wastewater secondary effluent as phosphate, using a newly developed phosphorus adsorption and recovery system. A high-speed adsorbent having a unique porous structure was used in this system. The secondary effluent, showing total phosphorus (TP) of 0.1-2.1 mg P/L, was passed through an adsorbent packed column at high space velocity (SV) of 15 h(-1). The TP of the treated water was as low as 0.02-0.04 mg P/L, indicating that 97% of phosphorus in the secondary effluent was removed. The removed phosphorus was desorbed from the adsorbent by passing a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution through the column. Calcium hydroxide was added to this solution to precipitate the phosphorus as calcium phosphate. This precipitate was neutralized with hydrochloric acid aqueous solution, washed with water, and then solid-liquid separation was performed for the phosphorus recovery. The main constituent of the recovered phosphorus was apatite-type calcium phosphate, with 16% phosphorus content, which matched that of high-grade phosphorus ore. The hazardous elements content of the recovered phosphorus was exceedingly low. Therefore the recovered phosphorus can be applied to an alternative for phosphorus ore, or to a phosphate fertilizer.

Toxicological evaluation of polyphenol extract from Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) fruit.

Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) is known to be one of the best fruits rich in ascorbic acid and polyphenols. Acerola polyphenols (APs) were found to have radical scavenging activities and inhibitory effects on both alpha-glucosidase and advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) production. While polyphenols from several foodstuffs have been shown to be safe, APs, which differ from those of other foodstuffs, have not been evaluated for their toxicological properties. Here, we report preliminary toxicological and safety evaluations of crude APs (C-AP), which were obtained by eluting an XAD7HP column-adsorbed fraction of APs with 70% ethanol containing malic acid. The total polyphenol content of C-AP was 57.7% with the main polyphenols being proanthocyanidin and cyanidin-3-alpha-O-rhamnoside. For toxicological evaluations, C-AP was administered orally to rats at doses of 2000 mg/kg body weight (acute) or 100, 300, and 1000 mg/kg body weight/d for 28 (subacute) and 90 (subchronic) d. In the acute oral toxicological test, no deaths or abnormalities at necropsy on day 14 were observed, confirming that the minimum fatal dose of C-AP is greater than 2000 mg/kg body weight. In both subacute and subchronic toxicological tests, no death was recorded and the body weights and food intakes of the rats did not differ significantly from the control groups. Besides, there were no abnormal clinical signs related to administration of C-AP in any of the experimental animals. These results provide an important reference for the safety of APs as a food supplement for human consumption.

Inhibition of Ni release from NiTi alloy by hydroxyapatite, alumina, and titanium sputtered coatings.

To alleviate the effects of Ni allergy from NiTi alloy implants, hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2; HA), alumina (Al2O3), or titanium (Ti) was coated onto NiTi alloy plates to form 1-microm thick films using radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The coatings on the plates were characterized using XRD. After the plates had been immersed in physiological saline for periods of one, four, or eight weeks, the concentration of Ni ions released in each solution was detected using a microwave induced plasma mass spectrometer. After eight weeks, the concentration of Ni ions released from the non-coated, the Ti-coated, the HA-coated, and the alumina-coated plates were 238, 19.7, 183, and 106 ppb, respectively. The bonding strength of the Ti film, the HA film, and the alumina film to the NiTi substrate were 3.8 +/- 1.2, 2.6 +/- 0.7, and 3.1 +/- 1.2 MPa, respectively. The non-coated, the HA-coated, the alumina-coated, and the Ti-coated plates were implanted into the femurs of a dog for four weeks for histological observation. In case of the non-coated plates, connective tissue more than 300 microm thick was observed, whereas for the coated plates the thickness of the connective tissue was around 100 microm.

A thirteen-week oral toxicity study of annatto extract (norbixin), a natural food color extracted from the seed coat of annatto (Bixa orellana L.), in Sprague-Dawley rats.

A subchronic oral toxicity study of annatto extract (norbixin), a natural food color, was conducted. Groups of 10 male and 10 female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed annatto extract at dietary levels of 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.9% for 13 weeks. There were no treatment-related adverse effects on body weight, food and water consumption, ophthalmology and hematology data. Blood biochemical analysis revealed changes in rats of both sexes confined to the 0.9% and 0.3% groups, including increased alkaline phosphatase, phospholipid, total protein, albumin and albumin/globulin ratio. Marked elevation in absolute and relative liver weights was also found in both sexes of the 0.9% and 0.3% groups, but not the 0.1% group. Hepatocyte hypertrophy was evident and an additional electron microscopic examination demonstrated this to be linked to abundant mitochondria after exposure to a dietary level of 0.9% annatto extract for 2 weeks. Thus, the No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (NOAEL) was judged to be a dietary level of 0.1% (69 mg/kg body weight/day for males, 76 mg/kg body weight/day for females) of annatto extract (norbixin) under the present experimental conditions.

Preparation and osteocompatibility of hydroxyapatite coated on titanium from the reaction of sputtered CaO and vaporized P2O5.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) and other calcium phosphates were synthesized on titanium plates by a solid-gas state reaction of sputtered CaO and vaporized P(2)O(5). The calcium phosphates formed were HA, beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP; Ca(3)(PO(4))(2)), beta-calcium pyrophosphate (beta-PYR; Ca(2)P(2)O(7)), and beta-calcium metaphosphate (beta-MET; Ca(2)(PO(3))(2)). Their formation depended on the ratio of the sputtered CaO and the reacting P(2)O(5). For a mole ratio of CaO/P(2)O(5)=4 (Ca/P=2), an HA film was synthesized. The surface roughness increased by over seven times after the solid-gas state reaction from Ra = 0.16+/-0.02 microm (for the CaO film) to Ra = 1.15+/-0.25 microm (for the reacted film). The synthesized HA film-coated titanium plates and control non-coated titanium plates were implanted in the femora of two dogs for a period of two, four and 12 weeks, and observed using a soft X-ray radiograph and histological sections. New bone formation was observed without any connective tissue at four weeks around the HA film, whereas over the 12 week experimental period, there was no new bone formation around the control and connective tissue was observed over all periods, reaching a thickness of more than 200 microm at 12 weeks.

Analytical method for Buddleja colorants in foods.

Buddleja yellow colorant derived from Buddleja officinalis Maxim. has recently been approved for use as a new kind of natural colorant for food additives in China. In order to distinguish Buddleja yellow colorant from other yellow colorants, two known phenylpropanoid glycosides, acteoside (= verbascoside) and poliumoside, were isolated from the colorant as marker substances for Buddleja yellow colorant. Poliumoside has not been detected in B. officinalis Maxim. previously. These phenylpropanoid glycosides were not detected in the fruits of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis or in the stamens of the flowers of Crocus sativus L., which also contain crocetin derivatives as coloring components, using a photodiode array and mass chromatograms. Thus, an analytical HPLC method was developed to distinguish foods that have been colored with yellow colorants containing crocetin derivatives, using phenylpropanoid glycosides as markers.

The dependence of p53 on the radiation enhancement of thermosensitivity at different let.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the dependence of p53-gene status on the radiation enhancement of thermosensitivity at different levels of linear energy transfer (LET). METHODS AND MATERIALS: We used two kinds of human glioblastoma transfectants of A-172 cells bearing the wild-type p53 gene, A-172/neo cells with control vector containing the neo gene and A-172/mp53 cells with both the dominant negative mutated p53 gene and neo gene. We exposed these cells to X-rays and accelerated carbon-ion (C-) beams (13-200 KeV/microm) followed by heating at 44 degrees C. Cellular sensitivities were determined using clonogenic assay. RESULTS: The radiation enhancement of thermosensitivity was LET-dependent for the A-172/neo cells, but this was not clearly demonstrated in the A-172/mp53 cells. The supraadditive radiation enhancement of thermosensitivity was observed in A-172/neo cells at the LET range of 13 to 70 KeV/microm, though only an additive effect was observed at higher LET. In A-172/mp53 cells, only an additive effect was observed through all the LET examined. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the radiation enhancement of thermosensitivity is p53- and LET-dependent. Our results suggest that the combined use of high-LET radiation and hyperthermia brings useful application for cancer therapeutic purposes.

Three new lanostane-type triterpene lactones from the stem bark of Abies mariesii.

Three new delta 8-lanostane-type triterpene lactones (1), (2) and (3) were isolated from the stem bark of Abies mariesii M. and unambiguously characterized on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence. Chemical modification of compound 1 showed potent inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA).

A newly developed assay for melatonin using cells expressing human mel-1a receptor.

We have developed a radioreceptor binding assay (RRA) method for melatonin using membranes from Chinese hamster ovary cells that can stably express human mel-1a receptors. We measured melatonin levels in plasma samples collected every 4h for 24h using the RRA and radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods, simultaneously. There was a statistically significant correlation between the melatonin levels measured by the two methods, this newly developed method providing a sensitive bioassay. As it is possible to circumvent the cross-reactivity usually occurring in the RIA method, this method may be an important tool for detecting bioactive substances relative to the mel-1a receptor.

The Incorporation and Accumulation of Supplemented Fatty Acids in Mucor hiemalis HA-30.

Accumulation of free unsaturated fatty acids, added individually to the medium, into cellular triacylglycerol (TG) were examined using a fungus, Mucor hiemalis HA-30, which could produce the eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3)-enriched TG. Linoleic (18:2n-6), γ-linolenic (18:3n-6), arachidonic acids (20:4n-6), and 20:5n-3 were favored for accumulation in TG and each fatty acid accumulated in TG at about 80% purity. However, docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) was not efficiently accumulated in TG and its content was about 60%. Incorporation and accumulation of various fatty acids added to the cultivation medium were investigated using a model fatty acids mixture. Generally, unsaturated fatty acids were efficiently incorporated into cells more than saturated fatty acids. Fatty acids with odd-numbered double bonds such as 18:3n-3, 18:3n-6, and 20:5n-3 showed the higher incorporation efficiency compared with those with even-numbered double bonds such as 18:2n-6, 20:4n-6, and 22:6n-3. On the other hand, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids of 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1 were preferentially accumulated in microbial cells over other fatty acids.

[One year follow-up of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with pulmonary emphysema--physiological outcome].

To evaluate the long-term effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on physiological outcome, 12 patients with pulmonary emphysema were enrolled in an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program for 6 weeks. After discharge from the hospital, they were followed up for 1 year. The pulmonary rehabilitation program consisted of breathing retraining, thoracic mobilization, exercise training, and patient education. Although the subjects did not participate in outpatient maintenance group sessions after their discharge, they continued breathing retraining and exercise training at home. Their vital capacity improved significantly, and was sustained over the course of the year; other pulmonary functions, however, did not change significantly. Maximum exercise load increased 31% after the rehabilitation program; although it was 18% higher than baseline at follow-up one year later, that was not a significant change. The follow-up data on exercise traming had generally deteriorated 1 year after the rehabilitation program. The change in maximum exercise load from baseline before and after the inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program correlated closely with the change in maximum exercise load thereafter to follow-up one year later (R = 0.62). We conclude that it is pessible to estimate long-term change in exercise capacity on the basis of short-term changes achieved during inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation. It may be necessary to develop maintenance programs of some kind to help pulmonary emphysema patients retain the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation over the longer term.

Bone changes due to hyperbaric exposure.

Based on the hypothesis that bone calcification is promoted by loading physical pressure, changes in the microstructure of the bone under hyperbaric conditions were analyzed by imaging technology. Hyperbaric exposure was carried out for two weeks at 2 atm (equal to the pressure at a depth of water of 10 m) which was achieved using a mixed gas of helium and oxygen (He:O2 88%:12%) in which the oxygen partial pressure was maintained at constant (PO2: 0.21 bar). In image technological analysis, the growth and development of the bone were evaluated at different stages using Digital Magnification Radiography (DMR) images and based on changes in the X-ray absorption ratio. DMR images after hyperbaric exposure showed calcification in the heads of long bones (humeri, femora, and tibiae) in mice. There were also significant changes in the X-ray absorption ratio in the heads. The accumulation of 99mTc-MDP was higher in all long-bone heads after hyperbaric exposure than before exposure. These results suggest that the hyperbaric environment promotes bone calcification.

[Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on vital capacity in patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema].

To evaluate the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on pulmonary function, 15 patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema underwent pulmonary rehabilitation for six weeks as inpatients. Pulmonary rehabilitation consisted of relaxation techniques, breathing retraining, thoracic massage, physical exercise, and walking. In 8 of the 15 patients vital capacity increased by more than 200 ml (over 10%), and in 7 of the 15 patients the load of maximal exercise increased by more than 5 watts (over 10%). Increases in vital capacity were not associated with increases in maximal exercise load. The percent change in vital capacity associated with pulmonary rehabilitation correlated significantly with the percent change in tidal volume and the percent change in expiratory minute ventilation at the maximal load. The percent change in tidal volume at the maximal load correlated significantly with the percent change in maximum oxygen uptake. We attribute the increase in vital capacity to an improvement in thoracic cage movement. These findings suggest that pulmonary rehabilitation can increase vital capacity in some patients with chronic pulmonary emphysema, and that such an increase is not directly connected to increases in exercise capacity.

Studies on the site of ethanol action in inducing prolactin release in male rats.

Hypersecretion of prolactin (PRL) has been implicated as one of the factors that mediate ethanol-induced hypogonadism, but the site(s) in the central nervous system where ethanol acts to lead to the stimulation of PRL secretion is unknown. To clarify the site(s) of ethanol action, medial basal hypothalamic deafferentation (MBHD) or medial basal hypothalamic ablation (MBHA) were performed stereotaxically in male rats, and their PRL secretory capacity in response to acute ethanol administration was compared with that of intact or sham-operated controls. In intact control rats, plasma immunoreactive PRL concentration increased markedly (P < .001 v saline injection) following ethanol 400 to 500 mg/100 g body weight (BW) intraperitoneally (IP). The PRL response was dose-related and reached a maximum plateau level at 15 minutes. Plasma PRL returned to a near-basal level by 60 minutes. The response was blocked completely (P < .001) by pretreatment with dopamine (1 mg per rat), a specific inhibitor of adenohypophyseal PRL secretion. In sham-operated rats and in MBHD and MBHA rats, ethanol (500 mg/100 g BW IP) induced a significant (P < .001 to .05) elevation of PRL relative to the respective saline treatment. The basal level was significantly (P < .005) lower in the MBHD group (5.3 +/- 0.9 ng/mL) and significantly (P < .001) higher in the MBHA group (101.1 +/- 15.7 ng/mL) than in the sham group (17.2 +/- 5.9 ng/mL). These results suggest the following: (1) acute ethanol administration stimulates PRL secretion from the pituitary in a dose-related manner, (2) ethanol appears to have direct stimulatory effects on adenohypophyseal PRL secretion, and (3) extrahypothalamic brain areas exert a stimulatory influence and the hypothalamus an inhibitory influence on basal PRL secretion.

Bilateral type diverticular disease of the colon.

7,543 double-contrast barium enema studied for the presence of diverticula which were classified into right-sided, left-sided and bilateral types, and the relationship of the frequency (detection rate) and numbers of diverticula to age were examined for the earlier (1982-87) and later (1988-92) periods. Diverticular disease was found in 22.2% of male and 15.5% of female examinees. The right-sided type predominated among the subjects. Frequency distribution by age of the bilateral type was similar to that of the left-sided type. Bilateral diverticular disease increased in frequency with advancing years in the sixth and seventh decade, the right-sided type increased in middle-aged subjects, and the left-sided type did not. The bilateral type was composed of diverticula in the right colon, where numbers were greater than in the pure right-sided type, but remained unchanged with increasing age, and diverticula in the left colon, where numbers were similar to the pure left-sided type, but did not increase with age. Increase in the prevalence of bilateral and not pure left-sided form has contributed to the recent increase in diverticula in the left colon among the Japanese, and might have been preceded by an increase in the right-sided type.

Evidence for the presence of endothelin ETA receptors in endothelial cells in situ on the aortic side of porcine aortic valve.

1. In the present study, we determined whether ETA receptors are present on endothelial cells in situ, by use of front-surface fluorometry of fura-2-loaded porcine aortic valvular strips and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). 2. Although endothelin-1 (ET-1) and endothelin-3 (ET-3) induced maximum elevations of cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) at 10(-7) M, the peak elevations of [Ca2+]i induced by ET-1 were much greater than those induced by ET-3. 3. The application of ET-1 after ET-3 induced an additional increase in [Ca2+]i, while the application of ET-3 after ET-1 had no effect. A selective ETA receptor antagonist, BQ-123, partially inhibited the ET-1-induced Ca2+ transient but had no effect on ET-3-induced Ca2+ transients. These experiments indicated the presence of functioning ETA receptors in addition to ETB receptors in endothelial cells in situ. 4. The sequence of pig lung ETA receptor complimentary DNA (cDNA) was determined by PCR. RT-PCR, using specific primers for pig ETA receptor sequence and total RNA from endothelial cells on the aortic side of the aortic valve, gave the expected size of band. This PCR product was sequenced and was found to be identical to the sequence of the pig lung ETA receptor. 5. The partial sequence of the pig lung ETB receptor was also determined. RT-PCR for the pig ETB receptor revealed that endothelial cells of the aortic valve express ETB receptor messenger RNA (mRNA). 6. We confirmed that functioning ETA receptors and expression of ETA receptor mRNA exist in the endothelial cells on the aortic side of porcine aortic valves.

Nucleotide sequence of a rice root ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase cDNA and its induction by nitrate.

A ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (FNR) cDNA was isolated from a lambda gt 11 cDNA library constructed from the roots of nitrate-induced rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Kinmaze) seedlings. The nucleotide sequence of this clone contains a 1134 nucleotide open reading frame. The N-terminal 62 amino acid stretch was assigned to the transit sequence, followed by 316 residues for the mature protein. The rice root FNR shows only 49% sequence identity to that of the leaf enzyme, but the regions of the binding sites to ferredoxin, NADP-PPi and NADP+ are highly conserved between the two enzymes. The root FNR mRNA was induced transiently by the addition of nitrate, but not by ammonia. The results support the view that the root FNR is involved in the nitrate assimilation in nonchlorophyllous tissues.