Adsorptive removal of crude petroleum oil from water using floating pinewood biochar decorated with coconut oil-derived fatty acids.

The present investigation deals with the adsorptive removal of crude petroleum oil from the water surface using coconut oil-modified pinewood biochar. Biochar generated at higher pyrolysis temperature (700 °C) revealed higher fatty acid-binding efficiency responsible for the excellent hydrophobicity of the biochar. Fatty acids composition attached to the biochar produced at 700 °C was (mg g-1 BC) lauric acid (9.024), myristic acid (5.065), palmitic acid (2.769), capric acid (1.639), oleic acid (1.362), stearic acid (1.114), and linoleic acid (0.130). Simulation of the experimental adsorption data of pristine and modified pinewood biochar generated at 700 °C offered the best fit to pseudo-first-order kinetics (R2 > 0.97) and Langmuir isotherm model (R2 > 0.99) based on the highest regression coefficients. Consequently, the adsorption process was mainly driven by surface hydrophobic interactions including π-π electron-donor-acceptor between electron-rich (π-donor) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the crude oil and biochar (π-acceptor). A maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) of 5.315 g g-1 was achieved by modified floating biochar within 60 min. Whereas the reusability testing revealed 49.39% and 51.40% was the adsorption efficiency of pristine and modified biochar at the fifth adsorption-desorption cycle.

Effects of a Laughter Therapy on Depression, Anxiety, Fatigue and Quality of Sleep in Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients Post-Treatment: a Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of laughter therapy on depression, anxiety, fatigue, and quality of sleep in gastrointestinal cancer survivors. METHODS: This study was a randomized controlled trial. We compared the effect of laughter therapy with usual care only in post chemotherapy gastrointestinal patients. Outcomes included changes in depression and anxiety (according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), fatigue (according to the Fatigue Severity Scale), and quality of sleep (according to the Verran & Synder-Halpern Sleep Scale). Data was collected July 2015 through January 2016. Seventy nine participants who agreed to participate in this study were randomized to either the experimental group (n=40) or the control group (n=39). Therapy included eight sessions (60 minutes each, once weekly). Data were analyzed using the Windows SPSS 22.0 program. RESULTS: Laughter therapy was effective in reducing fatigue (p=.019) and increasing satisfaction of sleep (p=.030). There were no differences between the groups after therapy for depression (p=.129) and anxiety (p=.200). CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that laughter therapy may be an effective nursing intervention for improving the health status of gastrointestinal cancer survivors after chemotherapy.

Expression, purification and characterization of halophilic protease Pph_Pro1 cloned from Pseudoalteromonas phenolica.

In this study, protease Pph_Pro1 from Pseudoalteromonas phenolica, possessing extracellular proteolytic activity and salt tolerance, was investigated for cloning, expression, and purification purposes. Through optimization, it was determined that optimum soluble recombinant expression was achieved when Pph_Pro1 was co-expressed with the pTf16 vector chaperone in LB medium supplemented with CaCl2. Pph_Pro1 was purified using osmotic shock and immobilized metal-affinity chromatography (IMAC). Isolated Pph_Pro1 activity was measured as 0.44 U/mg using casein as a substrate. Interestingly, Pph_Pro1 displayed halophilic, alkaliphilic, and unexpected thermostable properties. Furthermore, it was resistant to several hydrophilic and hydrophobic organic solvents. Substrate specificity and kinetic values such as Km and Vmax were determined with casein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and algal waste protein as substrates, indicating that the Pph_Pro1 protease enzyme had a greater affinity for casein. Based on the remarkable characteristics of this Pph_Pro1 protease enzyme, it can potentially be utilized in many biotechnological industries.

Biosynthesis of (-)-5-Hydroxy-equol and 5-Hydroxy-dehydroequol from Soy Isoflavone, Genistein Using Microbial Whole Cell Bioconversion.

Equols are isoflavandiols formed by reduction of soy isoflavones such as daidzein and genistein by gut microorganisms. These phytoestrogens are of interest for their various biological effects. We report biosynthesis from genistein to (-)-5-hydroxy-equol in recombinant E. coli expressing three reductases (daidzein reductase DZNR, dihidrodaidzein reductase DHDR, tetrahydrodaidzein reductase THDR) and a racemase (dihydrodaidzein racemase, DDRC) originating from the gut bacterium, Slackia isoflavoniconvertens. The biosynthesized 5-hydroxy-equol proved as an optically negative enantiomer, nonetheless it displayed an inverse circular dichroism spectrum to (S)-equol. Compartmentalized expression of DZNR and DDRC in one E. coli strain and DHDR and THDR in another increased the yield to 230 mg/L and the productivity to 38 mg/L/h. If the last reductase was missing, the intermediate spontaneously dehydrated to 5-hydroxy-dehydroequol in up to 99 mg/L yield. This novel isoflavene, previously not known to be synthesized in nature, was also detected in this biotransformation system. Although (S)-equol favors binding to human estrogen receptor (hER) ß over hERα, (-)-5-hydroxy-equol showed the opposite preference. This study provides elucidation of the biosynthetic route of (-)-5-hydroxy-equol and measurement of its potent antagonistic character as a phytoestrogen for the first time.

The effects of the DASH diet education program with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on metabolic syndrome parameters in elderly women with abdominal obesity

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the overall effects of a tailored Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) nutritional intervention program which included omega-3 fatty acids supplementation, on dietary self-efficacy, dietary knowledge, and dietary behaviors in Korean elderly women with abdominal obesity. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of the program on metabolic syndrome parameters including the antioxidant capacities in these subjects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted for 8 weeks. The experimental group (n = 21) received a weekly tailored nutritional program for 8 weeks and the control group (n = 18) received only one educational session. The clinical survey was conducted before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: After the intervention, dietary self-efficacy (P = 0.023), frequency of fruit intake (P = 0.019), and dietary fiber intake (P = 0.044) were higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The oxidative stress (P < 0.001) was lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Moreover, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P = 0.023) had significantly decreased in the experimental group but not in the control group after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention program including omega-3 fatty acid supplementation had a positive effect on dietary self-efficacy, dietary behaviors, and oxidative stress among aged women with abdominal obesity.

The effects of the DASH diet education program with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on metabolic syndrome parameters in elderly women with abdominal obesity

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the overall effects of a tailored Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) nutritional intervention program which included omega-3 fatty acids supplementation, on dietary self-efficacy, dietary knowledge, and dietary behaviors in Korean elderly women with abdominal obesity. Furthermore, we investigated the effects of the program on metabolic syndrome parameters including the antioxidant capacities in these subjects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted for 8 weeks. The experimental group (n = 21) received a weekly tailored nutritional program for 8 weeks and the control group (n = 18) received only one educational session. The clinical survey was conducted before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: After the intervention, dietary self-efficacy (P = 0.023), frequency of fruit intake (P = 0.019), and dietary fiber intake (P = 0.044) were higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The oxidative stress (P < 0.001) was lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Moreover, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P = 0.023) had significantly decreased in the experimental group but not in the control group after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention program including omega-3 fatty acid supplementation had a positive effect on dietary self-efficacy, dietary behaviors, and oxidative stress among aged women with abdominal obesity.

Effects of Individualized Nutritional Education Programs on the Level of Nutrient Intake and Nutritional Status of Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Palliative Chemotherapy

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an individualized nutritional education programs on nutrient intake and nutritional status of patients with colorectal cancer who are undergoing palliative chemotherapy. METHODS: Forty patients with colorectal cancer (19 experimental and 21 control patients) were recruited from a chemotherapy ward at S University Hospital in Seoul, Korea. The experimental group received two individualized nutritional counseling sessions and two telephone counseling sessions over 6 weeks. The control group received nutritional counseling after completion of data collection. Nutritional education included general guidelines for food intake while receiving chemotherapy, dietary guidelines for patients with colorectal cancer, daily meal schedules to overcome cancer, and dietary guideline for each chemotherapy side effect. Data were analyzed using chi2-test and t-test with the SPSS program 17.0. RESULTS: Two group comparison revealed that the experimental group had significantly improved calorie (p=.038) and total protein intake (p=.001), and serum albumin percentage change (p=.040). Body weight did not increase but remained the same as the baseline in both groups. CONCLUSION: Study results indicate that this individualized nutritional education programs are effective in enhancing nutrient intake and nutritional status of patients with colorectal cancer who are undergoing palliative chemotherapy.

Assessment of nurses' nutritional knowledge regarding therapeutic diet regimens.

Metabolic diseases and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the incidence of which is currently increasing in Korea, can be managed well with dietary education and modification. However, it has yet to be established whether nurses have sufficient knowledge to impart appropriate nutritional counseling to patients with these diseases. Our study involved 506 nurses working at Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, and Seoul National University Hospital between March and May, 2006. The questionnaire was comprised of 42 diet-related questions pertaining to diabetes, obesity, and CVD. Nurses' correct-response rate for overall nutritional knowledge was worse than reported in Western countries (58.4%), and particularly so with regard to obesity and CVD. Although many nurses were aware of the therapeutic aspects of nutrients in relation to CVD, most of them had limited knowledge about low-cholesterol diets and sources of water-soluble fiber, fatty acids and the specific food items that prevent CVD. Our results suggest that there is an urgent need to update the contents of nutrition education for nurses to reflect the current changes in the Korean diet and the increasing incidence of metabolic diseases and CVD.

Adenocarcinoma has an excellent outcome with pemetrexed treatment in Korean patients: a prospective, multicenter trial.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective multicenter study conducted by the Korean Cancer Study Group evaluated the efficacy and safety of pemetrexed in Korean patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had prior chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC in whom prior chemotherapy failed received pemetrexed 500 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks with folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation until disease progression or the development of intolerable toxicity. Eighty-one patients were enrolled. RESULTS: The overall response rate for 78 evaluable patients was 5.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-12.6; partial response 4/78, no complete response]. The disease control rate including complete, partial response and stable disease was 46.2% (36/78, 95% CI 34.8-57.8). With a median 8.7 months follow-up, the median time to progression was 3.1 months (95% CI 1.17-5.03) and the median overall survival (OS) was 7.8 months (95% CI 5.19-10.35). The median OS for patients with adenocarcinoma histology was 18.7 months compared to 6.1 months for non-adenocarcinoma. In a multivariate analysis, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1 [hazards ratio (HR)=0.331, 95% CI 0.135-0.814] and adenocarcinoma (HR=0.504, 95% CI 0.283-0.899) were independent factors for prolongation of overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Pemetrexed monotherapy has promising efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC as a second-line therapy with less hematologic and non-hematologic toxicity, especially in those with adenocarcinoma histology.

The effect of oral glutamine on 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin-induced mucositis/stomatitis assessed by intestinal permeability test.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Systemic chemotherapy may damage gastrointestinal epithelium. Mucositis is associated with increased intestinal permeability (IP). It is known that IP test with chromium 51-ethylene diaminetetra-acetate (51Cr-EDTA) is a useful tool to assess the mucositis. Oral glutamine supplements (OGS) may have a role in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced mucositis/stomatitis. The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between the urinary excretion of 51Cr-EDTA and the severity of mucositis, and the effect of OGS on 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (FU/LV)-induced mucositis/stomatitis. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with advanced or metastatic cancer received FU/LV chemotherapy. The control group included 18 healthy volunteers. IP was assessed via the measurement of 51Cr-EDTA urinary excretion after oral challenge, on days 7 after the discontinuation of chemotherapy. Of the 51 patients, 22 patients received OGS (30 g/day) and 29 received only best supportive care (BSC). Glutamine supplementation continued for 15 days. It was initiated at least 3 days before the beginning of chemotherapy. Mucositis/stomatitis was graded according to version 3.0 of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. RESULTS: In the chemotherapy group, the median (25 percentile, 75 percentile) IP test score was significantly higher than those of the control group [6.78% (4.63, 10.66) vs. 2.17% (1.38, 2.40), P<0.001]. The severity of stomatitis was significantly correlated with IP test scores (r=0.898, P<0.001). In the OGS group, the median IP test score was significantly lower than that of the BSC group [4.69% (3.10, 6.48) vs. 8.54% (6.48, 15.31), P<0.001]. A mucositis/stomatitis of grade 2-4 was observed in two patients of the OGS group (9%), and in 11 patients (38%) in the BSC group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The IP test may be a useful tool in the evaluation of mucositis/stomatitis. OGS may exert a protective effect on FU/LV-induced mucositis/stomatitis. Further studies, however, will be necessary to define the role of glutamine supplementation in FU/LV-induced mucositis/stomatitis.

Temporal changes in cerebral antioxidant enzyme activities after ischemia and reperfusion in a rat focal brain ischemia model: effect of dietary fish oil.

This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of dietary supplementation of fish oil on both brain infarction and the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (4-weeks old) were divided into two groups and received either a regular diet (RD) or a fish-oil-supplemented diet (FOD) for 6 weeks prior to middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. The infarction volume of the brain was calculated using image analysis after staining. Antioxidant enzymes were measured before ischemia (BI), after 2 h of ischemia (AI) and after 24 h (24hR), 48 h (48hR) and after 7 days (7dR) of reperfusion. The infarction volume of the brain was significantly smaller in the FOD group than in the RD group after 24 h of reperfusion (p<0.05). Before ischemia, the levels of lipid peroxide and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were higher in the FOD group than in the RD group. During reperfusion, the catalase (CAT) activity in the FOD group remained at the preischemia level until after 48 h of reperfusion, while those in the RD group did not. The Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and GPx activity were higher in the FOD group than in the RD group only after 2 h of ischemia. In the fatty acid analysis, the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were higher in the FOD group than in the RD group (p<0.05). Our results demonstrate that supplementing the diet with fish oil could decrease the cerebral infarction volume following ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) partly by working directly as an antioxidant and partly by modulating antioxidant enzyme activities.

Familiarity with, knowledge of, and attitudes toward epilepsy in residents of Seoul, South Korea.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions of epilepsy in Seoul, South Korea, a country where social stigma toward epilepsy is still pronounced. METHODS: We randomly selected 1000 persons living in Seoul and performed telephone interviews regarding public awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward epilepsy. RESULTS: Among 1000 respondents, the 92% who had read or heard about epilepsy became the subjects of the study. Word of mouth was most often referenced as a source of knowledge (78%). Forty-seven percentage believed that epilepsy is inheritable, whereas 5% thought that epilepsy is a mental illness. Marriage of their children to an epileptic person, childbearing by women with epilepsy, and employing a person with epilepsy were opposed by more than 50% of respondents. The reasons for the negative attitudes were that epilepsy was hereditary and untreatable (P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that there still remains negative attitudes regarding the marriage, childbearing, and employment of persons with epilepsy, which may stem from misconceptions about the cause and treatability of epilepsy, possibly due in part to the influence of herbal medicine, and South Korea's ethnic homogeneity. Public health education either through media or school health education is urgently needed to improve knowledge about, and attitudes toward epilepsy.

Dietary supplementation of (+)-catechin protects against UVB-induced skin damage by modulating antioxidant enzyme activities.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with (+)-catechin on cutaneous antioxidant enzymes and the skin damage caused by UVB irradiation. METHODS: BALB/c mice were divided into three groups. Each group was fed a regular diet (RD) or a 2% catechin-supplemented diet for either 2 weeks (2CSD) or 4 weeks (4CSD) ad libitum prior to UVB irradiation. Skin was removed for the antioxidant enzyme assay, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and the TEM analysis before and at various time points after UVB (200 mJ/cm2) irradiation. RESULTS: Before UVB irradiation, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities of the 2CSD and the 4CSD groups were found to be lower than those of the RD group, whereas the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity of the 4CSD group was higher than those of the RD and the 2CSD groups (P<0.05). The SOD and CAT activities of the RD group decreased after UVB irradiation, while those of the 2CSD and the 4CSD groups increased immediately after irradiation and then decreased (P<0.05). Immediately after UVB irradiation, the GPx activities of the 4CSD and the 2CSD groups increased, but that of the RD group decreased. The GPx activity of all three groups showed a tendency to return to pre-UVB irradiation levels with time. Light microscopic findings of the RD group showed epidermal thinning and apoptotic cells at 24 h after UVB irradiation and mostly necrotic cells at 48 h, whereas only moderate thickening of the epidermis was observed in the 2CSD group at 48 h after irradiation. An electron microscopic examination produced similar findings. At 48 h after irradiation, nearly all epidermal cells seemed to be damaged in the RD group as compared to the 2CSD group. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that dietary supplementation with (+)-catechin could protect epidermal cells against UVB-induced damage by modulating antioxidant enzyme activities.

Homocysteine induces oxidative cytotoxicity in Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase mutant motor neuronal cell.

Mutations in human Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause approximately 20% of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) cases. The mechanism of late-onset disease manifestation despite the innate mutation has no clear explanation. The relationship between homocysteine (HC) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has not been investigated, in spite of the similarity in their pathogenesis. We investigated the effect of HC on the motor neuronal cell-line transfected with SOD1 of either wild-type or one of two mutant forms (G93A and A4V). In the MTT assay, HC induced significant cytotoxicity in A4V, but not in G93A, as compared with wild-type, even at the physiological concentration of 10 microM. This HC-induced cytotoxicity was inhibited by the antioxidant trolox and the Cu (I) chelator bathocuproinedisulfonate. Here we show that the vulnerability of the A4 V mutant involves the cytotoxic copper-mediated pathway, and that HC may be a lifelong precipitating factor in some forms of FALS, suggesting the possible treatment modality with vitamin supplements.

Basic fibroblast growth factor regulates the ability of astrocytes to support hypothalamic neuronal survival in vitro.

The putative neurotrophic effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were tested on embryonic hypothalamic neurons in dissociated cell culture. Basic FGF dramatically increased the survival of embryonic hypothalamic astrocytes plated on a poly-L-lysine (PLL) substrate. Basic FGF treatment also increased the number of hypothalamic neurons surviving in vitro; however, no neurotrophic effects were observed when astrocyte proliferation was prevented by using serum-free N2 medium or by using the mitotic inhibitor cytosine arabinoside. In contrast to effects when PLL was used as a substrate, bFGF reduced the survival of hypothalamic neurons plated on a confluent, contact-inhibited monolayer of astrocytes. This effect appears to be due to the direct actions of bFGF on astrocytes: treatment of confluent astrocytes with 5 ng/ml bFGF caused the protoplasmic astrocytes to develop a fibrillar morphology and reduced the ability of the astrocyte monolayer to promote neuronal survival after a further 24 hr in bFGF-free medium. It is concluded that in addition to its mitogenic effects, bFGF acts as a differentiation factor for protoplasmic astrocytes in vitro, and these morphological and functional changes may reflect the process of normal astrocytic development and response to brain injury in vivo.