Understanding the role of biodiversity in the climate, food, water, energy, transport and health nexus in Europe.

Biodiversity underpins the functioning of ecosystems and the diverse benefits that nature provides to people, yet is being lost at an unprecedented rate. To halt or reverse biodiversity loss, it is critical to understand the complex interdependencies between biodiversity and key drivers and sectors to inform the development of holistic policies and actions. We conducted a literature review on the interlinkages between biodiversity and climate change, food, water, energy, transport and health ("the biodiversity nexus"). Evidence extracted from 194 peer-reviewed articles was analysed to assess how biodiversity is being influenced by and is influencing the other nexus elements. Out of the 354 interlinkages between biodiversity and the other nexus elements, 53 % were negative, 29 % were positive and 18 % contained both positive and negative influences. The majority of studies provide evidence of the negative influence of other nexus elements on biodiversity, highlighting the substantial damage being inflicted on nature from human activities. The main types of negative impacts were land or water use/change, land or water degradation, climate change, and direct species fatalities through collisions with infrastructure. Alternatively, evidence of biodiversity having a negative influence on the other nexus elements was limited to the effects of invasive alien species and vector-borne diseases. Furthermore, a range of studies provided evidence of how biodiversity and the other nexus elements can have positive influences on each other through practices that promote co-benefits. These included biodiversity-friendly management in relevant sectors, protection and restoration of ecosystems and species that provide essential ecosystem services, green and blue infrastructure including nature-based solutions, and sustainable and healthy diets that mitigate climate change. The review highlighted the complexity and context-dependency of interlinkages within the biodiversity nexus, but clearly demonstrates the importance of biodiversity in underpinning resilient ecosystems and human well-being in ensuring a sustainable future for people and the planet.

Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2021.

PURPOSE: The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Incidence, survival, and prevalence rates of cancer were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, from 1999 to 2021, with survival follow-up until December 31, 2022. Deaths from cancer were assessed using causes-of-death data obtained from Statistics Korea. RESULTS: The number of new cancer diagnoses in 2021 increased by 27,002 cases (10.8%) compared to 2020. In 2021, newly diagnosed cancer cases and deaths from cancer were reported as 277,523 (age-standardized rate [ASR], 289.3 per 100,000) and 82,688 (ASR, 67.6 per 100,000), respectively. The overall cancer incidence rates increased by 3.3% annually from 1999 to 2012, and decreased by 5.3% from 2012 to 2015, thereafter, followed by non-significant changes. Cancer mortality rates have been decreasing since 2002, with more rapid decline in recent years (annual decrease of 2.8% from 2002 to 2013; 3.2% from 2013 to 2021). The 5-year relative survival between 2017 and 2021 was 72.1%, which contributed to prevalent cases reaching over 2.4 million in 2021. CONCLUSION: In 2021, the number of newly diagnosed cancer patients increased as healthcare utilization recovered from the coronavirus disease 2019-related declines of 2020. Revised cancer registration guidelines expanded the registration scope, particularly for stomach and colorectal cancer. Survival rates have improved over the years, leading to a growing population of cancer survivors, necessitating a comprehensive cancer control strategy. The long-term impact of the pandemic on cancer statistics requires future investigation.

Uncertainty in surrogate decision-making about end-of-life care for people with dementia: An integrative review.

AIM: To describe uncertainty in surrogate decision-making regarding end-of-life care for people with dementia using Mishel's reconceptualized uncertainty in illness theory. DESIGN: Integrative literature review using Whittemore and Knafl's approach. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus and Web of Science were searched using terms such as uncertainty/unpredictability, decision-making/advance care planning/end-of-life care planning, surrogate/family/caregiver/proxy and dementia. The search was initially conducted on 28 September 2021 and updated on 31 July 2023. REVIEW METHODS: Through systematic screening, 20 research articles were included in the analysis. Content related to uncertainty in surrogate decision-making regarding end-of-life care was extracted and analysed, focusing on the reconceptualized uncertainty in illness theory. RESULTS: First, surrogate uncertainty exists in various areas of surrogate decision-making regarding end-of-life care. Second, antecedents of surrogate uncertainty include numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Third, surrogates exhibited some negative psychological responses to uncertainty but continually processed and structured their uncertainty through certain approaches, leading them to grow as decision-makers. Finally, research-based evidence on surrogates' processing of uncertainty and shifts to new life perspectives remains limited. CONCLUSION: Surrogates' uncertainty in decision-making regarding end-of-life care for people with dementia is well characterized using the reconceptualized uncertainty in illness theory. Healthcare providers should help surrogates manage their uncertainty in surrogate decision-making more constructively throughout the dementia trajectory. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: The findings highlight the importance of assessing how surrogates process uncertainty and gauging how to help them process uncertainty and transition to new life perspectives. IMPACT: This review contributes to healthcare professionals' understanding of surrogates' uncertainty in end-of-life care planning for people with dementia, especially what they are uncertain about, what influences their uncertainty and how they process it. REPORTING METHOD: This study adheres to the PRISMA reporting guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Multimodal Golden DNA Superstructures (GDSs) for Highly Efficient Photothermal Immunotherapy.

DNA-templated metallization has emerged as an efficient strategy for creating nanoscale-metal DNA hybrid structures with a desirable conformation and function. Despite the potential of DNA-metal hybrids, their use as combinatory therapeutic agents has rarely been examined. Herein, we present a simple approach for fabricating a multipurpose DNA superstructure that serves as an efficient photoimmunotherapy agent. Specifically, we adsorb and locally concentrate Au ions onto DNA superstructures through induced local reduction, resulting in the formation of Au nanoclusters. The mechanical and optical properties of these metallic nanoclusters can be rationally controlled by their conformations and metal ions. The resulting golden DNA superstructures (GDSs) exhibit significant photothermal effects that induce cancer cell apoptosis. When sequence-specific immunostimulatory effects of DNA are combined, GDSs provide a synergistic effect to eradicate cancer and inhibit metastasis, demonstrating potential as a combinatory therapeutic agent for tumor treatment. Altogether, the DNA superstructure-templated metal casting system offers promising materials for future biomedical applications.

Improvement in Yield of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Edelweiss Callus Treated with LED Light and Enhancement of Skin Anti-Aging Indicators.

The process of skin aging is currently recognized as a disease, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are being used to care for it. While various EVs are present in the market, there is a growing need for research on improving skin conditions through microbial and plant-derived EVs. Edelweiss is a medicinal plant and is currently an endangered species. Callus culture is a method used to protect rare medicinal plants, and recently, research on EVs using callus culture has been underway. In this study, the researchers used LED light to increase the productivity of Edelweiss EVs and confirmed that productivity was enhanced by LED exposure. Additionally, improvements in skin anti-aging indicators were observed. Notably, M-LED significantly elevated callus fresh and dry weight, with a DW/FW ratio of 4.11%, indicating enhanced proliferation. Furthermore, M-LED boosted secondary metabolite production, including a 20% increase in total flavonoids and phenolics. The study explores the influence of M-LED on EV production, revealing a 2.6-fold increase in concentration compared to darkness. This effect is consistent across different plant species (Centella asiatica, Panax ginseng), demonstrating the universality of the phenomenon. M-LED-treated EVs exhibit a concentration-dependent inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, surpassing dark-cultured EVs. Extracellular melanin content analysis reveals M-LED-cultured EVs' efficacy in reducing melanin production. Additionally, the expression of key skin proteins (FLG, AQP3, COL1) is significantly higher in fibroblasts treated with M-LED-cultured EVs. These results are expected to provide valuable insights into research on improving the productivity of plant-derived EVs and enhancing skin treatment using plant-derived EVs.

Assessing stress using repeated saliva concentration of steroid hormones in dementia care dyads: results from a controlled pilot care music intervention.

Background: Stress-related biomarkers have the potential to provide objective measures of whether interventions directed at people with dementia (PWD) and their family caregivers (FCG) are successful. The use of such biomarkers has been limited by logistical barriers to sample collection. Objective: Explore saliva concentration of steroid hormones in dementia care dyads during a music intervention. Methods: Consecutive PWD attending a memory evaluation center and their FCG were allocated to either an intervention-with-music or a non-intervention control group. All were living at home. Stress biomarkers, salivary cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) samples were collected by the PWD and their FCG, in the morning and evening, 5 days a week, for 8 consecutive weeks. Biomarker concentrations of the intervention and the control groups were compared at week 8, in an intention-to-treat approach with adjustment for baseline value. Results: Twenty-four PWD in the intervention group and 10 in the control group, and their FCG were included in the analyses. The mean number of morning saliva collections was similar in the intervention and the control groups, ranging from 4.3 to 4.9 per participant weekly during the first 7 weeks, declining to 3.3 during week 8. Median log morning cortisol (pg/mL) among caregivers was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (8.09 vs. 8.57, P = 0.0133). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that music intervention was associated with lower morning saliva cortisol concentrations for FCGs.

Does whey protein supplementation during resistance exercise have additional benefits for decreasing hepatic fat content?

BACKGROUND: Exercise and diet have positive effects on hepatic fat reduction, and protein supplementation is known to lower hepatic fat accumulation. However, the effect of a combination of exercise and whey protein supplementation (WPS) on hepatic fat content (HFC) is unknown. METHODS: We investigated the effect of WPS on HFC during resistance exercise and diet control intervention for four weeks. A total of 34 sedentary males participated and were randomly assigned to two groups: a protein supplement group (PSG, n = 18) and a control group (CG, n = 16). The PSG took 60 g of WPS per day, and the CG took 60 g of an isocaloric placebo per day. All participants were fed a calorie-controlled diet throughout the study period, with their daily caloric intake determined by their resting metabolic rate and physical activity level. Both groups performed resistance exercises supervised by experts at 60-70% of their maximum efforts for 60 min/day, 6 days/week for 4 weeks. HFC was assessed using the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) after an 8 h fast, at pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Liver enzymes and lipid profile were also analyzed after an 8 h fast and pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: The CAP was significantly reduced after 4 weeks of intervention in both groups (PSG, p < .001; CG, p = .002). However, there was no significant interaction between the group and changes in CAP. Interestingly, when comparing the pre- and mid-tests, both groups also had significantly reduced CAP (PSG, p = .027; CG, p = .028), but there was a significant difference in the amount of change in CAP between the two groups (PSG, -47.2 ± 25.4 dB/m; CG, -19.5 ± 15.1 dB/m; p = .042). For liver enzymes, there was a significant interaction between the two groups and a change in aspartate transaminase (AST) (p = .038). However, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly decreased only in the PSG group (p = .002). In lipids, both groups showed significantly decreased total cholesterol (p < .001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < .001) after the intervention. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that WPS may not enhance the overall effects of resistance exercise on HFC and lipid profiles. However, in part, WPS may have a beneficial effect on liver enzymatic changes and rapid response to resistance exercise-induced HFC reduction.

Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2020.

PURPOSE: The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2020. Materials and Methods: Incidence, survival, and prevalence rates of cancer were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, from 1999 to 2020, with survival follow-up until December 31, 2021. Deaths from cancer were assessed using causes-of-death data obtained from Statistics Korea. RESULTS: The number of new cancer diagnoses in 2020 decreased by 9,218 cases (3.6%) compared to 2019. In 2020, newly diagnosed cancer cases and deaths from cancer were reported as 247,952 (age-standardized rate [ASR], 262.2 per 100,000) and 82,204 (ASR, 69.9 per 100,000), respectively. The overall cancer incidence rates increased by 3.3% annually from 1999 to 2012, and decreased by 5.0% annually from 2012 to 2015, thereafter, followed by nonsignificant changes. Cancer mortality rates have been decreasing since 2002, with more rapid decline in recent years. The 5-year relative survival between 2016 and 2020 was 71.5%, which contributed to prevalent cases reaching over 2.2 million in 2020. CONCLUSION: In 2020, the number of newly diagnosed cancer patients decreased due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, but the overall trend is on the rise. Cancer survival rates have improved over the past decades. As the number of cancer survivors increases, a comprehensive cancer control strategy should be implemented in line with the changing aspects of cancer statistics. The long-term impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on cancer statistics needs to be investigated in the future.

Effects of Whey Protein Supplement on 4-Week Resistance Exercise-Induced Improvements in Muscle Mass and Isokinetic Muscular Function under Dietary Control.

(1) The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of whey protein supplementation under dietary control on improvements in muscle mass and function following resistance exercise training. (2) Thirty-two men were randomly assigned to a whey protein supplementation group taking whey protein isolate (PSG, n = 17) and a placebo group (CON, n = 15). Participants were provided with three meals per day corresponding to the estimated individual daily energy intake. The supervised resistance exercise program was conducted 60 min per day, six days per week, for four weeks. (3) Post-intervention, there was a significant interaction between groups in terms of muscle mass increase (p = 0.033, η2 = 0.14), with a greater increase in the PSG. There were also significant interactions between the groups and increases in peak torque of the dominant knee flexors (p = 0.048, η2 = 0.12), dominant shoulder extensors, and non-dominant shoulder extensors (p = 0.028, η2 = 0.15; p = 0.015, η2 = 0.18), and the total work of the dominant knee and shoulder extensors (p = 0.012, η2 = 0.19; p = 0.013, η2 = 0.19), with greater increases in the PSG. (4) These results suggest that whey protein supplementation enhances resistance exercise-induced increase in muscle mass and overall muscular strength and endurance, independent of dietary influence.

Stimulatory effects of wavelength-dependent photobiomodulation on proliferation and angiogenesis of colorectal cancer.

In recent decades, the laser treatment of cancer has been introduced as a promising treatment option. Because of the maldistribution of optical energy and an ambiguous boundary between the normal and tumor tissues, laser irradiation can stimulate residual cancer cells, leading to a cancer regrowth. As photobiomodulation (PBM) is involved in an extensive range of cellular responses, profound comprehension of photo-stimulated mechanisms against the cancer cells is required to establish a safety margin for PBM. Therefore, we aimed to identify the stimulant effects of PBM at various wavelengths against the tumor cells to establish a safety margin for the laser treatment. CT26 murine colon cancer cells were exposed to either 405 (BL), 635 (VIS), or 808 (NIR) nm laser lights at the fluences of 0, 10, 30, and 50 J/cm2. In addition, CT26 tumor-bearing mice were irradiated with BL, VIS, or NIR at a fluence of 30 J/cm2. Both the proliferation and angiogenesis potential of the CT26 cells and tumors were evaluated using the MTT assay, western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining analyses. Although cell viability was not statistically significant, BL significantly induced p-ERK upregulation in the CT26 cells, indicating that PBM with BL can stimulate proliferation. In vivo tests showed that the NIR group exhibited the maximum relative tumor volume, and BL yielded a slight increase compared to the control. In the IHC staining and western blot analyses, both BL and NIR increased the expression of EGFR, VEGF, MMP-9, and HIF-1α, which are related to the proliferation and angiogenesis-related factors. Further investigations will be pursued to clarify the molecular pathways that depend on the cancer cell types and laser wavelengths for the establishment of safety guidelines in clinical environments.

Enhancement of gold nanorods-assisted photothermal treatment on cancer with laser power in stepwise modulation.

OBJECTIVES: Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a minimally invasive or noninvasive method by destructing cancer cells through selective thermal decomposition. However, a long period of laser irradiation to achieve coagulative necrosis often causes unfavorable thermal damage to the surrounding healthy tissue. The current study aims to evaluate the feasibility of temporal power modulation to improve the treatment efficacy of gold nanorods-assisted PTT against tumor tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 µg/ml of PEGylated gold nanorods (PEG-GNR) was used as an absorbing agent during 1064 nm laser irradiation for PTT. Temperature monitoring was conducted on the aqueous solution of PEG-GNR for dosimetry comparison. For in vivo tests, CT-26 tumor-bearing murine models with PEG-GNR injected were treated with three irradiation conditions: 3 W/cm2 for 90 s, 1.5 W/cm2 for 180 s, and 3 W/cm2 for 60 s followed by 1.5 W/cm2 for 60 s (modulated). Ten days after the treatments, histology analysis was performed to assess the extent of coagulation necrosis in the treated tissues. RESULTS: The temporal power modulation maintained the tissue temperature of around 50°C for a longer period during the irradiation. Histology analysis confirmed that the modulated group entailed a larger coagulative necrosis area with less thermal damage to the peripheral tissue, compared to the other irradiation conditions. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the power-modulated PTT could improve treatment efficacy with reduced injury by maintaining the constant tissue temperature. Further studies will examine the feasibility of the proposed technique in large animal models in terms of acute and chronic tissue responses and treatment margin for clinical translations.

Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2019.

PURPOSE: The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Incidence, survival, and prevalence rates of cancer were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, from 1999 to 2019, with survival follow-up until December 31, 2020. Deaths from cancer were assessed using causes-of-death data obtained from Statistics Korea. RESULTS: In 2019, newly diagnosed cancer cases and deaths from cancer were reported as 254,718 (ASR, 275.4 per 100,000) and 81,203 (ASR, 72.2 per 100,000), respectively. For the first time, lung cancer (n=29,960) became the most frequent cancer in Korea, excluding thyroid cancer. The overall cancer incidence rates increased by 3.3% annually from 1999 to 2012, and decreased by 5.3% annually from 2012 to 2015, thereafter, followed by nonsignificant changes. The incidence of thyroid cancer increased again from 2016 (annual percentage change, 6.2%). Cancer mortality rates have been decreasing since 2002, with more rapid decline in recent years (annual decrease of 2.7% from 2002 to 2013; 3.3% from 2013 to 2019). The 5-year relative survival between 2015 and 2019 was 70.7%, which contributed to prevalent cases reaching over 2 million in 2019. CONCLUSION: Cancer survival rates have improved over the past decades, but the number of newly diagnosed cancers is still increasing, with some cancers showing only marginal improvement in survival outcomes. As the number of cancer survivors increases, a comprehensive cancer control strategy should be implemented in line with the changing aspects of cancer statistics.

Do Perceptions of Cognitive Changes Matter in Self-Management Behaviors Among Persons With Mild Cognitive Impairment?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This secondary analysis examined (a) the association between illness perceptions (perceived understanding and cause of mild cognitive impairment [MCI]) and self-management behaviors for cognitive health, and (b) whether sociodemographic and clinical factors moderate such relationships among persons with MCI. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 85 participants using baseline data from the Return of Amyloid Imaging Scan Results Study. The coherence and causality subscales of the Revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaires were used. Self-management behaviors (dietary changes, physical activity, mental activities, dietary supplements) were assessed using the Risk Evaluation and Education for ALzheimer's disease health behavior measure. Sociodemographic and clinical information was extracted from patients' medical records. We performed hierarchical linear regression and binary logistic regression. RESULTS: We found no main effects for illness perceptions and self-management of cognitive health. Interaction effects were detected, including (a) coherence and age on the total number of self-management behaviors (b = 0.01, p = .04) and on physical activity (p = .04, odds ratio [OR] = 1.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00-1.03), (b) causality and age on dietary supplements (p = .03, OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.02-1.67), and (c) causality and education on mental activities (p = .02, OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.22-0.88). DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Findings suggest that age and education moderate the relationship between illness perceptions and self-management behaviors. Health care professionals should consider subjective perceptions about MCI in light of sociodemographic and clinical factors when discussing cognitive health self-management.

Anatomical and Chemical Characterization of Ulmus Species from South Korea.

Ulmus species (Ulmaceae) are large deciduous trees distributed throughout Korea. Although their root and stem bark have been used to treat gastrointestinal diseases and wounds in folk medicine, commercial products are consumed without any standardization. Therefore, we examined anatomical and chemical differences among five Ulmus species in South Korea. Transverse sections of leaf, stem, and root barks were examined under a microscope to elucidate anatomical differences. Stem and root bark exhibited characteristic medullary ray and secretary canal size. Leaf surface, petiole, and midrib exhibited characteristic inner morphologies including stomatal size, parenchyma, and epidermal cell diameter, as well as ratio of vascular bundle thickness to diameter among the samples. Orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis of anatomical data efficiently differentiated the five species. To evaluate chemical differences among the five species, we quantified (-)-catechin, (-)-catechin-7-O-ß-D-apiofuranoside, (-)-catechin-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, (-)-catechin-7-O-ß-D-xylopyranoside, (-)-catechin-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, and (-)-catechin-5-O-ß-D-apiofuranoside using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector. (-)-Catechin-7-O-ß-D-apiofuranoside content was the highest among all compounds in all species, and (-)-catechin-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside content was characteristically the highest in Ulmus parvifolia among the five species. Overall, the Ulmus species tested was able to be clearly distinguished on the basis of anatomy and chemical composition, which may be used as scientific criteria for appropriate identification and standard establishment for commercialization of these species.

Discovery of a Potent and Selective JNK3 Inhibitor with Neuroprotective Effect Against Amyloid ß-Induced Neurotoxicity in Primary Rat Neurons.

As members of the MAPK family, c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNKs) regulate the biological processes of apoptosis. In particular, the isoform JNK3 is expressed explicitly in the brain at high levels and is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we prepared a series of five 6-dihydroxy-1H-benzo[d]imidazoles as JNK3 inhibitors and found them have potential as neuroprotective agents. Following a previous lead scaffold, benzimidazole moiety was modified with various aryl groups and hydroxylation, and the resulting compounds exhibited JNK3 inhibitory activity with improved potency and selectivity. Out of 37 analogues synthesized, (S)-cyclopropyl(3-((4-(2-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin -6-yl)-5,6-dihydroxy-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)pyrimidin-2-yl)amino) piperidin-1-yl)methanone (35b) demonstrated the highest JNK3 inhibition (IC50 = 9.7 nM), as well as neuroprotective effects against Aß-induced neuronal cell death. As a protein kinase inhibitor, it also showed excellent selectivity over other protein kinases including isoforms JNK1 (>1000 fold) and JNK2 (-10 fold).

Dibenzocyclooctadiene Lignans in Plant Parts and Fermented Beverages of Schisandra chinensis.

The fruit of Schisandra chinensis, Omija, is a well-known traditional medicine used as an anti-tussive and anti-diarrhea agent, with various biological activities derived from the dibenzocyclooctadiene-type lignans. A high-pressure liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) method was used to determine seven lignans (schisandrol A and B, tigloylgomisin H, angeloylgomisin H, schisandrin A, B, and C) in the different plant parts and beverages of the fruit of S. chinensis grown in Korea. The contents of these lignans in the plant parts descended in the following order: seeds, flowers, leaves, pulp, and stems. The total lignan content in Omija beverages fermented with white sugar for 12 months increased by 2.6-fold. Omija was fermented for 12 months with white sugar, brown sugar, and oligosaccharide/white sugar (1:1, w/w). The total lignan content in Omija fermented with oligosaccharide/white sugar was approximately 1.2- and 1.7-fold higher than those fermented with white sugar and brown sugar, respectively. A drink prepared by immersion of the fruit in alcohol had a higher total lignan content than these fermented beverages. This is the first report documenting the quantitative changes in dibenzocyclooctadiene-type lignans over a fermentation period and the effects of the fermentable sugars on this eco-friendly fermentation process.

In vitro anti-tumor effect of high-fluence low-power laser light on apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignancy all over the world, along with high morbidity and mortality. As a treatment, high-fluence low-power laser irradiation (HF-LPLI) has reported that its biostimulatory activity can suppress or even destruct tumor growth in neoplastic diseases. The aim of the present study is to examine a therapeutic capacity of HF-LPLI for colorectal cancer treatment by using human colon cancer cell (HT29) model. The in vitro cancer cell model was used to analyze the underlying mechanism of laser-induced apoptosis. Laser irradiation was performed five times (once a day for five consecutive days) with 635 nm laser light for 8 and 16 min (fluence = 128 and 256 J/cm2), respectively. The efficiency of the HF-LPLI treatment was evaluated by MTT, fluorescence staining, cell wound healing, and western blot test during the 5-day period. Experiment data showed that HF-LPLI had a dose-dependent stimulating effect on cell viability, migration, and apoptosis of HT29 cells. The inhibition effect of laser treatment at 256 J/cm2 on cell viability was statistically significant. Meanwhile, the wound healing and western blot tests also confirmed that HF-LPLI could inhibit cell migration and induce cell apoptosis. The current research results demonstrate that 635 nm HF-LPLI can be an alternative treatment option for colorectal cancer by increasing the expression of caspase-3 and inducing HT29 tumor cell apoptosis through activation of the mitochondrial pathway.

Anti-obesity activity of anthocyanin and carotenoid extracts from color-fleshed sweet potatoes.

The anti-obesity effects of anthocyanin and carotenoid extracts from color-fleshed potatoes were studied with 3T3-L1 cells in vitro and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice in vivo. Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with anthocyanin and carotenoid extracts, respectively, after differentiation induction significantly inhibited fat accumulation by 63.1 and 83.5%. Studies of adipogenesis inhibition showed that the anthocyanin extract acts at intermediate stages, whereas the carotenoid extract influences all the stages. The extracts significantly diminished triglyceride (TG) content and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) protein expression during adipogenesis of the intermediate stage. Oral administration of anthocyanin and carotenoid extracts, respectively, to HFD-fed mice significantly reduced weight gain and restored TG levels to normal or lower as compared to the HFD-fed group with improvement of a lipid profile, TG to HDL-C ratio. Histological differences in liver tissues revealed that the extracts protected the liver tissue from adipogenesis by HFD fed. This research presents the first direct demonstration that the two pigment extracts from sweet potato exhibit anti-obesity activities. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Anthocyanins and carotenoids are the main pigments of purple- and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, respectively, which are highly nutritious foods with antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. Obesity is a rapidly growing health problem that increases major risk factors of several serious diseases including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. The results of this research suggest that anthocyanin and carotenoid-rich extracts from color-fleshed sweet potatoes may be useful as supplementary ingredients for the treatment of obesity and related diseases.

Development and characterization of a superabsorbing hydrogel film containing Ulmus davidiana var. Japonica root bark and pullulan for skin wound healing.

Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (UD) has widely been used in Korean traditional medicine for the treatment of various types of diseases including inflammation and skin wounds. The UD root bark powders possess gelling activity with an excellent capacity for absorbing water. This distinct property could make the UD root bark powders to be a great material for manufacturing a gel film specifically for the healing of large and highly exudating wounds (e.g., pressure sores and diabetic ulcers). In this research, we separated the UD root bark powder into 4 different samples based on their sizes and then tested their water absorption capacity and flowability. Based on these results, 75-150 µm sized and below 75 µm sized samples of UD root bark powders were chosen, and UD gel films were prepared. The UD gel films showed good thermal stability and mechanically improved properties compared with pullulan only gel film with excellent swelling capacity and favorable skin adhesiveness. Further, in the animal studies with the skin wound mice model, the UD gel films exhibited significant therapeutic effects on accelerating wound closure and dermal regeneration. Overall, this study demonstrated the applicability of UD root bark powders for hydrogel wound dressing materials, and the potential of UD gel films to be superior wound dressings to currently available ones.

Effect of Rumex Acetosa Extract, a Herbal Drug, on the Absorption of Fexofenadine.

Herbal drugs are widely used for the auxiliary treatment of diseases. The pharmacokinetics of a drug may be altered when it is coadministered with herbal drugs that can affect drug absorption. The effects of herbal drugs on absorption must be evaluated. In this study, we investigated the effects of Rumex acetosa (R. acetosa) extract on fexofenadine absorption. Fexofenadine was selected as a model drug that is a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and organic anion transporting polypeptide 1A2 (OATP1A2). Emodine-the major component of R. acetosa extract-showed P-gp inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Uptake of fexofenadine via OATP1A2 was inhibited by R. acetosa extract in OATP1A2 transfected cells. A pharmacokinetic study showed that the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of fexofenadine was smaller in the R. acetosa extract coadministered group than in the control group. R. acetosa extract also decreased aqueous solubility of fexofenadine HCl. The results of this study suggest that R. acetosa extract could inhibit the absorption of certain drugs via intervention in the aqueous solubility and the drug transporters. Therefore, R. acetosa extract may cause drug interactions when coadministered with substrates of drug transporters and poorly water-soluble drugs, although further clinical studies are needed.