The Genome of the Korean Island-Originated Perilla citriodora 'Jeju17' Sheds Light on Its Environmental Adaptation and Fatty Acid and Lipid Production Pathways.

Perilla is a key component of Korean food. It contains several plant-specialized metabolites that provide medical benefits. In response to an increased interest in healthy supplement food from the public, people are focusing on the properties of Perilla. Nevertheless, unlike rice and soybeans, there are few studies based on molecular genetics on Perilla, so it is difficult to systematically study the molecular breed. The wild Perilla, Perilla citriodora 'Jeju17', was identified a decade ago on the Korean island of Jeju. Using short-reads, long-reads, and Hi-C, a chromosome-scale genome spanning 676 Mbp, with high contiguity, was assembled. Aligning the 'Jeju17' genome to the 'PC002' Chinese species revealed significant collinearity with respect to the total length. A total of 31,769 coding sequences were predicted, among which 3331 were 'Jeju17'-specific. Gene enrichment of the species-specific gene repertoire highlighted environment adaptation, fatty acid metabolism, and plant-specialized metabolite biosynthesis. Using a homology-based approach, genes involved in fatty acid and lipid triacylglycerol biosynthesis were identified. A total of 22 fatty acid desaturases were found and comprehensively characterized. Expression of the FAD genes in 'Jeju17' was examined at the seed level, and hormone signaling factors were identified. The results showed that the expression of FAD genes in 'Jeju17' at the seed level was high 25 days after flowering, and their responses of hormones and stress were mainly associated with hormone signal transduction and abiotic stress via cis-elements patterns. This study presents a chromosome-level genome assembly of P. citriodora 'Jeju17', the first wild Perilla to be sequenced from the Korean island of Jeju. The analyses provided can be useful in designing ALA-enhanced Perilla genotypes in the future.

The Effects of Spirulina maxima Extract on Memory Improvement in Those with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Spirulina maxima is a marine microalga that has been promoted worldwide as a super food. This study was conducted to evaluate its ability to improve memory in the older adults using Spirulina maxima 70% ethanol extract (SM70EE). This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial comprised 80 volunteers recruited from Jeonbuk National University Hospital in Jeonju, Republic of Korea, who were randomly assigned to two groups. The participants received either 1 g/day of SM70EE or a placebo without otherwise changing their diet or physical activity. The participants were examined at baseline and after a 12-week interval to determine whether there were changes in their results for visual learning, visual working memory, and verbal learning tests from the Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and beta-amyloid levels, and total antioxidant capacity. Compared to the placebo group, the treatment group showed a significant improvement in visual learning and visual working memory test results and enhanced vocabulary. SM70EE use was shown to improve memory, with no adverse effects. Its efficacy in alleviating Alzheimer's disease symptoms was verified for the first time through this clinical trial. SM70EE could play a role in the management of patients with dementia. This trial is registered with registration number of clinical research information service (CRIS: KCT0006161).

Assessment of a Therapeutic X-ray Radiation Dose Measurement System Based on a Flexible Copper Indium Gallium Selenide Solar Cell.

Several detectors have been developed to measure radiation doses during radiotherapy. However, most detectors are not flexible. Consequently, the airgaps between the patient surface and detector could reduce the measurement accuracy. Thus, this study proposes a dose measurement system based on a flexible copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cell. Our system comprises a customized CIGS solar cell (with a size 10 × 10 cm2 and thickness 0.33 mm), voltage amplifier, data acquisition module, and laptop with in-house software. In the study, the dosimetric characteristics, such as dose linearity, dose rate independence, energy independence, and field size output, of the dose measurement system in therapeutic X-ray radiation were quantified. For dose linearity, the slope of the linear fitted curve and the R-square value were 1.00 and 0.9999, respectively. The differences in the measured signals according to changes in the dose rates and photon energies were <2% and <3%, respectively. The field size output measured using our system exhibited a substantial increase as the field size increased, contrary to that measured using the ion chamber/film. Our findings demonstrate that our system has good dosimetric characteristics as a flexible in vivo dosimeter. Furthermore, the size and shape of the solar cell can be easily customized, which is an advantage over other flexible dosimeters based on an a-Si solar cell.

Involvement of the adenosine A1 receptor in the hypnotic effect of rosmarinic acid.

Insomnia, the most common sleep disorder, is characterized by a longer sleep latency, greater sleep fragmentation, and consequent excessive daytime fatigue. Due to the various side effects of prescribed hypnotics, demand for new drugs is still high. Recent studies have suggested the adenosine receptor (AR) as a potential therapeutic target for insomnia, however, clinically useful hypnotics targeting AR are not yet available. In the present study, we evaluated the hypnotic effect of rosmarinic acid, a phenolic compound widely found in medicinal plants, through pentobarbital-induced sleep test, electroencephalography/electromyography (EEG/EMG), and immunohistochemistry in mice. The underlying mechanisms were assessed by pharmacological approach using 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) and SCH5826, antagonists for A1R and A2AR, respectively. Receptor-binding assay and functional agonism were also performed. Our study provides a new evidence that rosmarinic acid has a direct binding activity (Ki = 14.21 ± 0.3 µM) and agonistic activity for A1R. We also found that rosmarinic acid significantly decreased sleep fragmentation and onset latency to NREM sleep, and these effects were abolished by DPCPX. The results from c-Fos immunostaining showed that rosmarinic acid decreased the neuronal activity in wake-promoting brain regions, such as the basal forebrain and the lateral hypothalamus, while increasing the neuronal activity in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus, a sleep-promoting region; all these effects were significantly inhibited by DPCPX. Taken together, this study suggests that rosmarinic acid possesses novel activity as an A1R agonist and thereby exerts a hypnotic effect, and thus it may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for insomnia through targeting A1R.

Sikyungbanha-Tang Suppressing Acute Lung Injury in Mice Is Related to the Activation of Nrf2 and TNFAIP3.

Sikyungbanha-Tang (SKBHT) is a Chinese traditional medicine popularly prescribed to patients with respiratory inflammatory symptoms in Korea. Although the Korea Food and Drug Administration approved SKBHT as a therapeutics for relieving the symptoms, experimental evidence for SKBHT suppressing inflammation is scarce. Here, we presented evidence that SKBHT can suppress inflammation in an acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model and explored the possible underlying mechanisms of SKBHT's anti-inflammatory activity. Single intratracheal (i.t.) injection of SKBHT (1 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg body weight) into mouse lungs decreased prototypic features of lung inflammation found in ALI, such as a high level of proinflammatory cytokines, neutrophil infiltration, and the formation of hyaline membrane, which were induced by a single i.t. LPS (2 mg/kg body weight). When added to a murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, SKBHT activated an anti-inflammatory factor Nrf2, increasing the expression of genes regulated by Nrf2. SKBHT suppressed the ubiquitination of Nrf2, suggesting that SKBHT increases the level of and thus activates Nrf2 by blunting the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of Nrf2. SKBHT induced the expression of tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3), an ubiquitin-modulating protein that suppresses various cellular signals to NF-κB. Concordantly, SKBHT suppressed NF-κB activity and the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes regulated by NF-κB. Given that Nrf2 and TNFAIP3 are involved in regulating inflammation, our results suggest that SKBHT suppresses inflammation in the lung, the effect of which is related to SKBHT activating Nrf2 and TNFAIP3.

Thiostrepton: A Novel Therapeutic Drug Candidate for Mycobacterium abscessus Infection.

Mycobacterium abscessus is a rapid-growing, multidrug-resistant, non-tuberculous mycobacterial species responsible for a variety of human infections, such as cutaneous and pulmonary infections. M. abscessus infections are very difficult to eradicate due to the natural and acquired multidrug resistance profiles of M. abscessus. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of effective drugs or regimens against M. abscessus infections. Here, we report the activity of a US Food and Drug Administration approved drug, thiostrepton, against M. abscessus. We found that thiostrepton significantly inhibited the growth of M. abscessus wild-type strains, subspecies, clinical isolates, and drug-resistant mutants in vitro and in macrophages. In addition, treatment of macrophages with thiostrepton significantly decreased proinflammatory cytokine production in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting an inhibitory effect of thiostrepton on inflammation induced during M. abscessus infection. We further showed that thiostrepton exhibits antimicrobial effects in vivo using a zebrafish model of M. abscessus infection.

Attenuation of UVB-Induced Photo-Aging by Polyphenolic-Rich Spatholobus Suberectus Stem Extract Via Modulation of MAPK/AP-1/MMPs Signaling in Human Keratinocytes.

It is well known that ultraviolet light activates mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase by increasing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the body, enhancing activating protein 1(AP-1) complexes (c-Jun and c-Fos), increasing matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and degrading collagen and elastin. In this study, we confirmed that polyphenolic rich Spatholobus suberectus (SS) stem extracts suppressed ultraviolet (UV)-induced photo-aging. The major active components of SS stem extracts were identified as gallic acid, catechin, vanillic acid, syringic acid and epicatechin. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stem of SS (SSW and SSE, respectively) significantly reduced the elastase enzyme activity. Moreover, both extracts were suppressed the ROS generation and cellular damage induced by UVB in HaCaT cells. Our results also revealed that SSE could regulate the expression of MMPs, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), elastin (ELN) and hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) at their transcriptional and translational level. Furthermore, SSE was blocked the UVB-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and c-Jun. Moreover, combination of syringic acid, epicatechin and vanillic acid showed strong synergistic effects on elastase inhibition activity, in which the combination index (CI) was 0.28. Overall, these results strongly suggest that the polyphenolics of SSE exert anti-ageing potential as a natural biomaterial to inhibit UVB-induced photo-aging.

Hominis placenta Suppresses Acute Lung Inflammation by Activating Nrf2.

Hominis placenta (HP), a dried human placenta, has been known to target liver, lung, or kidney meridians, improving the functions associated with these meridians in traditional Chinese or Asian medicine (TCM). Since recent studies implicate an HP extract in suppressing inflammation, we investigated whether an aqueous HP extract can ameliorate inflammation that occurred in the lungs. When administered with a single intratracheal lipopolysaccharide (LPS), C57BL/6 mice developed an acute neutrophilic lung inflammation along with an increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. However, this was diminished by the administration HP extract via an intraperitoneal route 2 h after LPS treatment. Western blot and semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that while suppressing the activity of a proinflammatory factor NF-[Formula: see text]B marginally, the HP extract strongly activated an anti-inflammatory factor Nrf2, with concomitant expression of Nrf2-dependent genes. Mechanistically, the HP extract suppressed the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of Nrf2, functioning similarly to a 26S proteasome inhibitor, MG132. Collectively, these results suggest that the HP extract suppresses inflammation in mouse lungs, which is in part related to the HP extract perturbing the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of Nrf2 and thus increasing the function of Nrf2.

Effects of Motor Control Exercise Vs Muscle Stretching Exercise on Reducing Compensatory Lumbopelvic Motions and Low Back Pain: A Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 6-week motor control exercise (MCE) vs stretching exercise (SE) on reducing compensatory pelvic motion during active prone knee flexion (APKF) and intensity of low back pain. METHODS: Thirty-six people in the lumbar-rotation-extension subgroup were randomly assigned equally into 2 exercise groups (18 people in each an MCE or SE group). A 3-dimensional motion-analysis system was used to measure the range and onset time of pelvic motion and knee flexion during APKF. Surface electromyography was used to measure the muscle activity and onset time of the erector spinae and the hamstrings during APKF. The level of subjective low back pain was measured using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: The MCE group had more significant decreases in and delay of anterior pelvic tilt, pelvic rotation, and erector spinae muscle activity during APKF, as well as reduced intensity of low back pain compared with the SE group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: For rehabilitation in patients in the lumbar-rotation-extension subgroup, MCE was more effective than SE in reducing compensatory pelvic motion and muscle activity during APKF and minimizing low back pain.

Rhus javanica Gall Extract Inhibits the Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Osteoclasts and Ovariectomy-Induced Bone Loss.

Inhibition of osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption is a therapeutic strategy for the management of postmenopausal bone loss. This study investigated the effects of Rhus javanica (R. javanica) extracts on bone marrow cultures to develop agents from natural sources that may prevent osteoclastogenesis. Extracts of R. javanica (eGr) cocoons spun by Rhus javanica (Bell.) Baker inhibited the osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. The effects of aqueous extract (aeGr) or 100% ethanolic extract (eeGr) on ovariectomy- (OVX-) induced bone loss were investigated by various biochemical assays. Furthermore, microcomputed tomography (µCT) was performed to study bone remodeling. Oral administration of eGr (30 mg or 100 mg/kg/day for 6 weeks) augmented the inhibition of femoral bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and other factors involved in bone remodeling when compared to OVX controls. Additionally, eGr slightly decreased bone turnover markers that were increased by OVX. Therefore, it may be suggested that the protective effects of eGr could have originated from the suppression of OVX-induced increase in bone turnover. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate that eGr has potential to activate bone remodeling by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation and bone loss.

Anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic effect of a traditional herbal medicine Kyung-Ok-Ko.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Kyung-Ok-Ko (KOK), a traditional herbal prescription, contains six main ingredients; Rehmannia glutinosa var. purpurae, Lycium chinense, Aquillaria agallocha, Poria cocos, Panax ginseng, and honey. KOK has been widely taken as a traditional oriental medicine for improving blood circulation or age-related symptoms, such as dementia and stroke. However, the effect of KOK on platelet activity has not been clarified. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the effect of KOK on platelet function, we evaluated its effect on functional markers of platelet activation such as aggregation and shape change. As a mechanism study for the effect of KOK, we examined its effect on granule secretion, intracellular Ca(2+) increase, and PLCγ and Akt activation. To investigate the effect of orally administered KOK (0.5, 1, 2 g/kg), we examined its ex vivo effect on platelet aggregation in rat, and its in vivo anti-thrombotic effect in mice thromboembolism model. Furthermore, the effect of KOK on bleeding time was examined to estimate its potential side effect. RESULTS: KOK (0.3, 1, 3, 10 mg/ml) inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation and shape change in rat platelets in a concentration-dependent manner. The mechanism for the anti-platelet effect of KOK seems to involve the inhibition of ATP release, intracellular Ca(2+) elevation, and the phosphorylation of PLCγ and Akt. In rat ex vivo study, KOK (2 g/kg, p.o. for 1 day, and 0.5, 1, 2 g/kg, p.o. for 7 days) also had significant inhibitory effects on collagen-induced platelet aggregation. In addition, KOK showed a significant protective effect against thrombosis attack in mice. The prolongation of bleeding time by KOK was much less than that by ASA, suggesting a beneficial potential of KOK than ASA in view of side effect. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that KOK elicits remarkable anti-platelet and anti-thrombotic effects with less side effect of bleeding, and therefore, it may have a therapeutic potential for the prevention of platelet-associated cardiovascular diseases.

Dual growth factor-immobilized microspheres for tissue reinnervation: in vitro and preliminary in vivo studies.

Growth factors (GFs) (basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and/or nerve growth factor (NGF))-immobilized polycaprolactone (PCL)/Pluronic F127 microspheres were prepared using an isolated particulate-melting method and the sequential binding of heparin and GFs onto the microspheres. The GFs immobilized on the microspheres were released in a sustained manner over 28 days, regardless of GF type. From the in vitro culture of muscle-derived stem cells, it was observed that the NGF-immobilized microspheres induced more neurogenic differentiation than the bFGF-immobilized microspheres, as evidenced by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction using specific neurogenic markers (Nestin, GFAP, ß-tubulin, and MAP2) and Western blot (Nestin and ß-tubulin) analyses. The dual bFGF/NGF-immobilized microspheres showed better neurogenic differentiation than the microspheres immobilized with single bFGF or NGF. From the preliminary animal study, the dual bFGF/NGF-immobilized microsphere group also showed effective nerve regeneration, as evaluated by immunocytochemistry using a marker - ß-tubulin. The dual bFGF/NGF-immobilized PCL/Pluronic F127 microspheres may be a promising candidate for nerve regeneration in certain target tissues (i.e. muscles) leading to sufficient reinnervation.

Analysis of the contribution of wind drift factor to oil slick movement under strong tidal condition: Hebei Spirit oil spill case.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the wind drift factor under strong tidal conditions in the western coastal area of Korea on the movement of oil slicks caused by the Hebei Spirit oil spill accident in 2007. The movement of oil slicks was computed using a simple simulation model based on the empirical formula as a function of surface current, wind speed, and the wind drift factor. For the simulation, the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) model and Automatic Weather System (AWS) were used to generate tidal and wind fields respectively. Simulation results were then compared with 5 sets of spaceborne optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. From the present study, it was found that highest matching rate between the simulation results and satellite imagery was obtained with different values of the wind drift factor, and to first order, this factor was linearly proportional to the wind speed. Based on the results, a new modified empirical formula was proposed for forecasting the movement of oil slicks on the coastal area.

Omega-3 fatty acid-derived mediator, Resolvin E1, ameliorates 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease for which few effective treatments are available. Resolvin E1 (RvE1; 5S,12R,18R-trihydroxy-6Z,8E,10E,14Z,16E-eicosapentaenoic acid) is an endogenous lipid mediator derived from omega-3 fatty eicosapentaenoic acid, which is a potent inhibitor of inflammation. AD-like skin lesion was induced by repetitive skin contact with DNFB in NC/Nga mice and the effects of RvE1 were evaluated on the basis of histopathological findings of skin, ear swelling and cytokine production of CD4(+) T cells. Intraperitoneal injection of RvE1 for one week after DNFB challenge significantly lowered ear swelling and improved back skin lesions. In addition, RvE1 significantly suppressed production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) by activated CD4(+) T cells and serum IgE level. Furthermore, RvE1 reduced DNFB-induced infiltration of eosinophils, mast cells, CD4(+) T cells, and CD8(+) T cells in skin lesions. Therefore, RvE1 may suppress the development of AD-like skin lesions in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice by reducing IL-4 and IFN-γ of activated CD4(+) T cells and serum IgE levels and infiltration of immune cells to skin lesion.

Potent inhibitory effect of Foeniculum vulgare Miller extract on osteoclast differentiation and ovariectomy-induced bone loss.

Inhibition of osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption is considered an effective therapeutic approach to the treatment of postmenopausal bone loss. To find natural compounds that may inhibit osteoclastogenesis, we screened herbal extracts on bone marrow cultures. In this study, we found that an aqueous extract of Foeniculum vulgare Miller seed (FvMs) at low concentration, which has traditionally been used as a treatment for a variety of ailments, inhibits the osteoclast differentiation and bone resorptive activity of mature osteoclasts. We further investigated the effects of FvMs on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss using microcomputed tomography, biomechanical tests and serum marker assays for bone remodeling. Oral administration of FvMs (30 mg or 100 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks had an intermediary effect on the prevention of femoral bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), and other parameters compared to OVX controls. In addition, FvMs slightly decreased bone turnover markers that were accelerated by OVX. The bone-protective effects of FvMs may be due to suppression of an OVX-induced increase in bone turnover. Collectively, our findings indicate that FvMs have potential in preventing bone loss in postmenopausal osteoporosis by reducing both osteoclast differentiation and function.

Capsaicin attenuates palmitate-induced expression of macrophage inflammatory protein 1 and interleukin 8 by increasing palmitate oxidation and reducing c-Jun activation in THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia cell) cells.

Capsaicin, a spicy component of hot peppers, has been shown to improve inflammatory disease and obesity. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the anti-inflammatory activity of capsaicin can be used to improve free fatty acid (FFA)-induced inflammation by reducing gene expression of macrophage inflammatory protein 1 (MIP-1) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) in THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia cell) macrophages. To investigate whether capsaicin ameliorates palmitate-induced MIP-1 and IL-8 gene expressions, we treated THP-1 cells with palmitate in the presence or absence of capsaicin and measured MIP-1 and IL-8 by real-time polymerase chain reaction. To elucidate the mechanism by which capsaicin effects on palmitate-induced MIP-1 and IL-8 gene expressions, we performed immunoblotting with stress kinase-related antibodies and measured palmitate oxidation and palmitate oxidation-related gene expression. Palmitate and stearate but not the unsaturated FFA oleate significantly increased MIP-1 and IL-8 expressions in THP-1 macrophages. Treatment with capsaicin or FFA oxidation stimulators inhibited palmitate-induced MIP-1 and IL-8 expressions in THP-1 macrophages. Capsaicin increased the gene expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 and the ß-oxidation of palmitate. Furthermore, capsaicin significantly reduced palmitate-stimulated activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, c-Jun, and p38. Our data suggest that the attenuation of palmitate-induced MIP-1 and IL-8 gene expressions by capsaicin is associated with reduced activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, c-Jun, and p38 and preserved ß-oxidation activity.

Real-time visual feedback can be used to activate scapular upward rotators in people with scapular winging: an experimental study.

QUESTION: Can real-time visual feedback facilitate the activity of serratus anterior in individuals with scapular winging during shoulder flexion? DESIGN: Comparative, repeated-measures experimental study. PARTICIPANTS: Nineteen subjects with scapular winging. INTERVENTION: Participants performed isometric shoulder flexion at 60° and 90° with and without real-time visual feedback using a video camera to monitor scapular winging. OUTCOME MEASURES: Activity in the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and serratus anterior muscles was measured using surface electromyography. A video motion analysis system measured the displacement of a marker attached to the acromion in the frontal and sagittal planes. RESULTS: Visual feedback significantly increased activity in the upper trapezius at 60° of shoulder flexion by 2.3% of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (95% CI 0.7 to 4.0). Visual feedback also significantly increased activity in the serratus anterior at 60° and 90° of shoulder flexion, by 3.0% (95% CI 2.3 to 3.6) and 5.9% (95% CI 3.3 to 8.5) of maximum voluntary isometric contraction respectively. These effects equated to effect sizes from 0.29 to 0.46. Visual feedback also significantly improved movement of the acromion superiorly at 60° of shoulder flexion and anteriorly at 60° and 90° of shoulder flexion. CONCLUSION: Real-time visual feedback can be used to activate the upper trapezius and serratus anterior muscles and to improve movement of the scapula during shoulder flexion in people with scapular winging.

Intake of brown rice lees reduces waist circumference and improves metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetes.

Intake of whole grains has been associated with lower risks of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Brown rice is unrefined whole grain and is produced by removing the outermost layers containing the germ and bran, which are rich in nutrients including dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other unmeasured dietary constituents. The lees of brown rice (LB) are by-products of its fermentation in the process of manufacturing takju, a Korean turbid rice wine. In this study, we hypothesized that intake of LB would reduce waist circumference, a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was scheduled for 12 weeks. Thirty subjects were randomly assigned to receive a supplement prepared from the LB or from a mixed-grain dietary product (MG). Body weight, waist circumference, body composition, lipid profiles, and other laboratory parameters were measured. The LB group showed greater reduction in waist circumference (LB: 87.9 ± 8.8 to 85.1 ± 9.0 cm; MG: 86.9 ± 8.8 to 86.0 ± 9.3 cm; P = .032). In addition, the consumption of LB resulted in a significantly greater decrease in the level of aspartate transaminase (LB: 25.4 ± 8.5 to 21.0 ± 5.1 IU/mL; MG: 22.5 ± 5.3 to 22.4 ± 5.7 IU/mL; P = .044) and alanine transaminase (LB: 28.6 ± 11.3 to 21.9 ± 8.2 IU/mL; MG: 24.4 ± 7.5 to 24.5 ± 9.9 IU/mL; P = .038). Consumption of the LB was associated with a decreased waist circumference in type 2 diabetic patients. Further study is required to evaluate the metabolic effect of the extract of the LB in type 2 diabetes.

Amelioration of asthmatic inflammation by an aqueous extract of Spinacia oleracea Linn.

Inflammation of the respiratory tract is a crucial process in immune diseases, including asthma, and atopic rhinitis. To establish whether an aqueous extract of Spinacia oleracea Linn (SoL) has a beneficial influence in terms of anti-asthmatic activity, we examined its effects on an ovalbumin-induced asthmatic model. Mice sensitized to ovalbumin were orally administered the SoL extract, and their lungs examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining to determine IL-4/13 cytokine expression. The SoL extract exerted strong anti-asthmatic effects by inducing a decrease in the CD4+ cell number, IL-4/13, and other molecular markers in the lung. Our results collectively indicate that the aqueous SoL extract ameliorates asthmatic symptoms effectively in a mouse ovalbumin-challenge model.

Association of a RUNX2 promoter polymorphism with bone mineral density in postmenopausal Korean women.

Osteoporosis is characterized by impaired osteoblastogenesis. Bone mineral density (BMD) is a major determinant of bone strength. RUNX2 is an osteoblast-specific transcription factor involved in osteoblast differentiation and ossification. To determine whether RUNX2 is associated with BMD in an ethnically distinct population, we investigated SNPs within the two RUNX2 promoters (P1 and P2) using the Illuminar GoldenGate system in 729 postmenopausal Korean women. Subjects bearing the minor homozygote genotype (CC) at the RUNX2 -1025 T > C SNP (rs7771980) located in P2 showed a significant association with reduced lumbar spine BMD (p = 0.02) and BMDs at proximal femur sites (trochanter, p = 0.05; total femur, p = 0.04) compared with subjects carrying the major homozygote genotype (TT) or the heterozygote genotype (TC), respectively. These results present an interesting genotype association complementary to the previously reported association of BMD with the RUNX2 -1025 T > C P2 SNP in Spanish and Australian cohorts. Therefore, we suggest that the RUNX2 P2 polymorphism (-1025 T > C) may be a useful genetic marker for bone metabolism and may play an important role in BMD in postmenopausal Korean women.