Fermented black ginseng extract prevents UVB-induced inflammation by regulating the nc886-PKR pathway in human keratinocytes.

BACKGROUND: Continuous exposure of the skin to ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can cause inflammation and photodamage. In previous studies, we observed that the upregulation of nc886, a noncoding RNA (ncRNA), can alleviate UVB-induced inflammation through suppression of the protein kinase RNA (PKR) pathway. We aim to investigate the effect of fermented black ginseng extract (FBGE), which has been shown to increase the expression of nc886, on UVB-induced inflammation in keratinocytes. METHODS: To confirm the cytotoxicity of FBGE, MTT assay was performed, and no significant cytotoxicity was found on human keratinocytes. The efficacies of FBGE were assessed through qPCR, Western blotting, and ELISA analysis which confirmed regulation of UVB-induced inflammation. RESULTS: The analysis results showed that FBGE inhibited the decrease in nc886 expression and the increase in the methylated nc886 caused by UVB. It also prevented the UVB-induced increase of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Additionally, FBGE suppressed the PKR-MAPK pathways activated by UVB. CONCLUSION: These results implicate that FBGE can alleviate UVB-induced inflammation through regulation of the nc886-PKR pathway.

Isatis tinctoria L. Leaf Extract Inhibits Replicative Senescence in Dermal Fibroblasts by Regulating mTOR-NF-κB-SASP Signaling.

Senescent fibroblasts progressively deteriorate the functional properties of skin tissue. Senescent cells secrete senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factor, which causes the aging of surrounding non-senescent cells and accelerates aging in the individuals. Recent findings suggested the senomorphic targeting of the SASP regulation as a new generation of effective therapeutics. We investigated whether Isatis tinctoria L. leaf extract (ITE) inhibited senescence biomarkers p53, p21CDKN1A, and p16INK4A gene expression, and SASP secretions by inhibiting cellular senescence in the replicative senescent human dermal fibroblast (RS-HDF). ITE has been demonstrated to inhibit the secretion of SASP factors in several senomorphic types by regulating the MAPK/NF-κB pathway via its inhibitory effect on mTOR. ITE suppressed the inflammatory response by inhibiting mTOR, MAPK, and IκBα phosphorylation, and blocking the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. In addition, we observed that autophagy pathway was related to inhibitory effect of ITE on cellular senescence. From these results, we concluded that ITE can prevent and restore senescence by blocking the activation and secretion of senescence-related factors generated from RS-HDFs through mTOR-NF-κB regulation.

Evaluation of green tea extract as a safe personal hygiene against viral infections.

BACKGROUND: Viral infections often pose tremendous public health concerns as well as economic burdens. Despite the availability of vaccines or antiviral drugs, personal hygiene is considered as effective means as the first-hand measure against viral infections. The green tea catechins, in particular, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), are known to exert potent antiviral activity. In this study, we evaluated the green tea extract as a safe personal hygiene against viral infections. RESULTS: Using the influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) as a model, we examined the duration of the viral inactivating activity of green tea extract (GTE) under prolonged storage at various temperature conditions. Even after the storage for 56 days at different temperatures, 0.1% GTE completely inactivated 106 PFU of the virus (6 log10 reduction), and 0.01% and 0.05% GTE resulted in 2 log10 reduction of the viral titers. When supplemented with 2% citric acid, 0.1% sodium benzoate, and 0.2% ascorbic acid as anti-oxidant, the inactivating activity of GTE was temporarily compromised during earlier times of storage. However, the antiviral activity of the GTE was steadily recovered up to similar levels with those of the same concentrations of GTE without the supplements, effectively prolonging the duration of the virucidal function over extended period. Cryo-EM and DLS analyses showed a slight increase in the overall size of virus particles by GTE treatment. The results suggest that the virucidal activity of GTE is mediated by oxidative crosslinking of catechins to the viral proteins and the change of physical properties of viral membranes. CONCLUSIONS: The durability of antiviral effects of GTE was examined as solution type and powder types over extended periods at various temperature conditions using human influenza A/H1N1 virus. GTE with supplements demonstrated potent viral inactivating activity, resulting in greater than 4 log10 reduction of viral titers even after storage for up to two months at a wide range of temperatures. These data suggest that GTE-based antiviral agents could be formulated as a safe and environmentally friendly personal hygiene against viral infections.

Caffeine intake from coffee or tea and cognitive disorders: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Observational epidemiological studies such as cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the association between caffeine intake from coffee or tea and the risk of cognitive disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, and cognitive decline. METHODS: We searched PubMed and EMBASE in September 2014. Three evaluators independently extracted and reviewed articles, based on predetermined selection criteria. RESULTS: Out of 293 articles identified through the search and bibliographies of relevant articles, 20 epidemiological studies from 19 articles, which involved 31,479 participants (8,398 in six cross-sectional studies, 4,601 in five case-control studies, and 19,918 in nine cohort studies), were included in the final analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR) or relative risk (RR) of caffeine intake from coffee or tea for cognitive disorders (dementia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment, and cognitive decline) was 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.67-1.01, I² = 63.2%) in a random-effects meta-analysis. In the subgroup meta-analysis by caffeine sources, the summary OR or RR of coffee intake was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.70-0.98; I² = 44.8%). However, in the subgroup meta-analysis by study design, the summary estimates (RR or OR) of coffee intake for cognitive disorders were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.50-0.98; I² = 42.0%) for cross-sectional studies, 0.82 (95% CI, 0.55-1.24; I² = 33.4%) for case-control studies, and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.59-1.36; I² = 60.0%) for cohort studies. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis found that caffeine intake from coffee or tea was not associated with the risk of cognitive disorders.

Radiation therapy is a treatment to be considered for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer after chemotherapy.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Radiation therapy provides a safe and effective alternative treatment option for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, although it has not been a treatment of choice. We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of radiation therapy for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer after chemotherapy according to the disease status. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 38 patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer treated with radiation therapy at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, between January 1997 and December 2007. We analyzed their clinical characteristics and the outcome of radiation therapy. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients were treated with radiation therapy. Their median age was 51.5 years. Most patients were FIGO stage III (27/38) with serous adenocarcinoma (26/38). All patients had received at least one regimen of platinum-based chemotherapy; 24 patients were sensitive to the first chemotherapy and the others were resistant. Lymph node and abdominopelvic wall were the most common sites of radiation therapy. The response rate was 65.0% (16 complete remissions and 10 partial remissions), and the median regression rate was 78.8% (range, -66.6 to 100.0). Median progression-free survival was 7.2 months (range, 1.0-66.6). In 28 patients who had a solitary relapsed site from the radiographic finding at the time of radiation therapy, it was 10.7 months (range, 1.8-66.6). Neither hematologic nor intestinal toxicity of grade 3-4 was observed. Prognostic factors were sensitivity to platinum and the site treated with radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation therapy is a treatment that should be considered for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, especially in good responders to platinum or patients with solitary relapsed lesions.

The protective effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza in an animal model of early experimentally induced diabetic nephropathy.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end stage renal disease. In this study, the effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) were studied in an experimental rat model of DN that was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats (290 ± 10 g) by injecting STZ (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein. After development of diabetes, the rats were treated with SM (500 mg/kg) for 8 weeks in order to analyze its renoprotective effect, which was evaluated by means of blood glucose level, urine protein, and the expression of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), receptor of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1), collagen IV, and monocyte/macrophage (ED-1) infiltration. RESULTS: High levels of 24-h urinary protein excretion were ameliorated by SM. Moreover, the serum and kidney levels of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) and the kidney levels of collagen IV, monocytes/macrophages (ED-1) and the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), were significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that SM might inhibit the progression of DN and could be a therapeutic agent for regulating several pharmacological targets for treatment or prevention of DN.