Efficacy of Polygonatum sibiricum on Mild Insomnia: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Polygonatum sibiricum (PS) rhizome, which contains glyceryl-1-monolinoleate as its primary active component, has been shown to improve insomnia in animal models. Based on these findings, we aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of PS rhizome extract in improving sleep quality in individuals with mild insomnia. Eighty individuals with mild insomnia were enrolled in a four-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of PS rhizome extract (500 mg/day, n = 40, PS group) or placebo (n = 40, placebo group). The primary outcome measure was change in total score on the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) to indicate sleep quality. The secondary outcome measures included change in actigraphy data and perfusion levels in the brain regions within the default mode network (DMN), which is known to play a key role in insomnia. The PS group showed greater improvement in the total AIS score with a significant increase in total sleep time, relative to the placebo group. In addition, significant group-by-visit interactions were observed in the perfusion level of the medial prefrontal cortex within the DMN. Findings of the current study provide first evidence that PS rhizome extract could be an effective natural ingredient for improving sleep in mild insomnia using a human model.

Medium-Chain Enriched Diacylglycerol (MCE-DAG) Oil Decreases Body Fat Mass in Mice by Increasing Lipolysis and Thermogenesis in Adipose Tissue.

Medium chain fatty acid (MCFA) escapes the formation of chylomicrons in the small intestine, resulting in energy expenditure through beta-oxidation. Diacylglycerol (DAG) is susceptible to oxidation rather than being stored in the adipose tissue. This study was conducted to verify the effect of MCE-DAG oil on body fat mass in vivo. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 12) as follows: (1) normal diet (18% kcal from fat), (2) canola oil as a control (40% kcal from canola oil), (3) MCE-DAG10 (10% kcal from MCE-DAG + 30% kcal from canola oil), and (4) MCE-DAG20 (20% kcal from MCE-DAG + 20% kcal from canola oil). The body weight and fat mass of MCE-DAG20 group mice were decreased relative to those of control mice (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). Serum triacylglycerol (TAG) was decreased in both MCE-DAG10 and MCE-DAG20 groups (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) were increased in the MCE-DAG20 group relative to the control in white adipose tissue (WAT) (P < 0.05). Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) was also increased in the MCE-DAG20 group relative to the control in brown adipose tissue (BAT) (P < 0.05). In summary, MCE-DAG reduced body fat mass likely by stimulating lipolysis in WAT and thermogenesis in BAT.

Clinical outcomes of whole pelvis radiotherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy boost for intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer.

AIM: We report our experience with Cyberknife to deliver hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) boost combined with whole pelvis radiotherapy (WPRT) to patients with intermediate- to high-risk prostate cancer. METHODS: From March 2008 to July 2014, 39 patients with newly diagnosed, intermediate- and high-risk (National Comprehensive Cancer Network definition) localized prostate cancer were treated with WPRT and SBRT boost. The whole pelvis dose was 45 Gy (25 fractions of 1.8 Gy) and the SBRT boost dose was 21 Gy (3 fractions of 7 Gy). No one received androgen deprivation therapy before biochemical relapse. The acute and late toxicities were recorded using the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scale. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response was monitored. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with a median 53.6 months (range 14-74 months) follow-up were analyzed. The median pretreatment PSA was 15.97 ng/mL. The estimated 5-year biochemical failure (BCF)-free survival was 94.7%. Two BCFs were observed in only high-risk group. The median PSA nadir was 0.30 ng/mL at median 36 months and PSA bounce occurred in 15.4% (n = 6) of patients at median 12 months. No grade 3 acute toxicity was noted. A total of 23% of the patients had grade 2 acute genitourinary (GU) toxicities and 21% had grade 2 acute gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities. At 2 months, most complications had returned to baseline. GU and GI toxicities were observed. CONCLUSIONS: WPRT followed by SBRT boost using Cyberknife in intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer is feasible with minimal toxicity and encouraging BCF-free survival.