A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Schisandra chinensis for menopausal symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a natural extract from Schisandra chinensis for relief of various menopausal symptoms. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted from January 1, 2014 until January 13, 2015. We recruited women between the ages of 40 and 70 years who complained of menopausal symptoms measured by the Kupperman Index (KI). Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either an extract from Schisandra chinensis (BMO-30) or placebo. They received the treatment for 6 weeks and were followed for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the mean interval change in KI score from baseline to week 12. Secondary measures included laboratory studies and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) score for sexual and bladder problems. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were considered eligible for enrolment, and 36 completed the study. After screening and randomization, patients were categorized into the placebo group (n = 18) and the BMO-30 group (n = 18). Total KI scores were significantly lower in the BMO-30 group than in the placebo group when evaluated with respect to group and time (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: BMO-30 from Schisandra chinensis can be a safe and effective complementary medicine for menopausal symptoms, especially for hot flushes, sweating, and heart palpitations.

Polysaccharides from Korean Citrus hallabong peels inhibit angiogenesis and breast cancer cell migration.

Although the peel of the hallabong (Citrus sphaerocarpa) fruit is rich in polysaccharides, which are valuable dietary ingredients for human health, it is normally wasted. The present study aimed to utilize the peel waste and identify properties it may have against breast cancer metastasis. Hallabong peel extract containing crude polysaccharides was fractionated by gel permeation chromatography to produce four different polysaccharide fractions (HBE-I, -II, -III, and -IV). The HBE polysaccharides significantly blocked tube formation of human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs), at a concentration of 12.5 or 25 µg/mL. Tube formation appeared to be more sensitive to HBE-II than to other HBE polysaccharides. HBE-II also inhibited breast cancer cell migration, through downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells. Therefore, inhibition of tube formation and MMP-9-mediated migration observed in HUVEC and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively, are likely to be important therapeutic targets in triple-negative breast cancer metastasis.

Er:YAG ablative fractional laser-primed photodynamic therapy with methyl aminolevulinate as an alternative treatment option for patients with thin nodular basal cell carcinoma: 12-month follow-up results of a randomized, prospective, comparative trial.

BACKGROUND: Surgical excision is conventionally regarded as the treatment of choice for nodular basal cell carcinoma (nBCC), and methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy (MAL-PDT) has relatively low efficacy for nBCC. However, Er:YAG ablative fractional laser (AFL)-primed MAL-PDT (Er:YAG AFL-PDT) may offer enhanced efficacy for nBCC, especially thin nBCC (thickness ≤2 mm). OBJECTIVE: We compared Er:YAG AFL-PDT with conventional MAL-PDT for thin facial nBCC in Korean patients. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients (42 lesions) with primary, histologically proven thin nBCCs were randomized to Er:YAG AFL-PDT (single session, n = 20) or conventional MAL-PDT (two sessions, 7 days apart, n = 19). Efficacy, recurrence rate, cosmetic outcomes and safety were assessed 1 week, 3 months and 12 months after the last treatment. RESULTS: Three months after the final treatment, overall complete response rates were 84.2% with Er:YAG AFL-PDT and 50% with MAL-PDT (P = 0.026). The recurrence rate was significantly lower with Er:YAG AFL-PDT (6.3%) than with MAL-PDT (55.6%) at 12 months (P = 0.006). Er:YAG AFL-PDT and MAL-PDT did not differ significantly with respect to cosmetic outcomes or safety. CONCLUSIONS: Er:YAG AFL-PDT can be used as an alternative treatment option for patients who have thin nBCC and are not suitable for surgical treatment.

Differences in the risk factors of reflux esophagitis according to age in Korea.

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Korea has been believed to be low, but the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Korea is expected to increase because of the longer life expectancy and more ingestion of westernized food. The aim of this study was to report differences in the risk factors of reflux esophagitis (RE) according to age in Korea. We prospectively recruited the subjects who had RE among those who visited a health promotion center for upper gastrointestinal cancer surveillance at Hallym Medical Center (five institutions) between January 2008 and February 2009. The enrolled study participants comprised 742 subjects with RE and 1484 healthy controls. The independent risk factors of RE in young and adult group were male sex, smoking, coffee, body mass index ≥ 25, hiatal hernia, and Helicobacter pylori negativity. The risk factors of RE in elderly group were smoking, coffee, and hiatal hernia. The risk factors for RE according to age group were found to differ. In elderly group, Helicobacter pylori infection was not a significant protective factor contrary to young and adult groups.

Fatty acid biosynthesis and lipogenic enzyme activities in subcutaneous adipose tissue of feedlot steers fed supplementary palm oil or soybean oil.

We hypothesized that supplementing finishing diets with palm oil would promote adipocyte differentiation in subcutaneous adipose tissue of feedlot steers, and that soybean oil supplementation would depress adipocyte differentiation. Twenty-eight Angus steers were assigned randomly to 3 groups of 9 or 10 steers and fed a basal diet without additional fat (control), with 3% palm oil (rich in palmitic acid), or with 3% soybean oil (rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids), for 10 wk, top-dressed daily. Palm oil had no effect (P > 0.05) on ADG, food intake, or G:F, whereas soybean oil depressed ADG (P = 0.02), food intake (P = 0.04), and G:F (P = 0.05). Marbling scores tended (P = 0.09) to be greater in palm oil-fed steers (Modest(09)) than in soybean oil-fed steers (Small(55)). Subcutaneous adipocyte mean volume was greater in palm oil-fed steers (515.9 pL) than in soybean-supplemented cattle (395.6 pL; P = 0.01). Similarly, glucose and acetate incorporation into total lipids in vitro was greater in subcutaneous adipose tissue of palm oil-fed steers (119.9 and 242.8 nmol·3h(-1)·10(5) cells, respectively) than adipose tissue of soybean oil-fed steers in (48.9 and 95.8 nmol·3h(-1)·10(5) cells, respectively). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and NADP-malate dehydrogenase activities were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in subcutaneous adipose tissue of palm oil-fed steers than in adipose tissue of control steers. Palm oil did not increase palmitic acid or decrease oleic acid in subcutaneous adipose tissue or LM, but decreased (P ≤ 0.05) myristoleic, palmitoleic, and cis-vaccenic acid in adipose tissue, indicating a depression in stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase activity. Soybean oil increased the proportion of α-linolenic acid in adipose tissue and muscle and increased linoleic acid and 18:1trans-10 in muscle. We conclude that palm oil supplementation promoted lipid synthesis in adipose tissue without depressing feed efficiency or increasing the palmitic acid content of beef.

Genetic variation of FASN is associated with fatty acid composition of Hanwoo.

The objective of this study was to identify genetic variants in the bovine fatty acid synthase (FASN) gene and to evaluate associations with fatty acid composition from longissimus lumborum muscle using 90 purebred Hanwoo steers. Sequence alignments observed 6 genetic variants located in exons 20, 24, 32, 34, and 39, and PCR-RFLP analysis confirmed these variations. Genotypes of the g.15532A>C locus were significantly associated with Linolenic acid (C18:3), and genotypes of the g.17924G>A locus were significantly associated with Palmitic (C16:0), Palmitoleic (C16:1), Oleic (C18:1), saturated fatty acids, and unsaturated fatty acids. The analysis revealed that SFA and UFA showed significant correlations with fatty acid composition (Myristic (C14:0), Palmitic (C16:0), Stearic (C18:0), Oleic (C18:1), and Eicosenoic (C20:1) acids). Oleic acid (C18:1) was negatively correlated with Myristic (C14:0), Palmitic (C16:0), and Palmitoleic (C16:1) acids (P<0.001).

Endothelin-1 enhances the proliferation of normal human melanocytes in a paradoxical manner from the TNF-α-inhibited condition, but tacrolimus promotes exclusively the cellular migration without proliferation: a proposed action mechanism for combination therapy of phototherapy and topical tacrolimus in vitiligo treatment.

BACKGROUND: Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder caused by the destruction of melanocytes. Two of the major theories regarding the pathogenesis of vitiligo are the autoimmune theory and autocytotoxicity theory, but, the precise pathogenetic mechanism is still not clarified. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of ET-1, tacrolimus and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on proliferation and migration of cultured normal human melanocytes (NHMs). We also sought to clarify the theoretical rationale underlying the topical tacrolimus monotherapy or tacrolimus-UV combination therapy as tools for vitiligo treatment. METHODS: The effects of ET-1, tacrolimus and TNF-α on proliferation/migration of cultured NHMs were investigated by MTT assay/Boyden chamber transwell migration assay. We also examined roles of CXC-chemokine receptor II (CXCR II) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in such conditions. RESULTS: ET-1 exerted a stimulatory effect on melanocyte proliferation and migration, but, tacrolimus exerted a stimulatory effect only on melanocyte migration higher than ET-1. TNF-α inhibited melanocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Paradoxically, TNF-α-pretreated NHMs exhibited an enhanced proliferative efficiency after being switched to ET-1. We found CXCRII was highly expressed in TNF-α-incubated melanocytes than the agents-free control, and ET-1 treatment after TNF-α preincubation showed the higher levels of CXCRII expression than the condition incubated with TNF-α alone. Moreover, the greater activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 induced by tacrolimus than ET-1, reflected tacrolimus would enhance migration stimulatory effect in cultured NHMs. CONCLUSIONS: Topical tacrolimus can be used an effective agent for vitiligo treatment as monotherapy, maybe due to its migration stimulatory action or TNF-α inhibitory property, and also as a component in combination therapy with UV treatment, considering the more upregulated MMPs activities are induced and the more effective migrations are feasible by itself than ET-1.

Effect of co-existing copper and calcium on the removal of As(V) by reused aluminum oxides.

Among the various heavy metals, arsenic is frequently found in abandoned mine drainage and the environmental fate of arsenic in real aqueous solutions can be highly dependent on the presence of co-existing ions. In this study, removal of arsenate through adsorption on the reused aluminum oxide or through precipitation was investigated in a single and in a binary system as a function of pH and concentration. Different removal behaviors of arsenate were observed in the presence of different cations as well as a variation of the molar ratios of arsenate to cations. Co-operative effects on arsenate removal by precipitation in solution occurred with an increase of copper concentration, while a decrease of arsenate removal resulted in increasing calcium concentration. It was observed that the arsenate removal in the presence of calcium would be highly dependent on the molar ratios of both elements.

Effects of exogenous enzyme supplementation to corn- and soybean meal-based or complex diets on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood metabolites in growing pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of exogenous enzymes on growth performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy and nutrients, blood metabolites, fecal VFA, and fecal ammonia-N in growing pigs (Sus scrofa) fed a corn (Zea mays L.)- and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] meal (SBM)-based diet. In Exp. 1, 240 growing barrows (initial BW: 55.6 ± 0.9 kg) were randomly allotted to 5 treatments on the basis of BW. There were 4 replicates in each treatment with 12 pigs per replicate. The 5 treatments consisted of a corn-SBM-based control diet and 4 additional diets were similar to the control diet, with the exception that 0.05% ß-mannanase (M), α-amylase + ß-mannanase (AM), ß-mannanase + protease (MPr), or α-amylase + ß-mannanase + protease (AMP) was added to the diets, which were fed for 28 d. Pigs fed the AM, MPr, or AMP diet had greater (P < 0.05) ADG than pigs fed the control diet. Pigs fed the AMP diet also had greater (P < 0.05) ADG than pigs fed the M, AM, or MPr diet. Pigs fed the AMP diet had greater (P < 0.05) G:F than pigs fed the control diet. The G:F of the pigs fed the M, AM, or MPr diet were not different (P > 0.05) from the G:F in pigs fed the AMP or control diet. The ADFI, ATTD of nutrients, blood metabolites, and fecal VFA and ammonia-N concentrations were not different among treatments. In Exp. 2, 192 growing barrows (initial BW: 56.9 ± 1.0 kg) were allotted to 4 treatments. There were 4 replicates in each treatment with 12 pigs per replicate. Pigs were fed a corn-SBM-based diet (CSD) or a complex diet (CD) that contained corn, SBM, 3% rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) meal, 3% copra (Cocos nucifera L.) meal, and 3% palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) kernel meal. Each diet was prepared without exogenous enzymes or with 0.05% AMP and all diets were fed for 28 d. The ADG and G:F of pigs fed the CSD were greater (P < 0.05) than pigs fed the CD. However, the type of diet had no effect on the ATTD of nutrients, blood metabolites, or fecal VFA and ammonia-N, and there was no diet × enzyme interaction for any of the measured variables. Supplementation of diets with exogenous enzymes resulted in greater (P < 0.05) ADG, G:F, ATTD of DM, GE, and CP, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration. These results indicate that supplementation of 0.05% of AMP enzymes to a corn-SBM diet or a complex diet may improve the performance of growing pigs.

Effect of supplementation of multi-microbe probiotic product on growth performance, apparent digestibility, cecal microbiota and small intestinal morphology of broilers.

The present study investigated the effect of inclusion of multi-microbe probiotic product on growth performance, apparent digestibility of nutrients, cecal microbiota and small intestinal morphology in broilers. Four hundred days-old Ross chicks were randomly allotted to five treatments on the basis of body weight (BW). Each treatment had four replicates of 20 chicks in each. Experimental diets were fed in two phases, starter (day 0-21) and finisher (day 22-35). Dietary treatments were; basal diet without any antimicrobial (NC), basal diet added with 20 mg Avilamycin/kg of diet (PC), 10(7) cfu multi-microbe probiotic/kg of diet (P1), 10(8) cfu multi-microbe probiotic/kg of diet (P2), and 10(9) cfu multi-microbe probiotic/kg of diet (P3). Overall BW gain and feed conversion ratio were better (p < 0.05) for treatments PC, P2 and P3 compared with NC and P1, with P1 being better (p < 0.05) than NC. Overall feed intake in treatments PC, P1, P2 and P3 were greater (p < 0.05) than NC. Apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein were greater (p < 0.05) in treatments PC, P2 and P3 compared with NC, with P1 being intermediate and not different form NC, PC, P2 and P3. At d 21 and 35, treatments PC, P1, P2 and P3 showed lower (p < 0.05) cecal Clostridium and Coliforms count in relation to NC. Moreover, cecal Clostridium (d 21) and Coliforms (d 21 and 35) count were lower (p < 0.05) in treatment PC in relation to P1; with P2 and P3 being intermediate and not different from PC. However, there was no effect of dietary treatments on cecal total anaerobic bacteria and Bifidobacterium spp. count. The villus height of duodenum in treatment PC was greater (p < 0.05) than NC, with P1, P2 and P3 being intermediate. Villus height of ileum in treatment PC was greater (p < 0.05) than in treatments P1 and NC, whereas it remained comparable among treatments PC, P2 and P3. Villus height to crypt depth ratio of ileum was greater (p < 0.05) for treatment PC, P2 and P3 compared with that in P1 and NC. It is concluded that multi-microbe probiotic inclusion at 10(8) and 10(9) cfu/kg diet had beneficial effects on broilers growth performance, apparent digestibility of nutrients and intestinal morphology and can be used as replacement to antibiotics growth promoter in broiler nutrition.

Effect of supplementation of Bacillus subtilis LS 1-2 to broiler diets on growth performance, nutrient retention, caecal microbiology and small intestinal morphology.

Present study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of Bacillus subtilis LS 1-2 on growth performance, apparent nutrient retention, caecal microbial population and intestinal morphology in broilers. Three hundred and twenty day-old Ross broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four treatments on the basis of BW in a randomized complete block design. Experimental diets were fed in two phases: starter (d 0-21) and finisher (d 22-35). Dietary treatments were basal diet supplemented with 0% (control), 0.15%, 0.30% and 0.45% B. subtilis LS 1-2. Supplementation of increasing levels of B. subtilis LS 1-2 showed linear improvement (P<0.05) in growth performance and apparent nutrient retention. At d 35, birds supplemented with increasing levels of B. subtilis LS 1-2 showed decrease in caecal Clostridium and Coliform count (linear, P<0.05). Moreover, supplementation of B. subtilis LS 1-2 increased (linear, P<0.05) villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in both duodenum and ileum. Results obtained in the present study indicate that B. subtilis LS 1-2 can be used as a growth promoter in broiler diets and can improve intestinal microbial balance and gut health of broilers.

Effect of omega-3 fatty acids on the modification of erythrocyte membrane fatty acid content including oleic acid in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Erythrocyte membrane fatty acids (FA), such as oleic acid, are related to acute coronary syndrome. There is no report about the effect of omega-3 FA on oleic acid in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We hypothesized that omega-3 FA can modify erythrocyte membrane FA, including oleic acid, in PD patients. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 18 patients who were treated with PD for at least 6 months were randomized to treatment for 12 weeks with omega-3 FA or placebo. Erythrocyte membrane FA content was measured by gas chromatography at baseline and after 12 weeks. The erythrocyte membrane content of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid was significantly increased and saturated FA and oleic acid were significantly decreased in the omega-3 FA supplementation group after 12 weeks compared to baseline. In conclusion, erythrocyte membrane FA content, including oleic acid, was significantly modified by omega-3 FA supplementation for 12 weeks in PD patients.

Inhibitory effects of Sargassum polycystum on tyrosinase activity and melanin formation in B16F10 murine melanoma cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sargassum polycystum, a type of brown seaweed, has been used for the treatment of skin-related disorders in traditional medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study is to investigate the antimelanogenesis effect of Sargassum polycystum extracts by cell-free mushroom tyrosinase assay followed by cell viability assay, cellular tyrosinase assay and melanin content assay using B16F10 murine melanoma cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sargassum polycystum was extracted with 95% ethanol and further fractionated with hexane, ethyl acetate and water. The ethanolic crude extract and its fractionated extracts were tested for their potential to act as antimelanogenesis or skin-whitening agents by their abilities to inhibit tyrosinase activity in the cell-free mushroom tyrosinase assay and cellular tyrosinase derived from melanin-forming B16F10 murine melanoma cells. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity was correlated to the inhibition of melanin production in α-MSH-stimulated and unstimulated B16F10 cells. RESULTS: Sargassum polycystum ethanolic extract and its fractions had little or no inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase activity. However, when tested on cellular tyrosinase, the ethanolic extract and its non-polar fraction, hexane fraction (SPHF), showed significant inhibition of cellular tyrosinase activity. In parallel to its cellular tyrosinase inhibitory activity, SPHF was also able to inhibit basal and α-MSH-stimulated melanin production in B16F10 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that (i) cellular tyrosinase assay is more reliable than mushroom tyrosinase assay in the initial testing of potential antimelanogenesis agents and, (ii) SPHF inhibited melanogenesis by inhibiting cellular tyrosinase activity. SPHF may be useful for treating hyperpigmentation and as a skin-whitening agent in cosmetics industry.

Association of adiponectin and leptin with serum lipids and erythrocyte omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in dialysis patients.

AIMS: Besides regulating energy metabolism, leptin promotes and adiponectin suppresses inflammation which is a common feature of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3FA) exert anti-inflammatory actions by inhibiting pro-inflammatory signal transduction pathways whereas arachidonic acid (an n-6FA) facilitates inflammation by mediating inflammatory signals and serving as precursor of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. Given the functional overlap between adipokines and n-3FA and n-6FA, we sought to explore their interrelationship in patients with ESRD. METHODS: 44 ESRD patients maintained on hemodialysis (HD), 29 patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD), and 10 healthy subjects were enrolled. Body mass index (BMI), plasma leptin, adiponectin, lipids and CRP and erythrocyte fatty acids were measured. RESULTS: Compared to controls adiponectin was elevated and leptin level was reduced in the ESRD group. Adiponectin levels were comparable among PD and HD patients, but leptin and BMI were higher in PD than in HD patients. Despite comparable BMIs, female patients had higher leptin than male patients. Leptin levels were positively associations with BMI, total and LDL cholesterol whereas adiponectin was inversely related with BMI, triglycerides and CRP and directly associated with HDL cholesterol in ESRD patients. Plasma adiponectin was directly associated with erythrocyte n-3 FA (r = 0.581, p = 0.023) and inversely associated with n-6FA (r = -0.640, p = 0.010) in the HD patients. CONCLUSION: A direct association was found between plasma levels of adiponectin and HDL and erythrocyte n-3FA in ESRD patients. Prospective trials are needed to explore the effect of n-3FA supplementation on plasma adipokines and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in this population.

Comparison of fatty acid contents of erythrocyte membrane in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Membrane fatty acid composition plays an important role in the cellular function. Erythrocyte fatty acid composition mirrors that of myocardium and is influenced by diet. Earlier studies have shown significant alterations of membrane fatty acid composition in ethnically mixed patients with end-stage renal disease. Given the impact of ethnic and dietary factors, we sought to examine membrane fatty acid composition in an ethnically homogeneous end-stage renal disease population residing in a coastal region of Korea with high fish consumption. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outpatient facility at Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea. PATIENTS: We recruited 15 stable hemodialysis patients, 14 peritoneal dialysis patients, and 10 age- and gender-matched normal controls. Patients with significant malnutrition, short duration of dialysis, recent infection, malignancy, or liver disease were excluded. Dietary intake and use of omega-3 fatty acid supplements were determined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Erythrocyte membrane fatty acid contents measured by gas chromatography. RESULTS: Palmitoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid levels were lower, whereas oleic acid, linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid levels were higher in patients with end-stage renal disease compared with the control group. Total monounsaturated fatty acids (palmitoleic acid and oleic acid) were significantly higher in peritoneal dialysis than in hemodialysis patients. Eicosapentaenoic acid and omega-3 docosapentaenoic acid were significantly higher, but total omega-6 fatty acids, omega-6/omega-3, and arachidonic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid ratios were significantly lower in hemodialysis patients consuming omega-3 supplements compared with those who did not. CONCLUSION: Patients with end-stage renal disease exhibited significant alterations in erythrocyte membrane fatty acids, which were partially modified by the dialysis modality and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.

Sensory characteristics and consumer acceptability of decaffeinated green teas.

Green tea has been widely consumed for its mild flavors and its health benefits, yet caffeine in green tea has been a limitation for those who want to avoid it. The limitation brought increase in need for decaffeinated products in the green tea market. Most of the conventional decaffeination techniques applied in food use organic solvents. However, supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SC-CO2) method is gaining its intension as one of the future decaffeination methods that overcomes the problems of conventional methods. The purpose of this study was to identify sensory characteristics of decaffeinated green teas applied with SC-CO2 method and to observe the relationship with consumer acceptability to elucidate the potentiality of applying SC-CO2 technique in decaffeinated green tea market. Descriptive analysis was performed on 8 samples: green teas containing 4 caffeine levels (10%, 35%, 60%, and 100%) infused at 2 infusing periods (1 or 2 min). It was found that the SC-CO2 process not only reduced caffeine but also decreased some important features of original tea flavors. Two groups were recruited for consumer acceptability test: one (GP I, N = 52), consuming all types of green teas including hot/cold canned teas; and the other (GP II, N = 40), only consuming the loose type. While GP II liked original green tea the most, GP I liked highly decaffeinated green teas. Although the SC-CO2 method had limitations of losing complex flavors of green teas, it appeared to have future potential in the decaffeinated green tea market within or without the addition of desirable flavors.

Effect of feeding high-temperature, microtime-treated diets with different lipid sources on conjugated linoleic acid formation in finishing Hanwoo steers.

The present study was conducted to examine the effects of different plant oils or plant oil mixtures and high-temperature, microtime processing (HTMT) on the CLA content in Hanwoo steers. Experiment 1, consisting of 3 in vitro trials, was conducted to determine how the biohydrogenation of C18 fatty acids and CLA production were affected by fat sources (tallow, soybean oil, linseed oil, or mixtures of soybean oil and linseed oil) or HTMT treatment in the rumen fluid. The results showed that HTMT was capable of protecting unsaturated fatty acids from biohydrogenation by ruminal bacteria. The HTMT-treated diet containing 4% linseed oil (LU) and a supplement containing 2% linseed oil and 1% soybean oil treated with HTMT + 1% soybean oil (L(2)S(1)U+S(1)) produced an increased quantity of trans-11 C18:1 and cis-9, trans-11 CLA, and a reduced quantity of trans-10, cis-12 CLA. Based on these results, in vivo studies (Exp. 2) were conducted with LU and L(2)S(1)U+S(1). These 2 treatments increased the content of cis-9, trans-11 CLA in LM compared with the control diet. The content of trans-10, cis-12 CLA in subcutaneous fat was also increased in the L(2)S(1)U+S(1) treatment compared with other treatments. The subcutaneous fat thickness in the LU treatment was decreased compared with the L(2)S(1)U+S(1) treatment. The LU treatment significantly decreased fatty acid synthase expression but simultaneously increased leptin expression. In this report, we showed that diets containing LU and L(2)S(1)U+S(1) were capable of increasing CLA in the intramuscular fat of beef.

Effect of supercritical carbon dioxide decaffeination on volatile components of green teas.

Volatile components in regular and decaffeinated green teas were isolated by simultaneous steam distillation and solvent extraction (SDE), and then analyzed by GC-MS. A total of 41 compounds, including 8 alcohols, 15 terpene-type compounds, 10 carbonyls, 4 N-containing compounds, and 4 miscellaneous compounds, were found in regular and decaffeinated green teas. Among them, linalool and phenylacetaldehyde were quantitatively dominant in both regular and decaffeinated green teas. By a decaffeination process using supercritical carbon dioxide, most volatile components decreased. The more caffeine was removed, the more volatile components were reduced in green teas. In particular, relatively nonpolar components such as terpene-type compounds gradually decreased according to the decaffeination process. Aroma-active compounds in regular and decaffeinated green teas were also determined and compared by aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). Most greenish and floral flavor compounds such as hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, and some unknown compounds disappeared or decreased after the decaffeination process.

Human hair growth enhancement in vitro by green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).

Green tea is a popular worldwide beverage, and its potential beneficial effects such as anti-cancer and anti-oxidant properties are believed to be mediated by epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major constituent of polyphenols. Recently, it was reported that EGCG might be useful in the prevention or treatment of androgenetic alopecia by selectively inhibiting 5alpha-reductase activity. However, no report has been issued to date on the effect of EGCG on human hair growth. This study was undertaken to measure the effect of EGCG on hair growth in vitro and to investigate its effect on human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in vivo and in vitro. EGCG promoted hair growth in hair follicles ex vivo culture and the proliferation of cultured DPCs. The growth stimulation of DPCs by EGCG in vitro may be mediated through the upregulations of phosphorylated Erk and Akt and by an increase in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Similar results were also obtained in in vivo dermal papillae of human scalps. Thus, we suggest that EGCG stimulates human hair growth through these dual proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects on DPCs.

Mineral loss from bovine enamel by a 30% hydrogen peroxide solution.

This study investigated the effect of a 30% hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent on bovine enamel in terms of mineral loss. Contents of mineral elements both in the teeth and bleaching agent were evaluated to estimate the effect of hydrogen peroxide on teeth. Finely polished non-carious bovine incisors (n = 5) were immersed in a 30% hydrogen peroxide solution for 120 h. The amounts of concentrated elements in the bleaching agent (5 mL) were measured using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer and ion chromatograph. The contents of mineral elements in the teeth were measured using an electron probe microanalyzer. The Ca/P ratio in the bleaching agent was approximately 1.99. The amount of Zn in the bleaching agent was below the detection limit. The total content of mineral elements of the unbleached enamel (90.75 +/- 1.58) was slightly greater than that of the bleached enamel (87.44 +/- 0.77). The Ca/P ratio of the bleached enamel was 2.06. The amount of Ca loss from the bleached enamels after 120 h was similar to the amount of Ca loss from teeth exposed to a soft drink or juice for a few minutes. Therefore, mineral loss caused by the bleaching process may not be a threatening factor to teeth.