Exploring the extensin gene family: an updated genome-wide survey in plants and algae.

Extensins (EXTs), a class of hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein with multiple Ser-Pro3-5 motifs, are known to play roles in cell wall reinforcement and environmental responses. EXTs with repetitive Tyr-X-Tyr (YXY) motifs for crosslinking are referred as crosslinking EXTs. Our comprehensive study spanned 194 algal and plant species, categorizing EXTs into seven subfamilies: classical extensins (EXT I and II), arabinogalactan-protein extensins (AGP-EXTs), proline-rich extensin-like receptor kinases (PERKs), leucine-rich repeat extensins (LRX I and II), formin homology (FH) domain-containing extensins (FH-EXTs), proline-rich, arabinogalactan proteins, conserved cysteines (PAC) domain-containing extensins (PAC I and II), and eight-cysteine motif (8CM)-containing extensins (8CM-EXTs). In the examined dataset, EXTs were detected ubiquitously in plants but infrequently in algae, except for one Coccomyxa and four Chlamydomonadales species. No crosslinking EXTs were found in Poales or certain Zingiberales species. Notably, the previously uncharacterized EXT II, PAC II, and liverwort-specific 8CM-EXTs were found to be crosslinking EXTs. EXT II, featuring repetitive YY motifs instead of the conventional YXY motif, was exclusively identified in Solanaceae. Furthermore, tandem genes encoding distinctive 8CM-EXTs specifically expressed in the germinating spores of Marchantia polymorpha. This updated classification of EXT types allows us to propose a plausible evolutionary history of EXT genes during the course of plant evolution.

Association between neighborhood availability of physical activity facilities and cognitive performance in older adults.

The existing evidence on the contextual influence of the availability of local facilities for physical activity on the cognitive health of elderly residents is sparse. This study examined the association between neighborhood physical activity facilities and cognitive health in older individuals. A cohort study of community-dwelling older adults was performed using baseline data and follow-up data from the Taiwan Biobank. Cognitive health was measured in 32,396 individuals aged 60-70 years using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) with follow-up information on 8025 participants. The district was used as the proxy for local neighborhood. To determine neighborhood physical activity facilities, school campuses, parks, activity centers, gyms, swimming pools, and stadiums were included. Multilevel linear regression models were applied to examine the associations of neighborhood physical activity facilities with baseline MMSE and MMSE decline during follow-up, with adjustment for individual factors and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics. Multilevel analyses revealed that there was a neighborhood-level effect on cognitive health among older adults. After adjusting for compositional and neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics, baseline MMSE was higher in individuals living in the middle- (beta = 0.12, p-value = 0.140) and high-density facility (beta = 0.22, p-value = 0.025) groups than in the low-density group (p-value for trend-test = 0.031). MMSE decline during follow-up was slower in the middle- (beta = 0.15, p-value = 0.114) and high-density facility (beta = 0.27, p-value = 0.052) groups than in the low-density group (p-value for trend-test = 0.032). Greater neighborhood availability of physical activity facilities was associated with better cognitive health among older residents. These findings have implications for designing communities and developing strategies to support cognitive health of an aging population.

The relationship of chronic disease conditions to mental and physical health among cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: This study examined the relationship between the presence of chronic disease conditions and mental and physical health among cancer survivors in the United States. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis utilizing survey data from the 2016-2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) on 65,673 eligible cancer survivors. The primary outcomes of interest were self-rated metal/physical health in the past 30 days. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine the mentioned association. RESULTS: 15.3% and 24.8% of survivors reported having several days of poor mental and physical health (14-30 days compared to 0-13 days), and 42.4% of survivors reported having one to two chronic diseases. In multivariate analysis, survivors with one to two chronic diseases were more likely to report several days of poor mental (OR, 2.74; 95% CI, 2.22-3.38) and physical (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.72-2.22) health. Survivors with 3+ chronic diseases had markedly higher odds of having several days of poor mental (OR, 6.41; 95% CI, 5.19-7.91) and physical health (OR, 4.71; 95% CI, 4.16-5.34). Among survivors with at least one chronic disease, older age, insured, and more perceived social/emotional support were negatively associated with mental health (p value <0.05). Similarly, older age was related to fewer days of poor physical health (p value <0.05) regardless of chronic disease conditions. CONCLUSION: Having chronic diseases was associated with more days of poor mental and physical health among cancer survivors. Integrated, extensive care should include mental/physical health components and chronic disease management in cancer survivorship care.

Disentangling the roles of point-of-sale ban, tobacco retailer density and proximity on cessation and relapse among a cohort of smokers: findings from ITC Canada Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To examine how point-of-sale (POS) display bans, tobacco retailer density and tobacco retailer proximity were associated with smoking cessation and relapse in a cohort of smokers in Canada, where provincial POS bans were implemented differentially over time from 2004 to 2010. METHODS: Data from the 2005 to 2011 administrations of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Canada Survey, a nationally representative cohort of adult smokers, were linked via residential geocoding with tobacco retailer data to derive for each smoker a measure of retailer density and proximity. An indicator variable identified whether the smoker's province banned POS displays at the time of the interview. Outcomes included cessation for at least 1 month at follow-up among smokers from the previous wave and relapse at follow-up among smokers who had quit at the previous wave. Logistic generalised estimating equation models were used to determine the relationship between living in a province with a POS display ban, tobacco retailer density and tobacco retailer proximity with cessation (n=4388) and relapse (n=866). RESULTS: Provincial POS display bans were not associated with cessation. In adjusted models, POS display bans were associated with lower odds of relapse which strengthened after adjusting for retailer density and proximity, although results were not statistically significant (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.07, p=0.089). Neither tobacco retailer density nor proximity was associated with cessation or relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Banning POS retail displays shows promise as an additional tool to prevent relapse, although these results need to be confirmed in larger longitudinal studies.

Social capital and obesity among adults: Longitudinal findings from the Montreal neighborhood networks and healthy aging panel.

Curbing the worldwide increase in obesity requires upstream social interventions that modify the environment in which obesity emerges. Recent studies have suggested that social capital and networks may influence a person's risk of obesity. Yet, few longitudinal studies have assessed whether social capital and networks reduce obesity risk in adult populations. In this study, the data come from three waves (2008, 2010, and 2013) of the Montreal Neighborhood Networks and Health Aging Panel (N=2606). Self-reported height and weight were used to calculate body mass index (BMI) with obesity defined as a BMI>30. Name and position generator instruments captured network measures of social capital, including: (1) upper reachability, (2) range, (3) diversity and (4) the number of kin ties. Questions on generalized trust and participation were used to assess cognitive and structural dimensions of social capital. Separate random effects logistic regression was used to examine the association among social network characteristics, social capital, and obesity. We found the greater the number of kin ties in a person's network, the greater the risk of obesity (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.08-1.62). Adults with higher network diversity (OR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.72-0.96) and high generalized trust (OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.35-0.77) were at a lower the risk of obesity. The current study confirmed that higher network capital and trust were protective against obesity, while having kin ties was not. Disentangling the multidimensional role that social capital plays can lead to more effective interventions to reduce obesity.

Ammoniphilus resinae sp. nov., an endospore-forming bacterium isolated from resin fragments.

A polyphasic approach was used to characterize an endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain CC-RT-ET, isolated from resin fragments. Strain CC-RT-ET was Gram-stain-variable and facultatively anaerobic, able to grow at 20-37 °C (optimal 30 °C) and pH6.0-9.0 (optimal pH 7.0). Ellipsoidal and terminal endospores were observed. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain CC-RT-ET showed highest sequence similarity to Ammoniphilus oxalivorans RAOx-FST (97.8 %) and Ammoniphilus oxalaticus RAOx-1T (97.7 %). According to the DNA-DNA hybridization, the relatedness values of strain CC-RT-ET with Ammoniphilus oxalivorans RAOx-FST and Ammoniphilus oxalaticus RAOx-1T were 21 % and 29 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content was 39.2 mol% and the predominant quinone system was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The major polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylmethylethanolamine. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The polyamine pattern showed predominance of sym-homospermidine and putrescine. The major fatty acids found in strain CC-RT-ET were C14 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c. Based on the distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic traits together with results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CC-RT-ET is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Ammoniphilus, for which the name Ammoniphilus resinaesp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-RT-ET (=BCRC 80314T=DSM 24738T).

A cross-sectional study of the relationship between daily social contact features and the prevalence of common mental disorders in Taiwan, 2000-2015.

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of daily contact features on the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs) in Taiwan from 2000 to 2015. Data from the Taiwan Social Change Survey for 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 were used to examine the relationship between the number and level of familiarity with daily social contacts with the probable CMDs (determined by score of ≥ 3 on a 12-item Chinese Health Questionnaire). Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association. Among the 7,841 respondents, the prevalence of probable CMDs increased from 18.28% in 2000 to 21.29% in 2015. Multivariable analysis showed that respondents with more daily social contacts were less likely to have probable CMDs in the four observed years adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and physical health limitations on daily activities in the past two weeks. A negative relationship between probable CMDs and level of familiarity with daily contacts was found in 2000 (OR = 0.67, 95% CI-0.48-0.94) and 2005 (OR = 0.70, 95% CI-0.53-0.93). Findings from our study suggest the development of culturally tailored programs/interventions through features of daily social contacts may reduce the prevalence of CMDs in Taiwan.

Relationship between workplace violence and mental/physical health of security guards during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between workplace violence (WPV) and mental and physical health (MPH) of security guards during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 15 representative security companies across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, and outlying islands from July 2021 to June 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1,200 questionnaires were distributed. A total of 1,032 valid questionnaires were collected. Results: 13.18% of the participants reported that they had experienced WPV during the COVID-19 pandemic, including physical violence (PhV), psychological violence (PsV), verbal violence (VV), and sexual harassment (SH). The most common violence was VV (54.19%), followed by PsV (20.69%). Community residents and property owners were the primary perpetrators, followed by strangers. The study showed that the security guards who had experienced WPV had higher scores on the 12-item Chinese Health Questionnaire (Taiwan version) (CHQ-12), indicating poorer MPH than those who had never experienced WPV. The result showed that VV had strong correlations with the lack of effective communication, dissatisfaction with treatment and service attitude, and work stress. PsV was strongly associated with excessive waiting times. Conclusion: There were correlations among PhV, VV, and PsV and they had adverse impacts on MPH, except for SH. The study found that the primary perpetrators of WPV against security guards were community residents and property owners. The causes were the lack of effective communication, dissatisfaction with treatment and service attitude, excessive waiting times, and work stress, which further led to turnover intention and poor MPH. The findings of this study have useful implications and it is recommended to enhance the understanding of workplace violence against security guards and to formulate appropriate local and international strategies to address it.

Protective effect and mechanism of lactoferrin combined with hypoxia against high-fat diet induced obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

Obesity is a global epidemic, it can induce glucose and lipid metabolism disorder and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This study explored a new way to control weight and improve fatty liver, namely, living in hypoxia environment and supplement with lactoferrin (Lf). Sixty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into six groups, namely, control, hypoxia, high-fat diet, hypoxia + high-fat diet, hypoxia + high-fat diet + low dose Lf intervention, and hypoxia + high-fat diet + high-dose Lf intervention. Mice in the hypoxia treatment groups were treated with approximately 11.5 % oxygen for 6 h every day for 8 weeks. Results showed that interventions combining Lf and hypoxia treatments showed better effect against obesity and NAFLD than hypoxia treatment alone. The interventions controlled weight gain in mice, improved glucolipid metabolism in mice. The combination intervention reduced cholesterol absorption by reducing the level of hydrophobic bile acids, and elevating the level of hydrophilic bile acids. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that the combination intervention considerably elevated short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria level, and reduced the Desulfovibrionaceae_unclassified level. Thus, Lf combined with hypoxia intervention effectively prevents obesity and NAFLD by restoring gut microbiota composition and bile acid profile.

Affective communication: a mixed method investigation into COVID-19 outbreak communication using the Taiwanese government Facebook page.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines a total of 1128 Facebook posts published by Taiwan's principal health authority from December 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020. METHODS: Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, this study investigates strategies used by the Taiwan government to communicate the COVID-19 outbreak and public responses toward these strategies. RESULT: Novel uses of Facebook posts on outbreak communication were identified, including solidarity, reviews of actions, press conferences, and the use of animal and cartoon images. Quantitative results showed that the public responded significantly more frequently to messages generating positive affects, such as posts that reviewed government actions and public efforts; posts that expressed thanks, approval, or comradeship; and posts that paired text with photographs of frontline workers or cute animals. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that, amid a disease outbreak, the public not only look for updated situations and guidelines but also for affective affirmation from government agencies.

Tracing the Single and Combined Contributions of Home-Grown Supply and Health Literacy on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption: An Empirical Exploration in Rural India.

Low fruit and vegetable consumption (FVC) remains a global health challenge. Fostering subsistence agriculture through the production and home-grown consumption (HGC) of fruits and vegetables are seen as potential strategies for improving overall FVC, in particular, for developing countries like India. In addition, educational strategies targeting FVC health literacy are also used. Little evidence has documented a connection between these two strategies. We examine the single and combined influence of HGC and health literacy with regard to benefits from fruits and vegetable consumption. Data were collected from 427 rural households in the state of Odisha, India. Three outcomes were examined: FVC, as well as fruit and vegetables separately. Linear and Poisson regression were used to examine the association among home-grown consumption (HGC), FVC health literacy, and the FVC outcomes. Findings show that HGC, but not FVC health literacy, was directly associated with FVC (ß = 0.65, SE = 0.10, p = 0.008) and vegetable consumption (ß = 0.57, SE = 0.11, p = 0.02). However, both HGC (ß = 0.58, SE = 0.05, p < 0.01) and FVC health literacy (ß = -0.07, SE = 0.02, p = 0.001) were associated with fruit consumption. In addition, HGC effect is concentrated among participants who reported low FVC health literacy, especially on overall FVC and vegetables alone. Results are discussed in relation to the beneficial role played by HGC in those particularly vulnerable households who perceived little FVC health literacy. Our results provide insights on novel improved FVC consumption across all population segments. Future research should explore the complex interplay between agricultural policies and educational programs in the design of interventions promoting fruit and vegetable production and consumption.

Longitudinal geo-referenced field evidence for the heightened BMI responsiveness of obese women to price discounts on carbonated soft drinks.

There is increasing interest in the effect that food environments may have on obesity, particularly through mechanisms related to the marketing and consumption of calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods and sugary beverages. Price promotions, such as temporary price discounts, have been particularly effective in the marketing of carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) among consumers. Research has also suggested that the purchasing behavior of consumer groups may be differentially sensitive to price discounts on CSDs, with obese women particularly sensitive. In addition, the intensity of price discount in a person's food environment may also vary across geography and over time. This study examines whether the weight change of obese women, compared to overweight or normal BMI women, is more sensitive to the intensity of price discounts on CSDs in the food environment. This study used longitudinal survey data from 1622 women in the Montreal Neighborhood Networks and Health Aging (MoNNET-HA) Panel. Women were asked to report their height and weight in 2008, 2010 and 2013 in order to calculate women's BMI in 2008 and their change of weight between 2008 and 2013. Women's exposure to an unhealthy food environment was based on the frequency in which their neighborhood food stores placed price discounts on CSDs in 2008. The price discount frequency on CSDs within women's neighborhoods was calculated from Nielsen point-of sales transaction data in 2008 and geocoded to participant's forward sortation area. The prevalence of obesity and overweight among MoNNET-HA female participants was 18.3% in 2008, 19.9% in 2010 and 20.7% in 2013 respectively. Results showed that among obese women, exposure to unhealthy food environments was associated with a 3.25 kilogram (SE = 1.35, p-value = 0.02) weight gain over the five-year study period. Exposure to price discounts on CSDs may disproportionately affect and reinforce weight gain in women who are already obese.

Exploring Pathways of Socioeconomic Inequity in Vegetable Expenditure Among Consumers Participating in a Grocery Loyalty Program in Quebec, Canada, 2015-2017.

Vegetable consumption remains consistently low despite supportive policy and investments across the world. Vegetables are available in great variety, ranging in their processing level, availability, cost, and arguably, nutritional value. A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted in Quebec, Canada to explore pathways of socioeconomic inequity in vegetable expenditure. Data was obtained for consumers who participated in a grocery loyalty program from 2015 to 2017 and linked to the 2016 Canadian census. Vegetable expenditure share (%) was examined as a fraction of the overall food basket and segmented by processing level. Panel random effects and tobit models were used overall and to estimate the stratified analysis by median income split. Consumers allocated 8.35% of their total food expenditure to vegetables, which was mostly allocated to non-processed fresh (6.88%). Vegetable expenditure share was the highest in early winter and lowest in late summer. In the stratified analysis, the low-income group exhibited less seasonal variation, allocated less to fresh vegetables, and spent more on canned and frozen compared to the high-income group. Measures of socioeconomic status were all significant drivers of overall vegetable consumption. Consumers with high post-secondary education in the low-income group spent 2% more on vegetables than those with low education. The complexity of observed expenditure patterns points to a need for more specific vegetable consumption guidelines that include provisions by processing level. Implications for education, marketing, intersectional policies, and the role of government are discussed. Governments can scale present efforts and catalyze health-promoting investments across local, state, national, and global food systems.

Added values of DXA-derived visceral adipose tissue to discriminate cardiometabolic risks in pre-pubertal children.

BACKGROUND: The new generation of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanners provide visceral adipose tissue (VAT) estimates by applying different algorithms to the conventional DXA-derived fat parameters such as total fat, trunk fat and android fat for the same image data. OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether VAT estimates from Hologic scanners are better predictors of VAT than conventional DXA parameters in pre-pubertal children, and to explore the discrimination ability of these VAT methods for cardiometabolic risks. METHODS: Healthy pre-pubertal children aged 7-10 years were recruited for basic anthropometric, DXA and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements. Laboratory tests included lipid profile, glycaemic tests and blood pressure. RESULTS: All VAT methods had acceptable to excellent performance for the diagnosis of dyslipidaemia (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.753-0.837) and hypertensive risk (AUC = 0.710-0.821) in boys, but suboptimal performance for these risks in girls, except for VAT by MRI in the diagnosis of dyslipidaemia. In both sexes, all VAT methods had no or poor discrimination ability for diabetes risk. CONCLUSIONS: DXA-derived VAT estimates are very highly correlated with standard methods but has equivalent discrimination abilities compared to the existing DXA-derived fat estimates.

Thyroid hormone-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines interfere with resveratrol-induced anti-proliferation of oral cancer cells.

Thyroid hormone, L-thyroxine (T4), induces inflammatory genes expressions and promotes cancer growth. It also induces expression of the checkpoint programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), which plays a vital role in cancer progression. On the other hand, resveratrol inhibits inflammatory genes expressions. Moreover, resveratrol increases nuclear inducible cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 accumulation, complexes with p53, and induces p53-dependent anti-proliferation. In this study, we investigated the effect of T4 on resveratrol-induced anti-proliferation in oral cancer. T4 increased the expression and cytoplasmic accumulation of PD-L1. Increased expressions of pro-inflammatory genes, interleukin (IL)-1ß and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, were shown to stimulate PD-L1 expression. T4 stimulated pro-inflammatory and proliferative genes expressions, and oral cancer cells proliferation. In contrast, resveratrol inhibited those genes and activated anti-proliferative genes. T4 retained resveratrol-induced COX-2 in cytoplasm and prevented COX-2 nuclear accumulation when resveratrol treated cancer cells. A specific signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor, S31-201, blocked T4-induced inhibition and restored resveratrol-induced nuclear COX-2 accumulation. By inhibiting the T4-activated STAT3 signal transduction axis with S31-201, resveratrol was able to sequentially reestablish COX-2/p53-dependent gene expressions and anti-proliferation. These findings provide a novel understanding of the inhibitory effects of T4 on resveratrol-induced anticancer properties via the sequential expression of PD-L1 and inflammatory genes.

Leptin-derived peptides block leptin-induced proliferation by reducing expression of pro-inflammatory genes in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

The obesity-regulated gene, leptin, is essential for diet. Leptin resistance causes obesity and related diseases. Certain types of diet are able to decrease leptin resistance. However, leptin has been shown to be correlated with inflammation and stimulate proliferation of various cancers. Two synthetic leptin derivatives (mimetics), OB3 and [D-Leu-4]-OB3, show more effective than leptin in reducing obesity and diabetes in mouse models. OB3 inhibits leptin-induced proliferation in ovarian cancer cells. However, effects of these mimetics in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been investigated. In the present study, we examined the effects of OB3 and [D-Leu-4]-OB3 on cell proliferation and gene expressions in human HCC cell cultures. In contrast to what was reported for leptin, OB3 and [D-Leu-4]-OB3 reduced cell proliferation in hepatomas. Both OB3 and [D-Leu-4]-OB3 stimulated expression of pro-apoptotic genes. Both compounds also inhibited expressions of pro-inflammatory, proliferative and metastatic genes and PD-L1 expression. In combination with leptin, OB3 inhibited leptin-induced cell proliferation and expressions of pro-inflammation-, and proliferation-related genes. Furthermore, the OB3 peptide inhibited phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activation which is essential for leptin-induced proliferation in HCC. These results indicate that OB3 and [D-Leu-4]-OB3 may have the potential to reduce leptin-related inflammation and proliferation in HCC cells.

Resveratrol is pro-apoptotic and thyroid hormone is anti-apoptotic in glioma cells: both actions are integrin and ERK mediated.

The stilbene resveratrol (RV) initiates p53-dependent apoptosis via plasma membrane integrin alphaVbeta3 in human cancer cells. A thyroid hormone (L-thyroxine, T(4)) membrane receptor also exists on alphaVbeta3. Stilbene and T(4) signals are both transduced by extracellular-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2); however, T(4) promotes cell proliferation in cancer cells, whereas RV is pro-apoptotic. Thyroid hormone has been shown to interfere with RV-induced apoptosis. However, the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. In this study, we examined the mechanism whereby T(4) inhibits RV-induced apoptosis in glioma cells. RV activated conventional protein kinase C and ERK1/2 and caused nuclear localization of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), consequent p53 phosphorylation and apoptosis. RV-induced ERK1/2 activation is involved in not only COX-2 expression but also nuclear COX-2 accumulation. NS-398, a COX-2 inhibitor, did not affect ERK1/2 activation, but reduced the nuclear abundance of COX-2 protein and the formation of complexes of nuclear COX-2 and activated ERK1/2 that are required for p53-dependent apoptosis in RV-treated cells. T(4) inhibited RV-induced nuclear COX-2 and cytosolic pro-apoptotic protein, BcLx-s, accumulation. Furthermore, T(4) inhibited RV-induced apoptosis by interfering with the interaction of nuclear COX-2 and ERK1/2. This effect of T(4) was prevented by tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac), an inhibitor of the binding of thyroid hormone to its integrin receptor. Tetrac did not, in the absence of T(4), affect induction of apoptosis by RV. Thus, the receptor sites on alphaVbeta3 for RV and thyroid hormone are discrete and activate ERK1/2-dependent downstream effects on apoptosis that are distinctive.

Resveratrol causes COX-2- and p53-dependent apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell cancer cells.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) content is increased in many types of tumor cells. We have investigated the mechanism by which resveratrol, a stilbene that is pro-apoptotic in many tumor cell lines, causes apoptosis in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma UMSCC-22B cells by a mechanism involving cellular COX-2. UMSCC-22B cells treated with resveratrol for 24 h, with or without selected inhibitors, were examined: (1) for the presence of nuclear activated ERK1/2, p53 and COX-2, (2) for evidence of apoptosis, and (3) by chromatin immunoprecipitation to demonstrate p53 binding to the p21 promoter. Stilbene-induced apoptosis was concentration-dependent, and associated with ERK1/2 activation, serine-15 p53 phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of these proteins. These effects were blocked by inhibition of either ERK1/2 or p53 activation. Resveratrol also caused p53 binding to the p21 promoter and increased abundance of COX-2 protein in UMSCC-22B cell nuclei. Resveratrol-induced nuclear COX-2 accumulation was dependent upon ERK1/2 activation, but not p53 activation. Activation of p53 and p53-dependent apoptosis were blocked by the COX-2 inhibitor, NS398, and by transfection of cells with COX-2-siRNA. In UMSCC-22B cells, resveratrol-induced apoptosis and induction of nuclear COX-2 accumulation share dependence on the ERK1/2 signal transduction pathway. Resveratrol-inducible nuclear accumulation of COX-2 is essential for p53 activation and p53-dependent apoptosis in these cancer cells.

Network-based and cohesion-based social capital and variations in depressive symptoms among Taiwanese adults.

BACKGROUND: Network- and cohesion-based social capital may play an important role in improving mental health. However, there is limited understanding about these relationships among adults in Taiwan. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the association between individual-level network and cohesion-based social capital and depressive symptoms among a population-based sample of Taiwanese adults. METHODS: Data were obtained from the 1997 Taiwan Social Change Survey (n = 2,598). The 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale was used to measure depressive symptom scores; ⩾16 represented high depressive symptoms. Network-based social capital was measured using a position generator. Two dimensions of cohesion-based social capital were assessed: cognitive (perceived neighborhood trust and reciprocity) and structural (local community participation and organizational participation). Multivariable log-binomial regression models, weighted to account for the complex sampling design and adjusted for confounders, estimated prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to examine the association between each social capital measure and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: In this study, 29.6% of respondents were classified as having high depressive symptom scores. Higher scores of composite cognitive social capital (adjusted Prevalence Ratios (aPR) = 0.92, 95% CI = [0.90, 0.95]) and structural social capital (aPR = 0.80, 95% CI = [0.65, 0.99]) were associated with a lower likelihood of high depressive symptom scores after controlling for confounders. However, there was no association between network social capital and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the relationship between social capital and depressive symptoms in Taiwan differs according to the specific dimension of social capital assessed. Differentiating between network- and cohesion-based social capital merits greater attention to inform our understanding of building social capital to promote and improve mental health outcomes.

Synthesis and Preliminary Antimicrobial Analysis of Isatin-Ferrocene and Isatin-Ferrocenyl Chalcone Conjugates.

In this study, we outline the synthesis of isatin-ferrocenyl chalcone and 1H-1,2,3-triazole-tethered isatin-ferrocene conjugates along with their antimicrobial evaluation against the human mucosal pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis. The introduction of a triazole ring among the synthesized conjugates improved the activity profiles with most of the compounds in the library, exhibiting 100% growth inhibition in a preliminary susceptibility screen at 100 µM. IC50 determination of the most potent compounds in the set revealed an inhibitory range between 2 and 13 µM. Normal flora microbiome are unaffected by these compounds, suggesting that these may be new chemical scaffolds for the discovery of new drugs against trichomonad infections.