Suppression on allergic airway inflammation of dehulled adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) in mice and anti-degranulation phytosterols from adlay bran.

Adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) seeds have been used in Asia for thousands years to treat warts, chapped skin, rheumatism, and neuralgia. The anti-allergic activity of dehulled adlay (DA) seeds was identified, and the bran (AB) is regarded as the main functional constituent in the edible part. However, no study has focused on in vivo acute anti-allergic airway inflammation. In the present report, we investigated DA methanolic extract (DAM) reversed ovalbumin (OVA)/methacholine (Mch)-induced airway hypersensitivity, decreased interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels from splenocytes, suppressed tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-1ß, and IL-13 levels and reduced eosinophil counts and eotaxin in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), which imply that the modulatory effects of DA should involve allergic degranulation. Further, seven phytosterols were isolated from AB ethanolic extract (ABE); among them, 3-O-caffeoyl-5ß-sitostan-3-ol, ß-sitosterol 3-O-glucopyranoside and ß-sitosterol inhibited ß-hexosaminidase release from A23187-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells with percentages of 54.1%, 52.0% and 48.5%, respectively, at 50 µM. In addition, ß-sitosterol reduced immunoglobulin (Ig)E-stimulated degranulation on RBL-2H3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The phytosterols were the predominant components based on gas chromatography (GC) analysis. This is the first study to demonstrate that DA suppressed OVA/Mch-induced acute airway inflammation. The phytosterols in AB showed significant anti-degranulation activities, and may be regarded as the indicative components of AB for anti-allergy effects.

Memory load and display polarity in visual search performance and EEG response.

Electroencephalogram measures have frequently been shown to be highly sensitive to variations in task conditions; however, research on the effects of memory load on EEG response and Visual Display Terminal (VDT) performance is lacking. Data from 19 college students were analyzed for effects of memory load and polarity on VDT performance. Included also were modulation of the EEG distribution around the cerebrum, the inferred source of operation of working memory and comprehension. Analyses indicated that the effects of memory load on finish time were statistically significant. The theta band at FP1 and FP2 had larger change in power than at T6, showing a large effect between memory load and frontal lobe function. This experiment on polarity and EEG response indicated the power change in the theta band was stronger for positive contrast than negative; however, the polarity of the display had no statistically significant effect on EEG response.

Correlation between Visual Acuity and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Parameters in Unilateral Idiopathic Epiretinal Membrane.

BACKGROUND: The tangential traction by idiopathic epiretinal membrane (iERM) may alter the hemodynamics of the macula. We investigated the correlation between visual acuity and the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters in unilateral iERM. METHODS: We included 61 eyes of 61 consecutive patients with unilateral iERM between January 2018 and December 2018. The flow area of the retinal superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and choroidal capillary plexus (CCP) were measured using OCTA. The normal fellow eyes were used for comparison. The iERM patients were divided into those with a presence of foveal concavity and those with a loss of foveal concavity. RESULTS: When compared with fellow eyes, the flow areas showed a statistically significant decrease in the SCP and CCP of those with iERM (p = 0.037 and p = 0.011, respectively). In the DCP, no significant reduction in flow area was found in iERM (p = 0.054). The flow area of the CCP was the only factor significantly associated with best vision (p = 0.012). No significant differences in the flow areas of the SCP, DCP, and CCP were found between the presence and loss of foveal concavity. CONCLUSIONS: The flow area of the CCP is an important determinant of vision, emphasizing the crucial role of choroidal circulation in iERM. Moreover, mechanical stretch by iERM is not the only mechanism affecting the flow area.

Background luminance and input devices on clicking performance with a tablet PC.

This study investigated the effects of input devices and background luminance on clicking performance with a Tablet PC. The experiment was designed in complete block design within subjects. Participants were 19 men and 11 women, college students whose ages were 19 to 22 years (M=20.1 yr.). All had 0.8 corrected visual acuity or better and normal color vision. Three kinds of input devices, mouse, light pen, and touchpad, were used in this experiment. An analysis of variance showed that input devices significantly affected clicking performance as did background luminance (contrast ratio) on visual recognition (a higher contrast ratio gave better visual recognition).

A short-term smoking cessation may increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Smoking cessation is beneficial for health. However, its potential harmful impact on metabolic syndrome has yet to be clarified. Six smokers who attended the smoking cessation clinic were recruited and given the nicotine replacement therapy for 3 months. The values of body weight, BMI, systolic blood pressure, and fasting glycemia were significantly elevated after smoking cessation. We recommend that clinicians should monitor these cardiovascular risk factors in subjects attempting smoking cessation.

Suppression of allergic reactions by dehulled adlay in association with the balance of TH1/TH2 cell responses.

Dehulled adlay is known as a natural Chinese medicine having antiallergic activity, although its mechanism remains unclear. This study examined the effects of dehulled adlay on antigen-specific antibody and cytokine production. Mice were immunized three times with ovalbumin (OVA) in alum adjuvant. It was found that oral administration of dehulled adlay in mice suppressed the production of IgE against OVA antigen. Serum anti-OVA IgG(2a) antibody levels were significantly increased in mice after oral administration of dehulled adlay. Furthermore, the production of IL-2 by OVA-stimulated splenocytes was augmented in dehulled adlay-fed mice. Although dehulled adlay had no effect on the serum anti-OVA IgG(1) antibody levels, it had a great capacity to reduce IL-5 secretion by means of OVA-stimulated splenocytes. Hydrothermal processes, including steaming and extrusion cooking, did not change the capacity of dehulled adlay to suppress IgE production. Three fractions of dehulled alday, including methanolic extract, warm water extract, and residue, were obtained. The methanolic extract exhibited the greatest capacity to reduce anti-OVA IgE production. These results suggest that dehulled adlay has a modulating ability to shift the balance from Th2 to Th1 dominance in the T cell mediated immune system and may be beneficial for the treatment of allergic disorders.

Allergic immune-regulatory effects of adlay bran on an OVA-immunized mice allergic model.

Allergy is an inflammation associated with an elevated T helper (Th) 2 lymphocyte responses to allergens and elevated serum IgE levels and cytokines. In one of our previous studies using a cell model, various flavonoids were found to be involved the anti-inflammatory effects of adlay bran. The present study investigated the effect of the ethyl-acetate fraction of ethanolic extract of adlay bran (ABE-EtOAc) in an ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized murine model. Six-week-old female BALB/c mice underwent OVA sensitization and were used as an allergy model. An orogastric gavage was used to force feed these mice with 240 mg/kg ABE-EtOAc from their sixth week through their twelfth week. Immune reactions were determined by measuring changes in Th2-type cytokine (IL-4 and IL-5) levels and production of antibodies. ABE-EtOAc was found capable of regulating the Th1/Th2 immune reaction through its regulation of IL-2 and IL-4. It also significantly reduced the production of anti-OVA IgE antibodies (10%), increased the secretion of IFN-γ and decreased the secretion of IL-6 (38%). These results suggest that adlay bran extract can reduce an allergic reaction by balancing Th1/Th2 immune responses and that it might be used in the treatment of this condition.

Mast cell-dependent allergic responses are inhibited by ethanolic extract of adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) testa.

Allergy is an immune dysfunction caused by degranulation from mast cells in the early phase and cytokine secretion in the late phase of the cell. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of adlay (Job's tears, Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) testa against beta-hexosaminidase release as a marker of degranulation in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells. The ethyl acetate fraction from ethanolic extracts of adlay testa (ATE-EtOAc) exhibited potent inhibitory activity that suppressed degranulation from RBL-2H3 cells stimulated by 1 microM A23187. The 20%-80% EtOAc/Hex subfractions of ATE-EtOAc significantly inhibited histamine release with a IC(50) of 75-100 microg/mL. In addition, the ATE-EtOAc subfractions suppressed interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion in RBL-2H3 cells, indicating that adlay testa were able to inhibit cytokine secretion. In order to explore the inhibitory mechanism of adlay testa in mast cell degranulation, we examined the activation of intracellular signaling molecules. Adlay testa inhibited the phosphorylation ERK expression. Furthermore, the two major active compounds, 4-hydroxyacetophenone and p-coumaric acid, were isolated from the ATE-EtOAc subfractions. These results suggest that ATE had an inhibitory effect on allergic response via the ERK signaling transduction in RBL-2H3 cells.

Ethyl acetate fraction of adlay bran ethanolic extract inhibits oncogene expression and suppresses DMH-induced preneoplastic lesions of the colon in F344 rats through an anti-inflammatory pathway.

Adlay ( Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) is a grass crop and was reported to possess anti-inflammatory activity and an antiproliferative effect in cancer cell lines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of an adlay bran ethanolic extract (ABE-Ea) on colon carcinogenesis in an animal model and investigate its mechanism. Male F344 rats received 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and consumed different doses of ABE-Ea. The medium-dose group (17.28 mg of ABE-Ea/day) exhibited the best suppressive effect on colon carcinogenesis and prevented preneoplastic mucin-depleted foci (MDF) formation. Moreover, RAS and Ets2 oncogenes were significantly down-regulated in this group compared to the negative control group, whereas Wee1, a gene involved in the cell cycle, was up-regulated. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression was significantly suppressed in all colons receiving the ABE-Ea, indicating that ABE-Ea delayed carcinogenesis by suppressing chronic inflammation. ABE-Ea included considerable a proportion of phenolic compounds, and ferulic acid was the major phenolic acid (5206 microg/g ABE-Ea) on the basis of HPLC analysis. Results from this study suggest that ABE-Ea suppressed DMH-indued preneoplastic lesions of the colon in F344 rats and that ferulic acid may be one of the active compounds.