Melatonin and Kidney Health: From Fetal Stage to Later Life.

Melatonin, an endogenous hormone mainly released at night by the pineal gland, has multifaceted biofunctions. Emerging evidence points to melatonin having a crucial role in kidney health and disease. As the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is still rising, a superior strategy to advance global kidney health is needed to not just treat CKD, but prevent it early on. Adult kidney disease can have its origins in early life. This review aims to evaluate the recent literature regarding melatonin's effect on kidney development, its clinical uses in the early stage of life, animal models documenting preventive applications of melatonin on offspring's kidney-related disease, and a thorough summary of therapeutic considerations concerning melatonin supplementation.

Hepatoprotective effect of Antrodia Cinnamomea mycelia extract in subhealth Japanese adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

Antrodia cinnamomea, a unique Taiwanese fungus (mushroom), has demonstrated the hepatoprotective activities in animals with liver injury. Nevertheless, there are few studies reporting the efficacy of the fungus in subhealth subjects (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels between 31 and 50 U/L and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels ≤ 50 U/L). In this study, we assessed the ameliorating effect of a A. cinnamomea mycelia extract (ACME) on liver health in asymptomatic individuals with marginally high ALT levels. Forty-four eligible Japanese adults were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study and instructed to take an ACME capsule (250 mg of ACME powder) or a placebo capsule daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes (i.e. ALT and AST) were analyzed at 0, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. No treatment-related adverse effects were observed throughout this study. In efficacy analyses with the per-protocol (PP) cohort of participants, there were no significant changes in ALT and AST levels within and between groups. However, subgroup analysis showed that ACME could significantly improve the mean ALT level of regular drinkers, consuming alcoholic drinks more than twice a week, after the study in comparison with the result of the placebo group. This exploratory study indicated that the ACME might effectively improve liver health in regular drinkers.

Accessory Climbing Routes Associated With More Rescue Operations Than the Main Climbing Route: A Retrospective 12-Year Report of Yushan National Park.

INTRODUCTION: This study compared the casualties and types of rescues conducted on the main climbing route (MCR) and accessory climbing routes (ACRs) in Yushan National Park (YSNP) between 2008 and 2019. METHODS: We collected the following information for all documented mountain rescue operations conducted on the MCRs and ACRs in YSNP between 2008 and 2019: accident location, casualty type, victim number, and type of rescue. The victims were categorized as to injury, illness, mortality, or no medical problem (NMP) groups according to their condition at the time of rescue. RESULTS: Two-hundred forty-four rescue operations involving 329 victims were conducted during the 12-y study period. Among them, 105 (32%) did not require medical treatment, 102 (31%) were injured, 82 (25%) were ill, and 40 (12%) were deceased. Of the 82 individuals with illness, 69 (84%) had acute altitude sickness. The accident and mortality rates on the ACRs were significantly higher than those on the MCR (P<0.001; χ2). The ACR incidents involved significantly higher percentages of helicopter-based rescues and victims in the NMP group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Acute altitude sickness accounted for most of the rescues. ACRs had higher injury and mortality rates and required more helicopter-based rescues for patients who did not have medical problems. This study may serve as a reference to reduce casualties and overuse of helicopters by educating tourists on the appropriate use of maps and the evaluation of trails in relation to weather conditions.

Effect of Water and Ethanol Extracts from Hericium erinaceus Solid-State Fermented Wheat Product on the Protection and Repair of Brain Cells in Zebrafish Embryos.

Extracts from Hericium erinaceus can cause neural cells to produce nerve growth factor (NGF) and protect against neuron death. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ethanol and hot water extracts from H. erinaceus solid-state fermented wheat product on the brain cells of zebrafish embryos in both pre-dosing protection mode and post-dosing repair mode. The results showed that 1% ethanol could effectively promote zebrafish embryo brain cell death. Both 200 ppm of ethanol and water extracts from H. erinaceus solid-state fermented wheat product protected brain cells and significantly reduced the death of brain cells caused by 1% ethanol treatment in zebrafish. Moreover, the zebrafish embryos were immersed in 1% ethanol for 4 h to cause brain cell damage and were then transferred and soaked in the 200 ppm of ethanol and water extracts from H. erinaceus solid-state fermented wheat product to restore the brain cells damaged by the 1% ethanol. However, the 200 ppm extracts from the unfermented wheat medium had no protective and repairing effects. Moreover, 200 ppm of ethanol and water extracts from H. erinaceus fruiting body had less significant protective and restorative effects on the brain cells of zebrafish embryos. Both the ethanol and hot water extracts from H. erinaceus solid-state fermented wheat product could protect and repair the brain cells of zebrafish embryos damaged by 1% ethanol. Therefore, it has great potential as a raw material for neuroprotective health product.

Fish omega-3 fatty acids induce liver fibrosis in the treatment of bile duct-ligated rats.

BACKGROUND: Biliary atresia-induced cholestasis increases hepatic oxidative stress with eventual progression to cirrhosis and liver failure. Omega-3 fatty acids play a possible role in the regulation of oxidative stress and the improvement of cholestasis. AIM: The goal of the present study is to investigate the role of dietary supplementation of fish omega-3 fatty acids in the reduction of hepatocellular damage by using a rat common bile duct ligation model. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats received either sham or bile duct ligation (BDL) and were divided into four study groups: Sham+saline (Sham+sal) group, Sham+Fish oil (Sham+FO) group, BDL+saline (BDL+sal) group, and BDL+Fish oil (BDL+FO) group. Rats from each group were assigned to receive, besides regular chow, once daily with either normal saline or fish omega-3 fatty acids (0.4 % of its own body weight) via gavage for 10 days. Samples of blood, liver tissue homogenates, and histological studies from different groups were analyzed at the end of the study. RESULTS: Rats from BDL+FO had significantly impaired liver function as compared to other study groups (p < 0.05 is of significant difference). Ishak scores and the TGF-b1 contents were significantly higher in rats that received BDL+FO, p < 0.05. Contrary to TGF-b1 liver content, rats from the BDL+FO group had the lowest glutathione levels among the study groups, p < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Fish omega-3 fatty acids supplementation, albeit increased tissue content of DHA, tended to increase liver fibrosis in BDL rats, decrease liver glutathione level, and compromise hepatic function; fish oil supplementation to subjects with biliary atresia might be of potential hazard and should be used with caution.

Leukocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-reduced oxidase is required for isocyanate-induced lung inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Isocyanates are low-molecular-weight compounds noted for inducing occupational and environmental asthma. Isocyanate-induced lung disease, an oxidant stress-dependent pulmonary inflammation, is the leading cause of occupational asthma. OBJECTIVES: To address the role of leukocyte-produced oxidants in airway inflammation induced by toluene diisocyanate (TDI), and to elucidate the role of leukocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-reduced (NADPH) oxidase in pathogenesis by TDI. METHODS: Wild-type mice and NADPH oxidase-deficient mice (neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 mutant, Ncf1(-/-)) were intranasally injected, challenged with inhalatory TDI, and then investigated for lung inflammation. RESULTS: Cell infiltration in lung tissue and leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage, airway reactivity to a methacholine challenge, and TDI-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and nuclear factor activation in the lung tissue were all markedly lower in Ncf1(-/-) mice. Wild-type mice treated with blocking antibodies against CD4 and IL-17 showed markedly lower TDI-induced airway hyperresponsiveness. CONCLUSION: Leukocyte NADPH oxidase is an essential regulator in TDI-induced airway inflammation through redox modification of immune responses.