Multi-Omics Analysis of a Chromosome Segment Substitution Line Reveals a New Regulation Network for Soybean Seed Storage Profile.

Soybean, a major source of oil and protein, has seen an annual increase in consumption when used in soybean-derived products and the broadening of its cultivation range. The demand for soybean necessitates a better understanding of the regulatory networks driving storage protein accumulation and oil biosynthesis to broaden its positive impact on human health. In this study, we selected a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) with high protein and low oil contents to investigate the underlying effect of donor introgression on seed storage through multi-omics analysis. In total, 1479 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 82 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), and 34 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified in the CSSL compared to the recurrent parent. Based on Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment (KEGG), integrated analysis indicated that 31 DEGs, 24 DEPs, and 13 DEMs were related to seed storage functionality. Integrated analysis further showed a significant decrease in the contents of the seed storage lipids LysoPG 16:0 and LysoPC 18:4 as well as an increase in the contents of organic acids such as L-malic acid. Taken together, these results offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of seed storage and provide guidance for the molecular breeding of new favorable soybean varieties.

Investigation of underlying links between nitrogen transformation and microorganisms' network modularity in the novel static aerobic composting of dairy manure by "stepwise verification interaction analysis".

Conventional composting is a viable method treating agricultural solid waste, and microorganisms and nitrogen transformation are the two major components of this proces. Unfortunately, conventional composting is time-consuming and laborious, and limited efforts have been made to mitigate these problems. Herein, a novel static aerobic composting technology (NSACT) was developed and employed for the composting of cow manure and rice straw mixtures. During the composting process, physicochemical parameters were analyzed to evaluate the quality of compost products, and microbial abundance dynamics were determined using high-throughput sequencing technique. The results showed that NSACT achieved compost maturity within 17 days as the thermophilic stage (≥55 °C) lasted for 11 days. GI, pH, and C/N were 98.71 %, 8.38, and 19.67 in the top layer, 92.32 %, 8.24, and 22.38 in the middle layer, 102.08 %, 8.33, and 19.95 in the bottom layer. These observations indicate compost products maturated and met the requirements of current legislation. Compared with fungi, bacterial communities dominated NSACT composting system. Based on the stepwise verification interaction analysis (SVIA), the novel combination utilization of multiple statistical analyses (Spearman, RDA/CCA, Network modularity, and Path analyses), bacterial genera Norank Anaerolineaceae (-0.9279*), norank Gemmatimonadetes (1.1959*), norank Acidobacteria (0.6137**) and unclassified Proteobacteria (-0.7998*), and fungi genera Myriococcum thermophilum (-0.0445), unclassified Sordariales (-0.0828*), unclassified Lasiosphaeriaceae (-0.4174**), and Coprinopsis calospora (-0.3453*) were the identified key microbial taxa affecting NH4+-N, NO3--N, TKN and C/N transformation in the NSACT composting matrix respectively. This work revealed that NSACT successfully managed cow manure-rice straw wastes and significantly shorten the composting period. Interestingly, most microorganisms observed in this composting matrix acted in a synergistic manner, promoting nitrogen transformation.

Exploration of ß-glucosidase-producing microorganisms community structure and key communities driving cellulose degradation during composting of pure corn straw by multi-interaction analysis.

Poor management of crop residues leads to environmental pollution and composting is a sustainable practice for addressing the challenge. However, knowledge about composting with pure crop straw is still limited, which is a novel and feasible composting strategy. In this study, pure corn straw was in-situ composted for better management. Community structure of ß-glucosidase-producing microorganisms during composting was deciphered using high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that the compost was mature with organic matter content of 37.83% and pH value of 7.36 and pure corn straw could be composted successfully. Cooling phase was major period for cellulose degradation with the highest ß-glucosidase activity (476.25 µmol·p-Nitr/kg·dw·min) and microbial diversity (Shannon index, 3.63; Chao1 index, 500.81). Significant compositional succession was observed in the functional communities during composting with Streptomyces (14.32%), Trichoderma (13.85%) and Agromyces (11.68%) as dominant genera. ß-Glucosidase-producing bacteria and fungi worked synergistically as a network to degrade cellulose with Streptomyces (0.3045**) as the key community revealed by multi-interaction analysis. Organic matter (-0.415***) and temperature (-0.327***) were key environmental parameters regulating cellulose degradation via influencing ß-glucosidase-producing communities, and ß-glucosidase played a key role in mediating this process. The above results indicated that responses of ß-glucosidase-producing microorganisms to cellulose degradation were reflected at both network and individual levels and multi-interaction analysis could better explain the relationship between variables concerning composting cellulose degradation. The work is of significance for understanding cellulose degradation microbial communities and process during composting of pure corn straw.

Dynamics of fungal species related to nitrogen transformation and their network patterns during cattle manure-corn straw with biochar composting.

Fungi are reputed to play a significant role in the composting matrix as decomposers of recalcitrant organic materials like cellulose and lignin. However, information on the fungi communities' roles in nitrogen transformation under a compost-biochar mixture is scarce. This study investigated shifts in fungal species mediating N transformation and their network patterns in cattle manure-corn straw (CMCS) and CMCS plus biochar (CMCB) composting using high-throughput sequencing data. The results revealed that the addition of biochar altered fungal richness and diversity and significantly influenced their compositions during composting. Biochar also altered the compost fungal network patterns; CMCS had a more complex network with higher positive links than CMCB, suggesting stable niche overlap. The consistent agreement of multivariate analyses (redundancy, network, regression, Mantel and path analyses) indicated that Ciliophora_sp in CMCS and unclassified_norank_Pleosporales in CMCB were the key fungal species mediating total N transformation, whereas Scedosporium_prolificans in CMCS and unclassified_Microascaceae in CMCB were identified as major predictive indices determining NO3--N transformation. Also, Coprinopsis cinerea and Penicillium oxalicum were the predictive factors for NH4+-N transformation in CMCS and CMCB during composting. These results indicated that the effects of biochar on N conversions in composting could be unraveled using multivariate analyses on fungi community evolution, network patterns, and metabolism.

Microecological insight to fungal structure and key fungal communities regulating nitrogen transformation based on spatial heterogeneity during cow manure composting by multi-angle and multi-aspect analyses.

Composting is the mainstream technology for the treatment of agricultural solid waste, but limited efforts were made to investigate fungal composition and its contributions to nitrogen transformation in different depths of compost. In this study, spatial distributions of fungi were analyzed using high throughput sequencing by multi-angle analyses, and the key fungal communities determining nitrogen transformation were quantified and identified by multi-aspect analyses during cow manure composting. Multi-angle analyses showed that fungal structure, biomarkers and trophic mode composition varied in different layers, revealing that spatial heterogeneity is the distinctive attribute of composting system. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were dominant phyla during composting, the two phyla peaked in top and bottom layer respectively. At mesophilic stage, Tremellales, and unclassified Ascomycota (order) were biomarkers in top and middle layer respectively, and so were Remersonia, Pyrenochaetopsis, and Wallemia in bottom layer by LEfSe analysis. Based on multi-aspect analyses, Unclassified Dothideomycetes mainly affected NH4+-N transformation both in top (1.2816***) and middle layers (1.1726*). Trichocladium asperum (0.9536***) and Zopfiella (-0.9484***) mainly affected TN transformation in top layer. Guehomyces pullulans (-0.9684**) and Preussia (-1.0508**) regulated NO3--N transformation in middle layer. Thermomyces lanuginosus (0.7127***) and Typhula sp. UW973129 (0.7298***) were the key species promoting TN and C/N transformation in bottom layer, respectively. Interestingly, different fungal communities showed a complex network interaction driving nitrogen transformation, and the abundance of microbial community could be conducive to characterizing nitrogen transformation in the vertical space of composting.

Vacancy and phonon dispersion properties of Be, Co, Hf, Mg, and Re by modified embedded atom method potentials.

The modified embedded atom method (MEAM) potentials improved by Jin et al. (Appl. Phys. A120 (2015), p. 189) were applied to calculate the mono- and bi-vacancy properties as well as the phonon dispersions for hexagonal close-packed (HCP) metals Be, Co, Hf, Mg, and Re. We expressed the formulas for calculating the mono- and bi-vacancy properties by the molecular static (MS) method based on the MEAM potentials for HCP metals. The lattice dynamics (LD) method and the MEAM potentials were adopted to calculate the phonon dispersion properties. The calculation results show better agreement with the experimental data than the previous calculations by using the unimproved embedded atom model.

Verification of phase measurement error sources in phase-shifting interferometry with four step phase-shifting algorithms.

The phase-shifting technique is one of the most important techniques in interferometry. The measurement accuracy of this technique is affected by several kinds of systematic and random errors like miscalibration, nonlinear response and tilt shift of the phase shifter, nonlinear recording, speckles, fringe fluctuation, etc. In this paper, a method for verification of all of these phase measurement error sources is proposed by introducing a grayscale image. This image is composed from the lattice-site representation determined by a four step phase-shifting algorithm, which represents the distribution of phase-shift angle values. The shape of the grayscale image is definitely more expressive and demonstrative for the kinds of measurement error sources than the black dot distribution in lattice-site representation. So, with this technique, we can recognize the existence of various measurement error sources and roughly estimate their magnitudes before proceeding with experiments. Our method is to be rather qualitative than quantitative. The availability of this method is discussed in a phase-shifting Fizeau interferometer and a fringe projection profilometry. This method is useful in all kinds of interferometric measurements based on the phase-shifting technique.

Insight to nitrification during cattle manure-maize straw and biochar composting in terms of multi-variable interaction.

This study investigated nitrification process during cattle manure-maize straw (CM) and biochar (CMB) composting in terms of multi-variable interaction (MVI) among environmental parameters, ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) community structure, nitrogen-related enzymes as well as substrates using structural equation model (SEM). Results showed that adding biochar significantly reduced potential ammonia oxidation rates. SEM analysis revealed that AOB was affected by temperature and pH, which stimulated the release of urease, increased NH4+-N concentration and finally exerted influence on nitrification in CM. Temperature (0.755) and NO2--N (-0.994) were identified as the main factors mediating nitrification in CM and CMB, respectively. Moreover, MVI analysis indicated that nitrification and denitrification occurred simultaneously. Mutual verification of SEM and quantitative analyses (RNA level) confirmed that AOB predominated nitrification. The above results indicated that nitrification could be better explained by MVI using SEM during composting.

Evaluation method for the optical feedback factor and linewidth enhancement factor using phase discontinuities in self-mixing interferometry signals.

Self-mixing interferometry (SMI) is a reliable method that has been applied to measuring displacements, absolute distances, and velocities of remote targets. Evaluating the optical feedback factor C and the linewidth enhancement factor α is a vital step in calculating laser diode parameters and in processing SMI signals using phase unwrapping. This paper proposes an evaluation method for the optical feedback factor and the linewidth enhancement factor of arbitrary waveforms by investigating the slopes of phase discontinuity distribution in the optical feedback regime of 1

Lagerstroemia speciosa extract inhibit TNF-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappaB in rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Lagerstroemia speciosa has been used as a folk medicine among people with diabetes in the Philippines. It is known to exhibit antidiabetic, antiobesity, and glucose transport activities through mechanisms not well defined. Diabetes leads to cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in association with an upregulation of vasoactive factors and activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB and activating protein-1. We therefore investigated the effect of Lagerstroemia speciosa on the activation of NF-kappaB as a key mediator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, in rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water extract of Lagerstroemia speciosa (Lythraceae family) was prepared. H9c2 cells were used for treatment of Lagerstroemia speciosa extract with/without tumor necrosis factor (TNF). To examine NF-kappaB's activation, we performed an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). RESULTS: The activation of NF-kappaB by TNF was completely blocked by a Lagerstroemia speciosa extract in a dose- and time-dependent manner in H9c2 cells. CONCLUSION: Overall, our results indicate that Lagerstroemia speciosa can inhibit DNA-binding of NF-kappaB. This may explain its possible inhibition of diabetes-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Asthma-related environmental fungus, Alternaria, activates dendritic cells and produces potent Th2 adjuvant activity.

Asthma is thought to result from dysregulated Th2-like airway inflammatory responses to the environment. Although the etiology of asthma is not fully understood in humans, clinical and epidemiological evidence suggest a potential link between exposure to environmental fungi, such as Alternaria, and development and/or exacerbation of asthma. The goal of this project was to investigate the mechanisms of airway Th2 responses by using Alternaria as a clinically relevant model for environmental exposure. Airway exposure of naive animals to an experimental Ag, OVA, or a common allergen, short ragweed pollen, induced no or minimal immune responses to these Ags. In contrast, mice developed strong Th2-like immune responses when they were exposed to these Ags in the presence of Alternaria extract. Extracts of other fungi, such as Aspergillus and Candida, showed similar Th2 adjuvant effects, albeit not as potently. Alternaria stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) to express MHC class II and costimulatory molecules, including OX40 ligand, in vitro. Importantly, Alternaria inhibited IL-12 production by activated DCs, and DCs exposed to Alternaria enhanced Th2 polarization of CD4(+) T cells. Furthermore, adoptive airway transfer of DCs, which had been pulsed with OVA in the presence of Alternaria, showed that the recipient mice had enhanced IgE Ab production and Th2-like airway responses to OVA. Thus, the asthma-related environmental fungus Alternaria produces potent Th2-like adjuvant effects in the airways. Such immunogenic properties of certain environmental fungi may explain their strong relationships with human asthma and allergic diseases.

[Efficacy of activated lymphocytes transfer therapy as a novel maker for serum granulysin level with advanced gastric cancer patients].

INTRODUCTION: Granulysin is a cytotoxic granule protein of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Gastric cancer patients of stage II and stage III were reported to have pre-operative serum granulysin, which is a good prognostic factor. Activated T lymphocytes produce a lot of granulysin in the cell. We hypothesized that activated T lymphocytes transfer therapy may increase in serum granulysin leveles of stage IV and relapsed patients. METHOD: Between April 2002 and December 2007, the patients received a standard therapy with activated lymphocytes transfer therapy. Peripheral blood samples were taken from the patients. Serum granulysin concentrations were measured using a granulysin-specific ELISA kit. RESULT: The average serum granulysin level for Stage IV (n=29) and relapsed patients (n=13) was 3.3 ng/mL. The gastric cancer patients were classified into two groups based on their concentration of serum granulysin level: high group (> or = 3.3 ng/mL); low group (< 3.3 ng/mL). There were no significant differences between these two groups in gender and age. The stage IV high group had a longer survival time than the stage IV low group. After 60 days from the activated T lymphocytes transfer therapy, the average pre-treatment serum granulysin had increased. However, there was no significant difference to note. It is noteworthy that serum granulysin is a novel parameter of patients cancer immunity.

Pentachlorophenol oxidation rates in supercritical water.

The oxidation rate of pentachlorophenol, [C(6)HCl(5)O] which is used to control termites and as a general herbicide and also as the probable human's carcinogen, was investigated in an isothermal continuous tubular reactor under supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) conditions. The experiments were conducted at a temperature of 400-550 degrees C and a fixed pressure of 25 MPa, with a residence time that ranged from 6 s to 26 s. The conversion of PCP was monitored by analyzing total organic carbon (TOC) on the liquid effluent samples. The initial TOC concentrations of PCP were varied from 0.74 mmol/L to 2.91 mmol/L and the oxygen concentrations were varied from 0.46 mmol/L to 3.52 mmol/L. By taking into account the dependence of the oxidant and TOC concentration on the reaction rate, a global PCP oxidation rate was regressed from the data of 48 experiments, to a 95% confidence level. The resulting activation energy was determined to be 43.56 +/- 1.47 kJ/mol, and the pre-exponential factor was (1.92 +/- 0.46) x 10(2) L(1.16) mmol(-0.16) s(-1). The reaction orders for the PCP (based on TOC) and the oxidant were 0.74 +/- 0.02 and 0.42 +/- 0.05, respectively.

Destruction of chemical agent simulants in a supercritical water oxidation bench-scale reactor.

A new design of supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) bench-scale reactor has been developed to handle high-risk wastes resulting from munitions demilitarization. The reactor consists of a concentric vertical double wall in which SCWO reaction takes place inside an inner tube (titanium grade 2, non-porous) whereas pressure resistance is ensured by a Hastelloy C-276 external vessel. The performances of this reactor were investigated with two different kinds of chemical warfare agent simulants: OPA (a mixture of isopropyl amine and isopropyl alcohol) as the binary precursor for nerve agent of sarin and thiodiglycol [TDG, (HOC(2)H(4))2S] as the model organic sulfur heteroatom. High destruction rates based on total organic carbon (TOC) were achieved (>99.99%) without production of chars or undesired gases such as carbon monoxide and methane. The carbon-containing product was carbon dioxide whereas the nitrogen-containing products were nitrogen and nitrous oxide. Sulfur was totally recovered in the aqueous effluent as sulfuric acid. No corrosion was noticed in the reactor after a cumulative operation time of more than 250 h. The titanium tube shielded successfully the pressure vessel from corrosion.

Destruction of OPA from munitions demilitarization in supercritical water oxidation: kinetics of total organic carbon disappearance.

The destruction of OPA from munitions demilitarization has been accomplished in supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) with oxygen as oxidant in an isothermal continuous-flow reactor. The experiments were conducted at a temperature of 689-887 K and a fixed pressure of 25 MPa, with a residence time that ranged from 7 s to 14 s. The destruction efficiency was measured by total organic carbon (TOC) conversion. At the reaction condition, the initial TOC concentrations of OPA were varied from 1.41 mmol/L to 19.57 mmol/L and the oxygen concentrations were varied from 15.03 mmol/L to 81.85 mmol/L. Experimental data showed that all the TOC conversions were >80% under the above experimental conditions. The kinetics of TOC disappearance, which is essential for the design, optimization, and control of reliable commercial SCWO reactor was developed by taking into account the dependence of the oxidant and TOC concentration on the reaction rate. A global TOC disappearance rates expression was regressed from the data of 38 experiments, to a 95% confidence level. The resulting activation energy was determined to be 44.01 +/- 1.52 kJ/mol, and the pre-exponential factor was (1.67 +/- 0.45) x 10(2) L(1.14) mmol(-0.14) s(-1). The reaction orders for the TOC and the oxidant were 0.98 +/- 0.01 and 0.16 +/- 0.02, respectively.

Hange-koboku-to, a Kampo medicine, modulates cerebral levels of 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine), NA (noradrenaline) and DA (dopamine) in mice.

Cerebral monoamine systems play important pathogenic roles in various psychiatric and neurologic diseases, such as depression, anxiety and swallowing disturbance. Hange-koboku-to, a Kampo (Japanese herbal) medicine, has been successfully used for the treatment of these disorders. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying its clinical efficacy for these disorders, the effects of Hange-koboku-to (500 mg/kg, p.o.) on the cerebral monoamine systems were examined. Regional levels of 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine), NA (noradrenaline), DA (dopamine) and their metabolites in mouse brain were measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography system. Hange-koboku-to increased the 5-HT and NA levels and decreased 5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid), thus decreasing 5-HT and NA turnover (metabolites/monoamine ratio) in the hypothalamus. The levels of DA, DOPAC (3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) and HVA (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenylacetic acid) were all increased, resulting in a decreased DA turnover in the striatum. Since decreased 5-HT turnover has been observed after administration of various antidepressants, Hange-koboku-to-mediated reduction of 5-HT turnover may be related to the clinical efficacy of this Kampo medicine on certain psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, the beneficial therapeutic effects of Hange-koboku-to on swallowing disturbance may be related to the increased cerebral DA level brought about by this Kampo medicine.

Protective effect of hawthorn fruit on murine experimental colitis.

The pathogenic mechanism and effective treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are still unknown. In the present study, we examined the protective effect of hawthorn fruit (Crataegifructus) on two murine colitis models: dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) colitis. Mice that developed acute colitis showed signs of diarrhea, gross rectal bleeding and weight loss within 10 days. However, hawthorn fruit (2 g/kg body weight) restored the body weight and colon length and increased hemoglobin count in these animals. Hawthorn fruit not only decreased signs of inflammation such as infiltration by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and multiple erosive lesions, but also showed improvement of leukotriene B4 (LTB4), a biochemical parameter of inflammation mass. TNBS colitis mice had significantly lower rates of survival than normal control animals; however, treatment with hawthorn fruit significantly improved survival in TNBS colitis mice. The results suggest that hawthorn fruit and the Kampo formula that contains this ingredient may have potential therapeutic utility in patients with IBD.

OPA oxidation rates in supercritical water.

Supercritical water oxidation can effectively destroy a large variety of high-risk wastes resulting from munitions demilitarization and complex industrial chemical. An important design consideration in the development of supercritical water oxidation is the information on the oxidation rate. In this paper, the oxidation rate of isopropyl amine (OPA), one of high-risk wastes resulting from munitions demilitarization, was investigated under supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) conditions in an isothermal tubular reactor. H2O2 was used as the oxidant. The reaction temperatures were ranged from 684 to 891 K and the residence times varied from 9 to 18s at a fixed pressure of 25 MPa. The conversion of OPA was monitored by analyzing total organic carbon (TOC) on the liquid effluent samples. The initial TOC concentrations of OPA varied from 7.21 to 143.78 mmol/l at the conversion efficiencies from 88.94 to 99.98%. By taking into account the dependence of reaction rate on oxidant and TOC concentration, a global power-law rate expression was regressed from 38 OPA experimental data. The resulting pre-exponential factor was 2.46(+/-0.65)x10(3)l(1.37)mmol(-0.37)s(-1); the activation energy was 64.12+/-1.94 kJ/mol; and the reaction orders for OPA (based on TOC) and oxidant were 1.13+/-0.02 and 0.24+/-0.01, respectively.

Anti-hepatitis C virus effect of citrus unshiu peel and its active ingredient nobiletin.

We investigated the effects of water and ethyl acetate extracts of Citrus unshiu peel (Aurantii Nobilis pericarpium) on hepatitis C virus (HCV) absorption in MOLT-4 cells (a human lymphoblastoid leukemia cell line). By reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we showed that both the ethyl acetate layer of Citrus unshiu peel extract and fraction 7 decreased HCV absorption in MOLT-4 cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that 3',4',5,6,7,8-hexamethoxyflavone (nobiletin) is the active ingredient that markedly inhibited HCV infection in MOLT-4 cells.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the Chinese herbal medicine "ba wei di huang wan" in the treatment of dementia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, ba wei di huang wan (BDW), improves cognitive and physical functioning in dementia patients. DESIGN: An 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Long-term-care facility in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-three patients with mild to severe dementia (7 men and 26 women; mean age +/- standard deviation=84.4 +/- 7.8) were recruited and enrolled from May 2002 through September 2002. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to the active drug (BDW) group (n=16) or the placebo group (n=17) and treated for 8 weeks. MEASUREMENT: Cognitive function and activities of daily living (ADLs); palsatility index. RESULTS: After the trial, cognitive function as assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) significantly improved from 13.5 +/- 8.5 to 16.3 +/- 7.7 (P<.01, 95% confidence interval (CI)=-4.1 to -1.4) in the BDW group. The ADL score in the Barthel Index also significantly changed, from 61.8 +/- 34.6 to 78.9 +/- 21.1 (P<.01, 95% CI=-26.2 to -7.9). In contrast, MMSE and Barthel Index scores of the placebo group showed no significant change. Eight weeks after the end of the administration, MMSE and Barthel Index scores of the BDW group declined to the baseline level. The pulsatility index in the internal carotid artery as measured using Doppler sonography significantly decreased in the BDW group (2.5 +/- 1.7 to 1.9 +/- 0.5, P<.05) but not in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: These results argue the benefits of BDW in the treatment of dementia.