Wear and tear of the intestinal visceral musculature by intrinsic and extrinsic factors.

BACKGROUND: The gut visceral musculature plays essential roles in not only moving substances through the lumen but also maintaining the function and physiology of the gut. Although the development of the visceral musculature has been studied in multiple model organisms, how it degenerates is poorly understood. RESULTS: Here, we employ the Drosophila midgut as a model to demonstrate that the visceral musculature is disrupted by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as aging, feeding, chemical-induced tissue damage, and oncogenic transformation in the epithelium. Notably, we define four prominent visceral musculature disruption phenotypes, which we refer as "sprout," "discontinuity," "furcation," and "crossover" of the longitudinal muscle. Given that the occurrence of these phenotypes is increased during aging and under various stresses, we propose that these phenotypes can be used as quantitative readouts of deterioration of the visceral musculature. Intriguingly, administration of a tissue-damaging chemical dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced similar visceral musculature disruption phenotypes in zebrafish larvae, indicating that ingestion of a tissue-damaging chemical can disrupt the visceral musculature in a vertebrate as well. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides insights into the deterioration of the gut visceral musculature and lays a groundwork for investigating the underlying mechanisms in Drosophila as well as other animals.

Left Atrial Wall Stress and the Long-Term Outcome of Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: An Artificial Intelligence-Based Prediction of Atrial Wall Stress.

Atrial stretch may contribute to the mechanism of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after atrial fibrillation catheter ablation (AFCA). We tested whether the left atrial (LA) wall stress (LAW-stress[measured]) could be predicted by artificial intelligence (AI) using non-invasive parameters (LAW-stress[AI]) and whether rhythm outcome after AFCA could be predicted by LAW-stress[AI] in an independent cohort. Cohort 1 included 2223 patients, and cohort 2 included 658 patients who underwent AFCA. LAW-stress[measured] was calculated using the Law of Laplace using LA diameter by echocardiography, peak LA pressure measured during procedure, and LA wall thickness measured by customized software (AMBER) using computed tomography. The highest quartile (Q4) LAW-stress[measured] was predicted and validated by AI using non-invasive clinical parameters, including non-paroxysmal type of AF, age, presence of hypertension, diabetes, vascular disease, and heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction, and the ratio of the peak mitral flow velocity of the early rapid filling to the early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/Em). We tested the AF/atrial tachycardia recurrence 3 months after the blanking period after AFCA using the LAW-stress[measured] and LAW-stress[AI] in cohort 1 and LAW-stress[AI] in cohort 2. LAW-stress[measured] was independently associated with non-paroxysmal AF (p < 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.012), vascular disease (p = 0.002), body mass index (p < 0.001), E/Em (p < 0.001), and mean LA voltage measured by electrogram voltage mapping (p < 0.001). The best-performing AI model had acceptable prediction power for predicting Q4-LAW-stress[measured] (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.734). During 26.0 (12.0-52.0) months of follow-up, AF recurrence was significantly higher in the Q4-LAW-stress[measured] group [log-rank p = 0.001, hazard ratio 2.43 (1.21-4.90), p = 0.013] and Q4-LAW-stress[AI] group (log-rank p = 0.039) in cohort 1. In cohort 2, the Q4-LAW-stress[AI] group consistently showed worse rhythm outcomes (log-rank p < 0.001). A higher LAW-stress was associated with poorer rhythm outcomes after AFCA. AI was able to predict this complex but useful prognostic parameter using non-invasive parameters with moderate accuracy.

UVB protective effects of Sargassum horneri through the regulation of Nrf2 mediated antioxidant mechanism.

The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of a methanol extract of Sargassum horneri (SHM), which contains 6-hydroxy-4,4,7a-trimethyl-5,6,7,7a-tetrahydrobenzofuran-2(4H)-one (HTT) and apo-9'-fucoxanthinone, against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced cellular damage in human keratinocytes and its underlying mechanism. SHM significantly improved cell viability of UVB-exposed human keratinocytes by reducing the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, SHM inhibited UVB exposure-induced apoptosis by reducing the formation of apoptotic bodies and the populations of the sub-G1 hypodiploid cells and the early apoptotic cells by modulating the expression of the anti- and pro-apoptotic molecules, Bcl-2 and Bax, respectively. Furthermore, SHM inhibited NF-κB p65 activation by inducing the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. The cytoprotective and antiapoptotic activities of SHM are abolished by the inhibition of HO-1 signaling. In further study, SHM restored the skin dryness and skin barrier disruption in UVB-exposed human keratinocytes. Based to these results, our study suggests that SHM protects the cells against UVB-induced cellular damages through the Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway and may be potentially useful for the prevention of UVB-induced skin damage.

A Hepatoprotective Effect of a Hot Water Extract from Loliolus beka Gray Meat Against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage in Hepatocytes.

Here, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect of a hot water extract from Loliolus beka gray meat (LBMH) containing plentiful taurine in H2O2-induced oxidative stress in hepatocytes. LBMH potently scavenged the 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and exhibited the good reducing power and the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value. Also, LBMH improved the cell viability against H2O2-induced hepatic damage in cultured hepatocytes by reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In addition, LBMH inhibited apoptosis via a reduction in sub-G1 cell population, as well as inhibition of apoptotic body formation from H2O2-induced oxidative damage in hepatocytes. Moreover, LBMH regulated the expression levels of Bax, a pro-apoptotic molecule and Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic molecule in H2O2-treated hepatocytes. Additionally, pre-treatment with LBMH increased the expression of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), which is a hepatoprotective enzyme, by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in H2O2-treated hepatocytes. Taken together, LBMH may be useful as a food ingredient for treatment of liver disease by regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway.

An Aqueous Extract from Batillus Cornutus Meat Protects Against H2O2-Mediated Cellular Damage via Up-Regulation of Nrf2/HO-1 Signal Pathway in Chang Cells.

In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of an aqueous extract from Batillus cornutus meat (BM) against cellular oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in human hepatocyte, Chang cells. First, we prepared an aqueous extract of BM meat (BMW) showing the highest taurine content among free amino acid contents. BMW led to high antioxidant activity showing 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, good reducing power and an oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value. Also, BMW improved cell viability that was diminished by H2O2 exposure, as it reduced the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Chang cells. In addition, BMW up-regulated the production of antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD), compared to H2O2-treated Chang cells lacking BMW. Moreover, BMW induced the expressions of nuclear Nrf2 and cytosolic HO-1 in H2O2-treated Chang cells. Interestingly, the treatment of ZnPP, HO-1 inhibitor, abolished the improvement in cell viability and intracellular ROS generation mediated by BMW treatment. In conclusion, this study suggests that BMW protects hepatocytes against H2O2-mediated cellular oxidative damage via up-regulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway.

An Aqueous Extract of Octopus ocellatus Meat Protects Hepatocytes Against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress via the Regulation of Bcl-2/Bax Signaling.

Octopus ocellatus meat (OM) is well known as a plentiful protein source. In this study, we evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of an aqueous extract of OM (OMA) against H2O2-triggered oxidative stress in human hepatocytes. First of all, taurine rich OMA showed a good ORAC value and reducing power and it was similar with that of ascorbic acid, which is known as a strong antioxidant. Also, OMA significantly improved H2O2-decreased cell viability by reducing the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in hepatocytes. Interestingly, the stimulation of H2O2-induced the formations of apoptotic bodies and sub-G1 DNA content, whereas they were inhibited by the treatment with OMA. Furthermore, OMA regulated the protein expression levels of apoptotic molecules, such as Bax and Bcl-2. Taken together, this study suggests that OMA, which contains an abundant amount of taurine, protects hepatocytes from H2O2-triggered oxidative stress and might be a functional food material with hepatoprotective effects.

Antioxidant Effects of an Alcalase Hydrolysate from Batillus cornutus Meat.

Batillus cornutus (B. cornutus) is one of the gastropoda, which are distributed along the coast of China, Japan and South Korea and northeast area. In this study, we first identified the antioxidant effects of a B. cornutus meat (BM) enzymatic hydrolysate in H2O2-treated Vero cells. First of all, we prepared an Alcalase hydrolysate from BM (BMA) and revealed a high taurine content. Also, taurine rich BMA dose-dependently increased 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, reducing power and the higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value. In addition, BMA significantly increased the cell viability via the down-regulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as the decreased formation of apoptotic bodies and sub-G1 DNA population in H2O2-treated Vero cells. Furthermore, BMA increased the expression of the anti-apoptotic molecule, Bcl-2, and decreased the expressions of Bax, p53 and cleaved PARP, all of which are pro-apoptotic molecules, in H2O2-treated Vero cells. Based on these results, this study suggests that BMA may be used as a potential protector on damage caused by oxidative stress.

Cytoprotective Effects of an Aqueous Extracts from Atrina Pectinate Meat in H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in a Human Hepatocyte.

In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of an aqueous extract from Atrina pectinate meat (APW) against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in a human hepatocyte. The extraction yield of APW was 30.01 ± 0.83% and which contained the highest taurine content among free amino acid contents. APW led to the high antioxidant activity showing 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, good reducing power and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value. Also, the results showed that APW improved the cell viability decreased by H2O2 stimulation as well as the reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in hepatocytes. Additionally, APW up-regulated the production of antioxidant mechanisms related enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD), compared to the only H2O2-treated hepatocytes. Moreover, APW increased the expressions of nuclear Nrf2 and cytosolic HO-1 in H2O2-treated hepatocytes. Interestingly, the treatment of ZnPP, a HO-1 inhibitor abolished the cell viability and intracellular ROS generation induced by APW treatment. In conclusion, this study suggests that APW protects H2O2 induced oxidative stress via up-regulating of Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway in hepatocytes.

Hepatoprotective Activity of a Taurine-Rich Water Soluble Extract from Octopus vulgaris Meat.

In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective activity of the water extract derived from Octopus vulgaris meat (OM). First of all, a water extract prepared from OM (OMW) showed the high extraction yield (48.22%) and the highest taurine content (39.84%) in free amino acids. OMW exhibited the high value of reducing power, ABTS and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging activities in dose-dependent manner. The taurine-rich OMW also led to the reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation with the increased cell survival in H2O2-treated Chang liver cells. In addition, OMW decreased the apoptotic phenomenon, including the formations of apoptotic bodies and sub-G1 DNA contents by regulating the protein expressions of apoptosis-related molecules such as Bcl-2 and Bax. From these results, this study indicated the taurine-rich OMW protected hepatocytes against oxidative stress. These findings suggest that OWM may be a novel potential antioxidant resource.

Hot Water Extract of Loliolus beka Meat Attenuates H2O2-Induced Damage in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells.

Blood vessels become less flexible with senescence; arteries narrow and become less flexible, disturbing blood circulation in aging and other vascular diseases. Mechanistically, vascular senescence plays an important role in the pathogenesis of normal aging and age-related vascular diseases. Vascular senescence also causes vascular dysfunction, resulting in damage to the vessel wall. Vascular aging involves the senescence of endothelial cells. Hydrogen peroxide is widely used to achieve oxidative stress-induced premature senescence. Here, we investigated the protective effects of a hot water extract of Loliolus beka meat (LBM) against H2O2-exposed HUVECs, a human umbilical vein endothelial cells line. The hot water extract of LBM protected cells against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity while reducing the expression of senescence markers, including ß-galactosidase, p53, and p21. In addition, the hot water extract of LBM protected against H2O2-induced DNA damage. These findings suggest that the hot water extract of LBM protects HUVECs from H2O2-induced senescence by preventing cellular damage. LBM serve as a supplement or natural food with benefits against vascular disease.

Protective Effect of Hot Water Extract of Loliolus Beka Gray Meat Against Palmitate-Induced HUVEC Damage.

Endothelial dysfunction is a critical factor in the development of diabetes-mediated cardiovascular complications. Free fatty acids (FFA), such as palmitate, which are elevated in diabetes and obesity, have been shown to mediate endothelial dysfunction, perhaps related to oxidative stress and inflammation. Taurine ameliorates endothelial dysfunction induced by diabetes. However, there has been no reports on the effect of Loliolus beka gray meat extracts, which contain large amounts of taurine. Here, we investigated the protective effect of a hot water extract of Loliolus beka gray meat (LBM), on palmitate-induced cell damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The LBM extract was found to inhibit palmitate-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage. In addition, the LBM extract reduced the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines in HUVEC. These results suggest that the LBM extract protects against palmitate-induced cytotoxicity in HUVECs. Therefore, potential therapeutic and/or inhibitors of vascular disease may be derived from the LBM extract.

Radio-Protective Effects of Loliolus beka Gray Meat Consisted of a Plentiful Taurine Against Damages Caused by Gamma Ray Irradiation.

Gamma ray irradiation causes immune suppression, in which oxidative stress reduces cell viability and damages immune cells. In the present study, we investigated whether Loliolus beka gray meat (LBM), which contains large amounts of taurine, protects against damage of murine splenocytes by oxidative stress. An aqueous extract of LBM (LBMW) was prepared, which contained plentiful levels of taurine. LBMW improved cell viability of gamma ray-irradiated murine splenocytes, an effect that was associated with significant reduction in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We also showed that the production of nitric oxide (NO) and ROS in gamma ray-irradiated zebrafish embryos, as well as the death of the embryos, were diminished by LBMW. These data suggest that the consumption of taurine-rich foods, such as LBM, may be used in the protection of cells against oxidative stress.

[The vitalism of Paul-Joseph Barthez (1734-1806)].

In The Logic of Life (1970), Francois Jacob (1920- ), Nobel Prize laureate in Physiology or Medicine (1965), proclaimed the end of vitalism based on the concept of life. More than two decades before this capital sentence condemning vitalism was pronounced, Georges Canguilhem (1904-1995), a French philosopher of medicine, already acknowledged that eighteenth-century vitalism was scientifically retrograde and politically reactionary or counter-revolutionary insofar as it was rooted in the animism of Georg Ernst Stahl (1660-1734). The negative preconception of the term 'vitalism' came to be established as an orthodox view, since Claude Bernard (1813-1878) unfairly criticized contemporary vitalism in order to propagate his idea of experimental medicine. An eminent evolutionary biologist like Ernst Mayr (1904-2005) still defended similar views in This is Biology (1997), arguing that if vitalists were decisive and convincing in their rejection of the Cartesian model (negative heuristics), however they were equally indecisive and unconvincing in their own explanatory endeavors (positive heuristics). Historically speaking, vitalists came to the forefront for their outstanding criticism of Cartesian mechanism and physicochemical reductionism, while their innovative concepts and theories were underestimated and received much less attention. Is it true that vitalism was merely a pseudo-science, representing a kind of romanticism or mysticism in biomedical science? Did vitalists lack any positive heuristics in their biomedical research? Above all, what was actually the so.called 'vitalism'? This paper aims to reveal the positive heuristics of vitalism defined by Paul.Joseph Barthez (1734-1806) who was the founder of the vitalist school of Montpellier. To this end, his work and idea are introduced with regard to the vying doctrines in physiology and medicine. At the moment when he taught at the medical school of Montpellier, his colleagues advocated the mechanism of Rene Descartes (1596-1650), the iatromechanism of Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738), the iatrochemistry of Jan Baptist van Helmont (1579-1644), the animism of Stahl, and the organicism of Theophile de Bordeu (1722-1776). On the contrary, Barthez devoted himself to synthesize diverse doctrines and his vitalism consequently illustrated an eclectic character. Always taking a skeptical standpoint regarding the capacity of biomedical science, he defined his famous concept of 'vital principle (principe vital)' as the 'x (unknown variable)' of physiology. He argued that the hypothetical concept of vital principle referred to the 'experimental cause (cause experimentale)' verifiable by positive science. Thus, the vital principle was not presupposed as an a priori regulative principle. It was an a posteriori heuristic principle resulting from several experiments. The 'positivist hypothetism' of Barthez demonstrates not only pragmatism but also positivism in his scientific terminology. Furthermore, Barthez established a guideline for clinical practice according to his own methodological principles. It can be characterized as a 'humanist pragmatism' for the reason that all sort of treatments were permitted as far as they were beneficial to the patient. Theoretical incoherence or incommensurability among different treatments did not matter to Barthez. His practical strategy for clinical medicine consisted of three principles: namely, the natural, analytic, and empirical method. This formulation is indebted to the 'analytic method (methode analytique)' of the French empiricist philosopher Etienne Bonnot de Condillac (1714-1780). In conclusion, the eighteenth.century French vitalism conceived by Barthez pursued pragmatism in general, positivism in methodology, and humanism in clinics.

Laser lipolysis with pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of gynecomastia.

BACKGROUND: Lipolysis using laser is currently widely used for reducing localized fat. A 1064 nm neodynium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser lipolysis was investigated in this study to evaluate its efficacy and safety in the treatment of gynecomastia. METHODS: Five male patients diagnosed with gynecomastia were enrolled in this study, which was designed as a controlled split-breast trial. One breast of each patient was subjected to laser lipolysis and was then compared with a contralateral breast. Photographs and clinical assessments were obtained before the lipolysis, and at the fourth and eighth weeks thereafter. Computed tomography (CT) scan and ultrasound (US) imaging were used to evaluate the changes in the breasts' thicknesses. RESULTS: The mean chest circumference was found to have been significantly reduced 8 weeks after the laser lipolysis. The clinical outcomes of the laser lipolysis were considered favorable by both the patients and clinicians. The CT and US scans showed that the thicknesses of the treated right breasts reduced more than those of the left breasts were 8 weeks after the laser lipolysis. The side effects (pain, edema, and ecchymosis) were minimal and disappeared shortly after they first manifested. Limitations The limitations of this study are that it employed small treatment groups and short-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that gynecomastia can be treated effectively and safely through 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser lipolysis.