Achieving ns-level pulsed operation of up to 6.27 W with a 1.55-µm BH-DFB laser for LiDAR applications.

In this Letter, we present a highly efficient 1.55-µm buried heterostructure distributed feedback (BH-DFB) laser diode. The optimized epitaxial structure resulted in a threshold current of 12 mA and a differential slope efficiency of 0.433 W/A. The laser exhibited stable single longitudinal mode characteristics in both high current injection and broad temperature range testing. Additionally, the ns-level pulsed operation characteristics of the BH-DFB laser were verified, achieving a pulse peak power of 6.27 W with a pulse optical width of 20.4 ns. The watt-level pulse optical power was achieved with a single active region. With its eye-safe wavelength, high operating efficiency, stable single-mode spectral characteristics, and high pulse optical power, the 1.55-µm BH-DFB laser is a promising light source for LiDAR systems.

Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 Improves Muscle Mass and Functional Performance in Frail Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Sarcopenia is a condition in which there is a loss of muscle caused by aging and it is one of the most significant factors that affects physical fragility. In recent years, the role of the gut-muscle axis has garnered attention as, along with the gut microbiota, it potentially plays a significant role in muscle regeneration, in addition to nutritional supplements and exercise training. Past studies have found that supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 could effectively increase the muscle mass of animals or adult humans. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the supplementation of L. plantarum TWK10 produces increased muscle mass and improves the functional performance of elderly persons with mild fragility. A total of 68 elderly subjects were recruited, of which 13 subjects were excluded or withdrew from the study. We adopted a double-blind design, and the 55 subjects were randomly divided into three groups: the placebo group, the TWK10 low-dose group (2 × 1010 CFU/day) (TWK10-L), and the TWK10 high-dose group (6 × 1010 colony-forming unit (CFU)/day) (TWK10-H). For 18 weeks, all subjects were required to regularly take experimental samples, perform functional activity testing, and have their body composition analyzed before the study and every six weeks after the intervention. Finally, 17 subjects in the placebo group, 12 subjects in the TWK10-L group, and 13 subjects in the TWK10-H group finished the study. It was found that supplementation with TWK10 had a tendency to increase and improve muscle mass, left hand grip strength, lower limb muscle strength, and gait speed and balance after the sixth week, especially in the TWK10-H group, and, as the supplement time was longer up to the 18th week, it had an even greater effect (p < 0.05). In conclusion, consecutive supplementation of L. plantarum TWK10 for more than six weeks could effectively improve the muscle strength and endurance of the elderly, reducing sarcopenia and physical fragility. This trial was registered as NCT04893746.

Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10-fermented soymilk improves cognitive function in type 2 diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: The brain is especially sensitive to diabetes-induced damage. Chronic hyperglycemia can potentially lead to brain dysfunctions, affecting spatial learning and memory. RESULTS: The type 2 diabetes (T2D) rats were administered TWK10-fermented soy milk water extract (WE) and ethanol extract (EE) for 6 weeks. WE and EE treatment attenuated T2D-induced alteration in cognitive function assessed using the Morris water maze. Moreover, administration of WE and EE significantly elevated superoxide dismutase activity (166.96% and 181.21%, P < 0.05, respectively) and reduced malondialdehyde concentration (35.03% and 43.97%, P < 0.05, respectively) in the hippocampus of the rats. Additionally, the calmodulin level and nitric oxide concentration were regulated by WE and EE. CONCLUSION: This study provides scientific evidence that WE and EE enhance anti-oxidative enzyme activity, which subsequently regulates factors associated with cognitive function in T2D rats. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Beneficial effects of the commercial lactic acid bacteria product, Vigiis 101, on gastric mucosa and intestinal bacterial flora in rats.

BACKGROUND: Gastric mucosal integrity is maintained through achieving a balance between potentially detrimental and protective factors. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Vigiis 101 powder, a product consisting of dried Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 bacteria, on intestinal bacterial flora and acute damage to the gastric mucosa induced by pylorus ligation. METHOD: Acute gastric injury were induced by pylorus ligation. Rats were orally treated with the vehicle or 0.15, 0.30, 1.50 g/kg (0.5-, 1-, and 5-x) Vigiis 101 for 8 weeks. We analyzed the intestinal microflora, short-chain fatty acids, antioxidant enzyme levels and gastric lesion. RESULTS: Daily treatment of rats with Vigiis 101 increased the levels of beneficial Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp., and reduced those of detrimental Clostridium perfringens and Enterobacteriaceae. Vigiis 101 treatment also markedly reduced gastric lesion areas by between 1.7 and 11.4%, and significantly increased the levels of the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid in cecal samples by 45-86%, 127-158%, and 20-211%, respectively, compared to non-treated controls. In the gastric mucosa of rats treated with Vigiis 101, the activity of superoxide dismutase and levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were enhanced, and the activity of lipid peroxidase reduced, relative to controls. CONCLUSION: The up-regulation of PGE2 and SCFAs in the gastric mucosa is likely to stimulate mucus secretion and increase transmucosal resistance, thereby contributing to Vigiis 101-mediated protection from gastric mucosal lesions induced by pylorus ligation.

Effects of an ethanol extract from Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 fermented skimmed milk on lipopolysaccharide-induced periodontal inflammation in rats.

The increased incidence of periodontal disease in recent years has garnered considerable attention. Numerous studies have confirmed that probiotics, such as lactic acid bacteria, can ameliorate periodontal inflammation. The current study aimed to assess the effect of an ethanol extract of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101-fermented skimmed milk (NTU101FM) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced periodontal inflammation in rats. NTU101FM ethanol extract significantly ameliorated the weight loss caused by periodontal inflammation. NTU101FM ethanol extract treatment also reduced the oral microbial levels and decreased the levels of alveolar bone loss. Finally, NTU101FM ethanol extract was found to ameliorate periodontal inflammation by decreasing the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reducing oxidative stresses induced by LPS. Overall, our findings demonstrate that NTU101FM ethanol extract could be developed as a functional food that could ameliorate periodontal inflammation.

The Anti-Periodontitis Effects of Ethanol Extract Prepared Using Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101.

Poor oral health and related diseases, including caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer, are highly prevalent across the world, particularly in the elderly. This study aimed to investigate the anti-periodontitis activity of fermented skim milk produced using the promising probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (NTU101FM). An initial analysis found that an ethanol extract of NTU101FM displayed anti-oxidative activities. Further investigation of pathogen growth inhibition zones, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) revealed that the NTU101FM ethanol extract also had anti-periodontal pathogen activities. In addition, the NTU101FM ethanol extract significantly decreased the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Finally, the NTU101FM ethanol extract was found to inhibit receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation by reducing tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity and the number of TRAP-positive multinucleated osteoclasts. In summary, our study demonstrated that ethanol extract prepared from NTU101FM has potential use as an anti-periodontitis agent.

Effects of equol on deoxycorticosterone acetate salt-induced hypertension and associated vascular dementia in rats.

Oxidative stress is the major cause of neuronal cell degeneration observed in neurodegenerative diseases including vascular dementia (VaD), and hypertension has been found to increase the probability of VaD. Here, we investigated the effects of equol in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt-induced hypertensive rats (DHRs) and the associated VaD. The systolic blood pressure of rats treated with low- (10 mg per kg body weight) and high-dose (20 mg per kg body weight) equol for 4 weeks was lower than that of the control group by 12.18 and 17.48% in a dose-dependent manner, respectively (p < 0.05), which was regulated by inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and increasing the nitric oxide (NO) production. Equol-treated DHRs showed a significant decrease in both the swimming distance and time required to reach the escape platform (78.20 to 82.56%, p < 0.05). In addition, the probe trial session and working memory test indicated that equol improved the long- and short-term memory of the rats. Moreover, the brain antioxidant activity was increased by elevating the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were decreased, indicating that equol suppressed oxidative stress. In conclusion, we demonstrated that equol exhibited comparable blood pressure (BP)-lowering and VaD-improving effects with the clinically used drug, lisinopril in DHRs while there was a positive correlation between the doses. Therefore, this bioactive compound may be useful for developing functional foods, thereby extending the application of equol-containing crops.

Effects of Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10-Fermented Soymilk on Deoxycorticosterone Acetate-Salt-Induced Hypertension and Associated Dementia in Rats.

Oxidative stress resulting from excessive production of reactive oxygen species is the major mediator of neuronal cell degeneration observed in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Additionally, hypertension has been shown to be a positive risk factor for VaD. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum strain TWK10 (TWK10)-fermented soymilk on the protection of PC-12 cells in H2O2-, oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)- and deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt-induced rat models of VaD. Notably, the viabilities of H2O2-treated PC-12 cells and OGD model were significantly increased by treatment with TWK10-fermented soymilk ethanol extract (p < 0.05). In addition, oral administration of TWK10-fermented soymilk extract in DOCA-salt hypertension-induced VaD rats resulted in a significant decrease in blood pressure (p < 0.05), which was regulated by inhibiting ACE activity and promoting NO production, in addition to decreased escape latency and increased target crossing (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these results demonstrated that TWK10-fermented soymilk extract could improve learning and memory in DOCA-salt hypertension-induced VaD rats by acting as a blood pressure-lowering and neuroprotective agent.