Formation of Samin Diastereomers by Acid-Catalyzed Transformation of Sesamolin with Hydrogen Peroxide.

The conversion of sesame lignans is of interest because the derived products may have potential applications. Here, in investigating the transformation of sesamin and sesamolin, main endogenous sesame lignans in sesame seeds, in both acidic aqueous and anhydrous systems, 7R,7'S-samin was identified as one of the major products of sesamolin in both systems catalyzed with common inorganic acids, but sesaminol was not generated. In investigating the effect of different oxidizing agents on the acid-catalyzed conversion of sesame lignans, 7R,7'S-samin was still the major product of sesamolin, whereas sesamolin as well as 7R,7'S-samin stereoselectively rendered 7R,7'R-samin in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide may play a role in stabilizing the transitional oxonium ions, derived from acid hydrolysis of sesamolin or 7R,7'S-samin by forming a seven-membered ring intermediate through hydrogen bonding, to consequently produce 7R,7'R-samin as the final product.

Mechanistic insight into hyaluronic acid and platelet-rich plasma-mediated anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities in osteoarthritic mice.

Osteoarthritis (OA) poses a major clinical challenges owing to limited regenerative ability of diseased or traumatized chondrocytes in articular cartilage. Previous studies have determined the individual therapeutic efficacies of hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on OA; however, the underlying mechanism is still lacking. Therefore, we investigated mechanistic approach of HA+PRP therapy on chondrocyte apoptosis in IL-1ß+TNF-α (I+T) treated in vitro OA model, in addition to in vivo anterior cruciate ligament transection-OA mice model. MTT assay showed an enhanced chondrocyte proliferation and viability in HA+PRP-treated group, compared to I+T, I+T/HA, I+T/PRP, I+T/HA+PRP groups. Further, HA+PRP also significantly suppressed ROS, apoptotic cleaved caspase-3 and PARP, p53 and p21 and MMP-1; whereas, cell cycle modulatory proteins including p-ERK, cyclin B1, D1, and E2 were upregulated. The sub-G1 population and TUNEL assay confirmed the higher abundance of healthy chondrocytes in HA+PRP group. A significantly decreased ARS staining in HA+PRP group was also noted, indicating reduced cartilaginous matrix mineralization compared to other groups. Conclusively, compared to HA or PRP, the combined HA+PRP might be a promising therapy for articular cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritic pathology, possibly via augmented anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative chondrocyte proliferation and inhibited MMP-1 activity and matrix calcification.

Identification of 3-MCPD esters to verify the adulteration of extra virgin olive oil.

The adulteration of olive oil is an important issue around the world. This paper reports an indirect method by which to identify 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) esters in olive oils. Following sample preparation, the samples were spiked with 1,2-bis-palmitoyl-3-chloropropanediol standard for analysis using gas chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry. The total recovery ranged from 102.8% to 105.5%, the coefficient of variation ranged from 1.1% to 10.1%, and the limit of quantification was 0.125 mg/kg. The content of 3-MCPD esters in samples of refined olive oil (0.97-20.53 mg/kg) exceeded those of extra virgin olive oil (non-detected to 0.24 mg/kg). These results indicate that the oil refining process increased the content of 3-MCPD esters, which means that they could be used as a target compound for the differentiation of extra virgin olive oil from refined olive oil in order to prevent adulteration.

Effects of pilates on patients with chronic non-specific low back pain: a systematic review.

[Purpose] To evaluate the effects of Pilates on patients with chronic low back pain through a systematic review of high-quality articles on randomized controlled trials. [Subjects and Methods] Keywords and synonyms for "Pilates" and "Chronic low back pain" were used in database searches. The databases included PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Medline, and the Cochrane Library. Articles involving randomized controlled trials with higher than 5 points on the PEDro scale were reviewed for suitability and inclusion. The methodological quality of the included randomized controlled trials was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Relevant information was extracted by 3 reviewers. [Results] Eight randomized controlled trial articles were included. Patients with chronic low back pain showed statistically significant improvement in pain relief and functional ability compared to patients who only performed usual or routine health care. However, other forms of exercise were similar to Pilates in the improvement of pain relief and functional capacity. [Conclusion] In patients with chronic low back pain, Pilates showed significant improvement in pain relief and functional enhancement. Other exercises showed effects similar to those of Pilates, if waist or torso movement was included and the exercises were performed for 20 cumulative hours.

Relationship of three-dimensional bone-to-implant contact to primary implant stability and peri-implant bone strain in immediate loading: microcomputed tomographic and in vitro analyses.

PURPOSE: The relationships between three-dimensional (3D) bone-to-implant contact (BIC), cortical bone height, and trabecular bone density were measured by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) to determine correlations with primary implant stability and peri-implant bone strain in an immediate loading scenario. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 3D BIC ratios of artificial sawbones models with cellular foam of four densities representing trabecular bone (0.12, 0.16, 0.20, and 0.32 g/cm3) and with cortical shells of four thicknesses (0, 1, 2, and 3 mm) were evaluated by micro-CT. Statistical methods and a linear correlation model were employed to investigate the significance of the relationships between 3D BIC ratios and peak insertion torque, implant stability quotient, and Periotest value, as well as with peri-implant bone strain as measured with strain gauges. RESULTS: The 3D BIC ratio increased from 20.5 to 39.4 and from 27.4 to 45.2 as the height of cortical bone and the density of trabecular bone increased from 0 to 3 mm and from 0.12 to 0.32 g/cm3, respectively. A decrease in the 3D BIC ratio was associated with decreases in peri-implant bone strain and primary implant stability. In addition, there was a strong linear correlation between cortical BIC and primary implant stability (R2 > 0.8). CONCLUSIONS: The use of an immediately loaded implant in cases with a low 3D BIC ratio (resulting from a thin cortical shell and/or low trabecular bone density) can diminish primary stability of an implant and lead to high strains in the peri-implant bone.

The safety and feasibility of transradial cutting balloon angioplasty: immediate results, benefits, and limitations.

Cutting balloon angioplasty can reduce the restenosis rate more than conventional balloon angioplasty, but is traditionally performed through a femoral artery. However, it is not clear how useful a transradial approach would be for cutting balloon angioplasty. This study was conducted to examine the safety, feasibility, and limitations of transradial as opposed to transfemoral cutting balloon angioplasty. From November 1999 to August 2001, 177 patients underwent cutting balloon coronary angioplasty. We compared the success rate, angiographic results, and complication rates of two groups of patients, those undergoing transradial (168 lesions from 153 patients) and those undergoing transfemoral (24 lesions from 24 patients) cutting balloon angioplasty. In both groups of patients who had similar clinical and target lesion characteristics. the percentage of lesions that required balloon predilation (27.4% vs 29.2%). stenting (7.7% vs 4.2%), and adjunct balloon dilation (28.0% vs 33.3%) due to dissection (35.7% vs 33.3%) or suboptimal results were comparable. Both approaches achieved a 100% primary success rate with similar acute gain (2.02 +/- 0.68 mm vs 1.94 +/- 0.70 mm), residual (luminal) diameter stenosis (19.2 +/- 11.7% vs 17.0 +/- 12.7%). proportion of lesions that achieved TIMI 3 flow (98.8% vs 100%), and clinical success rate (98.8% vs 95.8%). However, patients undergoing transradial cutting balloon angioplasty had earlier ambulation and a significantly shorter hospital stay than those undergoing a transfemoral approach (2.80 +/- 2.67 days vs 4.75 +/- 5.44 days, P = 0.005). We conclude that the transradial approach is a feasible and safe alternative to the transfemoral approach for cutting balloon angioplasty. In addition, it offers patients early ambulation and a short hospital stay.