110023 research outputs found
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Cardamonin attenuates phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced pulmonary inflammation in alveolar macrophages
No full text[[abstract]]Pulmonary inflammation involves complex immune responses in which alveolar macrophages release pro-inflammatory proteins and cytokines. Cardamonin is a spice component that exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties against pulmonary inflammation. Herein, the aim of this research is to investigate the effects of cardamonin on pulmonary inflammation and its mechanism. Pulmonary inflammation in mice was induced by intratracheal administration of PMA. PMA-stimulated acute fibrosis, pulmonary edema, and inflammatory responses were ameliorated by oral administration of cardamonin in vivo. In MH-S alveolar macrophages, PMA-induced pro-inflammatory responses, including iNOS, COX-2, MMP-9 and cytokines expressions were reduced by cardamonin. The anti-oxidative Nrf2/HO-1 axis was also provoked by cardamonin in MH-S alveolar macrophages. In addition, MMP-9 expression induced by PMA is also decreased by the down-stream metabolites of HO-1, indicating that HO-1 expression partially contributes to the anti-inflammatory effect exerted by cardamonin. In this study, cardamonin demonstrates anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects on PMA-induced pulmonary inflammation and activating Nrf2/HO-1 axis in alveolar macrophages. Cardamonin also ameliorates pulmonary inflammation, rapid fibrosis in vivo, suggesting powerful health benefits
Curcumin-Pretreated Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Enhance the Neuroprotective Ability to Repair Rheumatoid Arthritis-Induced Damage in the Rat Brain
No full text[[abstract]]Neurodegenerative diseases have become increasingly prevalent in the aged population. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes systemic inflammation, damaging the neurons. However, only a few treatment options can reduce RA-induced neurodegeneration. This study aimed to evaluate whether adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) pretreated with curcumin could ameliorate RA-induced neurodegenerative illness in an RA rat model. Wistar rats were randomly classified into the following four groups: control, RA, RA + ADSC (1 × 106 cells per rat), and RA + curcumin-pretreated ADSC (1 × 106 cells per rat). After treatment for two months, the effects were specifically evaluated in the brains collected from the rats. Our results demonstrated that the transplantation of curcumin-pretreated ADSCs substantially reduced inflammation and apoptosis in the cortices of RA rats compared to those of other groups. Thus, the combination of ADSCs and curcumin exerts a synergistic effect in enhancing neuronal protection in RA rats. In the future, this combination therapeutic strategy can potentially be used as a novel treatment method to reduce RA-induced neurodegenerative disorders
PM 2.5 exposure and incident attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder during the prenatal and postnatal periods: A birth cohort study
No full text[[abstract]]Only a few studies have assessed the effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure during the prenatal and postnatal periods on the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We investigated the association of exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy and early life with ADHD. This birth cohort consisted of 425,736 singleton live-term births between 2004 and 2015 in Taiwan. Daily PM2.5 concentrations were derived from a 1-km satellite-based estimation model. A time-dependent Cox model was used to assess the effects of PM2.5 on ADHD during the first, second, and third trimesters and from age 1–5 years after birth. The distributed lag nonlinear model was utilized to explore the dose–response relationship. Total 9,294 children were diagnosed with ADHD during the study period. The hazard ratio (HR) of ADHD was significantly associated with a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 during the first trimester (HR = 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13–1.40) and increased at PM2.5 over 16 μg/m3. For postnatal periods, the HR of ADHD was significantly associated with increased PM2.5 at the first to third year of life (HR ranged between 1.40 and 1.87). According to the dose-response relationship of exposure to PM2.5 at the third year of life, the HR of ADHD was significantly associated with PM2.5 above 16 μg/m3 and sharply increased as PM2.5 >50 μg/m3. We did not observe a significant modification of sex on the relation between PM2.5 and ADHD. Exposure of pregnant women to PM2.5 above 16 μg/m3 from conception to the early life of their children may increase the risk of ADHD. The government should improve the criteria for air quality control and meet the WHO air quality guidelines to protect pregnant women and children from developing ADHD in the future
運用治療性遊戲於學前病童噴霧治療之成效
No full text[[abstract]]背景：下呼吸道感染是兒科常見的疾病，而為了協助住院兒童濕化痰液以利痰液排出體外，治療醫囑常會有噴霧治療，但兒童常因認知受限與住院壓力因素，以致往往哭鬧而無法配合噴霧治療。目的：探討運用治療性遊戲介入對於提升住院學前兒童接受噴霧治療時的正向情緒、認知和技能之成效。方法：研究設計採綜合研究法，研究對象為4-6歲因呼吸道感染而接受噴霧治療的學前兒童及其父母，隨機分派至實驗組與控制組，實驗組與控制組各20對，控制組只接受常規護理，實驗組為常規護理再加上治療性遊戲。結果：治療性遊戲介入後，實驗組與控制組學前兒童在接受噴霧治療情緒表現上，未達統計上的顯著差異（p>.05），但在噴霧治療認知得分上，則達統計上顯著差異（p.05), but there was a statistically significant difference in the recognition scores of the steam inhalation treatment (p<.05) between the experimental group and the control group . Ninety percent of the parents of the experimental group expressed high satisfaction of more than 8 points toward the effectiveness of the therapeutic play intervention. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: The results of this study may serve as a reference for development of non-invasive care in pediatric clinical care in the future
Overexpression of cardiac-specific IGF-IIRα accelerates the development of liver dysfunction through STZ-induced diabetic hepatocyte damage in transgenic rats
No full text[[abstract]]This study reports the effect of cardiac-specific insulin-like growth factor-II receptor α (IGF-IIRα) overexpression on the development of liver dysfunction in transgenic rats via STZ-induced diabetic hepatocyte damage. The cardio-hepatic syndrome comprises a number of heart and liver illnesses in which an acute or chronic disease in one organ can lead to acute or chronic disease in the other. However, the molecular mechanism involved in such a set of conditions is unclear. In this study, we developed a transgenic rat model with cardiac-specific overexpression of IGF-IIRα, which is a supplementary splicing variant of insulin-like growth factor-II receptor (IGF-IIR), expressed in pathological hearts, to investigate the relationship between late fetal gene expression in diabetic hearts and their influence on diabetic hepatopathy. STZ (55 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally delivered into IGF-IIR overexpressed transgenic (TG) and non-transgenic (NTG) animal models developed in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after an overnight fast. The relationship among IGF-IIRα overexpression and hepatocyte damages have been determined based on the complexity of damage in the liver. Our findings revealed that overexpression of the cardiac-specific IGF-IIRα enhances diabetes-induced morphological alterations and hepatic inflammation in the livers. The diabetic transgenic rats demonstrated the development of pathological conditions such as thick collagen fiber deposition, bridging fibrosis, and elevation of α-SMA and MMP1 related liver fibrosis mechanisms. Our data suggest that IGF-IIRα overexpression in the heart during a pathological state may worsen diabetic hepatopathy in rats
Progressive increase of the mosaic level for 45,X in 45,X/46,XX at different amniocenteses and postnatal progressive decrease of the 45,X cell line in a mosaic 45,X/46,XX fetus with a favorable outcome
No full text[[abstract]]Objective: We present progressive increase of the mosaic level for 45,X in 45,X/46, XX at different amniocenteses and postnatal progressive decrease of the 45,X cell line in a mosaic 45,X/46, XX fetus with a favorable outcome.
Case report: A 35-year-old, primigravid woman underwent amniocentesis at 16 weeks of gestation because of the advanced maternal age. Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 45,X [6]/46,XX [14]. Among 20 colonies of cultured amniocytes, six colonies had a karyotype of 45,X, whereas the other 14 colonies had a karyotype of 46,XX. Simultaneous array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) on uncultured amniocytes revealed the result of arr [GRCh37] (X) × 1 [0.42] (1-22) × 2. Prenatal ultrasound findings were unremarkable. Repeat amniocentesis at 33 weeks of gestation revealed a karyotype of 45,X [13]/46,XX [7]. Among 20 colonies of cultured amniocytes, 13 colonies had a karyotype of 45,X, whereas the other seven colonies had a karyotype of 46,XX. Simultaneous interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis on 100 uncultured amniocytes revealed that 44 cells had monosomy X consistent with 44% mosaicism for 45,X, whereas the rest cells had disomy X. At 38 weeks of gestation, a 2675-g phenotypically normal female baby was delivered. The karyotypes of cord blood, umbilical cord and placenta were 45,X [12]/46,XX [28], 45,X [12]/46,XX [28] and 46,XX [40/40], respectively. When follow-up at age three months, the neonate was normal in development. The karyotypes of peripheral blood was 45,X [4]/46,XX [36], and interphase FISH analysis on 100 buccal mucosal cells showed monosomy X in 11 cells consistent with 11% mosaicism for 45,X, whereas the rest cells had disomy X.
Conclusion: Progressive increase of the mosaic level for 45,X in 45,X/46, XX at different amniocenteses can be associated with a favorable outcome and postnatal progressive decrease of the 45,X cell line
Secondary metabolites with Antimicrobial activities from Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana
No full text[[abstract]]Seven new compounds, including one dimer novel skeleton, chamaecyformosanin A (1); three diterpenes, chamaecyformosanins B–D (2–4); one sesquiterpene, chamaecyformosanin E (5); and two monoterpenes, chamaecyformosanins F and G (6 and 7) were isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana. Their structures were established by the mean of spectroscopic analysis and the comparison of NMR data with those of known analogues. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical evidence, in-depth NMR spectroscopic analysis, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the isolated compounds were subjected to an evaluation of their antimicrobial activity. Metabolites 1, 3, and 4 present antibacterial activities. It is worth mentioning that the chemical composition of the bark of C. obtusa var. formosana has never been studied in the past. This is the first time the barks from C. obtusa var. formosana were studied and two new skeleton compounds, 1 and 7, were obtained
Tanshinone IIA inhibits Leu27IGF-II-induced insulin-like growth factor receptor II signaling and myocardial apoptosis via estrogen receptor-mediated Akt activation
No full text[[abstract]]Different stress condition stimulates the expression level of insulin-like growth factor receptor II (IGF-IIR) in cardiomyoblasts that lead to apoptosis. Tanshinone IIA (TSN), a pharmacologically active component from Danshen, has been shown cardioprotective effects against cardiac apoptosis induced by several stress conditions. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the cardioprotective effects of TSN IIA mediated through the estrogen receptor (ER) in order to inhibit the Leu27IGF-II-enhanced IGF-IIR-mediated cardiac apoptosis. The estrogenic activity of TSN IIA was examined after myocardial cells were pretreated with the ER antagonist, and inhibited the phospho-inositide-3 kinase (PI3K). Here, we found that TSN IIA significantly induced ER that phosphorylated Akt. Further, Akt activation considerably suppressed the Leu27IGF-II induced IGF-IIR expression level and the downstream effectors, including Gαq and calcineurin as well as mitochondrial dependent apoptosis proteins including Bad, cytochrome c, and active caspase-3 that result in cardiac apoptosis resistance. However, the western blot analysis, JC-1 staining, and terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay revealed that TSN IIA attenuated Leu27IGF-II-induced IGF-IIR mediated cardiac apoptosis was reversed by an ER antagonist such as ICI 182780, and PI3K inhibition. All these findings demonstrate that TSN IIA exerts estrogenic activity, which can activate PI3K-Akt pathway, and thereby inhibits Leu27IGFII induced IGF-IIR mediated cardiac apoptosis. Thus, TSN IIA can be considered as an effective therapeutic strategy against IGF-IIR signaling cascade to suppress cardiac apoptosis
The intravenous administration of skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorates hearing loss and preserves cochlear hair cells in cisplatin-injected mice: SMSCs ameliorate hearing loss and preserve outer hair cells in mice
No full text[[abstract]]Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be isolated from different tissue origins, such as the bone marrow, the placenta, the umbilical cord, adipose tissues, and skin tissues. MSCs can secrete anti-inflammatory molecules and growth factors for tissue repair and remodeling. However, the ability of skin-derived MSCs (SMSCs) to repair cochlear damage and ameliorate hearing loss remains unclear. Cisplatin is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent that has the side effect of ototoxicity due to inflammation and oxidative stress. This study investigated the effects of SMSCs on cisplatin-induced hearing loss in mice. Two independent experiments were designed for modeling cisplatin-induced hearing loss in mice, one for chronic toxicity (4 mg/kg intraperitoneal [IP] injection once per day for 5 consecutive days) and the other for acute toxicity (25 mg/kg IP injection once on day one). Three days after cisplatin injection, 1 × 106 or 3 × 106 SMSCs were injected through the tail vein. Data on auditory brain responses suggested that SMSCs could significantly reduce the hearing threshold of cisplatin-injected mice. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining data suggested that SMSCs could significantly ameliorate the loss of cochlear hair cells, TUNEL-positive cells and cleaved caspase 3-positive cells in cisplatin-injected mice. Neuropathological gene analyses revealed that SMSCs treatment could downregulate the expression of cochlear genes involved in apoptosis, autophagy, chromatin modification, disease association, matrix remodeling, oxidative stress, tissue integrity, transcription, and splicing and unfolded protein responses. Additionally, SMSCs treatment could upregulate the expression of cochlear genes affecting the axon and dendrite structures, cytokines, trophic factors, the neuronal skeleton and those involved in carbohydrate metabolism, growth factor signaling, myelination, neural connectivity, neural transmitter release, neural transmitter response and reuptake, neural transmitter synthesis and storage, and vesicle trafficking. Results from TUNEL and caspase 3 staining further confirmed that cisplatin-induced apoptosis in cochlear tissues of cisplatin-injected mice could be reduced by SMSCs treatment. In conclusion, the evidence of the effects of SMSCs in favor of ameliorating ototoxicity-induced hearing loss suggests a potential clinical application