Anti-aging effect of DL-β-hydroxybutyrate against hepatic cellular senescence induced by D-galactose or γ-irradiation via autophagic flux stimulation in male rats

The present study aims to shed new light on anti-aging effect of DL-β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) against hepatic cellular senescence induced by d-galactose or γ-irradiation. The rats divided into 6 groups. Group 1, control, group 2, exposed to γ-ray (5 GY), group 3, injected by d-galactose (150 mg/kg) daily for consecutive 6 weeks, which regarded to induce the aging, group 4, injected intraperitoneal by β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) (72.8 mg/kg) daily for consecutive 14 days, group 5, exposed to γ-ray then treated with βOHB daily for consecutive 14 days, group 6, injected daily with d-galactose for consecutive 6 weeks, then treated with βOHB daily at the last two weeks of d-galactose. Aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), Insulin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were estimated in serum. Moreover, protein expression of Microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B (LC3-II/LC3-I) ratio, mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), pAMPK, mRNA gene expression of 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Nucleoporin p62 (p62), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1(P21^CIP1), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16^INK4a) and DNA fragmentation percentage were measured in liver tissue as a biomarker of cellular senescence. The results confirmed that βOHB modulated serum level of AST, ALT, insulin, IL-6 and TNF-α, protein expression of mTOR and LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, pAMPK and p62 in liver aging model induced by d-galactose or γ-irradiation. Histopathological examination results of liver tissue indicated coincidence with those recorded by molecular biochemical inspection. Taken together, these findings suggest that βOHB may be useful in combating hepatic cellular senescence induced by d-galactose or γ-irradiation via autophagy dependent mechanisms.     

An insight into electrical resistivity of white matter and brain tumors

BackgroundThere is a lack of information regarding electrical properties of white matter and brain tumors.ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of in-vivo measurement of electrical resistivity during brain surgery and establish a better understanding of the resistivity patterns of brain tumors in correlation to the white matter.MethodsA bipolar probe was used to measure electrical resistivity during surgery in a prospective cohort of patients with brain tumors. For impedance measurement, the probe applied a constant current of 0.7 μA with a frequency of 140 Hz. The measurement was performed in the white matter within and outside peritumoral edema as well as in non-enhancing, enhancing and necrotic tumor areas. Resistivity values expressed in ohmmeter (Ω1m) were compared between different intracranial tissues and brain tumors.ResultsNinety-two patients (gliomas WHO II:16, WHO III:10, WHO IV:33, metastasis:33) were included. White matter outside peritumoral edema had higher resistivity values (13.3 ± 1.7 Ω1m) than within peritumoral edema (8.5 ± 1.6 Ω1m), and both had higher values than brain tumors including non-enhancing (WHO II:6.4 ± 1.3 Ω1m, WHO III:6.3 ± 0.9 Ω1m), enhancing (WHO IV:5 ± 1 Ω1m, metastasis:5.4 ± 1.3 Ω1m) and necrotic tumor areas (WHO IV:3.9 ± 1.1 Ω1m, metastasis:4.3 ± 1.3 Ω1m), p=<0.001. No difference was found between low-grade and anaplastic gliomas, p = 0.808, while resistivity values in both were higher than the highest values found in glioblastomas, p = 0.003 and p = 0.004, respectively.ConclusionsThe technique we applied enabled us to measure electrical resistivity of white matter and brain tumors in-vivo presumably with a significant effect with regard to dielectric polarization. Our results suggest that there are significant differences within different areas and subtypes of brain tumors and that white matter exhibits higher electrical resistivity than brain tumors.     

Cortical mechanisms underlying variability in intermittent theta-burst stimulation-induced plasticity: A TMS-EEG study

ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) variability depends on the ability to engage specific neurons in the primary motor cortex (M1).MethodsIn a sham-controlled interventional study on 31 healthy volunteers, we used concomitant transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG). We compared baseline motor evoked potentials (MEPs), M1 iTBS-evoked EEG oscillations, and resting-state EEG (rsEEG) between subjects who did and did not show MEP facilitation following iTBS. We also investigated whether baseline MEP and iTBS-evoked EEG oscillations could explain inter and intraindividual variability in iTBS aftereffects.ResultsThe facilitation group had smaller baseline MEPs than the no-facilitation group and showed more iTBS-evoked EEG oscillation synchronization in the alpha and beta frequency bands. Resting-state EEG power was similar between groups and iTBS had a similar non-significant effect on rsEEG in both groups. Baseline MEP amplitude and beta iTBS-evoked EEG oscillation power explained both inter and intraindividual variability in MEP modulation following iTBS.ConclusionsThe results show that variability in iTBS-associated plasticity depends on baseline corticospinal excitability and on the ability of iTBS to engage M1 beta oscillations.SignificanceThese observations can be used to optimize iTBS investigational and therapeutic applications.     

In vitro activity of EDTA and TOL-463 against Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Neisseria gonorrhoeae quickly develops drug resistance. Time-kill curves revealed that EDTA and TOL-463 inhibit growth similar to penicillin, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin. Furthermore, synergistic and additive antimicrobial interactions occurred when EDTA and TOL-463 were combined with penicillin or azithromycin, respectively, suggesting that further investigations into these unconventional antimicrobials may be advantageous.     

Effects of folic acid supplementation on C-reactive protein: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background and aim

Given the contradictory results of previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify and summarize the effects of folic acid supplementation on C-reactive protein (CRP).

Increasing radiofrequency ablation volumes with the use of internally cooled electrodes and injected hydrochloric acid in ex vivo bovine livers

Purpose: We used an impedance-controlled generator with an internally cooled electrode to perform radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in ex vivo bovine livers, with a single injection of either 38.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) or 10% hydrochloric acid (HCl), to determine the relative effects of these two solutions on tissue impedance, temperature and ablation volume.

Materials and methods: We performed 10 ablations each with injections of NaCl (NaCl-RFA), HCl (HCl-RFA) or nothing (RFA-alone), with a power setting of 200 W for 15?minutes. We recorded tissue impedance before and after injection. We logged temperatures obtained from thermocouple probes positioned 5, 10, 15 and 20?mm from the internally cooled RF electrode. After ablation, we measured ablation zone longitudinal and transverse diameters, and we calculated a spherical ratio (SR) for each ablation.

Results: Mean post-injection impedance of 30.3 (standard deviation [SD] 2.5) ohms for HCl was significantly lower than that of 55.4 (SD 3.5) ohms for NaCl (p?<?.001). Mean maximum temperatures recorded at each respective distance from the RFA electrode were all highest for HCl-RFA and lowest for RFA-alone (p?<?.001). Mean longitudinal and transverse diameters after HCl-RFA (5.50 [SD 0.25] cm and 5.28 [SD 0.22] cm, respectively) were significantly larger than those after NaCl-RFA (4.24 [SD 0.35] cm and 3.55 [SD 0.43] cm, respectively) and after RFA-alone (3.60 [SD 0.10] cm and 2.70 [SD 0.13] cm, respectively) (p?<?.001). Mean SR after HCl-RFA (0.93, SD 0.02) was significantly higher than mean SR after NaCl-RFA (0.76, SD 0.06) and RFA-alone (0.72, SD 0.04) (p?<?.001).

Conclusion: Monopolar, impedance-controlled RFA, with an internally cooled electrode and a single 10% HCl injection may allow larger tumors to be treated, potentially resulting in improved patient outcomes.     

RP-HPLC法同时测定九味羌活丸、片、颗粒中4种成分

目的建立RP-HPLC法同时测定九味羌活丸、片、颗粒(羌活、防风、苍术等)中羌活醇、阿魏酸、异欧前胡素、紫花前胡苷的含有量。方法 3种药物甲醇提取液的分析采用TechMate C18色谱柱(4.6 mm×250 mm,5μm);流动相乙腈-0.1%冰醋酸,梯度洗脱;体积流量1.0 mL/min;柱温35℃;检测波长317 nm。结果羌活醇、阿魏酸、异欧前胡素、紫花前胡苷分别在2.944 2~31.768 2μg/mL(r=0.999 8)、1.995 8~19.958 4μg/mL(r=0.999 8)、2.944 2~29.441 8μg/mL(r=0.999 7)、8.215 0~82.150 1μg/mL(r=0.999 7)范围内线性关系良好,平均加样回收率分别为94.9%、93.9%、91.2%、101.1%,RSD分别为0.9%、1.2%、1.4%、1.0%。结论该方法准确可靠,可用于九味羌活丸、片、颗粒的质量控制。     

Serum Folate Levels and Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta- Epidemiological Study of Population-based Case-Control Studies

Objective: While it has been claimed that lung cancer occurs due to epigenetic mechanisms, four systematic reviews were reported to investigate the association between serum folate levels and lung cancer risk. Considering some methodological problems founded in the systematic review, a meta-epidemiological study was conducted. Methods: The selection criteria of this study were defined that a case-control study was conducted to determine the risk of lung cancer occurrence according to the concentration of serum folate and its results showed odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval. Additional paper was explored from cited lists of 4 papers selected by previous systematic reviews. Random effect model was applied if I-squared value was over 50%. Results: For 5 case-control studies selected, the summary odds ratios (and their 95% confidence intervals) were 0.82 (0.74-0.90) in men, 0.70 (0.62-0.79) in former smokers, and 0.86 (0.75-1.00) in non-smokers. Conclusion: Higher foliate levels can decrease lung cancer risk in men and former smokers. Especially, the protective effect was highest in former smokers compared in non-smokers and current smokers. Based on these facts, folate fortification programs to reduce lung cancer risk would be focused on former smokers in men. And some epidemiological studies are needed to provide a hypothesis to explain the sex differences in the association between folate and lung cancer risk.