Extraction and Properties of Black Rice Pigment

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - Two black rice pigment components, BR1 and BR2, were obtained by thin layer chromatography. From five experiments for in vitro testing of the scavenging ability,...     

Etiology and management of the hypertensive phase in glaucoma drainage-device surgery

Insertion of glaucoma drainage devices has become a mainstay in the surgical management of multiple forms of glaucoma, and the indications for this procedure continue to expand. A unique clinical challenge in the postoperative care of these devices is the hypertensive phase, a period of postoperative intraocular pressure elevation in the first three months after surgery. We discuss the influence of a variety of factors on the development of the hypertensive phase after glaucoma drainage implantation, including type of device, device material, and device surface area. Furthermore, several intraoperative and postoperative interventions are investigated as attempts to mitigate this phenomenon. Included among these are the use of antimetabolites, collagen matrix, and a variety of approaches to postoperative inflammation and intraocular pressure control. We provide an overview of our current knowledge of the etiology and management of the hypertensive phase.     

The 2017 CALDAR Summer Institute and International Conference Promoting Global Health—Precision Research in Substance Abuse,HIV, and Care

The 2017 CALDAR Summer Institute on Longituidnal Research and International Conference Series to Promote Global Health will take place in Los Angeles Universal City, CA, USA from August 15 to August 17, 2017. The conference will present a selection of the lastest and most current reseach in the areas of addiction, HIV, and related treatment.     

Comparative effects of green and black tea extracts on lowering serum uric acid in hyperuricemic mice

Context: Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze [Theaceae]) is used to induce urination and inducing nervous excitation. Green and black teas have multifarious physiological functions. The different effects of green and black tea aqueous extracts (GTEs and BTEs) on hyperuricemia are not definitely reported.

Objective: The different effects of GTEs and BTEs on lowering serum uric acid (UA) in hyperuricemic mice were determined.

Materials and methods: Kunming mice were divided into nine groups (n?=?6/each group). GTEs and BTEs at the doses of 0.5, 1 and 2?g/kg were orally administrated to mice for seven days, respectively. Hepatic xanthine oxidase (XOD) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities as mechanisms of actions were assessed.

Results: Research indicated that the LD₅₀ of tea extract is greater than 2?g/kg in mice. UA levels were suppressed significantly with dose-dependent treatment of 0.5, 1 and 2?g/kg BTEs (up to 25.5%, 28.7% and 29.8%, respectively); the serum UA levels were decreased by GTEs but not significant. The activities of XOD and ADA in high dose (2?g/kg) groups of both GTEs and BTEs were notably lower than those of the model group.

Discussion and conclusions: The results suggested that both GTEs and BTEs have hypouricaemic and renal protective effects on hyperuricemic mice and the latter one was better. Our study sheds light on the research and development of anti-hyperuricemic functional foods and drugs from tea.     

MicroRNA-107: a novel promoter of tumor progression that targets the CPEB3/EGFR axis in human hepatocellular carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are dysregulated in many types of malignancies, including human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MiR-107 has been implicated in several types of cancer regulation; however, relatively little is known about miR-107 in human HCC. In the present study, we showed that the overexpression of miR-107 accelerates the tumor progression of HCC in vitro and in vivo through its new target gene, CPEB3. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that CPEB3 is a newly discovered tumor suppressor that acts via the EGFR pathway. Therefore, our study demonstrates that the newly discovered miR-107/CPEB3/EGFR axis plays an important role in HCC progression and might represent a new potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.     

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor genetic polymorphism (rs6265) is protective against chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment in patients with early-stage breast cancer

Background

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin that regulates neuronal function and development, is implicated in several neurodegenerative conditions. Preliminary data suggest that a reduction of BDNF concentrations may lead to postchemotherapy cognitive impairment. We hypothesized that a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs6265) of the BDNF gene may predispose patients to cognitive impairment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of BDNF gene polymorphism on chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment.

Methods

Overall, 145 patients receiving chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer (mean age: 50.8 ± 8.8 y; 82.1% Chinese) were recruited. Patients'' cognitive functions were assessed longitudinally using the validated Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Cognitive Function (v.3) and an objective computerized tool, Headminder. Genotyping was performed using Sanger sequencing. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and cognition after adjusting for ethnicity and clinically important covariates.

Results

Of the 145 patients, 54 (37%) reported cognitive impairment postchemotherapy. The Met/Met genotype was associated with statistically significant lower odds of developing cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR] = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.08–0.92; P = .036). The Met carriers were less likely to experience impairment in the domains of verbal fluency (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12–0.90; P = .031) and multitasking ability (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.15–0.91; P = .030) compared with the Val/Val homozygote. No associations were observed between Headminder and the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism.

Conclusions

This is the first study to provide evidence that carriers of the BDNF Met allele are protected against chemotherapy-associated cognitive impairment. Further studies are required to validate the findings.     

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and bone mineral density in a racially and ethnically diverse group of men

CONTEXT: Although racial and ethnic differences in vitamin D status and bone mineral density (BMD) are recognized, less is known about how differences in vitamin D status impact BMD, especially among men. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine the relation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and BMD by race and ethnic group. DESIGN: We conducted a population-based, observational survey. Participants: Participants included 1114 Black, Hispanic, and White men, 30-79 yr of age. Outcomes: We assessed 25(OH)D by a competitive protein binding assay and BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Mean age +/- SD of the 331 Black, 362 Hispanic, and 421 White men was 48 +/- 12.8 yr. Mean 25(OH)D was lower among Black (25.0 +/- 14.7 ng/ml) and Hispanic (32.9 +/- 13.9 ng/ml) men compared with White men (37.4 +/- 14.0 ng/ml, P < 0.01). A higher percentage of both Black (44%) and Hispanic (23%) men had levels of 25(OH)D in the lowest quartile, compared with 11% of White men (P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, height, and weight, only White men showed significant positive correlation between 25(OH)D and BMD (range of correlations, 0.00-0.14). Serum 25(OH)D was not associated with BMD in Black or Hispanic men at any bone site. Results were similar when adjusted for age only. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm substantial racial and ethnic group differences in BMD and serum 25(OH)D in men. Serum 25(OH)D and BMD are significantly related to one another in White men only. This may have implications for evaluation of bone health and supplementation in men with low levels of 25(OH)D. Further understanding of the biological mechanisms for these differences between race and ethnic groups is needed.