Constituents of areca chewing related to esophageal cancer risk in Taiwanese men

Two most common types of areca chewing are noted in Taiwan: raw betel fruit with Piper betle inflorescence or folded in betel leaf. Piper betle inflorescence contains carcinogens, whereas betel leaf includes anticarcinogenic agents. One hundred and twenty-six esophageal squamous-cell-carcinoma patients and 279 healthy controls, all men, were analyzed. Areca chewers were 4.4 times (95% CI, 2.2-8.8) more likely to develop esophageal cancer than non-chewers. Sixty-five of the patients were areca chewers, of which, 61 (93.9%) chewed areca with Piper betle inflorescence, none chewed it with betel leaf and four (6.1%) chewed both. Of the 24 controls who were chewers, 10 (41.7%), three (12.5%) and 11 (45.8%) chewed areca with Piper betle inflorescence, betel leaf, and both, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that subjects who chewed areca with Piper betle inflorescence were 24.4 times (95% CI 3.9-154.4) more likely to develop esophageal cancer than those who chewed areca with betel leaf or with both leaf and inflorescence. Our epidemiologic findings suggest parts of the same Piper plant contains carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic substances.     

Byssinosis: Role of Polymer Length on the Effect of Tannin on the Airway β-Adrenergic Receptor

Tannin, isolated from cotton bracts and implicated in the pathogenesis of byssinosis, inhibits isoproterenol and forskolin-stimulated cAMP release from airway cells in part by decreasing cell surface β-adrenergic receptor number and uncoupling the β-adrenergic receptor from its stimulatory G-protein (G_s) and in part by inhibiting adenylyl cyclase activity. We have hypothesized that cotton tannin, because of its long polymer length, interacts with the hydrophobic binding pocket of the β-adrenergic receptor and alters β-adrenergic receptor binding and G_s coupling. In these studies, tannins of three different polymer lengths and molecular masses were isolated from cotton bracts using sequential Amicon ultrafiltration [molecular mass > 10,000 (YM10 retentate), 1,000–10,000 (YM10 filtrate), and 1,000–5,000 Da (YM2 retentate)]. The YM10 retentate (25 μg/ml) decreased chloride secretion (Jnet = 1.11 ± 0.28 (control) to 0.59 ± 0.18 μEq/cm²·h, p < 0.05, n= 6), decreased cell surface β-adrenergic receptor number (18.0 ± 1.8 (control) to 10.6 ± 0.9 fmol/mg protein, p < 0.02, n= 4), and inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP release (5,254 ± 1,290 (control) to 2,968 ± 620 pmol/mg protein, p < 0.01, n= 8). In contrast, neither the YM10 filtrate nor the YM2 retentate had any effect on net chloride secretion, β-adrenergic cell surface receptor number, or forskolin-stimulated cAMP release. We conclude that polymer length is essential for the effect of tannin on the β-adrenergic receptor and on adenylyl cyclase. Accepted for publication: 28 June 1998     

Changes in the levels of bioactive components of cotton bracts accompanying senescence

A series of bracts from Deltapine 41 variety cotton were harvested weekly from October 16 through November 25, 1982, and examined for changes in biologically active components accompanying senescence. Aqueous extracts of cotton bracts (CBE) were tested for their ability to cause 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) release from human platelets and contraction of isolated canine tracheal smooth muscle (TSM). In addition, the amounts of soluble tannins (the platelet-activating factor found in CBE) and endotoxin were determined for each CBE. The amount of CBE decreased significantly from October 16 through November 25, whereas endotoxin levels rose dramatically from October 23 to November 6 and declined thereafter. The amount of soluble tannin and platelet 5-HT release both decreased from highs on October 23 to unmeasurable levels on November 25. Smooth muscle contraction was attributed to two primary factors contained in CBE. The major constrictor was a 5-HT receptor agonist and its levels remained stable from October 16 through October 30, but then decreased to unmeasurable levels by November 13. In contrast, CBE also contained lesser amounts of an acetylcholine receptor agonist whose levels paralleled the changes in endotoxin levels. We conclude that several important biochemical changes occur in cotton bracts during senescence and that these changes profoundly influence their biological activity in various assays.     

白鹃梅嫩叶及花序中营养成分分析

目的对白鹃梅嫩叶及花序的主要营养成分进行分析,为白鹃梅嫩叶及花序的进一步开发利用提供参考。方法运用食品卫生检验国家标准中的相关方法测定白鹃梅嫩叶及花序中主要营养成分的含量。结果测得直接晒干的白鹃梅嫩叶及花序中氨基酸的总含量为22.48%,且含有已测的17种氨基酸,还原糖总量为10.10%,锌、铁、镁、钾、钙、铬、硒的含量分别为24.00mg/kg、160.35mg/kg、2841.14mg/kg、9111.32mg/kg、5799.56mg/kg、0.22mg/kg、0.08mg/kg。测得煮后晒干的白鹃梅嫩叶及花序中氨基酸的总含量为22.35%,且含有已测的17种氨基酸,还原糖总量为8.83%,锌、铁、镁、钾、钙、铬、硒的含量分别为19.50mg/kg、197.38mg/kg、2834.71mg/kg、7798.41mg/kg、5482.84mg/kg、1.06mg/kg、0.04mg/kg。结论从测得的白鹃梅嫩叶及花序中主要营养成分的含量可知,白鹃梅嫩叶及花序营养丰富、口感细腻,具有较高的食用价值。     

Anti-inflammatory effect of a novel formulation of coconut inflorescence sap against ox-LDL induced inflammatory responses in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by modulating TLR-NF-κB signaling pathway

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox LDL) induced inflammatory response was reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to explore the anti-inflammatory effect of a novel formulation of coconut inflorescence sap (CSP); COCOZEN? against ox-LDL induced inflammatory responses in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). The hPBMCs were isolated from healthy human volunteers and cultured in collagen coated plates at 37?°C. The cells were grouped as Group I (Control), Group II (ox-LDL treated) and Group III (ox-LDL?+?CSP treated). Further analysis of inflammatory markers, reactive oxygen species, mRNA and protein expression levels indicated increased expressions of TLR-4, TNF-α, IL-6 and VCAM-1 in ox-LDL treated group along with the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Other inflammatory markers such as LOX, PGE2, NO, total COX and lipid peroxidation level were also found to be significantly (p?via TLR-NF-κB signaling pathway.     

An unusual case of grass inflorescence aspiration presenting as a chest wall tumour

A 9-year-old boy was referred to the Oncology Department because of a thoracic soft-tissue mass thought to be a chest wall tumour. He had a history of grass inflorescence (Hordeum murinum) aspiration 2 weeks prior to this admission. On physical examination a tender soft-tissue mass under the right scapula and diminished breath sounds from the right lower lobe were detected. Thoracic CT confirmed soft-tissue swelling of the right posterior chest wall. There was a hypodense area within the soft-tissue mass suggesting a foreign body and also focal consolidation of the right lower lobe adjacent to the soft-tissue swelling. We report here unique CT findings of grass inflorescence aspiration before and after its migration through the airways.