A therapeutic intervention for Alzheimer's disease using ginsenoside Rg3: its role in M2 microglial activation and non-amyloidogenesis

Previously, we have reported that ginsenoside Rg3 has typical activities for neuroprotection and Aβ42 clearance by modulating microglia. In this study, we determined the pivotal role of ginsenoside Rg3 in microglia and neuronal cells. In human microglia, Rg3 and its stereoisomers significantly restored inflammatory M1 to normal M0 state and promoted M2 activation by up-regulating acute cytokines such as interleukin-10 and Arginase 1. Moreover, scavenger receptor type A (SRA) was significantly elevated in the presence of ginsenoside Rg3 and 20(S)-Rg3. This indicated that ginsenoside Rg3 could play a crucial role in Aβ uptake and clearance under activated M2 state. We also observed that soluble amyloid precursor protein-alpha (sAPPα) and ADAM10 levels were increased in APP swe-transfected Nuro-2a neuronal cells, whereas sAPPβ was not processed, suggesting that ginsenoside Rg3 was involved in non-amyloidogenic processing. In immunocytochemistry, SRA and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (desintegrin and metalloproteinase-containing protein 10, ADAM10) were coincidently upregulated in the presence of ginsenoside Rg3 and its stereoisomers compared to those in normal control. Taken together, these results suggested that ginsenoside Rg3 could boost acute activation of microglia, promote Aβ uptake, and elevate the sAPPα processing under activated M2 state. Although in vivo studies need to be performed, it is certain that ginsenoside Rg3 is highly involved in ameliorating the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration and can be a promising candidate for treating Alzheimer's disease as a new therapeutic intervention.

Aqueous Nd3+ capture using a carboxyl-functionalized porous carbon derived from ZIF-8

A porous graphitic carbon was obtained via the pyrolysis of a zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) under Ar atmosphere. Then, the carbon was functionalized with carboxylic groups and applied for separation of neodymium ions (Nd³⁺) from water. The adsorbent (denoted as C-ZDC) was characterized by X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning and transition electron microscopies, thermogravimetric analysis, and Boehm titration. A practical adsorption equilibrium was attained within 4 h, and the adsorption isotherm at 25 °C revealed a maximum adsorption capacity of 175 mg/g, which is one of the highest values reported for different kinds of adsorbents. The adsorption kinetics and equilibrium isotherms were modeled, and the selectivity for Nd³⁺ over other metal ions was examined. From the effect of solution pH on the adsorption and material characterization results before and after adsorption, the high adsorption capacity of C-ZDC was ascribed to the formation of coordination bonds between Nd³⁺ ions and the -COOH groups. Further, the material was reusable for at least four adsorption-desorption cycles after a simple step of acid washing.

Chemical and genetic diversity of high-seed-yield sorghum (Sorghum bicolor M.) germplasms

This study evaluated the chemical and genetic diversity of high-seed-yield sorghum germplasms from Korea, the United States, and South Africa. We identified significant differences in the chemical contents of whole plants at the heading stage in all cultivars, including differences in crude protein, fat, fiber, ash, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, mineral, and fatty acid contents. Our results suggest that Banwoldang is the most appropriate cultivar for roughage because of its high protein yield. We identified significant differences in the tannin, flavonoid, amylose, mineral, crude fat, fatty acid, and 3-deoxyanthocyanin contents in the whole grain from all cultivars, but not in the mineral or crude fat contents. Tannin levels were generally low. IS645 contained the highest levels of flavonoids and linolenic acid compounds, and Moktak had the highest amylose and deoxyanthocyanidin content in the grain. To assess genetic diversity, we used 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer sets to identify 38 alleles with 3-8 alleles per locus. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the SSR markers, the sorghum cultivars were divided into three major groups. Comparison of clusters based on chemical compositions with those based on SSRs showed that the groups formed by the three native Korean cultivars clustered similarly in molecular dendrograms. Association analysis was conducted for the 10 SSR marker; 48 chemical and growth traits were present for two marker traits (seed color and whole plant fatty acid content) with significant marker-trait associations. These markers could be used to select sorghum cultivars for breeding programs.

Clinical assessment of rosacea severity: oriental score vs. quantitative assessment method with imaging and biomedical tools

BACKGROUND

Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory disorder affecting facial skin. Currently, no accurate and objective method is available for assessing the severity of rosacea. Most studies use the National Rosacea Society Standard (NRSS) grading method, which lacks objectivity and yields varying results.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with rosacea were included. Clinical severity was assessed on the basis of the NRSS grade, Investigators' Global Assessment, Patients' Global Assessment, and Dermatology Quality of Life Index. A skin color analysis system was used to measure the facial area showing erythema, and biophysical parameters of facial skin (transepidermal water loss and skin surface hydration) were examined. To find statistical significant in classification severity of the rosacea, statistical analysis was performed with all parameters.

RESULTS

A significant correlation (P < 0.05) was found between the NRSS grade, facial area showing erythema, and biophysical parameters. The latter two factors differed significantly among patients with rosacea of different levels of severity (mild, moderate, severe; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Color imaging systems can be useful and reliable for evaluating the severity of rosacea, in addition to biophysical parameter assessment. The combination of these two analytical methods enabled objective and quantitative evaluation of the severity of rosacea.

Cost Effectiveness of Using Array-CGH for Diagnosing Learning Disability

OBJECTIVE

To undertake a cost-effectiveness analysis of using microarray comparative genomic hybridisation (array-CGH) as a first-line test versus as a second-line test for the diagnosis of causal chromosomal abnormalities in patients referred to a NHS clinical genetics service in the U.K. with idiopathic learning disability, developmental delay and/or congenital anomalies.

METHODS

A cost-effectiveness study was conducted. The perspective is that of a U.K. NHS clinical genetics service provider (with respect to both costs and outcomes). A cohort of patients (n = 1590) referred for array-CGH testing of undiagnosed learning disability and developmental delay by a single NHS regional clinical genetics service (South East Thames Regional Genetics Service), were split into a before-and-after design where 742 patients had array-CGH as a second-line test (before group-comparator intervention) and 848 patients had array-CGH as a first-line test (after group-evaluated intervention). The mean costs were calculated from the clinical genetics testing pathway constructed for each patient including the costs of genetic testing undertaken and clinical appointments scheduled. The outcome was the number of diagnoses each intervention produced so that a mean cost-per-diagnosis could be calculated. The cost effectiveness of the two interventions was calculated as an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio to produce an incremental cost-per-diagnosis (in 2013 GBP). Sensitivity analyses were conducted by altering both costs and effects to check the validity of the outcome.

RESULTS

The incremental mean cost of testing patients using the first-line testing strategy was -GBP241.56 (95% CIs -GBP256.93 to -GBP226.19) and the incremental mean gain in the percentage diagnoses was 0.39% (95% CIs -2.73 to 3.51%), which equates to an additional 1 diagnosis per 256 patients tested. This cost-effectiveness study comparing these two strategies estimates that array-CGH first-line testing dominates second-line testing because it was both less costly and as effective. The sensitivity analyses conducted (adjusting both costs and effects) supported the dominance of the first-line testing strategy (i.e. lower cost and as effective).

CONCLUSIONS

The first-line testing strategy was estimated to dominate the second-line testing strategy because it was both less costly and as effective. These findings are relevant to the wider UK NHS clinical genetics service, with two key strengths of this study being the appropriateness of the comparator interventions and the direct applicability of the patient cohort within this study and the wider UK patient population.

Effect of hydraulic activity on crystallization of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) for eco-friendly paper

Wt% of aragonite, a CaCO₃ polymorph, increased with higher hydraulic activity (°C) of limestone in precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) from the lime-soda process (Ca(OH)₂-NaOH-Na₂CO₃). Only calcite, the most stable polymorph, was crystallized at hydraulic activity under 10 °C, whereas aragonite also started to crystallize over 10 °C. The crystallization of PCC is more dependent on the hydraulic activity of limestone than CaO content, a factor commonly used to classify limestone ores according to quality. The results could be effectively applied to the determination of polymorphs in synthetic PCC for eco-friendly paper manufacture.

Identification of Calcium Sulphoaluminate Formation between Alunite and Limestone

This study was carried out to identify the conditions of formation of calcium sulphoaluminate (3CaO·3Al₂O₃·CaSO₄) by the sintering of a limestone (CaCO₃) and alunite [K₂SO₄·Al₂(SO₄)₃·4Al(OH)₃] mixture with the following reagents: K₂SO₄, CaCO₃, Al(OH)₃, CaSO₄·2H₂O, and SiO₂. When K₂SO₄, CaCO₃, Al(OH)₃, CaSO₄·2H₂O were mixed in molar ratios of 1:3:6:3 and sintered at 1,200∼1,300 °C, only 3CaO·3Al₂O₃·CaSO₄ and calcium langbeinite (2CaSO₄·K₂SO₄) were generated. With an amount of CaO that is less than the stoichiometric molar ratio, 3CaO·3Al₂O₃·CaSO₄ was formed and anhydrite (CaSO₄) did not react and remained behind. With the amount of CaSO₄ that is less than the stoichiometric molar ratio, the amounts of 3CaO·3Al₂O₃·CaSO₄ and 2CaSO₄·K₂SO₄ decreased, and that of CaO·Al₂O₃ increased. In the K₂SO₄-CaO-Al₂O₃-CaSO₄-SiO₂ system, to stabilize the formation of 3CaO·3Al₂O₃·CaSO₄, 2CaSO₄·K₂SO₄, and β-2CaO·SiO₂, the molar ratios of CaO: Al₂O₃: CaSO₄ must be kept at 3:3:1 and that of CaO/SiO₂, over 2.0; otherwise, the generated amount of 3CaO·3Al₂O₃·CaSO₄ decreased and that of gehlenite (2CaO·Al₂O₃·SiO₂) with no hydration increased quantitatively. Therefore, if all SO₃(g) generated by the thermal decomposition of alunite reacts with CaCO₃ (or CaO, the thermal decomposition product of limestone) to form CaSO₄ in an alunite- limestone system, 1 mol of pure alunite reacts with 6 mol of limestone to form 1 mol of 3CaO·3Al₂O₃·CaSO₄ and 1 mol of 2CaSO₄·K₂SO₄.

Removal of insoluble chloride from bottom ash for recycling

In order to recycle bottom ash and use it as raw material for cement production, the removal of insoluble chloride was investigated by testing various washing techniques. The present work is also focused on investigating the properties of insoluble chlorides and determining the conditions for dissolving these compounds in order to reduce the chlorine content to the required level, i.e., less than 0.1 wt%. Within this framework, the effect of washing with water and CO2 bubbling was investigated, because the main insoluble chloride found in bottom ash, i.e., Friedel's salt, can be dissolved by CO2. Then, in order to better understand the removal of Cl, Friedel's salt was artificially synthesized by hydration and then the effect of CO2 bubbling was investigated. If all chlorides in the ash are converted into Friedel's salt by hydration, all chlorides can then be dissolved by CO2 bubbling. In addition, the effect of pH on removing the remaining insoluble chlorides was investigated by washing the ash with sulfuric acid solution. It was found that the most effective technique to reduce the Cl content to less than 1000 ppm was washing with sulfuric acid solution, while keeping the pH value at less than 4. By using this method, Friedel's salt and other insoluble chlorides were dissolved.

Development of a method for the determination of human skin moisture using a portable near-infrared system

In this study, a portable near-infrared (NIR) system was newly integrated with a photodiode array detector that has no moving parts, and this system has been successfully applied for the evaluation of human skin moisture. The good correlation between NIR absorbance and the absolute water content of separated hairless mouse skin, in vitro, was showed, depending on the water content (7.4-84.9%) using this portable NIR system. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was used for calibration with the 1150-1650-nm wavelength range. For practical use for the evaluation of human skin moisture, the PLS model for human skin moisture was developed in vivo using the portable NIR system on the basis of the relative water content values of stratum corneum from the conventional capacitance method. The PLS model showed a good correlation. This study indicated that the portable NIR system, as compared to conventional methods, could be a powerful tool for human skin moisture, which may be much more stable to environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity. Furthermore, to confirm the performance of the newly integrated portable NIR system, a scanning-type conventional NIR spectrometer was used in the same experiments, and the results were compared.

KR025, a new cytotoxic compound from Myxococcus fulvus

A new bithiazole, KR-025 (1), was isolated from Myxococcus fulvus. Its structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. In addition to 1, the strain produced relatively large quantities of a second, closely related antibiotic, myxothiazol. These compounds demonstrated potent cytotoxicity against human tumor cells.

MR imaging of tears of discoid lateral menisci

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the positive predictive value (PPV) for diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscal tear using MR imaging and to describe various patterns of such tears in the knee.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

MR reports of 77 patients (10-67 years old) who underwent prospective MR imaging that led to a diagnosis of discoid lateral meniscal tear were correlated with arthroscopic results. MR images obtained in 71 patients confirmed to have discoid lateral meniscial tear were retrospectively reviewed for the presence, site, and pattern of discoid lateral meniscal tear, including type of displacement of the torn segment. MR abnormalities were correlated with arthroscopic findings.

RESULTS

For the prospective MR interpretations, the PPV for discoid meniscus was 92%. PPV for discoid meniscal tear was 57%. PPVs for individual types of discoid meniscal tears were 46% (peripheral tear, 19/41), 76% (peripheral tear with horizontal tears, 16/21), 56% (horizontal tear, 5/9), 50% (transverse tear, 1/2), 67% (horizontal tear combined with transverse tear, 2/3), and 100% (longitudinal tear, 1/1). Peripheral tear alone and peripheral tear with horizontal tear were the most common types of tears (n = 20, 28%). Multiple tears (n = 34, 48%) were common. Displacement of the torn segments was seen in 51 patients (72%).

CONCLUSION

MR imaging has a low PPV for diagnosing discoid lateral meniscal tear. Peripheral tear alone and peripheral tear with horizontal tear were the most common types of tears, and displacement of the torn segment was frequent.

Growth-inhibitory effects of Galla Rhois-derived tannins on intestinal bacteria

The growth-inhibitory activity of Galla Rhois-derived materials towards 17 intestinal bacteria was evaluated using an impregnated paper disc method. The biologically active components of Galla Rhois were characterized as the tannins methyl gallate (MG) and gallic acid (GA) by spectral analysis. The growth responses varied with bacterial strain tested. In the test using 10 mg disc-1, MG and GA produced a clear inhibitory effect on harmful bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, Cl. paraputrificum, Eubacterium limosum, Bacteroides fragilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Methyl gallate showed no growth-inhibitory activity towards Bifidobacterium adolescentis or B. longum whereas the growth of B. bifidum, B. breve, B. infantis, B. animalis, B. thermophilum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lact. plantarum and Streptococcus faecalis was slightly affected. However, GA did not adversely affect the growth of the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. At 5 mg disc-1, MG significantly inhibited the growth of Cl. perfringens and Cl. paraputrificum but did not affect the growth of the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. At 1 mg disc-1, MG greatly inhibited the growth of Cl. perfringens alone. These results may be an indication of at least one of the pharmacological actions of Galla Rhois.

Two novel abietane diterpenes from Salvia miltiorrhiza

Two new abietane-type pigments named tanshinol A (1) and tanshinol B (2) have been isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza B. (Labiatae) as minor components together with sixteen other related tanshinone pigments 3-18. The structures of the two novel components 1 and 2 were established by means of spectral analyses.

A novel flavonoid from Sophora flavescens

A new dihydroflavonol named kosamol A (1) has been isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens (Leguminosae) along with twelve related flavonoids. The structure of 1 was determined to be (2R,3R)-5,7,2'4'-tetrahydroxy-6-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-8-lavandulylflavanonol on the basis of spectral analyses.

Quality control testing of surfaces for mammalian cell culture using cells propagated in a protein-free medium

Mouse NCTC clone 929 L (L-929) cells were propagated continuously for 3 years as monolayers in a protein-free chemically-defined medium. These cells, designated L-929-WS, were used for quality control testing of the surfaces of commercially available cell culture plastic flasks. Differences in attachment and saturation density of L-929-WS cells in a protein-free culture medium were taken to define various levels of quality of the culture vessels tested. The rate of attachment and growth of L-929-WS cells on a surface of a given quality correlated directly with that of human embryonal fibroblasts and embryonal epithelial cells grown in a serum-free medium supplemented with growth factors and hormones. L-929-WS cells propagated continuously in a protein-free medium provide a simple and sensitive assay system for more general quality control testing of surfaces used for the culture of monolayer cells.

Effect of Panax ginseng extract on passive avoidance retention in old rats

Female rats of two groups (6 and 27 months) were tested in the passive avoidance test to investigate the age-dependency of the learning ability. The results showed a significantly better avoidance behavior in the young adult animals compared to the older ones. The influence of a 13-day treatment with Panax ginseng (30 mg/kg/d, oral) on 27 month old rats caused a considerably prolonging of the latency time in comparison to the untreated control group of the same age. In the open field the treated rats exhibited neither an altered locomotion nor exploration nor a changed emotional reactivity which could explain the improved avoidance reaction.

Aucubin: potential antidote for alpha-amanitin poisoning

Aucubin, an iridoid glucoside isolated from Aucuba japonica (Cornaceae), exhibited significant protective activity against alpha-amanitin intoxication in mice. When a single dose of aucubin was administered intraperitoneally, a 50% survival rate was obtained even when the treatment was withheld for 12 hr after alpha-amanitin administration. A possible mechanism of protective activity is partly due to a competitive effect of aucubin on alpha-amanitin inhibition of liver RNA biosynthesis.