Notopterol mitigates IL-1β-triggered pyroptosis by blocking NLRP3 inflammasome via the JAK2/NF-kB/hsa-miR-4282 route in osteoarthritis

Objective

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most prevalent form of arthritis, impacts approximately 10% of men and 18% of women aged above 60 years. Currently, a complete cure for OA remains elusive, making clinical management challenging. The traditional Chinese herb Notopterygium incisum, integral to the Juanbi pill for rheumatism, shows promise in safeguarding chondrocytes through its strong anti-inflammatory effects.

Methods

To explore the protective effect of notopterol and miRNA (has-miR-4248) against inflammation, we simulated an inflammatory environment in chondrocytes cell lines C20A4 and C28/12, focusing on inflammasome formation and pyroptosis.

Results

Our finding indicates notopterol significantly reduced interleukin (IL)-18 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels in inflamed cells, curtailed reactive oxygen species (ROS) production post-inflammation, and inhibited the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, thus offering chondrocytes protection from inflammation. Importantly, notopterol also hindered inflammasome assembly and pyroptosis by blocking the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway through hsa-miR-4282 modulation. In vivo experiments showed that notopterol treatment markedly decreased Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores in OA mice and boosted hsa-miR-4282 expression compared to control groups.

Conclusions

This study underscores notopterol's potential as a therapeutic agent in OA treatment, highlighting its capacity to shield cartilage from inflammation-induced damage, particularly by preventing pyroptosis.

Rice Bran Supplementation Ameliorates Gut Dysbiosis and Muscle Atrophy in Ovariectomized Mice Fed with a High-Fat Diet

Rice bran, a byproduct of rice milling, is rich in fiber and phytochemicals and confers several health benefits. However, its effects on gut microbiota and obesity-related muscle atrophy in postmenopausal status remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of rice bran on gut microbiota, muscle synthesis, and breakdown pathways in estrogen-deficient ovariectomized (OVX) mice receiving a high-fat diet (HFD). ICR female mice were divided into five groups: sham, OVX mice receiving control diet (OC); OVX mice receiving HFD (OH); OVX mice receiving control diet and rice bran (OR); and OVX mice receiving HFD and rice bran (OHR). After twelve weeks, relative muscle mass and grip strength were high in rice bran diet groups. IL-6, TNF-α, MuRf-1, and atrogin-1 expression levels were lower, and Myog and GLUT4 were higher in the OHR group. Rice bran upregulated the expression of occludin and ZO-1 (gut tight junction proteins). The abundance of Akkermansiaceae in the cecum was relatively high in the OHR group. Our finding revealed that rice bran supplementation ameliorated gut barrier dysfunction and gut dysbiosis and also maintained muscle mass by downregulating the expression of MuRf-1 and atrogin-1 (muscle atrophy-related factors) in HFD-fed OVX mice.

The JAK inhibitor Tofacitinib inhibits structural damage in osteoarthritis by modulating JAK1/TNF-alpha/IL-6 signaling through Mir-149-5p

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA), a common articular bone degenerative disease, is exacerbated by proinflammatory cytokine signaling. Mounting evidence suggests that epigenetic modifiers, namely microRNAs (miRs), are dysregulated in articular chondrocytes (ACs) during OA.

METHODS

An initial database search led to the identification of miR-149-5p, which was downregulated in clinical OA samples and contributed to chronic inflammation, by increasing TNF-α/IL-6 signaling within the synovium, and OA progression.

RESULTS

We overexpressed miR-149-5p in the human chondrocyte cell lines C20A4 and C28/I2 to examine its role in chondrocyte hypertrophy and osteoclastogenesis and found a significant decrease in IL-6 expression, an increase in SOX9 expression, and a reduction in chondrocyte hypertrophy. We evaluated the therapeutic effects of tofacitinib (JAK inhibitor) by suppressing inflammation and restoring miR-149-5p expression. Tofacitinib-treated C20A4 and C28/I2 cells had a significantly lower expression of JAK/IL-6/TNF-α and an increased level of miR-149-5p. Notably, tofacitinib treatment reduced AC hypertrophy and secretion of RANKL and IL-6. Finally, an OA mouse model was used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of tofacitinib. Intra-articular injection of tofacitinib significantly lowered arthritis scores and bone degradation in treated mice compared with their control counterparts.

CONCLUSION

We show for the first time that tofacitinib suppresses the expression level of JAK1/TNF-α/IL-6 by upregulating miR-149-5p level. Our findings revealed the functional association between proinflammatory JAK1/TNF-α/IL-6 signaling and ACs development and highlight the therapeutic potential of tofacitinib in OA.

Red Clover Isoflavones Influence Estradiol Concentration, Exercise Performance, and Gut Microbiota in Female Mice

In red clover (Trifolium pratense L.; RC) the main compound is isoflavones, which are selective estrogen receptor modulators for maintaining female health. Isoflavones exert antifatigue effects during exercise in high-temperature environments. This study aimed to investigate the effect of RC supplementation on gut microbiota composition to determine whether it improves intestinal barrier function and exercise performance. Female ICR mice were divided into four groups (n = 8 per group) and orally administered RC once daily for 6 weeks at 0 (vehicle), 308 (RC-1X), 615 (RC-2X), and 1,538 (RC-5X) mg/kg. RC supplementation decreased the fat mass and increased exhaustive swimming time, grip strength, and muscle glycogen in female mice. In the RC supplementation group, serum levels of lactate, ammonia, and creatine kinase decreased after swimming. The estradiol and progesterone levels were higher in the RC group than in the vehicle group. Regarding gut microbiota composition, the RC-2X group may increase intestinal health related to the microorganisms Pseudobutyrivibrio and Parabacteroide. Thus, the use of RC supplements as nutraceuticals could have positive effects on athletes' gut and overall health.

Six weeks of Jilin ginseng root supplementation attenuates drop jump-related muscle injury markers in healthy female college students

BACKGROUND

Eccentric muscle contraction is an inherent component of numerous sporting movements but can result in muscle fatigue and injury, especially when engaging in unfamiliar exercise, which requires pharmacological intervention. Jilin ginseng root (GS) has been used to protect muscles and reduce the risk of exercise injury.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In this study, we sought to examine and demonstrate the effectiveness of using GS in preventing muscle stiffness and reducing the risk of exercise injury in women.

METHODS

Twenty females were randomly assigned to GS and placebo groups. Body composition, serum biochemistry index, kinematics, and endurance exercise tests were measured at two time point presupplementation and 6 weeks after supplementation. The major compounds of GS were characterized using a high-performance liquid chromatograph with a gradient delivery system (HPLC).

RESULTS

After 6 weeks of supplementation, the GS group exhibited significant increases in the serum levels of free fatty acids and glucose as well as greater maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max, mL min-1 kg-1) compared with the placebo group in an exhaustive biking test. Following drop jump tests, the jump height and reactive strength index were increased in the GS group after completing 70 DJs. In addition, subjects in the GS group also showed decreased knee and ankle stiffness in DJs, leading to reduced fatigue associated with eccentric movement.

CONCLUSIONS

GS supplementation leads to ameliorates drop jump muscle stiffness and fatigue in females and is to be used as a nutrient supplement to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal system injuries when performing drop jumps.

Effects of Elastic Resistance Exercise on Postoperative Outcomes Linked to the ICF Core Sets for Osteoarthritis after Total Knee Replacement in Overweight and Obese Older Women with Sarcopenia Risk: A Randomized Controlled Trial

(1) Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and aging are associated with high sarcopenia risk; sarcopenia may further affect outcomes after total knee replacement (TKR). Elastic resistance exercise training (RET) limits muscle attenuation in older adults. We aimed to identify the effects of post-TKR elastic RET on lean mass (LM) and functional outcomes in overweight and obese older women with KOA by using the brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Core Set for osteoarthritis (Brief-ICF-OA). (2) Methods: Eligible women aged ≥60 years who had received unilateral primary TKR were randomly divided into an experimental group (EG), which received postoperative RET twice weekly for 12 weeks, and a control group (CG), which received standard care. The primary and secondary outcome measures were LM and physical capacity, respectively, and were linked to the Brief-ICF-OA. The assessment time points were 2 weeks prior to surgery (T₀) and postoperative at 1 month (T₁; before RET) and 4 months (T₂; upon completion of RET) of follow-up. An independent t test with an intention-to-treat analysis was conducted to determine the between-group differences in changes of outcome measures at T₁ and T₂ from T₀. (3) Results: Forty patients (age: 70.9 ± 7.3 years) were randomly assigned to the EG (n = 20) or CG (n = 20). At T₂, the EG exhibited significantly greater improvements in leg LM (mean difference (MD) = 0.86 kg, p = 0.004) and gait speed (MD = 0.26 m/s, p = 0.005) compared with the CG. Furthermore, the EG generally obtained significantly higher odds ratios than the CG for treatment success for most Brief-ICF-OA categories (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Early intervention of elastic RET after TKR yielded positive postoperative outcomes based on the Brief-ICF-OA. The findings of this study may facilitate clinical decision-making regarding the optimal post-TKR rehabilitation strategy for older women with KOA.

γ-Mangostin isolated from Garcinia mangostana L. suppresses inflammation and alleviates symptoms of osteoarthritis via modulating miR-124-3p/IL-6/NF-κB signaling

Osteoarthritis (OA) a disease associated with joints and become severe with age, due to softening, inflammation and degradation of cartilage in joints. The agents that can target OA is needed, specifically without any side effects. Garcinia mangostana L. (Mangosteen) a tropical fruit used to treat many skin and stomach associated ailments. γ- Mangostin (γ-MS) a key bioactive substance present in mangosteen. Here, we aimed to explore γ-MS potential in targeting the pro-inflammatory cytokine, factors and miRs in OA progression. Significantly, γ-MS suppresses the inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and INF- γ) and factors (NF-κB, STAT3, and COX-2) which regulates/participate in the catabolic process of cartilage destruction. Result of Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining of tissue sections of OA joints of γ-MS treated and non-treated mice confirm γ-MS improves the signs of injuries, and maintains the structural integrity of the articular cartilage (epiphyseal disk joints and bone marrow) and reduces inflammation. Mechanistically, γ-MS targets miR-98-5p and miR-124-3p which are found to suppress the expression IL-6 and NF-κB, respectively. But in OA these miRs are inhibited, especially miR-124-3p which regulates not only NF-κB but also TNF-α, IL-6 and MMP7. With a further investigation underway, γ-MS represents an important source for treating and managing OA.

Supplementation of nano-bubble curcumin extract improves gut microbiota composition and exercise performance in mice

BACKGROUND

In a previous study, we evaluated the potential beneficial effect of nano-bubble curcumin extract (NCE) in reducing exercise-related injuries and improving performance.

METHODS

In this study, we seek to investigate changes in the gut microbiota composition upon NCE supplementation in relation to health and exercise performance. Male ICR mice were divided into 3 groups (n = 8 per group) and orally administered NCE once daily for six weeks at 0 (vehicle), 3.075 (NCE-1X) and 15.375 g kg^-1 day^-1 (NCE-5X). The gut microbiota from the mice was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

NCE-5X did not appear to obviously cluster with the vehicle group, although NCE-5X groups showed an increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio compared with the vehicle group. In addition, anti-fatigue activity and exercise performance were evaluated by investigating the exhaustive swimming time, forelimb grip strength and serum levels of lactate, ammonia, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) after swimming. The NCE-1X and NCE-5X groups showed a significantly longer exhaustive swimming time and higher relative forelimb grip strength than the vehicle group. Tissue glycogen content, an important energy source for exercise, increased significantly with NCE supplementation.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our results indicate that NCE supplementation alters the gut microbiota composition and aids in overcoming physical fatigue. Curcumin may be acting on the gut microbiome to modulate the gut system towards improving exercise performance.

Accelerated Muscle Recovery After In Vivo Curcumin Supplementation

The currently available treatment options for muscle injuries are suboptimal and often delay muscle recovery. In this study, the effects of curcumin on inflammation and skeletal muscle regeneration after contusion-induced injury in mice were investigated. The mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups, namely normal control (NC), with induced injury (mass-drop injury, MDI) and without treatment (MDI [M]), with induced injury and diclofenac (DCF) treatment (MDI + DCF [M + D]), and with induced injury and curcumin treatment (MDI + curcumin [M + C]). Contusion-induced injury was inflicted on the left gastrocnemius muscle, and DCF or curcumin was orally administered after injury once per day for 7 days. The M group exhibited significantly higher lipid peroxidation, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and desmin than the NC group. The M + D and M + C groups have lower lipid peroxidation and neutrophils (decrease in MPO protein) and higher muscle satellite cell regeneration (increase in desmin protein) than the M group. Additionally, for the contusion-induced muscle injury, curcumin could affect the specific proteins of inflammation, neutrophils, and differentiation of satellite cells, including Ikk-α/ß, MPO, and myogenin. In conclusion, curcumin potentially accelerates muscle recovery; therefore, it may be a potential candidate for further research as an effective treatment to enhance muscle repair.

In Vivo Ergogenic Properties of the Bifidobacterium longum OLP-01 Isolated from a Weightlifting Gold Medalist

In recent years, probiotics of human origin have shown superior results and performance compared to probiotics from plant or dairy sources, in both in vitro and animal studies. Towards this end, the current study was conducted to explore the ergogenic properties of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum OLP-01 isolated from the intestinal microbiome of the gold medalist from the 2008 Beijing Olympics women’s 48 kg weightlifting competition. Male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were divided into four groups (n = 10 per group) and orally administered OLP-01 for 4 weeks at 0 (vehicle), 2.05 × 10⁹ (OLP-01-1X), 4.10 × 10⁹ (OLP-01-2X), and 1.03 × 10¹⁰ (OLP-01-5X) CFU/kg/day. Physical performance tests including grip strength and endurance time were measured, with OLP-01 supplementation dose-dependently elevating grip strength and endurance. The anti-fatigue activity levels of serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatine kinase (CK) were measured after an acute exercise challenge, and OLP-01 was found to significantly decrease lactate, ammonia, and CK levels. OLP-01 treatment was also found to significantly increase the resting levels of both hepatic and muscular glycogen, an indicator of energy storage. Supplementation by OLP-01 showed no subchronic toxic effects while supporting many health-promoting, performance-improving, and fatigue-ameliorating functions.

Preoperative range of motion and applications of continuous passive motion predict outcomes after knee arthroplasty in patients with arthritis

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of continuous passive motion (CPM) following knee arthroplasty and determined the predictors of effect sizes of range of motion (ROM) and functional outcomes in patients with knee arthritis.

METHODS

A comprehensive electronic database search was performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), without publication year or language restrictions. The included RCTs were analyzed through meta-analysis and risk of bias assessment. Study methodological quality (MQ) was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Inverse-variance weighted univariate and multivariate metaregression analyses were performed to determine the predictors of treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 77 RCTs with PEDro scores ranging from 6/10 to 8/10 were included. Meta-analyses revealed an overall significant favorable effect of CPM on treatment success rates [odds ratio: 3.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.21-6.00]. Significant immediate [postoperative day 14; standard mean difference (SMD): 1.06; 95% CI 0.61-1.51] and short-term (3-month follow-up; SMD: 0.80; 95% CI 0.45-1.15) effects on knee ROM and a long-term effect on function (12-month follow-up; SMD: 1.08; 95% CI 0.28-1.89) were observed. The preoperative ROM, postoperative day of CPM initiation, daily ROM increment, and total application days were significant independent predictors of CPM efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Early CPM initiation with rapid progress over a long duration of CPM application predicts higher treatment effect on knee ROM and function. The results were based on a moderate level of evidence, with good MQ and potential blinding biases in the included RCTs. An aggressive protocol of CPM has clinically relevant beneficial short-term and long-term effects on postoperative outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.

Effect of Lactobacillus Plantarum TWK10 on Improving Endurance Performance in Humans

Microbiota is currently an important issue in disease and health and many studies have revealed it to play an important role in physiological homeostasis and health promotion. Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum), isolated from Taiwan pickled vegetables, is a well-known probiotic microorganism. In a recent animal study, it was shown that supplementation of mice with L. plantarum TWK10 (TWK10) could increase muscle mass, improve exercise performance and exert anti-fatigue effects. In order to examine the ergogenic effect of TWK10 supplementation on endurance performance in humans, we conducted a human double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study. A total of sixteen adult subjects over 20 years of age were recruited and randomly allocated to the placebo or TWK10 group (n = 8 each). The TWK10 group received 6 weeks of supplementation. Physiological assessments were conducted by exhaustive treadmill exercise measurements and related biochemical indexes. After 6 weeks of supplementation, levels of lactic acid, blood ammonia, blood glucose, free fatty acid (FFA) and creatine kinase (CK) were evaluated during exhaustive exercise. We were able to show that the TWK10 group had significantly higher endurance performance and glucose content in a maximal treadmill running test compared to the placebo group (P < 0.05), suggesting that TWK10 supplementation may be beneficial to energy harvest. Taken together, our results suggest that TWK10 has the potential to be an aerobic exercise supplement for physiological adaptation or an ergogenic supplement with health benefits for amateur runners.

Capsaicin Supplementation Reduces Physical Fatigue and Improves Exercise Performance in Mice

Chili pepper is used as a food, seasoning and has been revered for its medicinal and health claims. It is very popular and is the most common spice worldwide. Capsaicin (CAP) is a major pungent and bioactive phytochemical in chili peppers. CAP has been shown to improve mitochondrial biogenesis and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. However, there is limited evidence around the effects of CAP on physical fatigue and exercise performance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of CAP on anti-fatigue and ergogenic functions following physiological challenge. Female Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice from four groups (n = 8 per group) were orally administered CAP for 4 weeks at 0, 205, 410, and 1025 mg/kg/day, which were respectively designated the vehicle, CAP-1X, CAP-2X, and CAP-5X groups. The anti-fatigue activity and exercise performance was evaluated using forelimb grip strength, exhaustive swimming time, and levels of serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatine kinase (CK) after a 15-min swimming exercise. The grip strength and exhaustive swimming time of the CAP-5X group were significantly higher than other groups. CAP supplementation dose-dependently reduced serum lactate, ammonia, BUN and CK levels, and increased glucose concentration after the 15-min swimming test. In addition, CAP also increased hepatic glycogen content, an important energy source for exercise. The possible mechanism was relevant to energy homeostasis and the physiological modulations by CAP supplementation. Therefore, our results suggest that CAP supplementation may have a wide spectrum of bioactivities for promoting health, performance improvement and fatigue amelioration.

Continuous passive motion and its effects on knee flexion after total knee arthroplasty in patients with knee osteoarthritis

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the effects of continuous passive motion (CPM) on accelerated flexion after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and whether CPM application measures (i.e. initial angle and daily increment) are associated with functional outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective investigation was conducted at the rehabilitation centre of a university-based teaching hospital. Patients who received CPM therapy immediately after TKA surgery were categorized into rapid-, normal-, and slow-progress groups according to their response to CPM during their acute inpatient stay. Knee pain, passive knee flexion, and knee function-measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)-were assessed preoperatively at discharge and at 3- and 6-month outpatient follow-up visits.

RESULTS

A total of 354 patients were followed for 6 months after inpatient-stay discharge. The patients in the rapid-progress group (n = 119) exhibited significantly greater knee flexions than those in the slow-progress group did (n = 103) at the 3-month follow-up [mean difference (MD) = 10.3°, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 4.3°-16.3°, p < 0.001] and 6-month follow-up (MD = 10.9°, 95 % CI 6.3°-15.6°, p < 0.001). Significant WOMAC score differences between the rapid- and slow-progress groups were observed at the 3-month follow-up (MD = 7.2, 95 % CI 5.4-9.1, p < 0.001) and 6-month follow-up (MD = 16.1, 95 % CI 13.4-18.7, p < 0.001). CPM initial angles and rapid progress significantly predicted short- and long-term outcomes in knee flexion and WOMAC scores (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

When CPM is used, early application with initial high flexion and rapid progress benefits knee function up to 6 months after TKA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.

Effect of whole-body vibration training on body composition, exercise performance and biochemical responses in middle-aged mice

AIMS

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a well-known light-resistance exercise by automatic adaptations to rapid and repeated oscillations from a vibrating platform, which is also a simple and convenient exercise for older adults. However, the potential benefits of WBV on aging-associated changes in body composition, exercise performance, and fatigue are currently unclear. The objective of the study is to investigate the beneficial effects of WBV training on body composition, exercise performance, and physical fatigue-related and biochemical responses in middle-aged mice.

METHODS

In total, 24 male C57BL/6 mice aged 15 months old were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=8 per group): sedentary control (SC), relatively low-frequency WBV (5.6 Hz, 2 mm, 0.13 g) (LV), and relatively high-frequency WBV (13 Hz, 2 mm, 0.68 g) (HV). Mice in the LV and HV groups were placed inside a vibration platform and vibrated at different frequencies and fixed amplitude (2 mm) for 15 min, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Exercise performance, core temperature and anti-fatigue function were evaluated by forelimb grip strength and levels of serum lactate, ammonia, glucose, and creatine kinase (CK) after a 15-min swimming exercise, as were changes in body composition and biochemical variables at the end of the experiment.

RESULTS

Relative muscle and brown adipose tissue weight (%) was significantly higher for the HV than SC mice, but relative liver weight (%) was lower. On trend analysis, WBV increased grip strength, aerobic endurance and core temperature in mice. As well, serum lactate, ammonia and CK levels were dose-dependently decreased with vibration frequency after the swimming test. Fasting serum levels of albumin and total protein were increased and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase and creatinine decreased dose-dependently with vibration frequency. Moreover, WBV training improved the age-related abnormal morphology of skeletal muscle, liver and kidney tissues. Therefore, it could improve exercise performance and ameliorate fatigue and prevent senescence-associated biochemical and pathological alterations in middle-aged mice.

CONCLUSIONS

WBV training may be an effective intervention for health promotion in the aging population. The detailed molecular mechanism of how WBV training regulates anti-aging activity warrants further functional studies.

Fucoidan supplementation improves exercise performance and exhibits anti-fatigue action in mice

Fucoidan (FCD) is a well-known bioactive constituent of seaweed extract that possess a wide spectrum of activities in biological systems, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and modulation of immune systems. However, evidence on the effects of FCD on exercise performance and physical fatigue is limited. Therefore, we investigated the potential beneficial effects of FCD on ergogenic and anti-fatigue functions following physiological challenge. Male ICR mice from three groups (n = 8 per group) were orally administered FCD for 21 days at 0, 310 and 620 mg/kg/day, which were, respectively, designated the vehicle, FCD-1X and FCD-2X groups. The results indicated that the FCD supplementations increased the grip strength (p = 0.0002) and endurance swimming time (p = 0.0195) in a dose-depend manner. FCD treatments also produced dose-dependent decreases in serum levels of lactate (p < 0.0001) and ammonia (p = 0.0025), and also an increase in glucose level (p < 0.0001) after the 15-min swimming test. In addition, FCD supplementation had few subchronic toxic effects. Therefore, we suggest that long-term supplementation with FCD can have a wide spectrum of bioactivities on health promotion, performance improvement and anti-fatigue.

The effect of osteoarthritis on 1-year risk of ischemic heart disease following total knee arthroplasty

To evaluate the long-term risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), we conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. We evaluated 3599 primary TKA patients and 14,396 matched control patients. We further classified all patients into those with and without osteoarthritis (OA). The incidence rate of IHD was significantly higher among the TKA patients than among the matched control patients (1.13 vs 0.69 per 1000 person-months, P<.05). However, after controlling for OA, this difference was non-significant (HR=1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.63-2.20, P>.05). Our study results indicate that underlying OA conditions are predominantly responsible for increased long-term risk of IHD in TKA patients.

Dietary fish oil reduces systemic inflammation and ameliorates sepsis-induced liver injury by up-regulating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-mediated pathway in septic mice

This study investigated the effect of dietary fish oil on systemic inflammation and hepatic injury in mice with polymicrobial sepsis. Male ICR mice were assigned to a control group (C, n=30) and a fish oil group (FO, n=30). Mice in the C group were fed a semi-purified diet with 10% soybean oil, and those in the FO group were fed a fish oil diet (2.5% fish oil+7.5% soybean oil; w/w). Three weeks later, sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and mice were sacrificed at 0, 6 and 24 h after CLP, respectively. Results showed that compared with C group, the FO group had lower plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and nitrite at 6 and 24 h after CLP. Also, peritoneal lavage fluid concentrations of TNF-α and prostaglandin (PG) E2 were significantly lower at 24 h in the FO than in the C group. The FO group had lower myeloperoxidase activities at 6 h after CLP in various organs. Plasma aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities revealed significantly decreased in the FO group. The DNA-binding activity of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and mRNA expression of I kappaB alpha (IκBα) were up-regulated while nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 DNA-binding activity, inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression and the concentration of nitrotyrosine were significantly decreased in the FO group in liver after CLP. These results indicate that dietary fish oil administration may attenuate systemic inflammation and up-regulate hepatic PPARγ DNA-binding activity, which may consequently have ameliorated liver injury in these septic mice.

Memory efficient algorithms for structural alignment of RNAs with pseudoknots

In this paper, we consider the problem of structural alignment of a target RNA sequence of length n and a query RNA sequence of length m with known secondary structure that may contain simple pseudoknots or embedded simple pseudoknots. The best known algorithm for solving this problem runs in O(mn3) time for simple pseudoknot or O(mn4) time for embedded simple pseudoknot with space complexity of O(mn3) for both structures, which require too much memory making it infeasible for comparing noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) with length several hundreds or more. We propose memory efficient algorithms to solve the same problem. We reduce the space complexity to O(n3) for simple pseudoknot and O(mn2 + n3) for embedded simple pseudoknot while maintaining the same time complexity. We also show how to modify our algorithm to handle a restricted class of recursive simple pseudoknot which is found abundant in real data with space complexity of O(mn2 + n3) and time complexity of O(mn4). Experimental results show that our algorithms are feasible for comparing ncRNAs of length more than 500.

Leriche's syndrome presenting as sciatica

Sciatica is a common cause of lower back pain and claudication; the true etiology is often misunderstood. We report a case of a 53-year-old man who presented with sciatica. Clinically, there was evidence of aortoiliac obstruction with the absence of femoral pulses and a vascular index of 0.4 at the ankle. An aortogram revealed a very tight irregular stenosis of the aortic bifurcation and bilateral proximal common iliac arteries. After resection of diseased aorta, an aortoiliac graft was inserted. The symptoms subsided. This case highlights the importance of performing a complete vascular evaluation in patients diagnosed with sciatica.

Fracture of the polyethylene tibial post in a NexGen posterior-stabilized knee prosthesis

We reported a case of fracture of a polyethylene tibial post in a 44-year-old woman after 3 years of NexGen posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN). Burnishing and delamination of the polyethylene was found around the breakage site of the post, especially over the anterior aspect of the post base. It indicated that the possible failure mechanism was the repeated anterior impingement between the metal femoral cam and polyethylene tibial post. After replacement of the broken insert, the patient obtained complete relief of previous symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first report of post breakage of a NexGen posterior-stabilized knee prosthesis.

Autologous fibrin glue in the treatment of rectovaginal and complex fistulas

This nonrandomized series reports the use of autologous fibrin glue to treat complex rectovaginal and anorectal fistulas. The use of an autologous source to prepare fibrin glue eliminates the risk of disease transmission. Ten patients, six women and four men, with complex fistulas were treated with autologous fibrin glue application. Five patients had rectovaginal fistulas; one of them had Crohn's disease. Five patients had complex anal fistulas; two of them had Crohn's disease, and one had a large postanal ulcer associated with HIV disease. All patients had outpatient preoperative mechanical bowel preparation and prophylactic parenteral antibiotics. Six of the ten patients (60 percent) reported complete healing of the fistulas. Follow-up ranged from three months to one year. Four of five rectovaginal fistulas healed. The two patients with Crohn's disease and complex anal fistulas and the patient with HIV disease did not heal, but all three reported significantly less drainage. Autologous fibrin glue is a viable alternative for the treatment of recurrent rectovaginal and complex abscess/fistulas.

Adenocarcinoma of the anal glands. Results of a survey

Anal gland adenocarcinoma is rare, with information concerning this lesion communicated mostly as case reports. Cases seen by authors, combined with a survey of the membership of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, allowed 52 cases with sufficient data for analysis. It became clear from the survey that most colorectal surgeons have not treated this malignancy. Predominant symptoms are anal pain (58 percent), rectal bleeding (40 percent), and the presence of perianal mass (37 percent). Fifty-four percent of patients present with a fistula, the incidence of fistula being significantly higher in males. Metastases, which may be inguinal, pelvic, or hepatic, are present at diagnosis in 13.5 percent of patients. Three-fourths of patients are eventually treated by abdomino-perineal resection (APR). Twelve percent of the patients in this series had an APR after a failed local excision. The conclusions from this study are: 1) if local excision is attempted, it must be complete, and the patient must be followed closely for many years, and 2) APR is needed in most patients for local control, with the role of subsequent radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy not yet defined.

Gastrointestinal tuberculosis. Report of four cases

Gastrointestinal tuberculosis is a rare disease in the United States. Correct identification is often delayed because it is not considered early on in the differential diagnosis. Four patients with gastrointestinal tuberculosis and the symptoms, diagnosis, complications, and treatment of the disease are discussed. Gastrointestinal tuberculosis should be considered in Asian immigrant patients who present with symptoms and signs of inflammatory bowel disease.

Malignant melanoma of the anorectum

Melanoma is a virulent tumor that can be widely disseminated and is generally incurable even when the primary growth is small. Review of the cases of 34 patients with primary melanoma of the anorectum, with follow-up ranging from two to five years, suggests that improvement in survival depends on acute surgical awareness and aggressive surgical intervention.

Autophosphorylation of rabbit skeletal muscle cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase I catalytic subunit

The catalytic subunit of rabbit skeletal muscle cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase I can catalyze self-phosphorylation. The autophosphorylation reaction uses ATP as the phosphoryl donor, requires Mg2+, and is inhibited by polyarginine. Prior treatment of the catalytic subunit with Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase in the presence of bovine serum albumin greatly enhances the autophosphorylation of the subunit. The protein-bound phosphate is stable in acid but labile in base. Incubation of the 32P-labeled phosphoenzyme with histones led neither to the phosphorylation of histones nor to a loss of radioactivity from the phosphoenzyme. The results suggest that the phosphoenzyme does not represent an intermediate of the phosphotransferase reaction.