Identification and quantification of oleanane triterpenoid saponins and potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities from the roots and rhizomes of Panax stipuleanatus

Pan-Pan Shu,Lu-Xi Li,Qin-Min He,Jun Pan,Xiao-Lei Li,Min Zhu,Ye Yang,Yuan Qu 고려인삼학회 2021 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.45 No.2

Background: Panax stipuleanatus represents a folk medicine for treatment of inflammation. However, lack of experimental data does not confirm its function. This article aims to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of triterpenoid saponins isolated from P. stipuleanatus. Methods: The chemical characterization of P. stipuleanatus allowed the identification and quantitation of two major compounds. Analgesic effects of triterpenoid saponins were evaluated in two models of thermal- and chemical-stimulated acute pain. Anti-inflammatory effects of triterpenoid saponins were also evaluated using four models of acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, xylene-induced ear edema, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in mice. Results: Two triterpenoid saponins of stipuleanosides R₁ (SP-R₁) and R₂ (SP-R₂) were isolated and identified from P. stipuleanatus. The results showed that SP-R₁ and SP-R₂ significantly increased the latency time to thermal pain in the hot plate test and reduced the writhing response in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. SP-R₁ and SP-R₂ caused a significant decrease in vascular permeability, ear edema, paw edema, and granuloma formation in inflammatory models. Further studies showed that the levels of inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin 6 in paw tissues were downregulated by SP-R₁ and SP-R₂. In addition, the rational harvest of three- to five-year-old P. stipuleanatus was preferable to obtain a higher level of triterpenoid saponins. SP-R₂ showed the highest content in P. stipuleanatus, which had potential as a chemical marker for quality control of P. stipuleanatus. Conclusion: This study provides important basic information about utilization of P. stipuleanatus resources for production of active triterpenoid saponins.

Evaluation of an Immune-privileged Scaffold for In vivo Implantation of Tissue-engineered Trachea

Shu Pan,Fei Sun,Hongcan Shi,Fangbiao Zhang,Xingchen Liu,Weidong Zhang 한국생물공학회 2014 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.19 No.5

Forty tracheas were harvested from donor NewZealand rabbits. Thirty of the tracheas were randomlydivided into four treatment groups corresponding to 4, 5, 6,or 7% NaClO4 and one untreated group (n = 6 each group). Scanning electron microscopy distinctly revealed thecilium of epithelial cells in the fresh trachea. The internalsurface of the trachea was rough in the 4% treatment groupand smooth in the 5% treatment group, whereas the matrixwas fractured in the 6% treatment group and highlyfractured in the 7% treatment group. We observed that thenumber of nuclei in the cells of the 4, 5, 6, and 7%treatment groups decreased compared to the cells of theuntreated group (p < 0.05). Although there was a significantdecrease in maximum tensile strength, tensile strain atfracture and the elastic modulus (p < 0.05) with increasingconcentrations of NaClO4, the content of glycosaminoglycans(GAGs) did not significantly decline (p > 0.05) in the 5%treatment group. In addition, histopathological analysisshowed that the fiber component and basement membraneof the matrix in the 5% treatment group were retained afteroptimal decellularization. Despite the preserved cartilage,in vitro immunohistochemical analysis revealed that thematrix did not show the presence of major histocompatibilitycomplex (MHC) antigens. The remaining ten donor tracheas,which were divided into a positive control group and anoptimal decellularized group, were used for allogeneictransplantation. Blood samples were taken regularly, andhistologic examinations were performed at 30 days postimplantation,which showed no significant immune rejection. In conclusion, we surveyed the structural integrity throughmorphological observation and compared the biomechanicaland immunogenic changes in the tracheal matrix under thedifferent treatments. The optimal decellularized trachealmatrix with preserved cartilage, which was acquired via 5%NaClO4 treatment, exhibited structural integrity, antigen cellremoval and immune privilege and would be suitable for useas a tissue-engineered trachea for in vivo transplantation inrabbit models.

Outsiders in the Family: Abuse of Migrant Domestic Workers in Taiwan

Shu-Man PAN,Jung-Tsung YANG 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 2012 Asian Journal of Women's Studies(AJWS) Vol.11 No.3

This study examines violence against female migrant workers employed in Taiwanese households by using the feminist perspective of gender politics. Data from in-depth interviews with twelve live- in domestic workers and ten staff members from government and non-government organizations (NGOs) were examined to identify the dynamic of abuse faced by live-in domestic workers. The study results have shown that female migrant workers endure various forms of violence perpetrated by employers and their families. There is a lack of access to services for victims of domestic violence, therefore, migrant domestic workers are abused. The feminist perspective on gender politics in relation to domestic violence has to be re-evaluated in order to clarify how patriarchal power influences daily family relations through direct and indirect strategies.

Advances and challenges in sustainable tourism toward a green economy

Pan, Shu-Yuan,Gao, Mengyao,Kim, Hyunook,Shah, Kinjal J.,Pei, Si-Lu,Chiang, Pen-Chi Elsevier 2018 Science of the Total Environment Vol.635 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>This paper provides an overview of the interrelationships between tourism and sustainability from a cross-disciplinary perspective. The current challenges and barriers in the tourism sustainability, such as high energy use, extensive water consumption and habitat destruction, are first reviewed. Then the key cross-disciplinary elements in sustainable tourism, including green energy, green transportation, green buildings, green infrastructure, green agriculture and smart technologies, are discussed. To overcome the challenges and barriers, a few implementation strategies on achieving sustainable tourism from the aspects of policy/regulation, institution, finance, technology and culture are proposed, along with the framework and details of a key performance indicator system. Finally, prospects of the potential for tourism to contribute to the transformative changes, e.g., a green economy system, are illustrated. This paper shine a light on issues of importance within sustainable tourism and encourage researchers from different disciplines in investigating the inter-relationships among community/culture, environment/ecology, and energy/water/food more broadly.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Challenges and barriers in tourism sector toward sustainability are illustrated. </LI> <LI> A total of six key cross-disciplinary elements in sustainable tourism are proposed. </LI> <LI> Strategies, framework and details of KPI system for green tourism are provided. </LI> <LI> A case study of the Green Island, Taiwan toward a circular economy is presented. </LI> <LI> Transformative changes in tourism such as water-energy-food nexus are described. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Association of TNF-α-308 and -238 Polymorphisms with Risk of Cervical Cancer: A Meta-analysis

Pan, Feng,Tian, Jing,Ji, Chu-Shu,He, Yi-Fu,Han, Xing-Hua,Wang, Yong,Du, Jian-Ping,Jiang, Feng-Shou,Zhang, Ying,Pan, Yue-Yin,Hu, Bing Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Published data on the associations between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) promoter -308G>A and -238G>A polymorphisms and cervical cancer risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. Data were collected from MEDLINE and PubMed databases. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in a fixed/random effect model. 13 separate studies including 3294 cases and 3468 controls were involved in the meta-analysis. We found no association between TNF-${\alpha}$-308G>A polymorphism and cervical cancer in overall population. In subgroup analysis, significantly elevated risks were found in Caucasian population (A vs. G: OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.00-2.03; AA vs. GG: OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.34-3.25; Recessive model: OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.35-3.25) and African population (GA vs. GG: OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.02-2.30). An association of TNF-${\alpha}$-238G>A polymorphism with cervical cancer was found (A vs. G: OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.47-0.78; GA vs. GG: OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.45-0.77; Dominant model: OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.46-0.77). When stratified by ethnicity, similar association was observed in Caucasian population (A vs. G: OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.46-0.84; GA vs. GG: OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.43-0.82; Dominant model: OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.44-0.83). In summary, this meta-analysis suggests that TNF-${\alpha}$-238A allele significantly decreased the cervical cancer risk, and the TNF-${\alpha}$-308G>A polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to cervical cancer in Caucasian and African population.

Outsiders in the Family : Abuse of Migrant Domestic Workers in Taiwan

PAN, Shu-Man,YANG, Jung-Tsung 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 2012 Asian Journal of Women's Studies(AJWS) Vol.18 No.1

This study examines violence against female migrant workers employed in Taiwanese households by using the feminist perspective of gender politics. Data from in-depth interviews with twelve live- in domestic workers and ten staff members from government and non-government organizations (NGOs) were examined to identify the dynamic of abuse faced by live-in domestic workers. The study results have shown that female migrant workers endure various forms of violence perpetrated by employers and their families. There is a lack of access to services for victims of domestic violence, therefore, migrant domestic workers are abused. The feminist perspective on gender politics in relation to domestic violence has to be re-evaluated in order to clarify how patriarchal power influences daily family relations through direct and indirect strategies.

Advances in state-of-art valorization technologies for captured CO₂toward sustainable carbon cycle

Pan, Shu-Yuan,Chiang, Pen-Chi,Pan, Weibin,Kim, Hyunook Informa UK (TaylorFrancis) 2018 Critical reviews in environmental science and tech Vol.48 No.5

<P>Valorization of captured CO2 is an important but challenging topic since CO2 is a stable and relatively inert compound. Nonetheless, CO2 valorization technologies should be sought after, because they can offer an opportunity for the sustainable carbon cycle towards a circular economy by creating value-added products and generate revenues from CO2. This paper provides an overview of state-of-the-art valorization technologies for captured CO2, including (1) supercritical CO2 as a reactive solvent, (2) mineralization of CO2 as inorganic carbonates, (3) catalytic reduction of CO2 into organic fuel for transport, (4) transformation of CO2 to value-added chemicals, and (5) biological CO2 utilization. The principles and application, in terms of CO2 conversion performance and environmental benefits of each technology, are reviewed in detail. In addition, the perspectives and prospects of CO2 valorization technologies as a portfolio solution are provided to achieve the effective CO2 reduction while minimizing social and economic costs in the near future.</P>

Relationship Between Belief about Analgesics, Analgesic Adherence and Pain Experience in Taiwanese Cancer Outpatients

Liang, Shu-Yuan,Chen, Kang-Pan,Tsay, Shiow-Luan,Wu, Shu-Fang,Chuang, Yeu-Hui,Wang, Tsae-Jyy,Tung, Heng-Hsin,Cheng, Su-Fen Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Social and behavioral scientists have proposed that a person's belief system crucially influences his or her behaviour, and therefore may affect outcomes of pain management. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between analgesic beliefs, analgesic adherence and pain experience amongst Taiwanese cancer outpatients. The cross-sectional study included 92 oncology outpatients in two teaching hospitals in the Taipei area of Taiwan. The research instruments included the Pain Opioid Analgesic Beliefs Scale-Cancer (POABS-CA), opioid adherence, and the Brief Pain Inventory-Chinese (BPI-Chinese). Beliefs about pain and opioids demonstrated a significant relationship with patients' opioid adherence (r = -0.30, p < 0.01). The more negative beliefs regarding opioids and pain the patient had, the worse their adherence to around the clock (ATC) analgesic regimen. However, there was no significant correlation between opioid belief and pain experience. As well, there were no significant relationships between adherence to opioid regimen and any of the measures of pain experience. The study highlights the potential importance of a patient's pain and opioid beliefs in adherence to pain medication.

A Pilot Clinical Study to Investigate the Hypomethylating Properties of Freeze-dried Black Raspberries in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome or Myeloproliferative Neoplasm

Dong Athena,Pan Xiaoqing,Lin Chien-Wei,Huang Yi-Wen,Krause Hayden,Pan Pan,Baim Arielle,Thomas Michael J,Chen Xiao,Yu Jianhua,Michaelis Laura,Liu Pengyuan,Wang Li-Shu,Atallah Ehab 대한암예방학회 2022 Journal of cancer prevention Vol.27 No.2

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) are bone marrow disorders characterized by cytopenias and progression to acute myeloid leukemia. Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies for MDS and MDS/MPN patients. HMAs have improved patients’ survival and quality of life when compared with other therapies. Although HMAs are effective in MDS and MDS/MPN patients, they are associated with significant toxicities that place a large burden on patients. Our goal is to develop a safer and more effective HMA from natural products. We previously reported that black raspberries (BRBs) have hypomethylating effects in the colon, blood, spleen, and bone marrow of mice. In addition, BRBs exert hypomethylating effects in patients with colorectal cancer and familial adenomatous polyposis. In the current study, we conducted a pilot clinical trial to evaluate the hypomethylating effects of BRBs in patients with low-risk MDS or MDS/MPN. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated before and after three months of BRB intervention. CD45+ cells were isolated from PBMCs for methylation analysis using a reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing assay. Each patient served as their own matched control, with their measurements assessed before intervention providing a baseline for post-intervention results. Clinically, our data showed that BRBs were well-tolerated with no side effects. When methylation data was combined, BRBs significantly affected methylation levels of 477 promoter regions. Pathway analysis suggests that BRB-induced intragenic hypomethylation drives leukocyte differentiation. A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of BRB use in low-risk MDS or MDS/ MPN patients is warranted.

Polymorphisms of XRCC1 and ADPRT Genes and Risk of Noncardia Gastric Cancer in a Chinese Population: a Case-control Study

Pan, Xiong-Fei,Xie, Yao,Loh, Marie,Yang, Shu-Juan,Wen, Yuan-Yuan,Tian, Zhi,Huang, He,Lan, Hui,Chen, Feng,Soong, Richie,Yang, Chun-Xia Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Objective: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies and its mortality ranks third among all cancers in China. We previously noted that XRCC1 Arg194Trp was associated with GC risk in Western China in a study on XRCC1 Arg194Trp and ADPRT Val762Ala. We aimed to further explore the association of these polymorphisms with risk of the noncardia subtype. Methods: We enrolled 176 noncardia GC patients and 308 controls from four hospitals and a community between October 2010 and August 2011. Genotyping was performed in a 384-well plate format on the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. A self-designed questionnaire was utilized to collect epidemiological data from the subjects regarding demographic factors and potential risk factors. Results: Subjects were aged $56.8{\pm}11.8$ (mean ${\pm}$ standard deviation) and $57.6{\pm}11.1$ years in the case and control groups, respectively. Individuals carrying the XRCC1 Trp/Trp or Arg/Trp variant genotype were at significantly increased risk of noncardia GC (adjusted OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.00-2.17), after adjustment for family history of cancer, drinking, and smoking. The increased risk of XRCC1 Arg194Trp variant genotype was more pronounced among subjects below 60 years old (adjusted OR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.07-2.96), compared to older individuals. ADPRT Val762Ala variants (Ala/Ala or Val/Ala) were not associated with noncardia GC (adjusted OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.69-1.54). Conclusions: Our study suggests that XRCC1 Arg194Trp is a genetic susceptibility factor for developing noncardia GC in Han Chinese in Western China. In particular, individuals with the XRCC1 Arg194Trp variant genotype are at increased risk for GC below 60 years old.