The Efficacy of Herbal Supplement Danggui Buxue Tang for Relieving Menopausal Symptoms

( Eliza L. Y. Wong ),( Annie W. L. Cheung ),( C. J. Haines ),( C. C. Wang ),( Chun-kwok Wong ),( Karl W. K. Tsim ),( William K. F. Cheng ),( Ping-chung Leung ) 대한폐경학회 2022 대한폐경학회지 Vol.28 No.1

Objectives: This study aimed to further explore the efficacy and safety of Danggui Buxue Tang (DBT), a simple herbal formula, for improving the quality of life of women suffering from menopausal symptoms. Methods: A third clinical trial to determine the clinical efficacy of high-dose DBT for a period of 12 weeks was carried out. The standard Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) assessment chart was used for the evaluation. Safety was defined as an absence of direct estrogenic effects, serum inflammatory cytokines. Notably, interleukin IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor TNF-α, known to be directly related to estrogenic reactions in menopause studies, were monitored. Results: The third clinical trial indicated an overall improvement in the four domains of MENQOL, offering further proof of the efficacy of DBT demonstrated in the two previous trials. The serial checks of the three cytokines related to estrogen activities did not show either upward or downward trends. The haphazard behavior reactions of the three cytokines offered indirect indications that DBT improved the MENQOL independently from estrogen activities. Conclusions: The three clinical trials using DBT to relieve menopausal syndrome have offered solid evidence for its efficacy. The uncertainty regarding whether the “phytoestrogen” contained in DBT had bioactivities similar to estrogen was alleviated through the confirmation that no strict estrogenic bioactivities were observed. The issue of safety was further clarified via laboratory platform studies on DBT, which not only showed the lack of similarity with estrogen actions but also confirmed the value of combining the two herbs in the classic formula.

DISCOVERY OF AN X-RAY-EMITTING CONTACT BINARY SYSTEM 2MASS J11201034−2201340

Hu, Chin-Ping,Yang, Ting-Chang,Chou, Yi,Liu, L.,Qian, S.-B.,Hui, C. Y.,Kong, Albert K. H.,Lin, L. C. C.,Tam, P. H. T.,Li, K. L.,Ngeow, Chow-Choong,Chen, W. P.,Ip, Wing-Huen American Astronomical Society 2016 The Astronomical journal Vol.151 No.6

<P>We report the detection of orbital modulation, a model solution, and the X-ray properties of a newly discovered contact binary, Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) J11201034-2201340. We serendipitously found this X-ray point source outside the error ellipse when searching for possible X-ray counterparts of 7-ray millisecond pulsars among the unidentified objects detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The optical counterpart of the X-ray source (unrelated to the 7-ray source) was then identified using archival databases. The long-term Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey detected a precise signal with a period of P = 0.28876208 (56) days. A follow-up observation made by the Super Light Telescope of Lulin Observatory revealed the binary nature of the object. Utilizing archived photometric data of multi-band surveys, we construct the spectral energy distribution (SED), which is well fit by a K2V spectral template. The fitting result of the orbital profile using the Wilson Devinney code suggests that 2MASS J11201034-2201340 is a short-period A-type contact binary and the more massive component has a cool spot. The X-ray emission was first noted in observations made by Swift, and then further confirmed and characterized by an XMM-Newton observation. The X-ray spectrum can be described by a power law or thermal Bremsstrahlung. Unfortunately, we could not observe significant X-ray orbital modulation. Finally, according to the SED, this system is estimated to be 690 pc from Earth with a calculated X-ray intensity of (0.7 - 1.5) x 10(30) erg s(-1), which is in the expected range of an X-ray emitting contact binary.</P>

Allelic polymorphism of <i>GIGANTEA</i> is responsible for naturally occurring variation in circadian period in <i>Brassica rapa</i>

Xie, Qiguang,Lou, Ping,Hermand, Victor,Aman, Rashid,Park, Hee Jin,Yun, Dae-Jin,Kim, Woe Yeon,Salmela, Matti Juhani,Ewers, Brent E.,Weinig, Cynthia,Khan, Sarah L.,Schaible, D. Loring P.,McClung, C. Rob National Academy of Sciences 2015 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF Vol.112 No.12

<P><B>Significance</B></P><P>The plant circadian clock affects many aspects of growth and development and influences both fitness in natural settings and performance in cultivated conditions. We show that <I>GIGANTEA</I> (<I>GI</I>) underlies a major quantitative trait locus for circadian period in <I>Brassica rapa</I> by fine-mapping, analysis of heterogeneous inbred lines, and transgenic rescue of an <I>Arabidopsis gi-201</I> loss-of-function mutant. Analysis of chimeric and mutated <I>B. rapa GI</I> alleles identified the causal nucleotide polymorphism responsible for the allelic variation in circadian period, cold and salt tolerance, and red light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation. Allelic variation of <I>GI</I> and of clock genes in general offers targets for marker-assisted (molecular) breeding for enhanced stress tolerance and potentially for improved crop yield.</P><P><I>GIGANTEA</I> (<I>GI</I>) was originally identified by a late-flowering mutant in <I>Arabidopsis</I>, but subsequently has been shown to act in circadian period determination, light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation, and responses to multiple abiotic stresses, including tolerance to high salt and cold (freezing) temperature. Genetic mapping and analysis of families of heterogeneous inbred lines showed that natural variation in <I>GI</I> is responsible for a major quantitative trait locus in circadian period in <I>Brassica rapa.</I> We confirmed this conclusion by transgenic rescue of an <I>Arabidopsis gi-201</I> loss of function mutant. The two <I>B. rapa GI</I> alleles each fully rescued the delayed flowering of <I>Arabidopsis gi-201</I> but showed differential rescue of perturbations in red light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and altered cold and salt tolerance. The <I>B. rapa</I> R500 <I>GI</I> allele, which failed to rescue the hypocotyl and abiotic stress phenotypes, disrupted circadian period determination in <I>Arabidopsis</I>. Analysis of chimeric <I>B. rapa GI</I> alleles identified the causal nucleotide polymorphism, which results in an amino acid substitution (S264A) between the two GI proteins. This polymorphism underlies variation in circadian period, cold and salt tolerance, and red light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation. Loss-of-function mutations of <I>B. rapa GI</I> confer delayed flowering, perturbed circadian rhythms in leaf movement, and increased freezing and increased salt tolerance, consistent with effects of similar mutations in <I>Arabidopsis</I>. Collectively, these data suggest that allelic variation of <I>GI</I>—and possibly of clock genes in general—offers an attractive target for molecular breeding for enhanced stress tolerance and potentially for improved crop yield.</P>

Proposed Soil Taxonomy Changes for Gelisols and Other Soils with Gelic Materials

J.g. Bockheim,C.l. Ping,D.w. Smith,J.w. Hempel,T.g. Reinsch 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

Gaia17biu/SN 2017egm in NGC 3191: The Closest Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernova to Date Is in a “Normal,” Massive, Metal-rich Spiral Galaxy

Bose, Subhash,Dong, Subo,Pastorello, A.,Filippenko, Alexei V.,Kochanek, C. S.,Mauerhan, Jon,Romero-Cañ,izales, C.,Brink, Thomas G.,Chen, Ping,Prieto, J. L.,Post, R.,Ashall, Christopher,Grupe, Di American Astronomical Society 2018 The Astrophysical journal Vol.853 No.1

<P>Hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I) have been predominantly found in low-metallicity, star-forming dwarf galaxies. Here we identify Gaia17biu/SN 2017egm as an SLSN-I occurring in a 'normal' spiral galaxy (NGC 3191) in terms of stellar mass (several times 10(10) M-circle dot) and metallicity (roughly solar). At redshift z = 0.031, Gaia17biu is also the lowest-redshift SLSN-I to date, and the absence of a larger population of SLSNe-I in dwarf galaxies of similar redshift suggests that metallicity is likely less important to the production of SLSNe-I than previously believed. With the smallest distance and highest apparent brightness for an SLSN-I, we are able to study Gaia17biu in unprecedented detail. Its pre-peak near-ultraviolet to optical color is similar to that of Gaia16apd and among the bluest observed for an SLSN-I, while its peak luminosity (M-g = -21 mag) is substantially lower than that of Gaia16apd. Thanks to the high signal-to-noise ratios of our spectra, we identify several new spectroscopic features that may help to probe the properties of these enigmatic explosions. We detect polarization at the similar to 0.5% level that is not strongly dependent on wavelength, suggesting a modest, global departure from spherical symmetry. In addition, we put the tightest upper limit yet on the radio luminosity of an SLSN-I with < 5.4 x 10(26) erg s(-1) Hz(-1) at 10 GHz, which is almost a factor of 40 better than previous upper limits and one of the few measured at an early stage in the evolution of an SLSN-I. This limit largely rules out an association of this SLSN-I with known populations of gamma-ray-burst-like central engines.</P>

First Resolution of Microlensed Images

Dong, Subo,Mé,rand, A.,Delplancke-Strö,bele, F.,Gould, Andrew,Chen, Ping,Post, R.,Kochanek, C. S.,Stanek, K. Z.,Christie, G. W.,Mutel, Robert,Natusch, T.,Holoien, T. W.-S.,Prieto, J. L.,Shap American Astronomical Society 2019 The Astrophysical journal Vol.871 No.1

<i>OsCOL4</i> is a constitutive flowering repressor upstream of <i>Ehd1</i> and downstream of <i>OsphyB</i>

Lee, Yang-Seok,Jeong, Dong-Hoon,Lee, Dong-Yeon,Yi, Jakyung,Ryu, Choong-Hwan,Kim, Song L.,Jeong, Hee J.,Choi, Sang C.,Jin, Ping,Yang, Jungil,Cho, Lae-Hyeon,Choi, Heebak,An, Gynheung Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2010 The Plant journal Vol.63 No.1

<P>Summary</P><P>Plants recognize environmental factors to determine flowering time. <I>CONSTANS</I> (<I>CO</I>) plays a central role in the photoperiod flowering pathway of Arabidopsis, and CO protein stability is modulated by photoreceptors. In rice, <I>Hd1</I>, an ortholog of <I>CO</I>, acts as a flowering promoter, and phytochromes repress <I>Hd1</I> expression. Here, we investigated the functioning of <I>OsCOL4</I>, a member of the <I>CONSTANS-like</I> (<I>COL</I>) family in rice. <I>OsCOL4</I> null mutants flowered early under short or long days. In contrast, <I>OsCOL4</I> activation-tagging mutants (<I>OsCOL4-D</I>) flowered late in either environment. Transcripts of <I>Ehd1</I>, <I>Hd3a</I>, and <I>RFT1</I> were increased in the <I>oscol4</I> mutants, but reduced in the <I>OsCOL4-D</I> mutants. This finding indicates that <I>OsCOL4</I> is a constitutive repressor functioning upstream of <I>Ehd1.</I> By comparison, levels of <I>Hd1</I>, <I>OsID1</I>, <I>OsMADS50</I>, <I>OsMADS51</I>, and <I>OsMADS56</I> transcripts were not significantly changed in <I>oscol4</I> or <I>OsCOL4-D</I>, suggesting that <I>OsCOL4</I> functions independently from previously reported flowering pathways. In <I>osphyB</I> mutants, <I>OsCOL4</I> expression was decreased and <I>osphyB oscol4</I> double mutants flowered at the same time as the <I>osphyB</I> single mutants, indicating <I>OsCOL4</I> functions downstream of <I>OsphyB.</I> We also present evidence for two independent pathways through which OsPhyB controls flowering time. These pathways are: (i) night break-sensitive, which does not need <I>OsCOL4</I>; and (ii) night break-insensitive, in which <I>OsCOL4</I> functions between <I>OsphyB</I> and <I>Ehd1.</I></P>