Antioxidation and Antiglycation of 95% Ethanolic Extracts Prepared from the Leaves of Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)

Tsung-Han Hou,Jen-Ping Chung,Shang-Shan Chen,Tsu-Liang Chang 한국식품과학회 2013 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.22 No.3

Hyperglycemia results in the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE), resulting in an inflammatory response that induces insulin resistance. Evidence indicates that antioxidants can suppress the formation of reactive oxygen species, decrease levels of AGEs by inhibiting glycation. Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) can be used as a medicinal food for improving blood glucose; however, the identities of the active compounds and how they counteract diabetes remain unknown. This study demonstrate that 95% ethanolic extracts of black nightshade exerted significant antioxidative activity compared with 50% ethanolic extracts and aqueous extracts. Moreover,95% ethanolic extracts of black nightshade produced antiglycative activity, which contributed to the inhibition of fructosamine and generation of α-dicarbonyl compounds. The concentrations of solasonine and solamargine in the 95% ethanolic extracts were 0.484 and 0.183 mg/mg,respectively. These results suggest that black nightshade might serve as a novel source of functional ingredients that exert antiglycation and anti-diabetes activities.

The Compressive Strength of Slender C-shaped Cold-formed Steel Members with Web Openings

Dung M. Lue,Ping-Tsung Chung,Jui-Ling Liu,Chi-Ling Pan 한국강구조학회 2009 International Journal of Steel Structures Vol.9 No.3

This study investigated the compressive strength of slender C-shaped cold-formed steel members with web openings. The effective sectional area concept was adopted to conduct the analysis of cold-formed compressive members. The load-carrying capacity of compression member was calculated based on the sectional effective width as described in the AISI Standard. The study tested a total of 21 channel specimens including C-shaped cross-sections with and without web openings. Comparisons were made between the test results and the predictions based on both the AISI Standard and the ANSYS analysis. The results indicated that all the observed failure modes were of the flexural-torsional buckling classification. It was found that the reduction in the compression strength of the specimens with web openings seems to be negligible. In addition, the predictions based on the AISI Standard were conservative as compared with the test results of the specimens with web openings. Moreover, it appeared that the ANSYS finite element analysis was able to predict the ultimate loads and failure modes of the specimens. In the absence of test data and for the purpose of preliminary design, the ANSYS appears to provide quite an encouraging prediction capability. This study investigated the compressive strength of slender C-shaped cold-formed steel members with web openings. The effective sectional area concept was adopted to conduct the analysis of cold-formed compressive members. The load-carrying capacity of compression member was calculated based on the sectional effective width as described in the AISI Standard. The study tested a total of 21 channel specimens including C-shaped cross-sections with and without web openings. Comparisons were made between the test results and the predictions based on both the AISI Standard and the ANSYS analysis. The results indicated that all the observed failure modes were of the flexural-torsional buckling classification. It was found that the reduction in the compression strength of the specimens with web openings seems to be negligible. In addition, the predictions based on the AISI Standard were conservative as compared with the test results of the specimens with web openings. Moreover, it appeared that the ANSYS finite element analysis was able to predict the ultimate loads and failure modes of the specimens. In the absence of test data and for the purpose of preliminary design, the ANSYS appears to provide quite an encouraging prediction capability.

Proton Pump Inhibitor-unresponsive Laryngeal Symptoms Are Associated With Psychological Comorbidities and Sleep Disturbance: A Manometry and Impedance-pH Monitoring Study

Wen-Hsuan Tseng,Wei-Chung Hsu,Tsung-Lin Yang,Tzu-Yu Hsiao,Jia-Feng Wu,Hui-Chuan Lee,Hsiu-Po Wang,Ming-Shiang Wu,Ming-Shiang Wu,Ping-Huei Tseng 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2023 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.29 No.3

Background/AimsLaryngeal symptoms are largely treated with empiric proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy if no apparent pathology shown on ear, nose, and throat evaluation and reflux-related etiologies are suspected. However, treatment response remains unsatisfactory. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and physiological characteristics of patients with PPI-refractory laryngeal symptoms. MethodsPatients with persistent laryngeal symptoms despite PPI treatment for ≥ 8 weeks were recruited. A multidisciplinary evaluation comprising validated questionnaires for laryngeal symptoms (reflux symptom index [RSI]), gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms, psychological comorbidity (5-item brief symptom rating scale [BSRS-5]) and sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh sleep quality index [PSQI]), esophagogastroduodenoscopy, ambulatory impedance-pH monitoring, and high-resolution impedance manometry were performed. Healthy asymptomatic individuals were also recruited for comparison of psychological morbidity and sleep disturbances. ResultsNinety-seven adult patients and 48 healthy volunteers were analyzed. The patients had markedly higher prevalence of psychological distress (52.6% vs 2.1%, P < 0.001) and sleep disturbance (82.5% vs 37.5%, P < 0.001) than the healthy volunteers. There were significant correlations between RSI and BSRS-5 scores, and between RSI and PSQI scores (r = 0.26, P = 0.010, and r = 0.29, P = 0.004, respectively). Fifty-eight patients had concurrent gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms. They had more prominent sleep disturbances (89.7% vs 71.8%, P < 0.001) than those with laryngeal symptoms alone but similar reflux profiles and esophageal motility. ConclusionsPPI-refractory laryngeal symptoms are mostly associated with psychological comorbidities and sleep disturbances. Recognition of these psychosocial comorbidities may help optimize management in these patients.

Comprehensive profiles and diagnostic value of menopausal-specific gut microbiota in premenopausal breast cancer

Hou Ming-Feng,Ou-Yang Fu,Li Chung-Liang,Chen Fang-Ming,Chuang Chieh-Han,Kan Jung-Yu,Wu Cheng-Che,Shih Shen-Liang,Shiau Jun-Ping,Kao Li-Chun,Kao Chieh-Ni,Lee Yi-Chen,Moi Sin-Hua,Yeh Yao-Tsung,Cheng Chi 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

In Western countries, breast cancer tends to occur in older postmenopausal women. However, in Asian countries, the proportion of younger premenopausal breast cancer patients is increasing. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in breast cancer. However, studies on the gut microbiota in the context of breast cancer have mainly focused on postmenopausal breast cancer. Little is known about the gut microbiota in the context of premenopausal breast cancer. This study aimed to comprehensively explore the gut microbial profiles, diagnostic value, and functional pathways in premenopausal breast cancer patients. Here, we analyzed 267 breast cancer patients with different menopausal statuses and age-matched female controls. The α-diversity was significantly reduced in premenopausal breast cancer patients, and the β-diversity differed significantly between breast cancer patients and controls. By performing multiple analyses and classification, 14 microbial markers were identified in the different menopausal statuses of breast cancer. Bacteroides fragilis was specifically found in young women of premenopausal statuses and Klebsiella pneumoniae in older women of postmenopausal statuses. In addition, menopausal-specific microbial markers could exhibit excellent discriminatory ability in distinguishing breast cancer patients from controls. Finally, the functional pathways differed between breast cancer patients and controls. Our findings provide the first evidence that the gut microbiota in premenopausal breast cancer patients differs from that in postmenopausal breast cancer patients and shed light on menopausal-specific microbial markers for diagnosis and investigation, ultimately providing a noninvasive approach for breast cancer detection and a novel strategy for preventing premenopausal breast cancer.