Adding heat stress to repeated-sprint training in hypoxia does not enhance performance improvements in canoe/kayak athletes.

Purpose: The present study investigated the effects of adding heat stress to repeated-sprint training in hypoxia on performance and physiological adaptations in well-trained athletes.

Methods: Sixteen canoe/kayak sprinters conducted 2 weeks of repeated-sprint training consisting of three sets of 5 × 10 s sprints with 20 s active recovery periods under conditions of either normobaric hypoxia (RSH, FiO: 14.5%, ambient temperature: 18 ℃, n = 8) or combined heat and normobaric hypoxia (RSHH, FiO: 14.

Comparison of systemic and peripheral responses during high-intensity interval exercise under voluntary hypoventilation vs. hypoxic conditions.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the systemic and peripheral responses to high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) with voluntary hypoventilation at low lung volume (VHL) or HIIE under hypoxic conditions.

Methods: Ten male participants completed a single session of HIIE (three sets of 6 × 8-s high-intensity pedaling at 170% of maximal oxygen uptake [VO2max]) under three different conditions: normoxia with normal breathing (NOR: 23 °C, 20.9% of fraction of inspired oxygen [FiO2]), hypoxia with normal breathing (HYP: 23 °C, 14.

Differentiation of Actaea species by NMR metabolomics analysis.

The H NMR spectra of crude extracts from a total of 33 Actaea samples were acquired and analyzed for their species- and plant part-specific metabolomic characteristics by identifying fingerprint resonances via visual observation as well as a chemometric approach using principal component analysis (PCA). The main study subjects were the roots/rhizomes and aerial parts of three American species, Actaea racemosa (AR), Actaea podocarpa (AP) and Actaea cordifolia (AC). AP exhibited an already visually distinct chemical profile from those of the other two species.

NMR based quantitation of cycloartane triterpenes in black cohosh extracts.

The cycloartane triterpene content in the roots/rhizomes (RR) and aerial parts (PX) of Actaea racemosa (AR), A. podocarpa (AP), and A. cordifolia (AC) have been investigated by quantitative H NMR (qHNMR).

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Astaxanthin and Sesamin on Daily Fatigue: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Two-Way Crossover Study.

Severe fatigue can negatively affect quality of life, and oxidative stress may play a role in its mechanism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of astaxanthin and sesamin (AS), strong food-derived antioxidants, on fatigue. Twenty-four healthy volunteers were supplemented with AS and placebo, each for four weeks.

Development of Extranodal NK/T-cell Lymphoma Nasal Type in Cerebrum Following Epstein-Barr Virus-positive Uveitis.

A 74-year-old woman developed bilateral uveitis with high Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA load in the vitreous fluid without lymphoma cells. Four years after the onset, T2-weighted contrast-enhanced MRI revealed hyperintense lesions in the right occipital and parietal lobe. A biopsy resulted in the diagnosis of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma nasal type (ENKL).

Cycloartane Triterpenes from the Aerial Parts of Actaea racemosa.

Investigating the phytochemical equivalence of the aerial parts of Actaea racemosa (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa) relative to the widely used roots/rhizomes, this study provides a perspective for the potential use of renewable ("green") plant parts as a source of black cohosh botanical preparations. In addition to the characterization of Nω-methylserotonin as one representative marker of the Actaea alkaloids, nine cycloartane triterpenes were isolated and characterized, including the two new triterpene glycosides (1S,15R)-1,15,25-trihydroxy-3-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-acta-(16S,23R,24R)-16,23;16,24-binoxoside (1) and 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1S,24R)-1,24,25-trihydroxy-15-oxo-acta-(16R,23R)-16,23-monoxoside (2).

Comparison of the ocular characteristics of anterior uveitis caused by herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus.

Purpose: To compare the clinical characteristics of anterior uveitis (AU) caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), or cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Methods: The medical records were reviewed of 46 patients whose diagnoses were based on their clinical characteristics [e.g.

Presumed toxoplasmic central retinal artery occlusion and multifocal retinitis with perivascular sheathing.

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and multifocal retinitis with perivascular sheathing are rare in ocular toxoplasmosis. We report a case of toxoplasmic CRAO and multifocal retinitis with perivascular sheathing. A healthy 83-year-old male developed left panuveitis.

Suppression of IL-22-producing T helper 22 cells by RPE cells via PD-L1/PD-1 interactions.

Purpose: To determine whether RPE cells can suppress a novel T helper subset, the Th22 cells, via costimulatory interactions.

Methods: Primary RPE cells were established from normal C57BL/6 mice. The target CD4(+) Th22 cells from spleen cells in wild-type control or knockout donors were used.

The promoter of the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4a-5 gene of Chrysanthemum morifolium (CmCCD4a-5) drives petal-specific transcription of a conjugated gene in the developing flower.

Carotenoids comprise one of the major groups of pigments in flowers. Because carotenoids are physiologically indispensable pigments for all photosynthetic plants, their catabolism must be discretely regulated in photosynthetic organs and non-photosynthetic organs such as petals or fruits. In the chrysanthemum, carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4a (CmCCD4a), which is dominantly expressed in petals, cleaves carotenoid, leading to a white flower.

Role of IL-22- and TNF-α-producing Th22 cells in uveitis patients with Behcet's disease.

Behçet's disease is a systemic inflammatory disorder with recurrent episodes of oral ulceration, skin lesions, genital ulceration, and intraocular inflammation (uveitis). The intraocular inflammation is strictly associated with Th effector cells. IL-22 is a member of the IL-10 cytokine family that is involved in inflammatory processes.

Mature dendritic cell suppression by IL-1 receptor antagonist on retinal pigment epithelium cells.

Purpose: To determine whether retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells can inhibit mature dendritic cells (mDCs).

Methods: Cultured RPE cells were established from C57BL/6 mice. DCs were established from bone marrow cells of normal mice, and mDCc were induced by culture in medium containing granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-4 in the presence of lipopolysaccharide and TNF-α.

Immunosuppressive properties of regulatory T cells generated by incubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with supernatants of human RPE cells.

Purpose: To determine whether supernatants of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells can convert CD4⁺ T cells into regulatory T cells (Tregs) under Treg-induction conditions in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cocultured with supernatants from TGFβ2-pretreated human RPE lines on anti-CD3-coated plates. Cells were then separated with a CD4⁺CD25⁺ Treg isolation kit and cultured with supernatants from RPE, anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies, high-dose IL-2, and TGFβ2.

Inhibition of Th17 differentiation by anti-TNF-alpha therapy in uveitis patients with Behçet's disease.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine whether anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) antibody, infliximab, can inhibit T helper 17 (Th17) differentiation in uveitis patients who have Behçet's disease (BD).

Methods: To measure inflammatory cytokines, ocular fluid samples from BD patients being treated with infliximab were collected. Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4)+ T cells from BD patients with active uveitis were co-cultured with anti-cluster of differentiation 3/cluster of differentiation 28 (CD3/CD28) antibodies in the presence of infliximab.

Dereplication, residual complexity, and rational naming: the case of the Actaea triterpenes.

The genus Actaea (including Cimicifuga) has been the source of ∼200 cycloartane triterpenes. While they are major bioactive constituents of complementary and alternative medicines, their structural similarity is a major dereplication problem. Moreover, their trivial names seldom indicate the actual structure.

Retinoic acid from retinal pigment epithelium induces T regulatory cells.

Primary cultured retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells can convert T cells into T regulatory cells (Tregs) through inhibitory factor(s) including transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) in vitro. Retinoic acid (RA) enhances induction of CD4(+) Tregs in the presence of TGFβ. We investigated whether RA produced by RPE cells can promote generation of Tregs.

Inhibitory effect of corneal endothelial cells on IL-17-producing Th17 cells.

Aim: To determine whether cultured corneal endothelial (CE) cells suppress interleukin 17 (IL-17)-producing effector T cells in vitro.

Methods: CE cell lines established from a normal mouse were used. Target bystander T cells were established from normal splenic T cells with anti-CD3 antibodies.

In vitro metabolic interactions between black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and tamoxifen via inhibition of cytochromes P450 2D6 and 3A4.

Women who experience hot flashes as a side effect of tamoxifen (TAM) therapy often try botanical remedies such as black cohosh to alleviate these symptoms. Since pharmacological activity of TAM is dependent on the metabolic conversion into active metabolites by the action of cytochromes P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) and 3A4, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether black cohosh extracts can inhibit formation of active TAM metabolites and possibly reduce its clinical efficacy. At 50 μg/mL, a 75% ethanolic extract of black cohosh inhibited formation of 4-hydroxy- TAM by 66.

High-content screening and mechanism-based evaluation of estrogenic botanical extracts.

Symptoms associated with menopause can greatly affect the quality of life for women. Botanical dietary supplements have been viewed by the public as safe and effective despite a lack of evidence indicating a urgent necessity to standardize these supplements chemically and biologically. Seventeen plants were evaluated for estrogenic biological activity using standard assays: competitive estrogen receptor (ER) binding assay for both alpha and beta subtypes, transient transfection of the estrogen response element luciferase plasmid into MCF-7 cells expressing either ER alpha or ER beta, and the Ishikawa alkaline phosphatase induction assay for both estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities.