The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact globally, particularly in high-risk populations such as those with underlying health conditions. In response to the evolving pandemic landscape and the recent surge in confirmed cases in Taiwan, the Taiwan Association of Family Medicine (TAFM) established a consensus on COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for vulnerable groups through a comprehensive literature review, expert panel discussions, and a practice-oriented formulation procedure to develop evidence-based guidance. Its key findings highlight the increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes among individuals with disorders such as diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory illness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcute lung injury (ALI) is a difficult condition to manage, especially when it is complicated by bacterial sepsis. Hibifolin, a flavonoid glycoside, has anti-inflammatory properties that make it a potential treatment for ALI. However, more research is needed to determine its effectiveness in LPS-induced ALI.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The effectiveness of fish oil in preventing cardiovascular events is still debating. Some studies indicate a correlation between the use of fish oil supplements and reduced mortality or decreased incidence of stroke. However, other studies show no significant association between fish oil intake and stroke prevention, indicating an ongoing debate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19, is devoid of any metabolic capacity; therefore, it is critical for the viral pathogen to hijack host cellular metabolic machinery for its replication and propagation. This single-stranded RNA virus with a 29.9 kb genome encodes 14 open reading frames (ORFs) and initiates a plethora of virus-host protein-protein interactions in the human body.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMalnutrition is a key factor in metabolic syndrome (MS) and sarcopenia, assessing the nutritional status of these patients is a pressing issue. The purpose of this study was to clarify sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity in patients with MS based on nutritional status. This was a case-control study between MS/non-MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Smoking is a strong risk factor for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Varenicline is commonly used as a smoking cessation medication, but little is known about its usage in patients with AMI, particularly in hospitalized patients.
Methods: This is a prospective observational, single-center study collected from May 2018 to July 2021.
Objectives: Dementia is an oxidative stress-related disease. Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that occurs naturally in the human body and acts as an antioxidant. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships of coenzyme Q10 status, biomarkers for dementia (amyloid β and tau protein), and antioxidant capacity in patients with dementia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to explore the use of coenzyme Q10 and skeletal muscle protein biomarkers in the diagnosis of sarcopenia. Subjects with or without sarcopenia were recruited. The anthropometric, muscle strength and endurance measurements were assessed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of dementia patients and examine the correlation with sarcopenia, frailty, depression, and quality of life. We enrolled patients aged 60 years and over with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores ≤ 26 (Taiwan), and dementia diagnosed by a neurologist or psychiatrist. Nutritional status was assessed with the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study was conducted to investigate the β-carotene status in osteoarthritis (OA) patients and examine its relationships with the risk of inflammation and metabolic syndrome. OA patients were stratified by obesity based on body fat percentage (obese OA, = 44; non-obese OA, = 56), and sixty-nine subjects without OA or obesity were assigned as a non-obese control group. β-carotene, metabolic parameters, and inflammation status were assessed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOsteoarthritis (OA) causes oxidative stress. Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that participates in energy production in the human body. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among coenzyme Q10 status, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and muscle function in patients with OA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLung adenocarcinoma (LADC) is the most common subtype of lung cancer worldwide and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has a great influence on its clinical course, mainly due to the influence of different phenotypes. The Aurora kinase A (AURKA) would influence the progression of several solid malignancies. However, whether the interaction between EGFR phenotypes and AURKA would influence the clinical characteristics of LADC remains unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUbiquinone is a lipid antioxidant, and a novel liquid ubiquinol (a hydro-soluble, reduced form of coenzyme Q10) supplement was recently developed. The purpose of this study was to examine the levels of glucose, lipids and antioxidant capacity of type 2 diabetes patients after liquid ubiquinol supplementation. This study was designed as a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Burdock complex (BC) constitutes of burdock (Arctium lappa), angelica (Angelica sinensis), gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon), and sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil, which are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating various disorders. This study intended to examine the anti-H. pylori activity of BC on AGS cell model as well as in asymptomatic H.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Geriatr Phys Ther
July 2018
Background And Purpose: Prolonged sitting is associated with increased risk of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults and can lead to poor muscle function, limited balance and transfer abilities, and mobility limitations. Sitting time can be a modifiable factor in preserving independent mobility in older adults. Assessing sitting time is an important measure for preventive medicine in older populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Long-term d-galactose injection induces accelerated aging in experimental rodent models. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary fructo-oligosaccharide (FO) on the brain β-amyloid (Aβ), amyloid-associated enzymes, cognitive function, and plasma antioxidant levels in d-galactose-treated Balb/c mice.
Methods: The subcutaneous (s.
Background: Many studies have demonstrated that Graptopetalum paraguayense has good antioxidant ability; however, few studies have examined its anti-inflammatory effect. The study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of water extracts of G. paraguayense (WGP, 4 g day(-1)) in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevious studies have shown that mulberry water extracts (MWEs), which contain polyphenolic compounds, have an antiatherosclerotic effect in vivo and in vitro through stimulating apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Histological analysis was performed on atherosclerotic lesions from high-cholesterol diet (HCD)-fed rabbits after treatment with 0.5-1% MWEs for 10 weeks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study was aimed to investigate the effects of water extracts of Graptopetalum paraguayense (WGP, 4 g/d) on blood pressure, blood glucose level, and lipid profiles in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). Participants with MS (n = 54) were randomly assigned to the placebo (n = 28) and WGP groups (n = 26), and the intervention was administered for 12 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting glucose (FG), lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C)), and antioxidant enzymes activities (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) were measured.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: High oxidative stress and chronic inflammation can contribute to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Coenzyme Q10 is an endogenous lipid-soluble antioxidant. Statins therapy can reduce the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q10.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E and the antioxidant status in subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS). Subjects with MS (n = 72) were included according to the criteria for MS. The non-MS group (n = 105) was comprised of healthy individuals with normal blood biochemical values.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCoronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma levels of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B-6 and the risk of CAD. Patients with at least 50% stenosis of one major coronary artery identified by cardiac catheterization were assigned to the case group (n = 45).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetabolic syndrome (MS) represents a cluster of physiological and anthropometric abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the levels of inflammation, adiponectin, and oxidative stress in subjects with MS. The inclusion criteria for MS, according to the Taiwan Bureau of Health Promotion, Department of Health, were applied to the case group (n = 72).
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