Efficacy of jing Si herbal tea in functional dyspepsia: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is prevalent worldwide and is associated with gastrointestinal inflammation, mucosal anomalies, and shifts in microbiota metabolites like short chain fatty acids. This study assesses the efficacy of Jing Si herbal tea (JSHT) in alleviating FD symptoms, psychological distress, and influencing metabolites.

Methods: Adults with FD based on Rome IV criteria were included.

Baicalein and luteolin inhibit ischemia/reperfusion-induced ferroptosis in rat cardiomyocytes.

Background: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is associated with severe cellular damage and death. Ferroptosis, a new form of regulated cell death caused by the accumulation of iron-mediated lipid peroxidation, has been found in several diseases including I/R injury, which was reported to be suppressed by flavonoids. Baicalein (BAI) and luteolin (Lut) are flavonoids and were shown to reduce the myocardial I/R injury.

Statins as Repurposed Drugs in Gynecological Cancer: A Review.

Discovering new drugs is an expensive and time-consuming process, including target identification, bioavailability, pharmacokinetic (PK) tests, pharmacodynamic (PD) tests, toxicity profiles, recommended dosage test, and observation of the side effects, etc. Repurposed drugs could bypass some steps, starting from phase II trials, and shorten the processes. Statins, also known as HMG-CoA inhibitors (HMGCR), are commonly used to manage and prevent various cardiovascular diseases and have been shown to improve the morbidity and mortality of patients.

Serum Trimethylamine N-Oxide Levels Correlate with Metabolic Syndrome in Coronary Artery Disease Patients.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a gut microbial metabolite that affects atherogenesis and glucose dysregulation. The purpose of this study was to look at the link between blood TMAO levels and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD). Blood samples were obtained in fasting status, and serum TMAO level was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Effects of an earplug placement intervention on sleep quality in patients in a medical intensive care unit: A randomized controlled trial.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an intervention involving earplug placement during nocturnal sleep in non-ventilated intensive care unit patients.

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 107 adult patients between January 2017 and December 2018. Participants in the intervention group (n = 55) slept with earplugs between 10 pm and 7 am on the second night of their intensive care unit stay.

Association between serum indoxyl sulfate levels with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: The role of indoxyl sulfate (IS), an important protein-bound uremic toxin, in arterial stiffness (AS) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the association between serum IS levels and AS in a cross-sectional study of 155 patients with CKD. Patients in the AS group was defined as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) value >10 m/s measured by a validated tonometry system (SphygmoCor), while values ≤10 m/s were regarded as without AS group Serum IS was measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.

Serum indoxyl sulfate as a potential biomarker of aortic arterial stiffness in coronary artery disease.

Background And Aims: Indoxyl sulfate (IS), a dietary tryptophan metabolite, acts as a cardiotoxin and uremic toxin. High IS levels are associated with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the association between serum IS levels and aortic arterial stiffness (AAS) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

Eating right for a healthier heart: Food choice contributes to cardiometabolic benefits and reduction of carotid intima-media thickness.

Objectives: Diets may alter an individual's metabolism and inflammation, collectively leading to the modulation of cardiovascular health and disease process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diets and diet-associated metabolites on metabolic profiles, inflammatory status, and severity of atherosclerosis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 81 healthy adults in Taiwan.

Association of Serum Indoxyl Sulfate Levels with Skeletal Muscle Mass and Strength in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A 2-year Longitudinal Analysis.

Sarcopenia is highly prevalent in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (HD). This study investigated the relationship among serum indoxyl sulfate (IS) levels, muscle mass, and strength in HD patients. A total of 108 HD patients were enrolled.

Stearic acid methyl ester affords neuroprotection and improves functional outcomes after cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest causes neuronal damage and functional impairments that can result in learning/memory dysfunction after ischemia. We previously identified a saturated fatty acid (stearic acid methyl ester, SAME) that was released from the superior cervical ganglion (sympathetic ganglion). The function of stearic acid methyl ester is currently unknown.

COMT-Catalyzed Palmitic Acid Methyl Ester Biosynthesis in Perivascular Adipose Tissue and its Potential Role Against Hypertension.

Decreased release of palmitic acid methyl ester (PAME), a vasodilator, from perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) might contribute to hypertension pathogenesis. However, the PAME biosynthetic pathway remains unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that PAME is biosynthesized from palmitic acid (PA) via human catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) catalysis and that decreased PAME biosynthesis plays a role in hypertension pathogenesis.

Palmitic Acid Methyl Ester Induces G/M Arrest in Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells via the p53/p21 Pathway.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells (BM-MSCs) are able to differentiate into adipocytes, which can secrete adipokines to affect BM-MSC proliferation and differentiation. Recent evidences indicated that adipocytes can secrete fatty acid metabolites, such as palmitic acid methyl ester (PAME), which is able to cause vasorelaxation and exerts anti-inflammatory effects. However, effects of PAME on BM-MSC proliferation remain unclear.

Association of Low Serum l-Carnitine Levels with Peripheral Arterial Stiffness in Patients Who Undergo Kidney Transplantation.

l-carnitine is an important co-factor in fatty-acid metabolism, and its deficiency is associated with insulin resistance, which is independently associated with arterial stiffness. This study evaluated the relationship between serum l-carnitine level and peripheral arterial stiffness (PAS) in kidney transplantation (KT). Fasting blood samples were collected from 65 patients who underwent KT.

A comparison of L-carnitine and several cardiovascular-related biomarkers between healthy vegetarians and omnivores.

Objective: A plant-based diet has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular (CV) diseases. This study aimed to determine the levels and correlations of CV-related biomarkers and the beneficial role of dietary habits.

Methods: A total of 63 healthy vegetarians (n = 32) and omnivores (n = 31) were recruited.

Glycolic acid attenuates UVB-induced aquaporin-3, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, and collagen degradation in keratinocytes and mouse skin.

Ultraviolet-B exposure causes an inflammatory response, photoaged skin, and degradation of extracellular matrix proteins including collagen and elastin. The regulation of these genes was suggested as an important mechanism to attenuate skin aging. Glycolic acid (GA) is commonly present in fruits and recently used to treat dermatological diseases.

Synergistic structures from magnetic freeze casting with surface magnetized alumina particles and platelets.

Magnetic freeze casting utilizes the freezing of water, a low magnetic field and surface magnetized materials to make multi-axis strengthened porous scaffolds. A much greater magnetic moment was measured for larger magnetized alumina platelets compared with smaller particles, which indicated that more platelet aggregation occurred within slurries. This led to more lamellar wall alignment along the magnetic field direction during magnetic freeze casting at 75 mT.

Stiff, porous scaffolds from magnetized alumina particles aligned by magnetic freeze casting.

Bone consists of a hard mineral phase and a compliant biopolymer phase resulting in a composite material that is both lightweight and strong. Osteoporosis that degrades spongy bone preferentially over time leads to bone brittleness in the elderly. A porous ceramic material that can mimic spongy bone for a one-time implant provides a potential solution for the future needs of an aging population.

High-performance flexible hydrogen sensor made of WS₂ nanosheet-Pd nanoparticle composite film.

We report a flexible hydrogen sensor, composed of WS2 nanosheet-Pd nanoparticle composite film, fabricated on a flexible polyimide substrate. The sensor offers the advantages of light-weight, mechanical durability, room temperature operation, and high sensitivity. The WS2-Pd composite film exhibits sensitivity (R 1/R 2, the ratio of the initial resistance to final resistance of the sensor) of 7.

Induction of endothelium-dependent constriction of mesenteric arteries in endotoxemic hypotensive shock.

Background And Purpose: Effective management of hypotension refractory to vasoconstrictors in severe sepsis is limited. A new strategy to ameliorate endotoxemic hypotension by inducing endothelium-dependent constriction of large arteries was assessed.

Experimental Approach: Endotoxemia in rats was induced by injection of LPS (10 mg·kg(-1), i.

Resveratrol alleviates the cytotoxicity induced by the radiocontrast agent, ioxitalamate, by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species in HK-2 human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells in vitro.

Radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RIN) is one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI). The clinical strategies currently available for the prevention of RIN are insufficient. In this study, we aimed to determine whether resveratrol, a polyphenol phytoalexin, can be used to prevent RIN.

Solution-Processed CoFe2O4 Nanoparticles on 3D Carbon Fiber Papers for Durable Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

We report CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized using a facile hydrothermal growth and their attachment on 3D carbon fiber papers (CFPs) for efficient and durable oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The CFPs covered with CoFe2O4 NPs show orders of magnitude higher OER performance than bare CFP due to high activity of CoFe2O4 NPs, leading to a small overpotential of 378 mV to get a current density of 10 mA/cm(2). Significantly, the CoFe2O4 NPs-on-CFP electrodes exhibit remarkably long stability evaluated by continuous cycling (over 15 h) and operation with a high current density at a fixed potential (over 40 h) without any morphological change and with preservation of all materials within the electrode.