Virtual reality-based monitoring test for MCI: A multicenter feasibility study.

Objectives: As the significance of the early diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has emerged, it is necessary to develop corresponding screening tools with high ecological validity and feasible biomarkers. Virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive assessment program, which is close to the daily life of the older adults, can be suitable screening tools for MCI with ecological validity and accessibility. Meanwhile, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been observed at a low concentration in the older adults with dementia or cognitive decline, indicating its potential as a biomarker of MCI.

Development and application of survey-based artificial intelligence for clinical decision support in managing infectious diseases: A pilot study on a hospital in central Vietnam.

Introduction: In this study, we developed a simplified artificial intelligence to support the clinical decision-making of medical personnel in a resource-limited setting.

Methods: We selected seven infectious disease categories that impose a heavy disease burden in the central Vietnam region: mosquito-borne disease, acute gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infection, pulmonary tuberculosis, sepsis, primary nervous system infection, and viral hepatitis. We developed a set of questionnaires to collect information on the current symptoms and history of patients suspected to have infectious diseases.

The Factors Associated with Attempted Smoking Cessation and Successful Four-Week Smoking Abstinence According to the Types of Disability in Seoul, Korea.

This study investigated smoking behaviors by disability type among people with disabilities in Korea and identified factors associated with attempted smoking cessation and successful four-week smoking abstinence. Data were collected between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019. Predictors of attempted smoking cessation and successful four-week smoking abstinence were analyzed by disability type in 557 participants.

Normal versus anomalous self-diffusion in two-dimensional fluids: memory function approach and generalized asymptotic Einstein relation.

Based on the generalized Langevin equation for the momentum of a Brownian particle a generalized asymptotic Einstein relation is derived. It agrees with the well-known Einstein relation in the case of normal diffusion but continues to hold for sub- and super-diffusive spreading of the Brownian particle's mean square displacement. The generalized asymptotic Einstein relation is used to analyze data obtained from molecular dynamics simulations of a two-dimensional soft disk fluid.

Rubus coreanus Miquel ameliorates scopolamine-induced memory impairments in ICR mice.

The present study investigated the effect of Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM) on scopolamine-induced memory impairments in ICR mice. Mice were orally administrated RCM for 4 weeks and scopolamine was intraperitoneally injected into mice to induce memory impairment. RCM improved the scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice.

Selectively hydrogenated soybean oil exerts strong anti-prostate cancer activities.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of male deaths due to cancer in the United States. Hydrogenated vegetable oils have been suspected of inducing adverse health effects, including atherosclerosis and cancer. Here we report that a selectively hydrogenated soybean oil (SHSO) containing a high quantity of conjugated linoleic acids showed remarkably strong anticarcinogenic activity against prostate cancer in the rat model (Copenhagen rats with MAT-LyLu syngeneic rat prostate cancer cells) study in vivo and human prostate carcinoma cell lines studies in vitro, as compared with native soybean oil.

Rapid identification and preparative isolation of antioxidant components in licorice.

This study employed the online HPLC-2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate radical cation (ABTS(+*)) bioassay to rapidly determine antioxidant compounds occurring in the licorice extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. The negative peaks of the ABTS(+*) radical scavenging detection system, which indicated the presence of antioxidant activity, were monitored by measuring the decrease in absorbance at 734 nm. The ABTS(+)-based antioxidant activity profile showed that three peaks exhibited antioxidant activity, and then the high-speed counter-current chromatography technique of preparative scale was successfully applied to separate the three peaks I-III in one step from the licorice extract.

The anti-inflammatory effects of a methanolic extract from Radix Isatidis in murine macrophages and mice.

Radix Isatidis is the dried root of the plant Isatidis indigotica Fort (family Cruciferae) and traditionally used as an anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-endotoxic, and immune regulatory agent in the folk medicine of Korea and China. The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of methanolic extracts of Radix Isatidis (RIME) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophages and in a TPA-induced ear edema animal model. Anti-inflammatory effects of RIME were examined in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.

Oral administration of 3,3'-diindolylmethane inhibits lung metastasis of 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma cells in BALB/c mice.

3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) is the major in vivo product of the acid-catalyzed oligomerization of indole-3-carbinol present in cruciferous vegetables, and it has been shown to exhibit anticancer properties. In this study, we assessed the effects of DIM on the metastasis of 4T1 mouse mammary carcinoma cells. In vitro culture studies showed that DIM dose-dependently inhibited the migration, invasion, and adhesion of 4T1 cells at concentrations of 0-10 micromol/L without attendant changes in cell viability.

The anti-inflammatory effects of methylsulfonylmethane on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in murine macrophages.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), also known as dimethyl sulfone and methyl sulfone, is an organic sulfur-containing compound that occurs naturally in a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and animals, including humans. In the present study, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of MSM in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophages, RAW264.7 cells.

3,3'-diindolylmethane attenuates colonic inflammation and tumorigenesis in mice.

Background: 3,3-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a major in vivo product of acid-catalyzed oligomerization of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) derived from Brassica food plants. Although DIM is known as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic phytochemical, the effects of DIM on inflammation in vivo are still unknown. In the present study we investigated the antiinflammatory effects of DIM on experimental colitis and colitis-associated colorectal carcinogenesis.

Cuscuta chinensis extract promotes osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the aqueous extract of To-Sa-Za (TSZ-AE), the seed of Cuscuta chinensis Lam., which is a traditional medicinal herb commonly used in Korea and other oriental countries, could induce osteogenic activity in human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells. TSZ-AE treatment mildly promoted the proliferation of MG-63 cells at doses of 500 and 1,000 microg/mL in the 24-hour culture period.

Chrysin, a natural flavone, improves murine inflammatory bowel diseases.

Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) is a natural flavone commonly found in many plants. It has previously been shown to be an anti-tumor agent. In this study, we investigated whether chrysin could alleviate the symptoms of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and whether chrysin has an inhibitory effect on nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation in vitro.

Apoptosis of DU145 human prostate cancer cells induced by dehydrocostus lactone isolated from the root of Saussurea lappa.

Saussurea lappa (SL) is a plant regularly utilized in traditional herbal medicine, and in vitro cell culture studies have demonstrated that SL has anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. In order to explore the possibility that SL exerts chemopreventive effects in androgen-independent prostate cancer, we attempted to determine whether the hexane extract of SL (HESL) induces apoptosis of DU145 cells, as well as the mechanisms underlying this effect. HESL substantially reduced the number of viable cells and induced apoptosis in DU145 cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Protein glycation inhibitors from the fruiting body of Phellinus linteus.

To characterize active principles for prevention and treatment of diabetic complications, the isolation of protein glycation inhibitors from the fruiting body of Phellinus linteus was conducted in vitro using the model systems of hemoglobin-delta-gluconolactone (early stage), bovine serum albumin-methylglyoxal (middle stage), and N(alpha)-acetyl-glycyl-lysine methyl ester-D-ribose (last stage) assays. Nine compounds were isolated from the active ethylacetate fraction of the fruiting body and identified as protocatechuic acid (1), protocatechualdehyde (2), caffeic acid (3), ellagic acid (4), hispidin (5), davallialactone (6), hypholomine B (7), interfungins A (8), and inoscavin A (9) by spectroscopic analyses. At the early stage of protein glycation, compounds 6, 8, and 9 exhibited inhibitory activity on hemoglobin A(1C) formation.

Licochalcone A isolated from licorice suppresses lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory reactions in RAW264.7 cells and endotoxin shock in mice.

Licochalcone A (LicA), a major phenolic constituent of the licorice species Glycyrrhiza inflata, exhibits various biological properties, including chemopreventive, anti-bacterial, and anti-spasmodic activity. We report that LicA inhibits inflammatory reactions in macrophages and protects mice from endotoxin shock. Our in vitro experiments showed that LicA suppressed not only the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG)E(2), but also the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.

Inhibitory constituents of aldose reductase in the fruiting body of Phellinus linteus.

In an effort to characterize active principles for diabetic complication from medicinal mushroom, aldose reductase inhibitors were isolated from the fruiting body of Phellinus linteus and identified as hispidin (5), phelligridimer A (6), davallialactone (7), methyldavallialactone (8), hypholomine B (9), interfungins A (10), and inoscavin A (11), together with protocatechuic acid (1), protocatechualdehyde (2), caffeic acid (3), and ellagic acid (4). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Among them, davallialactone (7), hypholomine B (9), and ellagic acid (4) exhibited potent rat lens aldose reductase and human recombinant aldose reductase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 0.

Induction of apoptosis in HT-29 colon cancer cells by phloretin.

Phloretin, which is present in apples and pears, has been found to inhibit the growth of several cancer cells and induce apoptosis of B16 melanoma and HL60 human leukemia cells. The present study examined whether and how phloretin induces apoptosis of HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Phloretin (0-100 micromol/L) substantially decreased viable cell number and induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Antiinflammatory activities of Rubus coreanus depend on the degree of fruit ripening.

The dried unripe fruit of Rubus coreanus, which is well-known in Korea and referred to as 'Bok-bun-ja', has been employed as a traditional medicine for centuries. This crude drug is utilized in Korea for the management of impotence, spermatorrhea, enuresis, asthma and allergic diseases. The principal objective of the present study was to conduct a comparison of the antiinflammatory effects of ethanol extracts of the unripe (URCE), half-ripened (HRCE) and ripe fruits (RCE) of Rubus coreanus.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) inhibits ErbB3 signaling in prostate cancer cells.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a flavonoid found in licorice, shallot, and bean sprouts, has been identified as a potent anti-tumor promoting agent. We previously demonstrated that ISL reduces cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in DU145 human prostate cancer cells and MAT-LyLu (MLL) rat prostate cancer cells. Overexpression of members of the ErbB receptor family is a frequently observed event in several human cancers, and ErbB receptors currently constitute the primary targets of anticancer strategies.

Activation of caspase-8 contributes to 3,3'-Diindolylmethane-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells.

3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is the major in vivo product of acid-catalyzed oligomerization of indole-3-carbinol, which is a promising anticancer agent present in cruciferous vegetables and has itself been reported to have anticarcinogenic properties. This study examined DIM-mediated regulation of apoptosis in the HCT116 (wild-type p53) and HT-29 (mutant p53) human colon cancer cell lines. DIM (0-30 micromol/L) substantially decreased the number of viable cells and induced apoptosis of HCT116 and HT-29 cells in a concentration-dependent manner.

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 mediates the anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extract of Rubus coreanus in murine macrophages.

Foods of plant origin, especially fruits and vegetables, draw increased attention because of their potential benefits to human health. The aim of the present study was to determine in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of four different extracts obtained from the fruits of Rubus coreanus (aqueous and ethanol extracts of unripe and ripe fruits). Among the four extracts, the ethanol extract of unripe fruits of R.

trans-10,cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid inhibits the G1-S cell cycle progression in DU145 human prostate carcinoma cells.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a group of positional and geometric isomers of linoleic acid, and has evidenced anti-cancer activities in experimental animal cancer models and in vitro studies. The two predominant isomers of CLA are cis-9,trans-11 CLA (c9t11) and trans-10,cis-12 CLA (t10c12). The present study was performed to study the effect of the individual CLA isomers on DU145 cell growth.

Neuroprotective effects of roasted licorice, not raw form, on neuronal injury in gerbil hippocampus after transient forebrain ischemia.

Aim: To observe neuroprotective effects of raw and roasted licorice against hypoxia and ischemic damage.

Methods: When elucidating the protective effects of raw and roasted licorice, we analyzed the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release using PC12 cells after hypoxia in an in vitro study and after transient forebrain ischemia in an in vivo study on Mongolian gerbils.

Results: Raw and roasted licorice significantly reduced LDH release from PC12 cells exposed to an hypoxic chamber for 1 h.