An alleviative effect of Lonicerae japonicae flos water extract against liver fibrogenesis in vitro and in vivo.

Lonicerae japonicae (L. japonicae) flos is a medical and food homology herb. This study investigated the phenolic acid and flavonoid contents in L.

miR-328-3p Affects Axial Length Via Multiple Routes and Anti-miR-328-3p Possesses a Potential to Control Myopia Progression.

Purpose: We previously reported miR-328-3p as a novel risk factor for myopia through a genetic association study of the PAX6 gene. In the present study, we first explored the effects of miR-328-3p on other myopia-related genes, and then tested whether anti-miR-328-3p may be used for myopia control.

Methods: The luciferase report assay and transient transfection were used to confirm miR-328-3p target genes.

Impact of visual impairment on balance and visual processing functions in students with special educational needs.

Introduction: Vision is critical for children's development. However, prevalence of visual impairment (VI) is high in students with special educational needs (SEN). Other than VI, SEN students are prone to having functional deficits.

Protective effects of crude chalaza hydrolysates against liver fibrogenesis via antioxidation, anti-inflammation/anti-fibrogenesis, and apoptosis promotion of damaged hepatocytes.

Four-hundred metric-ton chalazae are produced annually from the liquid-egg processing and always cause a heavy burden due to handling cost in Taiwan. After chalazae were hydrolyzed by protease A, the amounts of hydrophobic, aromatic, and branched-chain amino acids, as well as anserine were dramatically increased. This study was to understand the antifibrogenic effects of protease A-digested crude chalaza hydrolysates (CCH-As) on livers of thioacetamide (TAA) treated rats.

Ameliorative effects of functional chalaza hydrolysates prepared from protease-A digestion on cognitive dysfunction and brain oxidative damages.

Our patented protease A-digested crude chalaza hydrolysates (CCH) show antioxidant abilities in vitro. The prophylactic effects of CCH on cognitive dysfunction and brain oxidative damages were investigated via a D-galactose (DG)-injected mouse model in this study. Fifty-four mice were randomly divided into the following: (1) CON, 0.

Dunaliella salina alga extract inhibits the production of interleukin-6, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species by regulating nuclear factor-κB/Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription in virus-infected RAW264.7 cells.

Recent investigations have demonstrated that carotenoid extract of Dunaliella salina alga (Alga) contains abundant β-carotene and has good anti-inflammatory activities. Murine macrophage (RAW264.7 cells) was used to establish as an in vitro model of pseudorabies virus-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) response.

Protective Effects of Functional Chicken Liver Hydrolysates against Liver Fibrogenesis: Antioxidation, Anti-inflammation, and Antifibrosis.

Via an assay using an Amino Acid Analyzer, pepsin-digested chicken liver hydrolysates (CLHs) contain taurine (365.57 ± 39.04 mg/100 g), carnosine (14.

Preventive effects of Ophiocordyceps sinensis mycelium on the liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide.

Thioacetamide (TAA), usually used as a fungicide to control the decay of citrus products, itself is not toxic to the liver, but its intermediates are able to increase oxidative stress in livers and further cause fibrosis. Ophiocordyceps sinensis mycelium (OSM) which contains 10% polysaccharides and 0.25% adenosine decreased (P < 0.

Luteolin inhibits viral-induced inflammatory response in RAW264.7 cells via suppression of STAT1/3 dependent NF-κB and activation of HO-1.

Luteolin is a common dietary flavonoid present in Chinese herbal medicines that has been reported to have important anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have shown that luteolin is an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative agent. In this study, the anti-virus inflammatory capacity of luteolin and its molecular mechanisms of action were analyzed.

Lychee flower extract inhibits proliferation and viral replication of HSV-1-infected corneal epithelial cells.

Purpose: Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) is capable of causing a wide array of human ocular diseases. Herpes simplex virus keratitis (HSK)-induced cytopathogenicity together with the chronic immune-inflammatory reaction can trigger stromal scarring, thinning, and neovascularization which may lead to permanent vision impairment. Lychee flower extract (LFE) is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Achieving high dielectric constant and low loss property in a dipolar glass polymer containing strongly dipolar and small-sized sulfone groups.

In this report, a dipolar glass polymer, poly(2-(methylsulfonyl)ethyl methacrylate) (PMSEMA), was synthesized by free radical polymerization of the corresponding methacrylate monomer. Due to the large dipole moment (4.25 D) and small size of the side-chain sulfone groups, PMSEMA exhibited a strong γ transition at a temperature as low as -110 °C at 1 Hz, about 220 °C below its glass transition temperature around 109 °C.

Expression and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases in matured porcine oocytes under thermal stress.

In this study, we determined the expression and activation of p38 MAPK in matured porcine oocytes subjected to heat shock (HS). When MII oocytes were heated, only the phosphorylated p38 levels relative to the total p38 levels decreased (P < 0.01) after HS, but no clear relationship with HS treatments was observed in the ERK, JNK and p90(rsk) expressions of matured oocytes.

Production of viable cloned miniature pigs by aggregation of handmade cloned embryos at the 4-cell stage.

The aim of the present study was to improve the quality of handmade cloned porcine embryos by multiple embryo aggregations. Embryos derived from aggregation of three cloned embryos (3×) had a better blastocyst rate than cloned control (1×) embryos (73.6% vs 35.

Protective effects of taurine against alloxan-induced diabetic cataracts and refraction changes in New Zealand White rabbits.

The present study examined the protective effects of taurine on alloxan-induced diabetic cataracts and lens damage in male New Zealand White rabbits. The animals were randomly divided into three treatment groups: (1) normal control (vehicle administration); (2) diabetes (100 mg/kg alloxan administration); and (3) diabetes + taurine (1% [w/v] taurine dissolved in drinking water and alloxan administration). The results showed that alloxan-induced diabetes caused significant (p < 0.

Trichostatin A and ascorbic acid assist in the development of porcine handmade cloned embryos via different physiologic pathways.

The objective was to determine the effects of ascorbic acid (AA), trichostatin A (TSA), and their combined treatment (TA) on reprogramming and development of cloned porcine embryos. Embryos treated with AA (50 and 100 µg/mL) had a higher blastocyst rate than controls (49.6% and 44.

Characterising visual deficits in children of an urban elementary school in Taiwan.

Purpose: The aim was to screen children from Grades 1 to 6 in an urban elementary school in Central Taiwan for visual deficits and associated parameters and, as an extension, to examine the acceptance of cycloplegic therapy as well as the lag in optimal vision correction.

Methods: Of 900 students in one school, 731 participated in the study, with parental consent. Data from 694 students, who had also completed a vision correction history were analysed.

Calcium release and development of heat-shocked porcine oocytes after nucleus-ooplasm reconstruction.

We determined the effect of heat shock (HS) on the alterations of development and calcium releasing capacity of nuclear-ooplasmic reconstructed porcine oocytes stimulated by thimerosal. The non-HS (39 degrees C) and the HS2h (41.5 degrees C for 2 h) matured oocytes were enucleated and their spindles/chromosomes were exchanged between these two groups followed by parthenogenetic activation.

Sonic hedgehog promotes porcine oocyte maturation and early embryo development.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) protein on porcine oocyte maturation and early embryo development. Immunohistochemistry showed activation of Shh signalling in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), as reflected by Patched (Ptc), Smoothened (Smo) and Gli1 expression in oocytes, cumulus cells and granulosa cells, particularly those of small follicles (<2 mm in diameter). Western blot analysis showed Smo expression in COCs and in denuded oocytes derived from small and medium (3-7 mm)-sized follicles.

Flaxseed oil attenuates nonalcoholic fatty liver of hyperlipidemic hamsters.

Hyperlipidemia of hamsters was induced by high-fat/cholesterol diets formulated by the addition of coconut oil (CO), butter (BU), and flaxseed oil (FX). Lower (p < 0.05) serum lipids, liver size, and hepatic cholesterol and triacylglycerol contents were observed in the FX group compared to both CO and BU groups.

The kinase inhibitor indirubin-3'-oxime prevents germinal vesicle breakdown and reduces parthenogenetic development of pig oocytes.

Oocytes undergo spontaneous germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) after being released from the follicular environment; this potentially prevents manipulation of the oocyte at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of indirubin, a potent cdc2 kinase inhibitor, on GVBD and microtubular structure of porcine oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) were collected from abattoir-derived ovaries and were randomly allocated to different concentrations of indirubin treatments (0, 10, 25, 50, and 100 microM in Experiment 1 and 0, 50, 75, and 100 microM in Experiment 2) during 44 h of IVM.

Heat shock reduces developmental competence and alters spindle configuration of bovine oocytes.

Heat shock may enhance the thermotolerance of, or cause detrimental effects on, a variety of cell types or organisms, depending on the duration and intensity of the thermal challenge. Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of heat shock on the developmental competence and cytoskeletal structures of bovine oocytes following IVF. In Experiment 1, bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were subjected to standard IVM culture conditions for 20 h and were then randomly allocated to groups for heat shock at 42 degrees C for 0 (control), 1, 2, or 4h.

Nuclear and cytoskeletal alterations of in vitro matured porcine oocytes under hyperthermia.

The effects of heat shock (HS) on the nucleus and cytoskeleton of in vitro matured pig oocytes were examined in this study. Porcine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from 3 to 6 mm diameter follicles and subjected to standard in vitro maturation (IVM) procedures for 42 hr. In Experiment 1, IVM-derived oocytes were then randomly allocated to different HS treatments at 41.