Suppression of colorectal cancer growth: Interplay between curcumin and metformin through DMT1 downregulation and ROS-mediated pathways.

The rising incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) poses significant healthcare challenges. This study explored the therapeutic potential of combined curcumin (CUR) and metformin (MET) treatment in CRC models. Our findings indicate that the combination treatment (COMB) effectively downregulates the expression of divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT-1), leading to a reduction in cell proliferation aligned with suppression of the pAKT/mTOR/Cyclin D1 signaling pathway.

Effects of combined traditional Chinese medicine therapy in patients of lower limbs injuries with osteoporosis: A retrospective paired cohort study.

Studies have confirmed that the health hazards of patients with lower limb injuries combined with osteoporosis are more obvious. This study is mainly based on the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database, and through big data analysis, it shows that the combined treatment of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is helpful to the health of patients with lower limb injuries combined with osteoporosis. A total of 9989 combined TCM-treated patients and 19,978 2:1 sex-, age-, and index-year-matched controls who did not receive TCM treatment were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database.

Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Long-Acting Release Formulations of Pasireotide (SOM230) in a Male Population Who Are Hyperendemic Hepatitis B/C and Chronic Kidney Disease: An Open-Label, Phase I Study.

Background: In patients with kidney or hepatic diseases, an increment of circulating pasireotide is also expected. Therefore, this open-label, phase I study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profiles and safety of subcutaneous (SC) and long-acting release (LAR) intramuscular injections of pasireotide in male Taiwanese volunteers who are hyperendemic hepatitis B/C and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: A total of 45 male volunteers were randomized to receive one of nine treatment sequences, involving a single subcutaneous injection of 300, 600, or 900 μg pasireotide, a multiple SC injection of the same dosage of pasireotide [300, 600, or 900 μg, twice daily (b.

Role of ferroptosis in periodontitis: An animal study in rats.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate (1) the temporal pattern of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, in ligation-induced rat periodontitis and (2) the effect of ferrostatin-1, a ferroptosis inhibitor, on the model.

Background: Ferroptosis may contribute to various diseases. However, the role of ferroptosis in periodontitis is still fully understood.

Curcumin Enhances the Abscopal Effect in Mice with Colorectal Cancer by Acting as an Immunomodulator.

Radiotherapy (RT) is an effective cancer treatment. The abscopal effect, referring to the unexpected shrinkage observed in non-irradiated tumors after radiation therapy, is thought to be mediated by systemic immune activation. However, it has low incidence and is unpredictable.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontitis: Bidirectional Association in Population-based 15-year Retrospective Cohorts.

Objective: A two-way relationship between periodontitis and diabetes has been proposed. However, bidirectional epidemiological observation is limited and inconsistent.

Objective: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan (covering over 99% of the entire population), we aimed to estimate the development of diabetes in periodontitis patients or that of periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), respectively.

Tooth life expectancy and burden of tooth loss: Two cross-sectional studies in Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Life expectancy (LE) is a hypothetical measure to predict life longevity and the indicator of society's overall health. Tooth loss is a worldwide enigma; however, the LE for tooth (LET) are obscure. LET and the burden of tooth loss in Taiwan were estimated using the scheme of National Health Insurance (NHI).

Cancer Detection Using an Artificial Secretable MicroRNA Found in Blood and Urine.

Biomarkers can potentially help in the detection and prognosis of diseases such as cancer, its recurrence, predicting response to therapy, and monitoring of response during and/or after treatment. Endogenous tumor blood biomarkers suffer from low concentrations that are not distinguishable from background noise and, if identified, the localization of the biomarker production site is not known. The use of exogenously introduced or artificial biomarkers can eliminate these issues.

Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide and gingival fibroblast augment MMP-9 expression of monocytic U937 cells through cyclophilin A.

Background: Intercellular cross-talking was suggested in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 expression with unknown mechanisms. Studies showed cyclophilin A (CypA) playing an important role in regulating MMP-9 expression in varied diseases. The aim of the study was to examine the CyPA on the MMP-9 augmentation in monocytic U937 cells after Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment and human gingival fibroblast (hGF) co-culture.

Palmitoleic acid ameliorates palmitic acid-induced proinflammation in J774A.1 macrophages via TLR4-dependent and TNF-α-independent signallings.

Adipose tissue resident macrophages play an important role in the regulation of the inflammatory response. Monounsaturated fatty acids assist in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases via an anti-inflammatory effect. However, the mechanisms by which monounsaturated fatty acids, such as palmitoleic acid, regulate the inflammatory response has not been well investigated.

A combination of sorafenib and radiotherapy reduces NF-κB activity and growth of hepatocellular carcinoma in an orthotopic mouse model.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is difficult to diagnose at an early stage, and its prognosis is generally poor. Sorafenib is the primary treatment for unresectable advanced HCC and targets multiple receptor tyrosine kinases. However, sorafenib only extends the average survival time by 3 months.

Fucoidan Prevents RANKL-Stimulated Osteoclastogenesis and LPS-Induced Inflammatory Bone Loss via Regulation of Akt/GSK3β/PTEN/NFATc1 Signaling Pathway and Calcineurin Activity.

Excessive osteoclast differentiation and/or function plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of bone diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Here, we examined whether fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide present in brown algae, attenuates receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)-stimulated osteoclastogenesis in vitro and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced bone resorption in vivo, and investigated the molecular mechanisms involved. Our results indicated that fucoidan significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation in RANKL-stimulated macrophages and the bone resorbing activity of osteoclasts.

Exercise reduces body fat and improves insulin sensitivity and pancreatic β-cell function in overweight and obese male Taiwanese adolescents.

Background: Improvements in insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell function have been shown following exercise in adults with obesity; however, few adolescent-based studies have been conducted. This study examined the impact of exercise training on body fat and insulin sensitivity and secretion in overweight and obese adolescents.

Methods: The effects of a 12-week exercise program on the parameters of adiposity and glucose homeostasis were investigated in 47 overweight and obese male adolescents.

Using proteomics to discover novel biomarkers for fatty liver development and response to CB1R antagonist treatment in an obese mouse model.

Over activity of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) plays a key role in increasing the incidence of obesity-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Tissue proteome analysis has been applied to investigate the bioinformatics regarding the mode of action and therapeutic mechanism. The aim of this study was to explore the potential pathways altered with CB1R in obesity-induced fatty liver.

Cannabinoid receptor type 1 mediates high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance by increasing forkhead box O1 activity in a mouse model of obesity.

Hepatic glucose production is promoted by forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) under conditions of insulin resistance. The overactivity of cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) partly causes increased liver fat deposits and metabolic dysfunction in obese rodents by decreasing mitochondrial function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of FoxO1 in CB1R-mediated insulin resistance through the dysregulation of mitochondrial function in the livers of mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity.

Genetic polymorphisms of PCSK2 are associated with glucose homeostasis and progression to type 2 diabetes in a Chinese population.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 2 (PCSK2) is a prohormone processing enzyme involved in insulin and glucagon biosynthesis. We previously found the genetic polymorphism of PCSK2 on chromosome 20 was responsible for the linkage peak of several glucose homeostasis parameters. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between genetic variants of PCSK2 and glucose homeostasis parameters and incident diabetes.

Effects of bariatric weight loss surgery on glucose metabolism, inflammatory cytokines, and serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5a in obese Chinese adults.

Background: We determined effects of bariatric weight loss surgery on serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5a (TRACP 5a), inflammatory cytokines and glucose homeostasis in severely obese Chinese adults.

Methods: Severely obese adults undergoing bariatric surgery were recruited. Anthropometry, insulin resistance (IR), inflammatory markers and serum TRACP 5a were measured at baseline and 3, 6 and 12months postoperatively.

Major urinary protein 1 interacts with cannabinoid receptor type 1 in fatty acid-induced hepatic insulin resistance in a mouse hepatocyte model.

Hepatic insulin resistance (HIR) is a metabolic abnormality characterized by increased gluconeogenesis which usually contributes from an elevation of free fatty acids. Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) and major urinary protein 1 (MUP1) are thought to play pivotal roles in mitochondrial dysfunction, liver steatosis and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to explore the role of MUP1 in CB1R-mediated HIR through the dysregulation of mitochondrial function in AML12 mouse hepatocytes challenged with high concentration of free fatty acids (HFFA).

Endothelin-1 exacerbates development of hypertension and atherosclerosis in modest insulin resistant syndrome.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is known as potent vasoconstrictor, by virtue of its mitogenic effects, and may deteriorate the process of hypertension and atherosclerosis by aggravating hyperplasia and migration in VSMCs. Our previous study demonstrated that insulin infusion caused sequential induction of hyperinsulinemia, hyperendothelinemia, insulin resistance, and then hypertension in rats. However, the underlying mechanism of ET-1 interfere insulin signaling in VSMCs remains unclear.

The effect of exercise on lipid profiles and inflammatory markers in lean male adolescents: a prospective interventional study.

Background: Physical activity improves body composition and inflammatory markers in obese individuals, but little is known about the nonobese population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between exercise and inflammatory cytokines in lean male adolescents in Taiwan.

Methods: This interventional study enrolled a total of 79 normal body weight male adolescents [mean age, 16.

The combination of the ankle brachial index and brachial ankle pulse wave velocity exhibits a superior association with outcomes in diabetic patients.

Objective: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and peripheral arterial disease are classified as having very high cardiovascular risks. We therefore sought to determine whether assessments of the ankle brachial index (ABI) and brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) together exhibited a superior association with the outcomes of T2DM.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients receiving ABI and baPWV during the period 2005-2007 was performed.

Angiotensin II enhances endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction through upregulating endothelin type A receptor.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is the most potent vasoconstrictor by binding to endothelin receptors (ETAR) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The complex of angiotensin II (Ang II) and Ang II type one receptor (AT1R) acts as a transient constrictor of VSMCs. The synergistic effect of ET-1 and Ang II on blood pressure has been observed in rats; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Endothelin Type A Receptor Genotype is a Determinant of Quantitative Traits of Metabolic Syndrome in Asian Hypertensive Families: A SAPPHIRe Study.

Co-heritability of hypertension and insulin resistance (IR) within families not only implies genetic susceptibility may be responsible for these complex traits but also suggests a rational that biological candidate genes for hypertension may serve as markers for features of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Thus we determined whether the T323C polymorphism (rs5333) of endothelin type A (ETA) receptor, a predominant receptor evoking potent vasoconstrictive action of endothelin-1, contributes to susceptibility to IR-associated hypertension in 1694 subjects of Chinese and Japanese origins. Blood pressures (BPs) and biochemistries were measured.

Safety and efficacy of twice-daily exenatide in Taiwanese patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background/purpose: Exenatide has been predominantly studied in non-Asian populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of twice-daily (BID) exenatide versus placebo in a subpopulation of Taiwanese patients from a larger study on Asian patients.

Methods: Patients unable to achieve glycemic control with metformin alone or metformin in combination with sulfonylurea were randomly assigned to self-administer either 5 μg exenatide or placebo BID for 4 weeks, then 10 μg exenatide or placebo BID for an additional 12 weeks, in addition to their regular oral therapy.

Effect of growth hormone on dawn phenomenon in patients with type 2 diabetes.

We aimed to investigate the involvement of growth hormone in dawn phenomenon and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). On six occasions separated by intervals of at least 3 days, subjects received early evening (16:00 hours) or late night (23:00 hours) pretreatment with subcutaneous injection of normal saline, human growth hormone, or octreotide. Modified euglycemic insulin clamp test was done 16 hours later and variable glucose infusion (M values) was determined.