Urban climate and cardiovascular health: Focused on seasonal variation of urban temperature, relative humidity, and PM air pollution.

Seasonal effects on subclinical cardiovascular functions (CVFs) are an important emerging health issue for people living in urban environment. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate the effects of seasonal variations of temperature, relative humidity, and PM air pollution on CVFs. A total of 86 office workers in Taipei City were recruited, their arterial pressure waveform was recorded by cuff sphygmomanometer using an oscillometric blood pressure (BP) device for CVFs assessment.

Forest Bathing Is Better than Walking in Urban Park: Comparison of Cardiac and Vascular Function between Urban and Forest Parks.

Forest bathing is beneficial for human health. To investigate whether walking in forest or urban parks affects cardiovascular functions (CVFs), the present study was conducted in five forest trails in the Xitou Experimental Forest and in five urban parks in Taipei city. We recruited 25 adult volunteers for an observational pilot study in forest parks (n = 14) and urban parks (n = 11).

The Role of Social Context in Physiological and Psychological Restoration in a Forest: Case Study of a Guided Forest Therapy Program in Taiwan.

Existing studies have demonstrated the restorative benefits of being in forests. However, most studies have designed participants to engage individually in forest walking and viewing, which neglects the social aspect of conversation. Researchers suggested that social context should be studied in order to have a better understanding how forests foster human health.

Seasonal Effects of High-Altitude Forest Travel on Cardiovascular Function: An Overlooked Cardiovascular Risk of Forest Activity.

Cardiovascular physiological responses involving hypoxemia in low temperature environments at high altitude have yet to be adequately investigated. This study aims to demonstrate the health effects of hypoxemia and temperature changes in cardiovascular functions (CVFs) by comparing intra-individual differences as participants ascend from low (298 m, 21.9 °C) to high altitude (2729 m, 9.

Area-population control of fungus-growing termite, Odontotermes formosanus, using hexaflumuron durable baits.

Background: Fungus-growing termites (Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) are common forest and agriculture pests. To evaluate the efficacy of termite baiting in suppressing field population of fungus-growing termites, a durable termite bait with hexaflumuron was evenly installed in a one-hectare forest area dominated by a fungus-growing termite, Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki). Monthly monitoring of termite foraging activity on baits and wood stakes was conducted for 4 years to quantify efficacy of baits.

ERK Regulates NeuroD1-mediated Neurite Outgrowth via Proteasomal Degradation.

Neurogenic differentiation 1 (NeuroD1) is a class B basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor and regulates differentiation and survival of neuronal and endocrine cells by means of several protein kinases, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). However, the effect of phosphorylation on the functions of NeuroD1 by ERK has sparked controversy based on context-dependent differences across diverse species and cell types. Here, we evidenced that ERK-dependent phosphorylation controlled the stability of NeuroD1 and consequently, regulated proneural activity in neuronal cells.

Elevated COUP-TFII expression in dopaminergic neurons accelerates the progression of Parkinson's disease through mitochondrial dysfunction.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder featuring progressive loss of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons that leads to motor symptoms. The etiology and pathogenesis of PD are not clear. We found that expression of COUP-TFII, an orphan nuclear receptor, in DA neurons is upregulated in PD patients through the analysis of public datasets.

Small-molecule inhibitor targeting orphan nuclear receptor COUP-TFII for prostate cancer treatment.

The orphan nuclear receptor COUP-TFII is expressed at a low level in adult tissues, but its expression is increased and shown to promote progression of multiple diseases, including prostate cancer, heart failure, and muscular dystrophy. Suppression of COUP-TFII slows disease progression, making it an intriguing therapeutic target. Here, we identified a potent and specific COUP-TFII inhibitor through high-throughput screening.

Opposing Functions of BRD4 Isoforms in Breast Cancer.

Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is a cancer therapeutic target in ongoing clinical trials disrupting primarily BRD4-regulated transcription programs. The role of BRD4 in cancer has been attributed mainly to the abundant long isoform (BRD4-L). Here we show, by isoform-specific knockdown and endogenous protein detection, along with transgene expression, the less abundant BRD4 short isoform (BRD4-S) is oncogenic while BRD4-L is tumor-suppressive in breast cancer cell proliferation and migration, as well as mammary tumor formation and metastasis.

Small molecule JQ1 promotes prostate cancer invasion via BET-independent inactivation of FOXA1.

Recent findings have shown that inhibitors targeting bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins, such as the small molecule JQ1, are potent growth inhibitors of many cancers and hold promise for cancer therapy. However, some reports have also revealed that JQ1 can activate additional oncogenic pathways and may affect epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Therefore, it is important to address the potential unexpected effect of JQ1 treatment, such as cell invasion and metastasis.

Nuclear receptors regulate alternative lengthening of telomeres through a novel noncanonical FANCD2 pathway.

Alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) is known to use homologous recombination (HR) to replicate telomeric DNA in a telomerase-independent manner. However, the detailed process remains largely undefined. It was reported that nuclear receptors COUP-TFII and TR4 are recruited to the enriched GGGTCA variant repeats embedded within ALT telomeres, implicating nuclear receptors in regulating ALT activity.

Dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary estrogen receptor α-mediated signaling causes episodic LH secretion and cystic ovary.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis disorder. PCOS symptoms most likely result from a disturbance in the complex feedback regulation system of the HPG axis, which involves gonadotrophic hormones and ovarian steroid hormones. However, the nature of this complex and interconnecting feedback regulation makes it difficult to dissect the molecular mechanisms responsible for PCOS phenotypes.

Health effects of seasonal variation in cardiovascular hemodynamics among workers in forest environments.

Seasonal variation in cardiovascular functions (CVFs) associated with climatic changes is an important emerging public health issue. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate seasonal variation in CVFs by comparing intra-individual differences between winter and summer among people working in a forest environment and to discuss the possible mechanisms accounting for the health effects of seasonal variation in cardiovascular hemodynamics. A total of 72 staff members of the Experimental Forest of National Taiwan University were recruited for continuous health monitoring during two seasons to investigate the intra-individual seasonal variation in CVFs, complete blood counts, and biochemical examinations.

Tuber elevatireticulatum sp. nov., a new species of whitish truffle from Taiwan.

Background: There are estimated 180-220 species of Tuber described in the world, but the diversity of the genus in Taiwan is poorly known, with only two species recorded, i.e., Tuber formosanum and T.

Foraging Phenology of the Fungus-Growing Termite Odontotermes formosanus (Blattodea: Termitidae).

Fungus-growing termites are major contributors to litter decomposition and an agriculture pest in tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia. The foraging behavior of fungus-growing termites was hypothesized to be seasonal and may associate with climatic factors and the occurrence of natural enemies. In this study, we tested the effects of climatic factors and the presence of ants on the foraging activity of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (Blattodea: Termitidae).

Stitch guide technique for bicanalicular nasal intubation in single canalicular laceration reconstruction.

Various surgical techniques for canalicular laceration reconstruction have been described in previous study. But there are still two difficult points which may take time in the operation even with the assistance of magnification. We present a simple and effective way to achieve the bicanalicular nasal intubation for the single canalicular laceration.

SRC-3 Coactivator Governs Dynamic Estrogen-Induced Chromatin Looping Interactions during Transcription.

Enhancers are thought to activate transcription by physically contacting promoters via looping. However, direct assays demonstrating these contacts are required to mechanistically verify such cellular determinants of enhancer function. Here, we present versatile cell-free assays to further determine the role of enhancer-promoter contacts (EPCs).

Health effects of a forest environment on natural killer cells in humans: an observational pilot study.

Health effect assessments based on natural killer (NK) cells are an important emerging area of human health. We recruited 90 forest staff members in Xitou, Taiwan and 110 urban staff members in Taipei to investigate the health effects of forest environment exposure on NK cells (CD3/CD56) and activating NK cells (CD3/CD56/CD69) in humans. We also invited 11 middle-aged volunteers in a pilot study to participate in a five-day/four-night forest trip to Xitou forest to investigate the health effects of a forest trip on NK cells and activating NK cells.

Metabolic enzyme PFKFB4 activates transcriptional coactivator SRC-3 to drive breast cancer.

Alterations in both cell metabolism and transcriptional programs are hallmarks of cancer that sustain rapid proliferation and metastasis . However, the mechanisms that control the interaction between metabolic reprogramming and transcriptional regulation remain unclear. Here we show that the metabolic enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4) regulates transcriptional reprogramming by activating the oncogenic steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3).

Elimination of the male reproductive tract in the female embryo is promoted by COUP-TFII in mice.

The sexual differentiation paradigm contends that the female pattern of the reproductive system is established by default because the male reproductive tracts (Wolffian ducts) in the female degenerate owing to a lack of androgen. Here, we discovered that female mouse embryos lacking (chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor II) in the Wolffian duct mesenchyme became intersex-possessing both female and male reproductive tracts. Retention of Wolffian ducts was not caused by ectopic androgen production or action.

Effects of Short Forest Bathing Program on Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Mood States in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals.

The present study investigated changes in autonomic nervous system activity and emotions after a short (2 h) forest bathing program in the Xitou Nature Education Area (XNEA), Taiwan. One hundred and twenty-eight (60.0 ± 7.

Acetylation on histone H3 lysine 9 mediates a switch from transcription initiation to elongation.

The transition from transcription initiation to elongation is a key regulatory step in gene expression, which requires RNA polymerase II (pol II) to escape promoter proximal pausing on chromatin. Although elongation factors promote pause release leading to transcription elongation, the role of epigenetic modifications during this critical transition step is poorly understood. Two histone marks on histone H3, lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) and lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac), co-localize on active gene promoters and are associated with active transcription.

Dysregulation of nuclear receptor COUP-TFII impairs skeletal muscle development.

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II (COUP-TFII) has been shown to inhibit myogenesis and skeletal muscle metabolism in vitro. However, its precise role and in vivo function in muscle development has yet to be clearly defined. COUP-TFII protein expression level is high in undifferentiated progenitors and gradually declines during differentiation, raising an important question of whether downregulation of COUP-TFII expression is required for proper muscle cell differentiation.

Agricultural waste derived fuel from oil meal and waste cooking oil.

Oil meal is a by-product of the oil industry (peanut meal, sesame meal, and camellia meal). Oil is extracted from seeds, and the leftover meal is then pelletized, and this process generates a large amount of waste oil meal in Taiwan. In this study, peanut meal, sesame meal, and camellia meal derived fuels were prepared from the waste oil meal with waste cooking oil.

The Role of COUP-TFII in Striated Muscle Development and Disease.

Skeletal and cardiac muscles are the only striated muscles in the body. Although sharing many structural and functional similarities, skeletal and cardiac muscles have intrinsic differences in terms of physiology and regenerative potential. While skeletal muscle possesses a robust regenerative response, the mammalian heart has limited repair capacity after birth.