Subcortical tau burden correlates with regional brain atrophy and plasma markers in four-repeat tauopathy parkinsonism.

Background: F-florzolotau positron emission tomography (PET) assists in the diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between F-florzolotau uptake and clinical severity, structural volume changes, and plasma markers in four-repeat tauopathies.

Methods: A total of 80 participants were recruited: 35 with PSP (11 with PSP-Richardson syndrome and 24 with PSP non-Richardson syndrome), 9 with corticobasal syndrome (CBS), 10 with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 8 with Parkinson's disease, and 18 controls.

A cross-language speech model for detection of Parkinson's disease.

Speech change is a biometric marker for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, evaluating speech variability across diverse languages is challenging. We aimed to develop a cross-language algorithm differentiating between PD patients and healthy controls using a Taiwanese and Korean speech data set.

An integrated biometric voice and facial features for early detection of Parkinson's disease.

Hypomimia and voice changes are soft signs preceding classical motor disability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). We aim to investigate whether an analysis of acoustic and facial expressions with machine-learning algorithms assist early identification of patients with PD. We recruited 371 participants, including a training cohort (112 PD patients during "on" phase, 111 controls) and a validation cohort (74 PD patients during "off" phase, 74 controls).

A task-specific cognitive domain decline is correlated with plasma and neuroimaging markers in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a disabling non-motor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). It remains uncertain whether declines in specific cognitive domains relate to imaging or plasma biomarkers across the disease continuum.

Objective: We investigated whether neuroimaging and plasma biomarkers correlate with individual task-specific cognitive domain declines evidenced by computerized neuropsychological tests in PD patients.

Three new cytotoxic oleanane triterpenoid saponins from Cylindrokelupha dalatensis.

Three new minor oleanane triterpenoid saponins, cylindrosides B (1), C (2), and D (3), were isolated from the seed of Cylindrokelupha dalatensis using chromatographic method. Their structures were established on the basis of the chemical and spectroscopic evidences. They displayed significant antitumor activity in vitro against HL60 cancer cell lines and IC values were 7.

[Effect of Aralia echinocaulis containing serum on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway of primary osteoblast].

This paper was aimed to investigate the effect of Aralia echinocaulis containing serum on expression of β-catenin, Wnt-1, Frizzed-2, TCF and Axin in Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway of primary osteoblasts. SD healthy female rats (n=80) were used to make A. echinocaulis containing serum by gastric perfusion for seven days with distilled water, A.

[Applications and approved projects on traditional Chinese medicine in National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2010].

In this article, the authors firstly summarized the number of applications submitted to and projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in the field of traditional Chinese medicine research in 2010. Then they described the district distribution, research direction layout and allotment of the approved projects in the three primary disciplines (traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese materia medica and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine) and their 43 subdisciplines. The targeting suggestions for improvement were given respectively by concluding the reason of disapproved projects from the point of view of applicants and supporting institution, and by stating the common problems existing in the review process from the perspectives of fund managers and evaluation experts.

[Influence of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz on the expression of fracture healing-related factor receptors].

Objective: To investigate the influence of aqueous extract of Aralia echinocaulis Hand.-Mazz on the expression of fracture healing-ralated factor receptors.

Methods: Single factor model was set up in SD rat.

[Determination of eight metal elements in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet by microwave digestion-FAAS].

The Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet is a traditional Uighur natural herbal medicine, but has not been analyzed and studied in terms of its metal elements. In the experiment, the Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet powder was digested with HNO3 by microwave digestion before determination. The eight metal elements, potassium, nickel, calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc, in Cichorium glandulosum Boiss et Huet were determined by FAAS.

[Influence of canthaxanthin on D-galactose induced osseous changes of rat].

Objective: To study the influence of canthaxanthin on D-galactose induced osseous changes of rat.

Methods: Forty-five six-week-old Wistar male rats were randomly divided into model group, canthaxanthin group and young control group. In addition, 15 sixteen-month-old Wistar male rats were used as old control group.

[Effects of Astaxanthin on the damage of osteoblast induced by H2O2].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Astaxanthin on enhancing the function of anti-oxidative damage in osteoblast.

Methods: MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were randomly divided into five groups, including control group, model group, Astaxanthin group [low-dose (1 x 10(-7) mol/L), middle-dose (1 x 10(-6) mol/L), high-dose (1 x 10(-5) mol/L)], in which the activity of cells, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid oxygen (LPO) and membrane fluidity were tested and compared.

Results: Compared with Astaxanthin groups, the activity of cells, SOD activity and membrane fluidity in the model group were significantly decreased (P < 0.

Synergistic tumor-killing effect of radiation and berberine combined treatment in lung cancer: the contribution of autophagic cell death.

Purpose: Radiotherapy is the most efficacious strategies for lung cancer. The radiation-enhancing effects and the underlying mechanisms of berberine were investigated both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods And Materials: Clonogenic survival assays were used to evaluate the radio-sensitivity of berberine on non-small-cell lung cancer.

Induction of autophagy and apoptosis by the extract of Solanum nigrum Linn in HepG2 cells.

Solanum nigrum L. (SN) has been used in traditional folk medicine to treat different cancers. It is also used as a hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory agent.

Protection effect of piper betel leaf extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Piper betel leaves (PBL) are used in Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of various disorders. PBL has the biological capabilities of detoxication, antioxidation, and antimutation. In this study, we evaluated the antihepatotoxic effect of PBL extract on the carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver injury in a rat model.

Inhibitory effect of berberine on the invasion of human lung cancer cells via decreased productions of urokinase-plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase-2.

Berberine, a compound isolated from medicinal herbs, has been reported with many pharmacological effects related to anti-cancer and anti-inflammation capabilities. In this study, we observed that berberine exerted a dose- and time-dependent inhibitory effect on the motility and invasion ability of a highly metastatic A549 cells under non-cytotoxic concentrations. In cancer cell migration and invasion process, matrix-degrading proteinases are required.