Five brasilane-type sesquiterpenoids with neuroprotective activities from Xylaria nigripes.

Five brasilane-type sesquiterpenoids, including four previously undescribed compounds named xylaribrasilaids A-D, along with a known analogue, were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of solid fermentation from Xylaria nigripes. X. nigripes, a traditional Chinese medicinal fungus utilized for treating various ailments such as insomnia, trauma, and depression, has garnered attention due to its pharmacological potential.

Gender-specific genetic influence of rs1111875 on diabetes risk: Insights from the Taiwan biobank study.

Background: This study investigates the gender-specific genetic influence of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1111875 on diabetes risk within the Taiwanese population using data from the Taiwan Biobank. Diabetes mellitus, particularly type 2 diabetes (T2D), is influenced by genetic factors, and the rs1111875 SNP near the hematopoietically expressed homeobox (HHEX) gene has been linked to T2D susceptibility.

Methods: The study included 69,272 participants after excluding those from arsenic-polluted areas and those with incomplete data.

Association between varicose veins and constitution of traditional Chinese medicine plus heart-failure-like symptoms.

Background: Varicose veins are a common issue for employees in jobs that require prolonged standing compared with all other employees. However, its relationship with presentations of traditional Chinese medicine constitution is unknown. This study aimed to investigate their association.

Heterodimeric diketopiperazine alkaloids from MA147 and their cytotoxicity.

Four previously undescribed heterodimeric diketopiperazine alkaloids, expansines A-D, were identified from the solid rice medium fermented by MA147, along with one new resorcylic acid derivative and five known compounds. Their structures and relative/absolute configurations were elucidated by interpretation of their spectroscopic data, quantum chemical calculations, and chemical conversion. Some obtained compounds were evaluated for the cytotoxicity against a triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, and expansine C showed an IC value of 3.

The association between different impact exercises and osteoporosis: an analysis of data from the Taiwan biobank.

Osteoporosis is a prevalent condition marked by reduced bone density and an elevated risk of fractures, especially among postmenopausal women. Exercise plays a crucial role in preventing and managing osteoporosis, with weight-bearing and impact exercises being particularly effective in enhancing bone density and mitigating disease risk. This study investigated the relationship between various types of impact exercises and osteoporosis using data from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB).

Susceptibility to eye diseases in relation to age and kidney failure among Taiwanese adults.

Background: The kidney and eyes share common pathways and are thought to be closely connected. Chronic kidney disease and major eye diseases, such as cataract and glaucoma, are strongly associated with age. However, further investigation is needed to understand the joint impact of age and kidney diseases on eye diseases.

Cigarette smoking and PM might jointly exacerbate the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Background: Cigarette smoking and particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm (PM) are major preventable cardiovascular mortality and morbidity promoters. Their joint role in metabolic syndrome (MS) pathogenesis is unknown.

The association between smoking cessation and lifestyle/genetic variant rs6265 among the adult population in Taiwan.

Recent studies showed significant associations between socio-demographic, lifestyle factors, polymorphic variant rs6265, and smoking cessation behaviours. We examined rs6265 TT, TC and CC genotypes and their association with socio-demographic and other variables, including mental health status, drinking, exercise, and smoking behaviour among Taiwanese adults. Data on rs6265 were retrieved from the Taiwan Biobank, which contained genetic data collected between 2008 to 2019 from 20,584 participants (aged 30-70 years).

Spine, hip, and femoral neck bone mineral density in relation to vegetarian type and status among Taiwanese adults.

Unlabelled: We determined the association of vegetarian type and status with bone mineral density (BMD) Z-scores at the spine, hip, and femoral neck. Compared to non-vegetarians, current vegetarians, especially vegans, lacto-vegetarians, and lacto-ovo-vegetarians had lower Z-scores at multiple sites. Sole reliance on a vegetarian diet might be detrimental to the bone.

The association between vegetarian diet and varicose veins might be more prominent in men than in women.

Background: Varicose veins (VVs), a common vascular disease is associated with a huge medical burden. The prevalence in women surpasses that in men. The role of vegetarian diets in the pathogenesis of the disease remains inconclusive.

Jogging and weight training associated with increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in Taiwanese adults.

Background: Although previous studies have shown that aerobic and resistance exercise increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, the optimal type of exercise has not been determined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association of jogging (a type of aerobic exercise) and weight training (a type of resistance exercise) with HDL-C levels in Taiwanese adults.

Methods: The data used in this cross-sectional study were obtained from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB), which is a national health resource that contains the genetic information of Taiwanese volunteers aged 30-70 years.

Associations Between Body Mass Index, WNT16 rs2908004 and Osteoporosis: Findings from Taiwan Biobank.

Purpose: Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease that affects women and men of all races. We studied the association between body mass index (BMI), rs2908004 polymorphism of the WNT16 gene, and osteoporosis using data from Taiwan Biobank (TWB).

Patients And Methods: We analyzed data from 10,942 subjects aged 30 to 70.

Risk of gallstones based on ABCG8 rs11887534 single nucleotide polymorphism among Taiwanese men and women.

Background: Gallstones are abnormal masses caused by impaired metabolism of cholesterol, bilirubin, or bile salts in the gallbladder or biliary tract. ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 8 (ABCG8) is a protein that regulates cholesterol efflux from the liver. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and meta-analyses of GWAS revealed the ABCG8 rs11887534 variant as the most common genetic determinant of gallstones in humans.

[Effect of electroacupuncture combined with caudal epidural injection on functional rehabilitation of patients with lumbar hernia].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with caudal epidural injection on subjective pain, walking capability, lumbar flexibility and muscle strength in patients with lumbar disc hernia (LDH).

Methods: Sixty LDH patients were randomly allocated to the control group and the research group. The patients of the control group received ultrasound guided caudal epidural injection, and those of the research group received EA combined with ultrasound guided caudal epidural injection.

Research progress in bioremediation of petroleum pollution.

With the enhancement of environmental protection awareness, research on the bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon environmental pollution has intensified. Bioremediation has received more attention due to its high efficiency, environmentally friendly by-products, and low cost compared with the commonly used physical and chemical restoration methods. In recent years, bacterium engineered by systems biology strategies have achieved biodegrading of many types of petroleum pollutants.

Association of Age and Sex with Metabolic Syndrome in Taiwanese Adults.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association of age and sex with metabolic syndrome (MS) in Taiwanese adults.

Methods: We extracted information of 4307 men and 4783 women aged 30-70 from the Taiwan Biobank.

Results: The interaction between age and sex on MS was significant (p-value = 0.

Structural elucidation and antidiabetic activity of fucosylated chondroitin sulfate from sea cucumber Stichopus japonicas.

A fucosylated chondroitin sulfate was isolated from the body wall of sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus (FCSsj), whose structure was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and HILIC-FTMS. At the ratio of 1.00:0.

Application of marine natural products in drug research.

New diseases are emerging as the environment changes, so drug manufacturers are always on the lookout for new resources to develop effective and safe drugs. In recent years, many bioactive substances have been produced in the marine environment, which represents an alternative resource for new drugs used to combat major diseases such as cancer or inflammation. Many marine-derived medicinal substances are in preclinical or early stage of clinical development, and some marine drugs have been put on the market, such as ET743 (Yondelis®).

Interactive association between dietary fat and sex on CDH13 cg02263260 methylation.

Background: DNA methylation of Cadherin 13 (CDH13), a tumor suppressor gene is associated with gene repression and carcinogenesis. We determined the relation of dietary fat and sex with CDH13 cg02263260 methylation in Taiwanese adults.

Methods: Data of 870 eligible participants (430 men and 440 women) between 30 and 70 years were obtained from the Taiwan Biobank (TWB) database.

AHRR cg05575921 methylation in relation to smoking and PM exposure among Taiwanese men and women.

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-rich substances like cigarette smoke and PM induce aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-mediated aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) methylation. AHRR cg05575921 and coagulation factor II (thrombin) receptor-like 3 (F2RL3) cg03636183 methylation patterns are well-established biomarkers for smoking. Even though AHRR cg05575921 methylation has recently been associated with PM, the interaction between smoking and PM on AHRR methylation is yet to be fully explored.

Combination of Exercise and Vegetarian Diet: Relationship with High Density-Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Taiwanese Adults Based on MTHFR rs1801133 Polymorphism.

We examined the association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and exercise and vegetarian diets, in Taiwanese adults, based on the (MTHFR) rs1801133 polymorphism. Using regression models, we analyzed historical data collected from 9255 Taiwan Biobank (TWB) participants from 2008 through 2015. Exposure to exercise was associated with higher HDL-C ( = 1.

Vegetarian Diets along with Regular Exercise: Impact on High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels among Taiwanese Adults.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is important for improving risk estimates of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We investigated the effect of omnivore and diverse vegetarian diets in connection with exercise on HDL-C. Historical data of 9588 biobank participants (4025 exercisers and 5563 non-exercisers) aged 30-70 years were categorized as omnivores (n = 8589), former vegetarians (n = 544), lacto-ovo vegetarians (n = 417), and strict vegetarians (n = 38).

The short-term and long-term outcome of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome in children.

Background: The febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a catastrophic epileptic encephalopathy which developed the refractory status epilepticus following or during a nonspecific febrile illness. To analyze the short-term and long-term outcome of FIRES in the children, we retrospectively analyzed the related data.

Methods: The motor outcome was evaluated by modified Rankin scale (mRS).

The etiology and prognosis of super-refractory convulsive status epilepticus in children.

Background: Both refractory convulsive status epilepticus (SE) and super-refractory SE are medical emergencies. However, there are limited data on super-refractory SE in children. Thus, this study focuses on characterizing the demographics, outcomes, and prognostic factors for super-refractory SE in children.

Multiscale Entropy of Electroencephalogram as a Potential Predictor for the Prognosis of Neonatal Seizures.

Objective: Increasing animal studies supported the harmful effects of prolonged or frequent neonatal seizures in developing brain, including increased risk of later epilepsy. Various nonlinear analytic measures had been applied to investigate the change of brain complexity with age. This study focuses on clarifying the relationship between later epilepsy and the changes of electroencephalogram (EEG) complexity in neonatal seizures.