Effects of preferred music therapy on peer attachment, depression, and salivary cortisol among early adolescents in Taiwan.

Aims: To explore the effects of preferred music therapy on peer attachment, depression, and salivary cortisol among early adolescents.

Background: As adolescents enter puberty, they start to seek partnering relationships among peers. Peer attachment is central for adolescents and greatly influences their physical and psychological development.

Effect of Betel (Areca) Nut Chewing on Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide: A Pilot Study.

Betel (areca) nuts are extensively chewed in many countries. This has been associated with respiratory symptoms. We aimed to determine whether betel nut chewing is associated with acute changes in fractional exhaled nitric oxide, a non-invasive marker of airway inflammation.

Longan seed extract reduces hyperuricemia via modulating urate transporters and suppressing xanthine oxidase activity.

Hyperuricemia causes gouty arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease, and other diseases. Xanthine oxidase (XOD) and urate transporters play important roles in urate homeostasis. Numerous plants have been identified as XOD inhibitors.

Effect of Cordyceps militaris supplementation on sperm production, sperm motility and hormones in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Cordyceps species have been traditionally used as for the enhancement of sexual function, but its direct evidence is lacking. We investigated the spermatogenic effect of Cordyceps militaris (CM) as supplementation with CM mycelium to 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Ninety rats (30 for each group) were selected to regular diet or diet supplemented with CM mycelium (1% and 5%) for 6 weeks.

Plasma leptin response to oral glucose tolerance and fasting/re-feeding tests in rats with fructose-induced metabolic derangements.

The aim of this study was to compare the postprandial leptin response in rats with and without metabolic syndrome induced by a fructose-enriched diet. The effect of aging and the association between variations in metabolic substrates was also evaluated. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and fasting/re-feeding test were used to evaluate the responses of leptin and to explore the dynamic relationship between endogenous leptin and metabolic substrates, including glucose, insulin and triglycerides (TG).