Prevention of Muscle Atrophy by Low-Molecular-Weight Fraction from Mycelium.

Muscle atrophy, an age-related condition, presents a growing healthcare concern within the context of global population aging. While studies have investigated for its potential antifatigue properties, reports on its active components remain limited. This study evaluated the efficacy of mycelium extract on muscle health, utilizing a 1:1 water-ethanol preparation administered to C57BL/6 mice exhibiting acute hind leg atrophy.

The role of personality traits and life stress in alcohol use disorder: Insights from NGF gene polymorphisms of Han Chinese population in Taiwan.

Objective: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex neuropsychiatric condition influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a crucial role in neuronal neuroplasticity and chronic alcohol consumption may alter NGF levels in specific brain regions. The study investigates the associations between NGF gene polymorphisms, susceptibility to AUD, and specific stress and personality characteristics.

The Potential of Co-Fermentation with and for the Production of Low-Alcohol Craft Beer.

The potential health impacts of moderate alcohol consumption have long been debated. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened public awareness of health concerns, creating a clear market opportunity for low-alcohol craft beer development. This study investigated the possibility of low-alcohol craft beer by co-fermentation with different ratios of () and (SC) according to the established quality indexes.

TWK10 relieves loperamide-induced constipation in rats fed a high-fat diet modulating enteric neurotransmitters, short-chain fatty acids and gut microbiota.

Obesity and constipation can alter the intestinal microbiota composition, affecting intestinal barrier integrity, immune function, and metabolic processes. Numerous studies have suggested that and could increase short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, thus improving the intestinal microbiota composition, mitigating obesity, and protecting the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of TWK10 (TWK10) on gut dysbiosis, obesity, and constipation induced by a high-fat diet and loperamide.

A theoretical systems chronopharmacology approach for COVID-19: Modeling circadian regulation of lung infection and potential precision therapies.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has underscored the urgent need for innovative therapeutic approaches. Recent studies have revealed a complex interplay between the circadian clock and SARS-CoV-2 infection in lung cells, opening new avenues for targeted interventions. This systems pharmacology study investigates this intricate relationship, focusing on the circadian protein BMAL1.

Impact of NHI copayment adjustments on healthcare seeking behavior: the mediating role of health facility identification.

Objective: This study investigates the impact of healthcare consumers' involvement, price perception, and attitude toward National Health Insurance (NHI) copayment adjustments on their healthcare-seeking behavior, focusing on the mediating role of health facility identification.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among outpatient customers in Taiwan from October 2023 to March 2024, resulting in 746 valid responses. The survey included demographic variables, involvement, price perception, attitude, health facility identification, and healthcare-seeking behavior.

A pilot pharmacokinetic and Metabolite identification study of Erinacine A in a Single landrace pig model.

Erinacine A has been proven to have the ability to protect nerves and have the benefit of neurohealth. However, the pharmacokinetic and metabolites study of erinacine A in pigs, whose physiology and anatomy are similar to humans, have not been reported. In this study, 5 mg/kg of erinacine A was intravenously administered to the landrace pig.

Arctium lappaL. polysaccharides alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver and kidney of aging mice by regulating intestinal homeostasis.

Arctium lappa L. polysaccharide (ALP) is a prominent bioactive compound renowned for its multifaceted functional properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrotic, immunomodulatory, and pro-apoptotic effects. This study evaluated the aging-delaying effect of ALP and its mechanisms using a D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging model.

Whole-Genome Sequencing of Three Strains Reveals Potential Metabolites for Boosting Host Immunity Safely.

In response to the growing demand for immune-related products, this study evaluated the safety and immune-modulating potential of three newly discovered strains (GKM3, GKK1, and GKD7) through toxicity tests and whole-genome sequencing. Safety evaluations, including the analysis of antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence factors, plasmids, and prophages, classified these strains as safe for human consumption. Acute oral toxicity tests further supported their safety.

Comparative mathematical modeling reveals the differential effects of high-fat diet and ketogenic diet on the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in heart.

Background: Obesity is a global health concern associated with increased risk of diseases like cardiovascular conditions including ischemic heart disease, a leading cause of mortality. The ketogenic diet (KD) has potential therapeutic applications in managing obesity and related disorders. However, the intricate effects of KD on diverse physiological conditions remain incompletely understood.

Empirical Study on the Usage of Telemedicine by Rural and Urban Health Care Consumers in Taiwan: Integrating the Perspectives of Technology Acceptance Model and Theory of Planned Behavior.

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease-19 posed significant challenges globally, impacting various sectors and health care systems profoundly. In response, telemedicine has emerged as a vital solution to address health care demands and resource shortages. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on telemedicine usage among health care consumers in urban and rural areas of Taiwan.

Exploring Telemedicine Usage Intention Using Technology Acceptance Model and Social Capital Theory.

Telemedicine technology has emerged as a pivotal solution to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of healthcare services. This study investigates the factors influencing the acceptance of telemedicine technology among healthcare professionals in Taiwan. Employing a quantitative research approach, we utilized a survey instrument adapted from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model.

Hirsutella sinensis intensifies testicular function and spermatogenesis in male mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity.

Background: Hirsutella sinensis (HS) is a mycelium isolated from the fruiting body of the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis . This study explored whether HS treatment affects reproductive dysfunction in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse model and regulates various mechanisms, focusing on oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and autophagy.

Methods: Twenty-four C57BL/6J (B6) mice were randomly divided into a standard chow diet (NCD)- or HFD-fed group for 24 weeks.

Carbon Nanofiber Membranes Loaded with MXene@g-CN: Preparation and Photocatalytic Property.

In this study, a TiC MXene@g-CN composite powder (TM-CN) was prepared by the ultrasonic self-assembly method and then loaded onto a carbon nanofiber membrane by the self-assembly properties of MXene for the treatment of organic pollutants in wastewater. The characterization of the TM-CN and the C-TM-CN was conducted via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) to ascertain the successful modification. The organic dye degradation experiments demonstrated that introducing an appropriate amount of TiC MXene resulted in the complete degradation of RhB within 60 min, three times the photocatalytic efficiency of a pure g-CN.

Parent Emotion Talk with Preschoolers from Low-Income Mexican American and Chinese American Families: Links to Sociocultural Factors.

Emotion talk (ET), an emotion socialization practice theorized to promote children's emotion understanding and emotion regulation, has been linked to better socioemotional adjustment in diverse samples. Immigrant children face developmentally unique challenges and opportunities related to their multi-lingual and multi-cultural experiences. The present study aimed to identify sociocultural correlates of parent ET in two groups of low-income immigrant families with preschool-age children: Mexican American (MA) and Chinese American (CA) families.

Discovery of a New Compound, Erinacerin W, from the Mycelia of , with Immunomodulatory and Neuroprotective Effects.

One new compound with an isoindolinone skeleton, along with erinacines A, C, and S, was isolated from the mycelia of , an edible fungus with a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Based on analysis of MS and NMR spectral data, the structure of the compound was identified as (2E,6E)-8-(2-(1-carboxy-3-methylbutyl)-4,6-dihydroxy-1-oxoisoindolin-5-yl)-2,6-dimethylocta-2,6-dienoic acid. In light of this discovery, we have given this compound the name erinacerin W.

Gene set correlation enrichment analysis for interpreting and annotating gene expression profiles.

Pathway analysis, including nontopology-based (non-TB) and topology-based (TB) methods, is widely used to interpret the biological phenomena underlying differences in expression data between two phenotypes. By considering dependencies and interactions between genes, TB methods usually perform better than non-TB methods in identifying pathways that include closely relevant or directly causative genes for a given phenotype. However, most TB methods may be limited by incomplete pathway data used as the reference network or by difficulties in selecting appropriate reference networks for different research topics.

How is the effect of social media on intention to outdoor recreations? A study using personal social connections as a moderator.

Many researchers have identified positive effects of social media to improve recreation quality. At that time, more people recognized to be involved in social media have lower motivation for outdoor activities. Here we see two-way effects of social media, positive and negative, to participation of outdoor activities.

Analyzing Financial Efficiency of Public-Private Partnerships Hospitals in Taiwan.

This study evaluates the management capacity ability and profitable capacity of eight public-private partnership hospitals in Taiwan from 2015 to 2020. By conducting various ratio analyses of the financial statement, this study found these hospitals have achieved a balance between management efficiency and profitability, thereby confirming the viability of the PPP model for hospital management. In addition, the subject hospitals play a vital role as isolation hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phellinus linteus mycelia extract in COVID-19 prevention and identification of its key metabolic compounds profiling using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS spectrometry.

For centuries, food, herbal medicines, and natural products have been valuable resources for discovering novel antiviral drugs, uncovering new structure-activity relationships, and developing effective strategies to prevent/treat viral infections. One such resource is Phellinus linteus, a mushroom used in folk medicine in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and China. In this rich historical context, the key metabolites of Phellinus linteus mycelia ethanolic extract (GKPL) impacting the entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at multiple stages have yet to be explored.