Genistein ameliorated obesity accompanied with adipose tissue browning and attenuation of hepatic lipogenesis in ovariectomized rats with high-fat diet.

Estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal women is linked to the higher prevalence of obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndromes. Development of beige adipocytes (browning of WAT) increases energy expenditure and could be a promising strategy for obesity management. This study aimed to investigate the effects of phytoestrogen genistein (GEN) on white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation, browning and hepatic lipogenesis in ovariectomized rats with high-fat diet (HFD) and further explore the underlying mechanism.

Specific drug delivery efficiently induced human breast tumor regression using a lipoplex by non-covalent association with anti-tumor antibodies.

Background: A cationic liposome-PEG-PEI complex (LPPC) was employed as a carrier for achieving targeted delivery of drug to human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2/neu)-expressing breast cancer cells. LPPC can be easily loaded with an anti-tumor drug and non-covalently associated with an anti-tumor antibody such as Herceptin that is clinically used to rapidly form immunoparticles within 1 h.

Results: Drug-loaded LPPC have an average size about 250 nm and a zeta potential of about 40 mV.

Serum levels of sclerostin as a potential biomarker in central arterial stiffness among hypertensive patients.

Background: Sclerostin is known to be a canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor, while the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is proposed to be involved in the development of arterial stiffness. This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum sclerostin levels and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) among hypertensive patients.

Methods: Fasting blood samples were obtained from 105 hypertensive patients.

Chinese herbal medicine therapy and the risk of mortality for chronic hepatitis B patients with concurrent liver cirrhosis: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is increasingly recognized as a public health problem in Taiwan. After affected patients are diagnosed with contaminant liver cirrhosis (LC), adverse clinical outcomes, especially death, are common. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), an essential branch of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), on the mortality risk among CHB patients with contaminant LC.

Sex-Specific Association between Metabolic Abnormalities and Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase Levels in a Military Cohort: The CHIEF Study.

The association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, a marker of hepatic injury, may differ between men and women. However, the sex-specific association in a military young population which has a low prevalence of MetS was unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional examination in 6738 men and 766 women, aged 18-50 years, from the cardiorespiratory fitness study in armed forces (CHIEF) in eastern Taiwan.

TRPM8 and RAAS-mediated hypertension is critical for cold-induced immunosuppression in mice.

Mechanisms underlying cold-induced immunosuppression remain unclear. Here we found that cold exposure leads to transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8)-dependent, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)-mediated hypertension, which subsequently induces small molecule and fluid extravasation, increases plasma Ig levels, and elicits immunosuppression. An effect is similar to the clinically-used immunosuppressive treatments of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) against various inflammatory diseases, such as immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).

A comparison of Cornell and Sokolow-Lyon electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy in a military male population in Taiwan: the Cardiorespiratory fitness and HospItalization Events in armed Forces study.

Background: The Cornell and Sokolow-Lyon electrocardiography (ECG) criteria have been widely used for diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with hypertension. However, the correlations of these ECG criteria with LVH were rarely compared in military members who received rigorous training, particularly of the Asian male population.

Methods: We compared the Cornell voltage and product criteria with the Sokolow-Lyon criteria for the echocardiographic LVH in 539 military male members, ages 18-50 years and free of hypertension in the Cardiorespiratory fitness and HospItalization Events in armed Forces (CHIEF) study in Taiwan.

Telecare Services for Elderly: Predictive Factors of Continued Use Intention.

Background: Several countries have recently attempted to implement telecare information technology to provide health care to older adults. This study applied self-determination theory (autonomy, relatedness, and competence) and the theory of planned behavior (subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and attitudes toward using tools) to investigate a theoretical model for explaining the predictive factors influencing the intention of elderly patients to continue using telecare services.

Methods: Elderly patients in Taiwan (N = 160) who used telecare systems and fall-detection systems completed a questionnaire.

Associations between prescribed Chinese herbal medicine and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Objective: Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are reported to exhibit higher risk of subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it remains unclear if Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), an important category of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), may lower HCC risk in this population. So this study aimed to investigate the effects of CHM on HCC risk among patients with CHB.

Effects of Resourcefulness on Sleep Disturbances, Anxiety, and Depressive symptoms in Family Members of Intensive Care Unit Patients.

The study aimed to investigate the relationships among psychological distresses, resourcefulness, sleep disturbances, anxiety and depressive symptoms in family members of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design was employed. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, relationships among factors, mediators, and outcomes were analyzed.

Increased Risk of Stroke in Patients With Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To investigate the incidence and prevalence of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), and to extrapolate the risk of cerebrovascular events following NAION.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: We identified NAION patients first, and then looked for the diagnosis of stroke after the diagnosis of NAION.

Serum leptin is a predictor for central arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients.

Aim: Serum adipokines have a role in the development of arterial stiffness. We aimed to investigate the risk factors of developing arterial stiffness and the association of leptin and arterial stiffness in hypertensive (HTN) patients.

Methods: There were 101 HTN patients enrolled.

Decreased risk of stroke in patients receiving traditional Chinese medicine for vertigo: A population-based cohort study.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Patients with vertigo are reported to exhibit a higher risk of subsequent stroke. However, it remains unclear if Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the most common form of complementary and alternative medicine, can help lower the risk of stroke for these patients. So the aim of the study was to investigate the effects of TCM on stroke risk among patients with vertigo.

Increase of human prostate cancer cell (DU145) apoptosis by telmisartan through PPAR-delta pathway.

The effect of telmisartan on prostate cancer DU145 cell survival and the underlying mechanism of apoptosis involving peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathway were investigated. Cultured DU145 cells were treated pharmacologically with telmisartan and GSK0660 (a PPAR-delta antagonist); or by RNA interference with siRNA of PPAR-delta. The treatment effects on cell survival were evaluated with cell viability assay, life and dead cell staining and flow cytometry.

Excavatolide B inhibits nonsmall cell lung cancer proliferation by altering peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma expression and PTEN/AKT/NF-Kβ expression.

Marine organisms are proven to be rich source of secondary metabolites that can be used to treat various diseases. Excavatolide B (Exc.B), the most abundant metabolite was found in the marine coral Briareum excavatum exhibits cytotoxic effects against lung cancer cell.

Induction of endothelium-dependent constriction of mesenteric arteries in endotoxemic hypotensive shock.

Background And Purpose: Effective management of hypotension refractory to vasoconstrictors in severe sepsis is limited. A new strategy to ameliorate endotoxemic hypotension by inducing endothelium-dependent constriction of large arteries was assessed.

Experimental Approach: Endotoxemia in rats was induced by injection of LPS (10 mg·kg(-1), i.

Development of PPAR-agonist GW0742 as antidiabetic drug: study in animals.

Background: The development of new drugs for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) is critically important. Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the main problems associated with type-2 DM (T2DM) seen in clinics. GW0742, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-δ agonist, has been shown to ameliorate metabolic abnormalities including IR in skeletal muscle in mice fed high-fructose corn syrup.

The effectiveness of compliance therapy on drug attitude among schizophrenic patients: a systematic review.

Background: Schizophrenia is one of the most severe mental illnesses. Studies have found that 25% to 80% of all schizophrenic patients are non-compliant in medication-taking. Non-compliance of medication-taking is associated with higher readmission rates that result from relapses.

Factors affecting success of an integrated community-based telehealth system.

Background: The rise of chronic and degenerative diseases in developed countries has become one critical epidemiologic issue. Telehealth can provide one viable way to enhance health care, public health, and health education delivery and support.

Objective: The study aims to empirically examine and evaluate the success factors of community-based telehealth system adoption.

Effectiveness of e-learning in hospitals.

Background: Because medical personnel share different work shifts (i.e., three work shifts) and do not have a fixed work schedule, implementing timely, flexible, and quick e-learning methods for their continued education is imperative.

Canavanine activates imidazoline I-2 receptors to reduce hyperglycemia in type 1-like diabetic rats.

Canavanine is a guanidinium derivative that has the basic structure of a ligand for the imidazoline receptor (I-R). Furthermore, canavanine is found in an herb that has been shown to improve diabetic disorders. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the anti-hyperglycemic action of canavanine in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1-like diabetes.

Changes in Gene Expression Patterns of Circadian-Clock, Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid-1 and Nerve Growth Factor in Inflamed Human Esophagus.

Circadian rhythm is driven by the molecular circadian-clock system and regulates many physiological functions. Diurnal rhythms in the gastrointestinal tract are known to be related to feeding pattern, but whether these rhythms are also related to the gastrointestinal damage or injuries; for example, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is unclear. This study was conducted to determine whether expression of circadian-clock genes or factors involved in vagal stimulation or sensitization were altered in the esophagus of GERD patients.

[Major Burn Trauma Management and Nursing Care].

Major burn injury is one of the most serious and often life-threatening forms of trauma. Burn patients not only suffer from the physical, psychological, social and spiritual impacts of their injury but also experience considerable changes in health-related quality of life. This paper presents a review of the literature on the implications of previous research and clinical care guidelines related to major burn injuries in order to help clinical practice nurses use evidence-based care guidelines to respond to initial injury assessments, better manage the complex systemic response to these injuries, and provide specialist wound care, emotional support, and rehabilitation services.

Positive correlation of serum adipocyte fatty acid binding protein levels with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity in geriatric population.

Background: Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) is a novel fat-derived circulating protein, which is independently and positively associated with atherosclerosis. The present study evaluated the relationship between fasting serum A-FABP and central arterial stiffness in geriatric adults.

Methods: Fasting blood samples were obtained from 87 geriatric patients and the serum A-FABP levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay.