Growing evidence suggests that ethanolamine plasmalogens (PlsEtns), a subtype of phospholipids, have a close association with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Decreased levels of PlsEtns have been commonly found in AD patients, and were correlated with cognition deficit and severity of disease. Limited studies showed positive therapeutic outcomes with plasmalogens interventions in AD subjects and in rodents. The potential mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of PlsEtns on AD may be related to the reduction of γ–secretase activity, an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of β-amyloid (Aβ), a hallmark of AD. Emerging in vitro evidence also showed that PlsEtns prevented neuronal cell death by enhancing phosphorylation of AKT and ERK signaling through the activation of orphan G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) proteins. In addition, PlsEtns have been found to suppress the death of primary mouse hippocampal neuronal cells through the inhibition of caspase-9 and caspase-3 cleavages. Further in-depth investigations are required to determine the signature molecular species of PlsEtns associated with AD, hence their potential role as biomarkers. Clinical intervention with plasmalogens is still in its infancy but may have the potential to be explored for a novel therapeutic approach to correct AD pathology and neural function.
Fermented foods play important roles in diets worldwide and account for approximately one-third of all foods and beverages consumed. To date, traditional fermentation has used spontaneous fermentation. The microbiome in fermentation has direct impacts on the quality and safety of fermented foods and contributes to the preservation of traditional methods. Here, we used an integrated meta-omics approach to study the microbiome in the fermentation of pu-erh tea, which is a well-known Chinese fermented food with a special flavor and healthful benefits. This study advanced the knowledge of microbiota, metabolites, and enzymes in the fermentation of pu-erh tea. These novel insights shed light onto the complex microbiome in pu-erh fermentation and highlight the power of integrated meta-omics approaches in understanding the microbiome in food fermentation ecosystems.
Recent experimental and clinical studies suggest that consumption of blueberry products has potential health benefits in ameliorating the development of obesity and its related comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic inflammation. Blueberry fruits are enriched with numerous bioactive components such as vitamins, phenolic acid and anthocyanins which could contribute to these protective effects. Possible mechanisms by which blueberries exert their beneficial properties include counteracting oxidative stress, regulating glucose metabolism, improving lipid profile, and lowering inflammatory cytokine levels in animal models and preliminary human trials. This review focuses on the potential role of blueberries as a functional food in the prevention and treatment of obesity and its comorbidities.Although the current evidence is promising, further randomized controlled studies in the longer term are needed to evaluate the role of blueberries and blueberry extracts to support human health.
We report an efficient oxidative radical desulfur-fragmentation and reconstruction of enol triflates for the synthesis of α-CF ketones. Preliminary mechanistic studies disclosed that oxidative fragmentation to release a CF radical from the triflyl group of enol triflate and subsequent addition of the CF radical to another enol triflate form the desired α-CF ketones. This method provides a new approach to α-CF ketones, featuring the utilization of catalytic amount of oxidants, broad substrate scope, and potential to control the regioselectivity.
Background: Cetuximab, a chimeric antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor has emerged as an effective therapy for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) and head-neck cancer. However, severe skin toxicity may limit its use. Its efficacy in the treatment of other cancers is also undergoing extensive investigation. We performed a systemic review and meta-analysis of published clinical trials to quantify the overall incidence and risk of severe skin rash. Methods: Databases Medline (OVID 1998 to July 2008), Web of Science, and abstracts presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conferences from 2004 through July 2008 were searched to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies include phase II and III clinical trials in which patients were treated with a single agent, i.e. cetuximab at 400 mg/m2 as initial dose followed by 250 mg/m2 weekly. Incidence, relative risk (RR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a fixed-effects or random-effects model based on the heterogeneity of included studies. Results: A total of 2,037 patients with a variety of solid tumors from 16 trials were included for analysis. The overall incidence of all-grade skin rash was 88.2% (95% CI: 84.8–91.0%), with11.3% (95% CI: 8.8–14.3%) being high-grade (grade 3 or above). The overall incidence of all-grade acne-like skin rash was 81.6% (95% CI: 75.4–86.6%) with 6.5% (95% CI: 4.1–10.0%) being high-grade. Notably, patients with CRC exhibited a significantly higher incidence of high-grade skin rash (12.6%, 95% CI: 9.7–16.4%) than those with non-CRC (6.6%, 95% CI: 3.6–11.8%) with a risk ratio of 1.9 (95% CI: 1.0–3.6, p = 0.049). From randomized controlled studies, patients who received cetuximab had a significantly increased risk of developing high-grade skin rash in comparison with controls (RR 21.8, 95% CI: 6.9–68.8, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Cancer patients who received cetuximab have a substantial risk of developing high-grade skin rash. The risk may be particularly increased in patients with CRC. Further studies are strongly recommended for the prevention and treatment of high-grade skin rash.
As obesity has reached epidemic proportions, the management of this global disease is of clinical importance. The availability and popularity of natural dietary supplements for the treatment of obesity has risen dramatically in recent years. The purpose of this paper was to review the effect of commonly available over the counter plant-derived supplements used to suppress appetite for obesity control and management. The data were obtained from the electronic databases PubMed, SpringerLink, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and MEDLINE with full text (via EBSCOHost) and the databases were accessed during late 2012 - early January 2013. The botanical species discussed in this review include Camellia sinensis, Caralluma fimbriata, Citrus aurantium, Coleus forskohlii, Garcinia cambogia and Phaseolus vulgaris. This review found that many botanical species including crude extracts and isolated compounds from plants have been shown to provide potentially promising therapeutic effects including appetite control and weight loss. However, many of these crude extracts and compounds need to be further investigated to define the magnitude of the effects, optimal dosage, mechanisms of action, long term safety, and potential side effects.
Limited studies have shown that Coleus forskohlii extract may aid in weight management. This randomized, double blind placebo-controlled clinical study assessed the effects of supplementation with C. forskohlii extract on key markers of obesity and metabolic parameters in overweight and obese individuals. Thirty participants completed the trial and they were randomly assigned to receive either 250 mg of C. forskohlii extract (n = 15) or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. All participants were advised to follow a hypocaloric diet throughout the study. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, and waist to hip ratio, were monitored fortnightly. Dietary intake was assessed at the baseline and weeks 4, 8 and 12. Appetite was assessed using visual analogue scales and blood samples were analyzed for plasma lipids, ghrelin, leptin, glucose and insulin at the baseline and end of the intervention. Significant reductions to waist and hip circumference (p = 0.02; p = 0.01, respectively) were recorded in both experimental and placebo groups after the 12 week intervention. Furthermore, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly increased (p = 0.01) in both groups. The experimental group showed a favorable improvement in insulin concentration and insulin resistance (p = 0.001; 0.01 respectively) compared to the placebo group. These findings suggest that C. forskohlii extract in conjunction with a hypocaloric diet may be useful in the management of metabolic risk factors.
The fatty acid contents of wild and cultured Australian adult blacklip abalone, Haliotis rubra, were analysed by gas liquid chromatography. Wild abalone contained significantly higher levels of total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) than cultured abalone (P<0.05). The predominant n-3 PUFA was docosapentaenoic acid in wild abalone, while in cultured abalone a high level of eicosapentaenoic acid was found. The concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) was low in both wild and cultured abalone, and cultured abalone had a significantly higher percentage composition of this fatty acid than wild abalone (P<0.01). Significantly higher levels of arachidonic acid (20:4n-6), 22:2n-6, 22:4n-6 and total n-6 PUFA were also found in wild abalone than in cultured animals (P<0.05). The ratio of n-3 PUFA to n-6 PUFA was the same in wild and cultured abalone. Manipulation of nutrient sources of cultured abalone may influence their lipid composition. Consumption of either wild or cultured abalone will contribute to dietary n-3 PUFA intake, with benefits to human health.
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