No abstract

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. Longan seeds are known to contain high levels of polyphenols such as corilagin, gallic acid and ellagic acid. We examined the effect of longan seed extract on XOD inhibition and urate transporters GLUT1 and GLUT9 using both in vitro and in vivo assays. The results showed that dried longan seed extract (LSE) and its active components inhibited XOD dose-dependently in vitro. LSE inhibited uric acid production and XOD activity in normal liver cells (clone-9 cells) and was not cytotoxic under the concentration of 200 μg/ml. For the in vivo study, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were given intraperitoneally for thirty minutes with or without allopurinol (a XOD inhibitor, 3.5 mg/kg) or LSE (80 mg/kg) and then injected intraperitioneally with 250 mg/kg of oxonic acid and 300 mg/kg of hypoxanthine intragastrically. LSE was able to reduce serum uric acid level and XOD activity in hyperuricemic rats. However, LSE or allopurinol did not inhibit the liver XOD activities. On the other hand, GLUT1 protein was suppressed in kidney and GLUT9 was induced in liver from experimental rats and LSE or allopurinol decreased GLUT9 but increased GLUT1 protein level in the liver and kidney, respectively. These results confirmed the claimed effect of longan seeds on gout and other complications and suggested that its urate reducing effect might be due to modulation of urate transporters and inhibition of circulating xanthine oxidase.

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. Design: A pre-test-posttest control group design. Methods: The data were collected from July -October 2016. A total of 65 individuals were included. The treatment group received 40 min of music therapy twice per week over the course of 10 weeks. The control group maintained its typical routine. The research data were collected using structured questionnaires, including basic information, the Inventory of Peer Attachment, the Beck Depression Inventory-II questionnaires, and salivary cortisol concentrations. Statistical analysis methods included percentages, chi-square tests, t tests, analyses of covariance, and the Johnson-Neyman technique.Results: There were statistically significant differences in peer attachment, depression, and salivary cortisol levels in the music group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the findings showed that early adolescents with more severe depression experienced greater improvement through preferred music therapy. Conclusion:The results allude to the beneficial effects of receiving preferred music therapy in terms of the peer attachment, depression, and salivary cortisol levels of early adolescents. Adjustments should be made based on the characteristics of student groups to develop suitable and safe music therapy and to reduce the risks of poor mental health. K E Y W O R D Sadolescents, depression, music therapy, nursing, peer attachment, salivary cortisol

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. Betel nut chewing resulted in an immediate significant decline in fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels that persisted for up to 180 minutes. This effect has to be taken into account in epidemiological studies, reference ranges, and patient preparation.