As people age, iron deposits in different areas of the brain may impair normal cognitive function and behavior. Abnormal iron metabolism generates hydroxyl radicals through the Fenton reaction, triggers oxidative stress reactions, damages cell lipids, protein and DNA structure and function, and ultimately leads to cell death. There is an imbalance in iron homeostasis in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Excessive iron contributes to the deposition of β-amyloid and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, which in turn, promotes the development of AD. Therefore, iron-targeted therapeutic strategies have become a new direction. Iron chelators, such as desferoxamine, deferiprone, deferasirox, and clioquinol, have received a great deal of attention and have obtained good results in scientific experiments and some clinical trials. Given the limitations and side effects of the long-term application of traditional iron chelators, alpha-lipoic acid and lactoferrin, as self-synthesized naturally small molecules, have shown very intriguing biological activities in blocking Aβ-aggregation, tauopathy and neuronal damage. Despite a lack of evidence for any clinical benefits, the conjecture that therapeutic chelation, with a special focus on iron ions, is a valuable approach for treating AD remains widespread.

TNF inhibitors have been used in psoriasis (Pso) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which were associated with increased risk of cardiac and cerebrovascular events. However, whether TNF inhibitors reduce cardiovascular event is still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effect of TNF inhibitors on adverse cardiovascular events (CVEs) in Pso with or without PsA. We undertook a meta-analysis of clinical trials identified in systematic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Wanfang database, Cochrane Database, and Google scholar through December 31, 2015. Five studies (49,795 patients) were included. Overall, compared with topical/photo treatment, TNF inhibitors were associated with a significant lower risk of CVE (RR, 0.58; 95 % CI, 0.43 to 0.77; P < 0.001; I (2) = 66.2 %). Additionally, compared with methotrexate (MTX) treatment, risk of CVE was also markedly decreased in the TNF inhibitor group (RR, 0.67; 95 % CI, 0.52 to 0.88; P = 0.003; I (2) = 9.3 %). Meanwhile, TNF inhibitors were linked to reduced incidence of myocardial infarction compared with topical/photo or MTX treatment (RR, 0.73; 95 % CI, 0.59 to 0.90; P = 0.003; I (2) = 56.2 % and RR, 0.65; 95 % CI, 0.48 to 0.89; P = 0.007; I (2) = 0.0 %, respectively). Furthermore, there was a trend of decreased rate of mortality in the TNF inhibitor group compared with other therapy (RR, 0.90; 95 % CI, 0.54 to 1.50; P = 0.68; I (2) = 70.9 %). TNF inhibitors appear to have net clinical benefits with regard to adverse cardiovascular events in Pso and/or PsA. Rigorous randomized controlled trials will need to evaluate whether TNF inhibitors truly result in reduction of cardiovascular diseases.

Background. Our previous research showed the antioxidant activity of anthocyanins extracted from Aronia melanocarpa of black chokeberry in vitro. Ischemia acute kidney injury is a significant risk in developing progressive and deterioration of renal function leading to clinic chronic kidney disease. There were many attempts to protect the kidney against this progression of renal damage. Current study was designed to examine the effect of pretreatment with three anthocyanins named cyanidin-3-arabinoside, cyanidin-3-glucodise, and cyaniding-3-galactoside against acute ischemia-reperfusion injury in mouse kidney. Methods. Acute renal injury model was initiated by 30 min clamping bilateral renal pedicle and followed by 24-hour reperfusion in C57Bl/6J mice. Four groups of mice were orally pretreated in 50 mg/g/12 h for two weeks with cyanidin-3-arabinoside, cyanidin-3-glucodise, and cyaniding-3-galactoside and anthocyanins (three-cyanidin mixture), respectively, sham-control group and the renal injury-untreated groups only with saline. Results. The model resulted in renal dysfunction with high serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and changes in proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-ɑ, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1), renal oxidative stress (SOD, GSH, and CAT), lipid peroxidation (TBARS and MDA), and apoptosis (caspase-9). Pretreatment of two weeks resulted in different extent amelioration of renal dysfunction and tubular damage and suppression of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and apoptosis, thus suggesting that cyanidins are potentially effective in acute renal ischemia by the decrease of inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation, as well as apoptosis. Conclusion. the current study provided the first attempt to investigate the role of anthocyanins purified from Aronia melanocarpa berry in amelioration of acute renal failure via antioxidant and cytoprotective effects.

The purpose of this study was to explore the kinematical characteristics of jumping discus throwing. Eight male right-handed discus throwers who used to practice the jumping throwing technique were recruited as participants. Two high-speed digital cameras with 120 Hz sampling rate were synchronized to capture the movement. The captured images were processed using a motion analysis suite, and the markers attached to joints on images were digitized manually. Based on the results, throwers should keep smaller the shoulder–hip twisting and the right anterior superior iliac spine (abbreviated: ASIS) in front of the right acromion (for right-handed throwers) from the instant the right foot lands to the instant the left foot lands, before the instant of the right foot lands; keep the discus at a depressed position; and reduce the time before discus release, particularly the time of the non-support phase and the second single-support phase. Additionally, release velocity must be improved because throwing distance is directly proportional to squared release velocity. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated comprehensive kinematical analyses, which can be used to instruct the jumping discus throwing technique with duration and angle characteristics of throwing movement for athletes by coaches with videos.

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