greenmedinfo--2020-11-15--Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality.

Actual and perceived social isolation are both associated with increased risk for early mortality .
In this meta-analytic review , our objective is to establish the overall and relative magnitude of social isolation and loneliness and to examine possible moderators .
We conducted a literature search of studies ( January 1980 to February 2014 ) using MEDLINE , CINAHL , PsycINFO , Social Work Abstracts , and Google Scholar .
The included studies provided quantitative data on mortality as affected by loneliness , social isolation , or living alone .
Across studies in which several possible confounds were statistically controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were as follows : social isolation odds ratio ( OR ) = 1.29 , loneliness OR = 1.26 , and living alone OR = 1.32 , corresponding to an average of 29 % , 26 % , and 32 % increased likelihood of mortality , respectively .
We found no differences between measures of objective and subjective social isolation .
Results remain consistent across gender , length of follow-up , and world region , but initial health status has an influence on the findings .
Results also differ across participant age , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in samples with an average age younger than 65 years .
Overall , the influence of both objective and subjective social isolation on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality .

Actual and perceived social isolation are both associated with increased risk for early mortality. In this meta-analytic review, our objective is to establish the overall and relative magnitude of social isolation and loneliness and to examine possible moderators. We conducted a literature search of studies (January 1980 to February 2014) using MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Social Work Abstracts, and Google Scholar. The included studies provided quantitative data on mortality as affected by loneliness, social isolation, or living alone. Across studies in which several possible confounds were statistically controlled for, the weighted average effect sizes were as follows: social isolation odds ratio (OR) = 1.29, loneliness OR = 1.26, and living alone OR = 1.32, corresponding to an average of 29%, 26%, and 32% increased likelihood of mortality, respectively. We found no differences between measures of objective and subjective social isolation. Results remain consistent across gender, length of follow-up, and world region, but initial health status has an influence on the findings. Results also differ across participant age, with social deficits being more predictive of death in samples with an average age younger than 65 years. Overall, the influence of both objective and subjective social isolation on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-15--The influence of social relationships on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk

BACKGROUND : The quality and quantity of individuals ' social relationships has been linked not only to mental health but also to both morbidity and mortality .
OBJECTIVES : This meta-analytic review was conducted to determine the extent to which social relationships influence risk for mortality , which aspects of social relationships are most highly predictive , and which factors may moderate the risk .
DATA EXTRACTION : Data were extracted on several participant characteristics , including cause of mortality , initial health status , and pre-existing health conditions , as well as on study characteristics , including length of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relationships .
RESULTS : Across 148 studies ( 308,849 participants ) , the random effects weighted average effect size was OR = 1.50 ( 95 % CI 1.42 to 1.59 ) , indicating a 50 % increased likelihood of survival for participants with stronger social relationships .
This finding remained consistent across age , sex , initial health status , cause of death , and follow-up period .
Significant differences were found across the type of social measurement evaluated ( p < 0.001 ) ; the association was strongest for complex measures of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 95 % CI 1.63 to 2.23 ) and lowest for binary indicators of residential status ( living alone versus with others ) ( OR = 1.19 ; 95 % CI 0.99 to 1.44 ) .
CONCLUSIONS : The influence of social relationships on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality .
Please see later in the article for the Editors ' Summary .

BACKGROUND: The quality and quantity of individuals' social relationships has been linked not only to mental health but also to both morbidity and mortality.
OBJECTIVES: This meta-analytic review was conducted to determine the extent to which social relationships influence risk for mortality, which aspects of social relationships are most highly predictive, and which factors may moderate the risk.
DATA EXTRACTION: Data were extracted on several participant characteristics, including cause of mortality, initial health status, and pre-existing health conditions, as well as on study characteristics, including length of follow-up and type of assessment of social relationships.
RESULTS: Across 148 studies (308,849 participants), the random effects weighted average effect size was OR = 1.50 (95% CI 1.42 to 1.59), indicating a 50% increased likelihood of survival for participants with stronger social relationships. This finding remained consistent across age, sex, initial health status, cause of death, and follow-up period. Significant differences were found across the type of social measurement evaluated (p<0.001); the association was strongest for complex measures of social integration (OR = 1.91; 95% CI 1.63 to 2.23) and lowest for binary indicators of residential status (living alone versus with others) (OR = 1.19; 95% CI 0.99 to 1.44).
CONCLUSIONS: The influence of social relationships on risk for mortality is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Polysaccharides from dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum) leaves: Insights into innovative drying techni

Polysaccharides from dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum) leaves: Insights into innovative drying techniques on their structural characteristics and biological activities.

The aim of this study was to well understand the impacts of innovative drying techniques ( radio frequency drying and microwave drying ) and traditional drying techniques ( vacuum drying , freezing drying , and hot air drying ) on the structural characteristics and bioactivities of polysaccharides from dandelion leaves ( DLPs ) .
Five different DLPs were obtained from dandelion leaves dried by abovementioned drying techniques .
Results showed that the structural characteristics and bioactivities of DLPs varied with different drying techniques .
The molecular weights , apparent viscosities , molar ratios of constituent monosaccharide , contents of uronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in DLPs obtained by different drying techniques had noticeable variations , while the types of constituent monosaccharides and the major glycosidic linkages in DLPs were similar .
In addition , results showed that DLPs , especially DLP-RF obtained by the radio frequency drying , exhibited remarkable antioxidant activities ( ABTS , DPPH , and NO radical scavenging activities ) , excellent in vitro antiglycation activity , and obvious in vitro inhibitory activity onα-glucosidase .
Results from this study suggest that the radio frequency drying can be used as a potential drying technique before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food and medicine industries .

The aim of this study was to well understand the impacts of innovative drying techniques (radio frequency drying and microwave drying) and traditional drying techniques (vacuum drying, freezing drying, and hot air drying) on the structural characteristics and bioactivities of polysaccharides from dandelion leaves (DLPs). Five different DLPs were obtained from dandelion leaves dried by abovementioned drying techniques. Results showed that the structural characteristics and bioactivities of DLPs varied with different drying techniques. The molecular weights, apparent viscosities, molar ratios of constituent monosaccharide, contents of uronic acids, and contents of bonded polyphenolics in DLPs obtained by different drying techniques had noticeable variations, while the types of constituent monosaccharides and the major glycosidic linkages in DLPs were similar. In addition, results showed that DLPs, especially DLP-RF obtained by the radio frequency drying, exhibited remarkable antioxidant activities (ABTS, DPPH, and NO radical scavenging activities), excellent in vitro antiglycation activity, and obvious in vitro inhibitory activity onα-glucosidase. Results from this study suggest that the radio frequency drying can be used as a potential drying technique before extracting DLPs for applications in the functional food and medicine industries.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-17--This provided a new theoretical basis for curcumol to ameliorate liver fibrosis.

AIMS : Liver fibrosis is a difficult problem in the medical field .
We previously reported that curcumol , a bioactive substance , may inhibit the pathological angiogenesis of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells ( LSECs ) and play a good anti-hepatic fibrosis effect .
However , the mechanism of curcumol inhibiting angiogenesis in LSEC needs to be further clarified .
Here , we focus on how curcumol inhibits LSEC angiogenesis in liver fibrosis .
MATERIALS AND METHODS : Primary rat LSECs were cultured in vitro , and various molecular experiments including real-time PCR , western blot , immunofluorescence , tube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to clarify the potential mechanism of curcumol .
Carbon tetrachloride ( CCl ) was applied to create a mouse liver fibrosis model .
Blood and livers were taken to elucidate the efficacy of curcumol in vivo .
KEY FINDINGS : We found that curcumol could effectively inhibit LSEC angiogenesis in vitro .
Interestingly , this process may depend on curcumol 's inhibition of the expression of transcription factor KLF5 .
Mice experiment also showed that curcumol could alleviate chronic liver injury by reducing KLF5 expression .
In addition , we suggested that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ROS and improve mitochondrial morphology in LSEC .
More importantly , we proved that curcumol could suppress KLF5-mediated LSEC angiogenesis by inhibiting ROS/ERK signaling .
SIGNIFICANCE : We suggested that transcription factor KLF5 could be considered as a new target molecule of curcumol in improving liver fibrosis , and pointed out that curcumol targeted ROS/ERK-mediated KLF5 expression could inhibit LSEC angiogenesis .
This provided a new theoretical basis for curcumol to ameliorate liver fibrosis .

AIMS: Liver fibrosis is a difficult problem in the medical field. We previously reported that curcumol, a bioactive substance, may inhibit the pathological angiogenesis of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and play a good anti-hepatic fibrosis effect. However, the mechanism of curcumol inhibiting angiogenesis in LSEC needs to be further clarified. Here, we focus on how curcumol inhibits LSEC angiogenesis in liver fibrosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary rat LSECs were cultured in vitro, and various molecular experiments including real-time PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence, tube formation assay and transwell migration assay were used to clarify the potential mechanism of curcumol. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl) was applied to create a mouse liver fibrosis model. Blood and livers were taken to elucidate the efficacy of curcumol in vivo.
KEY FINDINGS: We found that curcumol could effectively inhibit LSEC angiogenesis in vitro. Interestingly, this process may depend on curcumol's inhibition of the expression of transcription factor KLF5. Mice experiment also showed that curcumol could alleviate chronic liver injury by reducing KLF5 expression. In addition, we suggested that curcumol could reduce the production of mitochondrial ROS and improve mitochondrial morphology in LSEC. More importantly, we proved that curcumol could suppress KLF5-mediated LSEC angiogenesis by inhibiting ROS/ERK signaling.
SIGNIFICANCE: We suggested that transcription factor KLF5 could be considered as a new target molecule of curcumol in improving liver fibrosis, and pointed out that curcumol targeted ROS/ERK-mediated KLF5 expression could inhibit LSEC angiogenesis. This provided a new theoretical basis for curcumol to ameliorate liver fibrosis.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-17--Top Five Traditional, Fermented Antiaging Foods

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greenmedinfo--2020-11-17--Older people who experience high levels of loneliness are at increased risk of becoming physically f

Older people who experience high levels of loneliness are at increased risk of becoming physically frail.

Background : loneliness and social isolation have been associated with mortality and with functional decline in older people .
We investigated whether loneliness or social isolation are associated with progression of frailty .
Methods : participants were 2,817 people aged≥60 from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing .
Loneliness was assessed at Wave 2 using the Revised UCLA scale ( short version ) .
A social isolation score at Wave 2 was derived from data on living alone , frequency of contact with friends , family and children , and participation in social organisations .
Frailty was assessed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 and 4 , and by a frailty index at Waves 2-5 .
Results : high levels of loneliness were associated with an increased risk of becoming physically frail or pre-frail around 4 years later : relative risk ratios ( 95 % CI ) , adjusted for age , sex , level of frailty and other potential confounding factors at baseline were 1.74 ( 1.29 , 2.34 ) for pre-frailty , and 1.85 ( 1.14 , 2.99 ) for frailty .
High levels of loneliness were not associated with change in the frailty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mean period of 6 years .
In the sample as a whole , there was no association between social isolation and risk of becoming physically frail or pre-frail , but high social isolation was associated with increased risk of becoming physically frail in men .
Social isolation was not associated with change in the frailty index .
Conclusion : older people who experience high levels of loneliness are at increased risk of becoming physically frail .

Background: loneliness and social isolation have been associated with mortality and with functional decline in older people. We investigated whether loneliness or social isolation are associated with progression of frailty.
Methods: participants were 2,817 people aged≥60 from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Loneliness was assessed at Wave 2 using the Revised UCLA scale (short version). A social isolation score at Wave 2 was derived from data on living alone, frequency of contact with friends, family and children, and participation in social organisations. Frailty was assessed by the Fried phenotype of physical frailty at Waves 2 and 4, and by a frailty index at Waves 2-5.
Results: high levels of loneliness were associated with an increased risk of becoming physically frail or pre-frail around 4 years later: relative risk ratios (95% CI), adjusted for age, sex, level of frailty and other potential confounding factors at baseline were 1.74 (1.29, 2.34) for pre-frailty, and 1.85 (1.14, 2.99) for frailty. High levels of loneliness were not associated with change in the frailty index-a broadly based measure of general condition-over a mean period of 6 years. In the sample as a whole, there was no association between social isolation and risk of becoming physically frail or pre-frail, but high social isolation was associated with increased risk of becoming physically frail in men. Social isolation was not associated with change in the frailty index.
Conclusion: older people who experience high levels of loneliness are at increased risk of becoming physically frail.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-17--The Secret to Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy


greenmedinfo--2020-11-17--Frailty combined with loneliness or social isolation: An elevated risk for mortality in later life.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES : Frailty , loneliness , and social isolation are all associated with adverse outcomes in older adults , but little is known about their combined impact on mortality .
MEASUREMENTS : Frailty was measured with the frailty phenotype ( Fried criteria ) .
Loneliness was assessed with the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale .
Social isolation was operationalized using information on partner status , social support , and network size .
Two categorical variables were created , for each possible combination regarding frailty and loneliness ( FL ) and frailty and social isolation ( FS ) , respectively .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 22 years ( 1995-2017 ) .
Survival curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to study the effects of the FL and FS combinations on mortality .
Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic factors , depression , chronic diseases , and smoking .
RESULTS : Frailty prevalence was 13 % , and 5.9 % of the sample were frail and lonely , and 6.2 % frail and socially isolated .
In fully adjusted models , older adults who were only frail had a higher risk of mortality compared with people without any of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] range = 1.40-1.48 ; P CONCLUSION : Frail older adults are at increased risk of mortality , but this risk is even higher for those who are also lonely or socially isolated .
To optimize well-being and health outcomes in physically frail older adults , targeted interventions focusing on both subjective and objective social vulnerability are needed .

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Frailty, loneliness, and social isolation are all associated with adverse outcomes in older adults, but little is known about their combined impact on mortality.
DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.
SETTING: The Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam.
PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older (n = 1,427).
MEASUREMENTS: Frailty was measured with the frailty phenotype (Fried criteria). Loneliness was assessed with the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Social isolation was operationalized using information on partner status, social support, and network size. Two categorical variables were created, for each possible combination regarding frailty and loneliness (FL) and frailty and social isolation (FS), respectively. Mortality was monitored over a period of 22 years (1995-2017). Survival curves and Cox proportional hazard models were used to study the effects of the FL and FS combinations on mortality. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic factors, depression, chronic diseases, and smoking.
RESULTS: Frailty prevalence was 13%, and 5.9% of the sample were frail and lonely, and 6.2% frail and socially isolated. In fully adjusted models, older adults who were only frail had a higher risk of mortality compared with people without any of the conditions (hazard ratio [HR] range = 1.40-1.48; P < .01). However, the highest risk of mortality was observed in people with a combined presence of frailty and loneliness or social isolation (HR= 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.42-2.37; HR= 1.77; 95% CI = 1.36-2.30). Sensitivity analyses using a frailty index based on the deficit accumulation approach instead of the frailty phenotype showed similar results, confirming the robustness of our findings.
CONCLUSION: Frail older adults are at increased risk of mortality, but this risk is even higher for those who are also lonely or socially isolated. To optimize well-being and health outcomes in physically frail older adults, targeted interventions focusing on both subjective and objective social vulnerability are needed.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-17--Emotional loneliness is associated with a risk of dementia in a general Japanese older population.

OBJECTIVES : To investigate the association of loneliness and its component subscales with the risk of dementia in a general Japanese older population .
METHOD : A total of 1,141 community-dwelling Japanese residents aged≥65 years without dementia were prospectively followed up for a median 5.0 years .
We evaluated any loneliness and its component subscales-namely , social and emotional loneliness-by using the 6-Item de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale .
Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios ( HRs ) of each loneliness type on the risk of dementia controlling for demographic factors , lifestyle factors , physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depression .
RESULTS : During the follow-up , 114 participants developed dementia .
The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of dementia was significantly greater in participants with any loneliness and emotional loneliness than those without .
The multivariable-adjusted HRs ( 95 % confidence intervals ) of participants with any loneliness and emotional loneliness on incident dementia were 1.61 ( 1.08-2.40 ) and 1.65 ( 1.07-2.54 ) , respectively , as compared to those without .
However , there was no significant association between social loneliness and dementia risk .
In subgroup analyses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dementia associated with emotional loneliness were observed in participants who had a partner , lived with someone , or rarely communicated with relatives or friends , but such association was not significant in participants who had no partner , lived alone , or frequently communicated with friends or relatives .
DISCUSSION : The present study suggested that loneliness , especially emotional loneliness , was a significant risk factor for the development of dementia in the general older population in Japan .

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of loneliness and its component subscales with the risk of dementia in a general Japanese older population.
METHOD: A total of 1,141 community-dwelling Japanese residents aged≥65 years without dementia were prospectively followed up for a median 5.0 years. We evaluated any loneliness and its component subscales-namely, social and emotional loneliness-by using the 6-Item de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of each loneliness type on the risk of dementia controlling for demographic factors, lifestyle factors, physical factors, social isolation factors, and depression.
RESULTS: During the follow-up, 114 participants developed dementia. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of dementia was significantly greater in participants with any loneliness and emotional loneliness than those without. The multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% confidence intervals) of participants with any loneliness and emotional loneliness on incident dementia were 1.61 (1.08-2.40) and 1.65 (1.07-2.54), respectively, as compared to those without. However, there was no significant association between social loneliness and dementia risk. In subgroup analyses of social isolation factors, excess risks of dementia associated with emotional loneliness were observed in participants who had a partner, lived with someone, or rarely communicated with relatives or friends, but such association was not significant in participants who had no partner, lived alone, or frequently communicated with friends or relatives.
DISCUSSION: The present study suggested that loneliness, especially emotional loneliness, was a significant risk factor for the development of dementia in the general older population in Japan.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-17--Loneliness during the first half-year of COVID-19 lockdowns.

During the first 6-months of the COVID-19 pandemic , the primary weapons against the spread of the virus have included @ @ @ @ @ of movement and broad implementation of face masks and social distancing policies .
While some @ @ @ @ @ loneliness during the pandemic restrictions , others reported no changes .
Here , we provide @ @ @ @ @ over the first 6-months of community lockdown restrictions from a nationwide sample of 6,186 U.S. @ @ @ @ @ Loneliness Scale-3 and Public Health Questionnaire-9 during the pandemic .
Loneliness scores increased significantly from @ @ @ @ @ were significantly higher for those reporting they were under stay-at-home , shelter-in-place , or lockdown @ @ @ @ @ no restrictions .
Greater loneliness was positively correlated with depression and suicidal ideation .
Loneliness @ @ @ @ @ half-year of the pandemic , particularly for those under lockdown restrictions , and remains a @ @ @ @ @

During the first 6-months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the primary weapons against the spread of the virus have included local government orders for restriction of movement and broad implementation of face masks and social distancing policies. While some early reports suggested increases in loneliness during the pandemic restrictions, others reported no changes. Here, we provide an update on self-reported loneliness over the first 6-months of community lockdown restrictions from a nationwide sample of 6,186 U.S. adults who completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale-3 and Public Health Questionnaire-9 during the pandemic. Loneliness scores increased significantly from April through September 2020 and were significantly higher for those reporting they were under stay-at-home, shelter-in-place, or lockdown orders compared to those reporting no restrictions. Greater loneliness was positively correlated with depression and suicidal ideation. Loneliness has increased over the first half-year of the pandemic, particularly for those under lockdown restrictions, and remains a significant mental health concern.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-17--Effects of social isolation and loneliness in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Loneliness and social isolation have negative consequences on physical and mental health in both adult and pediatric populations .
Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities ( NDD ) are often excluded and experience more loneliness than their typically developing peers .
This scoping review aims to identify the type of studies conducted in children with NDD to determine the effects of loneliness and/or social isolation .
Three electronic databases ( Ovid MEDLINE , EMBASE , PsychINFO ) were searched from inception until 5 February 2019 .
Two independent reviewers screened the citations for inclusion and extracted data from the included articles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and qualitative analyses ( i.e.
, content analysis ) were completed .
From our search , 5768 citations were screened , 29 were read in full , and 12 were included .
Ten were case-control comparisons with cross-sectional assessment of various outcomes , which limited inference .
Autism spectrum disorder , attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder , and learning disorder were the most commonly studied NDD .
This review showed that loneliness among children with NDD was associated with negative consequences on mental health , behaviour , and psychosocial/emotional development , with a likely long-term impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this area suggests that loneliness is not yet considered a problem in children with NDD .
More studies are warranted using prospective designs and a larger sample size with a focus on the dynamic aspect of loneliness development .

Loneliness and social isolation have negative consequences on physical and mental health in both adult and pediatric populations. Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDD) are often excluded and experience more loneliness than their typically developing peers. This scoping review aims to identify the type of studies conducted in children with NDD to determine the effects of loneliness and/or social isolation. Three electronic databases (Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO) were searched from inception until 5 February 2019. Two independent reviewers screened the citations for inclusion and extracted data from the included articles. Quantitative (i.e., frequency analysis) and qualitative analyses (i.e., content analysis) were completed. From our search, 5768 citations were screened, 29 were read in full, and 12 were included. Ten were case-control comparisons with cross-sectional assessment of various outcomes, which limited inference. Autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and learning disorder were the most commonly studied NDD. This review showed that loneliness among children with NDD was associated with negative consequences on mental health, behaviour, and psychosocial/emotional development, with a likely long-term impact in adulthood. Lack of research in this area suggests that loneliness is not yet considered a problem in children with NDD. More studies are warranted using prospective designs and a larger sample size with a focus on the dynamic aspect of loneliness development.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-17--The available evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has a wide negative impact on the mental

The sudden and drastic changes due to the Coronavirus Disease 19 ( COVID-19 ) pandemic have impacted people 's physical and mental health .
Clinically-vulnerable older people are more susceptible to severe effects either directly by the COVID-19 infection or indirectly due to stringent social isolation measures .
Social isolation and loneliness negatively impact mental health in older adults and may predispose to cognitive decline .
People with cognitive impairments may also be at high risk of worsening cognitive and mental health due to the current pandemic .
This review provides a summary of the recent literature on the consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection or social isolation , on neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with and without dementia.A search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science to identify all relevant papers published up to the 7th July 2020 .
Two independent assessors screened and selected the papers suitable for inclusion .
Additional suitable papers not detected by literature search were manually added.Fifteen articles were included : 8 focussed on the psychiatric symptoms caused by the COVID-19 infection and 7 investigated the impact of social isolation on older adults ' neuropsychiatric symptoms .
Four studies included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients with cognitive impairment mainly due to Alzheimer 's disease .
All studies found that different neuropsychiatric symptoms emerged and/or worsened in older adults with and without dementia .
These changes were observed as the consequence of both COVID-19 infection and of the enforced prolonged conditions of social isolation .
Cases were reported of viral infection manifesting with delirium at onset in the absence of other symptoms .
Delirium , agitation and apathy were the symptoms most commonly detected , especially in people with dementia.The available evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-being of older adults with and without dementia .
Viral infection and the consequent social isolation to limit its spreading have a range of neuropsychiatric consequences .
Larger and more robustly designed studies are needed to clarify such effects and to assess the long-term implications for the mental health of older adults , and to test possible mitigating strategies .

The sudden and drastic changes due to the Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic have impacted people's physical and mental health. Clinically-vulnerable older people are more susceptible to severe effects either directly by the COVID-19 infection or indirectly due to stringent social isolation measures. Social isolation and loneliness negatively impact mental health in older adults and may predispose to cognitive decline. People with cognitive impairments may also be at high risk of worsening cognitive and mental health due to the current pandemic. This review provides a summary of the recent literature on the consequences of COVID-19, due to either viral infection or social isolation, on neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults with and without dementia.A search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science to identify all relevant papers published up to the 7th July 2020. Two independent assessors screened and selected the papers suitable for inclusion. Additional suitable papers not detected by literature search were manually added.Fifteen articles were included: 8 focussed on the psychiatric symptoms caused by the COVID-19 infection and 7 investigated the impact of social isolation on older adults' neuropsychiatric symptoms. Four studies included older adults without dementia and 11 included patients with cognitive impairment mainly due to Alzheimer's disease. All studies found that different neuropsychiatric symptoms emerged and/or worsened in older adults with and without dementia. These changes were observed as the consequence of both COVID-19 infection and of the enforced prolonged conditions of social isolation. Cases were reported of viral infection manifesting with delirium at onset in the absence of other symptoms. Delirium, agitation and apathy were the symptoms most commonly detected, especially in people with dementia.The available evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has a wide negative impact on the mental well-being of older adults with and without dementia. Viral infection and the consequent social isolation to limit its spreading have a range of neuropsychiatric consequences. Larger and more robustly designed studies are needed to clarify such effects and to assess the long-term implications for the mental health of older adults, and to test possible mitigating strategies.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-17--Mental and physical health in older people are negatively affected during the social distancing for

OBJECTIVES : To review the impact of social isolation during COVID-19 pandemic on mental and physical health of older people and the recommendations for patients , caregivers and health professionals .
MEASUREMENTS : Articles since 2019 to 2020 published on Pubmed , Scielo and Google Scholar databases with the following MeSh terms ( 'COVID-19 ' , 'coronavirus ' , 'aging ' , 'older people ' , 'elderly ' , 'social isolation ' and 'quarantine ' ) in English , Spanish or Portuguese were included .
The studies not including people over 60 were excluded .
Guidelines , recommendations , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mental and physical activity were also analysed .
RESULTS : 41 documents have been included in this narrative review , involving a total of 20.069 individuals ( 58 % women ) , from Asia , Europe and America .
31 articles included recommendations and 10 addressed the impact of social distancing on mental or physical health .
The main outcomes reported were anxiety , depression , poor sleep quality and physical inactivity during the isolation period .
Cognitive strategies and increasing physical activity levels using apps , online videos , telehealth , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Mental and physical health in older people are negatively affected during the social distancing for COVID-19 .
Therefore , a multicomponent program with exercise and psychological strategies are highly recommended for this population during the confinement .
Future investigations are necessary in this field .

OBJECTIVES: To review the impact of social isolation during COVID-19 pandemic on mental and physical health of older people and the recommendations for patients, caregivers and health professionals.
DESIGN: Narrative review.
SETTING: Non-institutionalized community-living people.
PARTICIPANTS: 20.069 individuals from ten descriptive cross-sectional papers.
MEASUREMENTS: Articles since 2019 to 2020 published on Pubmed, Scielo and Google Scholar databases with the following MeSh terms ('COVID-19', 'coronavirus', 'aging', 'older people', 'elderly', 'social isolation' and 'quarantine') in English, Spanish or Portuguese were included. The studies not including people over 60 were excluded. Guidelines, recommendations, and update documents from different international organizations related to mental and physical activity were also analysed.
RESULTS: 41 documents have been included in this narrative review, involving a total of 20.069 individuals (58% women), from Asia, Europe and America. 31 articles included recommendations and 10 addressed the impact of social distancing on mental or physical health. The main outcomes reported were anxiety, depression, poor sleep quality and physical inactivity during the isolation period. Cognitive strategies and increasing physical activity levels using apps, online videos, telehealth, are the main international recommendations.
CONCLUSION: Mental and physical health in older people are negatively affected during the social distancing for COVID-19. Therefore, a multicomponent program with exercise and psychological strategies are highly recommended for this population during the confinement. Future investigations are necessary in this field.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Therapeutic effect of berberine on metabolic diseases.

The increased incidence of metabolic diseases ( e.g.
, diabetes and obesity ) has seriously affected human health and life safety worldwide .
It is of great significance to find effective drugs from natural compounds to treat metabolic diseases .
Berberine ( BBR ) , an important quaternary benzylisoquinoline alkaloid , exists in many traditional medicinal plants .
In recent years , BBR has received widespread attention due to its good potential in the treatment of metabolic diseases .
In order to promote the basic research and clinical application of BBR , this review provides a timely and comprehensive summary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBR in the treatment of five metabolic diseases , including type 2 diabetes mellitus , obesity , non-alcoholic fatty liver disease , hyperlipidemia , and gout .
Both animal and clinical studies have proved that BBR has good therapeutic effects on these five metabolic diseases .
The therapeutic effects of BBR are based on regulating various metabolic aspects and pathophysiological procedures .
For example , it can promote insulin secretion , improve insulin resistance , inhibit lipogenesis , alleviate adipose tissue fibrosis , reduce hepatic steatosis , and improve gut microbiota disorders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and promising drug candidate for the treatment of metabolic diseases .
More studies , especially clinical trials , are needed to further confirm its molecular mechanisms and targets .
In addition , large-scale , long-term and multi-center clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BBR in the treatment of these metabolic diseases .

The increased incidence of metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes and obesity) has seriously affected human health and life safety worldwide. It is of great significance to find effective drugs from natural compounds to treat metabolic diseases. Berberine (BBR), an important quaternary benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, exists in many traditional medicinal plants. In recent years, BBR has received widespread attention due to its good potential in the treatment of metabolic diseases. In order to promote the basic research and clinical application of BBR, this review provides a timely and comprehensive summary of the pharmacological and clinical advances of BBR in the treatment of five metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hyperlipidemia, and gout. Both animal and clinical studies have proved that BBR has good therapeutic effects on these five metabolic diseases. The therapeutic effects of BBR are based on regulating various metabolic aspects and pathophysiological procedures. For example, it can promote insulin secretion, improve insulin resistance, inhibit lipogenesis, alleviate adipose tissue fibrosis, reduce hepatic steatosis, and improve gut microbiota disorders. Collectively, BBR may be a good and promising drug candidate for the treatment of metabolic diseases. More studies, especially clinical trials, are needed to further confirm its molecular mechanisms and targets. In addition, large-scale, long-term and multi-center clinical trials are necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BBR in the treatment of these metabolic diseases.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Biological activity of berberine-a summary update.

Berberine is a plant metabolite belonging to the group of isoquinoline alkaloids with strong biological and pharmacological activity .
Currently @ @ @ @ @ interest due to its anticancer activity based on many biochemical pathways , especially its proapoptotic @ @ @ @ @ , the growing number of papers on berberine demands summarizing the knowledge and research trends @ @ @ @ @ in breast and colon cancers seems to be the most promising aspect .
Many papers @ @ @ @ @ based on new formulations or search for new active derivatives .
The activity of berberine @ @ @ @ @ sensitization and support of anticancer therapy in combination with well-known but in some cases inefficient @ @ @ @ @ compound is being assessed in many important clinical trials and is one of the most @ @ @ @ @ agents .

Berberine is a plant metabolite belonging to the group of isoquinoline alkaloids with strong biological and pharmacological activity. Currently, berberine is receiving considerable interest due to its anticancer activity based on many biochemical pathways, especially its proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, the growing number of papers on berberine demands summarizing the knowledge and research trends. The efficacy of berberine in breast and colon cancers seems to be the most promising aspect. Many papers focus on novel therapeutic strategies based on new formulations or search for new active derivatives. The activity of berberine is very important as regards sensitization and support of anticancer therapy in combination with well-known but in some cases inefficient therapeutics. Currently, the compound is being assessed in many important clinical trials and is one of the most promising and intensively examined natural agents.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-19--Formononetin inhibits inflammation and promotes gastric mucosal angiogenesis in gastric ulcer.

To investigate the effects of formononetin on rats with gastric ulcer and further to explore its possible mechanism .
Rats @ @ @ @ @ operation group ( Sham ) , model group ( Model ) , omeprazole control group @ @ @ @ @ in different dose groups ( FOR-L , FOR-M , FOR-H ) .
Rats model with @ @ @ @ @ 100 % glacial acetic acid .
Hematoxylin-eosin ( H & E ) staining was used @ @ @ @ @ of gastric mucosa .
Immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) were used to @ @ @ @ @ and angiogenesis related factors .
The expressions of nuclear factor kappa-B ( NF-κB ) signaling @ @ @ @ @ western blot .
Formononetin and omeprazole could ameliorate the pathological morphology of gastric mucosa in @ @ @ @ @ with Model group , the levels of tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) -α , @ @ @ @ @ , IL-6 , myeloperoxidase ( MPO ) , human endothelin ( ET ) -1 and @ @ @ @ @ and omeprazole groups were significantly decreased (

To investigate the effects of formononetin on rats with gastric ulcer and further to explore its possible mechanism. Rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham), model group (Model), omeprazole control group (Omeprazole) and formononetin in different dose groups (FOR-L, FOR-M, FOR-H). Rats model with gastric ulcer were established by 100% glacial acetic acid. Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of gastric mucosa. Immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the level of inflammatory and angiogenesis related factors. The expressions of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-related proteins were detected by western blot. Formononetin and omeprazole could ameliorate the pathological morphology of gastric mucosa in gastric ulcer rats. Compared with Model group, the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, myeloperoxidase (MPO), human endothelin (ET)-1 and p-P65 protein in formononetin treatment and omeprazole groups were significantly decreased ( < 0.05). Moreover, formononetin could increase the content of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nitric oxide (NO) and the levels of CD34, tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin) and p-IκBα in a dose-dependent manner. Formononetin can ameliorate gastric ulcer in rats by inhibiting inflammation and promoting gastric mucosal angiogenesis, and its mechanism maybe related to NF-κB signaling pathway.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Extraction conditions for Rosa gallica petal extracts with anti-skin aging activities.

The anti-skin inflammatory activities of rose petal extracts have been described in our previous study .
Because skin inflammation is @ @ @ @ @ , our study investigated the effects ofpetals on skin aging-related activities such as skin whitening @ @ @ @ @ sample was prepared via extraction using different ethanol ratios with the objective of evaluationg optimal @ @ @ @ @ .
Aqueous 50 % ( v/v ) EtOH extract ofpetal significantly suppressed tyrosinase activity , @ @ @ @ @ UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 , a hall mark of wrinkle formation .
In addition , the @ @ @ @ @ ) EtOH extract showed the highest antioxidative effect and had highest flavonoid contents , consistent @ @ @ @ @ .
Overall , our findings suggest thatpetals extracts exhibit anti-aging effects .
Furthermore , 50 @ @ @ @ @ particular , was optimal for the highest anti-aging , and anti-oxidative effects as well as @ @ @ @ @ content .

The anti-skin inflammatory activities of rose petal extracts have been described in our previous study. Because skin inflammation is closely linked to skin aging, our study investigated the effects ofpetals on skin aging-related activities such as skin whitening and anti-wrinkle properties. Each sample was prepared via extraction using different ethanol ratios with the objective of evaluationg optimal extraction conditions for industrial application. Aqueous 50% (v/v) EtOH extract ofpetal significantly suppressed tyrosinase activity, melanin production, and solar UV-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1, a hall mark of wrinkle formation. In addition, the aqueous 50% (v/v) EtOH extract showed the highest antioxidative effect and had highest flavonoid contents, consistent with the reported anti-aging effects. Overall, our findings suggest thatpetals extracts exhibit anti-aging effects. Furthermore, 50% EtOH extraction, in particular, was optimal for the highest anti-aging, and anti-oxidative effects as well as to obtain the highest flavonoid content.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--6-Methoxymellein isolated from carrot targets breast cancer stem cells.

The presence of breast cancer stem cells ( BCSCs ) induces the aggressive progression and recurrence of breast cancer .
@ @ @ @ @ , have the capacity to self-renew and differentiate and are involved in recurrence and metastasis @ @ @ @ @ may improve treatment efficacy .
In this report , methanol extracts of carrot root were @ @ @ @ @ gel , Sephadex LH-20 , and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography to isolate a compound targeting @ @ @ @ @ the compound 6-methoxymellein , which inhibits the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells , @ @ @ @ @ the proportion of CD44/CD24cells in breast cancer cells and decreases the expression of stemness-associated proteins @ @ @ @ @ .
6-Methoxymellein reduces the nuclear localization of nuclear factor-κB ( NF-κB ) subunit p65 and @ @ @ @ @ decreases the mRNA transcription and secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 .
Our data suggest that @ @ @ @ @ agent that inhibits BCSCs via NF-κB/IL-6 and IL-8 regulation .

The presence of breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) induces the aggressive progression and recurrence of breast cancer. These cells are drug resistant, have the capacity to self-renew and differentiate and are involved in recurrence and metastasis, suggesting that targeting BCSCs may improve treatment efficacy. In this report, methanol extracts of carrot root were purified by means of silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography to isolate a compound targeting mammosphere formation. We isolated the compound 6-methoxymellein, which inhibits the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells, reduces mammosphere growth, decreases the proportion of CD44/CD24cells in breast cancer cells and decreases the expression of stemness-associated proteins c-Myc, Sox-2 and Oct4. 6-Methoxymellein reduces the nuclear localization of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) subunit p65 and p50. Subsequently, 6-methoxymellein decreases the mRNA transcription and secretion of IL-6 and IL-8. Our data suggest that 6-methoxymellein may be an anticancer agent that inhibits BCSCs via NF-κB/IL-6 and IL-8 regulation.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder may benefit from six weeks' treatment with carrot seed

Women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder may benefit from six weeks' treatment with carrot seed for improvement of sexual dysfunction.

BACKGROUND : Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder ( HSDD ) is a common sexual problem of women which has negative impacts on their health and quality of life .
Given the side effects of pharmacologic interventions , it would be beneficial to patients trying to find new options based on herbal medicine .
OBJECTIVES : To evaluate efficacy of carrot seed on sexual dysfunction of women with HSDD compared with placebo .
METHODS : In this randomized double-blind clinical trial , 68 participants randomly assigned to the intervention group which took 500 mg carrot seed three times a day for 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups filled Female Sexual Function Index ( FSFI ) questionnaire at baseline , week six and 12 .
Repeated measure analysis of variance ( ANOVA ) test was used for statistical analysis .
RESULTS : Thirty women in carrot seed group and thirty women in placebo group completed 12 weeks of the study .
In general , carrot seed compared to placebo improved the total score of FSFI 7.329± 0.830 ( p < 0.001 ) , desire 4.1±0.7 ( p < 0.001 ) , lubrication 4.7±0.4 ( p = 0.019 ) , arousal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satisfaction 4.8±1.1 ( p < 0.001 ) , orgasm 3.9±0.9 ( p < 0.001 ) and pain 5.4±1 ( p < 0.001 ) .
No adverse event was reported in this study .
CONCLUSIONS : Women with HSDD may benefit from six weeks ' treatment with carrot seed for improvement of sexual dysfunction .
Further large clinical studies are warranted to confirm efficacy of this herbal drug .

BACKGROUND: Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is a common sexual problem of women which has negative impacts on their health and quality of life. Given the side effects of pharmacologic interventions, it would be beneficial to patients trying to find new options based on herbal medicine.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate efficacy of carrot seed on sexual dysfunction of women with HSDD compared with placebo.
METHODS: In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, 68 participants randomly assigned to the intervention group which took 500 mg carrot seed three times a day for 12 weeks versus placebo. Participants in two groups filled Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire at baseline, week six and 12. Repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS: Thirty women in carrot seed group and thirty women in placebo group completed 12 weeks of the study. In general, carrot seed compared to placebo improved the total score of FSFI 7.329± 0.830 (p<0.001), desire 4.1±0.7 (p<0.001), lubrication 4.7±0.4 (p = 0.019), arousal 4.1±0.08 (p<0.001), satisfaction 4.8±1.1 (p<0.001), orgasm 3.9±0.9 (p<0.001) and pain 5.4±1(p<0.001). No adverse event was reported in this study.
CONCLUSIONS: Women with HSDD may benefit from six weeks' treatment with carrot seed for improvement of sexual dysfunction. Further large clinical studies are warranted to confirm efficacy of this herbal drug.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Co-administration of carrot fruit significantly enhanced both ulcer preventive effects and ulcer hea

Co-administration of carrot fruit significantly enhanced both ulcer preventive effects and ulcer healing properties of the pantoprazole.

The carrot plant ) and its components are traditionally reported for the management of gastric ulcers .
This study was performed to evaluate the role of carrot when administered concurrently with a conventional antiulcer treatment , pantoprazole , in alleviating gastric and duodenal ulcers in female experimental animals .
The study involved standard animal models to determine the ulcer preventive effect using pylorus ligation , ethanol , and stress induced acute gastric ulcer models and duodenal ulcer models involving cysteamine .
Acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcer and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models were used to evaluate the ulcer healing effect .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ its co-administration with pantoprazole produced significant protection in an ethanol- and stress-induced acute gastric ulcer and cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer .
The healing of the acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcer was also augmented with this combination .
Both total proteins and mucin contents were significantly increased in indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers .
Similarly , in pylorus ligation , the pepsin content of gastric juice , total acidity , and free acidity were reduced .
Overall , both ulcer preventive effects and ulcer healing properties of the pantoprazole were significantly enhanced in animals who received the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .

The carrot plant) and its components are traditionally reported for the management of gastric ulcers. This study was performed to evaluate the role of carrot when administered concurrently with a conventional antiulcer treatment, pantoprazole, in alleviating gastric and duodenal ulcers in female experimental animals. The study involved standard animal models to determine the ulcer preventive effect using pylorus ligation, ethanol, and stress induced acute gastric ulcer models and duodenal ulcer models involving cysteamine. Acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcer and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer models were used to evaluate the ulcer healing effect. Carrot fruit (500 mg/kg) and its co-administration with pantoprazole produced significant protection in an ethanol- and stress-induced acute gastric ulcer and cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer. The healing of the acetic acid-induced chronic gastric ulcer was also augmented with this combination. Both total proteins and mucin contents were significantly increased in indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers. Similarly, in pylorus ligation, the pepsin content of gastric juice, total acidity, and free acidity were reduced. Overall, both ulcer preventive effects and ulcer healing properties of the pantoprazole were significantly enhanced in animals who received the co-administration of carrot fruit (500 mg/kg).


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--These early results highlight the significant potency of rose petal extract against lung cancer cell

These early results highlight the significant potency of rose petal extract against lung cancer cells.

We sought to investigate the effect of rose petal extract ( RPE ) on the proliferation , migration , and @ @ @ @ @ RPE significantly inhibited the growth of lung and colorectal cancer cell lines , with rapid @ @ @ @ @ cells at low concentrations .
These effects occurred concomitantly with downregulation of the cell proliferation @ @ @ @ @ , and c-myc .
In addition , RPE suppressed the migration and invasion of A549 @ @ @ @ @ and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 ( MMP-2 and -9 ) .
We @ @ @ @ @ of RPE against lung cancer cell proliferation and early metastasis occurs via the EGFR-MAPK and @ @ @ @ @ early results highlight the significant potency of RPE , particularly for lung cancer cells , @ @ @ @ @

We sought to investigate the effect of rose petal extract (RPE) on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. RPE significantly inhibited the growth of lung and colorectal cancer cell lines, with rapid suppression of A549 lung cancer cells at low concentrations. These effects occurred concomitantly with downregulation of the cell proliferation mediators PCNA, cyclin D1, and c-myc. In addition, RPE suppressed the migration and invasion of A549 cells by inhibiting the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-2 and -9). We hypothesize that the suppressive activity of RPE against lung cancer cell proliferation and early metastasis occurs via the EGFR-MAPK and mTOR-Akt signaling pathways. These early results highlight the significant potency of RPE, particularly for lung cancer cells, and warrant further investigation.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--These data established the mechanism of pineapple vinegar as an antiobesity agent.

Obesity is a pandemic metabolic syndrome with increasing incidences every year .
Among the significant factors that lead to obesity , overconsumption of high-fat food in daily intake is always the main contributor .
Functional foods have shown a positive effect on disease prevention and provide health benefits , including counteracting obesity problem .
Vinegar is one of the fermented functional beverages that have been consumed for many years , and different types of vinegar showed different bioactivities and efficacies .
In this study , we investigated the potential effects of pineapple vinegar as an antiobesity agent on a high-fat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mice .
C57BL/6 mice were treated with pineapple vinegar ( 1 mL/kg BW and 0.08 mL/kg BW ) for 12 weeks after 24 weeks of HFD incubation .
Serum biochemistry profiles , antioxidant assays , qPCR , proteome profiler , and 16S metagenomic were done posttreatment .
Our data showed that a high concentration of pineapple vinegar ( 1 mL/kg BW ) treatment significantly ( < 0.05 ) reduced the bodyweight ( ∼20 % ) , restored lipid profiles , increased the antioxidant activities , and reduced the oxidative stress .
Besides , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several adipokines and inflammatory-related genes was recorded .
Through the regulation of gut microbiota , we found a higher abundance of , a microbiota reported to be associated with obesity in the high concentration of pineapple vinegar treatment .
Collectively , these data established the mechanism of pineapple vinegar as antiobesity in mice and revealed the potential of pineapple vinegar as a functional food for obesity .

Obesity is a pandemic metabolic syndrome with increasing incidences every year. Among the significant factors that lead to obesity, overconsumption of high-fat food in daily intake is always the main contributor. Functional foods have shown a positive effect on disease prevention and provide health benefits, including counteracting obesity problem. Vinegar is one of the fermented functional beverages that have been consumed for many years, and different types of vinegar showed different bioactivities and efficacies. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of pineapple vinegar as an antiobesity agent on a high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced C57BL/6 obese mice. C57BL/6 mice were treated with pineapple vinegar (1 mL/kg BW and 0.08 mL/kg BW) for 12 weeks after 24 weeks of HFD incubation. Serum biochemistry profiles, antioxidant assays, qPCR, proteome profiler, and 16S metagenomic were done posttreatment. Our data showed that a high concentration of pineapple vinegar (1 mL/kg BW) treatment significantly(<0.05) reduced the bodyweight (∼20%), restored lipid profiles, increased the antioxidant activities, and reduced the oxidative stress. Besides, significant (<0.05) regulation of several adipokines and inflammatory-related genes was recorded. Through the regulation of gut microbiota, we found a higher abundance of, a microbiota reported to be associated with obesity in the high concentration of pineapple vinegar treatment. Collectively, these data established the mechanism of pineapple vinegar as antiobesity in mice and revealed the potential of pineapple vinegar as a functional food for obesity.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Bromelain inhibits SARS-CoV-2 infection in VeroE6 cells.

: Coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 ( SARS-CoV-2 ) .
The initial interaction between Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 ( TMPRSS2 ) primed SARS-CoV-2 spike ( S ) protein and host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ( ACE-2 ) is a pre-requisite step for this novel coronavirus pathogenesis .
Here , we expressed a GFP-tagged SARS-CoV-2 S-Ectodomain in Tni insect cells .
That contained sialic acid-enriched N- and O-glycans .
Surface resonance plasmon ( SPR ) and Luminex assay showed that the purified S-Ectodomain binding to human ACE-2 and immunoreactivity with COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( isolated from pineapple stem and used as a dietary supplement ) treatment diminishes the expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 in VeroE6 cells and dramatically lowers the expression of S-Ectodomain .
Importantly , bromelain treatment reduced the interaction between S-Ectodomain and VeroE6 cells .
Most importantly , bromelain treatment significantly diminished the SARS-CoV-2 infection in VeroE6 cells .
Altogether , our results suggest that bromelain or bromelain rich pineapple stem may be used as an antiviral against COVID-19 .
Highlights : Bromelain inhibits / cleaves the expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2Bromelain cleaves / @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and SARS-CoV-2 infection .

: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The initial interaction between Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 (TMPRSS2) primed SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein and host cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) is a pre-requisite step for this novel coronavirus pathogenesis. Here, we expressed a GFP-tagged SARS-CoV-2 S-Ectodomain in Tni insect cells. That contained sialic acid-enriched N- and O-glycans. Surface resonance plasmon (SPR) and Luminex assay showed that the purified S-Ectodomain binding to human ACE-2 and immunoreactivity with COVID-19 positive samples. We demonstrate that bromelain (isolated from pineapple stem and used as a dietary supplement) treatment diminishes the expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 in VeroE6 cells and dramatically lowers the expression of S-Ectodomain. Importantly, bromelain treatment reduced the interaction between S-Ectodomain and VeroE6 cells. Most importantly, bromelain treatment significantly diminished the SARS-CoV-2 infection in VeroE6 cells. Altogether, our results suggest that bromelain or bromelain rich pineapple stem may be used as an antiviral against COVID-19.
Highlights: Bromelain inhibits / cleaves the expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2Bromelain cleaves / degrades SARS-CoV-2 spike proteinBromelain inhibits S-Ectodomain binding and SARS-CoV-2 infection.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Nephroprotective role of bromelain against oxidative injury induced by aluminium.

The present study was designed to investigate the nephroprotective effect of bromelain against oxidative stress stimulated by aluminium chloride in rats .
Rats were grouped as follows ; group one was used as control while groups 2 , 3 and 4 were treated orally with bromelain ( 250 mg/kg , daily ) , aluminium chloride ( AlCl ; 34 mg/kg BW , every other day ) and bromelain plus AlClfor 30 days , respectively .
Administration of AlClcaused a significant reduction in rats ' body and kidney weights , and increased Al accumulation in kidney tissue .
Also , AlCltreatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peroxide , kidney functions biomarkers levels and lactate dehydrogenase activity .
While enzymatic ( SOD , CAT , GPx , GR , GST ) and non-enzymatic ( GSH ) antioxidants , protein content , and alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly decreased .
In addition , significant alterations in lipid and protein profiles were detected .
Furthermore , histopathological and immunohistochemical variations were seen in kidney sections supporting the obtained biochemical changes .
Otherwise , rats supplemented with bromelain singly declined lipid peroxidation and improved most of the studied parameters .
Moreover , rats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant alleviation in lipid peroxidation , antioxidant status and biochemical indices with respect to AlCltreated group .
Conclusively , bromelain has beneficial protective effects and has the capability to counteract the toxic influence of AlCl .
So , bromelain might represent a novel approach in the therapy of metal toxicity because of its antioxidant and chelating properties .

The present study was designed to investigate the nephroprotective effect of bromelain against oxidative stress stimulated by aluminium chloride in rats. Rats were grouped as follows; group one was used as control while groups 2, 3 and 4 were treated orally with bromelain (250 mg/kg, daily), aluminium chloride (AlCl; 34 mg/kg BW, every other day) and bromelain plus AlClfor 30 days, respectively. Administration of AlClcaused a significant reduction in rats' body and kidney weights, and increased Al accumulation in kidney tissue. Also, AlCltreatment elevated thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, kidney functions biomarkers levels and lactate dehydrogenase activity. While enzymatic (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GST) and non-enzymatic (GSH) antioxidants, protein content, and alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly decreased. In addition, significant alterations in lipid and protein profiles were detected. Furthermore, histopathological and immunohistochemical variations were seen in kidney sections supporting the obtained biochemical changes. Otherwise, rats supplemented with bromelain singly declined lipid peroxidation and improved most of the studied parameters. Moreover, rats pretreated with bromelain followed by AlClintoxication showed significant alleviation in lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status and biochemical indices with respect to AlCltreated group. Conclusively, bromelain has beneficial protective effects and has the capability to counteract the toxic influence of AlCl. So, bromelain might represent a novel approach in the therapy of metal toxicity because of its antioxidant and chelating properties.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Bromelain: A review on its potential as a therapy for the management of Covid-19.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 is a wide-spreading severe viral disease caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 ( SARS-COV-2 ) @ @ @ @ @ urgently eradicated .
SARS-COV-2 has infected millions of people worldwide and results in more than @ @ @ @ @ Several repurposed drugs have failed to successfully eradicate the infection .
Multiorgan failure caused by @ @ @ @ @ accounts for severe complications and death associated with diseases .
Bromelain appears to be a @ @ @ @ @ used to inhibit or prevent the symptoms of the diseases .
Its anti-inflammatory and anticoagulatory @ @ @ @ @ agent that may slow the progression of the disease .
In this review , we @ @ @ @ @ bromelain based on both experimental and clinical evidence that make bromelain a good candidate for @ @ @ @ @ CoVID-19 infection .

Coronavirus Disease 2019 is a wide-spreading severe viral disease caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) virus that needs to be urgently eradicated. SARS-COV-2 has infected millions of people worldwide and results in more than three hundred thousand deaths. Several repurposed drugs have failed to successfully eradicate the infection. Multiorgan failure caused by pronounced inflammation and systemic coagulation accounts for severe complications and death associated with diseases. Bromelain appears to be a potential candidate that may be used to inhibit or prevent the symptoms of the diseases. Its anti-inflammatory and anticoagulatory properties make it a potential agent that may slow the progression of the disease. In this review, we highlighted the beneficial effects of bromelain based on both experimental and clinical evidence that make bromelain a good candidate for the treatment of symptoms of CoVID-19 infection.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Enhancement of the anti-inflammatory effect of bromelain by its immobilization on probiotic spore of

Enhancement of the anti-inflammatory effect of bromelain by its immobilization on probiotic spore of Bacillus cereus.

The therapeutic application of bromelain is limited due to its sensitivity to operating conditions such as high acidity , gastric proteases in the stomach juice , chemicals , organic solvents and elevated temperature .
We hypothesized that bromelain immobilized on probiotic bacterial spores would show enhanced therapeutic activity through possible synergistic or additive effects .
In this study , the oedema inhibition potential of bromelain immobilized on probiotic Bacillus spores was compared to the free enzyme using the carrageenan paw oedema model with Wistar rats .
In batch A rats ( carrageenan-induced inflammation 30 min after receiving oral treatments ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower dose of spore-immobilized bromelain suspension showed the highest oedema inhibition , 89.20 ± 15.30 % , while group 4 treated with a lower dose of free bromelain had oedema inhibition of 60.25 ± 13.00 % .
For batch B rats ( carrageenan-induced inflammation after receiving oral treatment for three days ) , group 7 rats treated with a lower dose of spore-immobilized bromelain suspension showed higher inhibition percentage ( 81.94 ± 8.86 ) than group 4 treated with a lower dose of free bromelain ( 78.45 ± 4.46 ) after 24 h. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the enzyme and the spores produced oedema inhibition and improved the motility of the rats .
The spore-immobilized bromelain formulation performed approximately 0.9-fold better than the free bromelain and the free spores at the lower evaluated dose .

The therapeutic application of bromelain is limited due to its sensitivity to operating conditions such as high acidity, gastric proteases in the stomach juice, chemicals, organic solvents and elevated temperature. We hypothesized that bromelain immobilized on probiotic bacterial spores would show enhanced therapeutic activity through possible synergistic or additive effects. In this study, the oedema inhibition potential of bromelain immobilized on probiotic Bacillus spores was compared to the free enzyme using the carrageenan paw oedema model with Wistar rats. In batch A rats (carrageenan-induced inflammation 30 min after receiving oral treatments), group 7 rats treated with a lower dose of spore-immobilized bromelain suspension showed the highest oedema inhibition, 89.20 ± 15.30%, while group 4 treated with a lower dose of free bromelain had oedema inhibition of 60.25 ± 13.00%. For batch B rats (carrageenan-induced inflammation after receiving oral treatment for three days), group 7 rats treated with a lower dose of spore-immobilized bromelain suspension showed higher inhibition percentage (81.94 ± 8.86) than group 4 treated with a lower dose of free bromelain (78.45 ± 4.46) after 24 h. Our results showed that used alone, the enzyme and the spores produced oedema inhibition and improved the motility of the rats. The spore-immobilized bromelain formulation performed approximately 0.9-fold better than the free bromelain and the free spores at the lower evaluated dose.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Remission of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus in an adolescent using an integrative medicine appro

Remission of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus in an adolescent using an integrative medicine approach.

Among adolescents , the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM ) has recently increased .
A 12-year-old Chinese boy with a one-year history of hyperphagia presented to our clinic .
The patient was diagnosed with T2DM one month prior to visiting the clinic and reported undergoing no pharmacologic treatment .
Using an integrative medicine approach , including Chinese herbal decoction , berberine hydrochloride tablets , physical exercise and diet control , the patient 's fasting blood glucose ( FBG ) decreased from 8.3 mmol/L to 5.5 mmol/L .
Additionally , his glycated haemoglobin decreased from 12.9 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western medicine intervention his diabetes has been reversed after six months of treatment .
His FBG remained normal , and nine months after completion of treatment it was 4.9 mmol/L .
A potential mechanism in this response may be related to improved insulin resistance and β-cell function , as indicated by observed changes in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and β-cell function .
Further , weight loss may also have contributed to the effectiveness of the treatment .
This case study is the first to present the innovative approach of integrative medicine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Among adolescents, the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has recently increased. A 12-year-old Chinese boy with a one-year history of hyperphagia presented to our clinic. The patient was diagnosed with T2DM one month prior to visiting the clinic and reported undergoing no pharmacologic treatment. Using an integrative medicine approach, including Chinese herbal decoction, berberine hydrochloride tablets, physical exercise and diet control, the patient's fasting blood glucose (FBG) decreased from 8.3 mmol/L to 5.5 mmol/L. Additionally, his glycated haemoglobin decreased from 12.9% to 6.1%, indicating that without any Western medicine intervention his diabetes has been reversed after six months of treatment. His FBG remained normal, and nine months after completion of treatment it was 4.9 mmol/L. A potential mechanism in this response may be related to improved insulin resistance and β-cell function, as indicated by observed changes in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and β-cell function. Further, weight loss may also have contributed to the effectiveness of the treatment. This case study is the first to present the innovative approach of integrative medicine to achieve remission of new-onset adolescent T2DM.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--The Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine leads to absolute risk reduction for an individual of only about 0.4%.

Dear Editor Pfizer ’ s vaccine “ may be more than 90 % effective.
” ( Mahase , BMJ 2020 ; 371 : m4347 , November 9 ) Specific data are not given but it is easy enough to approximate the numbers involved , based on the 94 cases in a trial that has enrolled about 40,000 subjects : 8 cases in a vaccine group of 20,000 and 86 cases in a placebo group of 20,000 .
This yields a Covid-19 attack rate of 0.0004 in the vaccine group and 0.0043 in the placebo group .
Relative risk ( RR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ translates into a “ vaccine effectiveness ” of 90.7 % [ 100 ( 1-0.093 ) ] .
This sounds impressive , but the absolute risk reduction for an individual is only about 0.4 % ( 0.0043-0.0004=0.0039 ) .
The Number Needed To Vaccinate ( NNTV ) = 256 ( 1/0.0039 ) , which means that to prevent just 1 Covid-19 case 256 individuals must get the vaccine ; the other 255 individuals derive no benefit , but are subject to vaccine adverse effects , whatever they may be and whenever we learn about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early effect of the vaccine is “ like a hangover or the flu.
” Will vaccinees who are later exposed to coronaviruses have more severe illness as a result of antibody-dependent enhancement of infection ( ADEI ) , a known hazard of coronavirus vaccines ?
Is there squalene in the Pfizer vaccine ?
If so , will vaccinees be subject to autoimmune diseases , like Gulf War Syndrome and narcolepsy that have been associated with the adjuvant ?
We already know that current Covid-19 vaccine trials are unlikely to show a reduction in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , BMJ 2020 ; 371 : m4037 , October 21 ) Will they be like seasonal influenza vaccines , which have not proved to be lifesavers , and may even have increased overall mortality in the elderly ?
( Anderson et al , Ann Intern Med 2020 ; 172:445 ) We need a lot more time and a lot more data , especially in view of massive uncertainties about Covid-19 case definitions and statistics .

Dear Editor Pfizer’s vaccine “may be more than 90% effective.” (Mahase, BMJ 2020;371:m4347, November 9) Specific data are not given but it is easy enough to approximate the numbers involved, based on the 94 cases in a trial that has enrolled about 40,000 subjects: 8 cases in a vaccine group of 20,000 and 86 cases in a placebo group of 20,000. This yields a Covid-19 attack rate of 0.0004 in the vaccine group and 0.0043 in the placebo group. Relative risk (RR) for vaccination = 0.093, which translates into a “vaccine effectiveness” of 90.7% [100(1-0.093)]. This sounds impressive, but the absolute risk reduction for an individual is only about 0.4% (0.0043-0.0004=0.0039). The Number Needed To Vaccinate (NNTV) = 256 (1/0.0039), which means that to prevent just 1 Covid-19 case 256 individuals must get the vaccine; the other 255 individuals derive no benefit, but are subject to vaccine adverse effects, whatever they may be and whenever we learn about them……We’ve already heard that an early effect of the vaccine is “like a hangover or the flu.” Will vaccinees who are later exposed to coronaviruses have more severe illness as a result of antibody-dependent enhancement of infection (ADEI), a known hazard of coronavirus vaccines? Is there squalene in the Pfizer vaccine? If so, will vaccinees be subject to autoimmune diseases, like Gulf War Syndrome and narcolepsy that have been associated with the adjuvant? We already know that current Covid-19 vaccine trials are unlikely to show a reduction in severe illness or deaths. (Doshi, BMJ 2020;371:m4037, October 21) Will they be like seasonal influenza vaccines, which have not proved to be lifesavers, and may even have increased overall mortality in the elderly? (Anderson et al, Ann Intern Med 2020;172:445) We need a lot more time and a lot more data, especially in view of massive uncertainties about Covid-19 case definitions and statistics.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Curcumin and quercetin synergistically inhibit cancer cell proliferation in multiple cancer cells.

BACKGROUND : Traditional therapy using natural products , especially flavonoids and alkaloids have been in practice for a long time .
Among flavonoids , curcumin , quercetin , berberine , and epigallocatechin have been studied in greater detail in terms of their anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities .
Although many studies focused on the PI3K , MAP kinase and NF-κB pathways , a thorough investigation of modulation of players in the apoptotic and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by curcumin and quercetin has not been done .
Also , only few studies have been carried out on curcumin and quercetin co-treatment studies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of natural products will have synergistic effects and the antiproliferative effect will be attenuated via apoptotic as well as Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways .
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS : To test our hypothesis , we compared potency of natural anticancer agents in four cancer cell lines , A549 , HCT116 , MCF7 , and A375 by MTT and colony proliferation assays and investigated mechanism of anticancer activities by analyzing players in apoptotic and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in A375 cells treated with test agents individually or in combination .
RESULTS : Epicatechins , up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer cell proliferation , while curcumin inhibited proliferation in A549 and HCT116 cancer cell lines with an ICof 3 to 8.5 μM .
Quercetin showed stronger inhibition of cell proliferation than berberine .
Combination study with two most potent agents , curcumin and quercetin , in 4 cancer cell lines , suggested synergistic effect on cell proliferation with several fold decreases in IC .
Further investigation of the mechanism of action of curcumin and quercetin in melanoma cells , A375 , suggested that inhibition of cell proliferation occurred through down-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cyclin D1 , Cox2 , and Axin2 .
In addition , both curcumin and quercetin induced apoptosis by down-regulating BCL2 and inducing caspase 3/7 through PARP cleavage .
CONCLUSION : These results demonstrate that curcumin and quercetin inhibit cancer cell proliferation synergistically and Wnt/β-catenin signaling and apoptotic pathways are partly responsible for antiproliferative activities .

BACKGROUND: Traditional therapy using natural products, especially flavonoids and alkaloids have been in practice for a long time. Among flavonoids, curcumin, quercetin, berberine, and epigallocatechin have been studied in greater detail in terms of their anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Although many studies focused on the PI3K, MAP kinase and NF-κB pathways, a thorough investigation of modulation of players in the apoptotic and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by curcumin and quercetin has not been done. Also, only few studies have been carried out on curcumin and quercetin co-treatment studies.
HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: We hypothesized that the combination of natural products will have synergistic effects and the antiproliferative effect will be attenuated via apoptotic as well as Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To test our hypothesis, we compared potency of natural anticancer agents in four cancer cell lines, A549, HCT116, MCF7, and A375 by MTT and colony proliferation assays and investigated mechanism of anticancer activities by analyzing players in apoptotic and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways in A375 cells treated with test agents individually or in combination.
RESULTS: Epicatechins, up to 100 μM concentration, did not inhibit cancer cell proliferation, while curcumin inhibited proliferation in A549 and HCT116 cancer cell lines with an ICof 3 to 8.5 μM. Quercetin showed stronger inhibition of cell proliferation than berberine. Combination study with two most potent agents, curcumin and quercetin, in 4 cancer cell lines, suggested synergistic effect on cell proliferation with several fold decreases in IC. Further investigation of the mechanism of action of curcumin and quercetin in melanoma cells, A375, suggested that inhibition of cell proliferation occurred through down-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway proteins, DVL2, β-catenin, cyclin D1, Cox2, and Axin2. In addition, both curcumin and quercetin induced apoptosis by down-regulating BCL2 and inducing caspase 3/7 through PARP cleavage.
CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that curcumin and quercetin inhibit cancer cell proliferation synergistically and Wnt/β-catenin signaling and apoptotic pathways are partly responsible for antiproliferative activities.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Nature-derived compounds modulating Wnt/ β -catenin pathway.

The Wnt/-catenin signaling is a conserved pathway that has a crucial role in embryonic and adult life .
Dysregulation of the Wnt/-catenin pathway has been associated with diseases including cancer , and components of the signaling have been proposed as innovative therapeutic targets , mainly for cancer therapy .
The attention of the worldwide researchers paid to this issue is increasing , also in view of the therapeutic potential of these agents in diseases , such as Parkinson 's disease ( PD ) , for which no cure is existing today .
Much evidence indicates that abnormal Wnt/-catenin signaling is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Wnt/-catenin pathway has been also proposed as an attractive strategy to potentiate cancer immunotherapy .
During the last decade , several products , including naturally occurring dietary agents as well as a wide variety of products from plant sources , including curcumin , quercetin , berberin , and ginsenosides , have been identified as potent modulators of the Wnt/-catenin signaling and have gained interest as promising candidates for the development of chemopreventive or therapeutic drugs for cancer .
In this review we make an overview of the nature-derived compounds reported to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also focusing on extraction methods , chemical features , and bio-activity assays used for the screening of these compounds .

The Wnt/-catenin signaling is a conserved pathway that has a crucial role in embryonic and adult life. Dysregulation of the Wnt/-catenin pathway has been associated with diseases including cancer, and components of the signaling have been proposed as innovative therapeutic targets, mainly for cancer therapy. The attention of the worldwide researchers paid to this issue is increasing, also in view of the therapeutic potential of these agents in diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), for which no cure is existing today. Much evidence indicates that abnormal Wnt/-catenin signaling is involved in tumor immunology and the targeting of Wnt/-catenin pathway has been also proposed as an attractive strategy to potentiate cancer immunotherapy. During the last decade, several products, including naturally occurring dietary agents as well as a wide variety of products from plant sources, including curcumin, quercetin, berberin, and ginsenosides, have been identified as potent modulators of the Wnt/-catenin signaling and have gained interest as promising candidates for the development of chemopreventive or therapeutic drugs for cancer. In this review we make an overview of the nature-derived compounds reported to have antitumor activity by modulating the Wnt/-catenin signaling, also focusing on extraction methods, chemical features, and bio-activity assays used for the screening of these compounds.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Apoptotic effect of berberine via Bcl-2, ROR1, and mir-21 in patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leu

Apoptotic effect of berberine via Bcl-2, ROR1, and mir-21 in patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid that has been shown to inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in a wide variety of tumor cells .
However , the action mechanism of berberine in CLL cells is unknown .
The previous study has shown that berberine leads to reduced viability and elevated levels of apoptosis in PBMCs of CLL patients .
CLL cells are characterized by remarkable expression of Bcl-2 and ROR1 which leads to activation and survival and increases disease progression in patients .
High-level expression of miR-21 in patients with CLL is associated with a higher risk of death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of berberine upon peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMCs ) of CLL patients .
To evaluate the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and ROR1 using flow cytometry and western blot , PBMCs were treated with 25 μM of berberine for 24 hr .
The expression levels of mir-21 were evaluated by real-time PCR .
Examination of treated cells demonstrated that berberine decreased Bcl-2 and ROR1 levels .
Although western blot results did not show any change in Bax as a pro-apoptotic protein , an increased Bax/Bcl-2ratio indicated that mitochondrial pathway is involved in berberine-induced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ berberine could reduce the expression of miR-21 in comparison to the untreated group .
Our findings describe some of the molecular mechanisms of berberine by decreasing Bcl-2 , ROR1 , andmir-21 which may be considered as a novel apoptosis inducer in CLL cells .

Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid that has been shown to inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis in a wide variety of tumor cells. However, the action mechanism of berberine in CLL cells is unknown. The previous study has shown that berberine leads to reduced viability and elevated levels of apoptosis in PBMCs of CLL patients. CLL cells are characterized by remarkable expression of Bcl-2 and ROR1 which leads to activation and survival and increases disease progression in patients. High-level expression of miR-21 in patients with CLL is associated with a higher risk of death. Here we investigated the anticancer effects of berberine upon peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of CLL patients. To evaluate the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and ROR1 using flow cytometry and western blot, PBMCs were treated with 25 μM of berberine for 24 hr. The expression levels of mir-21 were evaluated by real-time PCR. Examination of treated cells demonstrated that berberine decreased Bcl-2 and ROR1 levels. Although western blot results did not show any change in Bax as a pro-apoptotic protein, an increased Bax/Bcl-2ratio indicated that mitochondrial pathway is involved in berberine-induced apoptosis of CLL cells. Interestingly, berberine could reduce the expression of miR-21 in comparison to the untreated group. Our findings describe some of the molecular mechanisms of berberine by decreasing Bcl-2, ROR1, andmir-21 which may be considered as a novel apoptosis inducer in CLL cells.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--Anti‑inflammatory mechanism of berberine on lipopolysaccharide‑induced IEC‑18 models based on compar

Anti‑inflammatory mechanism of berberine on lipopolysaccharide‑induced IEC‑18 models based on comparative transcriptomics.

Intestinal surface epithelial cells ( IECs ) have long been considered as an effective barrier for maintaining water and electrolyte balance , and are involved in the mechanism of nutrient absorption .
When intestinal inflammation occurs , it is often accompanied by IEC malfunction .
Berberine ( BBR ) is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in numerous types of medicinal plants , which has been clinically used in China to treat symptoms of gastrointestinal pathogenic bacterial infection , especially bacteria‑induced diarrhea and inflammation .
In the present study , IEC‑18 rat intestinal epithelial cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide ( LPS ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epithelial cell inflammation , and the cells were subsequently treated with BBR in order to elucidate the anti‑inflammatory mechanism .
Transcriptome data were then searched to find the differentially expressed genes ( DEGs ) compared between two of the treatment groups ( namely , the LPS and LPS+BBR groups ) , and DEGs were analyzed using Gene Ontology , Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes , Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis and Interactive Pathways Explorer to identify the functions and pathways enriched with DEGs .
Finally , reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR was used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revealed that , comparing between the LPS and LPS+BBR groups , the functions and pathways enriched in DEGs were 'DNA replication ' , 'cell cycle ' , 'apoptosis ' , 'leukocyte migration ' and the 'NF‑κB and AP‑1 pathways ' .
The results revealed that BBR is able to restrict DNA replication , inhibit the cell cycle and promote apoptosis .
It can also inhibit the classic inflammatory pathways , such as those mediated by NF‑κB and AP‑1 , and the expression of various chemokines to prevent the migration of leukocytes .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its anti‑inflammatory effects by regulating a variety of cellular physiological activities , including cell cycle , apoptosis , inflammatory pathways and leukocyte migration .

Intestinal surface epithelial cells (IECs) have long been considered as an effective barrier for maintaining water and electrolyte balance, and are involved in the mechanism of nutrient absorption. When intestinal inflammation occurs, it is often accompanied by IEC malfunction. Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in numerous types of medicinal plants, which has been clinically used in China to treat symptoms of gastrointestinal pathogenic bacterial infection, especially bacteria‑induced diarrhea and inflammation. In the present study, IEC‑18 rat intestinal epithelial cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish an in vitro model of epithelial cell inflammation, and the cells were subsequently treated with BBR in order to elucidate the anti‑inflammatory mechanism. Transcriptome data were then searched to find the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) compared between two of the treatment groups (namely, the LPS and LPS+BBR groups), and DEGs were analyzed using Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis and Interactive Pathways Explorer to identify the functions and pathways enriched with DEGs. Finally, reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR was used to verify the transcriptome data. These experiments revealed that, comparing between the LPS and LPS+BBR groups, the functions and pathways enriched in DEGs were 'DNA replication', 'cell cycle', 'apoptosis', 'leukocyte migration' and the 'NF‑κB and AP‑1 pathways'. The results revealed that BBR is able to restrict DNA replication, inhibit the cell cycle and promote apoptosis. It can also inhibit the classic inflammatory pathways, such as those mediated by NF‑κB and AP‑1, and the expression of various chemokines to prevent the migration of leukocytes. According to transcriptomic data, BBR can exert its anti‑inflammatory effects by regulating a variety of cellular physiological activities, including cell cycle, apoptosis, inflammatory pathways and leukocyte migration.


greenmedinfo--2020-11-18--UN Announces Biometric Digital ID Wallet

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