Therapeutic effect of the sulforaphane derivative JY4 on ulcerative colitis through the NF-κB-p65 pathway.

The efficacy of the sulforaphane derivative JY4 was evaluated in acute and chronic mouse models of ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate. Oral administration of JY4 led to significant improvements in symptoms, with recovery of body weight and colorectal length, together with reduced diarrhoea, bloody stools, ulceration of colonic tissue and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The oral bioavailability of JY4, determined by comparing oral dosing with injection into the tail vein, was 5.67%, which was comply with the idea in the intestinal function. Using a dual-luciferase reporter assay, immunofluorescence studies, western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining, JY4 was shown to significant interfere with the NF-κB-p65 signaling pathway. By preventing the activation of NF-κB-p65, JY4 inhibited the overexpression of downstream inflammatory factors, thereby exerting an anti-inflammatory effect on the intestinal tract. This study thus provides a promising candidate drug, and a new concept for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Effectiveness of a cross-circuit exercise training program in improving the fitness of overweight or obese adolescents with intellectual disability enrolled in special education schools.

This study assessed the effects of a cross-circuit training intervention program on the body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance, and muscular strength endurance of overweight or obese students with intellectual disability. A total of 43 students with intellectual disability (aged 13-19 years) were enrolled in this program; 28 overweight/obese students were assigned to either an obesity-control group (n=14) or obesity-exercise group (n=14), and those with normal weight were assigned to a normal weight group (n=15). The experiment was divided into three periods: pretest (involving the three groups), exercise intervention (involving only the obesity-exercise group), and post-test (involving the obesity-exercise and obesity-control groups). The test involved measuring the body composition, 1-min sit-ups, dynamic and static balance, vertical jumps, and modified Bruce treadmill protocols for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness. The exercise program involving the cross-circuit training concept was conducted nonstop with different types of exercise activities. The training program lasted 12 weeks, and it was executed 5days a week, with each daily session lasting 50min. The results revealed that the obesity-exercise group demonstrated reduced weight, BMI, and fat mass after the intervention program. Moreover, the exercise tolerance test (including total exercise time and maximal heart rate), dynamic balance, sit-up, and vertical jump performance of the participants improved significantly. In conclusion, the cross-circuit training program effectively improved cardiorespiratory fitness, dynamic balance, muscular strength and endurance, and weight control in overweight or obese students with intellectual disability enrolled in a special education school.

Association between NME8 locus polymorphism and cognitive decline, cerebrospinal fluid and neuroimaging biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease.

Recently, a large meta-analysis of five genome wide association studies (GWAS) identified a novel locus (rs2718058) adjacent to NME8 that played a preventive role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, this link between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2718058 and the pathology of AD have not been mentioned yet. Therefore, this study assessed the strength of association between the NME8 rs2718058 genotypes and AD-related measures including the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid beta, tau, P-tau concentrations, neuroimaging biomarkers and cognitive performance, in a large cohort from Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database. We used information of a total of 719 individuals, including 211 normal cognition (NC), 346 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 162 AD. Although we didn't observe a positive relationship between rs2718058 and AD, it was significantly associated with several AD related endophenotypes. Among the normal cognitively normal participants, the minor allele G carriers showed significantly associated with higher CDRSB score than A allele carriers (P = 0.021). Occipital gyrus atrophy were significantly associated with NME8 genotype status (P = 0.002), with A allele carriers has more atrophy than the minor allele G carriers in AD patients; lateral ventricle (both right and left) cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (CMRgl) were significantly associated with NME8 genotype (P < 0.05), with GA genotype had higher metabolism than GG and AA genotypes in MCI group; the atrophic right hippocampus in 18 months is significantly different between the three group, with GG and AA genotypes had more hippocampus atrophy than GA genotypes in the whole group. Together, our results are consistent with the direction of previous research, suggesting that NME8 rs2718058 appears to play a role in lowering the brain neurodegeneration.

Aberrant RNA splicing in RHD 7-9 exons of DEL individuals in Taiwan: a mechanism study.

BACKGROUND: The Rh blood D group provides a clinically important model of aberrant splicing with skipped exons. Approximately 30% of serologically D-negative Chinese individuals have an intact RHD gene (DEL phenotype) and induce allo-immunization in transfusions. The RHD1227GNA polymorphism occurs in >95% DEL phenotype of Asian descent. The effects of RHD 1227A and a novel allele on exon 9 splicing were examined. RESULTS: Amplified DEL RNA products revealed that 3 transcripts involved skipping of exons 8-9, exon 9, or exon 9 with an inserted 170-bp cryptic exon located between exons 7 and 8. A novel, single nucleotide polymorphism was identified in the 7th intron, (IVS7) 923C>T, and present in all DEL patients. The odds ratio of RHD1227G>A allele with DEL phenotype was 2711. Splicing analysis of transcripts from minigenes containing the 1227GNA allele, but not the (IVS7) 923C>T allele, demonstrated aberrant exon 9 skipping. CONCLUSIONS: A combined haplotype of 1227G>A and IVS7 923C>T alleles was apparent in >95% DEL Chinese individuals. RHD1227A mutation significantly increased aberrant mRNA splicing, producing a hybrid RHD mRNA lacking exon 9. These results provide a molecular basis of the DEL phenotype in the Chinese population.

Prevalence of RHD 1227A and hybrid Rhesus box in the general Chinese population.

The Rhesus (Rh) blood group is the most polymorphic blood group system. Serological analyses revealed that only 0.1% to 0.4% of the Chinese population exhibited a D-negative phenotype. In contrast to D-negative Caucasian persons, who are mostly associated with a deletion of RHD between the upstream and downstream Rhesus boxes, approximately 30% of apparently D-negative Chinese were actually DEL, potentially harboring a grossly intact RHD gene. The authors' previous detection of the RHD 1227A allele in all DEL samples prompted the conclusion that the RHD 1227A gene is highly prevalent in DEL populations of Chinese ethnicity, which indicates that it may be a marker for the rapid detection of DEL. Currently, random surveys for RHD 1227 A allele and for hybrid Rhesus box were conducted among 399 Han Chinese in Taiwan. The estimated frequencies of RHD 1227G/G, RHD 1227A/G, RHD A/A, RHD 1227G/-, RHD 1227A/-, and RHD-/- were 0.89054, 0.0118, 0.00016, 0.0414, 0.00055, and 0.00192, respectively. These results were consistent with the prevalence of D-negative and DEL in persons of Chinese ethnicity. The authors conclude that detection of RHD 1227A and hybrid Rhesus box alleles is predictive of Rh phenotypes in the Chinese population.

Surface modification of purified fly ash and application in polymer.

With the growing general concern about the pollution by fly ash (FA), there has been global interest in its utilization. Purified FA or FA micro-beads are suitable as polymer filling materials because of their density, good dispersity and fluidity of globular particles. However, FA as a filler has not been widely used up to now on account of low whiteness values and low friction of untreated FA surface. In order to improve the FA quality, a surface modification method by using isothermal heating is proposed in this paper. Preparation of composite fly ash (CFA) in the Ca(OH)(2)-H(2)O-CO(2) system is described. Good coating results on FA surfaces can be achieved under suitable operating parameters. The characteristics of CFA are discussed and analyzed based on data from X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectra, and BET multiple-point nitrogen adsorption method. Feedstocks with less than 45 microm grain size, 2.86 m(2) g(-1) specific surface area, and 36.68 whiteness value revealed an increase in specific surface area ranging from 8.69 to 10.01 m(2) g(-1) and an increase in whiteness values ranging from 63.67 to 73.13 after coating. A SEM study allowed a detailed determination of the morphology of the surface roughness. Filling tests also show that a rough surface of the CFA enhances contact opportunities and improves the interface between polymer and CFA blended with polypropylene (PP).

Detection of RhD(el) in RhD-negative persons in clinical laboratory.

The Rhesus (Rh) blood group is the most polymorphic human blood group system, and it is clinically significant in transfusion medicine. About 15% of Caucasoid people are RhD-negative, whereas in the Asian population, the RhD-negative blood type only occurs in 0.1% to 0.5%. However, approximately 30% of apparently RhD-negative Taiwanese people actually were RhD(el). Traditionally, we verify RhD(el) by a serologically adsorption-elution procedure with polyclonal anti-D. In our recent report, RhC phenotype is highly associated with RhD(el), and RHD1227A is a useful genetic marker for RhD(el). For setting up a rapid protocol to detect RhD(el) in clinical laboratory, a total number of 395 Taiwanese serological RhD-negative blood samples, those with RhC (+) phenotypes as selected by serological tests, were further screened by adsorption/elution tests and RHD1227A allele by specific sequence primer-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) for RhD(el). Among 395 blood samples collected from RhD-negative subjects, the incidence of RhC (+) was 43% (171/395). One hundred and twenty six of the 171 RhC (+) samples were positive for both adsorption/elution for RhD detection and SSP-PCR assay for RHD1227A. The sensitivity and specificity were 96.9% and 97.5%, respectively, for RHD1227A detection as compared with the traditional adsorption/elution test. Our results also indicated that RHD1227A was highly linked to Ce haplotypes (95.2%). In conclusion, combined RhC (+) phenotyping and RHD1227A analysis can be a simple and accurate laboratory screening protocol for RhD(el) detection in RhD-negative population.