Higher intake of fruits, vegetables or their fiber reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Some previous studies reported no significant association of consuming fruit or vegetables, or fruit and vegetables combined, with type 2 diabetes. Others reported that only a greater intake of green leafy vegetables reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes. To further investigate the relationship between them, we carried out a meta-analysis to estimate the independent effects of the intake of fruit, vegetables and fiber on the risk of type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Searches of MEDLINE and EMBASE for reports of prospective cohort studies published from 1 January 1966 to 21 July 2014 were carried out, checking reference lists, hand-searching journals and contacting experts. RESULTS: The primary analysis included a total of 23 (11 + 12) articles. The pooled maximum-adjusted relative risk of type 2 diabetes for the highest intake vs the lowest intake were 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87-0.96) for total fruits, 0.75 (95% CI 0.66-0.84) for blueberries, 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.93) for green leafy vegetables, 0.72 (95% CI 0.57-0.90) for yellow vegetables, 0.82 (95% CI 0.67-0.99) for cruciferous vegetables and 0.93 (95% CI 0.88-0.99) for fruit fiber in these high-quality studies in which scores were seven or greater, and 0.87 (95% CI 0.80-0.94) for vegetable fiber in studies with a follow-up period of 10 years or more. CONCLUSIONS: A higher intake of fruit, especially berries, and green leafy vegetables, yellow vegetables, cruciferous vegetables or their fiber is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

The associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms in miR-146a, miR-196a and miR-499 with breast cancer susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in microRNAs (miRNAs) and breast cancer susceptibility; however, because of their limited statistical power, many discrepancies are revealed in these studies. The meta-analysis presented here aimed to identify and characterize the roles of miRNA SNPs in breast cancer risk, and evaluate the associations of polymorphisms in miR-146a rs2910164, miR-196a rs11614913 and miR-499 rs3746444 with breast cancer susceptibility, respectively. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The PubMed and Embases databases were searched updated to 31(st) December, 2012. The complete data of polymorphisms in miR-146a rs2910164, miR-196a rs11614913 and miR-499 rs3746444 from case-control studies for breast cancer were analyzed by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to reveal the associations of SNPs in miRNAs with breast cancer susceptibility. Totally, six studies for rs2910164 in miR-146a, involving 4225 cases and 4469 controls; eight studies for rs11614913 in miR-196a, involving 4110 cases and 5100 controls; and three studies of rs3746444 in miR-499, involving 2588 cases and 3260 controls, were investigated in the meta-analysis. The rs11614913 (TT+CT) genotype of miR-196a2 was revealed to be associated with a decreased breast cancer susceptibility compared with the CC genotypes (OR = 0.906, 95% CI: 0.825-0.995, P = 0.039); however, no significant associations were observed between rs2910164 in miR-146a (or rs3746444 in miR-499) and breast cancer susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis demonstrates the compelling evidence that the rs11614913 CC genotype in miR-196a2 increases breast cancer risk, which provides useful information for the early diagnosis and prevention of breast cancer.

Alterations of serum levels of BDNF-related miRNAs in patients with depression.

Depression is a serious and potentially life-threatening mental disorder with unknown etiology. Emerging evidence shows that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in the etiology of depression. Here this study was aimed to identify and characterize the roles of BDNF and its putative regulatory miRNAs in depression. First, we identified that miR-182 may be a putative miRNA that regulates BDNF levels by bioinformatic studies, and characterized the effects of miR-182 on the BDNF levels using cell-based studies, side by side with miR-132 (a known miRNA that regulates BDNF expression). We showed that treatment of miR-132 and miR-182 respectively decreased the BDNF protein levels in a human neuronal cell model, supporting the regulatory roles of miR-132 and miR-182 on the BDNF expression. Furthermore, we explored the roles of miR-132 and miR-182 on the BDNF levels in depression using human subjects by assessing their serum levels. Compared with the healthy controls, patients with depression showed lower serum BDNF levels (via the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) and higher serum miR-132 and miR-182 levels (via the real-time PCR). Finally, the Pearson's (or Spearman's) correlation coefficient was calculated to study whether there was a relationship among the Self-Rating Depression Scale score, the serum BDNF levels, and serum BDNF-related miRNA levels. Our results revealed that there was a significant negative correlation between the SDS scores and the serum BDNF levels, and a positive correlation between the SDS scores and miR-132 levels. In addition, we found a reverse relationship between the serum BDNF levels and the miR-132/miR-182 levels in depression. Collectively, we provided evidence supporting that miR-182 is a putative BDNF-regulatory miRNA, and suggested that the serum BDNF and its related miRNAs may be utilized as important biomarkers in the diagnosis or as therapeutic targets of depression.

[Effect of chitosan oligosacharide on the inhibition and apoptosis of ovarian carcinoma SKOV-3 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect and mechanism of inhibition and apoptosis of SKOV-3 cells induced by Chitosan oligosaccharide. METHODS: Human ovarian cancer SKOV-3 cells were treated by various concentrations of Chitosan oligosaccharide. The inhibition of cell proliferation was tested by MTT. Apoptosis induced by Chitosan oligosaccharide was analysed by flow cytometry and agarose gel SKOV-3 cells DNA ladder electrophoresis. RESULTS: Chitosan oligosaccharide could efficiently inhibit SKOV-3 cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Also, the significantly apoptosis of SKOV-3 cells induced by Chitosan oligosaccharide was confirmed through flew cytometry with Annexin V/PI double labels and agarose gel DNA ladder electrophoresis. CONCLUSION: Chitosan oligosaccharide can efficiently inhibit SKOV-3 cells proliferation and induce its obviously apoptosis.

[Studies on the anti-tumor activity principles of a marine-derived fungus BZYT-21].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of a marine-derived fungus possessing anti-tumor activity. METHODS: The compounds were isolated by various chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis and chemical and physical properties. RESULTS: Nine compounds were isolated and identified as: (S)-(-)-N-benzoylphenylalaninol, asperphnamate, cerevisterol, (22E, 24R)-6beta-methnoxyergosta-7,22-diene-3beta, 5alpha-diol, (22E, 24R)-5alpha, 6alpha-epoxy-ergosta-8, 22-diene-3beta, 7alpha-diol, (22E, 24R) -3beta, 5alpha, 9alpha-trihydroxyergosta-7, 22-diene-6-one, (22E, 24R) -3beta-hydroxy-ergosta-5, 8, 22-trien-7-one, ergosterol, ergosterol peroxide. CONCLUSION: (22E, 24R)-3beta-hydroxy-ergosta-5, 8, 22-trien-7-one is isolated from microorganisms for the first time.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Shiraia bambusicola].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Shiraia bambusicola. METHOD: Column chromatography with silica gel was employed for the isolation and purification of constituents. The structures were elucidated by means of chemical and spectroscopic data. RESULT: Seven compounds were obtained and identified as hypocrellin A (I), hypocrellin B (II), hypocrellin C (III), hypomycin A (IV), ergosterol (V), ergosterol peroxide (VI) and 1,8-dihydroxy anthraquinone (VII). CONCLUSION: Compounds (IV) (VII) were separated from Shiraia bambusicola for the first time.