Simultaneous Intake of Chlorella and Ascidian Ethanolamine Plasmalogen Accelerates Activation of BDNF-TrkB-CREB Signaling in Rats

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and cognition. BDNF is a neurotrophin that binds to tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), a specific receptor on target cell surfaces; it acts on neuronal formation, development, growth, and repair via transcription factors, such as cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and it is involved in learning and memory. BDNF expression is decreased in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Exercise and the intake of several different foods or ingredients can increase BDNF expression, as confirmed with lutein, xanthophylls (polar carotenoids), and ethanolamine plasmalogen (PlsEtn), which are present at high levels in the brain. This study examined the effects of combining lutein and PlsEtn using lutein-rich Chlorella and ascidian extracts containing high levels of PlsEtn bearing docosahexaenoic acid, which is abundant in the human brain, on the activation of the BDNF-TrkB-CREB signaling pathway in the hippocampus of Sprague-Dawley rats. Although activation of the BDNF-TrkB-CREB signaling pathway in the hippocampus was not observed in Chlorella or ascidian PlsEtn monotherapy, activation was observed with combination therapy at an equal dose. The results of this study suggest that the combination of Chlorella and ascidian PlsEtn may have a preventive effect against dementia, including AD.

Marine Plasmalogens: A Gift from the Sea with Benefits for Age-Associated Diseases

Aging increases oxidative and inflammatory stress caused by a reduction in metabolism and clearance, thus leading to the development of age-associated diseases. The quality of our daily diet and exercise is important for the prevention of these diseases. Marine resources contain various valuable nutrients, and unique glycerophospholipid plasmalogens are found abundantly in some marine invertebrates, including ascidians. One of the major classes, the ethanolamine class (PlsEtn), exists in a high ratio to phospholipids in the brain and blood, while decreased levels have been reported in patients with age-associated diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Animal studies have shown that the administration of marine PlsEtn prepared from marine invertebrates improved PlsEtn levels in the body and alleviated inflammation. Animal and human studies have reported that marine PlsEtn ameliorates cognitive impairment. In this review, we highlight the biological significance, relationships with age-associated diseases, food functions, and healthcare materials of plasmalogens based on recent knowledge and discuss the contribution of marine plasmalogens to health maintenance in aging.

Role of raising the upper limb of the non-rising side when performing rising movements from bed

Rising movements from bed comprise an important aspect of recovery from the bedridden state; however, they have not been sufficiently investigated using motion analysis studies. In particular, the effect of using the upper limb of the non-rising side before waist flexion on rising movements remains to be analyzed; this study aimed to clarify this effect. Accordingly, motion analyses were performed on rising movements under two constraint conditions, namely raising the upper limb of the non-rising side (upper limb use-condition) and keeping it in contact with the pelvis (upper limb non-use-condition); subsequently, the kinematics and kinematics parameters were compared. In comparison with the upper limb use-condition, in the upper limb non-use-condition, the distance traveled by the center of mass of the body (CoM trajectory, p < 0.01) increased while switching from the half-side-lying to on-hand postures, horizontal body movement (movement speed (Normalized time/total time), p < 0.01 and weight of center of body mass (CoM momentum in horizontal plane), p < 0.05) during the same period increased, and the half-side-lying time approached the peak value of the waist flexion angular velocity (Time lag between from half-side-lying to waist angler peak velocity, p < 0.05). The compensatory movement that occurred due to the upper limb non-use-condition denoted an increase in body momentum in the horizontal direction, rather than in the sagittal plane. Therefore, the upper limb on the non-rising side contributed to the smooth movement of the body in the horizontal direction. Moreover, this study demonstrated that asymmetrical rising movement in the diagonal direction is a characteristic movement wherein the horizontal movement of the body constitutes the main movement.

Hypolipidemic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Curcuma longa-Derived Bisacurone in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) contains various compounds that potentially improve health. Bisacurone is a turmeric-derived compound but has been less studied compared to other compounds, such as curcumin. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects of bisacurone in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Mice were fed HFD to induce lipidemia and orally administered bisacurone daily for two weeks. Bisacurone reduced liver weight, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and blood viscosity in mice. Splenocytes from bisacurone-treated mice produced lower levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α upon stimulation with a toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 ligand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and TLR1/2 ligand, Pam3CSK4, than those from untreated mice. Bisacurone also inhibited LPS-induced IL-6 and TNF-α production in the murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. Western blot analysis revealed that bisacurone inhibited the phosphorylation of IKKα/β and NF-κB p65 subunit, but not of the mitogen-activated protein kinases, p38 kinase and p42/44 kinases, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase in the cells. Collectively, these results suggest that bisacurone has the potential to reduce serum lipid levels and blood viscosity in mice with high-fat diet-induced lipidemia and modulate inflammation via inhibition of NF-κB-mediated pathways.

The Potential Use of Exosomes in Anti-Cancer Effect Induced by Polarized Macrophages

The rapid development of aberrant cells outgrowing their normal bounds, which can subsequently infect other body parts and spread to other organs-a process known as metastasis-is one of the significant characteristics of cancer. The main reason why cancer patients die is because of widespread metastases. This abnormal cell proliferation varies in cancers of over a hundred types, and their response to treatment can vary substantially. Several anti-cancer drugs have been discovered to treat various tumors, yet they still have harmful side-effects. Finding novel, highly efficient targeted therapies based on modifications in the molecular biology of tumor cells is essential to reduce the indiscriminate destruction of healthy cells. Exosomes, an extracellular vesicle, are promising as a drug carrier for cancer therapy due to their good tolerance in the body. In addition, the tumor microenvironment is a potential target to regulate in cancer treatment. Therefore, macrophages are polarized toward M1 and M2 phenotypes, which are involved in cancer proliferation and are malignant. It is evident from recent studies that controlled macrophage polarization might contribute to cancer treatment, by the direct way of using miRNA. This review provides an insight into the potential use of exosomes to develop an 'indirect', more natural, and harmless cancer treatment through regulating macrophage polarization.

Effects of Particle Size of Curcumin Solid Dispersions on Bioavailability and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

The delivery of curcumin (CUR) using the solid dispersion system (CUR solid dispersions; C-SDs) has been shown to improve CUR bioavailability. However, it is unclear how different particle sizes of C-SDs affect the bioavailability and biological activities of CUR. Hence, we prepared C-SDs in different sizes using food-grade excipients and evaluated their bioavailability and biological activities. By pulverizing large particle sizes of C-SDs using zirconia beads, we successfully prepared C-SDs I-IV (particle size: (I) 120, (II) 447, (III) 987, (IV) 1910 nm). When administrated orally in rats, the bioavailability of CUR was increased with decreasing C-SDs size, most likely by improving its solubility in micelles. When administrated intravenously in rats, blood concentrations of CUR were increased with increasing particle size, suggesting that larger C-SDs presumably control the metabolic conversion of CUR. In RAW264 cells, more CUR was taken up by cells as their sizes reduced, and the more potent their anti-inflammatory activities were, suggesting that smaller C-SDs were taken up through a number of cellular uptake pathways. Altogether, the present study showed an evident effect of C-SDs size on their bioavailability and anti-inflammatory activities—information that serves as a basis for improving the functionality of CUR.

Microgreens-A Comprehensive Review of Bioactive Molecules and Health Benefits

Microgreens, a hypothesized term used for the emerging food product that is developed from various commercial food crops, such as vegetables, grains, and herbs, consist of developed cotyledons along with partially expanded true leaves. These immature plants are harvested between 7-21 days (depending on variety). They are treasured for their densely packed nutrients, concentrated flavors, immaculate and tender texture as well as for their vibrant colors. In recent years, microgreens are on demand from high-end restaurant chefs and nutritional researchers due to their potent flavors, appealing sensory qualities, functionality, abundance in vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds, such as ascorbic acid, tocopherol, carotenoids, folate, tocotrienols, phylloquinones, anthocyanins, glucosinolates, etc. These qualities attracted research attention for use in the field of human health and nutrition. Increasing public concern regarding health has prompted humans to turn to microgreens which show potential in the prevention of malnutrition, inflammation, and other chronic ailments. This article focuses on the applications of microgreens in the prevention of the non-communicable diseases that prevails in the current generation, which emerged due to sedentary lifestyles, thus laying a theoretical foundation for the people creating awareness to switch to the recently introduced category of vegetable and providing great value for the development of health-promoting diets with microgreens.

Characterization of Glycolipids in the Strain Chlorella pyrenoidosa

Plant-derived polar lipids have been reported to exhibit various beneficial effects on human health. The green alga Chlorella is known to be abundant in nutrients, including lipophilic components, and has varying nutrient content depending on the strain. In this study, to assess the nutritional functions of the strain Chlorella pyrenoidosa, we comprehensively analyzed the composition of fatty acids, polar glycerolipids, and sphingolipids. We found that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) comprised 45.6 mol% of fatty acids in the total lipids and 62.2 mol% of n-3 PUFAs in the total lipids occurred in the glycolipids. Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol was the primary glycolipid class, and n-3 PUFA constituted 73.5 mol% of the fatty acids. Although glucosylceramide was observed in trace amounts, highly polar sphingolipids (HPSs), including glycosyl inositol phosphoryl ceramide, were found in much higher amounts compared to rice bran, which is a common source of sphingolipids. These results suggest that the examined Chlorella strain, which is abundant in glycolipids bearing n-3 PUFAs and HPS, is potentially useful as a dietary supplement for improving human health.

Relationship between arterial stiffness and cognitive function in outpatients with dementia and mild cognitive impairment compared with community residents without dementia

BACKGROUND

It is unclear whether the dementia patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) and mixed dementia (MIX, including AD and VaD) would have more developed arterial stiffness as compared with local residents without dementia. The aim of this study was to assess arterial stiffness and cognitive function in different types of dementia patients [AD, VaD, MIX and mild cognitive impairment (MCI)] and community residents without dementia.

METHODS

This was a single-center, cross-sectional observational study. We studied a cohort of 600 elderly outpatients with a complaint of memory loss, who were divided into four groups (AD, VaD, MIX and MCI). In addition, they were compared with 55 age-matched local residents without dementia (Controls). We assessed arterial stiffness by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and the global cognitive function by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

RESULTS

The baPWV was higher in AD, VaD and MIX than in MCI and in Controls (P < 0.05). The baPWV was higher in MCI than in Controls (P = 0.021), while MMSE were compatible between them (P = 0.119). The higher baPWV predicted the presence of AD, VaD, MIX and MCI with the odds ratio of 6.46, 8.74, 6.16 and 6.19, respectively. In contrast, there were no difference in baPWV among three different types of dementia (P = 0.191). The linear relationship between baPWV and MMSE was observed in the elderly with MMSE ≥ 23 (R = 0.452, P = 0.033), while it was not in dementia patients (MMSE < 23).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that MCI and dementia patients have stiffer arteries as compared with age-matched local residents, although global cognitive function may be comparable between MCI and the local residents.

Current Use of Fenton Reaction in Drugs and Food

Iron is the most abundant mineral in the human body and plays essential roles in sustaining life, such as the transport of oxygen to systemic organs. The Fenton reaction is the reaction between iron and hydrogen peroxide, generating hydroxyl radical, which is highly reactive and highly toxic to living cells. “Ferroptosis”, a programmed cell death in which the Fenton reaction is closely involved, has recently received much attention. Furthermore, various applications of the Fenton reaction have been reported in the medical and nutritional fields, such as cancer treatment or sterilization. Here, this review summarizes the recent growing interest in the usefulness of iron and its biological relevance through basic and practical information of the Fenton reaction and recent reports.

Biological Functions of Antioxidant Dipeptides

In the history of modern nutritional science, understanding antioxidants is one of the major topics. In many cases, food-derived antioxidants have π conjugate or thiol group in their molecular structures because π conjugate stabilizes radical by its delocalization and two thiol groups form a disulfide bond in its antioxidative process. In recent years, antioxidant peptides have received much attention because for their ability to scavenge free radicals, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, chelation of transition metal ions, as well as their additional nutritional value. Among them, dipeptides are attracting much interest as post-amino acids, which have residues in common with amino acids, but also have different physiological properties and functions from those of amino acids. Especially, dipeptides containing moieties of several amino acid (tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine, cysteine, and methionine) possess potent antioxidant activity. This review summarizes previous details of structural property, radical scavenging activity, and biological activity of antioxidant dipeptide. Hopefully, this review will help provide a new insight into the study of the biological functions of antioxidant dipeptides.

Determination of intracellular ascorbic acid using tandem mass spectrometry

Ascorbic acid is involved in a variety of biological events.

The inhibition of interaction with serum albumin enhances the physiological activity of curcumin by increasing its cellular uptake

Based on the free drug hypothesis, we hypothesized that food compounds that bind stronger to BSA than CUR inhibit the binding between BSA and CUR, and that this results in an increase of the cellular uptake and physiological activities of CUR. To verify this hypothesis, food compounds that bind stronger to BSA than CUR were identified. When THP-1 monocytes were co-treated with the identified compounds (e.g., piperine) and CUR, cell viability significantly decreased, suggesting that the physiological activity of CUR was enhanced. Also, when THP-1 macrophages were co-treated with CUR and the identified compounds following LPS + IFNγ treatment, the decrement of TNF-α was higher compared to treatment with CUR only. Furthermore, the cellular uptake of CUR was increased during this co-treatment. Such results verify our hypothesis, and provide insights into the development of ways to enhance the physiological activities of various food compounds via focusing on their interaction with albumin.

Boronic Acid Ligands Can Target Multiple Subpopulations of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells via pH-Dependent Glycan-Terminal Sialic Acid Recognition

Eradication of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is an ultimate goal in cancer chemotherapy. Although a ligand-assisted targeting approach seems rational, the existence of subpopulations of CSCs and their discrimination from those present on healthy sites makes it a severe challenge. Some boronic acid (BA) derivatives are known for the ability to bind with glycan-terminal sialic acid (SA), in a manner dependent on the acidification found in hypoxic tumoral microenvironment. Taking advantage of this feature, here we show that the BA-ligand fluorescence conjugate can effectively target multiple CSC subpopulations in parallel, which otherwise must be independently aimed when using antibody--ligands.

Intermittent face cooling reduces perceived exertion during exercise in a hot environment

BACKGROUND

Facial cooling (FC) is effective in improving endurance exercise performance in hot environments. In this study, we evaluated the impact of intermittent short-lasting FC on the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during exercise.

METHODS

Ten healthy men performed 40 continuous minutes of ergometric cycle exercise at 65% of the peak heart rate in a climatic chamber controlled at an ambient temperature of 35 °C and a relative humidity of 50%. In the control (CONT) trial, the participants performed the exercise without FC. In two cooling trials, each participant underwent 10 s of FC at 2- (FC2) and 4-min (FC4) intervals while continuing to exercise. FC was achieved by applying two soft-gel packs (cooled to 0 °C) directly and bilaterally on the forehead, eyes, and cheeks. In another cooling trial, 10 s of FC was performed at 2-min intervals using two soft-gel packs cooled to 20 °C (FC2-20).

RESULTS

The RPE values in the FC4 trial were significantly lower than those in the CONT trial at 20 min (FC4, 11.6 ± 2.2 points; CONT, 14.2 ± 1.3 points; P < 0.01). Further, significant differences in the RPE values were observed between the FC4 and CONT trials at 5-15 min and 25-40 min (P < 0.05). RPE values were also significantly lower in the FC2 trial than in the CONT trial (5-40 min). Although the RPE values in the FC2-20 trial were significantly lower (5-10 min; 15-20 min) than those in the CONT trial, there were no significant differences in the RPE between the FC2-20 and CONT trials at 25-40 min. At 35 min, the RPE values were significantly higher in the FC2-20 trial than in the FC2 trial (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Intermittent short-lasting FC was associated with a decrease in RPE, with shorter intervals and lower temperatures eliciting greater attenuation of increase in the RPE.

Effects of Dietary Food Components on Cognitive Functions in Older Adults

Population aging has recently been an important issue as the number of elderly people is growing worldwide every year, and the extension of social security costs is financially costly. The increase in the number of elderly people with cognitive decline is a serious problem related to the aging of populations. Therefore, it is necessary to consider not only physical care but also cognitive patterns in the future care of older adults. Since food contains a variety of bioactive substances, dietary patterns may help improve age-related cognitive decline. However, the relationship between cognitive function and individual food components remains ambiguous as no clear efficacy or mechanism has been confirmed. Against this background, this review summarizes previous reports on the biological process of cognitive decline in the elderly and the relationship between individual compounds in foods and cognitive function, as well as the role of individual components of food in cognitive function, in the following order: lipids, carotenoids, vitamins, phenolic compounds, amino acids, peptides, and proteins. Based on the research presented in this review, a proper diet that preserves cognitive function has the potential to improve age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Hopefully, this review will help to trigger the development of new foods and technologies that improve aging and cognitive functions and extend the healthy life span.

Removal of chlorophyll and pheophorbide from Chlorella pyrenoidosa by supercritical fluid extraction: potential of protein resource

This study tried to quantitatively clarify the usefulness of supercritical fluid extraction for removal of chlorophyll and pheophorbide from Chlorella pyrenoidosa. C. pyrenoidosa powder was subjected to supercritical fluid extraction, and chlorophyll a and pheophorbide a in its extracted fractions were measured by HPLC-UV. Chlorophyll a and pheophorbide a in residue after supercritical fluid extraction became below of detection limit.

A Critical Review of the Use of Surfactant-Coated Nanoparticles in Nanomedicine and Food Nanotechnology

Surfactants, whose existence has been recognized as early as 2800 BC, have had a long history with the development of human civilization. With the rapid development of nanotechnology in the latter half of the 20th century, breakthroughs in nanomedicine and food nanotechnology using nanoparticles have been remarkable, and new applications have been developed. The technology of surfactant-coated nanoparticles, which provides new functions to nanoparticles for use in the fields of nanomedicine and food nanotechnology, is attracting a lot of attention in the fields of basic research and industry. This review systematically describes these "surfactant-coated nanoparticles" through various sections in order: 1) surfactants, 2) surfactant-coated nanoparticles, application of surfactant-coated nanoparticles to 3) nanomedicine, and 4) food nanotechnology. Furthermore, current progress and problems of the technology using surfactant-coated nanoparticles through recent research reports have been discussed.

C-type lectin Mincle mediates cell death-triggered inflammation in acute kidney injury

Accumulating evidence indicates that cell death triggers sterile inflammation and that impaired clearance of dead cells causes nonresolving inflammation; however, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we show that macrophage-inducible C-type lectin (Mincle) senses renal tubular cell death to induce sustained inflammation after acute kidney injury in mice. Mincle-deficient mice were protected against tissue damage and subsequent atrophy of the kidney after ischemia–reperfusion injury. Using lipophilic extract from the injured kidney, we identified β-glucosylceramide as an endogenous Mincle ligand. Notably, free cholesterol markedly enhanced the agonistic effect of β-glucosylceramide on Mincle. Moreover, β-glucosylceramide and free cholesterol accumulated in dead renal tubules in proximity to Mincle-expressing macrophages, where Mincle was supposed to inhibit clearance of dead cells and increase proinflammatory cytokine production. This study demonstrates that β-glucosylceramide in combination with free cholesterol acts on Mincle as an endogenous ligand to induce cell death–triggered, sustained inflammation after acute kidney injury.

Coexistence of osteoporosis and atherosclerosis in pheochromocytoma: new insights into its long-term management

Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis frequently coexist in patients with pheochromocytoma. The presence of osteoporosis may predict that of atherosclerosis and vice versa in patients with PHEO. These findings have implications for the long-term management of the pheochromocytoma and its potential chronic complications.

INTRODUCTION

Pheochromocytoma (PHEO), a catecholamine-producing tumor, is often found incidentally, and it may be present for years before it is diagnosed. However, long-term exposure to catecholamines excess may induce chronic complications, such as osteoporosis and atherosclerosis. We aimed to evaluate concomitant osteoporosis and atherosclerosis in patients with PHEO.

METHODS

Fifty-one patients with PHEO and 51 patients with a non-functional adrenal tumor were compared radiographically for the prevalence of vertebral fracture (VF), a typical osteoporotic fracture, and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC).

RESULTS

In patients with PHEO, the prevalence of AAC was higher in those with VF (58%) than in those without (6%, p < 0.001). AAC was associated with VF after adjusting for age and sex (odds ratio, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-2.46; p = 0.003) in patients with PHEO. The degree of catecholamine excess correlated with the presence of VF and AAC (p = 0.007). The prevalence of VF was higher in patients with PHEO (37%) than those with non-functional AT (12%, p = 0.005), but the prevalence of AAC was comparable between the two groups (25% and 19%, p = 0.636). VF and AAC more frequently coexisted in patients with PHEO (22%) than in those with non-functional AT (2%, p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

This study represents the first demonstration that osteoporosis and atherosclerosis frequently coexist in patients with PHEO. The presence of osteoporosis may predict that of atherosclerosis and vice versa in patients with PHEO. These findings have implications for the long-term management of the PHEO and its potential chronic complications.

Hollow fiber-combined glucose-responsive gel technology as an in vivo electronics-free insulin delivery system

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that not only sustained elevation of blood glucose levels but also the glucose fluctuation represents key determinants for diabetic complications and mortality. Current closed-loop insulin therapy option is limited to the use of electronics-based systems, although it poses some technical issues with high cost. Here we demonstrate an electronics-free, synthetic boronate gel-based insulin-diffusion-control device technology that can cope with glucose fluctuations and potentially address the electronics-derived issues. The gel was combined with hemodialysis hollow fibers and scaled suitable for rats, serving as a subcutaneously implantable, insulin-diffusion-active site in a manner dependent on the subcutaneous glucose. Continuous glucose monitoring tests revealed that our device not only normalizes average glucose level of rats, but also markedly ameliorates the fluctuations over timescale of a day without inducing hypoglycemia. With inherent stability, diffusion-dependent scalability, and week-long & acute glucose-responsiveness, our technology may offer a low-cost alternative to current electronics-based approaches.

Here, the authors develop an in vivo insulin delivery system which consists of a glucose responsive gel combined with hemodialysis hollow fibers. This system is electronics-free, temperature independent, and can stably sustain acute glucose-responsiveness in rats.

Determination of cellular vitamin C dynamics by HPLC-DAD

A redox-sensitive inter-conversion between ascorbic acid (ASC) and its oxidized form dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) in the intracellular environment has been of exceptional interest to recent metabolomics and pharmaceutical research. We developed a chromatographic protocol to instantly determine these vitamers with each identity from cellular extracts, without any labeling and pretreatments. Owing to its simplicity, one can readily continue the assay for hours, an otherwise difficult to cover timescale at which the intracellular DHA-ASC conversion comes into play. The method was validated for the analysis of pancreatic cancer cells, to our knowledge the first-ever study on a nucleated cell type, to trace in detail their kinetics of glucose transporter-dependent DHA uptake and, simultaneously, that for the intracellular ASC conversion. The simplest of all the relevant techniques and yet with the unique ability to provide each vitamer identity on a high-throughput basis, this method should offer the most practical option for VC-involved physiological and pharmaceutical studies including high-dose VC cancer therapy.

The differential cellular uptake of curcuminoids in vitro depends dominantly on albumin interaction

BACKGROUND

Curcuminoids, mainly present in the plant rhizomes of turmeric (Curcuma longa), consist of mainly three forms (curcumin (CUR), bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) and demethoxycurcumin (DMC)). It has been reported that different forms of curcuminoids possess different biological activities. However, the mechanisms associated with these differences are not well-understood. Recently, our laboratory found differences in the cellular uptake of these curcuminoids. Therefore, it has been inferred that these differences contribute to the different biological activities.

PURPOSE

In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of differential cellular uptake of these curcuminoids.

METHOD

Based on our previous study, we hypothesized the differential cellular uptake is caused by (I) polarity, (II) transporters, (III) metabolism rate of curcuminoids and (IV) medium components. These four hypotheses were each investigated by (I) neutralizing the polarities of curcuminoids by encapsulation into poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanoparticles (PLGA-NPs), (II) inhibition of polyphenol-related absorption transporters, (III) analysis of the cellular curcuminoids and their metabolites by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and (IV) use of different mediums in cell study.

RESULTS

The differential cellular uptake was not affected by (I-III). However, when investigating (IV), not only CUR but also BDMC and DMC were incorporated into cells when serum free media was used. Furthermore, when we used the serum free medium containing bovine serum albumin (BSA), only CUR was taken up but BDMC and DMC were not. Therefore, we identified that the differential cellular uptake of curcuminoids is caused by the medium components, especially BSA. Also, the fluorescence quenching study suggested that differential cellular uptake is due to the different interaction between BSA and each curcuminoid.

CONCLUSION

The differential cellular uptake of curcuminoids was caused by the different interaction between curcuminoids and BSA. The results from this study might give clues on the mechanisms by which curcuminoids exhibit different physiological activities.

Relationship between cerebral blood flow estimated by transcranial Doppler ultrasound and single-photon emission computed tomography in elderly people with dementia

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique allowing continuous recording of cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocity. However, it is unclear whether the CBF estimated by TCD would be reliable for the comparison between individuals. The present study aimed to clarify the relationship between middle cerebral artery blood flow (MCA BF) measured by TCD and regional and total CBF measured by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CBF) with a quantification software program, a three-dimensional stereotaxic region of interest template. We recruited 91 elderly subjects with and without dementia. MCA blood flow velocity (MCA V) and middle cerebral artery cross-sectional area (AM) were measured by TCD and magnetic resonance angiography, respectively. MCA BF was calculated by the product of MCA V and AM. Diastolic or mean MCA V and MCA BF were significantly correlated with SPECT-CBF in several segments. Interestingly, the correlation coefficient in the temporal segment of SPECT-CBF was higher than those of the other segments. Moreover, correlations between MCA BF and SPECT-CBF were stronger as compared with those between MCA V and SPECT-CBF. These findings suggest that both mean MCA V and MCA BF with TCD ultrasonography would be useful for CBF comparison between individuals especially in the temporal region, although estimated blood flow with arterial area seems to be better than using simple flow velocity.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Correlations between middle cerebral artery blood flow (MCA BF) calculated by the product of MCA blood flow velocity (MCA V) and middle cerebral artery cross-sectional area and regional and total cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CBF) were stronger as compared with those between MCA V and SPECT-CBF. These findings suggest that both mean MCA V and MCA BF would be useful for CBF comparison between individuals although estimated blood flow with arterial area seems to be better than using simple flow velocity.

Curcumin and piperine supplementation of obese mice under caloric restriction modulates body fat and interleukin-1β

Background

Dietary bioactive compounds capable of improving metabolic profiles would be of great value, especially for overweight individuals undergoing a caloric restriction (CR) regimen. Curcumin (Cur), a possible anti-obesity compound, and piperine (Pip), a plausible enhancer of Cur’s bioavailability and efficacy, may be candidate agents for controlling body fat, metabolism and low grade inflammation.

Methods

47 eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 23 weeks to induce obesity. Then, mice were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 continued on HFD ad libitum. The other 4 groups underwent CR (reduced 10% HFD intake for 10 weeks, 20% for 20 weeks) with Cur, Pip, Cur + Pip or none of these. Percent body fat, plasma inflammatory markers associated with obesity (interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12 p70, IL-1β, IL-6 and KC/GRO), plasma Cur metabolites and liver telomere length were measured.

Results

Compared to the other groups, obese mice who underwent CR and received Cur + Pip in their diet lost more fat and had significantly lower IL-1β and KC/GRO. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis of plasma from obese mice under CR showed no difference in Cur metabolite levels between groups supplemented with Cur alone or combined with Pip. However, plasma IL-1β levels were inversely correlated with curcumin glucuronide. Minor modulation of telomere length were observed.

Conclusions

It is plausible that supplementing the high fat diet of CR mice with Cur + Pip may increase loss of body fat and suppresses HFD induced inflammation. Combination of Cur and Pip has potential to enhance CR effects for the prevention of metabolic syndrome.

Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine enhances the physical stability and selective targeting ability of liposomes

Liposomes consisting of 100% phosphatidylcholine exhibit poor membrane fusion, cellular uptake and selective targeting capacities. To overcome these limitations, we used Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine, which is universally present in animals and commonly consumed in foods. We found that liposomes containing Amadori-glycated phosphatidylethanolamine exhibited significantly reduced negative membrane potential and demonstrated high cellular uptake.

Synthetic "smart gel" provides glucose-responsive insulin delivery in diabetic mice

Although previous studies have attempted to create "electronics-free" insulin delivery systems using glucose oxidase and sugar-binding lectins as a glucose-sensing mechanism, no successful clinical translation has hitherto been made. These protein-based materials are intolerant of long-term use and storage because of their denaturing and/or cytotoxic properties. We provide a solution by designing a protein-free and totally synthetic material-based approach. Capitalizing on the sugar-responsive properties of boronic acid, we have established a synthetic polymer gel-based insulin delivery device confined within a single catheter, which exhibits an artificial pancreas-like function in vivo. Subcutaneous implantation of the device in healthy and diabetic mice establishes a closed-loop system composed of "continuous glucose sensing" and "skin layer"-regulated insulin release. As a result, glucose metabolism was controlled in response to interstitial glucose fluctuation under both insulin-deficient and insulin-resistant conditions with at least 3-week durability. Our "smart gel" technology could offer a user-friendly and remarkably economic (disposable) alternative to the current state of the art, thereby facilitating availability of effective insulin treatment not only to diabetic patients in developing countries but also to those patients who otherwise may not be strongly motivated, such as the elderly, infants, and patients in need of nursing care.

Heterocyclic boronic acids display sialic acid selective binding in a hypoxic tumor relevant acidic environment

A group of heterocyclic boronic acids demonstrating unusually high affinity and selectivity for sialic acids are described, with strong interactions under the weakly acidic pH conditions associated with a hypoxic tumoral microenvironment.

Boronic acids are well known for their ability to reversibly interact with the diol groups found in sugars and glycoproteins. However, they are generally indiscriminate in their binding. Herein we describe the discovery of a group of heterocyclic boronic acids demonstrating unusually high affinity and selectivity for sialic acids (SAs or N-acetylneuraminic acid), which are sugar residues that are intimately linked with tumor growth and cancer progression. Remarkably, these interactions strengthen under the weakly acidic pH conditions associated with a hypoxic tumoral microenvironment. In vitro competitive binding assays uncovered a significantly higher ability of 5-boronopicolinic acid, one of the derivatives identified in this work as a strong SA-binder, to interact with cell surface SA in comparison to a gold-standard structure, 3-propionamidophenylboronic acid, which has proven to be an efficient SA-binder in numerous reports. This structure also proved to be suitable for further chemical conjugation with a well-preserved SA-binding capability. These findings suggest an attractive alternative to other ongoing boronic acid based chemistry techniques aiming to achieve tumor-specific chemotherapies and diagnoses.

Metabolic fate of poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-based curcumin nanoparticles following oral administration

Purpose

Curcumin (CUR), the main polyphenol in turmeric, is poorly absorbed and rapidly metabolized following oral administration, which severely curtails its bioavailability. Poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-based CUR nanoparticles (CUR-NP) have recently been suggested to improve CUR bioavailability, but this has not been fully verified. Specifically, no data are available about curcumin glucuronide (CURG), the major metabolite of CUR found in the plasma following oral administration of CUR-NP. Herein, we investigated the absorption and metabolism of CUR-NP and evaluated whether CUR-NP improves CUR bioavailability.

Methods

Following oral administration of CUR-NP in rats, we analyzed the plasma and organ distribution of CUR and its metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. To elucidate the mechanism of increased intestinal absorption of CUR-NP, we prepared mixed micelles comprised of phosphatidylcholine and bile salts and examined the micellar solubility of CUR-NP. Additionally, we investigated the cellular incorporation of the resultant micelles into differentiated Caco-2 human intestinal cells.

Results

Following in vivo administration of CUR-NP, CUR was effectively absorbed and present mainly as CURG in the plasma which contained significant amounts of the metabolite compared with other organs. Thus, CUR-NP increased intestinal absorption of CUR rather than decreasing metabolic degradation and conversion to other metabolites. In vitro, CUR encapsulated in CUR-NP was solubilized in mixed micelles; however, whether the micelles contained CUR or CUR-NP had little influence on cellular uptake efficiency. Therefore, we suggest that the high solubilization capacity of CUR-NP in mixed micelles, rather than cellular uptake efficiency, explains the high intestinal absorption of CUR-NP in vivo.

Conclusion

These findings provide a better understanding of the bioavailability of CUR and CUR-NP following oral administration. To improve the bioavailability of CUR, future studies should focus on enhancing the resistance to metabolic degradation and conversion of CUR to other metabolites, which may lead to novel discoveries regarding food function and disease prevention.

Distribution of β-carotene-encapsulated polysorbate 80-coated poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles in rodent tissues following intravenous administration

Purpose

Biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) composed of poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) have attracted considerable attention as delivery systems of drugs and antioxidative compounds, such as β-carotene (BC). Intravenous (IV) administration of BC-containing PLGA-NPs (BC-PLGA-NPs) coated with polysorbate 80 (PS80) has been shown to effectively deliver BC to the brain. However, the whole-body distribution profile of BC is still not clear. Therefore, we investigated the accumulation of BC in various organs, including the brain, following IV administration of PS80-coated BC-PLGA-NPs in rats.

Methods

PS80-coated and uncoated BC-PLGA-NPs were prepared by solvent evaporation, and administered intravenously to Sprague Dawley rats at a BC dose of 8.5 mg/rat. Accumulation of BC in various organs (brain, heart, liver, lungs, and spleen) and blood plasma was evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet (UV) detection, 1 hour after administration.

Results

We prepared PS80-coated BC-PLGA-NPs with an entrapment efficiency of 14%, a particle size of 260 nm, and a zeta potential of −26 mV. Coating with PS80 was found to result in significant accumulation of BC in the lungs, rather than in the brain and other tissues. Further, plasma levels of BC in the PS80-coated BC-PLGA-NP group were much lower than those of the uncoated BC-PLGA-NP group.

Conclusion

Following IV administration, PS80-coated BC-PLGA-NPs are quickly transferred from plasma circulation to the lungs, rather than the brain. Significant accumulation of BC in the lungs may be useful for health-related applications.

Comparison between S+L- assay and LacZ marker rescue assay for detecting replication-competent gammaretroviruses

To avoid contamination of adventitious gammaretroviruses in biological products such as vaccines, it is necessary to check the master seed cells for manufacturing. There are several assays to detect infectious gammaretroviruses. Among these, sarcoma-positive, leukemia-negative (S+L-) assay is a classical infectivity assay, which is often recommended in governmental guidelines. The S+L- cells used in S+L- assay generate unique focus upon the infection of replication-competent gammaretroviruses. Although S+L- assay is well recognized for the detection, their applicability is questionable in some cases. On the other hand, LacZ marker rescue (LMR) assay detects infectious gammaretroviruses by transducing LacZ marker gene to the target cells, which shows lacZ-positive foci if the infectious virus is present. In this study, we compared LMR and S+L- assays for detection of a variety of endogenous and exogenous gammaretroviruses. As results, LMR assay could detect all gammaretroviruses examined. On the other hand, S+L- assay using feline S+L- cells, termed QN10S, could not detect porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) subgroups A/B. Further, S+L- mink cells could not detect feline leukemia virus subgroups B in addition to PERV-A/B. These data indicate that LMR assay is better suited to detect wider range of gammaretroviruses.

Carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic and renal damages in rat: inhibitory effects of cacao polyphenol

Here, we investigated the protective effect of cacao polyphenol extract (CPE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepato-renal oxidative stress in rats. Rats were administered CPE for 7 days and then received intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. Two hours after injection, we found that CCl4 treatment significantly increased biochemical injury markers, lipid peroxides (phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide (PCOOH) and malondialdehyde (MDA)) and decreased glutathione peroxidase activity in kidney rather than liver, suggesting that kidney is more vulnerable to oxidative stress under the present experimental conditions. CPE supplementation significantly reduced these changes, indicating that this compound has antioxidant properties against CCl4-induced oxidative stress. An inhibitory effect of CPE on CCl4-induced CYP2E1 mRNA degradation may provide an explanation for CPE antioxidant property. Together, these results provide quantitative evidence of the in vivo antioxidant properties of CPE, especially in terms of PCOOH and MDA levels in the kidneys of CCl4-treated rats.

Influence of regular exercise training on post-exercise hemodynamic regulation to orthostatic challenge

To prevent orthostatic hypotension, arterial blood pressure (BP) is neurally and hormonally regulated via increases in heart rate (HR) and peripheral vascular tone. After dynamic exercise, however, the latter arm is blunted because of the increased vasodilators in exercised muscles. Orthostatic tachycardia is likely a more important compensatory mechanism for post-exercise orthostatic intolerance in individuals who have higher leg vasodilator capacity, such as endurance-trained athletes. To test the hypothesis that regular endurance training was associated with the greater augmentation of tachycardia response to post-exercise orthostasis, we compared hemodynamic responses to 5-min 60° head-up tilt (HUT) before and after 60 min of cycling at 70% of HR reserve in the endurance-trained (n = 8) and sedentary men (n = 9). Calf peak vascular conductance was 62% greater in the endurance-trained than the sedentary (P < 0.001). After the exercise, the HUT-induced reduction of SV was significantly augmented in the endurance-trained (from −27.7 ± 6.9 to −33.7 ± 7.7 ml, P = 0.03) but not in their sedentary peers. Nevertheless, MAP was well maintained during post-exercise HUT even in the endurance-trained (from 81 ± 10 to 80 ± 8 mmHg). Tachycardia responses during sustained orthostasis were significantly increased in the sedentary (1.3-fold vs. pre-exercise) and more in the endurance-trained (2.0-fold). The augmented response of HUT-induced tachycardia was greater in the endurance-trained than the sedentary (P = 0.04). Additionally, cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), evaluated by the HR response to the hypotensive perturbation, was improved after the exercise in the endurance-trained (from −0.56 ± 0.32 to −1.03 ± 0.26 bpm/mmHg, P = 0.007) but not in the sedentary. These results suggest that in the endurance-trained men the increased orthostatic tachycardia and augmented cardiovagal BRS may favorably mitigate accumulated risks for orthostatic intolerance in the early phase of post-exercise.

Ingestion of Chlorella reduced the oxidation of erythrocyte membrane lipids in senior Japanese subjects

Accumulation of phospholipid hydroperoxide (PLOOH) in erythrocyte membranes is an abnormality found in patients with senile dementia, including those with Alzheimer's disease. In our previous studies, dietary xanthophylls (polar carotenoids such as lutein) were hypothesized to inhibit lipid peroxidation. In the present study, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial to assess the impact for a total of 2 months Chlorella supplementation (8 g Chlorella/day/person; equivalent to 22.9 mg lutein/day/person) on PLOOH and carotenoid concentrations in erythrocytes as well as plasma of 12 normal senior subjects. After 1 or 2 months of treatment, erythrocytes and plasma lutein concentrations increased in the Chlorella group but not in the placebo group. In the Chlorella-supplemented group, erythrocyte PLOOH concentrations after a total of 2 months of treatment were lower than the concentrations before supplementation. These results suggest that Chlorella ingestion improved erythrocyte antioxidant status and lowered PLOOH concentrations. These reductions might contribute to maintaining the normal function of erythrocytes and prevent the development of senile dementia.

Chlorella is an effective dietary source of lutein for human erythrocytes

Chlorella contains a high amount of carotenoids, especially lutein, and has received attention as a possible dietary source for improving carotenoid levels in human blood. In the present study, we performed a 2-month single arm human study, and investigated the efficacy of Chlorella supplementation (9 g Chlorella/day; equivalent to 32 mg lutein/day) on lutein and other carotenoid concentrations in plasma as well as erythrocytes of 12 healthy subjects. Following Chlorella supplementation, lutein was the predominant carotenoid in erythrocytes, showing a 4-fold increase (from 14 to 54 pmol/mL packed cells). After the one month without Chlorella ingestion, erythrocyte lutein then decreased to a basal level (17 pmol/mL packed cells). Erythrocyte carotenoid (lutein, zeaxanthin, α-carotene, and β-carotene) levels were proportional to plasma carotenoid levels. The results suggest the transfer of Chlorella carotenoids, especially lutein, from plasma lipoprotein particles to the erythrocyte membrane. Chlorella intake would be effective for improving and maintaining lutein concentrations in human erythrocytes.

Software defined networking (SDN) over space division multiplexing (SDM) optical networks: features, benefits and experimental demonstration

We present results from the first demonstration of a fully integrated SDN-controlled bandwidth-flexible and programmable SDM optical network utilizing sliceable self-homodyne spatial superchannels to support dynamic bandwidth and QoT provisioning, infrastructure slicing and isolation. Results show that SDN is a suitable control plane solution for the high-capacity flexible SDM network. It is able to provision end-to-end bandwidth and QoT requests according to user requirements, considering the unique characteristics of the underlying SDM infrastructure.